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Antonyms: keep, claim, continue, stick by, self-control, power through, achieve, defend, bear, hope, acquire, quick visit, adopt, continue along, adhere, remain, pursue, support, take up, keep up, reuse, advocate, stay, persevere, cherish, keep going, carry on

Showing 4451 to 4475 of 4963 results

4451. Issachar

1 Chronicles 7:1-5

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... partly solved this textual problem by translating “the second” as another descendant.) Many attempts have been made to rearrange the materials in this genealogy or to substitute some information from other biblical source texts. However, all these attempts remain speculative, and we cannot explain exactly why this genealogy has taken on such a difficult shape. It is not always clear whether the confusion was already present in the Chronicler’s source material, whether the Chronicler was responsible ...

4452. God's Promise to David

1 Chronicles 17:1-15

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... ark as a symbol of Yahweh’s presence is thus affirmed. Although Yahweh’s words to David in 17:5–6 leave the impression that he has never before required a house of cedar and that a temple will be unnecessary, the issue of building the temple still remains part of the promise to David’s son Solomon. McKenzie also does not see a total repudiation in these words. He rather concludes (in the light of the rest of the oracle that follows from 17:7) that “David is simply not the right man at the right ...

4453. Preparations for the Temple

1 Chronicles 22:2-19

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... used for “aliens” (gerim) occurs frequently in the legal material of the Old Testament and normally denotes people of non-Israelite origin who have settled among the people of Israel and have adopted their religion. This category of people remained without legal rights in society, however. Many legal stipulations in the Pentateuch therefore give them protection together with widows and orphans. Klein is of the opinion that the Chronicler’s involvement of “aliens” in the temple-building process is ...

4454. The Death of David

1 Chronicles 29:26-30

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... a good old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth and honor. This comment paints a considerably different picture from the one in 1 Kings 1–2. There David is portrayed as frail and feeble, not completely in command of his faculties. In Chronicles, however, David remains the active king until the very end. The section concludes with a reference to three other accounts of David’s reign, namely, the records of Samuel the seer, the records of Nathan the prophet and the records of Gad the seer. It is highly ...

4455. Cyrus Helps the Exiles to Return

Ezra 1:1-11

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

... this unlikely, and (2) in 5:14–16 he is described as a long-gone figure of the past, distinct from the contemporary governor Zerubbabel mentioned in 5:2. Some scholars have identified him with the Davidic Shenazzar in 1 Chr. 3:18. It remains a phonetic possibility (see Halpern, “Historiographic Commentary,” pp. 91f.), but if so the narrator made nothing of a royal connection and the issue is a historical matter rather than a literary one. 1:9 The renderings pans (silver has no counterpart in the Heb ...

4456. The Decree of Darius

Ezra 6:1-12

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

... the MT there, which indicates that it is a very old reading. A primitive error may be explained in terms of a copyist’s eye slipping (“cubits [thirty, its length cubits] sixty”; see BHS), with subsequent assimilation of the final number to the remaining earlier one. 6:4 The detail of wall construction accords with 1 Kgs. 6:36; 7:12, although it applies only to the walls of the temple court there; it may have been an earthquake precaution. Knowledge of the first temple presupposes Cyrus’ access ...

4457. List of the Family Heads Returning With Ezra

Ezra 8:1-14

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

Bringing Glory to the Temple: Ezra was given two mandates in chapter 7. The first was to lead a party of immigrants back to the homeland and to take along the sacred contributions of the Persian court, the Babylon satrapy, and Jews remaining in exile, and deliver them to the temple authorities in Jerusalem. This first assignment is accomplished here. Apart from the conclusion in verses 35–36, this section comes from the Ezra memoirs and falls into three parts: 7:28b–8:20; 21–30; and 31–34. Each ...

4458. Ezra Reads the Law

Neh 7:73b–8:18

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

... the names (see the NRSV), but 1 Esd. 9:48 and the Vulgate attest a text without the conjunction. This is preferable, since most of the names can be identified with Levites elsewhere, in 9:4–5; 10:9–13; 11:16. Standing: The point is that they “remained in their places” (REB), while the Levites moved from group to group. 8:8 They read: It is not clear who the subjects of this and the other verbs are—probably Ezra for the reading and the Levites for the other verbs, perhaps in the former case also ...

4459. Dedication of the Wall of Jerusalem

Nehemiah 12:27-47

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

... inner court east of the huge altar of burnt offering where 2 Chronicles 5:12 places them, probably on the temple steps. They accompanied the offering of multiple sacrifices, whose role in the worship service is left undeveloped. Instead, the focus remains on Levitical music and song in expressing the joy of the sacred occasion. The descriptions of “great” choirs (v. 31, NRSV), great sacrifices, great joy make the magnificence of the ceremony exuberantly evident, but the greatest of these was joy. Like ...

4460. Esther Made Queen

Esther 2:1-18

Understanding Series

Timothy S. Laniak

... he walked back and forth near the courtyard of the harem to find out how Esther was and what was happening to her (v. 11). The secret bond of loyalty between these two Jews, as well as Mordecai’s paternal influence in Esther’s life, remain intact throughout this remarkable transition. 2:12–14 Verses 12–14 describe the logistics of the contest. Still under the care of Hegai, the girls followed a twelve-month regime of beauty treatments, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics ...

4461. Esther's Request to the King

Esther 5:1-8

Understanding Series

Timothy S. Laniak

... , know well: his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him. Haman had every form of honor a Persian man could want (wealth, children, and public recognition). However, one person, a subordinate, withheld his formal respect and yet remained in the king’s service. Haman’s experience with Mordecai and his emotional reaction mirror those of the king with Vashti in chapter 1. Haman reports that all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the ...

4462. Triumph of the Jews

Esther 9:1-19

Understanding Series

Timothy S. Laniak

... . 17–18). The root for these words (nvkh) was introduced with the “holiday” (hanakhah) proclaimed when Esther became queen in 2:18. In 3:8, Haman informed the king that it was not in his interest to “tolerate” (lehannikham) this certain people (literally, to let them rest, or remain). Now, with a touch of irony, the Jews celebrate rest repeatedly (9:16–18, 22). Rest is also a leitmotif in conquest narratives (Deut. 3:20; 12:9–10; 25:19; Josh. 1:13, 15; 21:44; 22:4; 23:1; 2 Sam. 7:11). In fact ...

4463. Invitation of Wisdom and of Folly

Proverbs 9:1-18

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

... imposed by us. We must not neglect the biblical nuance given to the book of Proverbs by these introductory chapters. Moreover, the recognition of various levels of meaning (e.g., God-talk as opposed to shared experience), while possible and interesting, remains speculative. The exegesis in this style does not yield the biblical sense, as shaped by the sages who handed down the tradition. In an epilogue to his treatment of these chapters, Plöger (Sprüche, p. 110) points to three important aspects ...

4464. The Proverbs of Solomon

Proverbs 10:1-32

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

... while the righteous achieve their desire (v. 24). However, the fear is not specified; perhaps it is the fear that they inspire or with which they are threatened. In any case, they will be appropriately punished (v. 25), blown away by tempest, whereas the righteous remain unmoved. 10:26 Two vivid similes, smarting to the senses, convey the trouble that a lazy messenger causes. On the sluggard, compare 24:23–24 and 26:13–16; and for the trustworthy messenger, see 25:13. 10:27–28 Antithetic. Long life (v ...

4465. Proverbs of Solomon

Proverbs 11:1-31

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

... pride comes in, in comes contempt.” 11:3 Read the Qere in v. 3b, “[it] destroys them.” 11:7 The LXX translates: “When the righteous person dies, hope does not vanish / and the presumption of the wicked is destroyed.” Any translation of v. 7 remains uncertain. 11:15 There is a noteworthy alliteration in v. 15a: the Hb. letters rêš (four times) and ʿayin (three times). In v. 15b, subject and predicate are juxtaposed participles. 11:16 Evidence for the uncertainty of the text can be seen from the ...

4466. Proverbs of Solomon

Proverbs 13:1-25

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

... 9:14–16). See Additional Notes. 13:21–22 Antithetic. Both sayings illustrate the traditional doctrine of reward and punishment. According to verse 22, the good (must) prosper and can leave a legacy to descendants. Even if sinners acquire some wealth, this cannot remain with their progeny; it is bound to end up with the righteous. Catchwords for both verses are righteous and sinner. 13:23 The Hebrew is difficult and probably corrupt. Literally: much food—tillage of the poor; and (but) property is swept ...

4467. Proverbs of Solomon

Proverbs 17:1-28

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

... to a docile person, even a hundred lashes (meant to be an exaggeration) cannot change a fool. See Additional Notes. 17:11 Synthetic. The evil concentrate on obstinate resistance, but they will be brought into line by one who is merciless. The saying remains open: resistance to God, the king, or someone else? In any case, punishment is inevitable. The assonance between the two Hebrew terms, ʾak-m e rî and ʾakzārî, is striking. 17:12 Synthetic comparison, but the style is unusual: literally, “meeting a ...

4468. Proverbs of Solomon

Proverbs 21:1-31

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

... in action. This is in contrast to the upright who firms up (Kethib), or who ponders (Qere) the way (of life). 21:30 Synthetic. This is a striking expression of the limitations of the wisdom enterprise. Despite the employment of wisdom and insight, the Lord’s ways remain mysterious; there is no programming of God. 21:31 Antithetic. Preparations for war (horse) can and should be made, but ultimately all depends on the LORD (1 Sam. 17:47), who alone is wise (Sir. 1:8). See also Psalms 20:7; 28:7; Jeremiah 9 ...

4469. Proverbs of Solomon

Proverbs 22:1-16

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

... tie together wrongdoing and punishment in verse 8a. If the MT is correct, the rod of his fury (an obscure phrase) may designate the excessive oppression exercised presumably by the wrongdoer. It is said of his rod that it “shall fail.” All in all, verse 8b remains obscure. See Additional Notes. 22:9 Synthetic. Generous is literally, “good of eye”; contrast “stingy,” or evil of eye in 23:6 and 28:22. This generosity to the poor is a common topos (cf. 14:21b; 19:17; Sir. 7:32). The blessing comes ...

4470. Sayings of the Wise

Proverbs 22:17--24:22

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

... Qere. The seventh chapter of Amenemope (ANET, pp. 422–23) likewise opposes greediness and warns that theft will bring no profit since riches take on wings like geese and fly to the sky. The Egyptian material relates closely to the Hebrew, even if the Hebrew author remained quite independent in using any source. 23:6–8 An admonition not to dine with a miserly host. Stingy translates “evil of eye” (cf. 28:22 and the comment on 22:9). Verse 6b repeats verse 3a. The reason given in verse 7 refers to the ...

4471. More Proverbs of Solomon

Proverbs 25:1-28

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

... to 15:11 and 21:1. This exaltation is comparable to the heavens and the earth, which cannot be measured for height and depth. So the king has a certain “mystery” about him, too: unsearchable. Plöger (Sprüche) remarks of verse 2 that God can let a secret remain secret, and in what he reveals God shows who he is. See also Tobit 12:7, 11. See Additional Notes for 25:3. 25:4–5 There is a comparison between the two verses: removal of dross refers to the removal of the wicked; both the vessel (marginal ...

4472. More Proverbs of Solomon

Proverbs 29:1-27

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

... 19:18). Words do not suffice. 29:20 Synthetic. See 26:12, where the same verdict is rendered upon those who consider themselves wise. Haste is always condemned by the sages; here it means “without thought.” 29:21 Synthetic. The hapax legomenon, Hebrew mānôn, remains unknown (grief?). The MT refers the end to the master, not the slave. In spirit, this saying belongs with verse 19. 29:22 Synonymous. The angry one is short-tempered and hot-headed. There is frequent warning about such (e.g., 22:24; 15:18 ...

4473. I Am a Rose of Sharon

Song of Songs 2:1-17

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Huwiler

... verse is clear in imagery although not in time (2:6). Then there follows the first instance of another recurring verse, the adjuration to the daughters of Jerusalem (2:7). 2:1–7 Again (or still), the lovers are together. The woman, perhaps remaining in the verdant setting of 1:16–17, proclaims her own loveliness. Interpreters disagree over whether her comparison of herself to flowers is modest (she is a simple wild flower, not a cultivated hybrid) or extravagant (the flowers named are significant in ...

4474. All Night Long

Song of Songs 3:1-11

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Huwiler

... syntactic relationship to its context is uncertain. Most interpreters understand it as an adverbial accusative of some sort; “lovingly” is possible but hardly certain. By the daughters of Jerusalem: “Daughters of Jerusalem” is difficult in context (the Hb. preposition is min, often “from”) and many remove it. Some connect the remaining phrase with the following verse (“Daughters of Jerusalem, go out; / and see, daughters of Zion”).

4475. How Beautiful You Are

Song of Songs 4:1-16

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Huwiler

... built with elegance: This is one of the more difficult images, but probably describes a confident woman, one who holds her head high. The word translated “elegance” is uncertain. The reference to the tower reintroduces military imagery, which is developed in the remaining lines of this verse. On it hang a thousand shields, / all of them shields of warriors: Taken visually, the image suggests a necklace hung with many metal plates. The only previous reference to warriors is in 3:7, where sixty of them ...

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