Judges 14 - Part 13

October 10, 2022

‍Good evening, and welcome to Searching The Scriptures! This will be Judges 14 - Part 13 and today’s date is October 10, 2022. I’ll read from Judges 14:5-9,

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Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him. {6} And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and [he had] nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done. {7} And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well. {8} And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and behold [there was] a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion. {9} And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion.

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We are looking at the remaining phrase in verse 7 that we have not considered in some of our earlier studies: …and talked with the woman. Samson is speaking to this Philistine woman in the "vineyards of redemption" who pleases him well (as was noted when we were discussing verse 3).

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And Talked [dabar:H1696/TWOT*399] With The Woman [ishshah:H802/137a]

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We actually ran across this word in Judges 13:11, as Manoah was questioning the angel of Jehovah who had spoken to his wife previously. These terms are translated his wife along with the woman, and spakest:

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*Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (TWOT)

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And Manoah arose, and went after his wife [ishshah:H802/137a],

and came to the man, and said unto him, Art thou the man that spakest [dabar:H1696/TWOT 399] unto the woman [ishshah:H802/137a]? And he said, I am.

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In Genesis 34:8 we find just the opposite situation to that of Samson and this Philistine woman - namely an unsaved man (Hamor)  wanting to marry Jacob's daughter, Dinah; these words are rendered communed and to wife.

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And Hamor communed [dabar:H1696/TWOT 399] with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter: I pray you give her him to wife. [ishshah:H802/137a]

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As I have mentioned before, Samson who is about to marry this heathen woman is a portrait of Christ redeeming His elect Bride, comprised of all the elect who were “heathen” prior to God saving them.

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Now we can move on to verse 8 which says: And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and behold [there was] a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion.w 

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And After A Time [yowm:H3117/TWOT 852] He Returned [shuwb: H7725/TWOT 2340] To Take Her [laqah:H3947/TWOT 1124]

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Let's consider this first phrase, And after a time he returned to take her, which is made up of three Hebrew terms that only surface again in two other accounts: 

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Verse 45 of Genesis 27:41-46 and Genesis 28:1-5 records Rebekah's strategy to ensure that Esau would not kill Jacob, which Esau had already expressed. These terms are rendered in this way: turn away, fetch thee, and day:

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And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob. {42}And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee. {43} Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran; {44} And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother's fury turn away; {45} Until thy brother's anger turn away [shuwb: H7725/TWOT 2340] from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee [laqah:H3947/TWOT 1124] from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day? [yowm:H3117/TWOT 852] {46} And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these which are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?  {28:1}And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan. {2} Arise, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother. {3} And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; {4} And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham. {5} And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padanaram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother.

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The next entry is in 1 Samuel 18:2 in which King Saul decides to conscript David to serve him; these words are expressed as and took him, day, and go home:

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And [laqah:H3947/TWOT 1124] Saul took him [laqah:H3947/TWOT 1124] that day [yowm:H3117/TWOT 852], and would let him go [shuwb: H7725/TWOT 2340] no more home [shuwb: H7725/TWOT 2340] to his father's house.

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Verse 3 of Jeremiah 28:1-27 translates these words as full, bring again, along with took away:

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And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, and in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, which was of Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of the LORD, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying,

{2} Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. {3} Within two full [yowm:H3117/TWOT 852] years will I bring again [shuwb: H7725/TWOT 2340] into this place all the vessels of the LORD'S house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away [laqah:H3947/TWOT 1124] from this place, and carried them to Babylon: {4} And I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah, that went into Babylon, saith the LORD: for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon. {5} Then the prophet Jeremiah said unto the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests, and in the presence of all the people that stood in the house of the LORD, {6} Even the prophet Jeremiah said, Amen: the LORD do so: the LORD perform thy words which thou hast prophesied, to bring again the vessels of the LORD'S house, and all that is carried away captive, from Babylon into this place. {7} Nevertheless hear thou now this word that I speak in thine ears, and in the ears of all the people; {8} The prophets that have been before me and before thee of old prophesied both against many countries, and against great kingdoms, of war, and of evil, and of pestilence. {9} The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent him. {10}Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from off the prophet Jeremiah's neck, and brake it. {11} And Hananiah spake in the presence of all the people, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years. And the prophet Jeremiah went his way. {12} Then the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the prophet, after that Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying, {13} Go and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast broken the yokes of wood; but thou shalt make for them yokes of iron. {14} For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him: and I have given him the beasts of the field also. {15} Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie. {16} Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the LORD. {17} So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.

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And He Turned Aside [shur:H5493/TWOT 1480] To See [ra'ah: H7200/TWOT 2095]

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The next two expressions in Judges 14:9 are: and he turned aside and to see. These are found together in 14 other citations, but I want to just mention two of them that are germane to our discussion:

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Genesis 38:14 contains these two words, And she put off  and she saw. You might recall that in an earlier study we discussed Judah's affair with his daughter-in-law, Tamar. We learned how significant that chapter was with regards to the importance of  the Kinsman- Redeemer which both Judah and Samson spiritually personify:

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And she put [shur:H5493/TWOT 1480] off [shur:H5493/TWOT 1480] her widow's garments from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath; for she saw [ra'ah: H7200/TWOT 2095] that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife.

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Verse 13 of Genesis 8:1-19 includes these as and removed along with and looked:

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And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged; {2} The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained; {3} And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated. {4} And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat. {5} And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen. {6}And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made: {7} And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth. {8} Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground; {9} But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark. {10} And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark; {11} And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth. {12} And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which returned not again unto him any more. {13}And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and [shur:H5493/TWOT 1480]Noah removed [shur:H5493/TWOT 1480] the covering of the ark, and looked [ra'ah: H7200/TWOT 2095], and, behold, the face of the ground was dry. {14} And in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, was the earth dried. {15} And God spake unto Noah, saying, {16} Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons' wives with thee. {17} Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth.

{18} And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him: {19} Every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever creepeth upon the earth, after their kinds, went forth out of the ark.

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In the foregoing examples we see a pattern. The lion represents Christ who made atonement for the sins of the elect at… the foundation of the world. And we know that the honey inside the lion points to the Word of God. We can also think about Noah’s ark which also typifies the Lord Jesus Christ, and remember that it was covered with pitch inside and out, and that word pitch is actually the word atonement so like the lion, the ark represents Christ. And then we also see the redemption shine through the historical parable of Tamar and Judah, which just like Samson and the Philistine woman, highlights the theme of the  Kinsman-Redeemer.   

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Lord willing, in our next lesson, we will continue our examination of verse 8 and the honey and bees inside the carcass of the lion and what that entails spiritually.

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‍Judges 14 - Part 14

October 12, 2022

‍Good evening, and welcome to Searching The Scriptures! This will be Judges 14 - Part 14 and today’s date is October 12, 2022. I’ll read from Judges 14:5-9,

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Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him. {6} And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and [he had] nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done. {7} And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well. {8} And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and behold [there was] a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion. {9} And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion.

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We are down to the last half of verse 8 which we now want to investigate… the carcase of the lion: and behold [there was] a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion. 

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We have discussed how the lion symbolizes the death of the Lord Jeus Christ at…the foundation of the world, when He was laden with the sins of all the elect and experienced both death and annihilation. Notice that some time had passed since he had killed the lion, and obviously the dead animal was decaying or experiencing corruption. In fact, the process of decay starts immediately once a person or animal or anything else, dies. Remember the words of Martha to the Savior concerning her brother Lazarus who had been dead four days?

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Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been [dead] four days. 

In Jonah 2:6 we read: I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars [was] about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, [shachath:H7845/TWOT* 2343 1.c; 2370d] O LORD my God.

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Here are a few more examples of how God employs this term from corruption.  A number of such references emerge in the book of Job (who also portrays Christ in his sufferings and death) as well as in the Psalms (as David too represents the Messiah) according to the following Scriptures:

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From Corruption [shachath:H7845/TWOT 2343 1.c; 2370 d]

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Verse 31 of Job 9:30-31 speak of man’s sinfulness, which the Savior became  thoroughly identified with, in order to pay for the sins of His redeemed people; this word is expressed as me in the ditch: 

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If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean; {31} Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch [shachath:H7845/TWOT 2343 1.c; 2370d], and mine own clothes shall abhor me. 

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Even more compelling is the admission in verse 14 of  Job 17:11-17, 

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My days are past, my purposes are broken off, [even] the thoughts of my heart. 12 They change the night into day: the light [is] short because of darkness. 13 If I wait, the grave [is] mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness. {14} I have said to corruption [shachath:H7845/TWOT 2343 1.c; 2370d], Thou [art] my father: to the worm, [Thou art] my mother, and my sister. {15} And where [is] now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it? {16} They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when [our] rest together [is] in the dust.

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*Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (TWOT)

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Psalm 16:10 is a Mesianic psalm and speaks of Christ’s body not  being subjected to corruption in 33 AD. This is one of the proof texts that He was not paying for sins in 33 AD, but demonstrating what He had already accomplished at the foundation of the world, when He was making payment for sins:  

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For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. [shachath:H7845/TWOT 2343 1.c; 2370d]

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This is also quoted (and corroborated) in the New Testament in verses 27 and 31 of  Acts 2:27-31 

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Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. [diaphthora:G1312] {28} Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. {29} Men [and] brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. {30} Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; {31} He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. [diaphthora:G1312] 

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Likewise Acts 13:33-37 underscores this truth by repeating this expression, corruption,  four times in verses 34-37,

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God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. {34} And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, [now] no more to return to corruption [diaphthora:G1312], he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David. {35} Wherefore he saith also in another [psalm], Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption [diaphthora:G1312]. {36} For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption [diaphthora:G1312]: {37} But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption. [diaphthora:G1312] 

Let’s now turn our attention to the swarm of bees in the carcase of the lion. What could God have in mind with this unusual occurrence? Whenever we find statements that seem odd, or out of place, we can be sure that God is hiding spiritual truth; in fact even when we find what appear to be “plain” or factual passages, we know that God hides truth there as well. I always like to mention the account of Luke 18:31-34 because it is such an outstanding example of this:

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Then he took [unto him] the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. {32} For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: {33} And they shall scourge [him], and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. {34} And they understood [suniemi:G4920] none of these things: and this saying was hid [krupto:G2928] from them, neither knew [ginosko:G1097] they the things which were spoken.

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In verse 34 God inserts three different Greek verbs to highlight the fact that the disciples had no idea of what the Master was talking about.

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A Swarm [`edah:H5712/TWOT 878a] Of Bees [d@bowrah:H1682/TWOT 399f]

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These two words, a swarm and of bees, only surface together in this reference, so we will have to consider them separately.

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A Swarm [`edah:H5712/TWOT 878a]

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The word, swarm, is primarily translated as congregation, and can include animals or the ungodly who can be described as bulls, or those like Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, and their company, who rebelled against Jehovah, as these next notices maintain:

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Frequently as in Leviticus 19:2, the congregation of the children of Israel is in view: Speak unto all the congregation [`edah:H5712/TWOT 878a]

 of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God [am] holy.

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Psalm 1:5 makes this affirmation:  Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation [`edah:H5712/TWOT 878a]

of the righteous.

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Psalm 22:16, (which was quoted earlier), renders this term as me the assembly:  For dogs have compassed me: the assembly [`edah:H5712/TWOT 878a] of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

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In Psalm 74:2 it is once again expressed as thy congregation:  Remember thy congregation [`edah:H5712/TWOT 878a], [which] thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, [which] thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.

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Of Bees [d@bowrah:H1682/TWOT 399f]

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You might recall the definition for bees from some of our earlier studies in Judges 4 and 5 when we were discussing the Judge Deborah (D@bowrah:H1683) (whose name is identically spelled to bees or d@bowrah. This term stems from the Hebrew verb dabar (H1696/TWOT 399), which is predominantly rendered as speak; the noun form is Word. The word bees only occurs in the following three places:

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Deuteronomy 1:44 records Israel’s rebellion against Jehovah when they disobeyed the command to not fight against the Amorites, and when they did, they suffered the consequences of their insubordination: 

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And the Amorites, which dwelt in that mountain, came out against you, and chased you, as bees [d@bowrah:H1682/TWOT 399f] do, and destroyed you in Seir, [even] unto Hormah.

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Verse 12 of Psalm 118:5-12 asserts God’s gracious protection and care for His elect when they are confronted by their enemies; this is translated like bees: 

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I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, [and set me] in a large place. {6} The LORD [is] on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? {7} The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see [my desire] upon them that hate me. {8} [It is] better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. {9} [It is] better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes. {10} All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them. {11} They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them. {12} They compassed me about like bees; [d@bowrah:H1682/TWOT 399f] they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.

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Verse 18 of Isaiah 7:10-22 includes this word and for the bee:  

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Moreover the LORD spake again unto Ahaz, saying, {11} Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above. {12} But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD. {13} And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; [Is it] a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also? {14} Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. {15} Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. {16} For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings. {17} The LORD shall bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon thy father's house, days that have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah; [even] the king of Assyria. {18} And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the LORD shall hiss for the fly that [is] in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee [d@bowrah:H1682/TWOT 399f] that [is] in the land of Assyria. {19} And they shall come, and shall rest all of them in the desolate valleys, and in the holes of the rocks, and upon all thorns, and upon all bushes. {20} In the same day shall the Lord shave with a razor that is hired, [namely], by them beyond the river, by the king of Assyria, the head, and the hair of the feet: and it shall also consume the beard. {21} And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] a man shall nourish a young cow, and two sheep; {22} And it shall come to pass, for the abundance of milk [that] they shall give he shall eat butter: for butter and honey shall every one eat that is left in the land.

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Did you notice the reference to butter and honey in verses 15 and 22? Like milk and honey it pictures the Promised Land, and more specifically the milk of the Word and honey which are the Scriptures themselves, and found within the carcase of the Lion of the tribe of Judah, which Lord willing, in our next lesson we will be exploring further. 

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Judges 14 - Part 15

October 14, 2022

‍Good evening, and welcome to Searching The Scriptures! This will be Judges 14 - Part 15 and today’s date is October 14, 2022. I’ll read from Judges 14:5-9,

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Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him. {6} And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and [he had] nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done. {7} And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well. {8} And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and behold [there was] a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion. {9} And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion.

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In our last study we left off at the last part of verse 8…and honey in the carcase of the lion. Since we have already discussed the lion (pointing to the atonement of Christ at… the foundation of the world), let’s examine the two terms, and honey in the carcase. These two words only surface together again in verse 9, so we will have to research them individually.

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And Honey [d@bash:H1706/TWOT* 400a] In The Carcase [g@viyah:H1472/TWOT 326d]

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And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them that he had taken the honey [d@bash:H1706/TWOT 400a] out of the carcase [g@viyah:H1472/TWOT 326d] of the lion.

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 *Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (TWOT)

And Honey [d@bash:H1706/TWOT 400a]

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The following citations illustrate how God utilizes this expression, honey, which is a wonderful description of the Word of God:

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Honey is also featured in Samson’s riddle in Judges 14:18 which, Lord willing, we will be examining in our future studies: And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What [is] sweeter than honey [d@bash:H1706/TWOT 400a] ? and what [is] stronger than a lion? And he said unto them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle.

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In describing the characteristics of Manna - which highlights the Bread of Life - Who is the Lord Jesus Christ, Exodus 16:31 links, among other things, honey with the Manna: 

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And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it [was] like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it [was] like wafers [made] with honey. [d@bash:H1706/TWOT 400a]

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The connection with honey and the Word of God is also displayed in Deuteronomy 27:3, And thou shalt write upon them all the words of this law, when thou art passed over, that thou mayest go in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, a land that floweth with milk and honey [d@bash:H1706/TWOT 400a]; as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee.

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By the way the phrase, a land that floweth with milk and honey, is used 17 times out of the 53 occurrences of the word honey in the Old Testament, and speaks of the Promised Land, which typifies the Kingdom of God.

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Verse 13 of Deuteronomy 32:8-18 enumerates the blessings that God gave to His corporate people, and includes this expression, honey, along with oil (indicative of the Holy Spirit) while tethering both to the “Rock” (which pictures the Messiah), even though God uses two different Hebrew words for “Rock”:

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When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel. {9} For the LORD'S portion [is] his people; Jacob [is] the lot of his inheritance. {10} He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. {11} As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: {12} [So] the LORD alone did lead him, and [there was] no strange god with him. {13} He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey [d@bash:H1706/TWOT 400a] out of the rock [cela`:H5553/TWOT 1508a], and oil out of the flinty rock [tsuwr:H6697/TWOT 1901a]; {14} Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat; and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape. {15} But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered [with fatness]; then he forsook God [which] made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation. {16} They provoked him to jealousy with strange [gods], with abominations provoked they him to anger. {17} They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new [gods that] came newly up, whom your fathers feared not. {18} Of the Rock [that] begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.

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Incidentally  the second word for rock, or tsuwr, appears 7 times in Deuteronomy 32. 

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Verse 13 of Ezekiel 16:1-15 contains this expression, and honey, and is a chapter that similarly, emphasizes the spiritual blessings of God upon His corporate people in this historical parable that speaks of the birth of the nation as an unwanted baby that grows up to adulthood, and then she rebels against her Husband God, whom she was married to, and commits spiritual adultery:

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Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, {2} Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations, {3} And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto Jerusalem; Thy birth and thy nativity [is] of the land of Canaan; thy father [was] an Amorite, and thy mother an Hittite. {4} And [as for] thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple [thee]; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all. {5} None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the lothing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born. {6} And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee [when thou wast] in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee [when thou wast] in thy blood, Live. {7} I have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou hast increased and waxen great, and thou art come to excellent ornaments: [thy] breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is grown, whereas thou [wast] naked and bare. {8} Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time [was] the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine. {9} Then washed I thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil. {10} I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers' skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk. {11} I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck. {12} And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head. {13} Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment [was of] fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey [d@bash:H1706/TWOT 400a], and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom. {14} And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it [was] perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD. {15} But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy fornications on every one that passed by; his it was.  

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If we turn to Psalm 8:16, we also discover the same word for rock (or tsuwr) that we saw in Deuteronomy 32:13 along with our term honey, in addition to the expression, wheat, which spiritually also carries the connotation of the Bread of Life:

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He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey [d@bash:H1706/TWOT 400a] out of the rock [cela`:H5553/TWOT 1508a] should I have satisfied thee.

Verse 10 of Psalm 19:7-10 again connects honey to the the testimony, the statutes, the commandment, and judgments, all of which are synonymous with the Word of God:  

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The law of the LORD [is] perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD [is] sure, making wise the simple. {8} The statutes of the LORD [are] right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD [is] pure, enlightening the eyes. {9} The fear of the LORD [is] clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD [are] true [and] righteous altogether.{10} More to be desired [are they] than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey [d@bash:H1706/TWOT 400a] and the honeycomb.

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Verse 3 of Ezekiel 3:1-3 also likens the roll (used 3 times in this passage and typifies the Scriptures) as honey: 

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Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll [m@gillah:H4039/TWOT 353m], and go speak unto the house of Israel. {2} So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll. [m@gillah:H4039/TWOT 353m] {3} And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll [m@gillah:H4039/TWOT 353m] that I give thee. Then did I eat [it]; and it was in my mouth as honey [d@bash:H1706/TWOT 400a] for sweetness.

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Verse 11 of Song of Solomon 4:1-11 includes this word, honey.  This chapter is in stark contrast to what we read in Deuteronomy 32 and Ezekiel 16 regarding the corporate church, and underscores the spiritual beauty of the Bride of Christ; in verse 11 both honey and milk exemplifying God’s Word (and His eternal Kingdom) are found under the tongue of the Bride of Christ, signifying that what comes out of Her mouth is God’s Word: 

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Behold, thou [art] fair, my love; behold, thou [art] fair; thou [hast] doves' eyes within thy locks: thy hair [is] as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead. {2} Thy teeth [are] like a flock [of sheep that are even] shorn, which came up from the washing; whereof every one bear twins, and none [is] barren among them. {3} Thy lips [are] like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech [is] comely: thy temples [are] like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks. {4} Thy neck [is] like the tower of David builded for an armoury, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men. {5} Thy two breasts [are] like two young roes that are twins, which feed among the lilies. {6} Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense. {7} Thou [art] all fair, my love; [there is] no spot in thee. {8} Come with me from Lebanon, [my] spouse, with me from Lebanon: look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the lions' dens, from the mountains of the leopards. {9} Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, [my] spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck. {10} How fair is thy love, my sister, [my] spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices! {11} Thy lips, O [my] spouse, drop [as] the honeycomb: honey [d@bash:H1706/TWOT 400a] and milk [are] under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments [is] like the smell of Lebanon.

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On that lovely note which again highlights the beauty of the Bride of Christ as a result of Christ’s sacrifice on her behalf at…the foundation of the world, we need to conclude today’s study. The Lord permitting, in our next lesson, we will begin by investigating the carcase (of the lion), and then we can move on to verse 9.  

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Judges 14 - Part 16

October 17, 2022

‍Good evening, and welcome to Searching The Scriptures! This will be Judges 14 - Part 16 and today’s date is October 17, 2022. I’ll read from Judges 14:5-9,

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Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him. {6} And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and [he had] nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done. {7} And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well. {8} And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and behold [there was] a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion. {9} And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion.

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As I mentioned at the close of our last study, I would like to begin by taking a look at the term in the carcase, referring spiritually to The Lion of the Tribe of Judah - The Messiah.

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In The Carcase [g@viyah:H1472/TWOT* 326d]

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The following passages illustrate some of the ways that God employs this term, which is primarily rendered as body (-ies); only here in Judges 14:8 and 9 is it translated as in the carcase and out of the carcase respectively:

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 *Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (TWOT)

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And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and behold [there was] a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase [g@viyah:H1472/TWOT 326d] of the lion. {9} And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase [g@viyah:H1472/TWOT 326d] of the lion.

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It should also be noted that when the expression body or bodies is included, it is not necessarily referring to dead bodies. For instance in these next two citations, what is in view in verses 11 and 23 of Ezekiel 1:1-28 are the bodies of the four living creatures (Who represent… the likeness of the glory of God according to verse 28 ) whereas in verse 6 of Daniel 10:1-19, the One in view is the Lord Jesus Christ

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Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth [month], in the fifth [day] of the month, as I [was] among the captives by the river of Chebar, [that] the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. {2} In the fifth [day] of the month, which [was] the fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity, {3} The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him. {4} And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness [was] about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire. {5} Also out of the midst thereof [came] the likeness of four living creatures. And this [was] their appearance; they had the likeness of a man. {6} And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings. {7} And their feet [were] straight feet; and the sole of their feet [was] like the sole of a calf's foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass. {8} And [they had] the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings. {9} Their wings [were] joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward. {10} As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle. {11} Thus [were] their faces: and their wings [were] stretched upward; two [wings] of every one [were] joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.  [g@viyah:H1472/TWOT 326d] {12} And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; [and] they turned not when they went. {13} As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance [was] like burning coals of fire, [and] like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. {14} And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning. {15} Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces. {16} The appearance of the wheels and their work [was] like unto the colour of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work [was] as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel. {17} When they went, they went upon their four sides: [and] they turned not when they went. {18} As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings [were] full of eyes round about them four. {19} And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up. {20} Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither [was their] spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature [was] in the wheels. {21} When those went, [these] went; and when those stood, [these] stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature [was] in the wheels. {22} And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature [was] as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above. {23} And under the firmament [were] their wings straight, the one toward the other: every one had two, which covered on this side, and every one had two, which covered on that side, their bodies. [g@viyah:H1472/TWOT 326d]  {24} And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings. {25} And there was a voice from the firmament that [was] over their heads, when they stood, [and] had let down their wings. {26} And above the firmament that [was] over their heads [was] the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne [was] the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it. {27} And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about. {28} As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so [was] the appearance of the brightness round about. This [was] the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw [it], I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.

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The description of these four living creatures parallels those in verse 7 of Revelation 4:6-8, 

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And before the throne [there was] a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, [were] four beasts full of eyes before and behind. {7} And the first beast [was] like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast [was] like a flying eagle. {8} And the four beasts had each of them six wings about [him]; and [they were] full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

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Then in Daniel 10:1-19 this is recorded and in verse 6 this word is expressed as His body:

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In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing [was] true, but the time appointed [was] long: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision. {2} In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. {3} I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled. {4} And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which [is] Hiddekel; {5} Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins [were] girded with fine gold of Uphaz: {6} His body [g@viyah:H1472/TWOT 326d] also [was] like   

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the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. {7} And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. {8} Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength. {9} Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground. {10} And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and [upon] the palms of my hands. {11} And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. {12} Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. {13} But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. {14} Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision [is] for [many] days. {15} And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb. {16} And, behold, [one] like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength. {17} For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me. {18} Then there came again and touched me [one] like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me, {19} And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace [be] unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.

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Similarly, we read a parallel account of the Lord Jesus in Revelation 1:13-16,

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And in the midst of the seven candlesticks [one] like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. {14}  His head and [his] hairs [were] white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes [were] as a flame of fire; {15} And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. {16} And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance [was] as the sun shineth in his strength.

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In these next references, what we see are dead bodies, either literally or spiritually:  

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In verses 10 and 12 of 1 Samuel 31:8-13 one learns about the death of Saul and his sons: 

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And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa. {9} And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish [it in] the house of their idols, and among the people. {10} And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body  [g@viyah:H1472/TWOT 326d]  to the wall of Bethshan. {11} And when the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul; {12} All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body  [g@viyah:H1472/TWOT 326d]  of Saul and the bodies [g@viyah:H1472/TWOT 326d] of his sons from the wall of Bethshan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there. {13} And they took their bones, and buried [them] under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

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Psalm 110:6 depicts the aftermath of God’s judgment, which spiritually is taking place in our current “day” of Judgment, and will eventuate in the final annihilation of all of the unsaved when God destroys this sin-cursed universe:  

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He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill [the places] with the dead bodies [g@viyah:H1472/TWOT 326d]; he shall wound the heads over many countries. 

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Lastly, Nahum 3 chronicles the fall of Assyria whom God used to bring judgment against His corporate people first, but in turn, God also judges and destroys them too as noted in verse 3: 

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The horseman lifteth up both the bright sword and the glittering spear: and [there is] a multitude of slain, and a great number of carcases; and [there is] none end of [their] corpses  [g@viyah:H1472/TWOT 326d]; they stumble upon their corpses  [g@viyah:H1472/TWOT 326d]:

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Lord willing, in our next lesson, we will examine verse 9.

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Judges 14 - Part 17

October 19, 2022

‍Good evening, and welcome to Searching The Scriptures! This will be Judges 14 - Part 17 and today’s date is October 19, 2022. I’ll read from Judges 14:5-9,

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Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him. {6} And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and [he had] nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done. {7} And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well. {8} And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and behold [there was] a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion. {9} And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion.

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We have arrived at verse 9 in BMI’s ongoing study of Samson in chapters 13-16. We read with regard to the honey (typifying the Word of God as we saw from our previous study) that Samson…took thereof in his hands, and went on eating… We are curious as to why, in the historical setting, Samson took the honey in his hands, and went on eating. Let’s investigate the two terms, And he took and his hands individually to see how God employs these words elsewhere, as they only surface together in this verse.

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And He Took [radah:H7287/TWOT* 2121, 2122]

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This term is only used twice as in our verse; it is primarily translated as rule or dominion as the following references testify:

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 *Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (TWOT)

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We see the first instance of this expression in verses 26 and 28 of Genesis 1:26-28, as God had not only created mankind in the likeness of the Godhead, but had given mankind dominion over the entire earth: 

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And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion [radah:H7287/TWOT 2121, 2122]

 over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. {27} So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.  {28} And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion [radah:H7287/TWOT 2121, 2122]

 over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

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When we were researching Judges 5 we ran across this term in verse 13 of Judges 5:12-13, which you might recall is part of the victory song involving Barak (portraying Christ) and Deborah (typifying the Word of God), by rejoicing over the defeat of Sisera (a type of Satan) who was killed by Jael (who symbolizes the elect); our word dominion occurs twice in verse 13:

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Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam. (or “Father of my delight”) {13} Then he made him that remaineth have dominion [radah:H7287/TWOT 2121, 2122] over the nobles among the people: the LORD made me have dominion [radah:H7287/TWOT 2121, 2122] over the mighty. 

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In that study it was noted that the phrase lead thy captivity captive is quoted in both Psalm 68:16 and in Ephesians 4:8, highlighting the deliverance of all God’s elect from sin and Satan, by placing them in the Kingdom of God’s dear Son. 

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Verse 18 of Psalm 68:18-20 declares: Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, [for] the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell [among them]. {19} Blessed [be] the Lord, [who] daily loadeth us [with benefits, even] the God of our salvation. Selah. {20} [He that is] our God [is] the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord [belong] the issues from death. {21} But God shall wound the head of his enemies, [and] the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses.

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And verse 7 of Ephesians 4:7-10 likewise maintains: But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. {8} Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. {9} (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? {10} He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

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Additionally, in verse 8 of Psalm 72:1-8, this term is rendered He shall have dominion,” and Solomon represents the Lord Jesus Christ: 

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[A Psalm for Solomon.] Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son. {2} He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment. {3] The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness. {4} He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor. {5} They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations. {6} He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers [that] water the earth. {7} In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth. {8} He shall have dominion [radah:H7287/TWOT 2121, 2122]

also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.

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Notice too, in verses 5 and 7 the refrain “as long as the sun and moon endure,” and “so long as the moon endureth” which pinpoints God’s imposed limitation regarding the “time and season” of the light of the “sun” (Christ) and the “moon” (the Word of God) to shine, as Matthew 24:29 underscores:

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“Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:”

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Psalm 110:2 likewise highlights our current “day” of judgment, in which God is ruling this world with a rod of iron: “The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule [radah:H7287/TWOT 2121, 2122] thou in the midst of thine enemies.”

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Psalm 49:14 speaks of the elect’s eternal existence as compared to the passing brevity of man’s temporal life on earth: Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion [radah:H7287/TWOT 2121, 2122] over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.

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Numbers 24:19 which is part of Balaam’s prophecy includes this expression as shall come he that shall have dominion:  Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion [radah:H7287/TWOT 2121, 2122], and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.

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Verse 13 of Lamentations 1:11-13 renders this as and it prevaileth against, which in the historical context is speaking about God judging His own house first, as Jeremiah laments, in which He typifies Christ’s sufferings at …the foundation of the world: 

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All her people sigh, they seek bread; they have given their pleasant things for meat to relieve the soul: see, O LORD, and consider; for I am become vile. {12} [Is it] nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the LORD hath afflicted [me] in the day of his fierce anger. {13} From above hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against [radah:H7287/TWOT 2121, 2122] them: he hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back: he hath made me desolate [and] faint all the day. {14} The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand: they are wreathed, [and] come up upon my neck: he hath made my strength to fall, the Lord hath delivered me into [their] hands, [from whom] I am not able to rise up.

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By contrast with God feeding His sheep today and the “new” commission for His elect to do the same, another interesting usage of this word is found in conjunction with those within the leadership of the congregations and denominations that came under God’s wrath at the beginning of the Great Tribulation.  This expression is revealed in Jeremiah 5:31 and verse 4 of Ezekiel 34:1-4, as bear rule and have ye ruled respectively:  

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The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule [radah:H7287/TWOT 2121, 2122]  by their means; and my people love [to have it] so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?

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And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, {2} Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe [be] to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? {3} Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: [but] ye feed not the flock. {4} The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up [that which was] broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled [radah:H7287/TWOT 2121, 2122] them.

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So as we proceed to the next word, his hands (referring to Samson’s hands), let’s keep the spiritual implication in mind that Samson took - or ruled - over the world as is the case now in the “day” of judgment, but He also rules over His Word in the sense that He has preserved, protected, and guarded His Word from any kind of human contamination in the original languages according to Psalm 12:6-7,

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The words of the LORD [are] pure words: [as] silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. {7} Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

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His Hands [kaph:H3709/TWOT 1022a]

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This Hebrew word, his hands, is not used as much as the more common yad (H3027/TWOT 844). The latter signifies an open or closed fist, whereas this word has to do w]ith the palm of the hand, whereby in the historical setting, Samson carried away the honey in his hands, and was also eating it. The spiritual nuance of the hand representing the will is still applicable, as Samson typifies the Savior, of whom Isaiah 7:14-15 has in view:

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Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. {15} Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.

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This term can be used in a variety of ways - lifting the hands in worship, as spoons, sole(s) of the foot/feet, as instruments of either good or evil, etc., as the subsequent passages reveal:

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Isaiah 49:15-16 tenderly affirms God’s eternal lovingkindness for His redeemed saints, in which this word is translated as the palms of [my] hands: Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. {16} Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of [my] hands [kaph:H3709/TWOT 1022a]; thy walls [are] continually before me. 

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In Proverbs 31 this word emerges four times in verses 13, 16, and 19-20 in which  the virtuous woman typifies God’s elect: 

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She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. [kaph:H3709/TWOT 1022a] ... {16} She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands [kaph:H3709/TWOT 1022a]

 she planteth a vineyard. ... {19} She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands [kaph:H3709/TWOT 1022a] hold the distaff. {20} She stretcheth out her hand [kaph:H3709/TWOT 1022a] to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

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Why don’t we stop here. Lord willing, in our next study we will continue investigating verse 9.

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Judges 14 - Part 18

October 21, 2022

Good evening, and welcome to Searching The Scriptures! This will be Judges 14 - Part 18 and today’s date is October 21, 2022. I’ll read from Judges 14:5-9,

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Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him. {6} And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and [he had] nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done. {7} And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well. {8} And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and behold [there was] a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion. {9} And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion.

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In Part 17, we left off at the two terms, and went on eating, as Samson retrieves the honey (typifying God’s Word) from the carcase of the lion (representing the sacrifice of Christ at the foundation of the world) having returned from Timnath (symbolizing the vineyards of redemption for the remnant, or God’s elect) and eats it, while making his way back to Zorah (signifying hornets which relate to judgment) where he and his parents live.   

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And Went On [halak:H1980/TWOT* 498] Eating [’akal:H398/TWOT 85]

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The two expressions, and went on eating, emerge in 11 other Scriptures, and we will consider a few of these references:

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*Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (TWOT)

We encountered these two words when we were investigating the exploits of Gideon in Judges 6:21, in which they are translated and consumed along with departed:

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Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that [was] in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed [’akal:H398/TWOT 85] the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the LORD departed [halak:H1980/TWOT 498] out of his sight.

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These two words also surface in verse 20 of Genesis 28:10-22, after Jacob on his way to Haran to find a wife, stops at Luz (signifying almond wood or tree), which he renames Bethel (or House of God), after his dream; these are expressed as go and to eat:  

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And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. {11} And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put [them for] his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. {12} And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. {13} And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I [am] the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; {14} And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. {15} And, behold, I [am] with thee, and will keep thee in all [places] whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done [that] which I have spoken to thee of. {16} And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew [it] not. {17} And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful [is] this place! this [is] none other but the house of God, and this [is] the gate of heaven. {18} And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put [for] his pillows, and set it up [for] a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. {19} And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city [was called] Luz at the first. {20} And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go [halak:H1980/TWOT 498], and will give me bread to eat [’akal:H398/TWOT 85], and raiment to put on, {21} So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: {22} And this stone, which I have set [for] a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

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The bread and raiment that Jacob refers to is a portrait of the spiritual Word of Life and  Righteousness of Christ, which God’s elect are clothed with by His grace, as we learn from Isaiah 61:10,

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I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh [himself] with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth [herself] with her jewels.

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These two terms appear in the account of Joseph’s half brothers selling their younger brother into slavery in verse 25 of Genesis 37:23-25, in which these two words are rendered to eat and going: 

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And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, [his] coat of [many] colours that [was] on him; {24} And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit [was] empty, [there was] no water in it.{25} And they sat down to eat [’akal:H398/TWOT 85] bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going [halak:H1980/TWOT 498] to carry [it] down to Egypt.

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The next account in which these two words are expressed as eat and thou camest along with thou shalt eat and thou camest respectively, is in verses 9 and 17 of 1 Kings 13. To get some background context of this historical parable, regarding wicked King Jeroboam of Israel, and the two prophets, I will read starting from 1 Kings 12:25-33 and then proceed to 1 Kings 13:1-34. 

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Please note the inclusion of the lion, that arises six times  in Chapter 13, and is the same word for lion that we find three times in Judges 14:5 and 8-9,  

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Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel. {26} And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David: {27} If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, [even] unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah. {28} Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves [of] gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. {29} And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan. {30} And this thing became a sin: for the people went [to worship] before the one, [even] unto Dan. {31} And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi. {32} And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that [is] in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made. {33} So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, [even] in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.… {13:1} And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense. {2} And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men's bones shall be burnt upon thee. {3} And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This [is] the sign which the LORD hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that [are] upon it shall be poured out. {4} And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, which had cried against the altar in Bethel, that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him. {5} The altar also was rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the LORD. {6} And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Intreat now the face of the LORD thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought the LORD, and the king's hand was restored him again, and became as [it was] before. {7} And the king said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward. {8} And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place: {9} For so was it charged me by the word of the LORD, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou camest. {10} So he went another way, and returned not by the way that he came to Bethel. {11} Now there dwelt an old prophet in Bethel; and his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel: the words which he had spoken unto the king, them they told also to their father. {12} And their father said unto them, What way went he? For his sons had seen what way the man of God went, which came from Judah. {13} And he said unto his sons, Saddle me the ass. So they saddled him the ass: and he rode thereon, {14} And went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak: and he said unto him, [Art] thou the man of God that camest from Judah? And he said, I [am]. {15} Then he said unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread. {16} And he said, I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place: {17} For it was said to me by the word of the LORD, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest. {18} He said unto him, I [am] a prophet also as thou [art]; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the LORD, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. [But] he lied unto him. {19} So he went back with him, and did eat bread in his house, and drank water. {20} And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of the LORD came unto the prophet that brought him back: {21} And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the LORD, and hast not kept the commandment which the LORD thy God commanded thee, {22} But camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of the which [the LORD] did say to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy carcase shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers. {23} And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled for him the ass, [to wit], for the prophet whom he had brought back. {24} And when he was gone, a lion [’ariy:H738/TWOT 158a] met him by the way, and slew him: and his carcase was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it, the lion [’ariy:H738/TWOT 158a] also stood by the carcase. {25} And, behold, men passed by, and saw the carcase cast in the way, and the lion [’ariy:H738/TWOT 158a] standing by the carcase: and they came and told [it] in the city where the old prophet dwelt. {26} And when the prophet that brought him back from the way heard [thereof], he said, It [is] the man of God, who was disobedient unto the word of the LORD: therefore the LORD hath delivered him unto the lion [’ariy:H738/TWOT 158a], which hath torn him, and slain him, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake unto him. {27} And he spake to his sons, saying, Saddle me the ass. And they saddled [him]. {28} And he went and found his carcase cast in the way, and the ass and the lion [’ariy:H738/TWOT 158a] standing by the carcase: the lion [’ariy:H738/TWOT 158a] had not eaten the carcase, nor torn the ass. {29} And the prophet took up the carcase of the man of God, and laid it upon the ass, and brought it back: and the old prophet came to the city, to mourn and to bury him. {30} And he laid his carcase in his own grave; and they mourned over him, [saying], Alas, my brother! {31} And it came to pass, after he had buried him, that he spake to his sons, saying, When I am dead, then bury me in the sepulchre wherein the man of God [is] buried; lay my bones beside his bones: {32} For the saying which he cried by the word of the LORD against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of the high places which [are] in the cities of Samaria, shall surely come to pass. {33} After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places: whosoever would, he consecrated him, and he became [one] of the priests of the high places. {34} And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam, even to cut [it] off, and to destroy [it] from off the face of the earth.  

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Let’s stop here. Lord willing, in our next lesson, we will continue our investigation of verse 9.

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