Jeremiah 18

This is the lectionary for last Sunday so several local preachers preached on it. One such found the passage really troubling. See this post and the comments. Christopher tagged me on Facebook to respond so I have begun. But there is so much more that could be said. Nonetheless I do not find this passage any more troubling than any other. As that old spiritual goes: nobody knows de trouble Ah've seen.

I have left verse 3 as my software guessed it so you could have a laugh.

Jeremiah 18		Fn		Min	Max	Syll
הַדָּבָר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָיָ֣ה אֶֽל־יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ מֵאֵ֥ת יְהוָ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר	1		The word that happened to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying,	3e	4B	18
ק֥וּם וְיָרַדְתָּ֖ בֵּ֣ית הַיּוֹצֵ֑ר וְשָׁ֖מָּה אַשְׁמִֽיעֲךָ֥ אֶת־דְּבָרָֽי	2	f	Arise and descend to the house of the potter, and there I will have you hear my words.	3e	4B	9 11
וָאֵרֵ֖ד בֵּ֣ית הַיּוֹצֵ֑ר וְהִנֵּה־ה֛וּא עֹשֶׂ֥ה מְלָאכָ֖ה עַל־הָאָבְנָֽיִם	3		So I have descended to the house of the potter, and behold he is making a messenger on the bearing-stools.	3d	4B	7 14
וְנִשְׁחַ֣ת הַכְּלִ֗י אֲשֶׁ֨ר ה֥וּא עֹשֶׂ֛ה בַּחֹ֖מֶר בְּיַ֣ד הַיּוֹצֵ֑ר וְשָׁ֗ב וַֽיַּעֲשֵׂ֙הוּ֙ כְּלִ֣י אַחֵ֔ר כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר יָשַׁ֛ר בְּעֵינֵ֥י הַיּוֹצֵ֖ר לַעֲשֽׂוֹת	4		And the vessel that he is making in clay is destroyed in the hand of the potter, so he turns and he makes another vessel as it was upright in the eyes of the potter to do.	3d	4B	18 25
וַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֽוֹר	5		And happened the word of Yahweh to me, saying,	3e	3g	10
הֲכַיּוֹצֵ֨ר הַזֶּ֜ה לֹא־אוּכַ֨ל לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת לָכֶ֛ם בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל נְאֻם־יְהוָ֑ה הִנֵּ֤ה כַחֹ֙מֶר֙ בְּיַ֣ד הַיּוֹצֵ֔ר כֵּן־אַתֶּ֥ם בְּיָדִ֖י בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל	6		As this potter am I not able to do to you, house of Israel? An oracle of Yahweh. Behold, as clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hands, house of Israel.	3d	4C	21 20
רֶ֣גַע אֲדַבֵּ֔ר עַל־גּ֖וֹי וְעַל־מַמְלָכָ֑ה לִנְת֥וֹשׁ וְלִנְת֖וֹץ וּֽלְהַאֲבִֽיד	7	B	A moment I will speak to a nation or to a kingdom, to deport or to break off or to eliminate,	3e	4B	13 9
וְשָׁב֙ הַגּ֣וֹי הַה֔וּא מֵרָ֣עָת֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבַּ֖רְתִּי עָלָ֑יו וְנִֽחַמְתִּי֙ עַל־הָ֣רָעָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר חָשַׁ֖בְתִּי לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת לֽוֹ	8		If that nation turn from its evil that I spoke about to it, then I will sigh over the evil that I devised to do to it.	3e	4B	18 17
וְרֶ֣גַע אֲדַבֵּ֔ר עַל־גּ֖וֹי וְעַל־מַמְלָכָ֑ה לִבְנֹ֖ת וְלִנְטֹֽעַ	9		And a moment I will speak to a nation or to a kingdom, to build it or to plant it.	3e	4B	14 6
וְעָשָׂ֤ה הָרַע֙ בְּעֵינַ֔י לְבִלְתִּ֖י שְׁמֹ֣עַ בְּקוֹלִ֑י וְנִֽחַמְתִּי֙ עַל־הַטּוֹבָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָמַ֖רְתִּי לְהֵיטִ֥יב אוֹתֽוֹ	10		And it does evil in my eyes that it does not hear with my voice, then I will sigh over the good that I said, I would do good to it.	3e	4C	17 18
וְעַתָּ֡ה אֱמָר־נָ֣א אֶל־אִישׁ־יְהוּדָה֩ וְעַל־יוֹשְׁבֵ֨י יְרוּשָׁלִַ֜ם לֵאמֹ֗ר כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה הִנֵּ֨ה אָנֹכִ֜י יוֹצֵ֤ר עֲלֵיכֶם֙ רָעָ֔ה וְחֹשֵׁ֥ב עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם מַֽחֲשָׁבָ֑ה שׁ֣וּבוּ נָ֗א אִ֚ישׁ מִדַּרְכּ֣וֹ הָֽרָעָ֔ה וְהֵיטִ֥יבוּ דַרְכֵיכֶ֖ם וּמַעַלְלֵיכֶֽם	11		So now say, please, to each person of Judah, and over the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus says Yahweh, Behold, I myself fashioned over you evil, and devised over you a device, Turn, please, each from its evil way. Make good your ways and your practices.	3e	4C	48 22
וְאָמְר֖וּ נוֹאָ֑שׁ כִּֽי־אַחֲרֵ֤י מַחְשְׁבוֹתֵ֙ינוּ֙ נֵלֵ֔ךְ וְאִ֛ישׁ שְׁרִר֥וּת לִבּֽוֹ־הָרָ֖ע נַעֲשֶֽׂה	12		And they say despairing, that after our devices we will go, and each the stubbornness of its heart, the evil, we will do.	3d	4C	5 21
לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה שַֽׁאֲלוּ־נָא֙ בַּגּוֹיִ֔ם מִ֥י שָׁמַ֖ע כָּאֵ֑לֶּה שַֽׁעֲרֻרִת֙ עָשְׂתָ֣ה מְאֹ֔ד בְּתוּלַ֖ת יִשְׂרָאֵֽל	13		Therefore thus says Yahweh, Ask, please, among the nations. Who is to hear such? A very horrendous thing the virgin of Israel has done.	3e	4C	19 14
הֲיַעֲזֹ֥ב מִצּ֛וּר שָׂדַ֖י שֶׁ֣לֶג לְבָנ֑וֹן אִם־יִנָּתְשׁ֗וּ מַ֛יִם זָרִ֥ים קָרִ֖ים נוֹזְלִֽים	14		Will the snow of Lebanon forsake a rocky field? Or will strange cold flowing waters be deported?	3d	4B	13 11
כִּֽי־שְׁכֵחֻ֥נִי עַמִּ֖י לַשָּׁ֣וְא יְקַטֵּ֑רוּ וַיַּכְשִׁל֤וּם בְּדַרְכֵיהֶם֙ שְׁבִילֵ֣י עוֹלָ֔ם לָלֶ֣כֶת נְתִיב֔וֹת דֶּ֖רֶךְ לֹ֥א סְלוּלָֽה	15		For my people have forgotten me. In vain they burn incense. And they have made themselves stumble in their ways, in the wake of the era to walk, the pathways of a way that is not extolled.	3e	4C	13 25
לָשׂ֥וּם אַרְצָ֛ם לְשַׁמָּ֖ה שְׁרִיק֣וֹת עוֹלָ֑ם כֹּ֚ל עוֹבֵ֣ר עָלֶ֔יהָ יִשֹּׁ֖ם וְיָנִ֥יד בְּרֹאשֽׁוֹ	16		To render their land a desolation, the hissing of the era. All who pass by her are desolate and nod their head.	3d	4C	12 14
כְּרֽוּחַ־קָדִ֥ים אֲפִיצֵ֖ם לִפְנֵ֣י אוֹיֵ֑ב עֹ֧רֶף וְלֹֽא־פָנִ֛ים אֶרְאֵ֖ם בְּי֥וֹם אֵידָֽם	17		As the wind of the east I will disperse them facing an enemy. Nape and not face I will show them in the day of their misfortune.	3c	4B	11 11
וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ לְכ֨וּ וְנַחְשְׁבָ֣ה עַֽל־יִרְמְיָהוּ֮ מַחֲשָׁבוֹת֒ כִּי֩ לֹא־תֹאבַ֨ד תּוֹרָ֜ה מִכֹּהֵ֗ן וְעֵצָה֙ מֵֽחָכָ֔ם וְדָבָ֖ר מִנָּבִ֑יא לְכוּ֙ וְנַכֵּ֣הוּ בַלָּשׁ֔וֹן וְאַל־נַקְשִׁ֖יבָה אֶל־כָּל־דְּבָרָֽיו	18		And they said, Come let us devise devices over Jeremiah, for instruction will not perish from priest nor counsel from wisdom nor word from prophet. Come and we will strike him with the tongue and we will not attend to all his words.	3e	4B	38 19
הַקְשִׁ֥יבָה יְהוָ֖ה אֵלָ֑י וּשְׁמַ֖ע לְק֥וֹל יְרִיבָֽי	19		Attend Yahweh to me, and hear the voice of my contenders.	3e	4A	7 7
הַיְשֻׁלַּ֤ם תַּֽחַת־טוֹבָה֙ רָעָ֔ה כִּֽי־כָר֥וּ שׁוּחָ֖ה לְנַפְשִׁ֑י זְכֹ֣ר ׀ עָמְדִ֣י לְפָנֶ֗יךָ לְדַבֵּ֤ר עֲלֵיהֶם֙ טוֹבָ֔ה לְהָשִׁ֥יב אֶת־חֲמָתְךָ֖ מֵהֶֽם	20		Will evil be repaid under the guise of good, for they have dug a ditch for me. Remember I stood before you to speak good for them, to turn back your heat from them.	3e	4C	16 25
לָכֵן֩ תֵּ֨ן אֶת־בְּנֵיהֶ֜ם לָרָעָ֗ב וְהַגִּרֵם֮ עַל־יְדֵי־חֶרֶב֒ וְתִֽהְיֶ֨נָה נְשֵׁיהֶ֤ם שַׁכֻּלוֹת֙ וְאַלְמָנ֔וֹת וְאַ֨נְשֵׁיהֶ֔ם יִֽהְי֖וּ הֲרֻ֣גֵי מָ֑וֶת בַּח֣וּרֵיהֶ֔ם מֻכֵּי־חֶ֖רֶב בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה	21		Therefore give their children to famine, and wring them out by means of a sword, and let their wives be bereaved and be widows, and let their men be slain to death, their young men struck by a sword in the battle.	3e	4C	43 11
תִּשָּׁמַ֤ע זְעָקָה֙ מִבָּ֣תֵּיהֶ֔ם כִּֽי־תָבִ֧יא עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם גְּד֖וּד פִּתְאֹ֑ם כִּֽי־כָר֤וּ שׁוּחָה֙ לְלָכְדֵ֔נִי וּפַחִ֖ים טָמְנ֥וּ לְרַגְלָֽי	22		Let an appeal be heard from their houses when you bring upon them a raiding party suddenly, for they have dug a ditch to catch me, and snares they have buried for my feet.	3c	4C	19 16
וְאַתָּ֣ה יְ֠הוָה יָדַ֜עְתָּ אֶֽת־כָּל־עֲצָתָ֤ם עָלַי֙ לַמָּ֔וֶת אַל־תְּכַפֵּר֙ עַל־עֲוֺנָ֔ם וְחַטָּאתָ֖ם מִלְּפָנֶ֣יךָ אַל־תֶּ֑מְחִי וְיִהְי֤וּ מֻכְשָׁלִים֙ לְפָנֶ֔יךָ בְּעֵ֥ת אַפְּךָ֖ עֲשֵׂ֥ה בָהֶֽם	23		But you Yahweh, you know all their conspiracy over me to put me to death. Do not cover over their iniquity, and their sin from your presence do not erase. but let them be stumbling before you. At the time of your anger, deal with them.	3e	4C	37 18

Zechariah 12

I suppose I might as well get right on with it. It seems to me that these past two chapters anticipate a different kind of death. Like birth, our birth. And just what is like what in this passage?

Zechariah 12		Fn		Min	Max	Syll
מַשָּׂ֥א דְבַר־יְהוָ֖ה עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל נְאֻם־יְהוָ֗ה נֹטֶ֤ה שָׁמַ֙יִם֙ וְיֹסֵ֣ד אָ֔רֶץ וְיֹצֵ֥ר רֽוּחַ־אָדָ֖ם בְּקִרְבּֽוֹ פ	1		A load, the matter of Yahweh over Israel, an oracle of Yahweh, stretching out the heavens, and founding earth, and fashioning the spirit of an earthling within it.	3e	4C	10 23
הִנֵּ֣ה אָ֠נֹכִי שָׂ֣ם אֶת־יְרוּשָׁלִַ֧ם סַף־רַ֛עַל לְכָל־הָעַמִּ֖ים סָבִ֑יב וְגַ֧ם עַל־יְהוּדָ֛ה יִֽהְיֶ֥ה בַמָּצ֖וֹר עַל־יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם	2		Behold I myself set Jerusalem a doorway of staggering for all the surrounding peoples, and even about Judah it will be, in the siege at Jerusalem.	3c	4B	21 16
וְהָיָ֣ה בַיּוֹם־הַ֠הוּא אָשִׂ֨ים אֶת־יְרוּשָׁלִַ֜ם אֶ֤בֶן מַֽעֲמָסָה֙ לְכָל־הָ֣עַמִּ֔ים כָּל־עֹמְסֶ֖יהָ שָׂר֣וֹט יִשָּׂרֵ֑טוּ וְנֶאֶסְפ֣וּ עָלֶ֔יהָ כֹּ֖ל גּוֹיֵ֥י הָאָֽרֶץ	3		And it will happen in that day, I will set Jerusalem a stone, onerous for all the peoples. All who carry her will be lacerated. And gathered against her are all the nations of the earth.	3e	4C	35 13
בַּיּ֨וֹם הַה֜וּא נְאֻם־יְהוָ֗ה אַכֶּ֤ה כָל־סוּס֙ בַּתִּמָּה֔וֹן וְרֹכְב֖וֹ בַּשִּׁגָּע֑וֹן וְעַל־בֵּ֤ית יְהוּדָה֙ אֶפְקַ֣ח אֶת־עֵינַ֔י וְכֹל֙ ס֣וּס הָֽעַמִּ֔ים אַכֶּ֖ה בַּֽעִוָּרֽוֹן	4	~	In that day, an oracle of Yahweh, I will strike every horse with astonishment and its rider with craziness, and on the house of Judah I will give sight to my eyes and every horse of the peoples I will strike with blindness.	3e	4C	23 23
וְאָֽמְר֛וּ אַלֻּפֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה בְּלִבָּ֑ם אַמְצָ֥ה לִי֙ יֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם בַּיהוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת אֱלֹהֵיהֶֽם	5		Then the captains of Judah will say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem are my assurance in Yahweh of hosts their God.	3d	4B	12 18
בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֡וּא אָשִׂים֩ אֶת־אַלֻּפֵ֨י יְהוּדָ֜ה כְּֽכִיּ֧וֹר אֵ֣שׁ בְּעֵצִ֗ים וּכְלַפִּ֥יד אֵשׁ֙ בְּעָמִ֔יר וְאָ֨כְל֜וּ עַל־יָמִ֧ין וְעַל־שְׂמֹ֛אול אֶת־כָּל־הָעַמִּ֖ים סָבִ֑יב וְיָשְׁבָ֨ה יְרוּשָׁלִַ֥ם ע֛וֹד תַּחְתֶּ֖יהָ בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם פ	6	B	In that day I will set the captains of Judah as a forge of fire among trees, as a torch of fire among bales, and they will devour on the right hand and on the left hand all the surrounding peoples, and Jerusalem will be inhabited still in her stead in Jerusalem.	3c	4B	45 16
וְהוֹשִׁ֧יעַ יְהוָ֛ה אֶת־אָהֳלֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה בָּרִֽאשֹׁנָ֑ה לְמַ֨עַן לֹֽא־תִגְדַּ֜ל תִּפְאֶ֣רֶת בֵּית־דָּוִ֗יד וְתִפְאֶ֛רֶת יֹשֵׁ֥ב יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם עַל־יְהוּדָֽה	7		And Yahweh will save the tents of Judah at the beginning, so that the adornment of the house of David or the adornment of the inhabitant of Jerusalem are not magnified against Judah.	3c	4B	17 26
בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא יָגֵ֤ן יְהוָה֙ בְּעַד֙ יוֹשֵׁ֣ב יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם וְהָיָ֞ה הַנִּכְשָׁ֥ל בָּהֶ֛ם בַּיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא כְּדָוִ֑יד וּבֵ֤ית דָּוִיד֙ כֵּֽאלֹהִ֔ים כְּמַלְאַ֥ךְ יְהוָ֖ה לִפְנֵיהֶֽם	8	B	In that day Yahweh will defend about the inhabitant of Jerusalem, and it will be that one who stumbled among them in that day is like David, and the house of David is like God, like the angel of Yahweh before them.	3d	4C	31 15
וְהָיָ֖ה בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא אֲבַקֵּ֗שׁ לְהַשְׁמִיד֙ אֶת־כָּל־הַגּוֹיִ֔ם הַבָּאִ֖ים עַל־יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם	9		And it will happen in that day, I will seek to exterminate all the nations that come against Jerusalem.	3e	4B	7 19
וְשָׁפַכְתִּי֩ עַל־בֵּ֨ית דָּוִ֜יד וְעַ֣ל ׀ יוֹשֵׁ֣ב יְרוּשָׁלִַ֗ם ר֤וּחַ חֵן֙ וְתַ֣חֲנוּנִ֔ים וְהִבִּ֥יטוּ אֵלַ֖י אֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁר־דָּקָ֑רוּ וְסָפְד֣וּ עָלָ֗יו כְּמִסְפֵּד֙ עַל־הַיָּחִ֔יד וְהָמֵ֥ר עָלָ֖יו כְּהָמֵ֥ר עַֽל־הַבְּכֽוֹר	10		And I will pour out over the house of David and over the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of graciousness and supplications and they will take note of me whom they have thrust through. And they will wail over him as one wails over one who is unique and they will be bitter over him as one is bitter over the firstborn.	3e	4C	36 23
בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא יִגְדַּ֤ל הַמִּסְפֵּד֙ בִּיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם כְּמִסְפַּ֥ד הֲדַדְ־רִמּ֖וֹן בְּבִקְעַ֥ת מְגִדּֽוֹן	11	B	In that day, great is the wailing in Jerusalem like the wailing of Hadadrimmon, in the crevasse of Megidon.	3e	4C	26
וְסָפְדָ֣ה הָאָ֔רֶץ מִשְׁפָּח֥וֹת מִשְׁפָּח֖וֹת לְבָ֑ד מִשְׁפַּ֨חַת בֵּית־דָּוִ֤יד לְבָד֙ וּנְשֵׁיהֶ֣ם לְבָ֔ד מִשְׁפַּ֤חַת בֵּית־נָתָן֙ לְבָ֔ד וּנְשֵׁיהֶ֖ם לְבָֽד	12		And the earth will wail, family by family alone, the family of the house of David alone and their wives alone, the family of the house of Nathan alone and their wives alone.	3e	4C	14 26
מִשְׁפַּ֤חַת בֵּית־לֵוִי֙ לְבָ֔ד וּנְשֵׁיהֶ֖ם לְבָ֑ד מִשְׁפַּ֤חַת הַשִּׁמְעִי֙ לְבָ֔ד וּנְשֵׁיהֶ֖ם לְבָֽד	13		The family of the house of Levi alone and their wives alone, the family of Shimei alone and their wives alone.	3e	4C	13 13
כֹּ֗ל הַמִּשְׁפָּחוֹת֙ הַנִּשְׁאָר֔וֹת מִשְׁפָּחֹ֥ת מִשְׁפָּחֹ֖ת לְבָ֑ד וּנְשֵׁיהֶ֖ם לְבָֽד ס	14	~	All the families that are bereft family by family alone, and their wives alone.	3e	4A	17 6

Zechariah 11

This chapter demands much creative thought. The limited concordance I have attempted is particularly important here.

I marvel at what thoughts occur that I would never have noted if I were reading even slowly in English. I know readers who lovingly caress the English prepositions never imagining that they are the least reliable of the glosses in the host language.

I think it best to say no more.

Zechariah 11		Fn		Min	Max	Syll
פְּתַ֥ח לְבָנ֖וֹן דְּלָתֶ֑יךָ וְתֹאכַ֥ל אֵ֖שׁ בַּאֲרָזֶֽיךָ	1		Open Lebanon your gateways, and fire will devour your cedars.	3e	4A	9 9
הֵילֵ֤ל בְּרוֹשׁ֙ כִּֽי־נָ֣פַל אֶ֔רֶז אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַדִּרִ֖ים שֻׁדָּ֑דוּ הֵילִ֙ילוּ֙ אַלּוֹנֵ֣י בָשָׁ֔ן כִּ֥י יָרַ֖ד יַ֥עַר הַבָּצִֽיר	2		Howl, fir tree, for fallen is the cedar that majesties have devastated. Howl, oaks of Bashan, for descended is the forest of the enclosed.	3e	4C	16 16
ק֚וֹל יִֽלְלַ֣ת הָרֹעִ֔ים כִּ֥י שֻׁדְּדָ֖ה אַדַּרְתָּ֑ם ק֚וֹל שַׁאֲגַ֣ת כְּפִירִ֔ים כִּ֥י שֻׁדַּ֖ד גְּא֥וֹן הַיַּרְדֵּֽן ס	3	C	The voice of the howling of the shepherds, for devastated is their majesty, the voice of the roar of young lions, for devastated is the pride of the Jordan.	3e	4C	12 16
כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֖ר יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֑י רְעֵ֖ה אֶת־צֹ֥אן הַהֲרֵגָֽה	4	f	Thus says Yahweh God, Tend the flock of the slain.	3e	4B	8 8
אֲשֶׁ֨ר קֹנֵיהֶ֤ן יַֽהֲרְגֻן֙ וְלֹ֣א יֶאְשָׁ֔מוּ וּמֹכְרֵיהֶ֣ן יֹאמַ֔ר בָּר֥וּךְ יְהוָ֖ה וַאעְשִׁ֑ר וְרֹ֣עֵיהֶ֔ם לֹ֥א יַחְמ֖וֹל עֲלֵיהֶֽן	5		Those who have acquired them slay them but they will not bear guilt, and those who sell them will say, Bless Yahweh for I am rich, and their shepherds do not have have pity on them.	3e	4C	26 10
כִּ֠י לֹ֣א אֶחְמ֥וֹל ע֛וֹד עַל־יֹשְׁבֵ֥י הָאָ֖רֶץ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֑ה וְהִנֵּ֨ה אָנֹכִ֜י מַמְצִ֣יא אֶת־הָאָדָ֗ם אִ֤ישׁ בְּיַד־רֵעֵ֙הוּ֙ וּבְיַ֣ד מַלְכּ֔וֹ וְכִתְּתוּ֙ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ וְלֹ֥א אַצִּ֖יל מִיָּדָֽם	6	~	For I will not show pity any more to the inhabitants of the land, an oracle of Yahweh, but behold myself finding each human by the hand of its associate, and into the hand of its king, and they will beat the earth, and I will not deliver from their hand.	3d	4C	15 36
וָֽאֶרְעֶה֙ אֶת־צֹ֣אן הַֽהֲרֵגָ֔ה לָכֵ֖ן עֲנִיֵּ֣י הַצֹּ֑אן וָאֶקַּֽח־לִ֞י שְׁנֵ֣י מַקְל֗וֹת לְאַחַ֞ד קָרָ֤אתִי נֹ֙עַם֙ וּלְאַחַד֙ קָרָ֣אתִי חֹֽבְלִ֔ים וָאֶרְעֶ֖ה אֶת־הַצֹּֽאן	7		And I will tend the flock of the slain indeed, O poor of the flock, and I will take to me two sticks, the one I called Pleasure and the other I called Pledges, and I will tend the flock.	3e	4C	16 30
וָאַכְחִ֛ד אֶת־שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת הָרֹעִ֖ים בְּיֶ֣רַח אֶחָ֑ד וַתִּקְצַ֤ר נַפְשִׁי֙ בָּהֶ֔ם וְגַם־נַפְשָׁ֖ם בָּחֲלָ֥ה בִֽי	8		And I concealed three shepherds in one moon, and my being harvested among them and also their beings were aghast at me.	3d	4C	15 15
וָאֹמַ֕ר לֹ֥א אֶרְעֶ֖ה אֶתְכֶ֑ם הַמֵּתָ֣ה תָמ֗וּת וְהַנִּכְחֶ֙דֶת֙ תִּכָּחֵ֔ד וְהַ֨נִּשְׁאָר֔וֹת תֹּאכַ֕לְנָה אִשָּׁ֖ה אֶת־בְּשַׂ֥ר רְעוּתָֽהּ	9		Then I said, I will not tend you. Who dies, let it die, and who is concealed, let it be concealed, and the residue, let each woman eat the flesh of her associate.	3e	4B	8 29
וָאֶקַּ֤ח אֶת־מַקְלִי֙ אֶת־נֹ֔עַם וָאֶגְדַּ֖ע אֹת֑וֹ לְהָפֵיר֙ אֶת־בְּרִיתִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר כָּרַ֖תִּי אֶת־כָּל־הָעַמִּֽים	10		And I took my stick Pleasure and I truncated it, that I might thwart my covenant that I have cut with all the peoples.	3e	4C	14 17
וַתֻּפַ֖ר בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא וַיֵּדְע֨וּ כֵ֜ן עֲנִיֵּ֤י הַצֹּאן֙ הַשֹּׁמְרִ֣ים אֹתִ֔י כִּ֥י דְבַר־יְהוָ֖ה הֽוּא	11		And it was thwarted on that day. And they will know such that the poor of the flock, those watching me, that the word of Yahweh, is he.	3e	4C	7 20
וָאֹמַ֣ר אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם אִם־ט֧וֹב בְּעֵינֵיכֶ֛ם הָב֥וּ שְׂכָרִ֖י וְאִם־לֹ֣א ׀ חֲדָ֑לוּ וַיִּשְׁקְל֥וּ אֶת־שְׂכָרִ֖י שְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים כָּֽסֶף	12		Then I said to them, If good in your sight, provide my wage and if not set it aside. And they assessed my wage, thirty pieces of silver.	3c	4B	23 13
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה אֵלַ֗י הַשְׁלִיכֵ֙הוּ֙ אֶל־הַיּוֹצֵ֔ר אֶ֣דֶר הַיְקָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָקַ֖רְתִּי מֵֽעֲלֵיהֶ֑ם וָֽאֶקְחָה֙ שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים הַכֶּ֔סֶף וָאַשְׁלִ֥יךְ אֹת֛וֹ בֵּ֥ית יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־הַיּוֹצֵֽר	13		And Yahweh said to me, Fling it to the potter, for the excellence of the esteem with which I am esteemed from them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver and I flung it from the house of Yahweh to the potter.	3d	4B	28 21
וָֽאֶגְדַּע֙ אֶת־מַקְלִ֣י הַשֵּׁנִ֔י אֵ֖ת הַחֹֽבְלִ֑ים לְהָפֵר֙ אֶת־הָֽאַחֲוָ֔ה בֵּ֥ין יְהוּדָ֖ה וּבֵ֥ין יִשְׂרָאֵֽל ס	14		Then I truncated my second stick, Pledges, to thwart the family tie between Judah and Israel.	3e	4B	13 18
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוָ֖ה אֵלָ֑י ע֣וֹד קַח־לְךָ֔ כְּלִ֖י רֹעֶ֥ה אֱוִלִֽי	15		And Yahweh said to me, Still take for yourself instruments of a foolish shepherd.	3e	4B	7 11
כִּ֣י הִנֵּֽה־אָנֹכִי֩ מֵקִ֨ים רֹעֶ֜ה בָּאָ֗רֶץ הַנִּכְחָד֤וֹת לֹֽא־יִפְקֹד֙ הַנַּ֣עַר לֹֽא־יְבַקֵּ֔שׁ וְהַנִּשְׁבֶּ֖רֶת לֹ֣א יְרַפֵּ֑א הַנִּצָּבָה֙ לֹ֣א יְכַלְכֵּ֔ל וּבְשַׂ֤ר הַבְּרִיאָה֙ יֹאכַ֔ל וּפַרְסֵיהֶ֖ן יְפָרֵֽק ס	16	B	For behold myself raising a shepherd in the land: those concealed he will not visit, the lad he will not seek, and the broken he will not heal. Those who stand firm he will not nourish, but the flesh of the plenteous he will eat and their claws he will rend apart.	3e	4C	36 23
ה֣וֹי רֹעִ֤י הָֽאֱלִיל֙ עֹזְבִ֣י הַצֹּ֔אן חֶ֥רֶב עַל־זְרוֹע֖וֹ וְעַל־עֵ֣ין יְמִינ֑וֹ זְרֹעוֹ֙ יָב֣וֹשׁ תִּיבָ֔שׁ וְעֵ֥ין יְמִינ֖וֹ כָּהֹ֥ה תִכְהֶֽה ס	17	B	Alas for the good for nothing shepherd who forsakes the flock, sword on his arm and on his right eye. His arm drying up will dry up and his right eye lessening will dim.	3e	4C	23 17

1 Samuel 2

Hannah's song I had done some time ago. Now to continue the story of the corrupt priesthood of Shiloh under Eli.

O, the food for blame that this story could engender. Take care, Bob, that you don't let the self-serving of the priests convince you of anything. I was not raised by the obvious bully, but by some who had been bullied and abused, and their problems were suffocating them. I loved a comment in The light from two oceans, a wonderful book recently made into a film, reviewed Friday morning (the 2nd of September) on CBC's On the Island. The comment in the book (p 323) was this: You only need to forgive once. To resent, you have to do it all day, every day. You have to keep remembering all the bad things.

In verse 16, I see again how wide a sense a given word can have in Hebrew. I think of חזק as good courage or resolution, but here it seems to mean idiomatically with self-serving forceful intent. Not so good. I don't know if I will change the gloss but I think not. It could have a touch of sarcasm using the positive as an intentional warning.

Similarly I have kept the usual gloss for משׁפּט, and I have made no attempt to create a full sentence out of verse 13. For fun I have put the priest's lad in the continuous present tense rather than a bland conditional reportage. The trouble with evil is its very presence.

I wonder about fork. Maybe it should be fork-lift!

Generally I try to avoid the implications of excluding language. Really it is impossible in Hebrew or English where the tongue itself lacks a personal human specific pronoun (though I have been sometimes using 'it' for this lack). But here in verse 25 I am stuck with man. Can't use person, anyone, one or other, since the contrast is specifically the generic human vs God, and can't use human since human is my gloss for אדם. So אישׁ לאישׁ, in contrast to ליהוה I am forced into man to man and man to Yahweh. In fact, I probably should not have gone down this path since it is just one of many distractions in reading the text.

Verses 32-33 are perplexing. JB and REB are quite different from the traditional.

JB One of you I will keep at my altar for his eyes to wither and his soul to perish, but the bulk of your house shall perish by the sword of men.

REB If I allow any to survive to serve my altar, his eyes will grow dim, his appetite fail, and his issue will be weaklings and die off.

JPS 1917 Yet will I not cut off every man of thine from Mine altar, to make thine eyes to fail, and thy heart to languish; and all the increase of thy house shall die young men.

KJV And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age.

Everyone searches for meaning or coherence of some sort. Some with more invention than others. Some with obvious moral lessons. I suspect the word I have glossed as mortals is an idiom of some sort that implies 'they will die in their prime' as the KJV has. You can see how the JB and REB have changed the pronouns from second to third person.

It may be that Samuel has several anomalous verses like this and discontinuities. Hopefully we can just take them as they come. I haven't got time for too much detailed comparison of other translations. That's not my purpose.

One can also read into the final prophecy in this chapter, both the trinity and the Eucharist. Be my guest. I have called up a word from Mr. Charles Williams to help. Co-inhere could also be rendered as or lesion me, or even deform me.

This is a long chapter and I have said too much. I will never finish at this rate!

1 Samuel 2		Fn		Min	Max	Syll
וַתִּתְפַּלֵּ֤ל חַנָּה֙ וַתֹּאמַ֔ר עָלַ֤ץ לִבִּי֙ בַּֽיהוָ֔ה רָ֥מָה קַרְנִ֖י בַּֽיהוָ֑ה רָ֤חַב פִּי֙ עַל־א֣וֹיְבַ֔י כִּ֥י שָׂמַ֖חְתִּי בִּישׁוּעָתֶֽךָ	1		And Hannah prayed and she said, My heart is elated in Yahweh. My horn is exalted in Yahweh. Open wide is my mouth over my enemies for I am glad in your salvation.	3e	4C	21 15
אֵין קָד֥וֹשׁ כַּיהוָ֖ה כִּ֣י אֵ֣ין בִּלְתֶּ֑ךָ וְאֵ֥ין צ֖וּר כֵּאלֹהֵֽינוּ	2		There is none holy like Yahweh, for there is nothing without you, and none a rock like our God.	3e	4B	10 7
אַל תַּרְבּ֤וּ תְדַבְּרוּ֙ גְּבֹהָ֣ה גְבֹהָ֔ה יֵצֵ֥א עָתָ֖ק מִפִּיכֶ֑ם כִּ֣י אֵ֤ל דֵּעוֹת֙ יְהוָ֔ה וְל֥וֹ נִתְכְּנ֖וּ עֲלִלֽוֹת	3	C	Not with excess speak with the haughtiness of the haughty to let arrogance come out from your mouth, for a God of knowledge is Yahweh and of him, prodigality is stabilized.	3e	4C	19 14
קֶ֥שֶׁת גִּבֹּרִ֖ים חַתִּ֑ים וְנִכְשָׁלִ֖ים אָ֥זְרוּ חָֽיִל	4	f	The bow of the valiant ones are dismayed, and they that stumble are girded with ability.	3e	4A	7 8
שְׂבֵעִ֤ים בַּלֶּ֙חֶם֙ נִשְׂכָּ֔רוּ וּרְעֵבִ֖ים חָדֵ֑לּוּ עַד עֲקָרָה֙ יָלְדָ֣ה שִׁבְעָ֔ה וְרַבַּ֥ת בָּנִ֖ים אֻמְלָֽלָה	5		Those sated find themselves earning bread and the famished are given relief, until the barren has given birth to seven, and of many children is enfeebled.	3e	4C	15 16
יְהוָ֖ה מֵמִ֣ית וּמְחַיֶּ֑ה מוֹרִ֥יד שְׁא֖וֹל וַיָּֽעַל	6		Yahweh puts to death and gives life, descends to Sheol and ascends.	3e	4B	7 7
יְהוָ֖ה מוֹרִ֣ישׁ וּמַעֲשִׁ֑יר מַשְׁפִּ֖יל אַף־מְרוֹמֵֽם	7		Yahweh dispossesses and enriches, abases, also, celebrates,	3e	4B	8 6
מֵקִ֨ים מֵעָפָ֜ר דָּ֗ל מֵֽאַשְׁפֹּת֙ יָרִ֣ים אֶבְי֔וֹן לְהוֹשִׁיב֙ עִם נְדִיבִ֔ים וְכִסֵּ֥א כָב֖וֹד יַנְחִלֵ֑ם כִּ֤י לַֽיהוָה֙ מְצֻ֣קֵי אֶ֔רֶץ וַיָּ֥שֶׁת עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם תֵּבֵֽל	8		raises from dust the weak, from the dump, exalts the needy to sit with princes and the throne of glory to inherit, for to Yahweh are the distresses of the earth and he has set on them the world.	3e	4C	28 16
רַגְלֵ֤י חֲסִידָיו֙ יִשְׁמֹ֔ר וּרְשָׁעִ֖ים בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְ יִדָּ֑מּוּ כִּֽי לֹ֥א בְכֹ֖חַ יִגְבַּר אִֽישׁ	9		The feet of those who are under his mercy he will keep and the wicked in the darkness are mute, for not in power does anyone prevail.	3e	4C	16 8
יְהוָ֞ה יֵחַ֣תּוּ מריבו מְרִיבָ֗יו עלו עָלָיו֙ בַּשָּׁמַ֣יִם יַרְעֵ֔ם יְהוָ֖ה יָדִ֣ין אַפְסֵי־אָ֑רֶץ וְיִתֶּן־עֹ֣ז לְמַלְכּ֔וֹ וְיָרֵ֖ם קֶ֥רֶן מְשִׁיחֽוֹ	10		Yahweh will dismay those who strive over him. In the heavens he thunders. Yahweh makes the case for the ends of the earth, and he gives strength to his king and he will exalt the horn of his anointed.	3e	4B	27 15
וַיֵּ֧לֶךְ אֶלְקָנָ֛ה הָרָמָ֖תָה עַל־בֵּית֑וֹ וְהַנַּ֗עַר הָיָ֤ה מְשָׁרֵת֙ אֶת־יְהוָ֔ה אֶת־פְּנֵ֖י עֵלִ֥י הַכֹּהֵֽן	11		And Elkanah went towards Ramah to his house. And the lad became minister of Yahweh in the presence of Eli the priest.	3c	4C	13 20
וּבְנֵ֥י עֵלִ֖י בְּנֵ֣י בְלִיָּ֑עַל לֹ֥א יָדְע֖וּ אֶת־יְהוָֽה	12		And the children of Eli were children of worthlessness. They did not know Yahweh.	3e	4B	10 6
וּמִשְׁפַּ֥ט הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים אֶת־הָעָ֑ם כָּל־אִ֞ישׁ זֹבֵ֣חַ זֶ֗בַח וּבָ֨א נַ֤עַר הַכֹּהֵן֙ כְּבַשֵּׁ֣ל הַבָּשָׂ֔ר וְהַמַּזְלֵ֛ג שְׁלֹ֥שׁ־הַשִּׁנַּ֖יִם בְּיָדֽוֹ	13		And the judgment of the priests is with the people. Everyone offers an offering and the priest's lad comes as the flesh is boiling and the three pronged fork is in his hand.	3d	4C	10 32
וְהִכָּ֨ה בַכִּיּ֜וֹר א֣וֹ בַדּ֗וּד א֤וֹ בַקַּלַּ֙חַת֙ א֣וֹ בַפָּר֔וּר כֹּ֚ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר יַעֲלֶ֣ה הַמַּזְלֵ֔ג יִקַּ֥ח הַכֹּהֵ֖ן בּ֑וֹ כָּ֚כָה יַעֲשׂ֣וּ לְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הַבָּאִ֥ים שָׁ֖ם בְּשִׁלֹֽה	14		And he strikes into the chafing pan or into the pannier or into the cauldron or into the kettle. All that he brings up in the fork the priest takes for himself. Thus they did for all Israel when they came there into Shiloh.	3e	4C	33 17
גַּם֮ בְּטֶרֶם֮ יַקְטִר֣וּן אֶת־הַחֵלֶב֒ וּבָ֣א ׀ נַ֣עַר הַכֹּהֵ֗ן וְאָמַר֙ לָאִ֣ישׁ הַזֹּבֵ֔חַ תְּנָ֣ה בָשָׂ֔ר לִצְל֖וֹת לַכֹּהֵ֑ן וְלֹֽא־יִקַּ֧ח מִמְּךָ֛ בָּשָׂ֥ר מְבֻשָּׁ֖ל כִּ֥י אִם־חָֽי	15	~	Also before they make the gross fat to burn with smoke, the priest's lad comes and says to each sacrificing, Give the flesh for the priest to roast, for he will not receive from you flesh that is boiled but rather alive.	3c	4B	36 13
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֜יו הָאִ֗ישׁ קַטֵּ֨ר יַקְטִיר֤וּן כַּיּוֹם֙ הַחֵ֔לֶב וְקַ֨ח־לְךָ֔ כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר תְּאַוֶּ֖ה נַפְשֶׁ֑ךָ וְאָמַ֥ר ׀ לֹא֙ כִּ֚י עַתָּ֣ה תִתֵּ֔ן וְאִם־לֹ֖א לָקַ֥חְתִּי בְחָזְקָֽה	16		And anyone who says to him, They will make the gross fat burn with smoke as the day requires, then take for yourself as you desire, then he says, No, for now you will give. And if not, I will take, resolutely.	3e	4C	30 18
וַתְּהִ֨י חַטַּ֧את הַנְּעָרִ֛ים גְּדוֹלָ֥ה מְאֹ֖ד אֶת־פְּנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה כִּ֤י נִֽאֲצוּ֙ הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים אֵ֖ת מִנְחַ֥ת יְהוָֽה	17		So it was that the sin of the lads was excessively great before Yahweh, for the men spurned the gift of Yahweh.	3c	4C	17 13
וּשְׁמוּאֵ֕ל מְשָׁרֵ֖ת אֶת־פְּנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה נַ֕עַר חָג֖וּר אֵפ֥וֹד בָּֽד	18		And Samuel ministered before Yahweh, a lad wearing a linen ephod.	3e	4B	11 7
וּמְעִ֤יל קָטֹן֙ תַּעֲשֶׂה־לּ֣וֹ אִמּ֔וֹ וְהַעַלְתָ֥ה ל֖וֹ מִיָּמִ֣ים ׀ יָמִ֑ימָה בַּֽעֲלוֹתָהּ֙ אֶת־אִישָׁ֔הּ לִזְבֹּ֖חַ אֶת־זֶ֥בַח הַיָּמִֽים	19		And a wee mantle his mother made him and brought it up to him, regularly, when she went up with her man to offer the regular offering.	3e	4C	21 16
וּבֵרַ֨ךְ עֵלִ֜י אֶת־אֶלְקָנָ֣ה וְאֶת־אִשְׁתּ֗וֹ וְאָמַר֙ יָשֵׂם֩ יְהוָ֨ה לְךָ֥ זֶ֙רַע֙ מִן־הָאִשָּׁ֣ה הַזֹּ֔את תַּ֚חַת הַשְּׁאֵלָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁאַ֖ל לַֽיהוָ֑ה וְהָלְכ֖וּ לִמְקֹמֽוֹ	20		And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife and said, Yahweh render to you seed from this woman instead of the loan that is loaned to Yahweh. And they went to their place.	3e	4C	41 6
כִּֽי־פָקַ֤ד יְהוָה֙ אֶת־חַנָּ֔ה וַתַּ֛הַר וַתֵּ֥לֶד שְׁלֹשָֽׁה־בָנִ֖ים וּשְׁתֵּ֣י בָנ֑וֹת וַיִּגְדַּ֛ל הַנַּ֥עַר שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל עִם־יְהוָֽה ס	21		For Yahweh visited Hannah and she became pregnant and she gave birth to three sons and two daughters. And the lad Samuel grew with Yahweh.	3d	4C	22 13
וְעֵלִ֖י זָקֵ֣ן מְאֹ֑ד וְשָׁמַ֗ע אֵת֩ כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֨ר יַעֲשׂ֤וּן בָּנָיו֙ לְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאֵ֤ת אֲשֶֽׁר־יִשְׁכְּבוּן֙ אֶת־הַנָּשִׁ֔ים הַצֹּ֣בְא֔וֹת פֶּ֖תַח אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד	22		And Eli was very old. And he heard all that his sons were doing to all Israel and that they lay down with the women, the hosts at the door of the tent of engagement.	3e	4C	7 37
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֔ם לָ֥מָּה תַעֲשׂ֖וּן כַּדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָנֹכִ֤י שֹׁמֵ֙עַ֙ אֶת־דִּבְרֵיכֶ֣ם רָעִ֔ים מֵאֵ֖ת כָּל־הָעָ֥ם אֵֽלֶּה	23		And he said to them, Why do you do according to these things: your evil matters which I am hearing from all these people.	3e	4C	16 21
אַ֖ל בָּנָ֑י כִּ֠י לֽוֹא־טוֹבָ֤ה הַשְּׁמֻעָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָנֹכִ֣י שֹׁמֵ֔עַ מַעֲבִרִ֖ים עַם־יְהוָֽה	24	g	No my sons, for it is no good message that I hear from those passing by of the people of Yahweh.	3e	4C	3 22
אִם־יֶחֱטָ֨א אִ֤ישׁ לְאִישׁ֙ וּפִֽלְל֣וֹ אֱלֹהִ֔ים וְאִ֤ם לַֽיהוָה֙ יֶֽחֱטָא־אִ֔ישׁ מִ֖י יִתְפַּלֶּל־ל֑וֹ וְלֹ֤א יִשְׁמְעוּ֙ לְק֣וֹל אֲבִיהֶ֔ם כִּֽי־חָפֵ֥ץ יְהוָ֖ה לַהֲמִיתָֽם	25		If man sins against man then God intercedes for him, but if against Yahweh, a man sins, who will intercede for him? But they heard not the voice of their father, for Yahweh delighted to have them die.	3e	4C	26 18
וְהַנַּ֣עַר שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל הֹלֵ֥ךְ וְגָדֵ֖ל וָט֑וֹב גַּ֚ם עִם־יְהוָ֔ה וְגַ֖ם עִם־אֲנָשִֽׁים	26		And the lad Samuel walked and grew and was good, both with Yahweh and with men.	3e	4C	14 10
וַיָּבֹ֥א אִישׁ־אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶל־עֵלִ֑י וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֗יו כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה הֲנִגְלֹ֤ה נִגְלֵ֙יתִי֙ אֶל־בֵּ֣ית אָבִ֔יךָ בִּֽהְיוֹתָ֥ם בְּמִצְרַ֖יִם לְבֵ֥ית פַּרְעֹֽה	27		And a man of God came to Eli, and he said to him, Thus says Yahweh, To be disclosed, was I disclosed to the house of your ancestor when they themselves were in Egypt of the house of Pharaoh?	3e	4C	10 31
וּבָחֹ֣ר אֹ֠תוֹ מִכָּל־שִׁבְטֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל לִי֙ לְכֹהֵ֔ן לַעֲל֣וֹת עַֽל־מִזְבְּחִ֗י לְהַקְטִ֥יר קְטֹ֛רֶת לָשֵׂ֥את אֵפ֖וֹד לְפָנָ֑י וָֽאֶתְּנָה֙ לְבֵ֣ית אָבִ֔יךָ אֶת־כָּל־אִשֵּׁ֖י בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל	28		And I chose him from all the sceptres of Israel for me, for priest, to ascend to my altar to burn incense with smoke, to bear an ephod in my presence, and I gave to your father's house all the offerings by fire of the children of Israel.	3d	4B	36 17
לָ֣מָּה תִבְעֲט֗וּ בְּזִבְחִי֙ וּבְמִנְחָתִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוִּ֖יתִי מָע֑וֹן וַתְּכַבֵּ֤ד אֶת־בָּנֶ֙יךָ֙ מִמֶּ֔נִּי לְהַבְרִֽיאֲכֶ֗ם מֵרֵאשִׁ֛ית כָּל־מִנְחַ֥ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְעַמִּֽי	29	B	Why do you kick at my altar and at my gifts which I commanded a habitation? And you glorify your sons over me, with plenty for you from the first of every gift of Israel my people.	3d	4C	19 27
לָכֵ֗ן נְאֻם־יְהוָה֮ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ אָמ֣וֹר אָמַ֔רְתִּי בֵּֽיתְךָ֙ וּבֵ֣ית אָבִ֔יךָ יִתְהַלְּכ֥וּ לְפָנַ֖י עַד־עוֹלָ֑ם וְעַתָּ֤ה נְאֻם־יְהוָה֙ חָלִ֣ילָה לִּ֔י כִּֽי־מְכַבְּדַ֥י אֲכַבֵּ֖ד וּבֹזַ֥י יֵקָֽלּוּ	30		Therefore, an oracle of Yahweh the God of Israel, saying, I said, Your house and your father's house should walk in my presence for evermore, but now, an oracle of Yahweh, Far be it from me. For who glorifies me I will glorify, and who despises me will be denied.	3e	4C	33 24
הִנֵּה֙ יָמִ֣ים בָּאִ֔ים וְגָֽדַעְתִּי֙ אֶת־זְרֹ֣עֲךָ֔ וְאֶת־זְרֹ֖עַ בֵּ֣ית אָבִ֑יךָ מִֽהְי֥וֹת זָקֵ֖ן בְּבֵיתֶֽךָ	31		Behold, days are coming when I will truncate your seed and the seed of your father's house, from becoming old in your house.	3e	4B	24 8
וְהִבַּטְתָּ֙ צַ֣ר מָע֔וֹן בְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־יֵיטִ֖יב אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְלֹֽא־יִהְיֶ֥ה זָקֵ֛ן בְּבֵיתְךָ֖ כָּל־הַיָּמִֽים	32		And you will notice a troubled habitation in all that is good for Israel, and there will not be old age in your house every day.	3d	4B	17 13
וְאִ֗ישׁ לֹֽא־אַכְרִ֤ית לְךָ֙ מֵעִ֣ם מִזְבְּחִ֔י לְכַלּ֥וֹת אֶת־עֵינֶ֖יךָ וְלַאֲדִ֣יב אֶת־נַפְשֶׁ֑ךָ וְכָל־מַרְבִּ֥ית בֵּיתְךָ֖ יָמ֥וּתוּ אֲנָשִֽׁים	33		And a man I will not cut off of yours from my altar, is to consume your eyes, and to make you wilt, but all the excess of your house will die as adults.	3e	4C	27 12
וְזֶה־לְּךָ֣ הָא֗וֹת אֲשֶׁ֤ר יָבֹא֙ אֶל־שְׁנֵ֣י בָנֶ֔יךָ אֶל־חָפְנִ֖י וּפִֽינְחָ֑ס בְּי֥וֹם אֶחָ֖ד יָמ֥וּתוּ שְׁנֵיהֶֽם	34		And this for you is the sign that will come to your two sons, to Hophni and Phineas. In one day the two of them will die.	3e	4C	22 10
וַהֲקִימֹתִ֥י לִי֙ כֹּהֵ֣ן נֶאֱמָ֔ן כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר בִּלְבָבִ֥י וּבְנַפְשִׁ֖י יַעֲשֶׂ֑ה וּבָנִ֤יתִי לוֹ֙ בַּ֣יִת נֶאֱמָ֔ן וְהִתְהַלֵּ֥ךְ‬ לִפְנֵֽי־מְשִׁיחִ֖י כָּל־הַיָּמִֽים	35		And I will raise up for me a faithful priest. According to what is in my heart and in my being he will do. And I will build up for him a faithful house, and he will walk in the presence of my anointing every day.	3d	4C	23 23
וְהָיָ֗ה כָּל־הַנּוֹתָר֙ בְּבֵ֣יתְךָ֔ יָבוֹא֙ לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֺ֣ת ל֔וֹ לַאֲג֥וֹרַת כֶּ֖סֶף וְכִכַּר־לָ֑חֶם וְאָמַ֗ר סְפָחֵ֥נִי נָ֛א אֶל־אַחַ֥ת הַכְּהֻנּ֖וֹת לֶאֱכֹ֥ל פַּת־לָֽחֶם ס	36		And it will happen that anyone remaining in your house will come to worship him for a silver coin and a round loaf of bread. And he will say, Co-inhere me please to one of the priesthood to eat a fragment of bread.	3d	4B	29 21

Fragment of the month

From the research unit on the Cairo Geniza in Cambridge, (ht Jim Davilla), a fragment on who wrote the Bible.

A fragment from the Cairo Geniza (2010-10-07 Cambridge University Library)

To give a sense of what the fragments look like, this is an image of one that I took in 2010. This one shows a scribe's practicing letters.

Adam in another guise

I recall my first memory of the Eucharist in the old Bishop's University chapel in Lennoxville. Sometime after that the clatter of little cups in the pews is a memory of the communion held every three months in the United church of Granby. Was I being trained in advance even then by an invisible presence?

Doug Chaplin has continued his writing on the 39 articles and in the last two posts has been writing on the Eucharist. Altogether these are a very nice pair of articles and worth reading and following. Memory is the order of the day for Alan Kurdi. The shape of his body on the beach is the shape of the Lamb that was slain.

I could not post this last year but now in the distance, I think we ought to recognize the open sore that is the Syrian war. That phrase open sore is suggested to me by an article in the Journal of Biblical Literature 2016, (Volume 135, #2) by Amy Kalmanofsky about the open sore in the book of Jeremiah. The human body has an open sore. How will be stop the bleeding? I am reminded of the healing of the woman in the Gospels.

We must do more than remember, but we must remember.

Biblical Studies Carnival

The latest carnival is posted here from JK Turner  on a Thursday at the Monday Morning Theologian.