My Notes: It is likely that Isa 5:25 provides the rhetorical model for Sir 48:15!

Nonetheless it is clear that writings like en Sira and the ook of !isdom reflect an attempt to cope with a weakening sense of identity and with the challenges posed "y #reek c$lt$re% oth en Sira and the ook of !isdom are indirect witnesses for the diminished confidence in the traditional val$es within the &'ellenistic( )ewish comm$nity* and of the $neasiness deriving from the confrontation with a highly developed philosophical c$lt$re% Ben Sira is deeply rooted in the traditional )ewish wisdom tradition* 11 with its practical $nderstanding of hkmh that reg$lates cond$ct in everyday life* with its appraisal of the fathers &ch% 44+5,( and even stylistically* thro$gh the conse-$ent $se of the maal% .his intimate connection with the )ewish tradition is d$e to the stronger infl$ence of the /alestinian milie$ and most likely to the sacerdotal "ackgro$nd%12 /ro"a"ly this specific conte0t e0plains the fact that en Sira is not only more interested in preserving tradition* "$t also more concerned with constr$cting an identity "ased on delineation% .his confidence in and val$ation of tradition is intimately connected to a n$m"er of specific iss$es% S$ch are distinctively the responses to the -$estions on retri"$tion* death and divine 1$stice% en Sira is closer with this respect as well to the traditional )ewish thinking% 2eath is seen as inevita"le* and there is no trace of the "elief in a personal s$rvival "eyond death* and even less of the idea of immortality* clearly present in at least an important segment of #reek philosophy%18 'owever* en Sira also lacks the tragic perception and critical assessment of life fo$nd in )o" and especially in 3ohelet* displaying a sort of ca$tio$s optimism% .his positive mindset emerges from the a$thor4s conviction concerning s$rvival thro$gh remem"rance% .he righteo$s s$rvives in his children and thro$gh his deeds% .h$s the f$t$re generations carry on one4s memory and good name* notwithstanding personal mortality &56*257 4,*18+187 41*11+157 44*6+157 49*11+12(%18 en Sira4s faith in the meaning of history is connected to an important e0tent to the role he attri"$tes to priesthood in the preservation of the traditions which are responsi"le for historical contin$ity% 2, :emarka"ly eno$gh* the long e$logy to ;aron in 45*9"+22 s$rpasses in length and solemnity that of <oses &45*1+9a(7 and is contin$ed with the appraisal of /hinehas% asically the entire chapter 5, is the e0alted cele"ration of the ministry e0erted "y Simon and his fellow priests% =rom this "rief assessment a preliminary concl$sion emerges: confronted with a different c$lt$re* en Sira responds "y emphasi>ing tradition% In his enco$nter with the val$es of #reek wisdom* en Sira responds to the challenge "y asserting that Israel already possesses tr$e wisdom* the .orah* manifested on Sion* in the temple of )er$salem%21 ;$ch hier steht es so* da? die innere @inheit wenig hervortritt* der @indr$ck von @in>elsprAchen A"erwiegt% 2as liegt e"en in der Nat$r des <aschal* der seinem Brspr$ng nach fAr den k$r>en @in>elspr$ch "erechnet ist $nd sich dar$m fAr grC?ere Dompositionen nicht recht eignen will% @r "er$ht a$f dem synonymen Sat>rhythm$s* der fAr eine fortschreitende #edankenentwickl$ng hinderlich ist% Nach ;rt eines <osaiks stehen die verschiedenen =ormen des <aschal* die ich nachher nEher "esprechen werde* ne"eneinander* hCchstens da? ;nfang $nd @nde der ein>elnen ;"schnitte etwas hervorgeho"en werden% 2en wirklichen @indr$ck der @inheit "ekommen wir erst dort* wo die =orm des <aschal vernachlEssigt wird* >$m eispiel 58 24+58 II * $nd andere #att$ngen hineinspielen* >$m eispiel I9%24+ I8 BS!%

!o ein ne$es StAck "eginnt* wo sich )Sir einem ne$en .hema >$wendet* wird dies oft gar nicht "esonders angede$tet% #elegentlich findet sich a"er doch eine ;rt F"erschrift* die das ne$e .hema angi"t: 2er pate,rwn u[mnoj 44+5, so kann n$r mit starker @inschrEnk$ng als 'ymn$s gelten* da hier nicht wie im k$ltischen 'ymn$s #ott* sondern <enschen gepriesen werden% so la$tet die Introd$ktion* die allerdings der des k$ltischen 'ymn$s nachge"ildet ist% !ir kCnnen ihn somit einen profanen 'ymn$s nennen% ;nche -$i* sta cosG* che lH$nitI interna s"$ca poco* lHimpressione di detti singoli prevale% 3$esto J proprio adesso nella nat$ra di <aschal* che J calcolato dietro alla s$a origine per il "reve detto singolo e non se lHadattano gi$stamente intorno a l$i per piK grandi composi>ioni* v$ole% Si "asa s$l ritmo di frase sinonimico* che J di impedimento progredendo di svil$ppo di pensiero per $na% 2opo il tipo di $n mosaico* le differenti forme di <aschal* che disc$terL dopo piK vicino* stanno t$ttHal piK fianco a fianco che lHini>io e fine delle singole se>ioni sono accent$ati a -$alcosa% :iceviamo per esempio lHimpressione reale dellH$nitI primo lI dove la forma del <aschal* per esempio 58 24+58 II* trasc$rerI e dentro+gioca altri generi I9%24* I8 BS!%* Nel li"ro J molto difficile da sta"ilire dove comincia $na n$ova $nitI% Solo occasionalmente si trova $n tipo di titolo* che indica il n$ovo tema%
can introduce a temporal clause as in ' and tbe set !ire to the hol cit and le!t its streets deserted "literall # 'desolated its streets'$# as %eremiah prophesied "literall #& 'throu'h %eremiah'$ (hen the mistreated him' )*+&,-. "/$0& )1addari# 2+0 mi'ht introduce a relati3e clause in *+&,-. 0 " /$0# thou'h 4456 could also be understood as a causal clause&78 )9assber'# ,:0
78

;odern translations render it as causal# e&'& '!or the had a!!licted him'# based on the <eptua'int 'ekakosan 'ar auton'& 4456 is missin' !rom the =eshitta& =iglio di Sargon * re di ;ssiria 6,5+981 a%M% Nei primi anni del s$o regno con-$istL a"ilonia e sta"ilG il territorio settentrionale del regno% Nel 6,1 a%M% andL verso lHovest per com"attere contro $nHallean>a + @>echia &2( re di #i$da aveva giI sconfitto la cittI @cron * che era alleata con ;ssiria* migliorato le difese di #er$salemme e chiesto ai$to a @gitto 2:e 18:87 2,:2,7 Is 5,:1+4% In -$ellHanno Sennacheri" entrL nella /alestina* e t$tte le cittI si arresero a l$i e l$i le sconfisse + tranne .iro* che lasciL* e #er$salemme* che assediL% Sconfisse anche lHesercito di @gitto% Na s$a catt$ra di Nachis J rappresentata nel s$o pala>>o% Sennacheri" si ritirL da #er$salemme -$ando lHangelo del Signore colpG nellHaccampamento 185,,, $omini% Bno storico greco scrive di O$na moltit$dine di topi che di notte cons$mL t$tte le faretre e t$tti gli archi del nemico%%% la mattina seg$ente ini>iarono a com"attere e moltissimi caddero perchP non avevano armi per difendersiO% Ne cronache assire parlano dellHassedio e del tri"$to pagato da @>echia* ma non della concl$sione 2:e 18:15+18:597 2Mr 527 2<acc 8:187 15:227 Sir 48:187 Is 59+56 % =$ $cciso dai s$oi figli ;drammelec &1( e Sareser &1(* e $n altro figlio @saraddon gli s$ccedette 2:e 18:567 Is 56:58 % .o" 1:15+22 non dI informa>ioni storicamente attendi"ili%
not have "een entr$sted with important political "$siness% .he word is the e0act reprod$ction Qf the ;ssyr% rab-sake Hchief of the high onesH (i.e., the officers(+ for so the :ah SAG or :a" SAG)^. of the inscriptions sho$ld "e read &2el% >ss& HW'B, 685~). .his was the title of a military officer* inferior to the .artan* "$t of very high rank% ; rad-fake was despatched to .pre "y .iglathpileser &.% D% M'@QN@ + )% SB.'@:N;N2 N;MD* @ncyclopedia i"lica % ; 2ictionary of the i"le* Rol 4*<acmillian7 Nondon* 1888( p% 4,,1

,- - N2M 0-2-0-3-0-5
6335

1 Kgs 10,5; 2 Chr 9,4; Neh 1,11; TobBA 1,22; E cup-bearer C#. $%&'E%, G. 1954, 23"-239

! 2,"

Na parola e"raica significa coppiere

Bn $fficiale di Sennacheri" * che f$ mandato dal re per parlare a @>echia &2( e pers$aderlo di arrendersi 2:e 18:16+567 18:4*87 Is 59:1+227 56:4*8 % S $n titolo* non $n nome* di $n $fficiale &il gran coppiere( sotto il capo dellHesercito* che era il .artan %Scritto anche :a"sachJ%

srisE n ch!" !ith two sameks# s?ris only accidentally so$nds to $s like @arA its ;kkadian origin is a rBC# The who is chief*U where rD is made an ad1ective% In 1 Dgs 22:8 the s?ris is e0actly the kind of official for minor errands which concerns $s here% $t he is $s$ally a m$ch higher and !orei'n official7 as in #enesis 56V587 @sth 1:1,V117 and :a"+Saris in parallel with the famo$s 'e"rew+speaking :a"+Wakeh of 2 Dgs 18:16% .ho$gh s$ch an official was often called Te$n$chU in the Xrient* 2 is rather o$tdated in assigning this as its principal meaning and relating it to admittedly denominative ver"s for TcastrateU in Syriac* ;ramaic* and ;ra"ic% 'ence it will hardly prove relevant to the long+standing de"ate as to whether Nehemiah &1:11( was really a e$n$ch* as in the corresponding #reek &: Esdras 11:11: euno-Fchos is also e0plaina"le as inner+ #reek variant for oino-chGos Yas <.Z7 North TMhronicles[@>ra[NehemiaU H%/IA Qama$chi 188,(% @ven if Nehemiah was called Te$n$ch*U this term* like o$r Tcham"erlain*U may have really signified some administrative office% If so* it wo$ld seem to have "een of a higher and more privileged rank than the local officials "eing disc$ssed here%1 #AB$-SA#%S &rabsa-ris7 'e"% rab-saris; ;ssyr% rabu-sha-reshi(% Xriginally Tfirst e$n$ch*U a title of a high ;ssyrian official and not a personal name% 1% .he title is mentioned in the narrative of Sennacheri"4s campaign against )$dah in the days of 'e>ekiah &2 Dings 18:16(% In the @nglish translation the ;ssyrian monarch is represented as sending to )er$salem T.artan and :a"+saris and :a"shekeh from Nachish%U It is now known from the ;ssyrian mon$ments that tartan &;ssyr% turtannu# Tsecond in rankU(*

rabshakeh &;ssyr% rabshaqu# Tchief officerU( and rab-saris were all titles of high ;ssyrian officials7 in fact* they are ;ssyr% words taken over into 'e"% &<ee !% =% ;l"right* J& K& Iommentar Y1848Z* p% 1917 <illar $rrows* Lhat ;ean Khese <tonesM Y1841Z* p% 45%( 2% .he same title is fo$nd in )er% 58:5 to designate one of the a"ylonian princes present at the capt$re of )er$salem% .he other reference is )er% 58:15* where the :a"+saris was of the gro$p who set free the prophet )eremiah from the prison co$rt when he was placed $nder the c$stody of #edaliah% .he NIR consistently translates :a"+saris as Tchief officer%U <%=%B% #AB$S&A'E& &rabsha-ki(% ;ssyr% rab-shaqu# Tchief officer*U one of the high ;ssyrian officials mentioned several times in the narrative of Sennacheri"4s campaign against )$dah d$ring 'e>ekiah4s reign &2 Dings 18:167 Isa% 59:2(% .he NIR translates Tchief officerU in these passages% &<ee .artan and :a"+saris%( .he title is one of high rank* for in the inscriptions of .iglath+pilesar III an army is mentioned as "eing sent against .yre $nder the command of a rabshakeh& <%=%B% &Merrill F. Unger( cf% Bnger* <% =%* 'arrison* :% D%* etc%&ed%(* Khe ne( Nn'er's /ible dictionar &Mhicago: <oody /ress* 18885(*14,6+8 49,10 cd che 'uarirono Oiacobbe e lo sal3arono con la loro !edele speranPa&:
49,10 (o() ) *ro#e+), !-./+ore ()0os+r. he .!!. s/. e*o . !. o!!e1)o2e (e) *ro#e+) (e!!. B)bb). ebr.) . es)s+e3. g)4. - /2. 2/o3. *r)0.3er., 3e() 2o+. . #r. 45, 12. &23e e () h.22o #.++o or.gg)o, !-ebr.) o h., h.22o g/.r)+o. 45,12 r)#)or)s .2o, !e++. 6r)s*/2+)2o6, o0e )! e**o () /2 .!bero he *ro(/ e /2 *o!!o2e 7 #. S)r 49,10, &s 55,14). 8)9 he /2. +es+)0o2).21. es*!) )+. . #.3ore (e!!. res/rre1)o2e se0br. 0eg!)o 3e(er ) /2 ./g/r)o, ) G)/() ) *oss.2o .3ere .! *rese2+e (eg2) ()s e2(e2+). Be2 S)r. s r)3e .!!. 3)g)!). (e!!. so00oss. (e) M. .be).

1
2

=reedman* 2% N% &1889(% Qol& R: Khe >nchor Sale /ible Tictionar &86(% New Qork: 2o$"leday%
Bltime parole non esistono nel testo e"raico V nella trad$>ione si $tili>>ano le parole greche &\ ]^_`a b]cde(%

45,12 Ger0og!)2o, ./g/r)o he s) r)*e+.2o 2e) !o2+.2) 2)*o+) !e ges+. () or.gg)o e () 3.!ore (e) g)/() ) . #.3ore (-&sr.e!e, o0e 2/o3) 3)rg/!+) he ger0og!).2o (. /2 .2+) o e**o. No2 s) es*r)0e !-)(e. (e!!. r)s/rre1)o2e. 45,12 $.!!e !oro +o0be... *r)0.3er., .!+r. +r.(/1)o2e *oss)b)!e, :e !oro oss. r)#)or)s .2o (.!!. +o0b.; ;/es+o ./g/r)o es*r)0e !. s*er.21. he (.) g)/() ) *oss.2o sorgere .!+r) ger0og!) (eg2) (e) !oro *.(r) e .*. ) () r)22o3.re .! +e0*o (e! #)g!)o () S)r. !. #e(e!+4 .! S)g2ore; *)9 +.r() *er< ;/es+o s+esso ./g/r)o #/ )2+eso o0e es*ress)o2e (e!!. #e(e 2e!!. r)s/rre1)o2e.

Ne( testo non esiste i( )rono*e )ersona(e +t ,! -o* n. e, /isto che (a serie 0i cin. e )artici)i si riferisce a E(ia e che . este frasi for*ano (e )ro)osi1ioni re(ati/e se*2ra/a necessario s ))orre i( )rono*e )ersona(e! Ne((a frase che )rece0e 3 )artici)i Ben Sira si ri/o(4e a E(ia ne((a secon0a )ersona! 5erci6 )er i( contesto e ) re )er i( sti(e +e*fati1are i( carattere 0i E(ia, si a44i n4e t a((7ini1io 0i o4ni /ersetto che co*incia con )artici)io artico(ato! )%Morley* OSearching for str$ct$re and redaction in en Sira% ;n investigation of "eginnings and endingsO in Khe Lisdom o! /en <ira& <tudies on Kradition# Uedaction# and Kheolo' &2MNS7 ;ngelo /assaro and #i$seppe ellia ed%7 de Oru ter* erlin* 2,,8( 44:
The Praise of the An estors !""#$%&'#(") is the most hi*h+, stru tureportion of .en /ira0s 1oo234( 5i6e aspe ts of the stru turin* -eser6e attention here3 5irst, ""#$%"&#(4 an- "4#$%&'#(" 1oth en- with a simi+ar -o7o+o*, !"&#(&e8(49 &'#((8("), with ea h -o7o+o*, 1ein* pre e-e- 1, a +en*th, -es ription of priest+, a ti6it, !"&#48(&-9 &'#$8($)34: /e on-, the aesura 1etween "&#(4 an- "4#$ mar2s the anoni a+ -i6ision 1etween the Torah se*ment !""#$;%"&#(4) an- the Prophets se*ment !"4#$%"<#$4)34" Thir-, the Torah se tion onsists of a -es ription of se6en persons !from =oah to Phinehas) with whom >o- ma-e a o6enant34& 5ourth, se6era+ poems onsist of ei*ht or si7teen or thirt,8two +ines# ?oses is a++o ate- @ 1i o+a !"&#$8&), 1oth Aa6ian- /o+omon re ei6e $4 1i o+a ea h !";#(8$$ an- ";#$(8((), an- Aaron is *i6en :( 1i o+a !"&#48(()3 5ifth !as a+rea-, note-), .en /ira often intro-u es his hara ters with wor-p+a, on their Be1rew names !A1raham, ?oses, Coshua, /amue+, /o+omon, Deho1oam, BeEe2iah)3 NAB Notes (Sir 44:1) =1> ?44,1-50,24@ As )2 +he *re3)o/s se +)o2 Go(-s A)s(o0 sho2e #or+h )2 +he AorBs o# 2.+/re, so )2 +hese h.*+ers )+ )s .!so re3e.!e( +hro/gh +he h)s+orC o# Go(-s *eo*!e .s see2 )2 +he !)3es o# +he)r *.+r).r hs, *ro*he+s, *r)es+s .2( r/!ers. The eD.0*!e o# +hese gre.+ 0e2, Ahose 3)r+/es .re here re .!!e(, o2s+)+/+es . h)gh *o)2+ o# +he ./+hor-s +e. h)2g .2( )!!/s+r.+es h)s be!)e# )2 +he .2o2) .! S r)*+/res. =2> ?1-15@ The re.(er )s here )2+ro(/ e( +o +hose 0e2 o# &sr.e!, !.+er 0e2+)o2e( bC 2.0e, Aho +hro/gh 3.r)o/s . h)e3e0e2+s .2( be2e#) ).! so ).! . +)3)+)es h.3e . ;/)re( gre.+ re2oA2 7S)r. h 44,1-",14-15); .2( .!so +o +hose Aho, +ho/gh #orgo++e2, e2(/re +hro/gh +he #r/)+ o# +he)r 3)r+/es .2( +hro/gh +he)r #.0)!)es be ./se o# Go(-s o3e2.2+ A)+h +he0 7S)r. h 44,9-13).

In en SiraHs la$s patr$m the mention of )osiah &48:1+5( is a short hagiographic hymn% Xnly the 'e"rew te0t of Mairo #eni>a <SS* $nderlining )osiahHs affliction "eca$se of people adherence to other worships &v% 2a(* lets $nderstand the real diffic$lties in p$tting into practice his reform% $t the Nff and the R$lgate descri"e )osiah as a pio$s king and effective re+organi>er of orthodo0y7 so also Syriac and ;ra"ic Rersions* which* later* emphasi>e the positive val$ation of his action* doing of this a work wanted and directed "y )'!'* who forgave )osiah for his 1$venile $ncertainties as well% So* an ideological re+reading revised )osiahHs work* that appears only thro$gh the 'e"rew of #eni>a <SS% In fact* as every"ody knows* it met with vario$s diffic$lties and came to a standstill on kingHs death% &preso da 8itre 0 0oc *ent 9 :oc *ent tit(e Na riforma di #iosia nellHottica di en Sira : Ideologia e storia in Sir 48*2a g )osiahHs :eform from the Riewpoint of en Sira :

Ideology and 'istory in Sir 48* 2aNa rPforme de )osias v$e par en Sira : idPologie et histoire en Sir 48* 2a A te r+s, 9 A thor+s, .XNXNI #% &1( 7(

Note ; (<intro0 1ione

.hen the transition "etween what we know as the =ormer and the Natter /rophets is also caref$lly effected "y Sira 48:1,: h;t the appointed time* it is written* yo$ are destined to calm the wrath of god "efore it "reaks o$t in f$ryi4% .his verse has "een s$spected of "eing secondary since its apocalyptic connotations seem o$t of place in the conte0t of the passageY48Z% 'owever* this s$dden apocalyptic o$t"reak has a canonical e0planation: it com"ines oracles from Isa% 48:1, and <al% 5:25+24 and applies them to @li1ah in order to tie $p the last "ook of the =ormer /rophets &Dings( with the first and the last of the Natter /rophets &Isaiah and <alachi(% .his inclusio s$ggests that the 1$0taposition of the prophetic "ooks and the ThistoricalU ones into one collection is recent and th$s it re-$ires comment% In the /raise* the words hprophet4* hprophecy4 and hto prophesy4 only appear in the section that corresponds to the Hebiim &Sira 49:1j48:1,(Y5,Z% ;t this point* I can do no "etter than -$ote #oshen+#ottstein:
!hile the earlier part of the /raise* devoted to the .orah* makes no mention of the individ$al "ooks of the .orah* the later part of the /raise* that addresses the /rophets* seems to make it a point to relate to all "ooks in the prophetic corp$s% .his is partic$larly sticking in view of the fact that concerning some of these "ooks en Sira really has nothing to say% .h$s* 49:11+12 relates to the )$dges* witho$t really saying anything relevant concerning them* e0cept to the fact that they are mentioned and "lessedi if the point is to redescri"e the prophetic canon* as part of a wider pro1ect in which en Sira is engaged* then all parts of the canon m$st "e addressed* even where there is little to say concerning the individ$al works or the fig$res related to those works% .he cases of the )$dges and the twelve <inor /rophets are telling in another way as well% If en Sira wanted to make hono$ra"le mention of individ$al heroes in Israel4s history* he sho$ld have referred to individ$al fig$res "y name% !hat is the point of referring to works "y their titlek !hy not list the prophets and the 1$dges individ$allyk It seems to me the answer lies in the fact that en Sira is more interested in descri"ing the canon than he is in descri"ing individ$al livesY51Z%

I due regni (1Re 11-2Re 25, la maggior arte del ro!eti) $o*o !. 0or+e () S.!o0o2e, 10 *.r+) (e!!. 2.1)o2e #or0.2o )! reg2o () &sr.e!e, e !e .!+re (/e *.r+) )! reg2o () G)/(.. & (/e reg2) 2o2 r.gg)/2go2o 0.) !. s+ess. .!+e11., 2E *o!)+) .0e2+e 2E s*)r)+/.!0e2+e, )! *e .+o o2+)2/., e ) *ro#e+) .33er+o2o () g)/()1)o e h)e(o2o r.33e()0e2+o, 0. 2o2 so2o .s o!+.+). F/)2() *r)0. &sr.e!e, *o) G)/(., 3e2go2o ()s+r/++) e *or+.+) 3). )2 es)!)o 2%e 1G,G-20; 2Cro2 35,15-21. Che os. H s/ esso .!!e *ro0esse () $)oI So2o 3/o+eI M. ) *ro#e+) h.22o *.r!.+o .2 he (e!!. gr.1). () $)o, he $)o .3rebbe s.!3.+o () 2/o3o )! s/o *o*o!o e .3rebbe r)so!+o /2. 3o!+. *er se0*re )! *rob!e0. (e! *e .+o E1e h 3G; Ger 31; &s.). 40; 55-55.

=! %( re4no 0i Sa(o*one e (a 0i/isione 0e( re4no

Il soggetto di -$esto capitolo J narrato nei primi 12 capitoli di 1:e e nei primi 1, di 2Mronache% Il racconto ini>ia spiegando che Salomone -$asi perdette il trono e la s$a vita a ca$sa del complotto di

s$o fratello maggiore ;donia che* essendo il piK grande figlio di 2avide ancora vivo* rivendicL il s$o diritto al trono* sosten$to da Ioa" e il sommo sacerdote ;"iatar% 3$esto complotto f$ creato prima della morte di 2avide* perchP pensavano che fosse cosG decrepito da non poter interferire% <a f$ spinto ad agire dagli sfor>i del profeta Natan e dalla madre di Salomone* e il complotto f$ sventato dallH$n>ione immediata di Salomone% Na scelta da parte del giovane re di sagge>>a* -$ando 2io gli offrG la scelta di -$ello che sare""e stato a l$i* J la chiave della parte ini>iale del s$o regno* ed J in enorme contrasto con lHapostasia che caratteri>>L gli $ltimi anni della s$a vita% NHevento principale del s$o regno f$ la costr$>ione del tempio* che sostit$G il ta"ernacolo eretto da <osJ% 3$esto portL ad $na fine* almeno per i fedeli* lHadora>ione irregolare che era prevalsa fino dalla catt$ra dellHarca da parte dei =ilistei* e permise ai sacerdoti di cond$rre il c$lto secondo t$tte le regola>ioni della legge% 2opo la costr$>ione del tempio* ed anche di $n magnifico pala>>o per sP stesso* Salomone ina$g$rL $n intero sistema di fortifica>ioni in diversi p$nti strategici del s$o regno* affinchP $no o piK p$nti avre""ero affrontato il nemico a prescindere dalla dire>ione di arrivo dellHesercito% =$ pro"a"ilmente -$esta preca$>ione saggia* insieme ad $nHallean>a tramite il matrimonio con il faraone dH@gitto* che preservL il s$o regno in pace d$rante t$tto il s$o l$ngo regno di 4, anni% NHattivitI letteraria che era fiorita d$rante il regno di 2avide raggi$nse il s$o c$lmine in -$ello di Salomone% N$i stesso aveva $n r$olo molto importante* scrivendo molti poemi che parlano di -$asi t$tti i temi che sono adesso raggr$ppati sotto il titolo generale di Storia nat$rale% ;nche le "iografie si svil$pparono* e i profeti Natan* ;iia e Iddo sono men>ionati come scrittori di -$esto tipo% Salomone f$ il primo re di Israele a commerciare* sopratt$tto nella estra>ioni di metalli pre>iosi* che trovL a""ondantemente in $na regione chiamata Xfir% Ne miniere f$rono presto esa$rite* per c$i non si sa piK dove fossero% 3$este attivitI lo portarono in contatto con il resto del mondo* e diventL il piK famoso re dHIsraele di -$alsiasi tempo% Na s$a ricche>>a creL $n desiderio di essere magnificato* che lo portL a moltiplicare mogli* cavalle e carri* e ciL a complicitI con lHadora>ione di idoli% Na prosperitI del regno di Salomone* siccome f$ creata sopratt$tto da leve di operai* portL alla propria distr$>ione* come lo storico raccontL dopo la morte di Salomone% Il popolo chiese a s$o figlio e s$ccessore di alleggerire i pesi imposti dal padre7 il figlio rispose loro in modo insolente* e dieci delle tri"K* sotto la g$ida di #ero"oamo* $n $omo a$dace della tri"K di @fraim* si ri"ellarono e sta"ilirono $n altro regno% ;ncora $na volta in Israele f$ insegnato che la prosperitI divina andava otten$ta solo con $na completa $""idien>a alla volontI di 2io% Infatti la condotta di ;iia il profeta 1:e 11:28+55 -$ando incoraggiL #ero"oamo a ri"ellarsi* indica il sentimento dei profeti che gli interessi della vera religione richiedevano $na forma di vita na>ionale piK semplice di -$anto gli splendori del regno di Salomone incoraggiavano%

>! % 0 e re4ni +?#e ?-?@A @-ronache ?-?@,

2alla divisione del regno fino alla cad$ta di -$ello delle 1, tri"K* chiamato il regno di Israele o il regno settentrionale* mentre lHaltro era il regno di #i$da o il regno meridionale* lHa$tore del li"ro dei :e trattL la loro storia in modo alternativo* mentre -$ello delle Mronache si limitL alla storia del regno di #i$da* tranne -$ando i d$e regni erano in contatto% 2ovremmo st$diare -$esta parte della storia secondo le sottodivisioni in c$i J nat$ralmente divisa* e do""iamo considerare anche gli scritti dei profeti -$ando hanno a che fare con -$esta storia* perchP -$esti scritti costit$iscono $na parte molto importante della storia di -$esto periodo* e sen>a di essi la narrativa in :e e Mronache potre""e essere solo imperfettamente capita%

3$esta por>ione della storia si divide in tre parti distinte che considereremo separatamente% /rima di t$tto* cHJ $n periodo di ostilitI fra i d$e regni7 secondo* $n periodo di allean>a amichevole7 e ter>o* $n secondo periodo di ostilitI%

?! %( )ri*o )erio0o 0i osti(itB

3$esto periodo ini>iL con la divisione del regno* e terminL con $nHallean>a fra i re ;ca" e #iosafat7 d$rL circa 68 anni% ;llHini>io di -$esto periodo #ero"oamo sta"ilG lHadora>ione di #eova con lHimmagine di vitelli dHoro a etel e a 2an7 ordinL $na festa ann$ale a etel7 e proi"G ai s$oi s$dditi di andare a #er$salemme per adorare come la legge di <osJ richiedeva% NHa$tore del li"ro dei :e descrive la contin$a>ione di -$esta adora>ione ingi$sta nei regni dei re dHIsraele che seg$irono* e le conseg$en>e malvagie di essa sono chiaramente viste in -$ello che s$ccedette dopo% @ntro 5, anni -$attro dinastie diverse regnarono* ogn$na sterminando i discendenti maschi del predecessore* ed ogn$na essendo dichiarata piK malvagia di -$elle prima% ;lla fine la degrada>ione arrivL ad $n p$nto tale che allHadora>ione di $n vitello introdotta da #ero"oamo f$ aggi$nta lHadora>ione -$asi $niversale di aal% In -$esta crisi il piK grande di t$tti i profeti che non lasciarono scritti* @lia il .is"ita* apparve come $n f$lmine* e diede $n forte colpo a -$esto sistema pernicioso% Nel frattempo* il regno di #i$da progredG in modo piK soddisfacente% :imanendo attaccati al vero 2io e mantenendo lHadora>ione secondo la legge* solo -$attro re avevano regnato -$ando il settimo ini>iL a regnare in Israele% 2$rante $nHapostasia temporanea del popolo sotto :o"oamo* il paese f$ invaso dallHesercito egi>iano* e $n grande tri"$to f$ pagato7 ma $n ritorno al Signore portL $n ritorno alla prosperitI* e #iosafat regnava in modo gi$sto s$ #i$da mentre ;ca" era in me>>o al regno come il piK malvagio mai visto in Israele% @! %( )erio0o 0i riconci(ia1ione I d$e regni che erano stati ostili da cosG tanto tempo f$rono riconciliati dal matrimonio di ;talia la figlia di ;ca" a Ioram il figlio ed erede di #iosafat% NHallean>a diede coraggio ad ;ca" per intraprendere $n attacco militare che non aveva osato fare da solo* e che finG con la sconfitta del s$o esercito e con la s$a morte% NHintera storia del s$o regno J piena di istr$>ione e di avvertimento% #iosafat f$ rimproverato da $n messaggero da 2io per aver ai$tato -$elli che erano i nemici di 2io7 ma i rapporti amichevoli fra il s$o regno e -$ello di Israele contin$arono fino a -$ando #i$da ne mietP $n fr$tto amaro% ;talia si rivelL $n flagello per #i$da* e nella ter>a genera>ione dei discendenti di #iosafat tentL di sterminare la famiglia reale% @ra -$asi ri$scita nel s$o intento: rimase solo $n "am"ino per perpet$are la famiglia di 2avide e per rendere possi"ile la promessa divina* cioJ che non sare""e mai mancato $n figlio che regnasse s$l s$o trono% 2opo la morte della malvagia ;talia* ci f$ la fine dellHallean>a fra Israele e #i$da che era stata $n disastro contin$o per #i$da% <entre la storia di #i$da si svolgeva in -$esto modo* per Israele le cose non andarono meglio% Il figlio e s$ccessore di ;ca"* ;ca>ia* regnL solo d$e anni% MercL in modo de"ole di ravvivare lHadora>ione di aal* e commise anche il peccato fatale di mandare dei messaggeri a aal+le"$"* il dio di @cron* per chiedergli il ris$ltato di $n infort$nio ricev$to da $na cad$ta% Siccome morG sen>a figli* s$o fratello Ioram gli s$ccedette% 2$rante il s$o regno la carriera di @lia gi$nse al termine% Na s$a fine f$ segnata da $n avvenimento glorioso% 2opo di @lia s$ccedette @liso* la c$i "rillante carriera tenne vivo in parte il timore di 2io da parte del popolo% /iK di $na volta salvL il regno dalla con-$ista da parte di en+;dad* il potente re della Siria% Na carriera di Ioram concl$se con lo sterminio dellHintera stirpe di ;ca" per mano di Ie$%

Mhe i d$e grandi profeti* @lia e @liseo* fossero mandati al piK malvagio dei d$e regni* "enchP in $n primo momento sia $na sorpresa* era la cosa da aspettarsi7 perchP la loro missione era di condannare il peccato* e il loro vero campo di a>ione era dove il peccato a""ondava% Impedendo lHadora>ione di aal del regno piK grande* da dove proveniva* la tolsero dal regno piK piccolo dove era stata diff$sa% C! %( secon0o )erio0o 0i osti(itB 2opo lo sterminio della casa di ;ca" in Israele e la morte di ;talia in #i$da* non ci f$ piK coopera>ione fra i d$e regni* ma invece ci f$rono g$erre fre-$enti come prima% Na dinastia di Ie$ tenne il trono per piK tempo che -$alsiasi altra* e sotto #ero"oamo II il regno diventL il piK potente e il piK prospero dal tempo di Salomone% 3$esto re* con la g$ida profetica del profeta #iona* con-$istL il regno della Siria che da molto tempo opprimeva la s$a na>ione* e estese il s$o dominio fino allH@$frate* che era stato il confine settentrionale del regno di 2avide% #li eventi raccontati nel li"ro di #iona appartengono a -$esto regno% 2$rante -$esto regno* che era l$ngo* i profeti Xsea ed ;mos pron$nciarono le profe>ie che troviamo nei loro li"ri% S necessario st$diarli per capire completamente le condi>ioni del popolo di allora* perchP mentre il racconto del li"ro storico dei :e parla $n poH degli eventi politici e militari* i d$e profeti parlano alle persone del loro peccato* e cosG facendo rivelano $nHirreligiositI e $nHimmoralitI in me>>o alla prosperitI mondana che dovre""e far inorridire il lettore* e che J com$n-$e solo il ris$ltato nat$rale delle esperien>e attraverso c$i le dieci tri"K passarono dopo la divisione del regno% Rale la pena anche notare che i profeti predissero la cad$ta e la rovina del regno proprio -$ando era* dal p$nto di vista $mano* meno pro"a"ile che s$ccedesse che in -$alsiasi p$nto della s$a storia fino a -$el tempo% 2opo la cad$ta della dinastia di Ie$* che accadde sei mesi dopo la morte di #ero"oamo II* il regno andL velocemente al destino che Xsea e ;mos avevano profeti>>ato% Bna serie di cin-$e re f$rono s$l trono in 52 anni* t$tti tranne $no assassinati dal s$ccessore% ; motivo di -$este rivalitI ingaggiarono tre diversi re dH;ssiria per interferire nelle cose del loro regno* cosG -$asi invitando i re di -$el grande impero a venire a prendere lHintero regno in cattivitI% Infatti f$ proprio cosG che s$ccesse dopo% In fine* nel nono anno dellH$ltimo di -$esti assassini* cioJ Xsea* venne la fine del regno dHIsraele come descritta in 2:e 16% <entre Israele andava verso la distr$>ione* #i$da* avendo ripreso $n poH dagli effetti dannosi dellHallean>a con la casa di ;ca"* attraversL $n periodo piK felice* "enchP non sen>a severi rimproveri da parte dei d$e profeti mandati in modo particolare a Israele% 2ei sei re che regnarono d$rante il tempo dei dieci re in Israele* d$e erano fedeli a 2io e alla s$a legge mentre tre erano infedeli in molti modi* ma molto di meno dei re dHIsraele% NH$ltimo di -$esti re "$oni* @>echia* era nel sesto anno del s$o regno -$ando Israele f$ portato via in cattivitI% NHintero periodo dei d$e regni* aggi$ngendo la d$rata del diversi re* d$rL 554 anni* e la data dellHini>io della cattivitI di Israele J 621 a%M%

D! %( re4no 0i Gi 0a contin ato +@#e ?D-@3A @-ronache @E-C=,

3$esta storia del regno di #i$da* dalla cad$ta dHIsraele fino alla s$a* si trova nel li"ro di 2:e* dal capitolo 18 fino alla fine* e in 2Mronache* dal capitolo 28 fino alla fine% Bna parte si trova anche nei li"ri dei profeti che scrissero d$rante -$el periodo* sopratt$tto Isaia e #eremia% 3$esto periodo d$rL

circa 15, anni e incl$de i regni di otto re% 2i -$esti re* d$e regnarono solo tre mesi e $no solo d$e anni% Il primo* @>echia* era $n "$on re* il migliore dal tempo della divisione del regno% /rima perL ci f$rono d$e re* Iotam e ;ca>* che erano molto malvagi* e con la loro malvagia infl$en>a il popolo era diventato molto corrotto% @ra -$indi molto difficile per @>echia ind$rre il popolo a vivere di n$ovo secondo a legge di <osJ% Mome riconoscimento divino della s$a fedeltI* il s$o regno f$ segnalato da $na delle li"era>ione piK incredi"ili che Israele a""ia mai sperimentato% =$ la distr$>ione miracolosa di notte di $n enorme esercito sotto Sennacheri"* il re dH;ssiria* che aveva invaso il paese mentre faceva g$erra contro @gitto* e richiedeva lHarresa di #er$salemme% 2$rante il regno di @>echia la carriera p$""lica di Isaia venne ad $na concl$sione% =$ chiamato ad essere profeta nellHanno che il re B>>ia morG* e i s$oi primi discorsi profetici den$nciavano la malvagitI del popolo nei regni di Iotam e ;ca>% isogna leggere -$esti discorsi insieme con i racconti nei li"ri di 2:e e 2Mronache di -$esti d$e re% <entre -$esti li"ri danno la storia politica* Isaia svela lo stato della societI della gente* e mostra -$anto orrenda era% Isaia era il costante sostenitore e consigliere di @>echia in t$tte le s$e "$one imprese* e molti capitoli del s$o li"ro* fino al 58* vanno st$diati insieme con il regno di @>echia% #li $ltimi 26 capitoli g$ardano avanti alla cattivitI di #i$da e la li"era>ione da essa* mentre molti "rani in ogni parte del li"ro g$ardano avanti al tempo del <essia% Il "$on regno di @>echia f$ seg$ito da -$ello di <anasse* il piK malvagio di t$tti i re di #i$da% Il s$o regno d$rL 55 anni% Na vera religione era completamente a"olita* e t$tte le forme di idolatria conosci$te fra le na>ioni vicine f$rono adottate% Il tempio di 2io f$ reso il centro di -$este a"omina>ioni% BnHintera genera>ione di #i$dei cre""e alla mat$ritI* ed alc$ni alla vecchiaia* sen>a la possi"ilitI di conoscere il vero 2io o avere -$alsiasi conoscen>a della Scritt$re% ;mon* il figlio e s$ccessore di <anasse* contin$L nelle vie di s$o padre* aggi$ngendo ancora d$e anni a -$esto periodo di apostasia% 3$ando #iosia* il prossimo re* ini>iL a regnare* aveva solo otto anni* e 12 anni f$rono aggi$nti a -$esto periodo sc$ro prima che raggi$ngesse $nHetI per tentare $na riforma vigorosamente% /er la provviden>a di 2io* e forse attraverso il profeta Sofonia &vedi il capitolo 8(* f$ portato sotto certe infl$en>e che lo cond$ssero alla resta$ra>ione della vera adora>ione e allHa"oli>ione dellHidolatria% 3$ando aveva 18 anni e il regno dellHosc$ritI e dellHignoran>a d$rava giI da 65 anni* $na copia della legge di 2io f$ trovata nel tempio e leggendola sia il re sia il popolo si resero conto del loro peccato e dei loro antenati% Il re fece $no sfor>o grande per portare il popolo al ravvedimento e per resta$rarlo al favore di 2io* e sem"ra che a""ia av$to s$ccesso% <a il profeta #eremia* che ini>iL a profeti>>are nel tredicesimo anno di #iosia* e che $sL t$tta la s$a infl$en>a come profeta per sostenere il re* den$nciL p$""licamente che la riforma del popolo era finta e non veniva dal c$ore% I primi 2, capitoli del s$o li"ro vanno st$diati insieme con la storia del regno di #iosia* perchP spiegano in modo molto vivace lo stato della societI e della religione% 3$esto profeta predisse ripet$tamente la cad$ta del regno come conseg$en>a dei peccati% #iosia e #eremia f$rono t$tti e d$e giovani -$ando cominciarono a lavorare insieme per la salve>>a del popolo* e -$asi mai d$e giovani hanno com"att$to con cosG tanto coraggio con -$asi $nHintera na>ione $nita contro di loro% #iosia f$ lH$ltimo re di #i$da che cercL di impedire la sorte che veniva s$lla na>ione secondo le parole di molti profeti% Na s$a fine f$ tragica* perchP f$ $cciso in $na "attaglia contro il re di @gitto* che marciava con $n esercito attraverso il paese di #i$da per com"attere contro ;ssiria* con c$i #iosia aveva fatto $nHallean>a di amici>ia% Mi f$rono solo 22 anni fra la s$a morte e lHini>io della cattivitI predetta* e in -$esti anni ci f$rono i regni di tre dei s$oi figli e $no nipote* e t$tti e -$attro respinsero il consiglio di 2io dato tramite #eremia* e persistettero nella malvagitI che allora caratteri>>ava -$asi t$tto il popolo% In t$tto -$esto periodo* #eremia era lH$omo piK vistoso della na>ione* non come consigliere e sostenitore dei re* come nel regno di #iosia* ma come la voce di 2io* parlando costantemente contro la malvagitI del re e dei s$dditi% .$tto il s$o li"ro* dal capitolo

21 fino alla fine* va letto attentamente insieme con i regni di -$esti -$attro re% /$rtroppo* -$esti capitoli non sono stati raccolti in ordine cronologico* ma lHintrod$>ione di -$asi ogni discorso profetico ci dice in -$ale anno del regno di -$ale re f$ pron$nciato% Ness$na persona nella i""ia J spiegata in modo piK eroico di #eremia% S stato chiamato il profeta piangente* a ca$sa della grande triste>>a che sentiva per i g$ai che venivano s$l s$o popolo* che non credeva alle s$e predi>ioni% SoffrG molta violen>a da parte loro% Il piccolo li"ro chiamato Namenta>ioni J $nHespressione in poesia del s$o lamento per #er$salemme -$ando finalmente cadde nelle mani nei pagani%

Xne thing is clear: for en Sira this prophetic Mhronography is no 2e$teronomistic 'istory%

8esto
Siracide vede in $na maniera completamente diversa dagli a$tori dei li"ri di :e e delle Mronache il re :o"oamo% $t first* from yet another so$rce* the Mhronicler provides a list of :eho"oam4s many wives* conc$"ines* and children &2 Mhr% 11:18V25(% .his list demonstrates #od4s "lessing $pon :eho"oam thro$gh those first three years% Similarly* in 1 Mhronicles 14:5V6* #od4s "lessing $pon 2avid was demonstrated "y his large family% ;lso like 2avid* :eho"oam wisely g$ards against s-$a""les over s$ccession "y naming his own s$ccessor* ;"i1ah son of <aacah &2 Mhr% 11:227 note that ;"i1ah* like Solomon* was not the eldest son(% 'owever* the king does not so$r the other princes toward his designated heir "y showing ;"i1ah $nd$e favoritism% Important responsi"ilities are entr$sted to all of :eho"oam4s sons7 also* The gave them a"$ndant provisions* and fo$nd many wives for themU &2 Mhr% 11:25(% Nittle wonder that* like his father Solomon* :eho"oam is commended for his wisdom &1 Mhr% 11:257 "$t* see Sir% 46:25* where :eho"oam is condemned as T"road in folly and lacking in senseU(%5 Fn 5ro/er2s @E:@? +manon, 28:21 If yo$ pamper and spoil a ser/ant he will forget his proper position and will soon e0pect yo$ to treat him like a son% Bnd$e familiarity in the employer+employee relationship often "reeds contempt% .he word translated son" in the second line is of very $ncertain meaning%4 Nor sho$ld a servant "e pampered* especially not when yo$ng* or in the end there will "e 'rie! &28:21(7 however* the meaning of the word translated 'rie! is $ncertain since it appears only here in ancient so$rces% .he social stat$s of the slave is simply taken for granted* altho$gh the law of <oses in 2e$teronomy specifies that 'e"rew slaves sho$ld "e given an opport$nity to Tgo freeU
5

.$ell* S% S% &2,,1(% 9irst and <econd Ihronicles% Interpretation* a i"le commentary for teaching and preaching% &19,(% No$isville* DQ: )ohn Dno0 /ress% 4 <ac2onald* !%* m =arstad* ;% &1886* c1885(% /elie3er's /ible Iommentar V Jld and He( Kestaments &/rv 28:21(% Nashville: .homas Nelson%

after si0 years of service &male and female alike(* with genero$s provisions for their f$t$re &2e$t 15:12V18(%5 2":21# .he importance of disciplining* not pampering* servants is again to$ched on &cf% v% 18(% =ail$re to discipline a ser/ant and to re-$ire him to carry o$t his responsi"ilities will res$lt in 4rief &a 'e"% word $sed only here in the X.( in the en0 &later( to his master%9 Gerse @?% &e that 0e(icate(y 2rin4eth ) his ser/antZ S$ch persons are generally forgetf$l of their o"ligations* ass$me the rights and privileges of children* and are seldom good for any thing%6 @E:@? .he diffic$lty in $nderstanding this verse is that the last word in the 'e"rew te0t & FG H I J * mnn( appears nowhere else in the Xld .estament%95 .he NIR makes an ed$cated g$ess in translating it 2rin4 4rief% !hatever the meaning of the word is* it appears that there is some kind of negative conse-$ence related to )a*)erin4 a ser/ant fro* yo th%8 @l v% 21 se complica por la presencia de la pala"ra panaW 9445* -$e aparece snlo a-$o en el ;.* trad$cida mima# y heredero segpn el te0to he"reo &modificado a Ttriste>a por ser incontrola"leU en la Nff(% 2e todas maneras* ser ind$lgente con el siervo es algo peligroso* con res$ltados sin remedio% @l hom"re p$ede ser ind$lgente con el hi1o o con el siervo* per1$dicqndose a la larga a so mismo%8 5ro/! @E:@?! .he Nff had no answer to the -$estion as to the meaning of FGI% Xn the other

hand* for I K L NM K * the meaning to fondle7 delicatius enutrire# is perfectly warranted "y the ;ram% and ;ra"% .he .alm$d* <ucca 52b# resorts to the alpha"et RSQOP in order to reach a meaning for of )erome: postea sentiet eum contumacem# is perhaps mediated "y the of Symmach$s* who com"ines FGI with FGU* Hiph& % .he of the Nff* with the Syr%* von 'ofmann has so$ght to 1$stify &<chri!tbe(& ii% 2% 4,4(* for he derives FG H I g FGI H J from

FGI% 'ow the .arg% comes to translate the word "y RT K I & o$trooted( is not clear7 the rendering

J J I% !e m$st then p$nct$ate FGI KH 7 "$t perhaps the Nff derived the word from FGI H P V g FI P J * whether they prono$nced it FGI H J &cf% WX T H P V g WX T H J ( or FGI KH % .o follow them is not wise*
for the formation of the word is precario$s7 one does not see with the speaker of this prover"* to whom the lang$age presented a f$lness of synonyms for the idea of complaint* meant "y $sing this pec$liar word% Ning$istically these meanings are impossi"le: of )erome* dominus g I K Y ;& hron
5

<iller* )% !% &2,,4(% =ro3erbs% elievers ch$rch i"le commentary &265(% Scottdale* /a%: 'erald /ress% 9 !alvoord* )% =%* l$ck* :% %* m 2allas .heological Seminary% &1885+c1885(% Khe /ible kno(led'e commentar V >n eXposition o! the scriptures &1:898(% !heaton* IN: Rictor ooks% 6 Mlarke* ;% &1888(% Ilarke's Iommentar V =ro3erbs &electronic ed%(% Nogos Ni"rary System7 MlarkeHs Mommentaries &/rv 28:21(% ;l"any* X:: ;ges Software% 95 ; hapaX le'omenon* that is* something said only once% 2 interprets the word as Tthankless oneU &p% 584(% .he critical notes of the 'e"rew te0t s$ggest emending the word to ZG H I & mnd( which means something like T"ring shame%U 8 land* 2% &2,,2(% =ro3erbs# Ecclesiastes Y <on' o! <on's% .he Mollege /ress NIR commentary% &299(% )oplin* <o%: Mollege /ress /$"% Mo% 8 Marro* 2%* /oe* )% .%* lor>oli* :% X%* m @ditorial <$ndo 'ispano &@l /aso* .% &1885+r1886(% Iomentario bCZblico mundo hispano =ro3erbios-Iantares &1% ed%( &29,(% @l /aso* .f: @ditorial <$ndo 'ispano%

"% )osef* ;e[ri# and others(7 or: the oppressed g I K G *from I J J [ &)ohlson(7 or: one who is sick g

I G H &@$chel(% and @wald4s \undankbar] Y$nthankf$lZ* derived from the ;ra"ic* is a mere fancy* since &;ra"%( manu(an does not mean one who is $nthankf$l* "$t* on the contrary* one who $p"raids good deeds shown%245 .he ancients are in the right track* who e0plain FGI after the ver" KFGI* /s% 62:16 g FS K L g F[I N 7 the Qenet&# herein following Dimchi* also adopts the nominal form* for it
translates &"$t witho$t percepti"le meaning( % N$ther4s translation is fort$nate: TIf a servant is tenderly treated from yo$th $p* 'e will accordingly "ecome a %unker Ys-$ireZ%U .he ideas represented in modern )ewish translations: that of a son &e%g%* Solomon: he will at last "e the son( and that of a master &l$n>(* are here $nited% $t how the idea of a son &from the ver" FGI(* at the same time that of a master* may arise* is not to "e perceived in the same way as with %unker and the Spanish in!ante and hidal'oA rather with FGI *as the ironical naming of the son &little son(* the idea of a weakling &de !ette( may "e connected% .he state of the matter appears as follows:jthe Rer" K FGI has the meanings of l$0$riant growth* n$mero$s propagation7 the fish has from this the ;ram% name of KFGI* like the 'e"% \Z K J * from \ J KZ J * which also means l$0$riant* e0$"erant increase &vid%* at /s% 62:16(% =rom this is derived F[I N * which designates the offspring as a component part of a kindred* as well as FGI H J * which* according as the ] is interpreted infin% or local* means either this* that it spro$ts $p l$0$riantly* the a"$ndant growth* or also the place of l$0$riant spro$ting* wanton growing* a"$ndant and -$ick m$ltiplication: th$s the place of hatching* spawning% .he s$"1ect in [ ^ might "e the fondled one7 "$t it lies nearer* however* to take him who fondles as the s$"1ect* as in 21a& GW H [X N R V P is either adv% acc$s% for GW[XRPS * or* as we preferred at 25:52* it is the s$"1% introd$cing* after the manner of a s$"stantival cla$se* the following sentence as its virt$al predicate: Tone has fondled his servant from his yo$th $p* and his &that of the one who fondles( end is: he will "ecome a place of increase%U .he master of the ho$se is tho$gh of along with his ho$se7 and the servant as one who* having "ecome a man* presents his master with W^S [Z L [U N * [ who are spoilt scapegraces* as he himself has "ecome "y the pampering of his master% .here was $sed in the lang$age of the people* F[I N for FS K L * in the sense on which we name a degenerate son a \<ch^nes 9r_chtchen] Ypretty little fr$itZ7 and FGI H J is a place &ho$se( where many ][I[I are7 and a man &master of a ho$se( who has many of them is one whose family has increased over his head% Xne reaches the same meaning if FGI J is rendered more immediately as the place or state of growing* increasing* l$0$riating% .he sense is in any case: he will not "e a"le* in the end* any more to defend himself against the crowd which grows $p to him from this his darling* "$t will "e merely a passive part of it% .he following gro$p "egins with a prover" which rhymes "y FGZ *with FGI of the foregoing* and e0tends on to the end of this 'e>ekiah collection:
245

In %ahrb& 0i% p% 1,f% @wald compares* in an e0pressive way* the @thiopic mann`na &=iel( to scorn7 menan# a repro"ate7 and mannbn[# one who is despised7 according to which FGI co$ld certainly designate Ta man despising scornf$lly his own "enefactors* or an $nthankf$l man%U $t this ver"al stem is pec$liarly @thiop%* and is certainly not once fo$nd in ;ra"% =or minnat &which @wald compares( denotes "enefaction* and the d$ty laid on one there"y* the dependence there"y prod$ced% .he ver" &;ra"%( minn &g FI J ( signifies to divide7 and partic$larly* partly to confer "enefaction* partly to attri"$te "enefaction* reckon to* en$merate* and there"y to "ring o$t the sense of o"ligation% .h$s nothing is to "e derived from this ver"al stem for FGI%

22

; man of anger stirreth $p strife7 ;nd a passionate man a"o$ndeth in transgression%1,

@?! .he co$plet seems to "elong with v% 18% 'e"%: he (ho delicatel brin's up his ser3ant !rom a child# in the end he (ill be i .he s$"1ect of second line may "e the s$"1ect &he( or the o"1ect &ser3ant( of first line% cn the end g at the concl$sion of this mode of proced$rejit denotes the o$tcome of the e0periment* not necessarily the end of life% .he omitted word* which occ$rs only here* has "een rendered re!ractor &Nat%(* unthank!ul &@w%(* son &Saad% :R%(* oun' 'entleman &N$th%( etc%7 it is pro"a"ly an error of te0t% 2e%: he Ythe masterZ (ill !inall become a nurser * that is* his ho$se will "e overr$n "y the children of his pampered servant%j#rk%: he (ho !rom a child li3es luXuriousl (ill be a ser3ant# and in the end (ill come to 'rie!% Some s$ch reading as this for second cl% sho$ld pro"a"ly "e adopted* tho$gh it is not clear whether it is the master or the servant or the child that comes to grief%11 'e who pampers his servant from childhood: 5a*)ers* meaning in @nglish to treat someone with e0cessive care and attention* translates a 'e"rew ver" fo$nd only here in the Xld .estament% ;ccording to !hy"ray* the word is fo$nd in later 'e"rew with this sense% .@R TIf yo$ give yo$r servants everything they want from childhood onU is a good model translation% !e may also say* for e0ample* T.he master who spoils his servant%U !ill in the end find him his heir: .he :SR footnote shows that the word rendered heir is $ncertain% N$mero$s changes have "een proposed in the 'e"rew* "$t there is little agreement among interpreters% Some translators* for e0ample Scott* follow the R$lgate and say TIn the end he Ythe servantZ will prove refractory*U meaning that the servant will "ecome $nmanagea"le% Note that this is one of the meanings given in the .@R footnote* Tyo$ will not "e a"le to control them%U .he .@R te0t follows :SR "y e0pressing heir as Tthey will take over everything yo$ own%U M@R e0presses another g$ess for the 'e"rew: Twill ca$se yo$ sorrow%U ;s there is no certainty in any of these interpretations* translators are free to make a choice% Xne translation that follows :SR and .@R says* for e0ample* TIf yo$ give everything to yo$r servant from the time he is a child* one day he will take away everything yo$ own7 it will all "e his%U12 @?! Beco*e his son at the (en4th! .r$sted slaves sometimes rose to positions of prominence and "ecame heirs of their master4s property% .o handle a slave tenderly co$ld open the way to his gaining possession of all his master4s goods% 'e co$ld take the place of a man4s son%15

1,

Deil* M% =%* m 2elit>sch* =% &2,,2(% Iommentar on the Jld Kestament& &9:455+455(% /ea"ody* <;: 'endrickson% @ w% '% @wald% S aad% Saadia4s ;ra"% tr% of /rov% : R% @ng% :evised Rersion% N $th% <artin N$ther% 2 e% =ran> 2elit>sch* 2as Salomon% Spr$ch"$ch% =riedr% 2elit>sch* ;ssyr% 'andwCrter"$ch% 11 .oy* M% '% &1888(% > critical and eXe'etical commentar on the book o! =ro3erbs% Series title also at head of t%+p% &515(% New Qork: M% Scri"nerHs Sons% t @R .oday4s @nglish Rersion r SR :evised Standard Rersion M @R MXN.@</X:;:Q @N#NIS' R@:SIXN 12 :ey"$rn* !% 2%* m =ry* @% <% &2,,,(% > handbook on =ro3erbs% B S hand"ook series7 'elps for translators &915(% New Qork: Bnited i"le Societies% 15 1%Q /ible commentar % 1886* c1884 &1251(% Nashville: .homas Nelson%

@E:@? .he idea is of overind$lging a servant* so that the servant will $ltimately want to "e cared for like a son* rather than one who serves the master%14 Gerse @? Note* 1% It is an impr$dent thing in a master to "e too fond of a servant* to advance him too fast* and admit him to "e too familiar with him* to s$ffer him to "e over+nice and c$rio$s in his diet* and clothing* and lodging* and so to "ring him $p delicately* "eca$se he is a favo$rite* and an agreea"le servant7 it sho$ld "e remem"ered that he is a servant* and* "y "eing th$s ind$lged* will "e spoiled for any other place% Servants m$st end$re hardness% 2% It is an $ngratef$l thing in a servant* "$t what is very common* to "ehave insolently "eca$se he has "een $sed tenderly% .he h$m"le prodigal thinks himself $nworthy to be called a son# and is content to "e a servant7 the pampered slave thinks himself too good to "e called a ser3ant# and will "e a son at the len'th# will take his ease and li"erty* will "e on a par with his master* and perhaps pretend to the inheritance% Net masters 'i3e their ser3ants that (hich is eWual and fit for them* and neither more nor less% .his is very applica"le to the "ody* which is a servant to the so$l7 those that delicatel brin' up the "ody* that h$mo$r it* and are over+tender of it* will find that at length it will forget its place* and become a son# a master* a perfect tyrant%15 Notes for @E:@? tn .here is no conditional particle at the "eginning of the verse7 however* the relationship of the cla$ses* which lay down the condition first and then &with a 3a3( the conse-$ences* indicates a conditional constr$ction here% Mf% also N; * NIR* NMR* .@R% 98 tn .he word FG H \ J &magon( is a hapaX le'omenon7 accordingly* it has "een given a variety of interpretations% .he Nff has Tgrief*U and this has "een adopted "y some versions &e%g%* NIR* NMR(% .he idea wo$ld "e that treating the servant too easily for so long wo$ld not train him at all* so he will "e of little $se* and therefore a grief% )% :eider takes the word to mean TweaklingU from the ;ra"ic root nadna &Tto "e weakU(* with a no$n[ad1ective form munadanad &Tweak7 fee"leU(7 see his T@tymological St$dies in i"lical 'e"rew*U QK 4 Y1854Z: 269+85% .his wo$ld give a different emphasis to the sentence* "$t on the whole not very different than the first% In "oth cases the servant will not "e trained well% :ashi* a )ewish scholar who lived ;%2% 1,4,V11,5* had the translation Ta master%U .he servant trained this way will ass$me a$thority in the ho$sehold even as the son% .his may "e "ehind the D)R translation TsonU &likewise ;SR* N;S (% K'% /rov 28:21 and the Syriac have Tto "e $prooted*U which may reflect a different te0t entirely% 19
96

.Q/@: /;:;NN@N &28:18V22(% @E:?EH@@ Rerses 18* 21* on controlling one4s servant* seem to have nothing to do with vv% 2,* 22* on self+control% .he link is the iss$e of control and discipline with the implication "eing that one m$st give as m$ch attention to governing one4s own passions as to governing one4s servants% Rerse 21" is o"sc$re in the 'e"rew7 the NIR appears to "e following the Nff here% @ven so* v% 21a indicates that this prover" has something to do with failing to e0ercise strict control over slaves* as v% 18 o"vio$sly does% In this democratic age the idea that one sho$ld have this kind of a$thority over someone is perhaps offensive* "$t in any age workers can "ecome $ndisciplined and $nrelia"le if some kind of a$thority and discipline proced$re is not esta"lished%16
14

<ac;rth$r* )% )% &1886* c1886(% Khe ;ac>rthur <tud /ible &electronic ed%( &/rv 28:21(% Nashville: !ord /$"% 15 'enry* <% &1889* c1881(% ;atthe( eenr 's commentar on the (hole /ible V Iomplete and unabrid'ed in one 3olume &/rv 28:21(% /ea"ody: 'endrickson% 19 i"lical St$dies /ress% &2,,97 2,,9(% Khe HEK /ible 9irst Edition Hotes &/rv 28:21(% i"lical St$dies /ress% 16 #arrett* 2% ;% &2,,1* c1885(% Qol& 8*: =ro3erbs# Ecclesiastes# <on' o! son's &electronic ed%(% Nogos Ni"rary System7 .he New ;merican Mommentary &252(% Nashville: roadman m 'olman

Rer% 21%j&e that 0e(icate(y 2rin4eth ) his ser/ant fro* a chi(0% .he ver" panak* which is not fo$nd elsewhere in the Xld .estament* is rightly here translated as in the R$lgate* Wui delicate nutrit% It refers to the spoiling a person "y over+refinement* l$0$ry* and pamperingja treatment pec$liarly $ns$ita"le in the case of a "ond+servant* and one which makes s$ch forgetf$l of his dependent position% Sept$agint* T'e that liveth wantonly &( from childhood shall "e a servant%U Sha(( ha/e hi* 2eco*e his son at the (en4th7 i& e& at length* like Tat the last*U e-$ivalent to Tat lastU &ch% 5:11(% .he word rendered TsonU &FG H I * manon( is of do$"tf$l meaning* and has "een vario$sly $nderstood or mis$nderstood "y interpreters% Sept$agint* T;nd in the end shall have pain &( over himself7U Symmach$s* Tshall have m$rm$ring &, * (7U R$lgate* =ostea sentiet eum contumacem% @wald translates T$ngratef$l7U 2elit>sch* Tplace of increase*U i& e& a ho$sehold of pampered scapegraces7 "$t one does not see how the disaster can "e called a place or a ho$se% It seems safest in this $ncertainty to adopt the )ewish interpretation of Tprogeny7U The will "e as a son%U .he pampered servant will end "y claiming the privileges of a son* and perhaps o$sting the legitimate children from their inheritance &comp% ch% 16:27 and the case of li"a and <ephi"osheth* 2 Sam% 19:4(% T=odder* a stick* and "$rdens are for the ass7 and "read* correction* and work for a servant% If tho$ set thy servant to la"o$r* tho$ shalt find rest7 "$t if tho$ let him go idle* he will seek li"ertyU &@ccl$s% 55:24* etc%(% Spirit$al writers have applied this prover" to the pampering of the flesh* which o$ght to "e $nder the control of its master* the spirit* "$t which* if gratified and $nrestrained* gets the $pper hand* and* like a spoiled servant* dictates to its lord%18 2":21 !ill have him as a son: Solomon $nwittingly predicts the s$ccession of his servant )ero"oam to the throne* $s$rping &tho$gh in #od4s plan( the place of a son%18 @? See Hote 21%a%s ;ltho$gh TpamperU and Ttro$"leU are hapa0* there is little do$"t a"o$t the general meaning of the prover"% /ampering a slave will not achieve anything* either for the owner or for the slave% /ro"a"ly a slave "orn into a slave family is meant &@0od 21:4(* since it is -$estion of ed$cating and training the individ$al% Rv 18 and 21 have to "e "alanced against each other% 2,

/$"lishers% 18 Khe =ulpit Iommentar V =ro3erbs% 2,,4 &'% 2% <% Spence+)ones* @d%( &559(% ellingham* !;: Nogos :esearch Systems* Inc% 18 <pirit !illed li!e stud /ible% 1886* c1881 &electronic ed%( &/rv 28:21(% Nashville: .homas Nelson% s 21%a% _I G * Ttro$"lekU is hapa0 and the meaning $nknown% ;s !hy"ray comments on it: T@mendations which have "een proposed are "ased simply on g$essing what kind of meaning seems most appropriateU &NM M* 4,4(% T.ro$"leU s$ggests an original _G\[7 Rg has TrefractoryU &cf% /e<(% 2, <$rphy* :% @% &2,,2(% Qol& ::: Lord /iblical Iommentar V =ro3erbs% !ord i"lical Mommentary &225(% 2allas: !ord* Incorporated%