Interlude - and the Shepherds #Messiah texts Luke 2 #Psalter

So how shall I read these texts from the New Testament? There is no music in the Greek NT and of the accents in the Hebrew NT, I have deciphered only a few, for of course they were put there by those who understood them differently from me or Suzanne Haïk-Vantoura. Such a reconstruction in Hebrew speaks to different assumptions than mine. A reader of the Tanach can of course recognize shared symbols.

We could ask what assumptions and techniques did the New Testament writers use compared with those that we might use in the 12st century. There are images everywhere of course, and word association, metaphor, type, and so on. Do these limit our thoughts?

14a. Recitative (soprano) – There were shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. Luke 2:8.

Egyptians despise shepherds! (Genesis 46:34) And shepherds are pervasive throughout the First Testament. Shepherd ryh has a curious stem -- it is the same three letters as friend or associate (frequently rendered as neighbour in translations -- but not by me since I refuse to overlap ryh with wcn.) Chatgpt suggests that all these concepts are linked through the concept of care and community. See my conversation here.

There is a comment in Micah 5 about raising up seven shepherds and eight dukes (or libations - those who pour themselves out for their people).

Micah 5:4

וְהָיָ֥ה זֶ֖ה שָׁל֑וֹם אַשּׁ֣וּר ׀ כִּֽי־יָב֣וֹא בְאַרְצֵ֗נוּ וְכִ֤י יִדְרֹךְ֙ בְּאַרְמְנֹתֵ֔ינוּ וַהֲקֵמֹ֤נוּ עָלָיו֙ שִׁבְעָ֣ה רֹעִ֔ים וּשְׁמֹנָ֖ה נְסִיכֵ֥י אָדָֽם		4 And this will be peace. Ashur, when he comes into our land and when he treads into our citadels, then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight libations of humanity.
d vhih zh wlom awur ci-iboa barxnu vci idroç barmnotinu vhqmonu yliv wbyh royim uwmonh nsici adm	6 37	v/hih zh wlvm awvr ci i/bva b/arx\nv v/ci i/drc b/armn\tinv vh/qm\nv yl\iv wby\h ry\im v/wmn\h nsc\i adm

This article presents the traditional interpretations of the seven shepherds: Who are the seven shepherds? David in the middle, Adam, Seth, and Methuselah to his right; Abraham, Jacob, and Moses, on his left. The answer to "where's Isaac" is fascinating -- he was busy saving his people from Gehenna -- that too is a role of Messiah!

14b. Accompagnato (soprano) And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. Luke 2:9.

Fear is a common response to angels. (See e.g. Judges 6:21-22, or Exodus 3:1-6 - the shepherd Moses tending the flock of his father-in-law). Reading the appearance to Hagar (Genesis 16:7-14) is revealing given the contrast between Messiah as applied to Jesus, and the birth of Ishmael.

15. Recitative (soprano) – And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Luke 2, 10–11.

This is Messiah. We wouldn't understand a bit of this sentence without the Tanach in the background.

16. Accompagnato (soprano) – And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Luke 2:13.

17. Feb 14 Chorus – Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth, good will toward men. Luke 2:14.

Glory is no longer confined to the temple. So much to be said and sung about glory.

Daniel Block (Page 10) suggests a serious relationship to Psalm 29. Music below. Performance here. Definitely worth a listen especially for those who think Suzanne Haïk-Vantoura's deciphering key is not up to the task.