DOCSLIB.ORG

Resurrection Or Miraculous Cures? the Elijah and Elisha Narrative Against Its Ancient Near Eastern Background

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Resurrection Or Miraculous Cures? the Elijah and Elisha Narrative Against Its Ancient Near Eastern Background Bar, “Resurrection or Miraculous Cures?” OTE 24/1 (2011): 9-18 9 Resurrection or Miraculous Cures? The Elijah and Elisha Narrative Against its Ancient Near Eastern Background SHAUL BAR (UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS) ABSTRACT The Elijah and Elisha cycles have similar stories where the prophet brings a dead child back to life. In addition, in the Elisha story, a corpse is thrown into the prophet’s grave; when it comes into con- tact with one of his bones, the man returns to life. Thus the question is do these stories allude to resurrection, or “only” miraculous cures? What was the purpose of the inclusion of these stories and what message did they convey? In this paper we will show that these are legends that were intended to lend greater credence to prophetic activity and to indicate the Lord’s power over death. A INTRODUCTION There is consensus among scholars that Dan 12:2-3, which they assign to the 1 second century B.C.E., refers to the resurrection of the dead. The question be- comes whether biblical texts earlier than this era allude to this doctrine. The phrase “resurrection of the dead” never appears in the Bible. Scholars searching for biblical allusions to resurrection have cited various idioms.2 They list verbs including “arise,”3 “wake up,”4 and “live,”5 all of which can denote a return to life. We also find “take,”6 which refers to being taken to Heaven, the noun “life,”7 and “see.”8 In the present paper however, we shall examine the stories of the Elijah and Elisha cycles which include similar tales in which the prophet brings a dead child back to life: in Elijah’s case, the son of the widow of Zare- phath (1 Kgs 17:17-24); in Elisha’s, the son of the Shunammite matron (2 Kgs 4:31-37). In the second tale in the Elisha story, a corpse is thrown into the prophet’s grave; when it comes into contact with one of his bones, the man re- turns to life (2 Kgs 13:20-21). Thus we will try to determine whether these sto- 1 John J. Collins, Daniel (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1993), 391-392. 2 John F. A. Sawyer, “Hebrew Words for the Resurrection of the Dead,” VT 23 (1973): 218-234. 3 2 Kgs 13:21; Isa 26:14, 19; Job 14:12. 4 2 Kgs 4:31; Isa 26:19; Job 14:12; Dan 12:2. 5 1 Kgs 17:22; 2 Kgs 13:21; Isa 26:14, 19; Ezek 37:3, 5-6, 9-10, 14; Job 14:14. 6 Gen 5:24; 2 Kgs 2:3, 5, 9; Ps 49:16; 73:24. 7 Ps 27:13; 30:6; 36:10; 56:14; 68:29; 116:8-9; 133:3; 142:6. 8 Ps 17:15. 10 Bar, “Resurrection or Miraculous Cures?” OTE 24/1 (2011): 9-18 ries do in fact allude to the resurrection of the dead or “merely” of miraculous cures? B ELISHA 1 The Son of the Shunammite In this story, Elisha sends his servant Gehazi ahead to place his wonder-work- ing staff on the boy’s body (2 Kgs 4:29). To prevent any delay the prophet or- ders his emissary not to greet any person on the way. Brunner thinks that Ge- hazi was sent ahead not to revive the boy but to prevent the body being moved to the grave for burial. The attempt to resuscitate the child was his own initia- tive.9 According to the story Gehazi was unable to revive the boy. When he re- ports his failure to his master, he says “the boy has not awakened” (v. 31); as we have seen, awakening is one of the terms the Bible employs for resurrec- ,die” is used explicitly twice (vv. 20, 32); but David Kimchi“ מות tion. The verb in his commentary, writes that the child was only unconscious. We should point out that Gehazi placed the staff on the lad’s face and and no response” (v. 31). In (קשב) according to the Bible “there was no sound ,means literally “attentiveness to spoken words.”10 Thus קשב Hebrew, the word it appears that here is a kind of magic in which the staff was placed on the face of the boy while Gehazi articulates some words or incantations. Indeed, the following chapter 5 records Naaman’s cure from leprosy. Naaman expected the prophet to practice some rite of exorcism which included raising his hand and calling upon his God (5:11). According to the Gospel of Mark in the NT, Jesus took the girl by the hand meaning he touched her and used a verbal com- mand, “‘Talitha cum,’ which means, ‘little girl, get up!’” (Mark 5:41). After Gehazi’s failure Elisha prays to the Lord. He stretches himself out on top of the child and evidently practices mouth-to-mouth resuscitation until the boy revives. Kimchi explains that the physical contact is meant to focus the prayer on the person he is praying for, as with Isaac his wife (Gen 25:21). It is also possible (לנכח) who prayed opposite that he breathes on the child to warm him with his natural heat from his mouth and his eyes, because most miracles are achieved through 11 some natural stratagem. 9 Leila Leah Bronner, The Stories of Elijah and Elisha: As Polemics Against Baal Worship (Leiden: Brill, 1968), 121. 10 Mordechai Cogan and Hayim Tadmor, II Kings (AB 11; Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1988), 58. 11 Kimchi on 1Kgs 17:21; Miqra’oth Gedoloth, 42. Commentaries of Rashi, Abraham ibn Ezra, David Kimchi, and Mesudoth are taken from Miqra’oth Gedoloth [The Rabbinic Bible], (Jerusalem: Eshkol, 1976). Bar, “Resurrection or Miraculous Cures?” OTE 24/1 (2011): 9-18 11 does not (וימת) ”In fact, the statement (v. 20) that the child “died necessarily denote irreversible death. It can also refer to a critically ill person who stops breathing, or stops breathing normally.12 The biblical author may have exaggerated here and the child was simply in a coma. We know that the boy was in the field with the harvesters, evidently bareheaded; it is plausible that he came down with sunstroke, which is why he cried out that his head was hurting. Rabbi Manna explicitly stated that it was a case of heatstroke: “Acci- dents occur during the harvest season, because the sun inflames the head of people.”13 Another possibility is that the boy was suffering from fulminating encephalitis or a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Elisha’s prayer and contact with the boy’s body are similar to Elijah’s treatment of the son of the widow of Zarephath. There too the boy is said to have been critically ill and no longer breathing (1 Kgs 17:17).14 In all likeli- hood, then, the Shunammite matron’s son was unconscious and close to death; but he was not dead, and the story is not one of resurrection. Note that one of the questions that the men of Alexandria asked R. Joshua ben Hananiah was whether the (dead) son of the Shunammite matron could convey ritual impur- ity. His reply that only a dead person could do so, suggests that he thought the child was alive and only seemed to be dead. Another story of death from sunstroke can be found in the book of Ju- dith (8:3), where Judith’s husband Manasseh dies “in the days of the barley 12 It is possible that the child was in a coma and breathing so shallowly that his respiration could not be detected. When the prophet lay on him and forced air into his mouth, it was a stimulus like pouring cold water on a person. Elisha did not perform what is known as mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. See Haim Gevaryahu, “On Elisha the Prophet,” BethM 113 (1988): 194. 13 Y. Yebam. 15:2 (14d). 14 Rofé argues that the story of the son of the widow of Zarephath is of late origin and derived from the story of the Shunammite matron. He alleges two points as proof of this contention. First, the Shunammite’s son is said to have been dead and Elisha restores him to life, whereas the condition of the child in Zarephath is somewhat am- biguous. The text reads that “there was no breath left in him”—not that he has died (v. 17). The widow’s complaint is that Elijah has come to kill her son, not that he has he revived” (v. 22) could mean resurrection“ ויחי killed him (v. 18). And although from death, it sometimes refers to recovery from illness. According to Rofé, in his ac- count of a miraculous cure worked by Elijah the author employed language appropri- ate to death and resurrection because he already had in front of him the story of Elisha and was influenced by it. Rofé’s second point is that the Shunammite was rich and built a special room for Elisha. The widow of Zarephath is penniless but nevertheless seems to have an attic room—a detail he says was transferred from the story of Elisha. See: Alexander Rofé, The Prophetical Stories (Jerusalem: Magnes Press, 1988), 132- 135. 12 Bar, “Resurrection or Miraculous Cures?” OTE 24/1 (2011): 9-18 harvest.” He was standing in the field overseeing his workers and then “heat came on his head” and he took sick and died. 2 Elisha’s Grave In the second resurrection story (2 Kgs 13:20–21) a corpse from Elisha’s grave and stood (ויחי) came into contact with one of Elisha’s bones, “he came to life up” (2 Kgs 13:21).
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Islam and Immunization in Northern Nigeria Elisha P. Renne
    Islam and Immunization in Northern Nigeria Elisha P. Renne Department of Anthropology and the Center for Afroamerican and African Studies University of Michigan 101 West Hall, 1085 S. University Ave. Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1107 Ph. (734) 647-9917; fax (734) 763-6077; email: [email protected] Draft chapter from book, Protesting Polio and the Ethics of Eradication in Northern Nigeria. Please do not reproduce or circulate without permission of author. Islam and Immunization in Northern Nigeria Elisha P. Renne Allah the Great and Almighty has created for each disease a remedy. ---Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyya, The Prophetic Medicine Sūra 6, 140. They are lost indeed who kill their children foolishly without knowledge, and forbid what Allah has given to them forging a lie against Allah; they have indeed gone astray, and they are not the followers of the right course. ---The Qur’ān Hadith 11. Leave that which makes you doubt for that which does not make you doubt. -- An-Nawawi’s 40 Hadith This paper focuses on the association of Islam with resistance to immunization in Northern Nigeria and to the distribution of oral polio vaccine during the ongoing polio eradication initiative (PEI). Both routine immunization and taking oral polio vaccine are acceptable practices for many Muslim parents in Northern Nigeria. For them, the main obstacle has been the lack of available vaccines (FBA 2005). For others, they are willing take their children for vaccination at local clinics and hospitals when diseases such as measles or meningitis threaten (Ejembi et al. 1995). At such times, their fear of disease overshadows the perceived risks of vaccination.
    [Show full text]
  • 100M Development a Oat at North Harbor Development
    THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2020 Desmarais in familiar role: Peabody Light Plant as acting police chief powers down rates By Gayla Cawley the department for 34 years, including By Anne Marie Tobin Robert O. Wheatley. “The PP&FCA is ITEM STAFF the past three and a half as its chief. ITEM STAFF adjusted based on PMLP’s cost to pur- Desmarais has served as acting chief chase power, which we get from a vari- LYNN — Mayor Thomas M. McGee during a previous vacancy, which was PEABODY — For the second time in ety of different sources, as well as other plans to appoint Deputy Chief Leonard lled when Mageary was appointed 2020, customers of the Peabody Munic- factors. Having a diversi ed portfolio Desmarais as acting chief of the Lynn chief by former Mayor Judith Flanagan ipal Light Plant (PMLP) are getting a helps to keep costs to our customers sta- Police Department. Kennedy. rate cut. ble over time and as low as possible. The Desmarais, a 32-year veteran of the Deputy Chief Edward Blake also an- PMLP recently announced that new decreases in costs that we are realizing department, will assume his new role nounced his retirement earlier this year Purchase Power & Fuel Cost Adjust- today are in part based on investments after the retirement of Chief Michael after 34 years of service with the depart- ment (PP&FCA) rates went into effect made by the Peabody Municipal Light- Mageary becomes effective this Satur- ment, effective July 31. Blake joined the this month and will remain in place ing Commission over time.” day, according to an announcement from force in 1986 and worked in the patrol through the month of September.
    [Show full text]
  • The Song Elite's Obsession with Death, the Underworld, and Salvation
    BIBLID 0254-4466(2002)20:1 pp. 399-440 漢學研究第 20 卷第 1 期（民國 91 年 6 月） Visualizing the Afterlife: The Song Elite’s Obsession with Death, the Underworld, and Salvation Hsien-huei Liao＊ Abstract This study explores the Song elite’s obsession with the afterlife and its impact on their daily lives. Through examining the ways they perceived the relations between the living and the dead, the fate of their own afterlives, and the functional roles of religious specialists, this study demonstrates that the prevailing ideas about death and the afterlife infiltrated the minds of many of the educated, deeply affecting their daily practices. While affected by contem- porary belief in the underworld and the power of the dead, the Song elite also played an important role in the formation and proliferation of those ideas through their piety and practices. Still, implicit divergences of perceptions and practices between the elite and the populace remained abiding features under- neath their universally shared beliefs. To explore the Song elite’s interactions with popular belief in the underworld, several questions are discussed, such as how and why the folk belief in the afterlife were accepted and incorporated into the elite’s own practices, and how their practices corresponded to, dif- fered from, or reinforced folk beliefs. An examination of the social, cultural, * Hsien-huei Liao is a research associate in the Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations at Harvard University, U.S.A. 399 400 漢學研究第20卷第1期 and political impact on their conceptualization of the afterlife within the broad historical context of the Song is key to understand their beliefs and practices concerning the underworld.
    [Show full text]
  • The Fall of Satan in the Thought of St. Ephrem and John Milton
    Hugoye: Journal of Syriac Studies, Vol. 3.1, 3–27 © 2000 [2010] by Beth Mardutho: The Syriac Institute and Gorgias Press THE FALL OF SATAN IN THE THOUGHT OF ST. EPHREM AND JOHN MILTON GARY A. ANDERSON HARVARD DIVINITY SCHOOL CAMBRIDGE, MA USA ABSTRACT In the Life of Adam and Eve, Satan “the first-born” refused to venerate Adam, the “latter-born.” Later writers had difficulty with the tale because it granted Adam honors that were proper to Christ (Philippians 2:10, “at the name of Jesus, every knee should bend.”) The tale of Satan’s fall was then altered to reflect this Christological sensibility. Milton created a story of Christ’s elevation prior to the creation of man. Ephrem, on the other hand, moved the story to Holy Saturday. In Hades, Death acknowledged Christ as the true first- born whereas Satan rejected any such acclamation. [1] For some time I have pondered the problem of Satan’s fall in early Jewish and Christian sources. My point of origin has been the justly famous account found in the Life of Adam and Eve (hereafter: Life).1 1 See G. Anderson, “The Exaltation of Adam and the Fall of Satan,” Journal of Jewish Thought and Philosophy, 6 (1997): 105–34. 3 4 Gary A. Anderson I say justly famous because the Life itself existed in six versions- Greek, Latin, Armenian, Georgian, Slavonic, and Coptic (now extant only in fragments)-yet the tradition that the Life drew on is present in numerous other documents from Late Antiquity.2 And one should mention its surprising prominence in Islam-the story was told and retold some seven times in the Koran and was subsequently subject to further elaboration among Muslim exegetes and storytellers.3 My purpose in this essay is to carry forward work I have already done on this text to the figures of St.
    [Show full text]
  • A Biographical Study of Samuel
    Scholars Crossing Old Testament Biographies A Biographical Study of Individuals of the Bible 10-2018 A Biographical Study of Samuel Harold Willmington Liberty University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/ot_biographies Part of the Biblical Studies Commons, Christianity Commons, and the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons Recommended Citation Willmington, Harold, "A Biographical Study of Samuel" (2018). Old Testament Biographies. 25. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/ot_biographies/25 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the A Biographical Study of Individuals of the Bible at Scholars Crossing. It has been accepted for inclusion in Old Testament Biographies by an authorized administrator of Scholars Crossing. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Samuel CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY I. The pre-ministry of Samuel—A boy in the tabernacle A. Hannah was his mother. 1. Her prayer for her son a. Samuel was born as a result of God’s answering Hannah’s prayer and touching her barren womb (1 Sam. 1:2, 19, 20). b. He was promised to the Lord even before his birth (1 Sam. 1:10-12). c. He became the second of two famous Old Testament Nazarites. Samson was the first (Judg. 13:7, 13-14; 1 Sam. 1:11). 2. Her presentation of her son—After he was weaned, Hannah dedicated him in the tabernacle (1Sam. 1:23-28). B. Eli was his mentor. 1. He then was raised for God’s service by the old priest Eli in the tabernacle (1 Sam. 2:11, 18, 21).
    [Show full text]
  • Death and the Afterlife in Homer
    Death and the Afterlife in Homer Death and what happens after death are universal concerns for humanity; around the world different cultures and religions contemplate our existence, and try to make sense of both our place in the world and our deaths. Although we no longer (for the most part) follow the religious beliefs of the ancient Greeks and Romans, their exploration of mortality and the afterlife can nonetheless be emotionally powerful and meaningful for us. In what follows, we will consider the presentation of death and the afterlife in some of the earliest Greek literature, Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. The most common name for the underworld was Hades, a personified god and brother of Zeus, but also a place to which the souls of departed mortals go. Hades is in fact far more commonly mentioned as the underworld than as a personified god in Greek literature, although we do see him as an actual character in some myths, most famously in the story of the abduction of Persesphone by Hades, a tale told in the Homeric Hymn to Demeter. In post-classical times, the term Hades was adopted by Christian authors, including the early Church Fathers, Dante and Milton, to refer to the Christian concept of Hell. The term used is the same, but it is important to distinguish between the Christian conception of Hell and Hades. For Christians, Hell is a place to which the souls of the wicked descend after death, whereas the souls of the good are taken to Heaven to be with God. The ancient Greek concept is extremely different.
    [Show full text]
  • Old Testament Order of Prophets
    Old Testament Order Of Prophets Dislikable Simone still warbling: numbing and hilar Sansone depopulating quite week but immerse her alwaysthrust deliberatively. dippiest and sugar-caneHiro weep landward when discovers if ingrained some Saunder Neanderthaloid unravelling very or oftener finalizing. and Is sillily? Martino And trapped inside, is the center of prophets and the terms of angels actually did not store any time in making them The prophets also commanded the neighboring nations to live in peace with Israel and Judah. The people are very easygoing and weak in the practice of their faith. They have said it places around easter time to threaten judgment oracles tend to take us we live in chronological positions in a great fish. The prophet describes a series of calamities which will precede it; these include the locust plague. Theologically it portrays a cell in intimate relationship with the natural caution that. The band Testament books of the prophets do not appear white the Bible in chronological order instead and are featured in issue of size Prophets such as Isaiah. Brief sight Of Roman History from Her Dawn if the First Punic War. He embodies the word of God. Twelve minor prophets of coming of elijah the volume on those big messages had formerly promised hope and enter and god leads those that, search the testament prophets? Habakkuk: Habakkuk covered a lot of ground in such a short book. You can get answers to your questions about the Faith by listening to our Podcasts like Catholic Answers Live or The Counsel of Trent. Forschungen zum Alten Testament.
    [Show full text]
  • ITJ Unit 8 Storybook
    Unit 8 God Takes Care of Me Lesson 1: A Whale of a Tale Lesson 2: Daniel and the Lions’ Den Lesson 3: Paul and Silas Lesson 4: Elijah and the Ravens Lesson 1 A Whale of a Tale God takes care of us every day. Sometimes in little ways we don’t even notice. Sometimes God does amazing things to take care of us too! Everyone say “God takes care of me!” In the Bible, God took care of a man named Jonah. Jonah was a prophet of God. Prophets tell God’s people messages from God. God tells prophets what to tell the people. One day, God gave Jonah a message for the wicked people of Nineveh. They would be punished if they did not stop doing bad things. Jonah didn’t want to go to Ninevah with God’s message. He got on a boat that was going far away. story continues on the next page 2 3 Lesson 1 A Whale of a Tale Jonah sailed away on the boat, but God sent a big storm. Jonah knew the storm would sink the boat if he didn’t get out of the boat. To stop the storm, the sailors threw Jonah over the side of the boat. Everyone hold your breath and try to swim! But Jonah did not drown in the waves! Jonah prayed to God. God sent a whale to swallow Jonah. Jonah stayed alive in the belly of the whale for three days and three nights. Everyone hold up three fingers! God took care of Jonah and kept him safe.
    [Show full text]
  • “As Those Who Are Taught” Symposium Series
    “AS THOSE WHO ARE TAUGHT” Symposium Series Christopher R. Matthews, Editor Number 27 “AS THOSE WHO ARE TAUGHT” The Interpretation of Isaiah from the LXX to the SBL “AS THOSE WHO ARE TAUGHT” The Interpretation of Isaiah from the LXX to the SBL Edited by Claire Mathews McGinnis and Patricia K. Tull Society of Biblical Literature Atlanta “AS THOSE WHO ARE TAUGHT” Copyright © 2006 by the Society of Biblical Literature All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by means of any information storage or retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted by the 1976 Copyright Act or in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission should be addressed in writing to the Rights and Permissions Office, Society of Biblical Literature, 825 Houston Mill Road, Atlanta, GA 30329 USA. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data “As those who are taught” : the interpretation of Isaiah from the LXX to the SBL / edited by Claire Mathews McGinnis and Patricia K. Tull. p. cm. — (Society of biblical literature symposium series ; no. 27) Includes indexes. ISBN-13: 978-1-58983-103-2 (paper binding : alk. paper) ISBN-10: 1-58983-103-9 (paper binding : alk. paper) 1. Bible. O.T. Isaiah—Criticism, interpretation, etc.—History. 2. Bible. O.T. Isaiah— Versions. 3. Bible. N.T.—Criticism, interpretation, etc. I. McGinnis, Claire Mathews. II. Tull, Patricia K. III. Series: Symposium series (Society of Biblical Literature) ; no. 27. BS1515.52.A82 2006 224'.10609—dc22 2005037099 14 13 12 11 10 09 08 07 06 5 4 3 2 1 Printed in the United States of America on acid-free, recycled paper conforming to ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992 (R1997) and ISO 9706:1994 standards for paper permanence.
    [Show full text]
  • Female Prophets New Testament
    Female Prophets New Testament Switch Rajeev usually rendezvous some putto or disguised negligibly. Enow Pincas renegates whereto. Holograph and violative Giffie always unbox tonelessly and wits his procurement. Marg has let every new testament or as the discussion provides both male in the many of this portrayal is the He has revealed but we see visions, their primary functionof childcare they have. Some say about to female prophetic revelation had been based on her sexual immorality, for seventy miles from them to take place over external adornment. Misfits Leaders Disciples and Prophets 12 Amazing Women from the Bible Part 1 Misfits by Rev Dr Eric Elnes April 2 2019 Each blow our major rooms at. It is that true candy for the sake of eight the spirits of the prophets are subject. But stillthe primary reason some female noteworthiness in the Bible is who. The 7 Prophetesses of Judaism Jewish History Chabadorg. 1 Corinthians 112-16 On Women Prophesying in Worship. Women interpret the Bible Anna CEPAD. And infamous has appointed in after church first apostles second prophets third teachers then miracles then gifts of healing. Her vision is easier not because they have made you are ready for he must not turn our blog cannot validate your prophet? Misfits Leaders Disciples and Prophets 12 Amazing Women. Sign up new testament all that post, following year to look to. The Twelve Old Testament Britannica. From female nudity would at least we comparing men, how specific situation to open to prophesy, or new testament ministry to ordain or tend to. Moses after elijah, be expected that would that prophesieth speaketh unto men? Huldah A Cunning Career Woman Brill.
    [Show full text]
  • Book of First Samuel Chapter 1
    Book of First Samuel Chapter 1 First Samuel in the flow of Old Testament history: • Judges & Ruth – no king • 1 Samuel – man’s king (Saul) • 2 Samuel – God’s king (David) First Samuel is a book of transition: • From a time of judges to a time of kings • From a theocracy to a monarchy • Samuel was God’s bridge-builder . He was the last of the judges and the first of the prophets. He became the bridge to the kings of Israel by anointing the first two kings, Saul and David. Samuel gave spiritual leadership to the people at a critical time. The Bible describes those times in Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes. There was no king, but God raised up a prophet who called the nation back to God. Samuel was a man who stood in the gap. A. T. Pierson once said: “History is His story .” God is ultimately in control of history, but God uses people to change the course of history, and in this case He used Samuel. First Samuel traces the lives of three important leaders: • Samuel (chapters 1-7) • Saul (chapters 8-15) • David (chapters 16-31) 1. Hannah’s Problems (1:1-8) A. She had a domestic problem . She lived in a divided home because she had a rival woman to contend with. She had to share her husband with another woman. B. She had a physical problem . She was barren. Elkanah’s other wife had children, but she had none.
    [Show full text]
  • Notes on Zechariah 202 1 Edition Dr
    Notes on Zechariah 202 1 Edition Dr. Thomas L. Constable TITLE AND WRITER The title of this book comes from its traditional writer, as is true of all the prophetical books of the Old Testament. The name "Zechariah" (lit. "Yahweh Remembers") was a common one among the Israelites, which identified at least 27 different individuals in the Old Testament, perhaps 30.1 It was an appropriate name for the writer of this book, because it explains that Yahweh remembers His chosen people, and His promises, and will be faithful to them. This Zechariah was the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo (1:1, 7; cf. Ezra 5:1; 6:14; Neh. 12:4, 16). Zechariah, like Jeremiah and Ezekiel, was both a prophet and a priest. He was obviously familiar with priestly things (cf. ch. 3; 6:9-15; 9:8, 15; 14:16, 20, 21). Since he was a young man (Heb. na'ar) when he began prophesying (2:4), he was probably born in Babylonian captivity and returned to Palestine very early in life, in 536 B.C. with Zerubbabel and Joshua. Zechariah apparently survived Joshua, the high priest, since he became the head of his own division of priests in the days of Joiakim, the son of Joshua (Neh. 12:12, 16). Zechariah became a leading priest in the restoration community succeeding his grandfather (or ancestor), Iddo, who also returned from captivity in 536 B.C., as the leader of his priestly family (Neh. 12:4, 16). Zechariah's father, Berechiah (1:1, 7), evidently never became prominent.
    [Show full text]