1 Kings 10

This won't be a surprise. The automation got 80% of this chapter from the last one and a few other verses from other chapters of Chronicles. There are slight differences in most verses.

Verse 1 - an odd juxtaposition of לְשֵׁ֣ם יְהוָ֑ה, of, for, to the name of Yahweh. I suspect there is something missing in the text. Perhaps it had to do with the building projects especially the house 'to the name of Yahweh'.

In this chapter when the queen 'turns' it is not the word for change but the word for facing about פנה. These slight differences in root may not be significant. But there is a lot of baggage in the words for turning: שוב is traditionally repentance (a word I never use), פנה is presence as well as face.

[Bob, why don't you use repent? If the Mystery comes to you, it is so obvious that you turn from your confusion, error, sin, etc, that telling someone to repent seems futile. Don't tell me Jesus said 'repent'.  He said (the equivalent of) turn from your ways. He said follow me. He said come to me. The power to do what is right is a similar matter, but I am not saying or implying that it is easy or instantaneous.]

The throne appears to have a calf's head behind it. There is a doubled negative in verse 21 that I have rendered in a conversational manner. I think we are trained to think of this writing as formal and grammatical and it just may not be like that sometimes.

The navy or fleet or ship is spelled oddly in this chapter. אני rather than אניה. So the automation interprets it as a pronoun, I. Nuisance, this careless spelling. They had never heard of spelling bees in these ancient days.

The translations disagree as to where Solomon's horses came from. Perhaps Muzur in Cilicia (NIV, JB) or Egypt (the Hebrew text). Verse 28 reflects 2 Chronicles 1:16, not a verse of 2 Chronicles 9 where the verse about horses is more generic. JB suggests that Solomon had traders active for all the local kings. This is business acumen, not necessarily 'wisdom'.

1 Kings 10		Fn		Min	Max	Syll
וּמַֽלְכַּת־שְׁבָ֗א שֹׁמַ֛עַת אֶת־שֵׁ֥מַע שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה לְשֵׁ֣ם יְהוָ֑ה וַתָּבֹ֥א לְנַסֹּת֖וֹ בְּחִידֽוֹת	1		And the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon [conjecture: and that he had built a house] to the name of Yahweh. She came to prove him with riddles.	3d	4B	18 10
וַתָּבֹ֣א יְרוּשָׁלְַ֗מָה בְּחַיִל֮ כָּבֵ֣ד מְאֹד֒ גְּ֠מַלִּים נֹשְׂאִ֨ים בְּשָׂמִ֧ים וְזָהָ֛ב רַב־מְאֹ֖ד וְאֶ֣בֶן יְקָרָ֑ה וַתָּבֹא֙ אֶל־שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה וַתְּדַבֵּ֣ר אֵלָ֔יו אֵ֛ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר הָיָ֖ה עִם־לְבָבָֽהּ	2		And she came toward Jerusalem with excessively glorious wealth, camels bearing spices and excessive abundant gold and precious stone. And she came to Solomon and spoke to him all that was with her heart.	3c	4B	35 22
וַיַּגֶּד־לָ֥הּ שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה אֶת־כָּל־דְּבָרֶ֑יהָ לֹֽא־הָיָ֤ה דָּבָר֙ נֶעְלָ֣ם מִן־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹ֦א הִגִּ֖יד לָֽהּ	3		And Solomon made clear for her all her words. there was no thing obscured from the king, that he did not make clear for her.	3c	4C	13 16
וַתֵּ֙רֶא֙ מַֽלְכַּת־שְׁבָ֔א אֵ֖ת כָּל־חָכְמַ֣ת שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה וְהַבַּ֖יִת אֲשֶׁ֥ר בָּנָֽה	4		And the queen of Sheba saw all the shrewdness of Solomon, and the house that he had built.	3e	4B	14 8
וּמַאֲכַ֣ל שֻׁלְחָנ֡וֹ וּמוֹשַׁ֣ב עֲבָדָיו֩ וּמַעֲמַ֨ד מְשָׁרְתָ֜יו וּמַלְבֻּֽשֵׁיהֶם֙ וּמַשְׁקָ֔יו וְעֹ֣לָת֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַעֲלֶ֖ה בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה וְלֹא־הָ֥יָה בָ֛הּ ע֖וֹד רֽוּחַ	5		And the food of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the standing of his ministers and their raiment, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up to the House of Yahweh, and there was in her no more wind.	3d	4B	40 7
וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֱמֶת֙ הָיָ֣ה הַדָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁמַ֖עְתִּי בְּאַרְצִ֑י עַל־דְּבָרֶ֖יךָ וְעַל־חָכְמָתֶֽךָ	6		And she said to the king, The truth it was of the matter that I had heard in my land, about your words and your shrewdness.	3e	4B	22 11
וְלֹֽא־הֶאֱמַ֣נְתִּי לַדְּבָרִ֗ים עַ֤ד אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֙אתִי֙ וַתִּרְאֶ֣ינָה עֵינַ֔י וְהִנֵּ֥ה לֹֽא־הֻגַּד־לִ֖י הַחֵ֑צִי הוֹסַ֤פְתָּ חָכְמָה֙ וָט֔וֹב אֶל־הַשְּׁמוּעָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁמָֽעְתִּי	7		And I had not believed the words until I came and my eyes had seen, and behold, the half was not told me. You have added shrewdness and good to the report that I had heard.	3e	4C	28 16
אַשְׁרֵ֣י אֲנָשֶׁ֔יךָ אַשְׁרֵ֖י עֲבָדֶ֣יךָ אֵ֑לֶּה הָֽעֹמְדִ֤ים לְפָנֶ֙יךָ֙ תָּמִ֔יד הַשֹּׁמְעִ֖ים אֶת־חָכְמָתֶֽךָ	8		Happy your soldiers. Happy these your servants, those standing in your presence continually, hearing your wisdom.	3e	4C	14 17
יְהִ֨י יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ בָּר֔וּךְ אֲשֶׁר֙ חָפֵ֣ץ בְּךָ֔ לְתִתְּךָ֖ עַל־כִּסֵּ֣א יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל בְּאַהֲבַ֨ת יְהוָ֤ה אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לְעֹלָ֔ם וַיְשִֽׂימְךָ֣ לְמֶ֔לֶךְ לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת מִשְׁפָּ֖ט וּצְדָקָֽה	9		Let Yahweh your God be blessed that he delighted in you to give you the throne of Israel, (in the love of Yahweh for Israel forever), and to set you as king to do judgment and righteousness.	3e	4C	25 27
וַתִּתֵּ֨ן לַמֶּ֜לֶךְ מֵאָ֥ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֣ים ׀ כִּכַּ֣ר זָהָ֗ב וּבְשָׂמִ֛ים הַרְבֵּ֥ה מְאֹ֖ד וְאֶ֣בֶן יְקָרָ֑ה לֹא־בָא֩ כַבֹּ֨שֶׂם הַה֥וּא עוֹד֙ לָרֹ֔ב אֲשֶׁר־נָתְנָ֥ה מַֽלְכַּת־שְׁבָ֖א לַמֶּ֥לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹֽה	10		And she gave to the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold and very abundant spices and precious stone. There did not come as spice in this abundance any more, that the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.	3d	4B	28 23
וְגַם֙ אֳנִ֣י חִירָ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־נָשָׂ֥א זָהָ֖ב מֵאוֹפִ֑יר הֵבִ֨יא מֵאֹפִ֜יר עֲצֵ֧י אַלְמֻגִּ֛ים הַרְבֵּ֥ה מְאֹ֖ד וְאֶ֥בֶן יְקָרָֽה	11		And even the navy of Hiram that bore gold from Ophir, brought from Ophir the wood of algum trees in excessive abundance and precious stone.	3c	4B	15 20
וַיַּ֣עַשׂ הַ֠מֶּלֶךְ אֶת־עֲצֵ֨י הָאַלְמֻגִּ֜ים מִסְעָ֤ד לְבֵית־יְהוָה֙ וּלְבֵ֣ית הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְכִנֹּר֥וֹת וּנְבָלִ֖ים לַשָּׁרִ֑ים לֹ֣א בָֽא־כֵ֞ן עֲצֵ֤י אַלְמֻגִּים֙ וְלֹ֣א נִרְאָ֔ה עַ֖ד הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה	12		And the king made the wood of the algum trees a balustrade for the house of Yahweh, and the house of the king, and harps and lutes for the singers. Such wood of algum trees has not come nor has been seen to this day.	3e	4C	34 17
וְהַמֶּ֨לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֜ה נָתַ֣ן לְמַֽלְכַּת־שְׁבָ֗א אֶת־כָּל־חֶפְצָהּ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׁאָ֔לָה מִלְּבַד֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נָֽתַן־לָ֔הּ כְּיַ֖ד הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה וַתֵּ֛פֶן וַתֵּ֥לֶךְ לְאַרְצָ֖הּ הִ֥יא וַעֲבָדֶֽיהָ	13		Then the king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her delight that she asked, besides what given to her by the hand of the king Solomon, and she faced about and went to her land, she and her servants.	3d	4B	38 15
וַֽיְהִי֙ מִשְׁקַ֣ל הַזָּהָ֔ב אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֥א לִשְׁלֹמֹ֖ה בְּשָׁנָ֣ה אֶחָ֑ת שֵׁ֥שׁ מֵא֛וֹת שִׁשִּׁ֥ים וָשֵׁ֖שׁ כִּכַּ֥ר זָהָֽב	14		And the weight of the gold that came to Solomon in the first year was, six hundred sixty and six of a talent of gold.	3d	4B	18 11
לְבַד֙ מֵאַנְשֵׁ֣י הַתָּרִ֔ים וּמִסְחַ֖ר הָרֹכְלִ֑ים וְכָל־מַלְכֵ֥י הָעֶ֖רֶב וּפַח֥וֹת הָאָֽרֶץ	15		Besides salespersons and vendors, the merchants, and all kings of the steppe, and the viceroys of the earth.	3e	4B	14 13
וַיַּ֨עַשׂ הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֛ה מָאתַ֥יִם צִנָּ֖ה זָהָ֣ב שָׁח֑וּט שֵׁשׁ־מֵא֣וֹת זָהָ֔ב יַעֲלֶ֖ה עַל־הַצִּנָּ֥ה הָאֶחָֽת	16		And the king Solomon made two hundred receptacles of malleable gold. Six hundred of gold went up over the one receptacle.	3c	4B	17 15
וּשְׁלֹשׁ־מֵא֤וֹת מָֽגִנִּים֙ זָהָ֣ב שָׁח֔וּט שְׁלֹ֤שֶׁת מָנִים֙ זָהָ֔ב יַעֲלֶ֖ה עַל־הַמָּגֵ֣ן הָאֶחָ֑ת וַיִּתְּנֵ֣ם הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ בֵּ֖ית יַ֥עַר הַלְּבָנֽוֹן	17		And three hundred shields of malleable gold, (three portions of gold went up on the one shield), and the king assigned them to the house of the forest of Lebanon.	3e	4C	28 12
וַיַּ֧עַשׂ הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ כִּסֵּא־שֵׁ֖ן גָּד֑וֹל וַיְצַפֵּ֖הוּ זָהָ֥ב מוּפָֽז	18		And the king made a great throne of ivory, and he overlaid it with gold, pure gold.	3c	4A	11 8
שֵׁ֧שׁ מַעֲל֣וֹת לַכִּסֵּ֗ה וְרֹאשׁ־עָגֹ֤ל לַכִּסֵּה֙ מֵאַֽחֲרָ֔יו וְיָדֹ֛ת מִזֶּ֥ה וּמִזֶּ֖ה אֶל־מְק֣וֹם הַשָּׁ֑בֶת וּשְׁנַ֣יִם אֲרָי֔וֹת עֹמְדִ֖ים אֵ֥צֶל הַיָּדֽוֹת	19	c	Six stairs to the throne, and the head of a calf for the throne behind it, and protections from this or from that at the place of the seat, and two lions standing next to the protections.	3c	4C	32 12
וּשְׁנֵ֧ים עָשָׂ֣ר אֲרָיִ֗ים עֹמְדִ֥ים שָׁ֛ם עַל־שֵׁ֥שׁ הַֽמַּעֲל֖וֹת מִזֶּ֣ה וּמִזֶּ֑ה לֹֽא־נַעֲשָׂ֥ה כֵ֖ן לְכָל־מַמְלָכֽוֹת	20		And twelve lions standing there on the six stairs from this and from that. Such had not been made for any kingdoms.	3c	4B	21 9
וְ֠כֹל כְּלֵ֞י מַשְׁקֵ֨ה הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה֙ זָהָ֔ב וְכֹ֗ל כְּלֵ֛י בֵּֽית־יַ֥עַר הַלְּבָנ֖וֹן זָהָ֣ב סָג֑וּר אֵ֣ין כֶּ֗סֶף לֹ֥א נֶחְשָׁ֛ב בִּימֵ֥י שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה לִמְאֽוּמָה	21	~	And all the drinking vessels for the king Solomon, gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon, gold, of a gold bar. It was nothing, silver, not to be reckoned in the days of Solomon for anything much.	3d	4C	28 14
כִּי֩ אֳנִ֨י תַרְשִׁ֤ישׁ לַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ בַּיָּ֔ם עִ֖ם אֳנִ֣י חִירָ֑ם אַחַת֩ לְשָׁלֹ֨שׁ שָׁנִ֜ים תָּב֣וֹא ׀ אֳנִ֣י תַרְשִׁ֗ישׁ נֹֽשְׂאֵת֙ זָהָ֣ב וָכֶ֔סֶף שֶׁנְהַבִּ֥ים וְקֹפִ֖ים וְתֻכִּיִּֽים	22		For a navy of Tarshish the king had at sea, with the navy of Hiram. Once in three years, the navy of Tarshish came bearing gold and silver, ivory tusks, and apes and baboons.	3e	4C	15 30
וַיִּגְדַּל֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה מִכֹּ֖ל מַלְכֵ֣י הָאָ֑רֶץ לְעֹ֖שֶׁר וּלְחָכְמָֽה	23		And king Solomon became greater than all the kings of the earth, in riches and in shrewdness.	3e	4B	16 6
וְכָ֨ל־הָאָ֔רֶץ מְבַקְשִׁ֖ים אֶת־פְּנֵ֣י שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה לִשְׁמֹ֙עַ֙ אֶת־חָכְמָת֔וֹ אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֥ן אֱלֹהִ֖ים בְּלִבּֽוֹ	24		And all the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his shrewdness that gave God in his heart.	3e	4B	14 17
וְהֵ֣מָּה מְבִאִ֣ים אִ֣ישׁ מִנְחָת֡וֹ כְּלֵ֣י כֶסֶף֩ וּכְלֵ֨י זָהָ֤ב וּשְׂלָמוֹת֙ וְנֵ֣שֶׁק וּבְשָׂמִ֔ים סוּסִ֖ים וּפְרָדִ֑ים דְּבַר־שָׁנָ֖ה בְּשָׁנָֽה	25		And they brought each their gifts, vessels of silver and vessels of gold, and apparel and equipment and spices, horses and mules, a routine, year in year out.	3e	4C	32 7
וַיֶּאֱסֹ֣ף שְׁלֹמֹה֮ רֶ֣כֶב וּפָרָשִׁים֒ וַיְהִי־ל֗וֹ אֶ֤לֶף וְאַרְבַּע־מֵאוֹת֙ רֶ֔כֶב וּשְׁנֵים־עָשָׂ֥ר אֶ֖לֶף פָּֽרָשִׁ֑ים וַיַּנְחֵם֙ בְּעָרֵ֣י הָרֶ֔כֶב וְעִם־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם	26		And Solomon gathered chariot and cavaliers, and he had a thousand four hundred of chariot, and twelve thousand cavalry, and he superintended them in the cities of the chariot and with the king in Jerusalem.	3e	4C	33 18
וַיִּתֵּ֨ן הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ אֶת־הַכֶּ֛סֶף בִּירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם כָּאֲבָנִ֑ים וְאֵ֣ת הָאֲרָזִ֗ים נָתַ֛ן כַּשִּׁקְמִ֥ים אֲשֶׁר־בַּשְּׁפֵלָ֖ה לָרֹֽב	27		And the king gave the silver in Jerusalem like stones, and cedar he gave like sycamores, that in the lowly place are abundant.	3c	4B	18 18
וּמוֹצָ֧א הַסּוּסִ֛ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לִשְׁלֹמֹ֖ה מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם וּמִקְוֵ֕ה סֹחֲרֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ יִקְח֥וּ מִקְוֵ֖ה בִּמְחִֽיר	28		And the horses brought out that were Solomon's were from Egypt, and from Que. The wares of the king, they took from Que at a price.	3c	4B	15 15
וַֽ֠תַּעֲלֶה וַתֵּצֵ֨א מֶרְכָּבָ֤ה מִמִּצְרַ֙יִם֙ בְּשֵׁ֣שׁ מֵא֣וֹת כֶּ֔סֶף וְס֖וּס בַּחֲמִשִּׁ֣ים וּמֵאָ֑ה וְ֠כֵן לְכָל־מַלְכֵ֧י הַחִתִּ֛ים וּלְמַלְכֵ֥י אֲרָ֖ם בְּיָדָ֥ם יֹצִֽאוּ	29		And a chariot came up and and went out from Egypt at six hundred of silver, and horse, at one hundred and fifty, and so for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Aram, by their means, they came forth.	3c	4C	28 20

2 Chronicles 9

Wisdom and shrewdness are the same stem for me.  I use one or the other almost at a whim. Solomon here exhibits the kind of planning and engineering that creates a wealthy show. We already know he used enforced labour of guests in the land for his building projects. This is, if wisdom, not a very nice wisdom. I do not think Solomon is a good example. I was sold a bill of goods in Sunday School. He is clever, astute, shrewd, and perhaps occasionally wise. I recall that his reign began with fratricide and after it ended, the kingdom was divided. Altogether these are not an indication of effective governance.

The queen in this story does not turn in the normal sense of return (שׁוב) but she turns in the sense of הפר, also glossed as change. I wonder if she had had enough of Solomon's glory. The descriptions are excessive, to say the least. Some English words are so flexible that isolating them to one stem is impossible. And for this gloss there are other variations generally with prepositions to distinguish them, turn round (סבב), turn aside (סור), turn away or back (שׁוב), all reflecting different stems.

Solomon is seen as the source of the number of the Beast of revelation in this passage. So much for the worship of human wisdom. Is Solomon the beginning of an extended parable of the failure of human monarchy?

The hassock (כבשׁ) of verse 18 (KJV footstool) is read as lamb (כבש young lamb) behind the throne by JB. The only difference is the dot on the left of the shin. I suspect that armrests (NIV or arms JB) are as good guesses as stay. The word is יד, hand. The Latin concordance is very flexible with this stem. manus, potestas, vis, praesidium, latus, ripa, regio, locus, pars, monumentum, cardines asserum, axes rotae, adminicula sellae, euph pro pene. I have chosen protections. A little security is not a bad idea.

מזה ומזה literally from this and/or from that. Probably should be glossed as 'on either side' but it is not so specific. Pondering - this way and that sounds too helter skelter.

Colloquial possibilities in verse 2 (and nothing got past him) and 4 (it took her breath away).

2 Chronicles 9		Fn		Min	Max	Syll
וּמַֽלְכַּת־שְׁבָ֗א שָֽׁמְעָה֮ אֶת־שֵׁ֣מַע שְׁלֹמֹה֒ וַתָּב֣וֹא לְנַסּוֹת֩ אֶת־שְׁלֹמֹ֨ה בְחִיד֜וֹת בִּירֽוּשָׁלִַ֗ם בְּחַ֣יִל כָּבֵ֣ד מְאֹ֡ד וּ֠גְמַלִּים נֹשְׂאִ֨ים בְּשָׂמִ֧ים וְזָהָ֛ב לָרֹ֖ב וְאֶ֣בֶן יְקָרָ֑ה וַתָּבוֹא֙ אֶל־שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה וַתְּדַבֵּ֣ר עִמּ֔וֹ אֵ֛ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר הָיָ֖ה עִם־לְבָבָֽהּ	1		And the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, and she went to prove Solomon with riddles in Jerusalem, with excessively glorious wealth, and camels bearing spices, and gold abundant, and precious stone. And she went to Solomon and spoke with him all that was with her heart.	3c	4B	56 22
וַיַּגֶּד־לָ֥הּ שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה אֶת־כָּל־דְּבָרֶ֑יהָ וְלֹֽא־נֶעְלַ֤ם דָּבָר֙ מִשְּׁלֹמֹ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹ֦א הִגִּ֖יד לָֽהּ	2		And Solomon made clear for her all her words, and no word was obscured from Solomon that he did not make clear for her.	3c	4C	13 15
וַתֵּ֙רֶא֙ מַֽלְכַּת־שְׁבָ֔א אֵ֖ת חָכְמַ֣ת שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה וְהַבַּ֖יִת אֲשֶׁ֥ר בָּנָֽה	3		And the queen of Sheba saw the shrewdness of Solomon, and the house that he had built.	3e	4B	13 8
וּמַאֲכַ֣ל שֻׁלְחָנ֡וֹ וּמוֹשַׁ֣ב עֲבָדָיו֩ וּמַעֲמַ֨ד מְשָׁרְתָ֜יו וּמַלְבּֽוּשֵׁיהֶ֗ם וּמַשְׁקָיו֙ וּמַלְבּ֣וּשֵׁיהֶ֔ם וַעֲלִיָּת֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַעֲלֶ֖ה בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה וְלֹא־הָ֥יָה ע֛וֹד בָּ֖הּ רֽוּחַ	4		And the food of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the standing of his ministers and their raiment, and his cupbearers and their raiment, and his ascent which he went up to by the House of Yahweh, and there was in her no more wind.	3d	4B	46 7
וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֱמֶת֙ הַדָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁמַ֖עְתִּי בְּאַרְצִ֑י עַל־דְּבָרֶ֖יךָ וְעַל־חָכְמָתֶֽךָ	5		And she said to the king, It was the truth of the matter that I had heard in my land, about your words and your shrewdness.	3e	4A	20 11
וְלֹֽא־הֶאֱמַ֣נְתִּי לְדִבְרֵיהֶ֗ם עַ֤ד אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֙אתִי֙ וַתִּרְאֶ֣ינָה עֵינַ֔י וְהִנֵּה֙ לֹ֣א הֻגַּד־לִ֔י חֲצִ֖י מַרְבִּ֣ית חָכְמָתֶ֑ךָ יָסַ֕פְתָּ עַל־הַשְּׁמוּעָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁמָֽעְתִּי	6		And I had not believed their words until I came and my eyes had seen, and behold the half of the excess of your shrewdness was not told me. You have added again over the report that I had heard.	3e	4C	35 12
אַשְׁרֵ֣י אֲנָשֶׁ֔יךָ וְאַשְׁרֵ֖י עֲבָדֶ֣יךָ אֵ֑לֶּה הָעֹמְדִ֤ים לְפָנֶ֙יךָ֙ תָּמִ֔יד וְשֹׁמְעִ֖ים אֶת־חָכְמָתֶֽךָ	7		Happy your soldiers, and happy these your servants, those standing in your presence continually, and those hearing your wisdom.	3e	4C	15 17
יְהִ֨י יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ בָּר֔וּךְ אֲשֶׁ֣ר ׀ חָפֵ֣ץ בְּךָ֗ לְתִתְּךָ֤ עַל־כִּסְאוֹ֙ לְמֶ֔לֶךְ לַיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ בְּאַהֲבַ֨ת אֱלֹהֶ֤יךָ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לְהַעֲמִיד֣וֹ לְעוֹלָ֔ם וַיִּתֶּנְךָ֤ עֲלֵיהֶם֙ לְמֶ֔לֶךְ לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת מִשְׁפָּ֥ט וּצְדָקָֽה	8		Let Yahweh your God be blessed that he delighted in you to give you his throne as king for Yahweh your God, in the love of your God to make Israel stand forever, and to give you over them as king to do judgment and righteousness.	3e	4C	31 38
וַתִּתֵּ֨ן לַמֶּ֜לֶךְ מֵאָ֥ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֣ים ׀ כִּכַּ֣ר זָהָ֗ב וּבְשָׂמִ֛ים לָרֹ֥ב מְאֹ֖ד וְאֶ֣בֶן יְקָרָ֑ה וְלֹ֤א הָיָה֙ כַּבֹּ֣שֶׂם הַה֔וּא אֲשֶׁר־נָתְנָ֥ה מַֽלְכַּת־שְׁבָ֖א לַמֶּ֥לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹֽה	9		And she gave to the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold, and spices in excessive abundance, and precious stone, and there is not a spice such as this that the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.	3d	4C	28 23
וְגַם־עַבְדֵ֤י חוּרָם֙ וְעַבְדֵ֣י שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־הֵבִ֥יאוּ זָהָ֖ב מֵאוֹפִ֑יר הֵבִ֛יאוּ עֲצֵ֥י אַלְגּוּמִּ֖ים וְאֶ֥בֶן יְקָרָֽה	10		And even the servants of Xuram and the servants of Solomon that brought gold from Ophir, brought wood of algum trees and precious stone.	3d	4C	22 14
וַיַּ֣עַשׂ הַ֠מֶּלֶךְ אֶת־עֲצֵ֨י הָֽאַלְגּוּמִּ֜ים מְסִלּ֤וֹת לְבֵית־יְהוָה֙ וּלְבֵ֣ית הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְכִנֹּר֥וֹת וּנְבָלִ֖ים לַשָּׁרִ֑ים וְלֹא־נִרְא֥וּ כָהֵ֛ם לְפָנִ֖ים בְּאֶ֥רֶץ יְהוּדָֽה	11		And the king made the wood of the algum trees floorboards for the house of Yahweh, and the house of the king, and harps and lutes for the singers, and none had been seen like them before in the land of Judah.	3d	4C	35 15
וְהַמֶּ֨לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֜ה נָתַ֣ן לְמַֽלְכַּת־שְׁבָ֗א אֶת־כָּל־חֶפְצָהּ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׁאָ֔לָה מִלְּבַ֖ד אֲשֶׁר־הֵבִ֣יאָה אֶל־הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַֽתַּהֲפֹ֛ךְ וַתֵּ֥לֶךְ לְאַרְצָ֖הּ הִ֥יא וַעֲבָדֶֽיהָ	12		Then the king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her delight that she asked, besides what she had brought to the king, and she changed and went to her land, she and her servants.	3d	4B	34 16
וַיְהִי֙ מִשְׁקַ֣ל הַזָּהָ֔ב אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֥א לִשְׁלֹמֹ֖ה בְּשָׁנָ֣ה אֶחָ֑ת שֵׁ֥שׁ מֵא֛וֹת וְשִׁשִּׁ֥ים וָשֵׁ֖שׁ כִּכְּרֵ֥י זָהָֽב	13		And the weight of the gold that came to Solomon in the first year was, six hundred and sixty six talents of gold,	3d	4B	18 12
לְבַ֞ד מֵאַנְשֵׁ֧י הַתָּרִ֛ים וְהַסֹּחֲרִ֖ים מְבִיאִ֑ים וְכָל־מַלְכֵ֤י עֲרַב֙ וּפַח֣וֹת הָאָ֔רֶץ מְבִיאִ֛ים זָהָ֥ב וָכֶ֖סֶף לִשְׁלֹמֹֽה	14		Besides what salespersons and vendors brought. And all the kings of Arabia and the viceroys of the earth brought gold and silver to Solomon.	3c	4C	16 23
וַיַּ֨עַשׂ הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֛ה מָאתַ֥יִם צִנָּ֖ה זָהָ֣ב שָׁח֑וּט שֵׁ֤שׁ מֵאוֹת֙ זָהָ֣ב שָׁח֔וּט יַעֲלֶ֖ה עַל־הַצִּנָּ֥ה הָאֶחָֽת	15		And the king Solomon made two hundred receptacles of malleable gold. Six hundred of malleable gold went up over the one receptacle.	3c	4C	17 17
וּשְׁלֹשׁ־מֵא֤וֹת מָֽגִנִּים֙ זָהָ֣ב שָׁח֔וּט שְׁלֹ֤שׁ מֵאוֹת֙ זָהָ֔ב יַעֲלֶ֖ה עַל־הַמָּגֵ֣ן הָאֶחָ֑ת וַיִּתְּנֵ֣ם הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ בְּבֵ֖ית יַ֥עַר הַלְּבָנֽוֹן	16		And three hundred shields of malleable gold, (three hundred of gold went up on the one shield), and the king assigned them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.	3e	4C	27 13
וַיַּ֧עַשׂ הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ כִּסֵּא־שֵׁ֖ן גָּד֑וֹל וַיְצַפֵּ֖הוּ זָהָ֥ב טָהֽוֹר	17		And the king made a great throne of ivory, and he overlaid it with lustrous gold.	3c	4A	11 8
וְשֵׁ֣שׁ מַעֲל֣וֹת לַ֠כִּסֵּא וְכֶ֨בֶשׁ בַּזָּהָ֤ב לַכִּסֵּא֙ מָאֳחָזִ֔ים וְיָד֛וֹת מִזֶּ֥ה וּמִזֶּ֖ה עַל־מְק֣וֹם הַשָּׁ֑בֶת וּשְׁנַ֣יִם אֲרָי֔וֹת עֹמְדִ֖ים אֵ֥צֶל הַיָּדֽוֹת	18		And six stairs to the throne, and a hassock in gold for the throne, held fast, and protections from this and from that by the place of the seat, and two lions standing next to the protections.	3d	4C	35 12
וּשְׁנֵ֧ים עָשָׂ֣ר אֲרָי֗וֹת עֹמְדִ֥ים שָׁ֛ם עַל־שֵׁ֥שׁ הַֽמַּעֲל֖וֹת מִזֶּ֣ה וּמִזֶּ֑ה לֹא־נַעֲשָׂ֥ה כֵ֖ן לְכָל־מַמְלָכָֽה	19		And twelve lions standing there on the six stairs from this and from that. Such had not been made for any kingdom.	3c	4B	21 9
וְ֠כֹל כְּלֵ֞י מַשְׁקֵ֨ה הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה֙ זָהָ֔ב וְכֹ֗ל כְּלֵ֛י בֵּֽית־יַ֥עַר הַלְּבָנ֖וֹן זָהָ֣ב סָג֑וּר אֵ֣ין כֶּ֗סֶף נֶחְשָׁ֛ב בִּימֵ֥י שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה לִמְאֽוּמָה	20	~	And all the drinking vessels for the king Solomon, gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon, gold, of a gold bar. Silver was not to be reckoned in the days of Solomon for anything much.	3d	4C	28 13
כִּֽי־אֳנִיּ֤וֹת לַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ הֹלְכ֣וֹת תַּרְשִׁ֔ישׁ עִ֖ם עַבְדֵ֣י חוּרָ֑ם אַחַת֩ לְשָׁל֨וֹשׁ שָׁנִ֜ים תָּב֣וֹאנָה ׀ אֳנִיּ֣וֹת תַּרְשִׁ֗ישׁ נֹֽשְׂאוֹת֙ זָהָ֣ב וָכֶ֔סֶף שֶׁנְהַבִּ֥ים וְקוֹפִ֖ים וְתוּכִּיִּֽים	21		For the ships of the king went to Tarshish with the servants of Xuram. Once every three years, the ships of Tarshish came bearing gold and silver, ivory tusks, apes and baboons.	3e	4C	15 32
וַיִּגְדַּל֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה מִכֹּ֖ל מַלְכֵ֣י הָאָ֑רֶץ לְעֹ֖שֶׁר וְחָכְמָֽה	22		And king Solomon became greater than all the kings of the earth, in riches and shrewdness.	3e	4B	16 6
וְכֹל֙ מַלְכֵ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ מְבַקְשִׁ֖ים אֶת־פְּנֵ֣י שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה לִשְׁמֹ֙עַ֙ אֶת־חָכְמָת֔וֹ אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֥ן הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים בְּלִבּֽוֹ	23		And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his shrewdness that God gave in his heart.	3e	4B	16 18
וְהֵ֣ם מְבִיאִ֣ים אִ֣ישׁ מִנְחָת֡וֹ כְּלֵ֣י כֶסֶף֩ וּכְלֵ֨י זָהָ֤ב וּשְׂלָמוֹת֙ נֵ֣שֶׁק וּבְשָׂמִ֔ים סוּסִ֖ים וּפְרָדִ֑ים דְּבַר־שָׁנָ֖ה בְּשָׁנָֽה	24		And they brought each their gifts, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and apparel, equipment, and spices, horses, and mules, a routine year in year out.	3e	4C	30 7
וַיְהִ֨י לִשְׁלֹמֹ֜ה אַרְבַּעַת֩ אֲלָפִ֨ים אֻֽרְי֤וֹת סוּסִים֙ וּמַרְכָּב֔וֹת וּשְׁנֵים־עָשָׂ֥ר אֶ֖לֶף פָּרָשִׁ֑ים וַיַּנִּיחֵם֙ בְּעָרֵ֣י הָרֶ֔כֶב וְעִם־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם	25		And Solomon had four thousand corrals for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand cavalry, and he left them in the cities of the chariot, and with the king in Jerusalem.	3e	4C	28 19
וַיְהִ֥י מוֹשֵׁ֖ל בְּכָל־הַמְּלָכִ֑ים מִן־הַנָּהָר֙ וְעַד־אֶ֣רֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים וְעַ֖ד גְּב֥וּל מִצְרָֽיִם	26		And he had governance with all the kings, from the river and to the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt.	3e	4B	9 18
וַיִּתֵּ֨ן הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ אֶת־הַכֶּ֛סֶף בִּירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם כָּאֲבָנִ֑ים וְאֵ֣ת הָאֲרָזִ֗ים נָתַ֛ן כַּשִּׁקְמִ֥ים אֲשֶׁר־בַּשְּׁפֵלָ֖ה לָרֹֽב	27		And the king gave the silver in Jerusalem like stones, and cedar he gave like sycamores, that in the lowly place are abundant.	3c	4B	18 18
וּמוֹצִיאִ֨ים סוּסִ֧ים מִמִּצְרַ֛יִם לִשְׁלֹמֹ֖ה וּמִכָּל־הָאֲרָצֽוֹת	28		And they brought out horses from Egypt to Solomon, and from all the lands.	3c	3g	19
וּשְׁאָר֙ דִּבְרֵ֣י שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה הָרִאשֹׁנִ֖ים וְהָאֲחֲרוֹנִ֑ים הֲלֹא־הֵ֣ם כְּתוּבִ֗ים עַל־דִּבְרֵי֙ נָתָ֣ן הַנָּבִ֔יא וְעַל־נְבוּאַ֞ת אֲחִיָּ֣ה הַשִּֽׁילוֹנִ֗י וּבַחֲזוֹת֙ יֶעְדּ֣וֹ הַחֹזֶ֔ה עַל־יָרָבְעָ֖ם בֶּן־נְבָֽט	29		And the residue of the words of Solomon, the former and the latter, are they not written over the words of Nathan the prophet, and over the prophesy of Achiyah the Shilonite, and the visions of Iddo the visionary, over Jeroboam child of Nebat.	3e	4B	17 42
וַיִּמְלֹ֨ךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֧ה בִֽירוּשָׁלִַ֛ם עַל־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אַרְבָּעִ֥ים שָׁנָֽה	30		And Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel, a forty year span.	3c	3g	20
וַיִּשְׁכַּ֤ב שְׁלֹמֹה֙ עִם־אֲבֹתָ֔יו וַֽיִּקְבְּרֻ֔הוּ בְּעִ֖יר דָּוִ֣יד אָבִ֑יו וַיִּמְלֹ֛ךְ רְחַבְעָ֥ם בְּנ֖וֹ תַּחְתָּֽיו	31		And Solomon was laid out with his ancestors, and they entombed him in the city David his father, and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.	3d	4C	21 10

Ezekiel 37

Ezekiel 37 verses 1-14 is sung here according to this music. There are a few minor differences due to variations in accents. These are particularly the spurious silluqim - caused by the Unicode failure to distinguish silluq from metheg and the introduction of metheg for non-musical reasons in editions such as Letteris compared with the Aleppo/Leningrad codices. Also she is using mode 4 rather than the default mode 1.

Mode 1 here. Mode 4 below.



There were not too many surprises in this other than perhaps the extensive use of נתן where the gloss give is awkward. Also the use of spirit, or wind for רוח is tricky. Spirit, it seems to me, indwells all. I am sure some would like to make it a New Testament doctrine only. This is one of those chapters where David as king and shepherd arises. And where the rebuilding of the temple is envisioned. The metaphor of the single piece of wood I suspect has been applied to the cross.

Notice that it is sometimes the ground of Israel (אדם, adm, humanity) that is used rather than the land.

Ezekiel 37		Fn		Min	Max	Syll
הָיְתָ֣ה עָלַי֮ יַד־יְהוָה֒ וַיּוֹצִאֵ֤נִי בְר֙וּחַ֙ יְהוָ֔ה וַיְנִיחֵ֖נִי בְּת֣וֹךְ הַבִּקְעָ֑ה וְהִ֖יא מְלֵאָ֥ה עֲצָמֽוֹת	1		The hand of Yahweh was upon me and brought me out by the spirit of Yahweh, and had me rest in the midst of a crevasse. And it was full of bones.	3e	4C	26 8
וְהֶעֱבִירַ֥נִי עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם סָבִ֣יב ׀ סָבִ֑יב וְהִנֵּ֨ה רַבּ֤וֹת מְאֹד֙ עַל־פְּנֵ֣י הַבִּקְעָ֔ה וְהִנֵּ֖ה יְבֵשׁ֥וֹת מְאֹֽד	2		And it had me pass through over them round and round about, and behold, very many on the surface of the crevasse, and behold, they were very dried up.	3e	4C	13 21
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֔י בֶּן־אָדָ֕ם הֲתִחְיֶ֖ינָה הָעֲצָמ֣וֹת הָאֵ֑לֶּה וָאֹמַ֕ר אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִ֖ה אַתָּ֥ה יָדָֽעְתָּ	3		And he said to me, Child of humanity, will these bones live? And I said, O Lord Yahweh, you, you know.	3e	4B	19 13
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֔י הִנָּבֵ֖א עַל־הָעֲצָמ֣וֹת הָאֵ֑לֶּה וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם הָעֲצָמוֹת֙ הַיְבֵשׁ֔וֹת שִׁמְע֖וּ דְּבַר־יְהוָֽה	4		And he said to me, Prophesy on these bones, and you say to them, O bones, dried up, hear the word of Yahweh.	3e	4B	16 20
כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֔ה לָעֲצָמ֖וֹת הָאֵ֑לֶּה הִנֵּ֨ה אֲנִ֜י מֵבִ֥יא בָכֶ֛ם ר֖וּחַ וִחְיִיתֶֽם	5	C	Thus says my Lord Yahweh to these bones, Behold, I am making spirit enter into you, and you will live.	3d	4C	15 13
וְנָתַתִּי֩ עֲלֵיכֶ֨ם גִּדִ֜ים וְֽהַעֲלֵתִ֧י עֲלֵיכֶ֣ם בָּשָׂ֗ר וְקָרַמְתִּ֤י עֲלֵיכֶם֙ ע֔וֹר וְנָתַתִּ֥י בָכֶ֛ם ר֖וּחַ וִחְיִיתֶ֑ם וִידַעְתֶּ֖ם כִּֽי־אֲנִ֥י יְהוָֽה	6		And I will give sinews against you, and I will bring up flesh against you, and I will layer skin against you, and I will give you spirit and you will live. And you will know that I am Yahweh.	3c	4C	38 7
וְנִבֵּ֖אתִי כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר צֻוֵּ֑יתִי וַֽיְהִי־ק֤וֹל כְּהִנָּֽבְאִי֙ וְהִנֵּה־רַ֔עַשׁ וַתִּקְרְב֣וּ עֲצָמ֔וֹת עֶ֖צֶם אֶל־עַצְמֽוֹ	7		And I prophesied as I was commanded. And there was rumbling as I prophesied, and behold quaking, and bones drew near, bone to its bone.	3e	4C	10 24
וְרָאִ֜יתִי וְהִנֵּֽה־עֲלֵיהֶ֤ם גִּדִים֙ וּבָשָׂ֣ר עָלָ֔ה וַיִּקְרַ֧ם עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם ע֖וֹר מִלְמָ֑עְלָה וְר֖וּחַ אֵ֥ין בָּהֶֽם	8		And I saw and behold, against them sinews and flesh ascended, and layered over them skin by degrees, but there was no spirit in them.	3c	4C	27 6
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֔י הִנָּבֵ֖א אֶל־הָר֑וּחַ הִנָּבֵ֣א בֶן־אָ֠דָם וְאָמַרְתָּ֨ אֶל־הָר֜וּחַ כֹּֽה־אָמַ֣ר ׀ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֗ה מֵאַרְבַּ֤ע רוּחוֹת֙ בֹּ֣אִי הָר֔וּחַ וּפְחִ֛י בַּהֲרוּגִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה וְיִֽחְיֽוּ	9		And he said to me, prophesy to the spirit. Prophesy, child of humanity, and you say to the spirit, Thus says my Lord Yahweh, From the four winds, come, O spirit, and exhale on these slain and they will live.	3d	4C	12 44
וְהִנַּבֵּ֖אתִי כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוָּ֑נִי וַתָּבוֹא֩ בָהֶ֨ם הָר֜וּחַ וַיִּֽחְי֗וּ וַיַּֽעַמְדוּ֙ עַל־רַגְלֵיהֶ֔ם חַ֖יִל גָּד֥וֹל מְאֹד־מְאֹֽד	10		And I prophesied as he commanded me. And the spirit entered into them and they lived, and they stood on their feet, a very very great force.	3e	4B	11 27
וַיֹּאמֶר֮ אֵלַי֒ בֶּן־אָדָ֕ם הָעֲצָמ֣וֹת הָאֵ֔לֶּה כָּל־בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל הֵ֑מָּה הִנֵּ֣ה אֹמְרִ֗ים יָבְשׁ֧וּ עַצְמוֹתֵ֛ינוּ וְאָבְדָ֥ה תִקְוָתֵ֖נוּ נִגְזַ֥רְנוּ לָֽנוּ	11		And he said to me, Child of humanity, these bones, all the house of Israel they are. Behold they are saying, Dried up are our bones and perished is our expectation. We are unconnected from ourselves.	3c	4B	22 22
לָכֵן֩ הִנָּבֵ֨א וְאָמַרְתָּ֜ אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם כֹּֽה־אָמַר֮ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִה֒ הִנֵּה֩ אֲנִ֨י פֹתֵ֜חַ אֶת־קִבְרֽוֹתֵיכֶ֗ם וְהַעֲלֵיתִ֥י אֶתְכֶ֛ם מִקִּבְרוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם עַמִּ֑י וְהֵבֵאתִ֥י אֶתְכֶ֖ם אֶל־אַדְמַ֥ת יִשְׂרָאֵֽל	12		Therefore prophesy, and you say to them, Thus says my Lord Yahweh, Behold I, I will open your tombs, and I will have you brought up from your tombs, my people, and I will bring you to the ground of Israel.	3d	4B	46 12
וִֽידַעְתֶּ֖ם כִּֽי־אֲנִ֣י יְהוָ֑ה בְּפִתְחִ֣י אֶת־קִבְרֽוֹתֵיכֶ֗ם וּבְהַעֲלוֹתִ֥י אֶתְכֶ֛ם מִקִּבְרוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם עַמִּֽי	13		And you will know that I am Yahweh, when I open your tombs, and when I bring you up from your tombs, my people.	3d	4B	7 22
וְנָתַתִּ֨י רוּחִ֤י בָכֶם֙ וִחְיִיתֶ֔ם וְהִנַּחְתִּ֥י אֶתְכֶ֖ם עַל־אַדְמַתְכֶ֑ם וִידַעְתֶּ֞ם כִּי־אֲנִ֧י יְהוָ֛ה דִּבַּ֥רְתִּי וְעָשִׂ֖יתִי נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה	14		And I will give my spirit in you, and you will live, and I will allow you on your ground, and you will know that I am Yahweh. I have spoken and I will act, an oracle of Yahweh.	3c	4C	21 18
וַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר	15		And the word of Yahweh happened to me, saying,	3e	3g	10
וְאַתָּ֣ה בֶן־אָדָ֗ם קַח־לְךָ֙ עֵ֣ץ אֶחָ֔ד וּכְתֹ֤ב עָלָיו֙ לִֽיהוּדָ֔ה וְלִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל חֲבֵרָ֑יו וּלְקַח֙ עֵ֣ץ אֶחָ֔ד וּכְת֣וֹב עָלָ֗יו לְיוֹסֵף֙ עֵ֣ץ אֶפְרַ֔יִם וְכָל־בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל חֲבֵרָֽיו	16		And you, child of humanity, take for yourself one piece of wood and write on it, To Judah and for the children of Israel, his companions. and take another piece of wood and write on it, To Joseph, the wood of Ephraim, and all the house of Israel, his companions.	3e	4C	28 24
וְקָרַ֨ב אֹתָ֜ם אֶחָ֧ד אֶל־אֶחָ֛ד לְךָ֖ לְעֵ֣ץ אֶחָ֑ד וְהָי֥וּ לַאֲחָדִ֖ים בְּיָדֶֽךָ	17		And bring them near one to the other to you as one piece of wood, and they will become as one in your hand.	3c	4B	16 11
וְכַֽאֲשֶׁר֙ יֹאמְר֣וּ אֵלֶ֔יךָ בְּנֵ֥י עַמְּךָ֖ לֵאמֹ֑ר הֲלֽוֹא־תַגִּ֥יד לָ֖נוּ מָה־אֵ֥לֶּה לָּֽךְ	18		And if the children of your people say to you, saying, Will you not make clear to us what these are to you?	3e	4B	15 10
דַּבֵּ֣ר אֲלֵהֶ֗ם כֹּֽה־אָמַר֮ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִה֒ הִנֵּה֩ אֲנִ֨י לֹקֵ֜חַ אֶת־עֵ֤ץ יוֹסֵף֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּיַד־אֶפְרַ֔יִם וְשִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל חֲבֵרָ֑יו וְנָתַתִּי֩ אוֹתָ֨ם עָלָ֜יו אֶת־עֵ֣ץ יְהוּדָ֗ה וַֽעֲשִׂיתִם֙ לְעֵ֣ץ אֶחָ֔ד וְהָי֥וּ אֶחָ֖ד בְּיָדִֽי	19		Speak to them, Thus says my Lord Yahweh, Behold, I will take the piece of wood of Joseph, that was by the hand of Ephraim, and the bands of Israel his companions, and I will connect them up against the piece of wood of Judah, and I will make them as a single piece of wood, and they will be one in my hand.	3e	4C	39 29
וְהָי֨וּ הָעֵצִ֜ים אֲ‍ֽשֶׁר־תִּכְתֹּ֧ב עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם בְּיָדְךָ֖ לְעֵינֵיהֶֽם	20		And the pieces of wood that you wrote on will be in your hand for their eyes.	3c	3g	20
וְדַבֵּ֣ר אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם כֹּֽה־אָמַר֮ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִה֒ הִנֵּ֨ה אֲנִ֤י לֹקֵ֙חַ֙ אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מִבֵּ֥ין הַגּוֹיִ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָֽלְכוּ־שָׁ֑ם וְקִבַּצְתִּ֤י אֹתָם֙ מִסָּבִ֔יב וְהֵבֵאתִ֥י אוֹתָ֖ם אֶל־אַדְמָתָֽם	21		Speak to them, Thus says my Lord Yahweh, Behold, I will take the children of Israel from amid the nations where they have gone, and I will collect them on every side, and I will bring them to their ground.	3e	4C	37 19
וְעָשִׂ֣יתִי אֹ֠תָם לְג֨וֹי אֶחָ֤ד בָּאָ֙רֶץ֙ בְּהָרֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וּמֶ֧לֶךְ אֶחָ֛ד יִֽהְיֶ֥ה לְכֻלָּ֖ם לְמֶ֑לֶךְ וְלֹ֤א יִֽהְיוּ־עוֹד֙ לִשְׁנֵ֣י גוֹיִ֔ם וְלֹ֨א יֵחָ֥צוּ ע֛וֹד לִשְׁתֵּ֥י מַמְלָכ֖וֹת עֽוֹד	22		And I will make them one nation in the land on the hills of Israel, and one king there will be, the king for them all, and no more they will be two nations, and no more they will be halved further into two kingdoms.	3c	4C	33 21
וְלֹ֧א יִֽטַמְּא֣וּ ע֗וֹד בְּגִלּֽוּלֵיהֶם֙ וּבְשִׁקּ֣וּצֵיהֶ֔ם וּבְכֹ֖ל פִּשְׁעֵיהֶ֑ם וְהוֹשַׁעְתִּ֣י אֹתָ֗ם מִכֹּ֤ל מוֹשְׁבֹֽתֵיהֶם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר חָטְא֣וּ בָהֶ֔ם וְטִהַרְתִּ֤י אוֹתָם֙ וְהָיוּ־לִ֣י לְעָ֔ם וַאֲנִ֕י אֶהְיֶ֥ה לָהֶ֖ם לֵאלֹהִֽים	23		And they will not be unclean any more through their figurines or their detestable things or by all their transgressions, and I will save them from all their settlements in which they have sinned, and I will cleanse them, and they will be my people, and I myself will become their God.	3c	4C	21 40
וְעַבְדִּ֤י דָוִד֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם וְרוֹעֶ֥ה אֶחָ֖ד יִהְיֶ֣ה לְכֻלָּ֑ם וּבְמִשְׁפָּטַ֣י יֵלֵ֔כוּ וְחֻקֹּתַ֥י יִשְׁמְר֖וּ וְעָשׂ֥וּ אוֹתָֽם	24		And my servant David, king over them, one shepherd there will be for them all, and in my judgments they will walk, and my statutes they will keep, and do them.	3e	4C	20 19
וְיָשְׁב֣וּ עַל־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֤ר נָתַ֙תִּי֙ לְעַבְדִּ֣י לְיַֽעֲקֹ֔ב אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָֽשְׁבוּ־בָ֖הּ אֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם וְיָשְׁב֣וּ עָלֶ֡יהָ הֵ֠מָּה וּבְנֵיהֶ֞ם וּבְנֵ֤י בְנֵיהֶם֙ עַד־עוֹלָ֔ם וְדָוִ֣ד עַבְדִּ֔י נָשִׂ֥יא לָהֶ֖ם לְעוֹלָֽם	25		And they will settle on the land that I have given to my servant, to Jacob, where your ancestors had settled, and they will settle on it, they and their children, and the children of their children, for evermore, and David my servant, their principal forever.	3e	4C	28 31
וְכָרַתִּ֤י לָהֶם֙ בְּרִ֣ית שָׁל֔וֹם בְּרִ֥ית עוֹלָ֖ם יִהְיֶ֣ה אוֹתָ֑ם וּנְתַתִּים֙ וְהִרְבֵּיתִ֣י אוֹתָ֔ם וְנָתַתִּ֧י אֶת־מִקְדָּשִׁ֛י בְּתוֹכָ֖ם לְעוֹלָֽם	26		And I will cut for them a covenant of peace, a covenant everlasting it will be with them, and I will position them and I will increase them, and I will permit my sanctuary among them forever.	3c	4C	18 23
וְהָיָ֤ה מִשְׁכָּנִי֙ עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם וְהָיִ֥יתִי לָהֶ֖ם לֵֽאלֹהִ֑ים וְהֵ֖מָּה יִֽהְיוּ־לִ֥י לְעָֽם	27		And my dwelling-place will be over them, and I will be their God, and they, they will be my people.	3e	4C	18 8
וְיָֽדְעוּ֙ הַגּוֹיִ֔ם כִּ֚י אֲנִ֣י יְהוָ֔ה מְקַדֵּ֖שׁ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל בִּהְי֧וֹת מִקְדָּשִׁ֛י בְּתוֹכָ֖ם לְעוֹלָֽם	28		And the nations will know that I, Yahweh, sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary is among them forever.	3c	4C	18 11

These are my glosses for נתן: assign (63) chant (2) connect (7) consign (43) daub (21) demonstrate (5) donation (1) gave (271) gave permission (1) give (602) give here (1) give up (2) given (197) giving due (1) grant (7) let (1) Nathan (30) net (1) permit (45) play (1) position (58) prevent (3) put forth (6) refrain give (1) responsible (1) take (2) tighten (2) untranslated (2) yield (31).
Some of these may bear further investigation. Eventually I might loosen my grip entirely!

Psalm 5

Parallelism takes second place to the music. If you follow the music, it seems to me that you never lose a parallel. But it is less obvious in print.

Psalms 5		Fn		Min	Max	Syll
לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ אֶֽל־הַנְּחִיל֗וֹת מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד	1		For the leader on the flutes. A psalm of David.	3e	3f	13
אֲמָרַ֖י הַאֲזִ֥ינָה ׀ יְהוָ֗ה בִּ֣ינָה הֲגִֽיגִי	2		To my promise give ear Yahweh. Discern my meditation.	3e	4B	14
הַקְשִׁ֤יבָה ׀ לְק֬וֹל שַׁוְעִ֗י מַלְכִּ֥י וֵאלֹהָ֑י כִּֽי־אֵ֝לֶ֗יךָ אֶתְפַּלָּֽל	3		Attend to the voice of my cry, my king and my God, for to you I pray.	3e	4C	12 6
יְֽהוָ֗ה בֹּ֭קֶר‬ תִּשְׁמַ֣ע קוֹלִ֑י בֹּ֥קֶר אֶֽעֱרָךְ־לְ֝ךָ֗ וַאֲצַפֶּֽה	4		Yahweh, morning, you will hear my voice. Morning I will arrange for you and I will be on lookout.	3e	4B	8 11
כִּ֤י ׀ לֹ֤א אֵֽל־חָפֵ֘ץ רֶ֥שַׁע ׀ אָ֑תָּה לֹ֖א יְגֻרְךָ֣ רָֽע	5	C	For not a God who delights in wickedness are you. Evil is not your guest.	3e	4C	9 5
לֹֽא־יִתְיַצְּב֣וּ הֽ֭וֹלְלִים לְנֶ֣גֶד עֵינֶ֑יךָ שָׂ֝נֵ֗אתָ כָּל־פֹּ֥עֲלֵי אָֽוֶן	6		Boasters have no station before your eyes. You hate all workers of mischief.	3e	4B	12 9
תְּאַבֵּד֮ דֹּבְרֵ֪י כָ֫זָ֥ב אִישׁ־דָּמִ֥ים וּמִרְמָ֗ה יְתָ֘עֵ֥ב ׀ יְהוָֽה	7		You will make the speakers of a lie to perish. A person of blood and deceit Yahweh will abhor.	3d	3f	7 11
וַאֲנִ֗י בְּרֹ֣ב חַ֭סְדְּךָ אָב֣וֹא בֵיתֶ֑ךָ אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֥ה אֶל־הֵֽיכַל־קָ֝דְשְׁךָ֗ בְּיִרְאָתֶֽךָ	8		But I, in your abundant mercy, will go into your house. I will worship in your holy temple in your fear.	3e	4B	13 15
יְהוָ֤ה ׀ נְחֵ֬נִי בְצִדְקָתֶ֗ךָ לְמַ֥עַן שׁוֹרְרָ֑י הַיְשַׁ֖ר לְפָנַ֣י דַּרְכֶּֽךָ	9		Yahweh, guide me in your righteousness on account of my watchers. Upright to my face be your way.	3e	4C	15 8
כִּ֤י אֵ֪ין בְּפִ֡יהוּ נְכוֹנָה֮ קִרְבָּ֪ם הַ֫וּ֥וֹת קֶֽבֶר־פָּת֥וּחַ גְּרוֹנָ֑ם לְ֝שׁוֹנָ֗ם יַחֲלִֽיקוּן	10	C	For there is no stability in its mouth. Within them calamities. An open tomb their gullet. With their tongues they divide.	3d	4C	12 8 7
הַֽאֲשִׁימֵ֨ם ׀ אֱ‍ֽלֹהִ֗ים יִפְּלוּ֮ מִֽמֹּעֲצ֪וֹתֵ֫יהֶ֥ם בְּרֹ֣ב פִּ֭שְׁעֵיהֶם הַדִּיחֵ֑מוֹ כִּי־מָ֥רוּ בָֽךְ	11		Declare them guilty O God. Let them fall in their conspiracies. In their many transgressions banish them, for they provoked you.	3d	4B	14 9 3
וְיִשְׂמְח֨וּ כָל־ח֪וֹסֵי בָ֡ךְ לְעוֹלָ֣ם יְ֭רַנֵּנוּ וְתָסֵ֣ךְ עָלֵ֑ימוֹ וְֽיַעְלְצ֥וּ בְ֝ךָ֗ אֹהֲבֵ֥י שְׁמֶֽךָ	12		And all those who take refuge in you will be glad. Forever they will shout for joy and you will overshadow them. And they who love your name will be elated in you.	3d	4B	21 12
כִּֽי־אַתָּה֮ תְּבָרֵ֪ךְ צַ֫דִּ֥יק יְהוָ֑ה כַּ֝צִּנָּ֗ה רָצ֥וֹן תַּעְטְרֶֽנּוּ	13		For you yourself will bless a righteous one, Yahweh. As the grappling hook with acceptance you will crown him.	3d	4A	9 3 6

The January 2018 Biblical Studies Carnival 143

"We can't all, and some of us don't. That's all there is to it. ..."

"Can't all what?" said Pooh, rubbing his nose.

"Gaiety. Song-and-dance. Here we go round the mulberry bush."¹

Keep on blogging²

Tanakh

R David Moster is beginning a weekly series on the Hebrew Bible.

• Bereshit 1 gives us a taste of his video format with a fast moving bilingual approach to reading. 
• In a second post, he compares Genesis with other ancient Near Eastern texts such as the "Eridu Genesis".

Deane Galbraith asks if Genesis was authoritative for the Book of Watchers.

Jim Davila has a number of notes:

• on YHWH's Asherah. The linked blog appears to have been deleted,  but there is still an abstract. Watch out for sink holes.
• Tsemah Yoreh comments on the double renaming of Jacob.
• Adam Kotsko considers what Noah began.
• David Zucker asks, How did Moses get his name? Egyptian, Coptic, Hebrew, and narrative explanations on how it was that an Egyptian princess could speak Hebrew.
• on textual criticism of Exodus 4, a one-plague Exodus? 
• on the subversion of male leaders in Judges.

Jim Davila also points out an extensive article by Wil Gafney on Reading the Bible through Marginal/ized Female Characters.

Reading the stories of the monarchies of Israel and Judah from the stitched together fragments of the royal women reveals very different nations than when read from the perspective of the male characters.

On this subject area, Ian Paul cites the work of Marg Mowczko on women in the Bible.
Marg posts on Deuteronomy 22:28-29.

A note from the Mishnah via John Hobbins via Facebook:

These are the things that have no measure [the more one enlarges and increases them, the better]:
The corner of the field [which is left for the poor], the first-fruits [offerings of income for God’s work], appearances [visits to the house of God, attendance in worship], acts of kindness, and study of Torah [the precepts and examples found in the Bible and tradition].

Bob MacDonald (your host) continues his reading project in Exodus 4 pondering our dependence on Zippora for the emergence of Torah, wondering about sibling rivalry in Numbers 12, and speculating on the music behind qinah rhythm in Ezekiel 19.

Painstaking efforts to improve the biblical text by Carolingian scholars are briefly described here at the Medieval Manuscripts blog.

"Correct carefully the Psalms, the signs in writing …, the songs, the calendar, the grammar …, and the catholic books; because often some desire to pray to God properly, but they pray badly because of faulty books"

David Koyzis invites us to listen to Psalm 1. Here is a preacher's pondering of Psalm 139 (in 4 parts) and its recent reception history. Psalm 25 music again contrasts with the agonies of the preacher who also has a series on Jonah. Andrew Perriman writes on Psalm 82. And here is an example of interpreting the music of the accents in Psalm 82.


And here's a book review. Psalter Mark reviews BW III Psalms Old and New.

John Meade notes alternative readings of Job 24:25b.

Symmachus has read the text differently. He appears to have understood Job’s question not as directed to his three friends but to someone else who could deliver a speech to God on his behalf.

And here's a delightful review of Elaine James,  Landscapes of the Song of Songs, including your host's favorite verse.

Life in the Song is fragile. Life in the Song is also rhythmically, reliably flourishing. This duality is captured beautifully in an interlude in Song 2:15 that James contemplates, “Catch us the foxes, the little foxes who are ruining the vineyards. Our vineyards are in blossom” (22–23). She observes that the foxes, though destructive agents in biblical literature, are here qualified as little. “Despite this destructive potential—and increasing the sense of urgency about the foxes—the vineyards are budding … the poem presents a world that is still coming into full fruition” (22). Humans are inextricably linked in the poem to this landscape, invoked by the term “our” and charged with catching the foxes. In the Song, “the celebration of flourishing in light of fragility creates a fuller sense of goodness as a precious, even threatened possibility, and heightens the need for human responsibility and care”

A throwback from Tim Bulkeley to 2012 - conversations then at bigbible.org and 2018 on Facebook.

Winston McHarg fathoms "further, fuller and final fulfillment in the future", a note from the reception history of the little horn of Daniel.

Peter Leithart writes on Calendrical Patterns in 2 Chronicles.

Michael Langlois has a series on the saga-semitica.

Airton José da Silva is revising and updating his curriculum in 2018. (See the full set of posts for January.)

A throwback to the National Geographic's 1920 magazine: the last Israelitish Blood Sacrifice (via David Moster).

Michael Heiser points out a new open access journal: Hebrew Annual Review and highlights an article on intermarriage.

Jacob Prahlow reviews The Old Testament Case for Nonviolence by Matthew Curtis Fleischer here. Jonathan Esterman also reviews it here.

In the beginning chapters, the author offhandedly refers to the violence of Torah as mere jealousy of HaShem, which discounts and dismisses the decision of the Creator to end life.

---

"It's a very funny thing," said Bear, "but there seem to be two animals now. 

This...whatever-it-was...has now been joined by another...whatever-it-is... and they are now proceeding in company. Would you mind coming with me, Piglet, in case they turn out to be Hostile Animals?³

New Testament

The Benedictional of St Æthelwold c 963-984 CE 

Marc Goodacre gives us podcast #81 on Schweitzer and the Historical Jesus.

Kurk Gayle reflects on the Women who taught Jesus.

Gentle strokes in an ongoing brawl on the carnival grounds:

• response to John Piper here from Mike Bird. 
• on Women Teaching from Henry Neufeld.

Related studies

• Women in Early Christianity - Mimi Haddad.
• on Galatians 3:28 Karin Neutel.
• Jim Davila also has a brief on April DeConick's Seek to See Him.
• And a pointer to a brief on Rupschus, Frauen in Qumran.

Jim Gordon embarks on a year of lectio continua with Mark and a commentary by Boring.

A touch of reception history in a Deflt tile from Jim Gordon at Living Wittily.

Locating the pericopae adulterae, some detailed manuscript evidence from Chris Keith.

Deane has a host of lectures here. Just need to find time to listen to them. This month, note the Yale Divinity School lectures on the Gospel of John.

Yet another Jesus movie. via Jim Davila. “The Young Messiah” is the best Jesus movie ever. Based on Anne Rice’s historical novel, “Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt,” it combines the latest and best in filmmaking, the dramatic arts, mature biblical scholarship, theology and imagination...." ¿que?

Todd Bolen notes the next 6 episodes of Following the Messiah.

The exegetical strategy for John 21 of Aquinas as a "master of the sacred page" is noted here, via Ekaterini G. Tsalampouni.

The first single motif explained by Thomas in John 21:1-6 is “after this” (Greek: meta tauta, Latin: postea). First, he exposes its literal sense: “after what the Evangelist has just narrated,” and then he continues: It is significant that he says this for it shows that Christ was not with them continuously, but appeared to them at intervals. The reason for this was that he had not risen with the same life as before, but with a glorious life, as the angels have and the blessed will have: “Except the gods”, that is, the angels “whose dwelling is not with flesh.”

This out of context assumption of the authority of the Chaldean theology of Daniel 2:11 is thoroughly explored in the article along with a clear description of medieval exegetical procedures.

James Tabor writes on The Earliest Harmonization of the Endings of the New Testament Gospels. Speaking of the ending of Mark he writes: this ending merits careful reading and is a precious and illuminating look at the history of interpretation of the gospels.

Ian Paul has two articles on Paul's understanding of resurrection.
C.D.Elledge reviews the literature on Resurrection in Early Jerusalem.

Phil Long on John Barclay, Pauline Churches and Diaspora Jews, and on Jerry Sumney, Steward of God's Mysteries.

Todd Scacewater reviews William Varner's Linguistic Commentary on Philippians.

Jude seldom makes it into a carnival, so here is a take on Jude as invective. via Jim Davila.
And Michael Kok has a series of posts on 1 Peter.

Brian Small points out new articles on Hebrews. Ken Schenck is outlining Hebrews in detail. Phil Long asks about Hebrews to Revelation. And follows his question up with a series of posts on a problematic combination of terms, e.g. his description of Neusner, Jews and Christians, The Myth of the Common Tradition. Phil asks why not Paul as the author of Hebrews. Summarized links for the month are in Brian's highlights here.

Brian Small reviews Ribbens, Levitical Sacrifice and Heavenly Cult in Hebrews.

In assessing Hebrews’ understanding of the relationship between the old covenant sacrifices and Christ’s new covenant sacrifice, many scholars conclude that Hebrews takes a negative view of the old covenant cult. Ribbens challenges this position by contending that Hebrews affirms the efficacy of the old covenant sacrifices while also asserting the superiority of Christ’s sacrifice.

Andrew Perriman explains (again) the purpose of narrative historical criticism. He asks also what to do with the second coming and continues the apocalyptic imagery here?

The people of God has stopped telling the dense, prophetically inspired story of its engagement with the God of history and instead lines up in ranks reciting its beliefs, like school children running through the 9x table.

David Bentley Hart replies to NT Wright on translation of the NT.

"Interpreting Paul’s meaning here may be difficult, but translating his language is not. It is a tiresome fact of theological history that, generation upon generation, Christian exegetes choose to draw a veil of delicacy over some of the more jarring claims made by Paul. I fully understand the impulse; but I am no longer as patient with it as I once was."

(via FB and Bill Heroman). Comments from Doug Chaplin here, Christian Century here.

When texts are so close together,
script size and style are essential:
 Harley MS 46, f. 7r

Predicting the future of translation, by Jonathan Orr-stav at Autumn Light.

NRSV to be revised.

Medieval Manuscripts presents some 12th century designs for studying the Bible and its authoritative traditions.

Designing the layout was not easy before the age of print, especially when it meant positioning three different closely related texts of unequal length.

John Meade reflects on the Canon and its definition and function.

"The evidence for an authoritative list of (authoritative) books is not strong in the early period. Not only did early Christians refrain from speaking of their lists this way, but the variance between the contents of the lists themselves manifest that there was no single authoritative list of scriptural books."

OUP also writes about canon, on the origins of the reformation Bible.
And Todd Scacewater lectures on it with fine coffee here.
Ian Paul has a how-to series on interpretation.

Matt Page reviews 2017 Bible Films.

---

Christopher Robin finished the mouthful he was eating and said carelessly: "I saw a Heffalump to-day, Piglet." ⁴

Conferences, Archaeology
For Ge'ez grammar lovers, everyone's going to Regina for a conference on Biblical tongues, via Robert Holmstedt.

Ge'ez, it's a real tongue

Theology on tap at the Sail and Anchor pub in Perth - sounds like a good idea, via Michael Kok.
The Macquarie Ancient Languages School  You missed the summer workshop but there is also a winter week in July, via Marg Mowczko.

Free conference March 11-13, on Truth, Lies, and Language in the ancient Mediterranean.

Airton José da Silva on Israel Finklestein's address at SBL/AAR, "I went to dig at Kiriath-jearim with a theory, and right at the beginning of the project I ostensibly found support for it in the field. This was terrifying. I was relieved when later things became confused."

Bob Cargill, XKV8R, is the new editor of BAR. via Jim Davila as is the following: Recovering the text of a charred Biblical codex - astonishing technology soon to be a TV show somewhere near you.

Can you identify fragment C from Oxyrynchus here, via Jim Davila. Jim West reports a possible solution. Jim Davila has a response here via Richard Steiner.

Deciphering the Rosetta Stone, as Jim Davila says, an oft-told story, but always worth hearing again.
Deciphering one of the cryptic scripted DSS, JBL 136, no. 4 (2017): 905-936 - PDF also available via Academia as noted here. Lots more - endless reading - on the DSS here.

And here is some reconstructed music from ancient Egypt by Heidi Kopp-Junk. Sounds very tonal, even with a sequence.

AI and deciphering ancient codes. Was the Voynich manuscript written in Hebrew?

In Memoriam

J.Z.Smith, Richard Newton, Russell McCutcheon.
Lawrence Stager, Jim Davila.
Donald Verseput, d. millar.
Joachim Gnilka, Ekaterini G. Tsalampouni.

Postscript
A comment from Kierkegaard on scholarship from Stephen Westerholm via d. millar.
A note via OUP from Louis Rosenblatt on the question Are the gods indifferent?
A conversation among the talking snake, the burning bush, and Toni, the talking donkey..

---

"It is hard to be brave," said Piglet, sniffing slightly, "when you're only a Very Small Animal."⁵

Next Carnival 144 - 12 years of monthly carnivals, stretched over an elapsed time longer by a year, for the early ones were less regular.

Upcoming carnivals are coming from:
February 2018 (Due March 1) – Jacob Prahlow (@prahlowjacob)
March 2018 (Due April 1) – Jim West (@drjewest)

---

¹ Winnie the Pooh, In which Eeyore has a birthday.
² thanks to Jim Gordon at Living Wittily on his purpose re blogging.

³ Winnie the Pooh, In which Pooh and Piglet go Hunting and Nearly Catch a Woozle.
⁴ Winnie the Pooh, In which Piglet Meets a Heffalump.
⁵ Winnie the Pooh, In which Kanga and Baby Roo Come to the Forest and Piglet has a Bath.

Disclaimer: the opinions expressed in the linked posts are not necessarily congruent with your host's opinions. Each selected post should represent critical engagement with the canonical text and its sources and may also represent reception in art, culture, religion or liturgical practice of any age where such engagement and reception is recorded. Critical in this context implies a good question from the post author's point of departure.

Acknowledgement: without people named Jim, the carnival would be a less interesting place.