Promoting The Song in the Night

Pastor Christopher Page writes: "Bob MacDonald brings to the song of the Scriptures a meticulous attention to detail, an eye for imagery and symbol, and a heart for the feel and tone of the text … He enlivens the story with beauty and faith that is evident on every page."

And Professor Susan Gillingham writes: "This is a very interesting, user-friendly publication! I initially opened it in my IPhone but found myself reading it with great interest, not least because Bob explains difficult issues so clearly."

The author (that's me) comments: This is a book that will appeal both to the faithful and to the scholarly, and to the faithful scholar searching out and developing the obedience of the faith into which we have been delivered and in which we live.

But you’re teaching me music and I don’t sing. You will be surprised what even the unheard music can teach you.

But it’s the Old Testament! And just what is that? It represents the tradition in which Jesus himself learned. How better should one who follows Him learn His faithfulness? 

And for those to whom the story is the Law, the Prophets and the Writings, the Tanach, this song will join your faith to your music as never before. It includes a detailed comparison of traditional Haftarah cantillation with the song as interpreted with a different key, perhaps even the one that was taught to the Levitical singers.

OK – give me an example. Psalm 117 is arranged here. And here is an introduction to the theory by the author. The background music in the opening slide is from Genesis 1.

Professor James McGrath writes concerning the book: "something MacDonald does … is, to my knowledge, unprecedented. By recognizing that these are performance markings, we can tell that certain passages in the Hebrew Bible were performed in the same way, using comparable melodic lines. And so we have here very old evidence of how cantors viewed texts as related to one another, and depicted that relationship through the very act of melodic recitation."

Professor McGrath has identified a key stimulus for the book: the author wanted to recognize the nature of the text as a song for us so we can learn to ask it the right questions. The music gives a dramatic new feel to familiar stories, instruction, and poetry from the Old Testament.

2 Kings 22

Note the urgency of verse 12 - without a mid-verse rest. Note also I have used recite rather than read. This would be my bias toward reading out loud (at a minimum). The root is קרא, call, proclaim, encounter, not exactly a silent speed read.

2 Kings 22		Fn		Min	Max	Syll
בֶּן־שְׁמֹנֶ֤ה שָׁנָה֙ יֹאשִׁיָּ֣הוּ בְמָלְכ֔וֹ וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֤ים וְאַחַת֙ שָׁנָ֔ה מָלַ֖ךְ בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וְשֵׁ֣ם אִמּ֔וֹ יְדִידָ֥ה בַת־עֲדָ֖יָה מִבָּצְקַֽת	1		A child of eight years Josiah was when he began to reign, and thirty one years he reigned in Jerusalem, and the name of his mother was Jedidah, the daughter of Adiyah from Botsqat.	3e	4C	27 14
וַיַּ֥עַשׂ הַיָּשָׁ֖ר בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וַיֵּ֗לֶךְ בְּכָל־דֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ דָּוִ֣ד אָבִ֔יו וְלֹא־סָ֖ר יָמִ֥ין וּשְׂמֹֽאול	2		And he did what is upright in the eyes of Yahweh, and he walked in all the way of David his father, and was not stubborn on the right hand or on the left.	3e	4B	11 19
וַיְהִ֗י בִּשְׁמֹנֶ֤ה עֶשְׂרֵה֙ שָׁנָ֔ה לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ יֹאשִׁיָּ֑הוּ שָׁלַ֣ח הַ֠מֶּלֶךְ אֶת־שָׁפָ֨ן בֶּן־אֲצַלְיָ֤הוּ בֶן־מְשֻׁלָּם֙ הַסֹּפֵ֔ר בֵּ֥ית יְהוָ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר	3		And it happened in the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah, the king sent Shaphan, child of Atsalyahu, child of Meshullam, the secretary of the house of Yahweh, saying,	3e	4C	16 25
עֲלֵ֗ה אֶל־חִלְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ הַכֹּהֵ֣ן הַגָּד֔וֹל וְיַתֵּ֣ם אֶת־הַכֶּ֔סֶף הַמּוּבָ֖א בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָסְפ֛וּ שֹׁמְרֵ֥י הַסַּ֖ף מֵאֵ֥ת הָעָֽם	4		Go up to Hilqiah the great priest, and have him completely sum the silver that is brought into the house of Yahweh, which those keeping the doorway have gathered from the people.	3d	4B	26 12
וְיִתְּנֻ֗הוּ עַל־יַד֙ עֹשֵׂ֣י הַמְּלָאכָ֔ה הַמֻּפְקָדִ֖ים בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה וְיִתְּנ֣וּ אֹת֗וֹ לְעֹשֵׂ֤י הַמְּלָאכָה֙ אֲשֶׁר֙ בְּבֵ֣ית יְהוָ֔ה לְחַזֵּ֖ק בֶּ֥דֶק הַבָּֽיִת	5		And let them give it into the hand of those doing the lines of work, those entrusted with the house of Yahweh, and let them give it to those doing the lines of work that are in the house of Yahweh, to be resolute to refurbish the house.	3e	4C	18 25
לֶחָ֣רָשִׁ֔ים וְלַבֹּנִ֖ים וְלַגֹּֽדְרִ֑ים וְלִקְנ֤וֹת עֵצִים֙ וְאַבְנֵ֣י מַחְצֵ֔ב לְחַזֵּ֖ק אֶת־הַבָּֽיִת	6		To the carpenters and to the builders and to those who build fences, and to buy lumber and hewn stone to revamp the house.	3e	4C	12 17
אַ֚ךְ לֹא־יֵחָשֵׁ֣ב אִתָּ֔ם הַכֶּ֖סֶף הַנִּתָּ֣ן עַל־יָדָ֑ם כִּ֥י בֶאֱמוּנָ֖ה הֵ֥ם עֹשִֽׂים	7	C	But the silver given into their hand was not reckoned with them, for in faithfulness they constructed.	3e	4C	15 8
וַ֠יֹּאמֶר חִלְקִיָּ֜הוּ הַכֹּהֵ֤ן הַגָּדוֹל֙ עַל־שָׁפָ֣ן הַסֹּפֵ֔ר סֵ֧פֶר הַתּוֹרָ֛ה מָצָ֖אתִי בְּבֵ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה וַיִּתֵּ֨ן חִלְקִיָּ֧ה אֶת־הַסֵּ֛פֶר אֶל־שָׁפָ֖ן וַיִּקְרָאֵֽהוּ	8	~	And Hilqiah the great priest said to Shaphan, the secretary, I have found the record of instruction in the house of Yahweh, and Hilqiah gave the record to Shaphan and he recited it.	3c	4C	31 18
וַיָּבֹ֞א שָׁפָ֤ן הַסֹּפֵר֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיָּ֥שֶׁב אֶת־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ דָּבָ֑ר וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הִתִּ֤יכוּ עֲבָדֶ֙יךָ֙ אֶת־הַכֶּ֙סֶף֙ הַנִּמְצָ֣א בַבַּ֔יִת וַֽיִּתְּנֻ֗הוּ עַל־יַד֙ עֹשֵׂ֣י הַמְּלָאכָ֔ה הַמֻּפְקָדִ֖ים בֵּ֥ית יְהוָֽה	9		And Shaphan the secretary came to the king and returned to the king a word, and said, Your servants have poured forth the silver that was found in the house and have given it into the hand of those doing the lines of work, those entrusted with the house of Yahweh.	3e	4C	21 38
וַיַּגֵּ֞ד שָׁפָ֤ן הַסֹּפֵר֙ לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ לֵאמֹ֔ר סֵ֚פֶר נָ֣תַן לִ֔י חִלְקִיָּ֖ה הַכֹּהֵ֑ן וַיִּקְרָאֵ֥הוּ שָׁפָ֖ן לִפְנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ	10		And Shaphan the secretary made it clear to the king, saying, Hilqiah the priest gave me a record, and Shaphan recited it in the presence of the king.	3e	4C	24 12
וַֽיְהִי֙ כִּשְׁמֹ֣עַ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֖י סֵ֣פֶר הַתּוֹרָ֑ה וַיִּקְרַ֖ע אֶת־בְּגָדָֽיו	11		And it happened as the king heard the words of the record of instruction, that he ripped his garments.	3e	4B	16 7
וַיְצַ֣ו הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ אֶת־חִלְקִיָּ֣ה הַכֹּהֵ֡ן וְאֶת־אֲחִיקָ֣ם בֶּן־שָׁ֠פָן וְאֶת־עַכְבּ֨וֹר בֶּן־מִיכָיָ֜ה וְאֵ֣ת ׀ שָׁפָ֣ן הַסֹּפֵ֗ר וְאֵ֛ת עֲשָׂיָ֥ה עֶֽבֶד־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ לֵאמֹֽר	12		And the king commanded Hilqiah the priest, and Ahiqam child of Shaphan, and Aqbor, child of Mikayah, and Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah, the servant of the king, saying,	3d	4B	47
לְכוּ֩ דִרְשׁ֨וּ אֶת־יְהוָ֜ה בַּעֲדִ֣י וּבְעַד־הָעָ֗ם וּבְעַד֙ כָּל־יְהוּדָ֔ה עַל־דִּבְרֵ֛י הַסֵּ֥פֶר הַנִּמְצָ֖א הַזֶּ֑ה כִּֽי־גְדוֹלָ֞ה חֲמַ֣ת יְהוָ֗ה אֲשֶׁר־הִיא֙ נִצְּתָ֣ה בָ֔נוּ עַל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹֽא־שָׁמְע֜וּ אֲבֹתֵ֗ינוּ עַל־דִּבְרֵי֙ הַסֵּ֣פֶר הַזֶּ֔ה לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת כְּכָל־הַכָּת֥וּב עָלֵֽינוּ	13		Go, search out Yahweh about me, and about the people, and about all Judah, over the words of this record that was found, for great will be the heat of Yahweh which is charred in us, in that our ancestors have not heard about the words of this record, to do according to all that is written about us.	3d	4B	31 44
וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ חִלְקִיָּ֣הוּ הַ֠כֹּהֵן וַאֲחִיקָ֨ם וְעַכְבּ֜וֹר וְשָׁפָ֣ן וַעֲשָׂיָ֗ה אֶל־חֻלְדָּ֨ה הַנְּבִיאָ֜ה אֵ֣שֶׁת ׀ שַׁלֻּ֣ם בֶּן־תִּקְוָ֗ה בֶּן־חַרְחַס֙ שֹׁמֵ֣ר הַבְּגָדִ֔ים וְהִ֛יא יֹשֶׁ֥בֶת בִּירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם בַּמִּשְׁנֶ֑ה וַֽיְדַבְּר֖וּ אֵלֶֽיהָ	14		And Hilqiah the priest and Ahiqam and Aqbor and Shaphan and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum child of Tiqvah, child of Charchas, the keeper of the wardrobe, (and she settled in Jerusalem in the college) and they spoke to her.	3d	4B	57 6
וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם כֹּֽה־אָמַ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אִמְר֣וּ לָאִ֔ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־שָׁלַ֥ח אֶתְכֶ֖ם אֵלָֽי	15		And she said to them, Thus says Yahweh the God of Israel, Say to the person who sent you to me.	3e	4B	17 12
כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה הִנְנִ֨י מֵבִ֥יא רָעָ֛ה אֶל־הַמָּק֥וֹם הַזֶּ֖ה וְעַל־יֹֽשְׁבָ֑יו אֵ֚ת כָּל־דִּבְרֵ֣י הַסֵּ֔פֶר אֲשֶׁ֥ר קָרָ֖א מֶ֥לֶךְ יְהוּדָֽה	16	C	Thus says Yahweh, Note me well. I will bring evil to this place and on its inhabitants, all the words of the record that the king of Judah recited,	3d	4C	21 16
תַּ֣חַת ׀ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עֲזָב֗וּנִי וַֽיְקַטְּרוּ֙ לֵאלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים לְמַ֙עַן֙ הַכְעִיסֵ֔נִי בְּכֹ֖ל מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה יְדֵיהֶ֑ם וְנִצְּתָ֧ה חֲמָתִ֛י בַּמָּק֥וֹם הַזֶּ֖ה וְלֹ֥א תִכְבֶּֽה	17	B	Instead that they have forsaken me, and they have burned incense to other gods so that I was grieved in every deed of their hands, so my heat will char in this place and not be quenched.	3c	4B	32 15
וְאֶל־מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֗ה הַשֹּׁלֵ֤חַ אֶתְכֶם֙ לִדְרֹ֣שׁ אֶת־יְהוָ֔ה כֹּ֥ה תֹאמְר֖וּ אֵלָ֑יו כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הַדְּבָרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁמָֽעְתָּ	18		And to the king of Judah who sent you to search out Yahweh, thus you will say to him, Thus says Yahweh the God of Israel of the things that you heard,	3e	4C	23 19
יַ֠עַן רַךְ־לְבָ֨בְךָ֜ וַתִּכָּנַ֣ע ׀ מִפְּנֵ֣י יְהוָ֗ה בְּֽשָׁמְעֲךָ֡ אֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבַּרְתִּי֩ עַל־הַמָּק֨וֹם הַזֶּ֜ה וְעַל־יֹשְׁבָ֗יו לִהְי֤וֹת לְשַׁמָּה֙ וְלִקְלָלָ֔ה וַתִּקְרַע֙ אֶת־בְּגָדֶ֔יךָ וַתִּבְכֶּ֖ה לְפָנָ֑י וְגַ֧ם אָנֹכִ֛י שָׁמַ֖עְתִּי נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה	19	~	Because your heart was tender and you subdued yourself before Yahweh, when you heard what I spoke concerning this place and concerning its inhabitants, that they would be desolate, and a denial, and you ripped your garments, and you wept before me, so moreover I myself have heard. An oracle of Yahweh.	3c	4C	56 12
לָכֵן֩ הִנְנִ֨י אֹֽסִפְךָ֜ עַל־אֲבֹתֶ֗יךָ וְנֶאֱסַפְתָּ֣ אֶל־קִבְרֹתֶיךָ֮ בְּשָׁלוֹם֒ וְלֹא־תִרְאֶ֣ינָה עֵינֶ֔יךָ בְּכֹל֙ הָֽרָעָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־אֲנִ֥י מֵבִ֖יא עַל־הַמָּק֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה וַיָּשִׁ֥יבוּ אֶת־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ דָּבָֽר	20		So note me well, I will gather you to your ancestors and you will be gathered to your tomb in peace, and you will not see with your eyes into all the evil that I am bringing on this place. And they returned to the king a word.	3e	4B	50 10

Jeremiah 24

Good figs and evil? or bad? or hurtful? Sound a bit like Santa's lists? You better not pout.

The end of the hurtful is also a completion. And they are an example for all.

Merry Christmas

Jeremiah 24		Fn		Min	Max	Syll
הִרְאַנִי֮ יְהוָה֒ וְהִנֵּ֗ה שְׁנֵי֙ דּוּדָאֵ֣י תְאֵנִ֔ים מוּעָדִ֕ים לִפְנֵ֖י הֵיכַ֣ל יְהוָ֑ה אַחֲרֵ֣י הַגְל֣וֹת נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֣ר מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֡ל אֶת־יְכָנְיָ֣הוּ בֶן־יְהוֹיָקִ֣ים מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה֩ וְאֶת־שָׂרֵ֨י יְהוּדָ֜ה וְאֶת־הֶחָרָ֤שׁ וְאֶת־הַמַּסְגֵּר֙ מִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם וַיְבִאֵ֖ם בָּבֶֽל	1		Yahweh showed me and behold, two panniers of figs were engaged before the temple of Yahweh, after Nebukadretsar king of Babel exiled Jeconiah child of Jehoiachim, king of Judah, and the nobility of Judah, and the carpenter and the locksmith, from Jerusalem and had them brought to Babel.	3e	4C	25 55
הַדּ֣וּד אֶחָ֗ד תְּאֵנִים֙ טֹב֣וֹת מְאֹ֔ד כִּתְאֵנֵ֖י הַבַּכֻּר֑וֹת וְהַדּ֣וּד אֶחָ֗ד תְּאֵנִים֙ רָע֣וֹת מְאֹ֔ד אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־תֵֽאָכַ֖לְנָה מֵרֹֽעַ	2	B	Pannier one figs were very good, like the figs of first ripe fruit, but the other pannier of figs was very hurtful, so hurtful that they could not be eaten.	3e	4B	18 21
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה אֵלַ֗י מָֽה־אַתָּ֤ה רֹאֶה֙ יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ וָאֹמַ֖ר תְּאֵנִ֑ים הַתְּאֵנִ֤ים הַטֹּבוֹת֙ טֹב֣וֹת מְאֹ֔ד וְהָֽרָעוֹת֙ רָע֣וֹת מְאֹ֔ד אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־תֵאָכַ֖לְנָה מֵרֹֽעַ	3		And Yahweh said to me, What are you seeing, Jeremiah? and I said, Figs. The good figs are very good, and the hurtful very hurtful, so hurtful that they could not be eaten.	3e	4C	22 27
וַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר	4		And the word of Yahweh happened to me, saying,	3e	3g	10
כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כַּתְּאֵנִ֥ים הַטֹּב֖וֹת הָאֵ֑לֶּה כֵּֽן־אַכִּ֞יר אֶת־גָּל֣וּת יְהוּדָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר שִׁלַּ֜חְתִּי מִן־הַמָּק֥וֹם הַזֶּ֛ה אֶ֥רֶץ כַּשְׂדִּ֖ים לְטוֹבָֽה	5		Thus says Yahweh the God of Israel, As these good figs, so I recognize the exiles of Judah, that I sent from this place to the land of the Chaldeans, for good.	3d	4C	20 27
וְשַׂמְתִּ֨י עֵינִ֤י עֲלֵיהֶם֙ לְטוֹבָ֔ה וַהֲשִׁבֹתִ֖ים עַל־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֑את וּבְנִיתִים֙ וְלֹ֣א אֶהֱרֹ֔ס וּנְטַעְתִּ֖ים וְלֹ֥א אֶתּֽוֹשׁ	6		And I will set my eyes on them for good, and I will return them to this land, and I will build them up and not overthrow them, and I will plant them and not deport them.	3e	4C	22 15
וְנָתַתִּי֩ לָהֶ֨ם לֵ֜ב לָדַ֣עַת אֹתִ֗י כִּ֚י אֲנִ֣י יְהוָ֔ה וְהָיוּ־לִ֣י לְעָ֔ם וְאָ֣נֹכִ֔י אֶהְיֶ֥ה לָהֶ֖ם לֵאלֹהִ֑ים כִּֽי־יָשֻׁ֥בוּ אֵלַ֖י בְּכָל־לִבָּֽם	7		And I will give them a heart to know me, for I am Yahweh, and they will be my people, and I, I will be their God, for they will turn to me with all their heart.	3e	4C	34 9
וְכַתְּאֵנִים֙ הָֽרָע֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־תֵאָכַ֖לְנָה מֵרֹ֑עַ כִּי־כֹ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֗ה כֵּ֣ן אֶ֠תֵּן אֶת־צִדְקִיָּ֨הוּ מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֤ה וְאֶת־שָׂרָיו֙ וְאֵ֣ת ׀ שְׁאֵרִ֣ית יְרוּשָׁלִַ֗ם הַנִּשְׁאָרִים֙ בָּאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֔את וְהַיֹּשְׁבִ֖ים בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם	8		And as the hurtful figs, that could not be eaten, so hurtful, that thus says Yahweh, So I will give Zedekiah king of Judah, and his nobles, and the residue of Jerusalem, who are still here in this land, and those who settled in the land of Egypt,	3e	4C	16 51
וּנְתַתִּים֙ לְזַעֲוָ֣ה לְרָעָ֔ה לְכֹ֖ל מַמְלְכ֣וֹת הָאָ֑רֶץ לְחֶרְפָּ֤ה וּלְמָשָׁל֙ לִשְׁנִינָ֣ה וְלִקְלָלָ֔ה בְּכָל־הַמְּקֹמ֖וֹת אֲשֶֽׁר־אַדִּיחֵ֥ם שָֽׁם	9		And I will consign them to be unnerved, for their hurt, for all the kingdoms of the earth, for a reproach and for a parable, for sharp teaching and for denial, in all the places where I will banish them.	3e	4C	18 24
וְשִׁלַּ֣חְתִּי בָ֔ם אֶת־הַחֶ֖רֶב אֶת־הָרָעָ֣ב וְאֶת־הַדָּ֑בֶר עַד־תֻּמָּם֙ מֵעַ֣ל הָאֲדָמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֥תִּי לָהֶ֖ם וְלַאֲבוֹתֵיהֶֽם	10		And I will send with them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, until they are completed from off the ground that I gave for them and to their ancestors.	3e	4B	18 22

Jeremiah 42

Jeremiah is long, (21,775 words - longer than the Psalms and Genesis, the only two books with more than 19,000 words) and this is new ground for me, the bitter infighting in the exiled community, the refusal to listen, to do, to hear 'with the voice of Yahweh'. It could be this is just obey, but it is a deep hearing that brings about obedience, it is not a surly obeying of an order. That's why I have kept the hearing 'in' construction. Ha! Obey, like soul and repent are words I have never used in the first 100,000 words that I have written in English after reading in Hebrew. Humans don't know what these words mean anyway - so why use them.

Jeremiah 42		Fn		Min	Max	Syll
וַֽיִּגְּשׁוּ֙ כָּל־שָׂרֵ֣י הַחֲיָלִ֔ים וְיֽוֹחָנָן֙ בֶּן־קָרֵ֔חַ וִֽיזַנְיָ֖ה בֶּן־הוֹשַֽׁעְיָ֑ה וְכָל־הָעָ֖ם מִקָּטֹ֥ן וְעַד־גָּדֽוֹל	1		And they came close, all the chiefs of the forces, Jochanan, child of Qareiach, and Yezeniah, child of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least and to the greatest.	3e	4B	25 11
וַיֹּאמְר֞וּ אֶֽל־יִרְמְיָ֣הוּ הַנָּבִ֗יא תִּפָּל־נָ֤א תְחִנָּתֵ֙נוּ֙ לְפָנֶ֔יךָ וְהִתְפַּלֵּ֤ל בַּעֲדֵ֙נוּ֙ אֶל־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ בְּעַ֖ד כָּל־הַשְּׁאֵרִ֣ית הַזֹּ֑את כִּֽי־נִשְׁאַ֤רְנוּ מְעַט֙ מֵֽהַרְבֵּ֔ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר עֵינֶ֖יךָ רֹא֥וֹת אֹתָֽנוּ	2		And they said to Jeremiah the prophet, Let now our supplication fall before you, and pray concerning us to Yahweh your God, concerning all this residue, for we are residue, the few from the many, as your eyes see us.	3e	4C	46 20
וְיַגֶּד־לָ֙נוּ֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ אֶת־הַדֶּ֖רֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נֵֽלֶךְ־בָּ֑הּ וְאֶת־הַדָּבָ֖ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר נַעֲשֶֽׂה	3		And let Yahweh your God make clear to us the way which we may walk in, and the thing that we may do.	3e	4B	20 10
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם יִרְמְיָ֤הוּ הַנָּבִיא֙ שָׁמַ֔עְתִּי הִנְנִ֧י מִתְפַּלֵּ֛ל אֶל־יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֖ם כְּדִבְרֵיכֶ֑ם וְֽהָיָ֡ה כָּֽל־הַדָּבָר֩ אֲשֶׁר־יַעֲנֶ֨ה יְהוָ֤ה אֶתְכֶם֙ אַגִּ֣יד לָכֶ֔ם לֹֽא־אֶמְנַ֥ע מִכֶּ֖ם דָּבָֽר	4		And Jeremiah the prophet said to them, I have heard. Note me well. I will pray to Yahweh your God according to your words. And it will happen that any thing that Yahweh will answer you, I will make clear to you. I will not withhold from you a thing.	3c	4C	32 27
וְהֵ֙מָּה֙ אָמְר֣וּ אֶֽל־יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ יְהִ֤י יְהוָה֙ בָּ֔נוּ לְעֵ֖ד אֱמֶ֣ת וְנֶאֱמָ֑ן אִם־לֹ֡א כְּֽכָל־הַ֠דָּבָר אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִֽשְׁלָחֲךָ֜ יְהוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ אֵלֵ֖ינוּ כֵּ֥ן נַעֲשֶֽׂה	5		And they, they said to Jeremiah, Let Yahweh be between us for a witness, true and faithful, if not according to all of the thing that Yahweh your God will send you to us, so we will do.	3c	4C	24 26
אִם־ט֣וֹב וְאִם־רָ֔ע בְּק֣וֹל ׀ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֗ינוּ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אֲנַ֜חְנוּ שֹׁלְחִ֥ים אֹתְךָ֛ אֵלָ֖יו נִשְׁמָ֑ע לְמַ֙עַן֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִֽיטַב־לָ֔נוּ כִּ֣י נִשְׁמַ֔ע בְּק֖וֹל יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ	6		Whether good or evil, with the voice of Yahweh our God. that we, those who send you to him, we will hear, in order that it may be good for us, but we will hear with the voice of Yahweh our God.	3d	4B	26 20
וַיְהִ֕י מִקֵּ֖ץ עֲשֶׂ֣רֶת יָמִ֑ים וַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהוָ֖ה אֶֽל־יִרְמְיָֽהוּ	7		And it happened at the end of ten days, that the word of Yahweh happened to Jeremiah.	3e	4B	9 11
וַיִּקְרָ֗א אֶל־יֽוֹחָנָן֙ בֶּן־קָרֵ֔חַ וְאֶ֛ל כָּל־שָׂרֵ֥י הַחֲיָלִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתּ֑וֹ וּלְכָ֨ל־הָעָ֔ם לְמִקָּטֹ֥ן וְעַד־גָּדֽוֹל	8		And he called to Jochanan, child of Qareiach, and to all the chiefs of the forces who were with him, and to all the people, from the youngest and to the greatest.	3d	4B	24 12
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם כֹּֽה־אָמַ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר שְׁלַחְתֶּ֤ם אֹתִי֙ אֵלָ֔יו לְהַפִּ֥יל תְּחִנַּתְכֶ֖ם לְפָנָֽיו	9		And he said to them, Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to let your supplication fall before him.	3e	4C	17 19
אִם־שׁ֤וֹב תֵּֽשְׁבוּ֙ בָּאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֔את וּבָנִ֤יתִי אֶתְכֶם֙ וְלֹ֣א אֶהֱרֹ֔ס וְנָטַעְתִּ֥י אֶתְכֶ֖ם וְלֹ֣א אֶתּ֑וֹשׁ כִּ֤י נִחַ֙מְתִּי֙ אֶל־הָ֣רָעָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשִׂ֖יתִי לָכֶֽם	10		If turning, you will settle in this land, then I will build you up and not overthrow you and I will plant you and not deport you, for I regret the evil that I did to you.	3e	4C	30 15
אַל־תִּֽירְא֗וּ מִפְּנֵי֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ בָּבֶ֔ל אֲשֶׁר־אַתֶּ֥ם יְרֵאִ֖ים מִפָּנָ֑יו אַל־תִּֽירְא֤וּ מִמֶּ֙נּוּ֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה כִּֽי־אִתְּכֶ֣ם אָ֔נִי לְהוֹשִׁ֧יעַ אֶתְכֶ֛ם וּלְהַצִּ֥יל אֶתְכֶ֖ם מִיָּדֽוֹ	11		Do not fear before the king of Babel, of whom you are fearful before his face. Have no fear from him, an oracle of Yahweh, for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand.	3c	4C	19 29
וְאֶתֵּ֥ן לָכֶ֛ם רַחֲמִ֖ים וְרִחַ֣ם אֶתְכֶ֑ם וְהֵשִׁ֥יב אֶתְכֶ֖ם אֶל־אַדְמַתְכֶֽם	12		And I will demonstrate to you compassion, and he will be compassionate with you. And he will restore you to your ground.	3d	4B	13 9
וְאִם־אֹמְרִ֣ים אַתֶּ֔ם לֹ֥א נֵשֵׁ֖ב בָּאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֑את לְבִלְתִּ֣י שְׁמֹ֔עַ בְּק֖וֹל יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם	13		But if you are saying, We will not settle in this land, so as not to hear in the voice of Yahweh your God.	3e	4B	14 14
לֵאמֹ֗ר לֹ֚א כִּ֣י אֶ֤רֶץ מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ נָב֔וֹא אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־נִרְאֶה֙ מִלְחָמָ֔ה וְק֥וֹל שׁוֹפָ֖ר לֹ֣א נִשְׁמָ֑ע וְלַלֶּ֥חֶם לֹֽא־נִרְעָ֖ב וְשָׁ֥ם נֵשֵֽׁב	14		Saying, No, for we will go to the land of Egypt where we will not see war and the voice of a shophar we will not hear, and of bread we will not have scarcity, and there we will settle.	3e	4C	25 11
וְעַתָּ֕ה לָכֵ֛ן שִׁמְע֥וּ דְבַר־יְהוָ֖ה שְׁאֵרִ֣ית יְהוּדָ֑ה כֹּֽה־אָמַר֩ יְהוָ֨ה צְבָא֜וֹת אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אִם־אַ֠תֶּם שׂ֣וֹם תְּשִׂמ֤וּן פְּנֵיכֶם֙ לָבֹ֣א מִצְרַ֔יִם וּבָאתֶ֖ם לָג֥וּר שָֽׁם	15		And now therefore, hear the word of Yahweh, O residue of Judah: Thus says Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, If you to set, you set your face to go to Egypt, and you come to reside there,	3d	4C	17 34
וְהָיְתָ֣ה הַחֶ֗רֶב אֲשֶׁ֤ר אַתֶּם֙ יְרֵאִ֣ים מִמֶּ֔נָּה שָׁ֛ם תַּשִּׂ֥יג אֶתְכֶ֖ם בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם וְהָרָעָ֞ב אֲשֶׁר־אַתֶּ֣ם ׀ דֹּאֲגִ֣ים מִמֶּ֗נּוּ שָׁ֣ם יִדְבַּ֧ק אַחֲרֵיכֶ֛ם מִצְרַ֖יִם וְשָׁ֥ם תָּמֻֽתוּ	16		Then it will be that the sword that you feared, will overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine that you were anxious about will stay close behind you there in Egypt, and there you will die.	3c	4C	27 27
וְיִֽהְי֣וּ כָל־הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים אֲשֶׁר־שָׂ֨מוּ אֶת־פְּנֵיהֶ֜ם לָב֤וֹא מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ לָג֣וּר שָׁ֔ם יָמ֕וּתוּ בַּחֶ֖רֶב בָּרָעָ֣ב וּבַדָּ֑בֶר וְלֹֽא־יִהְיֶ֤ה לָהֶם֙ שָׂרִ֣יד וּפָלִ֔יט מִפְּנֵי֙ הָֽרָעָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲנִ֖י מֵבִ֥יא עֲלֵיהֶֽם	17		And it will be that all the persons that set their faces to come to Egypt to reside there will die by the sword, in scarcity, and by pestilence, and there will be for them neither survivor nor security from the presence of the evil that I, I will bring upon them.	3e	4C	36 25
כִּי֩ כֹ֨ה אָמַ֜ר יְהוָ֣ה צְבָאוֹת֮ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ כַּאֲשֶׁר֩ נִתַּ֨ךְ אַפִּ֜י וַחֲמָתִ֗י עַל־יֹֽשְׁבֵי֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם כֵּ֣ן תִּתַּ֤ךְ חֲמָתִי֙ עֲלֵיכֶ֔ם בְּבֹאֲכֶ֖ם מִצְרָ֑יִם וִהְיִיתֶ֞ם לְאָלָ֤ה וּלְשַׁמָּה֙ וְלִקְלָלָ֣ה וּלְחֶרְפָּ֔ה וְלֹֽא־תִרְא֣וּ ע֔וֹד אֶת־הַמָּק֖וֹם הַזֶּֽה	18	~	Because thus says Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, As I have poured forth my anger and my heat on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so my heat will be poured forth on you when you come to Egypt, and you will become a sob, and a desolation, and a denial, and a reproach, and you will not see this place any more.	3e	4C	48 27
דִּבֶּ֨ר יְהוָ֤ה עֲלֵיכֶם֙ שְׁאֵרִ֣ית יְהוּדָ֔ה אַל־תָּבֹ֖אוּ מִצְרָ֑יִם יָדֹ֙עַ֙ תֵּֽדְע֔וּ כִּי־הַעִידֹ֥תִי בָכֶ֖ם הַיּֽוֹם	19		Yahweh spoke about you, O residue of Judah, Do not enter Egypt, You know that I engage among you today.	3e	4C	19 13
כִּ֣י הִתְעֵיתֶם֮ בְּנַפְשֽׁוֹתֵיכֶם֒ כִּֽי־אַתֶּ֞ם שְׁלַחְתֶּ֣ם אֹתִ֗י אֶל־יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הִתְפַּלֵּ֣ל בַּעֲדֵ֔נוּ אֶל־יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ וּכְכֹל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יֹאמַ֜ר יְהוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֵ֛ינוּ כֵּ֥ן הַגֶּד־לָ֖נוּ וְעָשִֽׂינוּ	20	B	For you wandered in your integrity when you, you sent me to Yahweh your God, saying, Pray concerning us to Yahweh our God, and according to all that Yahweh our God says, so make clear to us, and we will do it.	3c	4C	39 21
וָאַגִּ֥ד לָכֶ֖ם הַיּ֑וֹם וְלֹ֣א שְׁמַעְתֶּ֗ם בְּקוֹל֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם וּלְכֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁר־שְׁלָחַ֥נִי אֲלֵיכֶֽם	21		So I have made clear to you today, and you did not hear with the voice of Yahweh your God, or to anything that he sent me for you.	3e	4B	7 24
וְעַתָּה֙ יָדֹ֣עַ תֵּֽדְע֔וּ כִּ֗י בַּחֶ֛רֶב בָּרָעָ֥ב וּבַדֶּ֖בֶר תָּמ֑וּתוּ בַּמָּקוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר חֲפַצְתֶּ֔ם לָב֖וֹא לָג֥וּר שָֽׁם	22		And now you know that by the sword, in scarcity, and by pestilence, you will die, in the place where you delight to come to, to reside there.	3d	4B	22 13

Joshua 15

I knew some day I would have to approach the lists of towns, or of people's names. Well here's a first long list. We used to sing a piece by Tony Petti in a choir in Calgary called The Place Names of Alberta (in alphabetical order from the beginning). It was a hoot, but difficult to learn. Early rap of sorts. This list from Joshua is not much different, And yes - you can sing the whole thing, one city at a time.

What I have done with the names is aided by the computer algorithm I use to transcribe the Hebrew libretto in the music. But I am not very consistent. Sometimes my spelling differences are in the Hebrew also. Sometimes I have already spelled the city outside of a list and I use that spelling. Sometimes I will use the common traditional name, especially if it is frequently used and appears to refer to the same location in these multiple instances.

There are sufficient variations on the puzzle pieces to raise questions. Like, in this list, what is this place Chatsor or Chatsar that repeats with names following it and without a vav (indicating and)? Well, it might be that one is thinking 'the court of' so and so. Since חצר (chtsr) is court. But we know it traditionally as Hazor - another way of transliterating the Hebrew.

Ch (in my phonetic scheme) is the hard ח. ts is tsade צ Transliteration schemes are legion. It is common to substitute K for qof (Q) and ch for K (kaf). O well! I am sure that phonetics and spellings changed also over the 1000 years of the writing of the OT. In fact the idea of 'correct' spelling is relatively new, and it is not even a sop to entropy.

Sometimes one is tempted to translate rather than transliterate the city names. In verse 15 perhaps the Gates, and Trappings, and the Protectorate and its offshoots, but one might not then add up to the twenty nine or the fourteen cities and their courts. Could be a distraction... I get too many cities with my count sometimes. I will leave this to the geographers. (As Calvin did - yet I am sure there is much here for consideration. I don't think I would deny interest to it as he may imply in his commentary. But I will take his excuse.)

It's a long chapter and there are 79 or more repeating roots, but is there a pattern? an inclusio? 28 of them occur exactly twice, including wilderness and Egypt near the beginning and near the end. Verses 1 to 19 are clearly distinct from verses 20 to the end, the city list. Caleb's somewhat shameful behaviour is repeated from Judges 1. (Don't think we should imitate everything in the Bible, even from heroes. That's not the obedience of faith.)

Structurally, verses 20 to 63 are clearly bound by two recurrences of the children of Judah at the beginning and at the end. The focus of the whole section is Jerusalem. That is the last recurring word. The root for 'court' חצר noted above occurs 19 times in this section. The word for border is the second most frequent, occurring 23 times, only one of them in this second section.

Joshua 15		Fn		Min	Max	Syll
וַיְהִ֣י הַגּוֹרָ֗ל לְמַטֵּ֛ה בְּנֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֑ם אֶל־גְּב֨וּל אֱד֧וֹם מִדְבַּר־צִ֛ן נֶ֖גְבָּה מִקְצֵ֥ה תֵימָֽן	1		And this was the lot of the branch of the children of Judah in their families: to the border of Edom of the wilderness of Zin southward to the southern shore.	3c	4B	18 14
וַיְהִ֤י לָהֶם֙ גְּב֣וּל נֶ֔גֶב מִקְצֵ֖ה יָ֣ם הַמֶּ֑לַח מִן־הַלָּשֹׁ֖ן הַפֹּנֶ֥ה נֶֽגְבָּה	2		And their border southward was from the shore of the salt sea, from the tongue that faces southward.	3e	4C	14 9
וְ֠יָצָא אֶל־מִנֶּ֜גֶב לְמַעֲלֵ֤ה עַקְרַבִּים֙ וְעָ֣בַר צִ֔נָה וְעָלָ֥ה מִנֶּ֖גֶב לְקָדֵ֣שׁ בַּרְנֵ֑עַ וְעָבַ֤ר חֶצְרוֹן֙ וְעָלָ֣ה אַדָּ֔רָה וְנָסַ֖ב הַקַּרְקָֽעָה	3	~	And it came out from the Negev to the ascendance of the scorpions, and it passed through toward Zin, and ascended from the Negev to Qadesh-Barnea, and passed through Hetsron, and ascended towards Adar, and circled towards Qarqaa.	3e	4C	31 18
וְעָבַ֣ר עַצְמ֗וֹנָה וְיָצָא֙ נַ֣חַל מִצְרַ֔יִם וְהָי֛וּ תֹּצְא֥וֹת הַגְּב֖וּל יָ֑מָּה זֶה־יִהְיֶ֥ה לָכֶ֖ם גְּב֥וּל נֶֽגֶב	4		And it passed through towards Atsmon, and came out to the wadi of Egypt, and the exeunts of the border were seaward. This will be your border southward.	3d	4B	22 9
וּגְב֥וּל קֵ֙דְמָה֙ יָ֣ם הַמֶּ֔לַח עַד־קְצֵ֖ה הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן וּגְב֞וּל לִפְאַ֤ת צָפ֙וֹנָה֙ מִלְּשׁ֣וֹן הַיָּ֔ם מִקְצֵ֖ה הַיַּרְדֵּֽן	5		And the border eastward is the salt sea to the limit of the Jordan, and the border of the northward quarter is from the tongue of the sea from the limit of the Jordan.	3e	4C	14 16
וְעָלָ֤ה הַגְּבוּל֙ בֵּ֣ית חָגְלָ֔ה וְעָבַ֕ר מִצְּפ֖וֹן לְבֵ֣ית הָעֲרָבָ֑ה וְעָלָ֣ה הַגְּב֔וּל אֶ֥בֶן בֹּ֖הַן בֶּן־רְאוּבֵֽן	6		And the border ascended to Beth-Hoglah and it passed through from the north to the house of the steppe, and the border ascended the stone of Bohan, child of Reuben.	3e	4C	19 13
וְעָלָ֨ה הַגְּב֥וּל ׀ דְּבִרָה֮ מֵעֵ֣מֶק עָכוֹר֒ וְצָפ֜וֹנָה פֹּנֶ֣ה אֶל־הַגִּלְגָּ֗ל אֲשֶׁר־נֹ֙כַח֙ לְמַעֲלֵ֣ה אֲדֻמִּ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר מִנֶּ֖גֶב לַנָּ֑חַל וְעָבַ֤ר הַגְּבוּל֙ אֶל־מֵי־עֵ֣ין שֶׁ֔מֶשׁ וְהָי֥וּ תֹצְאֹתָ֖יו אֶל־עֵ֥ין רֹגֵֽל	7		And the border ascended towards Debir from the valley of agitation, and northward facing over against the Gilgal, that is opposite to the ascent to Adummim which is from the south of the wadi, and the border passed through to the waters of the Eye of the Sun, and the exeunts were to the Surveyor's Spring.	3e	4C	42 20
וְעָלָ֨ה הַגְּב֜וּל גֵּ֣י בֶן־הִנֹּ֗ם אֶל־כֶּ֤תֶף הַיְבוּסִי֙ מִנֶּ֔גֶב הִ֖יא יְרֽוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וְעָלָ֨ה הַגְּב֜וּל אֶל־רֹ֣אשׁ הָהָ֗ר אֲ֠שֶׁר עַל־פְּנֵ֤י גֵֽי־הִנֹּם֙ יָ֔מָּה אֲשֶׁ֛ר בִּקְצֵ֥ה עֵֽמֶק־רְפָאִ֖ים צָפֹֽנָה	8		And the border ascended the gorge of the child of Hinnom to the Jebusite shoulder from the south. (This is Jerusalem.) And the border ascended to the top of the hill that faces the gorge of Hinnom seaward that is toward the end of the valley of the titans northward.	3d	4C	23 30
וְתָאַ֨ר הַגְּב֜וּל מֵרֹ֣אשׁ הָהָ֗ר אֶל־מַעְיַן֙ מֵ֣י נֶפְתּ֔וֹחַ וְיָצָ֖א אֶל־עָרֵ֣י הַר־עֶפְר֑וֹן וְתָאַ֤ר הַגְּבוּל֙ בַּעֲלָ֔ה הִ֖יא קִרְיַ֥ת יְעָרִֽים	9		And the border was formed from the top of the hill to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah, and it came out at the cities of the hill of Ephron. And the border of Baalah was formed. (This is the town of Yearim.)	3e	4C	25 14
וְנָסַב֩ הַגְּב֨וּל מִבַּעֲלָ֥ה יָ֙מָּה֙ אֶל־הַ֣ר שֵׂעִ֔יר וְעָבַ֕ר אֶל־כֶּ֧תֶף הַר־יְעָרִ֛ים מִצָּפ֖וֹנָה הִ֣יא כְסָל֑וֹן וְיָרַ֥ד בֵּֽית־שֶׁ֖מֶשׁ וְעָבַ֥ר תִּמְנָֽה	10		And the border circled from Baalah seaward to the hill of Seir, and it passed through to the shoulder of the hill of Yearim from the north. (This is Kaselun.) And it descended to the house of the sun, and it passed through Timnah.	3c	4B	33 11
וְיָצָ֨א הַגְּב֜וּל אֶל־כֶּ֣תֶף עֶקְרוֹן֮ צָפוֹנָה֒ וְתָאַ֤ר הַגְּבוּל֙ שִׁכְּר֔וֹנָה וְעָבַ֥ר הַר־הַֽבַּעֲלָ֖ה וְיָצָ֣א יַבְנְאֵ֑ל וְהָי֛וּ תֹּצְא֥וֹת הַגְּב֖וּל יָֽמָּה	11		And the border came out to the shoulder of Eqron northward, and the border was formed toward Shikron, and it passed through the hill of Baalah, and came out at Yabneel, and the exeunts of the border were seaward.	3d	4C	35 9
וּגְב֣וּל יָ֔ם הַיָּ֥מָּה הַגָּד֖וֹל וּגְב֑וּל זֶ֠ה גְּב֧וּל בְּנֵֽי־יְהוּדָ֛ה סָבִ֖יב לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָֽם	12		And the border of the sea was toward the great sea. And this border was the border of the children of Judah surrounding their families.	3c	4B	11 15
וּלְכָלֵ֣ב בֶּן־יְפֻנֶּ֗ה נָ֤תַן חֵ֙לֶק֙ בְּת֣וֹךְ בְּנֵֽי־יְהוּדָ֔ה אֶל־פִּ֥י יְהוָ֖ה לִֽיהוֹשֻׁ֑עַ אֶת־קִרְיַ֥ת אַרְבַּ֛ע אֲבִ֥י הָעֲנָ֖ק הִ֥יא חֶבְרֽוֹן	13		And to Caleb, child of Jepunah, he gave a share among the children of Judah, by the mandate of Yahweh to Joshua, the town of four, the father of Anaq. (This is Hebron.)	3d	4C	26 13
וַיֹּ֤רֶשׁ מִשָּׁם֙ כָּלֵ֔ב אֶת־שְׁלוֹשָׁ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י הָעֲנָ֑ק אֶת־שֵׁשַׁ֤י וְאֶת־אֲחִימַן֙ וְאֶת־תַּלְמַ֔י יְלִידֵ֖י הָעֲנָֽק	14		And Caleb dispossessed from there, the three children of Anaq, Sheshai, and Achiman, and Talmai, the successors of Anaq.	3e	4C	16 18
וַיַּ֣עַל מִשָּׁ֔ם אֶל־יֹשְׁבֵ֖י דְּבִ֑ר וְשֵׁם־דְּבִ֥ר לְפָנִ֖ים קִרְיַת־סֵֽפֶר	15		And he went up from there to the inhabitants of Debir. (And the name of Debir before was the town of Sapphire.)	3e	4B	10 11
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר כָּלֵ֔ב אֲשֶׁר־יַכֶּ֥ה אֶת־קִרְיַת־סֵ֖פֶר וּלְכָדָ֑הּ וְנָתַ֥תִּי ל֛וֹ אֶת־עַכְסָ֥ה בִתִּ֖י לְאִשָּֽׁה	16		And Caleb said, Whoever strikes the town of Sapphire and conquers it, I will give to him Akesah my daughter as wife.	3d	4B	17 13
וַֽיִּלְכְּדָ֛הּ עָתְנִיאֵ֥ל בֶּן־קְנַ֖ז אֲחִ֣י כָלֵ֑ב וַיִּתֶּן־ל֛וֹ אֶת־עַכְסָ֥ה בִתּ֖וֹ לְאִשָּֽׁה	17		And Othniel conquered it, child of Qenaz, Caleb's brother. So he gave him Akesah his daughter as wife.	3d	4B	14 12
וַיְהִ֣י בְּבוֹאָ֗הּ וַתְּסִיתֵ֙הוּ֙ לִשְׁא֤וֹל מֵֽאֵת־אָבִ֙יהָ֙ שָׂדֶ֔ה וַתִּצְנַ֖ח מֵעַ֣ל הַחֲמ֑וֹר וַיֹּֽאמֶר־לָ֥הּ כָּלֵ֖ב מַה־לָּֽךְ	18		And it happened when she came, that she incited him to ask from her father a field. She put herself down from the ass, and Caleb said to her, What is it to you?	3e	4C	26 8
וַתֹּ֜אמֶר תְּנָה־לִּ֣י בְרָכָ֗ה כִּ֣י אֶ֤רֶץ הַנֶּ֙גֶב֙ נְתַתָּ֔נִי וְנָתַתָּ֥ה לִ֖י גֻּלֹּ֣ת מָ֑יִם וַיִּתֶּן־לָ֗הּ אֵ֚ת גֻּלֹּ֣ת עִלִּיּ֔וֹת וְאֵ֖ת גֻּלֹּ֥ת תַּחְתִּיּֽוֹת	19		And she said, Give me a blessing for the land of the Negev you gave me. So give me rolling water. And he gave to her the upper rollers and the lower rollers.	3e	4C	28 17
זֹ֗את נַחֲלַ֛ת מַטֵּ֥ה בְנֵי־יְהוּדָ֖ה לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָֽם	20	~	This is the inheritance of the branch of the children of Judah in their families.	3d	3g	16
וַיִּֽהְי֣וּ הֶעָרִ֗ים מִקְצֵה֙ לְמַטֵּ֣ה בְנֵֽי־יְהוּדָ֔ה אֶל־גְּב֥וּל אֱד֖וֹם בַּנֶּ֑גְבָּה קַבְצְאֵ֥ל וְעֵ֖דֶר וְיָגֽוּר	21		And the cities from the extremity of the branch of the children of Judah to the border of Edom in the south were: Qavtseil and Eider and Yagur,	3e	4B	24 9
וְקִינָ֥ה וְדִֽימוֹנָ֖ה וְעַדְעָדָֽה	22		And Qinah and Dimonah and Adadah,	3e	3g	11
וְקֶ֥דֶשׁ וְחָצ֖וֹר וְיִתְנָֽן	23		And Qedesh, and Chatsor and Yitnan,	3e	3g	9
זִ֥יף וָטֶ֖לֶם וּבְעָלֽוֹת	24	f	Zif and Telem and Baalot,	3e	3g	7
וְחָצ֤וֹר ׀ חֲדַתָּה֙ וּקְרִיּ֔וֹת חֶצְר֖וֹן הִ֥יא חָצֽוֹר	25		And Chatsor-Chadatah, and the towns of Hetsron, (this is Chatsor),	3e	4C	14
אֲמָ֥ם וּשְׁמַ֖ע וּמוֹלָדָֽה	26		Amam and Shma and Moladah,	3e	3g	8
וַחֲצַ֥ר גַּדָּ֛ה וְחֶשְׁמ֖וֹן וּבֵ֥ית פָּֽלֶט	27		And Chatsar-Gadah and Cheshmon and the house of Security,	3d	3g	12
וַחֲצַ֥ר שׁוּעָ֛ל וּבְאֵ֥ר שֶׁ֖בַע וּבִזְיוֹתְיָֽה	28		and Chatsar-Shual and Beer-Sheva and Vizyotyah,	3d	3g	13
בַּעֲלָ֥ה וְעִיִּ֖ים וָעָֽצֶם	29		Baalah and Iyim and Atsem,	3e	3g	9
וְאֶלְתּוֹלַ֥ד וּכְסִ֖יל וְחָרְמָֽה	30		and Eltolad and Ksil and Charmah,	3e	3g	9
וְצִֽקְלַ֥ג וּמַדְמַנָּ֖ה וְסַנְסַנָּֽה	31		and Tsiqlag and Madmanah and Sansanah,	3e	3g	11
וּלְבָא֥וֹת וְשִׁלְחִ֖ים וְעַ֣יִן וְרִמּ֑וֹן כָּל־עָרִ֛ים עֶשְׂרִ֥ים וָתֵ֖שַׁע וְחַצְרֵיהֶֽן	32		And Lvaot and Shilchim and Ain and Rimmon. Total cities, twenty nine and their courts.	3d	4B	11 12
בַּשְּׁפֵלָ֑ה אֶשְׁתָּא֥וֹל וְצָרְעָ֖ה וְאַשְׁנָֽה	33		Bashfeilah, Eshtaol and Tsarah and Ashnah,	3e	4A	3 9
וְזָנ֙וֹחַ֙ וְעֵ֣ין גַּנִּ֔ים תַּפּ֖וּחַ וְהָעֵינָֽם	34		And Zanoach and Ein-Ganim, Tapuach and Haeinam,	3e	4B	15
יַרְמוּת֙ וַעֲדֻלָּ֔ם שׂוֹכֹ֖ה וַעֲזֵקָֽה	35		Yarmut and Adullam, Sokoh and Azeiqah,	3e	3g	12
וְשַׁעֲרַ֙יִם֙ וַעֲדִיתַ֔יִם וְהַגְּדֵרָ֖ה וּגְדֵרֹתָ֑יִם עָרִ֥ים אַרְבַּֽע־עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה וְחַצְרֵיהֶֽן	36		And Shaaraim and Aditaim and Hagdeirah and Gdeirotayim, fourteen cities and their courts.	3e	4A	17 10
צְנָ֥ן וַחֲדָשָׁ֖ה וּמִגְדַּל־גָּֽד	37		Tsenan and Chadashah and the tower of Gad,	3e	3g	10
וְדִלְעָ֥ן וְהַמִּצְפֶּ֖ה וְיָקְתְאֵֽל	38		And Dilan and Mizpeh and Joktheel,	3e	3g	11
לָכִ֥ישׁ וּבָצְקַ֖ת וְעֶגְלֽוֹן	39		Lachish and Vatsqat and Eglon,	3e	3g	8
וְכַבּ֥וֹן וְלַחְמָ֖ס וְכִתְלִֽישׁ	40		And Kabon and Lachmas and Kitlish,	3e	3g	9
וּגְדֵר֕וֹת בֵּית־דָּג֥וֹן וְנַעֲמָ֖ה וּמַקֵּדָ֑ה עָרִ֥ים שֵׁשׁ־עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה וְחַצְרֵיהֶֽן	41		And Gdeirot, the house of Dagon, and Naamah, and Maqeidah, sixteen cities and their courts.	3e	4A	14 9
לִבְנָ֥ה וָעֶ֖תֶר וְעָשָֽׁן	42		Livnah and Eter and Ashan,	3e	3g	8
וְיִפְתָּ֥ח וְאַשְׁנָ֖ה וּנְצִֽיב	43		And Yiftach and Ashnah and Ntsiv,	3e	3g	8
וּקְעִילָ֥ה וְאַכְזִ֖יב וּמָֽרֵאשָׁ֑ה עָרִ֥ים תֵּ֖שַׁע וְחַצְרֵיהֶֽן	44		And Qilah and Akziv and Mareshah, Nineteen cities and their courts.	3e	4A	10 8
עֶקְר֥וֹן וּבְנֹתֶ֖יהָ וַחֲצֵרֶֽיהָ	45		Eqron and its built-up areas and its courts.	3e	3g	11
מֵעֶקְר֖וֹן וָיָ֑מָּה כֹּ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־עַל־יַ֥ד אַשְׁדּ֖וֹד וְחַצְרֵיהֶֽן	46		From Eqron and towards the sea, all that was handy to Ashdod and its courts.	3d	4A	6 11
אַשְׁדּ֞וֹד בְּנוֹתֶ֣יהָ וַחֲצֵרֶ֗יהָ עַזָּ֥ה בְּנוֹתֶ֥יהָ וַחֲצֵרֶ֖יהָ עַד־נַ֣חַל מִצְרָ֑יִם וְהַיָּ֥ם הַגָּד֖וֹל וּגְבֽוּל	47		Ashdod and its built-up areas and its courts, Gaza, its built-up areas and its courts to the wadi of Egypt, and the great sea and border.	3e	4B	28 8
וּבָהָ֑ר שָׁמִ֥יר וְיַתִּ֖יר וְשׂוֹכֹֽה	48		And on the hill, Shamir and Yatir and Sokoh,	3e	4A	3 8
וְדַנָּ֥ה וְקִרְיַת־סַנָּ֖ה הִ֥יא דְבִֽר	49		And Danah and the town of Bush, (this is Debir),	3e	3g	11
וַעֲנָ֥ב וְאֶשְׁתְּמֹ֖ה וְעָנִֽים	50		And Grapeland and Eshtemoh and Anim,	3e	3g	10
וְגֹ֥שֶׁן וְחֹלֹ֖ן וְגִלֹ֑ה עָרִ֥ים אַֽחַת־עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה וְחַצְרֵיהֶֽן	51		And Goshen and Cholon and Giloh, eleven cities and their courts.	3e	4A	9 10
אֲרַ֥ב וְרוּמָ֖ה וְאֶשְׁעָֽן	52		Arav and Rumah and Eshan,	3e	3g	8
וְיָנ֥וּם וּבֵית־תַּפּ֖וּחַ וַאֲפֵֽקָה	53		And Yanum and the house of Tapuach and Afeiqah,	3e	3g	12
וְחֻמְטָ֗ה וְקִרְיַ֥ת אַרְבַּ֛ע הִ֥יא חֶבְר֖וֹן וְצִיעֹ֑ר עָרִ֥ים תֵּ֖שַׁע וְחַצְרֵיהֶֽן	54		And Chumtah the town of four, (this is Hebron) and Tsior, nine cities and their courts.	3d	4A	14 8
מָע֥וֹן ׀ כַּרְמֶ֖ל וָזִ֥יף וְיוּטָּֽה	55	f	Maon, Carmel, and Zif and Yutah,	3e	3g	9
וְיִזְרְעֶ֥אל וְיָקְדְעָ֖ם וְזָנֽוֹחַ	56		and Jezreel and Yaqdeam and Zanoach,	3e	3g	13
הַקַּ֖יִן גִּבְעָ֣ה וְתִמְנָ֑ה עָרִ֥ים עֶ֖שֶׂר וְחַצְרֵיהֶֽן	57		The Cain, Gibeah and Timnah, ten cities and their courts.	3e	4B	7 8
חַלְח֥וּל בֵּֽית־צ֖וּר וּגְדֽוֹר	58		Chalchul, the house of Tyre and Gdor,	3e	3g	6
וּמַעֲרָ֥ת וּבֵית־עֲנ֖וֹת וְאֶלְתְּקֹ֑ן עָרִ֥ים שֵׁ֖שׁ וְחַצְרֵיהֶֽן	59		And Maarat and the house of Anot and Elteqon, six cities and their courts,	3e	4A	12 7
קִרְיַת־בַּ֗עַל הִ֛יא קִרְיַ֥ת יְעָרִ֖ים וְהָֽרַבָּ֑ה עָרִ֥ים שְׁתַּ֖יִם וְחַצְרֵיהֶֽן	60		The town of Baal, (this is the town of Yearim) and Harabah, two cities and their courts.	3d	4A	14 8
בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר בֵּ֚ית הָעֲרָבָ֔ה מִדִּ֖ין וּסְכָכָֽה	61		In the wilderness, the house of the steppe, Midin and Skakah.	3e	4C	3 10
וְהַנִּבְשָׁ֥ן וְעִיר־הַמֶּ֖לַח וְעֵ֣ין גֶּ֑דִי עָרִ֥ים שֵׁ֖שׁ וְחַצְרֵיהֶֽן	62		And the Nivshan, and the city of the salt, and Ein Gedi, six cities and their courts.	3e	4B	13 7
וְאֶת־הַיְבוּסִי֙ יוֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרֽוּשָׁלִַ֔ם לֹֽא־יָכְל֥וּ בְנֵֽי־יְהוּדָ֖ה לְהֽוֹרִישָׁ֑ם וַיֵּ֨שֶׁב הַיְבוּסִ֜י אֶת־בְּנֵ֤י יְהוּדָה֙ בִּיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם עַ֖ד הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה	63		And the Jebusites were inhabitants of Jerusalem. The children of Judah were not able to dispossess them. The Jebusite has settled with the children of Judah in Jerusalem until this day.	3e	4C	23 21

Proverbs 31

Proverbs 31 was way down my list, but I was getting bogged down in 2 Kings and the reforms of Josiah. I wonder why. A respite to poetry was called for and particularly the last of the 13 acrostic poems, the only one I have not yet translated as an acrostic. So here it is. And by the way, the computer does not like the traditional glosses so the initial proverbs do not have the tone I might have assigned to them if I were reading in English alone.

Kings and rule makers - shades of Psalm 2 - take care. Note the context of the instructions on strong drink. Note the continuing emphasis on the preferential option for the poor. Who are the children of renewal - see the frame for Book 4 of the Psalms - it is Moses and renew (but you wouldn't know it from traditional translations).

That opening word, tutor, יסר, so many possible glosses: chasten, mentor, warn, bewilder (but not teach - I have reserved that for למד or instruct reserved for תורה - from ירה, throw, shoot). Another choice word with many glosses is חיל which I have glossed as ability, wealth, force, weal, bulwark, but I have not used it for strength (אזז).

Now here you can see what my intentions are for doing this reading - to undermine my presuppositions about what the text means, to relearn the lessons by which my mother, the tradition, might have tutored me. She begins by asking questions. Don't stop asking questions.

Oh - I ignored the Aramaic loanword בר. Purity will do just fine here as in Psalm 2.  Psalm 2 and Proverbs 31 share 19 roots for 60 of 286 words, not a very high percentage, but an interesting list in any case. (Excluding 7 common words. With the 7 there are 87 shared of 311 total, 26 distinct.) These are the 'significant' roots: מלך דבר יסר אשׁר ברר נתן דרך רזן בן פן אבד שׁפט יום רעע חק ירא ארץ שׂחק - eight of these are in reverse order: happy, way, perish, judge, injure, decree, them, laugh. See diagram below. But that is probably coincidence - but maybe not - it is a carefully constructed poem.

The music is at the bottom of this post. Fn is first note, Min and Max lowest and highest.

Proverbs 31		Fn		Min	Max	Syll
דִּ֭בְרֵי לְמוּאֵ֣ל מֶ֑לֶךְ מַ֝שָּׂ֗א אֲֽשֶׁר יִסְּרַ֥תּוּ אִמּֽוֹ	1	g	The words of Lemuel king, the load by which his mother tutored him.	3e	4B	7 9
מַה בְּ֭רִי וּמַֽה בַּר בִּטְנִ֑י וּ֝מֶה בַּר נְדָרָֽי	2	g	What my pure one? And what, O purity of my belly? And what, O purity of my vows?	3e	4A	8 6
אַל תִּתֵּ֣ן לַנָּשִׁ֣ים חֵילֶ֑ךָ וּ֝דְרָכֶ֗יךָ לַֽמְח֥וֹת מְלָכִֽין	3	B	Do not give to women your ability, nor your ways to what wipes out kings.	3e	4B	9 9
אַ֤ל לַֽמְלָכִ֨ים לְֽמוֹאֵ֗ל אַ֣ל לַֽמְלָכִ֣ים שְׁתוֹ יָ֑יִן וּ֝לְרוֹזְנִ֗ים אֵ֣י שֵׁכָֽר	4	C	Not for kings Lemuel, not for kings to imbibe wine, and for rule-makers, how, strong drink?	3e	4C	15 6
פֶּן יִ֭שְׁתֶּה וְיִשְׁכַּ֣ח מְחֻקָּ֑ק וִֽ֝ישַׁנֶּה דִּ֣ין כָּל בְּנֵי עֹֽנִי	5	g	Lest he will imbibe and forget to be lawgiver, and feign the case of all the children of poverty.	3e	4B	9 9
תְּנוּ שֵׁכָ֣ר לְאוֹבֵ֑ד וְ֝יַיִן לְמָ֣רֵי נָֽפֶשׁ	6		Give strong drink to the perishing, and wine to the bitter self.	3e	4B	7 7
יִ֭שְׁתֶּה וְיִשְׁכַּ֣ח רִישׁ֑וֹ וַ֝עֲמָל֗וֹ לֹ֣א יִזְכָּר עֽוֹד	7	g	Let him imbibe and forget his want, and his misery let him remember no more.	3e	4B	7 8
פְּתַח פִּ֥יךָ לְאִלֵּ֑ם אֶל דִּ֝֗ין כָּל בְּנֵ֥י חֲלֽוֹף	8		Open your mouth for the dumb, to advocate for all the children of renewal.	3e	4A	7 7
פְּתַח פִּ֥יךָ שְׁפָט צֶ֑דֶק וְ֝דִ֗ין עָנִ֥י וְאֶבְיֽוֹן פ	9		Open your mouth. Judge righteousness, and advocate for the poor and needy.	3e	4A	8 8
אֵֽשֶׁת חַ֭יִל מִ֣י יִמְצָ֑א וְרָחֹ֖ק מִפְּנִינִ֣ים מִכְרָֽהּ	10		א A woman of ability, who will find? And far above rubies is her selling-price.	3e	4B	7 8
בָּ֣טַח בָּ֭הּ לֵ֣ב בַּעְלָ֑הּ וְ֝שָׁלָ֗ל לֹ֣א יֶחְסָֽר	11	B	ב Belief in her is in the heart of her husband, and spoil he will not be lacking.	3e	4B	6 6
גְּמָלַ֣תְהוּ ט֣וֹב וְלֹא רָ֑ע כֹּ֝֗ל יְמֵ֣י חַיֶּֽיה	12		ג Good she will reward him and not evil, all the days of her life.	3e	4B	8 5
דָּ֭רְשָׁה צֶ֣מֶר וּפִשְׁתִּ֑ים וַ֝תַּ֗עַשׂ בְּחֵ֣פֶץ כַּפֶּֽיהָ	13	g	ד Delighting in the deeds of her handiwork, she searches out wool and flax.	3e	4B	7 9
הָ֭יְתָה כָּאֳנִיּ֣וֹת סוֹחֵ֑ר מִ֝מֶּרְחָ֗ק תָּבִ֥יא לַחְמָֽהּ	14	g	ה Having become a ship of wares, from afar she brings bread.	3e	4B	8 7
וַתָּ֤קָם בְּע֬וֹד לַ֗יְלָה וַתִּתֵּ֣ן טֶ֣רֶף לְבֵיתָ֑הּ וְ֝חֹ֗ק לְנַעֲרֹתֶֽיהָ	15		ו Waking and arising when it is yet night, so she gives prey to her house and decree to her youngsters.	3e	4C	15 8
זָמְמָ֣ה שָׂ֭דֶה וַתִּקָּחֵ֑הוּ מִפְּרִ֥י כַ֝פֶּ֗יהָ נָ֣טְעָה כָּֽרֶם	16		ז Zoning in on a field, and she lays hold of it. From the fruit of her palms she has planted a vineyard.	3e	4B	9 9
חָֽגְרָ֣ה בְע֣וֹז מָתְנֶ֑יהָ וַ֝תְּאַמֵּ֗ץ זְרֹעוֹתֶֽיהָ	17		ח Her waist attired with strength, so she assures her arms.	3e	4B	7 8
טָ֭עֲמָה כִּי ט֣וֹב סַחְרָ֑הּ לֹֽא יִכְבֶּ֖ה בַלַּ֣יְלָה נֵרָֽהּ	18	g	ט Taste she does that good are her wares. Not quenched by night is her lamp.	3e	4B	7 8
יָ֭דֶיהָ שִׁלְּחָ֣ה בַכִּישׁ֑וֹר וְ֝כַפֶּ֗יהָ תָּ֣מְכוּ פָֽלֶךְ	19	g	י Yea, her hands she has set loose to success, and her palms maintain a spindle.	3e	4B	8 8
כַּ֭פָּהּ פָּרְשָׂ֣ה לֶעָנִ֑י וְ֝יָדֶ֗יהָ שִׁלְּחָ֥ה לָֽאֶבְיֽוֹן	20	g	כ Known is her palm spread for the poor, and her hands she has extended for the needy.	3e	4B	7 9
לֹא תִירָ֣א לְבֵיתָ֣הּ מִשָּׁ֑לֶג כִּ֥י כָל בֵּ֝יתָ֗הּ לָבֻ֥שׁ שָׁנִֽים	21	B	ל Lo, she will not fear for her house from snow, for all her house is clothed with scarlet,	3e	4B	9 8
מַרְבַדִּ֥ים עָֽשְׂתָה לָּ֑הּ שֵׁ֖שׁ וְאַרְגָּמָ֣ן לְבוּשָֽׁהּ	22		מ making tapestries for herself. Fine linen and purple her raiment.	3e	4B	6 8
נוֹדָ֣ע בַּשְּׁעָרִ֣ים בַּעְלָ֑הּ בְּ֝שִׁבְתּ֗וֹ עִם זִקְנֵי אָֽרֶץ	23		נ Nigh the gates her husband is known, where he sits with the elders of the land.	3e	4B	7 8
סָדִ֣ין עָ֭שְׂתָה וַתִּמְכֹּ֑ר וַ֝חֲג֗וֹר נָתְנָ֥ה לַֽכְּנַעֲנִֽי	24		ס She makes linen underwear and sells it, and sashes she gives to the shopkeepers.	3e	4B	7 9
עֹז וְהָדָ֥ר לְבוּשָׁ֑הּ וַ֝תִּשְׂחַ֗ק לְי֣וֹם אַחֲרֽוֹן	25	f	ע Of strength and honour is her raiment, and she laughs at the day to follow.	3e	4B	7 8
פִּ֭יהָ פָּתְחָ֣ה בְחָכְמָ֑ה וְתֽוֹרַת חֶ֝֗סֶד עַל לְשׁוֹנָֽהּ	26	g	פ Parting open is her mouth in wisdom, and instruction and kindness is on her tongue.	3e	4B	7 9
צ֭וֹפִיָּה הֲלִיכ֣וֹת בֵּיתָ֑הּ וְלֶ֥חֶם עַ֝צְל֗וּת לֹ֣א תֹאכֵֽל	27	g	צ She looks out for the processions of her house, and the bread of sloth she does not eat.	3e	4B	8 8
קָ֣מוּ בָ֭נֶיהָ וַֽיְאַשְּׁר֑וּהָ בַּ֝עְלָ֗הּ וַֽיְהַֽלְלָהּ	28	B	ק Quite arisen are her children and they make her happy. Her husband also praises her.	3e	4B	9 5
רַבּ֣וֹת בָּ֭נוֹת עָ֣שׂוּ חָ֑יִל וְ֝אַ֗תְּ עָלִ֥ית עַל כֻּלָּֽנָה	29	B	ר Right many daughters have constructed with ability, and you have ascended over them all.	3e	4B	8 8
שֶׁ֣קֶר הַ֭חֵן וְהֶ֣בֶל הַיֹּ֑פִי אִשָּׁ֥ה יִרְאַת יְ֝הוָ֗ה הִ֣יא תִתְהַלָּֽל	30	B	שׁ Supplication may be false and fairness futile. A woman who fears Yahweh, she may boast.	3e	4B	10 10
תְּנוּ לָ֭הּ מִפְּרִ֣י יָדֶ֑יהָ וִֽיהַלְל֖וּהָ בַשְּׁעָרִ֣ים מַעֲשֶֽׂיהָ	31		ת To her, give, from the fruit of her hands, and let her deeds praise her in the gates.	3e	4B	8 11

The pattern of recurring words between Psalm 2 and Proverbs 31 as noted: from warning/tutoring to laughter. The recurrence of אשׁר is a happy accident. Tutor found its way in to this last experiment. The other roots are noted above. If you want to study the text, there are two ways to wrestle with it: search out similar sound patterns from shared roots, and sing the music for an insight into the transparency introduced by the composers - whoever and whenever they were.

Word / Gloss	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Vs	Stem
אשׁר which	░								PRO 31:1	אשׁר
ודרכיך nor your ways		░							PRO 31:3	דרך
פן lest			░						PRO 31:5	פן
רע evil				░					PRO 31:12	רעע
וחק and decree					░				PRO 31:15	חק
לה for herself						░			PRO 31:22	ל
בשׁבתו where he sits							░		PRO 31:23	ישׁב
ויאשׁרוה and they make her happy	░								PRO 31:28	אשׁר
יהוה Yahweh								░	PRO 31:30	יהוה
לה to her						░			PRO 31:31	ל
יהוה Yahweh								░	PSA 2:2	יהוה
יושׁב the one sitting							░		PSA 2:4	ישׁב
למו them						░			PSA 2:4	ל
חק the decree of					░				PSA 2:7	חק
יהוה Yahweh								░	PSA 2:7	יהוה
תרעם you will injure them				░					PSA 2:9	רעע
יהוה Yahweh								░	PSA 2:11	יהוה
פן lest			░						PSA 2:12	פן
דרך the way		░							PSA 2:12	דרך
אשׁרי happy are	░								PSA 2:12	אשׁר

Selected recurring words Psalm 2 and Proverbs 31 (Reconstructed)

showing the usage of words in one poem in reverse order in the second

The music:

Note too how many of these verses do not begin on the tonic. If you are new to this, please read up on the music - have a look at the music page for instructions (or buy the book).

Nice comparisons here between Proverbs 1-9 and this chapter.