Category Archives: bible

Psalm 84

Posted on January 16, 2016 by ehurst

This is a Pilgrim Psalm, a celebration of marching to Zion for any number of annual feasts and festivals. The imagery is rich with symbolism. The psalmist begins with a common figure of speech heard among pilgrims meeting to share … Continue reading →

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Psalm 83

Posted on January 9, 2016 by ehurst

There are numerous historical and geographical references, but this Psalm does not refer to a literal historical event. Rather, it’s similar in purpose to John’s Armageddon: a parable indicating a moral condition that never changes. In a series of Hebrew … Continue reading →

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Psalm 82

Posted on January 2, 2016 by ehurst

Always: Context is everything in Hebrew. People have made much of God (Elohim) referring to other figures in this psalm as gods (elohim). But it takes only a quick review of the Books of Moses to see that the term … Continue reading →

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Proverbs 26

Posted on December 29, 2015 by ehurst

The advice to nobility continues, with an emphasis to watch out for certain kinds of people. We remind ourselves that “fool” and “folly” refer to a failure to subject the mind to the supremacy of the heart. Thus, it is … Continue reading →

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Psalm 81

Posted on December 26, 2015 by ehurst

While this sounds somewhat like the call to the Feast of Tabernacles, the whole seventh month (Tishri) is consumed in various celebrations following the olive harvest: Trumpets (1st), the Day of Atonement (10th) and then Tabernacles (15th). The psalmist mentions … Continue reading →

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Proverbs 25

Posted on December 26, 2015 by ehurst

We have already seen how the unnamed final editor of this volume never saw fit to reduce duplication, but faithfully pieced together several collections as they were. 1. These are also proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king … Continue reading →

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Proverbs 24

Posted on December 25, 2015 by ehurst

We continue with more pointed advice to the royal heir in longer proverbial texts. 1-2. Do not be jealous of evil men, nor desire to be with them. For their heart studies ruin, and their lips talk of mischief. This … Continue reading →

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Psalm 80

Posted on December 19, 2015 by ehurst

Again, we note that “psalm of Asaph” is colloquial for the man and all his descendants, all who held his office following him. It matters here because this is almost surely a psalm from the Assyrian conquest of Samaria and … Continue reading →

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Proverbs 23

Posted on December 16, 2015 by ehurst

This chapter continues the theme of the previous, in which an aging ruler seeks to warn his heir from folly. We continue with the longer statements in small paragraphs. 1-3. When you sit down to eat with a ruler, look … Continue reading →

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Proverbs 22 (Part 2)

Posted on December 15, 2015 by ehurst

12. The eyes of the LORD keep knowledge, and He overthrows the words of the transgressor. This is a humorous play on words in that “keep” can imply hiding something or making it mysterious, while “transgressor” arises from the concept … Continue reading →

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