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Wednesday 3 June 2015

Revised Common Lectionary 1 Samuel 17

That brutal story of David and Goliath is on the horizon. It is a story that has been applied typologically to the verse in Hebrews that speaks of him that hath the power of death being destroyed by death, its own sword. I will be reading this (minus the final note on the beheading) when it comes up June 21, 2015. I wonder about performing it musically, perhaps even with more than one actor. The music is below. The English libretto for the music is not exactly the same as my close reading but it is very similar. The story is told in speech rhythm, clearly - not omitting syllables, and freely. Every note has a duration suitable to itself in the free speech pulse. In English, the notes with a / in the libretto have zero time value.

There are some curiosities in the text I had never noted before. A strange word is used for flock, vs 34. It is troop. As if the flock was military.

The sexual innuendo of the use of 'make overture' matching the word used in Psalm 91.

A thousand will fall at your side
and ten thousand at your right hand
to you it will make no overture.

The grappling hook also makes an appearance in both Psalm 91 and 1 Samuel 17, though it comes to naught in this story and in Psalm 91 it is a metaphor for truth. Several other words are shared between this passage and Psalm 91. See below for some patterns that I haven't quite figured out how to present yet.

The word normally translated uncircumcised has no negative in its root, but rather it is the noun for the discarded body-part used as an adjective. So I have rendered it since it fits into the domain of created body-parts, and not into the domain of promise and covenant.

I chose resolute for the courage of חזק, that word that heads the paragraph at the end of each book of a Tanakh followed by what seem to be control totals for the copyist. If you are going to deal with these texts, you need resolute courage and persistence.
1 Samuel 17 Fn Min Max Syll
וַיְּשָּֽׁמְעוּ֙ הַדְּבָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּ֣ר דָּוִ֑ד
וַיַּגִּ֥דוּ לִפְנֵֽי־שָׁא֖וּל וַיִּקָּחֵֽהוּ
31 And the words that David spoke were heard,
and they were made clear in the presence of Saul and he laid hold of him.
3e 4B 12
12
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר דָּוִד֙ אֶל־שָׁא֔וּל אַל־יִפֹּ֥ל לֵב־אָדָ֖ם עָלָ֑יו
עַבְדְּךָ֣ יֵלֵ֔ךְ וְנִלְחַ֖ם עִם־הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֥י הַזֶּֽה
32 And David said to Saul, let no human heart miscarry over him.
Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.
3e 4C 16
14
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר שָׁא֜וּל אֶל־דָּוִ֗ד לֹ֤א תוּכַל֙ לָלֶ֙כֶת֙ אֶל־הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֣י הַזֶּ֔ה לְהִלָּחֵ֖ם עִמּ֑וֹ
כִּֽי־נַ֣עַר אַ֔תָּה וְה֛וּא אִ֥ישׁ מִלְחָמָ֖ה מִנְּעֻרָֽיו
33 And Saul said to David, You cannot go to this Philistine to fight with him,
for a youth are you and he a man of war from his youth.
3d 4C 26
13
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר דָּוִד֙ אֶל־שָׁא֔וּל רֹעֶ֨ה הָיָ֧ה עַבְדְּךָ֛ לְאָבִ֖יו בַּצֹּ֑אן
וּבָ֤א הָֽאֲרִי֙ וְאֶת־הַדּ֔וֹב וְנָשָׂ֥א שֶׂ֖ה מֵהָעֵֽדֶר
34 And David said to Saul, Your servant is a shepherd of his father's sheep,
and the lion came or the bear and bore away a lamb from the troop,
3c 4C 20
17
וְיָצָ֧אתִי אַחֲרָ֛יו וְהִכִּתִ֖יו וְהִצַּ֣לְתִּי מִפִּ֑יו
וַיָּ֣קָם עָלַ֔י וְהֶחֱזַ֙קְתִּי֙ בִּזְקָנ֔וֹ וְהִכִּתִ֖יו וַהֲמִיתִּֽיו
35 then I go out after it and I strike it and I deliver from its mouth.
And if it arises against me then I am resolute with its beard and I strike it and I render it lifeless.
3c 4B 17
21
גַּ֧ם אֶֽת־הָאֲרִ֛י גַּם־הַדּ֖וֹב הִכָּ֣ה עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ
וְֽ֠הָיָה הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֨י הֶעָרֵ֤ל הַזֶּה֙ כְּאַחַ֣ד מֵהֶ֔ם כִּ֣י חֵרֵ֔ף מַעַרְכֹ֖ת אֱלֹהִ֥ים חַיִּֽים
36 c Even the lion even the bear your servant will strike,
so this fore-skinned Philistine will be as one with them for he has reproached the ranks of the living God. S
3c 4C 13
27
וַיֹּאמֶר֮ דָּוִד֒ יְהוָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר הִצִּלַ֜נִי מִיַּ֤ד הָֽאֲרִי֙ וּמִיַּ֣ד הַדֹּ֔ב ה֣וּא יַצִּילֵ֔נִי מִיַּ֥ד הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖י הַזֶּ֑ה
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר שָׁא֤וּל אֶל־דָּוִד֙ לֵ֔ךְ וַֽיהוָ֖ה יִהְיֶ֥ה עִמָּֽךְ
37 And David said, Yahweh who delivered me from the hand of the lion or the hand of the bear he, he will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.
And Saul said to David, Go and Yahweh will be with you.
3e 4C 35
15
וַיַּלְבֵּ֨שׁ שָׁא֤וּל אֶת־דָּוִד֙ מַדָּ֔יו וְנָתַ֛ן ק֥וֹבַע נְחֹ֖שֶׁת עַל־רֹאשׁ֑וֹ
וַיַּלְבֵּ֥שׁ אֹת֖וֹ שִׁרְיֽוֹן
38 And Saul clothed David with his armour and gave a helmet of brass for his head,
and he clothed him with chain mail.
3d 4C 21
7
וַיַּחְגֹּ֣ר דָּוִ֣ד אֶת־חַ֠רְבּוֹ מֵעַ֨ל לְמַדָּ֜יו וַיֹּ֣אֶל לָלֶכֶת֮ כִּ֣י לֹֽא־נִסָּה֒ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֜ד אֶל־שָׁא֗וּל לֹ֥א אוּכַ֛ל לָלֶ֥כֶת בָּאֵ֖לֶּה כִּ֣י לֹ֣א נִסִּ֑יתִי
וַיְסִרֵ֥ם דָּוִ֖ד מֵעָלָֽיו
39 And David wore his sword over his armour and he made an attempt to walk for he had not tried it out. And David said to Saul, I am not able to walk in these that I have not tried out,
and David put them aside from him.
3d 4B 44
8
וַיִּקַּ֨ח מַקְל֜וֹ בְּיָד֗וֹ וַיִּבְחַר־ל֣וֹ חֲמִשָּׁ֣ה חַלֻּקֵֽי־אֲבָנִ֣ים ׀ מִן־הַנַּ֡חַל וַיָּ֣שֶׂם אֹ֠תָם בִּכְלִ֨י הָרֹעִ֧ים אֲשֶׁר־ל֛וֹ וּבַיַּלְק֖וּט וְקַלְּע֣וֹ בְיָד֑וֹ
וַיִּגַּ֖שׁ אֶל־הַפְּלִשְׁתִּֽי
40 And he took his stick in his hand and he chose his five smooth stones from the wadi and he set them in the shepherds' inner pouch that was his and in picking up with his sling in his hand,
he made overture to the Philistine.
3c 4B 47
7
וַיֵּ֙לֶךְ֙ הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔י הֹלֵ֥ךְ וְקָרֵ֖ב אֶל־דָּוִ֑ד
וְהָאִ֛ישׁ נֹשֵׂ֥א הַצִּנָּ֖ה לְפָנָֽיו
41 And the Philistine walked, walking with intent for close combat, to David,
and the person bearing the grappling hook before him.
3d 4A 14
11
וַיַּבֵּ֧ט הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֛י וַיִּרְאֶ֥ה אֶת־דָּוִ֖ד וַיִּבְזֵ֑הוּ
כִּֽי־הָיָ֣ה נַ֔עַר וְאַדְמֹנִ֖י עִם־יְפֵ֥ה מַרְאֶֽה
42 And the Philistine took note and saw David, and he despised him,
for he was a youth, and ruddy, beautiful in appearance.
3c 4B 16
13
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי֙ אֶל־דָּוִ֔ד הֲכֶ֣לֶב אָנֹ֔כִי כִּֽי־אַתָּ֥ה בָֽא־אֵלַ֖י בַּמַּקְל֑וֹת
וַיְקַלֵּ֧ל הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֛י אֶת־דָּוִ֖ד בֵּאלֹהָֽיו
43 And the Philistine said to David, Am I a dog for you to come to me with sticks?
And the Philistine slighted David and his God.
3c 4C 23
12
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖י אֶל־דָּוִ֑ד
לְכָ֣ה אֵלַ֔י וְאֶתְּנָה֙ אֶת־בְּשָׂ֣רְךָ֔ לְע֥וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וּלְבֶהֱמַ֥ת הַשָּׂדֶֽה
44 And the Philistine said to David,
Come on to me and I will give your flesh to the fowl of the heavens and the beasts of the field. S
3e 4B 9
23
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר דָּוִד֙ אֶל־הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔י אַתָּה֙ בָּ֣א אֵלַ֔י בְּחֶ֖רֶב וּבַחֲנִ֣ית וּבְכִיד֑וֹן
וְאָנֹכִ֣י בָֽא־אֵלֶ֗יךָ בְּשֵׁם֙ יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת אֱלֹהֵ֛י מַעַרְכ֥וֹת יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר חֵרַֽפְתָּ
45 And David said to the Philistine, You come to me with sword and spear and scale,
but I come to you in the name of Yahweh of hosts, the God of the ranks of Israel whom you have reproached.
3d 4C 24
29
הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֡ה יְסַגֶּרְךָ֩ יְהוָ֨ה בְּיָדִ֜י וְהִכִּיתִ֗ךָ וַהֲסִרֹתִ֤י אֶת־רֹֽאשְׁךָ֙ מֵעָלֶ֔יךָ וְנָ֨תַתִּ֜י פֶּ֣גֶר מַחֲנֵ֤ה פְלִשְׁתִּים֙ הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה לְע֥וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וּלְחַיַּ֣ת הָאָ֑רֶץ
וְיֵֽדְעוּ֙ כָּל־הָאָ֔רֶץ כִּ֛י יֵ֥שׁ אֱלֹהִ֖ים לְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל
46 This very day Yahweh will imprison you by my hand and I will strike you and I will put aside your head from you and I will give the carcass of the army of the Philistines this very day to the fowl of the heavens and those who live in the earth,
and they will know, all the earth, that there is a God in Israel.
3d 4C 57
16
וְיֵֽדְעוּ֙ כָּל־הַקָּהָ֣ל הַזֶּ֔ה כִּֽי־לֹ֛א בְּחֶ֥רֶב וּבַחֲנִ֖ית יְהוֹשִׁ֣יעַ יְהוָ֑ה
כִּ֤י לַֽיהוָה֙ הַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וְנָתַ֥ן אֶתְכֶ֖ם בְּיָדֵֽנוּ
47 And they will know, all this congregation, that not by the sword, or by the spear does Yahweh save,
for the battle is Yahweh's and he will give you into our hands.
3d 4C 23
16
וְהָיָה֙ כִּֽי־קָ֣ם הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔י וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ וַיִּקְרַ֖ב לִקְרַ֣את דָּוִ֑ד
וַיְמַהֵ֣ר דָּוִ֔ד וַיָּ֥רָץ הַמַּעֲרָכָ֖ה לִקְרַ֥את הַפְּלִשְׁתִּֽי
48 And it happened that the Philistine arose and he came on and he approached the convergence with David,
and David raced impetuously towards the ranks to converge with the Philistine.
3e 4B 18
18
וַיִּשְׁלַח֩ דָּוִ֨ד אֶת־יָד֜וֹ אֶל־הַכֶּ֗לִי וַיִּקַּ֨ח מִשָּׁ֥ם אֶ֙בֶן֙ וַיְקַלַּ֔ע וַיַּ֥ךְ אֶת־הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖י אֶל־מִצְח֑וֹ
וַתִּטְבַּ֤ע הָאֶ֙בֶן֙ בְּמִצְח֔וֹ וַיִּפֹּ֥ל עַל־פָּנָ֖יו אָֽרְצָה
49 And David reached his hand into the inner pouch, and he took from there a stone, and he slung it, and struck the Philistine in his forehead,
and the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell onto his face earthward.
3e 4C 31
17

Shared Words in 1 Samuel 17, Psalms 91. About a third of their total words are shared if I exclude none. The table below excludes these 12 roots: על,יהוה,אלוה,כי,אל,את,דבר,עמ,כל,לא,אמר,הלך
Word / Gloss12345678910123456789VsStem
יפל let miscarry
1 S 17:32נפל
אתה you
1 S 17:33אתה
והוא and ... himself
1 S 17:33הוא
ונשׂא and bore away
1 S 17:34נשׂא
והצלתי and I deliver
1 S 17:35נצל
הצלני delivered me
1 S 17:37נצל
הוא he
1 S 17:37הוא
יצילני he will deliver me
1 S 17:37נצל
אבנים stones
1 S 17:40אבן
וישׂם and he set
1 S 17:40שׂום
ויגשׁ he made overture
1 S 17:40נגשׁ
וקרב for close combat
1 S 17:41קרב
נשׂא bearing
1 S 17:41נשׂא
הצנה the grappling hook
1 S 17:41צנה
ויבט and took note
1 S 17:42נבט
ויראה and saw
1 S 17:42ראה
מראה appearance
1 S 17:42ראה
אנכי am I
1 S 17:43אנכי
אתה you
1 S 17:43אתה
לעוף to the fowl of
1 S 17:44עוף
אתה you
1 S 17:45אתה
ואנכי but I
1 S 17:45אנכי
בשׁם in the name of
1 S 17:45שׁם
היום very day
1 S 17:46יום
היום very day
1 S 17:46יום
לעוף to the creatures of
1 S 17:46עוף
וידעו and they will know
1 S 17:46ידע
וידעו and they will know
1 S 17:47ידע
יהושׁיע does save
1 S 17:47ישׁע
ויקרב and he approached
1 S 17:48קרב
לקראת the convergence with
1 S 17:48קרא
לקראת to converge with
1 S 17:48קרא
משׁם from there
1 S 17:49שׁם
אבן a stone
1 S 17:49אבן
האבן the stone
1 S 17:49אבן
ויפל and he fell
1 S 17:49נפל
הוא himself
PSA 91:3הוא
יצילך he will deliver you
PSA 91:3נצל
צנה a grappling hook
PSA 91:4צנה
יעוף that flies
PSA 91:5עוף
יומם by day
PSA 91:5יום
יפל will fall
PSA 91:7נפל
יגשׁ it will make overture
PSA 91:7נגשׁ
תביט you will take note
PSA 91:8נבט
תראה you will see
PSA 91:8ראה
אתה you
PSA 91:9אתה
שׂמת you have set up
PSA 91:9שׂום
יקרב will approach
PSA 91:10קרב
ישׂאונך they will lift you up
PSA 91:12נשׂא
באבן with a stone
PSA 91:12אבן
ידע he has known
PSA 91:14ידע
שׁמי my name
PSA 91:14שׁם
יקראני he will call me
PSA 91:15קרא
אנכי I am
PSA 91:15אנכי
ימים days
PSA 91:16יום
ואראהו and I will show him
PSA 91:16ראה
בישׁועתי my salvation
PSA 91:16ישׁע

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