Solomon’s Wealth, Part 2

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Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof,1 for correction, and for training in righteousness, Paul told a young preacher named Timothy.2  Solomon was rich, powerful and wise.  What’s useful about this information?  I’ll expand the context a bit.

Earlier, God had appeared to Solomon in a dream (1 Kings 3:4-15 NET).  God asked Solomon, Tell me what I should give you.3  Solomon recounted God’s faithfulness to his father David and confessed that he was young and inexperienced.  He asked for a discerning mind to distinguish right from wrong.  God promised to grant Solomon’s request along with riches and honor so that Solomon would be the greatest king of his generation.

Now I have something.  The laundry list titled Solomon’s Wealth isn’t really about Solomon.  It’s about God’s faithfulness and the reliability of his word.  He does what he says and makes it so.  This is right on target, then:  God said it.  I believe it.  That settles it.  God said it.  Solomon believed it.  That’s what happened.

Of course, now that trouble I wasn’t looking for is unavoidable.  The scholars who argued that the Pharaoh in Egypt was richer than Solomon are a force to be reckoned with.  When I thought the message of Solomon’s Wealth was that he was rich, powerful and wise, I didn’t need him to be absolutely the richest of his contemporaries.  His critics were easy to dismiss.  But now if I accept that Solomon’s wealth is the fulfillment of God’s promise to make him the richest of his contemporaries, detractors must be 1) proved false or 2) consciously disregarded.

Faith now is something more and something less than the rational response to, and direct deduction from, the premise—God said it.  Faith is my decision now to believe the Bible in the face of contradictory statements from historians.  And it prompts an honest question:  Do I believe because it is true, or do I believe that my faith makes it true?

If I could send accountants back to Solomon’s time, and they appraised the wealth of every contemporary king on earth, and then returned to me with their spreadsheets, do I believe the total at the bottom of each financial statement would be less than the list in 1 Kings?  Let me turn that around.  If the total at the bottom of the spreadsheets of several kings, or even one king, was greater than the list in 1 Kings would I conclude that God is a liar, let’s be done with this god business once and for all?

The answer is clearly, “No.”

If I had irrefutable proof that one of Solomon’s contemporaries was richer than he, I’d reinterpret the meaning of the passage.  After all, God promised riches and honor so that you will be the greatest king of your generation.4  I assumed that riches were greater than every other king and honor was greater than every other king.  I don’t know how to measure honor so I measured riches.  Maybe it is the sum of riches and honor that is greater than every other king.  In other words, what Solomon lacked in riches he made up for in honor.  Or, maybe it wasn’t God speaking to Solomon in a dream at all.  Maybe it was just a dream.

My point [See Addendum: March 30, 2020 below.] is I don’t believe God because Solomon was richer than all of his contemporaries.

 

Addendum: September 28, 2018
A table comparing 2 Timothy 3:16 in the NET and KJV follows.

2 Timothy 3:16 (NET)

2 Timothy 3:16 (KJV)
Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Net Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
πᾶσα γραφὴ θεόπνευστος καὶ ὠφέλιμος πρὸς διδασκαλίαν, πρὸς ἐλεγμόν, πρὸς ἐπανόρθωσιν, πρὸς παιδείαν τὴν ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ πασα γραφη θεοπνευστος και ωφελιμος προς διδασκαλιαν προς ελεγχον προς επανορθωσιν προς παιδειαν την εν δικαιοσυνη πασα γραφη θεοπνευστος και ωφελιμος προς διδασκαλιαν προς ελεγχον προς επανορθωσιν προς παιδειαν την εν δικαιοσυνη

 

Addendum: March 30, 2020
A table comparing English translations of 1 Kings (3 Kings, 3 Reigns) 3:13 from the Masoretic text and Septuagint follows.

Masoretic Text

 Septuagint
1 Kings 3:13 (Tanakh) 1 Kings 3:13 (NET) 3 Reigns 3:13 (NETS)

3 Kings 3:13 (Elpenor English)
And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. Furthermore, I am giving you what you did not request—riches and honor so that you will be the greatest king of your generation. And I have given you what you did not request, both riches and honor; there has not been a man like you among kings, And I have given thee what thou hast not asked, wealth and glory, so that there has not been any one like thee among kings.

It seems that the translators of the Elpenor Septuagint added so that to conform better to the Masoretic text.  I don’t see it in the Greek.  The NETS looks like the more accurate translation, which would lead me to believe that God had surveyed the men who reigned over the other kingdoms of the world and found none who had asked for an understanding heart (1 Kings 3:9-12 Tanakh):

Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?  And the speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing.

And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.

It would have been better if I had made my point from 1 Kings (3 Kings, 3 Reigns) 10:23 where the Masoretic text and Septuagint are in better agreement:

Masoretic Text

 Septuagint
1 Kings 10:23 (Tanakh) 1 Kings 10:23 (NET) 3 Reigns 10:23 (NETS)

3 Kings 10:23 (Elpenor English)
So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom. King Solomon was wealthier and wiser than any of the kings of the earth. And Salomon was greater than all the kings of the earth in riches and in discernment. And Solomon increased beyond all the kings of the earth in wealth and wisdom.

Tables comparing 1 Kings 3:5; 3:13; 3:9; 3:10; 3:11 and 3:12 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and comparing 1 Kings (3 Kings, 3 Reigns) 3:5; 3:13; 3:9; 3:10; 3:11 and 3:12 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.

1 Kings 3:5 (Tanakh)

 1 Kings 3:5 (KJV)

1 Kings 3:5 (NET)
In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. One night in Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream. God said, “Tell me what I should give you.”

1 Kings 3:5 (Septuagint BLB)

3 Kings 3:5 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ὤφθη κύριος τῷ Σαλωμων ἐν ὕπνῳ τὴν νύκτα καὶ εἶπεν κύριος πρὸς Σαλωμων αἴτησαί τι αἴτημα σαυτῷ καὶ ὤφθη Κύριος τῷ Σαλωμὼν ἐν ὕπνῳ τὴν νύκτα, καὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς Σαλωμών· αἴτησαί τι αἴτημα σεαυτῷ

3 Reigns 3:5 (NETS)

3 Kings 3:5 (English Elpenor)
And the Lord appeared to Salomon in a dream by night, and the Lord said to Salomon, “Request some request for yourself.” And the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and the Lord said to Solomon, Ask some petition for thyself.

1 Kings 3:13 (Tanakh)

 1 Kings 3:13 (KJV)

1 Kings 3:13 (NET)
And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. Furthermore, I am giving you what you did not request—riches and honor so that you will be the greatest king of your generation.

1 Kings 3:13 (Septuagint BLB)

3 Kings 3:13 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἃ οὐκ ᾐτήσω δέδωκά σοι καὶ πλοῦτον καὶ δόξαν ὡς οὐ γέγονεν ἀνὴρ ὅμοιός σοι ἐν βασιλεῦσιν καὶ ἃ οὐκ ᾐτήσω, δέδωκά σοι, καὶ πλοῦτον καὶ δόξαν, ὡς οὐ γέγονεν ἀνὴρ ὅμοιός σοι ἐν βασιλεῦσι

3 Reigns 3:13 (NETS)

3 Kings 3:13 (English Elpenor)
And I have given you what you did not request, both riches and honor; there has not been a man like you among kings, And I have given thee what thou hast not asked, wealth and glory, so that there has not been any one like thee among kings.

1 Kings 3:9 (Tanakh)

 1 Kings 3:9 (KJV)

1 Kings 3:9 (NET)
Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? So give your servant a discerning mind so he can make judicial decisions for your people and distinguish right from wrong.  Otherwise no one is able to make judicial decisions for this great nation of yours.”

1 Kings 3:9 (Septuagint BLB)

3 Kings 3:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ δώσεις τῷ δούλῳ σου καρδίαν ἀκούειν καὶ διακρίνειν τὸν λαόν σου ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ τοῦ συνίειν ἀνὰ μέσον ἀγαθοῦ καὶ κακοῦ ὅτι τίς δυνήσεται κρίνειν τὸν λαόν σου τὸν βαρὺν τοῦτον καὶ δώσεις τῷ δούλῳ σου καρδίαν ἀκούειν καὶ διακρίνειν τὸν λαόν σου ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ καὶ τοῦ συνιεῖν ἀνὰ μέσον ἀγαθοῦ καὶ κακοῦ· ὅτι τίς δυνηθήσεται κρίνειν τὸν λαόν σου τὸν βαρὺν τοῦτον

3 Reigns 3:9 (NETS)

3 Kings 3:9 (English Elpenor)
and you shall give your slave a heart to hear and to judge your people in righteousness to discern between good and evil; for who will be able to judge this your weighty people?” Thou shalt give therefore to thy servant a heart to hear and to judge thy people justly, and to discern between good and evil: for who will be able to judge this thy great people?

1 Kings 3:10 (Tanakh)

 1 Kings 3:10 (KJV)

1 Kings 3:10 (NET)
And the speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing. And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. The Lord was pleased that Solomon made this request.

1 Kings 3:10 (Septuagint BLB)

3 Kings 3:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἤρεσεν ἐνώπιον κυρίου ὅτι ᾐτήσατο Σαλωμων τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο καὶ ἤρεσεν ἐνώπιον Κυρίου, ὅτι ᾐτήσατο Σαλωμὼν τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο

3 Reigns 3:10 (NETS)

3 Kings 3:10 (English Elpenor)
And it was pleasing before the Lord that Salomon requested this thing. And it was pleasing before the Lord, that Solomon asked this thing.

1 Kings 3:11 (Tanakh)

 1 Kings 3:11 (KJV)

1 Kings 3:11 (NET)
And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; God said to him, “Because you asked for the ability to make wise judicial decisions, and not for long life, or riches, or vengeance on your enemies,

1 Kings 3:11 (Septuagint BLB)

3 Kings 3:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἶπεν κύριος πρὸς αὐτόν ἀνθ᾽ ὧν ᾐτήσω παρ᾽ ἐμοῦ τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο καὶ οὐκ ᾐτήσω σαυτῷ ἡμέρας πολλὰς καὶ οὐκ ᾐτήσω πλοῦτον οὐδὲ ᾐτήσω ψυχὰς ἐχθρῶν σου ἀλλ᾽ ᾐτήσω σαυτῷ σύνεσιν τοῦ εἰσακούειν κρίμα καὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς αὐτόν· ἀνθ᾿ ὧν ᾐτήσω παρ᾿ ἐμοῦ τὸ ρῆμα τοῦτο καὶ οὐκ ᾐτήσω σεαυτῷ ἡμέρας πολλὰς καὶ οὐκ ᾐτήσω πλοῦτον, οὐδὲ ᾐτήσω ψυχὰς ἐχθρῶν σου, ἀλλ᾿ ᾐτήσω σεαυτῷ τοῦ συνιεῖν τοῦ εἰσακούειν κρίμα,

3 Reigns 3:11 (NETS)

3 Kings 3:11 (English Elpenor)
And the Lord said to him, “Because you requested this thing from me and did not request for yourself many days and did not request riches and did not request lives of your enemies but requested for yourself understanding to listen to judgment, And the Lord said to him, Because thou hast asked this thing of me, and hast not asked for thyself long life, and hast not asked wealth, nor hast asked the lives of thine enemies, but hast asked for thyself understanding to hear judgment;

1 Kings 3:12 (Tanakh)

 1 Kings 3:12 (KJV)

1 Kings 3:12 (NET)
Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. I grant your request and give you a wise and discerning mind superior to that of anyone who has preceded or will succeed you.

1 Kings 3:12 (Septuagint BLB)

3 Kings 3:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἰδοὺ πεποίηκα κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμά σου ἰδοὺ δέδωκά σοι καρδίαν φρονίμην καὶ σοφήν ὡς σὺ οὐ γέγονεν ἔμπροσθέν σου καὶ μετὰ σὲ οὐκ ἀναστήσεται ὅμοιός σοι ἰδοὺ πεποίηκα κατὰ τὸ ρῆμά σου· ἰδοὺ δέδωκά σοι καρδίαν φρονίμην καὶ σοφήν, ὡς σὺ οὐ γέγονεν ἔμπροσθέν σου καὶ μετὰ σὲ οὐκ ἀναστήσεται ὅμοιός σοι

3 Reigns 3:12 (NETS)

3 Kings 3:12 (English Elpenor)
behold, I have done according to your word; behold, I have given you a prudent and wise heart; like you there has not been before you, and after you there shall not arise similar to you. behold, I have done according to thy word: behold, I have given thee an understanding and wise heart: there has not been [any one] like thee before thee, and after thee there shall not arise one like thee.

Solomon’s Wealth, Part 1

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I want to begin to develop some Bible study skills, get the feel for the lay of the land, so to speak, before attacking my main objective.  Solomon’s Wealth is a simple place to start.  That’s the title of a section of 1 Kings (1 Kings 10:14-28 NET) in the Old Testament that lists the accumulated wealth and power of the third king of Israel.

Solomon received 666 talents of gold per year,1 besides what he collected from the merchants, traders, Arabian kings, and governors of the land.  King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; 600 measures of gold were used for each shield.  He also made three hundred small shields of hammered gold; three minas of gold were used for each of these shields.  The king placed them in the Palace of the Lebanon Forest.

The king made a large throne decorated with ivory and overlaid it with pure gold.  There were six steps leading up to the throne, and the back of it was rounded on top.  The throne had two armrests with a statue of a lion standing on each side.  There were twelve statues of lions on the six steps, one lion at each end of each step.  There was nothing like it in any other kingdom.

All of King Solomon’s cups were made of gold, and all the household items in the Palace of the Lebanon Forest were made of pure gold.  There were no silver items, for silver was not considered very valuable in Solomon’s time.  Along with Hiram’s fleet, the king had a fleet of large merchant ships that sailed the sea. Once every three years the fleet came into port with cargoes of gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.2

King Solomon was wealthier and wiser than any of the kings of the earth.  Everyone in the world wanted to visit Solomon to see him display his God-given wisdom.  Year after year visitors brought their gifts, which included items of silver, items of gold, clothes, perfume, spices, horses, and mules.

Solomon accumulated chariots and horses.  He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses.  He kept them in assigned cities and in Jerusalem.3
 The king made silver as plentiful in Jerusalem as stones; cedar was as plentiful as sycamore fig trees are in the lowlands.  Solomon acquired his horses from Egypt and from Que; the king’s traders purchased them from Que.

So Solomon was rich, powerful and wise.  Okay, I can buy that.  I’ve heard scholars argue against his wealth relative to Egypt.  I realize the text says wealthier than any other king.  But I’m not looking for trouble.   Wiser than any other king is not even something I know how to quantify.  So, in a general way I can apply the simple syllogism: God said it.  I believe it.  That settles it.  Solomon was rich, powerful and wise.

Eventually, a pernicious little question starts to gnaw at my certainty and peace of mind: “So what?”  If God said it, why did He say it?  What did He mean by it?

 

Addendum: March 21, 2020
The Elpenor version of the Septuagint and NETS have 1 Kings 9:15, 17-22 between 1 Kings 10:22 and 10:23.

Masoretic Text Septuagint
1 Kings 9:15, 17-22 (Tanakh) 1 Kings 9:15, 17-22 (NET) 3 Reigns 10:22a-c (NETS)

3 Kings 10:22α-γ (Elpenor English)
And this is the reason of the levy which king Solomon raised; for to build the house of the LORD, and his own house, and Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer. Here are the details concerning the work crews King Solomon conscripted to build the Lord’s temple, his palace, the terrace, the wall of Jerusalem, and the cities of Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer. This was the business of the foraging that King Salomon brought to build the house of the Lord and the house of the king and the wall of Ierousalem and the citadel, to fortify all round the fence of the city of Dauid and Assour and Magdan and Gazer and Upper Baithoron and Iethermath and all the cities for the chariots and all the cities for the horsemen and the business of Salomon which he was engaged in, to build in Ierousalem and in all the land, This was the arrangement of the provision which king Solomon fetched to build the house of the Lord, and the house of the king, and the wall of Jerusalem, and the citadel; to fortify the city of David, and Assur, and Magdal, and Gazer, and Baethoron the upper, and Jethermath, and all the cities of the chariots, and all the cities of the horsemen, and the fortification of Solomon which he purposed to build in Jerusalem and in all the land, so that none of the people should rule over him.
And Solomon built Gezer, and Bethhoron the nether, Solomon built up Gezer, lower Beth Horon,
And Baalath, and Tadmor in the wilderness, in the land, Baalath, Tadmor in the wilderness,
And all the cities of store that Solomon had, and cities for his chariots, and cities for his horsemen, and that which Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion. all the storage cities that belonged to him, and the cities where chariots and horses were kept.  He built whatever he wanted in Jerusalem, Lebanon, and throughout his entire kingdom.
And all the people that were left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, which were not of the children of Israel, Now several non-Israelite peoples were left in the land after the conquest of Joshua, including the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. so that all the people who remained of the Chettite and of the Amorrite and of the Pherezite and of the Chananite and of the Heuite and of the Iebousite and of the Gergesite, those who were not of the sons of Israel— their children who remained after them in the land, those whom the sons of Israel were not able to destroy—would not rule over him.  And Salomom brought them under tribute until this day. All the people that was left of the Chettite and the Amorite, and the Pherezite, and the Chananite, and the Evite, and the Jebusite, and the Gergesite, who were not of the children of Israel, their descendants who had been left with him in the land, whom the children of Israel could not utterly destroy; and Solomon made them tributaries until this day.
Their children that were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel also were not able utterly to destroy, upon those did Solomon levy a tribute of bondservice unto this day. Their descendants remained in the land (the Israelites were unable to wipe them out completely).  Solomon conscripted them for his work crews, and they continue in that role to this very day.
But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no bondmen: but they were men of war, and his servants, and his princes, and his captains, and rulers of his chariots, and his horsemen. Solomon did not assign Israelites to these work crews; the Israelites served as his soldiers, attendants, officers, charioteers, and commanders of his chariot forces. And from the sons of Israel Salomon exacted nothing, for they were men who fought, and his servants and captains of his chariots and his horsemen. But of the children of Israel Solomon made nothing; for they were the warriors, and his servants and rulers, and captains of the third order, and the captains of his chariots, and his horsemen.

The Elpenor version of the Septuagint and NETS have 1 Kings 4:21 between 1 Kings 10:26 and 10:27.

Masoretic Text

 Septuagint
1 Kings 4:21 (Tanakh) 1 Kings 4:21 (NET) 3 Reigns 10:26a (NETS)

3 Kings 10:26β (Elpenor English)
And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life. Solomon ruled all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt.  These kingdoms paid tribute as Solomon’s subjects throughout his lifetime. And he was ruling all the kings from the river and as far as the land of allophyles and to the borders of Egypt. and he ruled over all the kings from the river to the land of the Philistines, and to the borders of Egypt.

Tables comparing 1 Kings 10:14; 10:15; 10:16; 10:17; 10:18; 10:19; 10:20; 10:21; 10:22; 9:15; 9:17; 9:18; 9:19; 9:20; 9:21; 9:22; 10:23; 10:24; 10:25; 10:26; 4:21; 10:27 and 10:28 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and comparing 1 Kings (3 Kings, 3 Reigns) 10:14; 10:15; 10:16; 10:17; 10:18; 10:19; 10:20; 10:21; 10:22; 9:15 (10:22α-1); 9:17 (10:22α-2); 9:18 (10:22α-3); 9:19 (10:22α-4); 9:20 (10:22β-1); 9:21 (10:22β-2); 9:22 (10:22γ); 10:23; 10:24; 10:25; 10:26; 4:21 (10:26a, 10:26β); 10:27 and 10:28 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.

1 Kings 10:14 (Tanakh)

 1 Kings 10:14 (KJV)

1 Kings 10:14 (NET)
Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold, Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold, Solomon received 666 talents of gold per year,

1 Kings 10:14 (Septuagint BLB)

3 Kings 10:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἦν ὁ σταθμὸς τοῦ χρυσίου τοῦ ἐληλυθότος τῷ Σαλωμων ἐν ἐνιαυτῷ ἑνὶ ἑξακόσια καὶ ἑξήκοντα ἓξ τάλαντα χρυσίου Καὶ ἦν ὁ σταθμὸς τοῦ χρυσίου τοῦ ἐληλυθότος τῷ Σαλωμὼν ἐν ἐνιαυτῷ ἑνὶ ἑξακόσια καὶ ἐξηκοντα ὲξ τάλαντα χρυσίου,

3 Reigns 10:14 (NETS)

3 Kings 10:14 (English Elpenor)
And the weight of gold that had come to Salomon in one year was six hundred sixty-six talents of gold, And the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold.

1 Kings 10:15 (Tanakh)

 1 Kings 10:15 (KJV)

1 Kings 10:15 (NET)
Beside that he had of the merchantmen, and of the traffick of the spice merchants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the country. Beside that he had of the merchantmen, and of the traffick of the spice merchants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the country. besides what he collected from the merchants, traders, Arabian kings, and governors of the land.

1 Kings 10:15 (Septuagint BLB)

3 Kings 10:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)
χωρὶς τῶν φόρων τῶν ὑποτεταγμένων καὶ τῶν ἐμπόρων καὶ πάντων τῶν βασιλέων τοῦ πέραν καὶ τῶν σατραπῶν τῆς γῆς χωρὶς τῶν φόρων τῶν ὑποτεταγμένων καὶ τῶν ἐμπόρων καὶ πάντων τῶν βασιλέων τοῦ πέραν καὶ τῶν σατραπῶν τῆς γῆς

3 Reigns 10:15 (NETS)

3 Kings 10:15 (English Elpenor)
besides the tributes from those subjected and from the merchants and from all the kings who are from beyond the satraps of the land. Besides the tributes of them that were subjects, both merchants and all the kings of the [country] beyond [the river], and of the princes of the land.

1 Kings 10:16 (Tanakh)

 1 Kings 10:16 (KJV)

1 Kings 10:16 (NET)
And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of gold went to one target. And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of gold went to one target. King Solomon made 200 large shields of hammered gold; 600 measures of gold were used for each shield.

1 Kings 10:16 (Septuagint BLB)

3 Kings 10:16 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐποίησεν Σαλωμων τριακόσια δόρατα χρυσᾶ ἐλατά τριακόσιοι χρυσοῗ ἐπῆσαν ἐπὶ τὸ δόρυ τὸ ἕν καὶ ἐποίησε Σαλωμὼν τριακόσια δόρατα χρυσᾶ ἐλατά. —τριακόσιοι χρυσοῖ ἐπῆσαν ἐπὶ τὸ δόρυ τὸ ἓν—

3 Reigns 10:16 (NETS)

3 Kings 10:16 (English Elpenor)
And Salomon made three hundred beaten gold spears; three hundred gold pieces went into one spear. And Solomon made three hundred spears of beaten gold: three hundred shekels of gold were upon one spear.

1 Kings 10:17 (Tanakh)

 1 Kings 10:17 (KJV)

1 Kings 10:17 (NET)
And he made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three pound of gold went to one shield: and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon. And he made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three pound of gold went to one shield: and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon. He also made 300 small shields of hammered gold; three minas of gold were used for each of these shields.  The king placed them in the Palace of the Lebanon Forest.

1 Kings 10:17 (Septuagint BLB)

3 Kings 10:17 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ τριακόσια ὅπλα χρυσᾶ ἐλατά τρεῗς μναῗ χρυσίου ἐνῆσαν εἰς τὸ ὅπλον τὸ ἕν καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτὰ εἰς οἶκον δρυμοῦ τοῦ Λιβάνου καὶ τριακόσια ὅπλα χρυσᾶ ἐλατὰ —καὶ τρεῖς μναῖ ἐνῆσαν χρυσοῦ εἰς τὸ ὅπλον τὸ ἓν— καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτὰ ὁ βασιλεὺς εἰς οἶκον δρυμοῦ τοῦ Λιβάνου

3 Reigns 10:17 (NETS)

3 Kings 10:17 (English Elpenor)
And he made three hundred beaten gold weapons; three minas of gold went into the one weapon, and he put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon. And three hundred shields of beaten gold: and three pounds of gold were in one shield: and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.

1 Kings 10:18 (Tanakh)

 1 Kings 10:18 (KJV)

1 Kings 10:18 (NET)
Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the best gold. Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the best gold. The king made a large throne decorated with ivory and overlaid it with pure gold.

1 Kings 10:18 (Septuagint BLB)

3 Kings 10:18 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐποίησεν ὁ βασιλεὺς θρόνον ἐλεφάντινον μέγαν καὶ περιεχρύσωσεν αὐτὸν χρυσίῳ δοκίμῳ καὶ ἐποίησεν ὁ βασιλεὺς θρόνον ἐλεφάντινον μέγαν καὶ περιεχρύσωσεν αὐτὸν χρυσίῳ δοκίμῳ

3 Reigns 10:18 (NETS)

3 Kings 10:18 (English Elpenor)
And the king made a great ivory throne and gilded it with pure gold; And the king made a great ivory throne, and gilded it with pure gold.

1 Kings 10:19 (Tanakh)

 1 Kings 10:19 (KJV)

1 Kings 10:19 (NET)
The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round behind: and there were stays on either side on the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the stays. The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round behind: and there were stays on either side on the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the stays. There were six steps leading up to the throne, and the back of it was rounded on top. The throne had two armrests with a statue of a lion standing on each side.

1 Kings 10:19 (Septuagint BLB)

3 Kings 10:19 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἓξ ἀναβαθμοὶ τῷ θρόνῳ καὶ προτομαὶ μόσχων τῷ θρόνῳ ἐκ τῶν ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ καὶ χεῗρες ἔνθεν καὶ ἔνθεν ἐπὶ τοῦ τόπου τῆς καθέδρας καὶ δύο λέοντες ἑστηκότες παρὰ τὰς χεῗρας ἓξ ἀναβαθμοὶ ἐν θρόνῳ καὶ προτομαὶ μόσχων τῷ θρόνῳ ἐκ τῶν ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ καὶ χεῖρες ἔνθεν καὶ ἔνθεν ἐπὶ τοῦ τόπου τῆς καθέδρας, καὶ δύο λέοντες ἑστηκότες παρὰ τὰς χεῖρας

3 Reigns 10:19 (NETS)

3 Kings 10:19 (English Elpenor)
the throne had six steps, and the throne had heads of calves in relief behind it and on this side and on that, on the place of the seat, were arms and two lions standing beside the arms The throne [had] six steps, and calves in bold relief to the throne behind it, and side-pieces on either hand of the place of the seat, and two lions standing by the side-pieces,

1 Kings 10:20 (Tanakh)

 1 Kings 10:20 (KJV)

1 Kings 10:20 (NET)
and twelve lions standing on this side and on that, on the six steps; it was not done so in any kingdom. And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom. There were twelve statues of lions on the six steps, one lion at each end of each step. There was nothing like it in any other kingdom.

1 Kings 10:20 (Septuagint BLB)

3 Kings 10:20 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ δώδεκα λέοντες ἑστῶτες ἐπὶ τῶν ἓξ ἀναβαθμῶν ἔνθεν καὶ ἔνθεν οὐ γέγονεν οὕτως πάσῃ βασιλείᾳ καὶ δώδεκα λέοντες ἑστῶτες ἐκεῖ ἐπὶ τῶν ἓξ ἀναβαθμῶν ἔνθεν καὶ ἔνθεν· οὐ γέγονεν οὕτως πάσῃ βασιλείᾳ

3 Reigns 10:20 (NETS)

3 Kings 10:20 (English Elpenor)
and twelve lions standing on this side and on that, on the six steps; it was not done so in any kingdom. and twelve lions standing there on the six steps on either side: it was not so done in any [other] kingdom.

1 Kings 10:21 (Tanakh)

 1 Kings 10:21 (KJV)

1 Kings 10:21 (NET)
And all king Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; none were of silver: it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon. And all king Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; none were of silver: it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon. All of King Solomon’s cups were made of gold, and all the household items in the Palace of the Lebanon Forest were made of pure gold. There were no silver items, for silver was not considered very valuable in Solomon’s time.

1 Kings 10:21 (Septuagint BLB)

3 Kings 10:21 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ πάντα τὰ σκεύη τοῦ πότου Σαλωμων χρυσᾶ καὶ λουτῆρες χρυσοῗ πάντα τὰ σκεύη οἴκου δρυμοῦ τοῦ Λιβάνου χρυσίῳ συγκεκλεισμένα οὐκ ἦν ἀργύριον ὅτι οὐκ ἦν λογιζόμενον ἐν ταῗς ἡμέραις Σαλωμων καὶ πάντα τὰ σκεύη τὰ ὑπὸ τοῦ Σαλωμὼν γεγονότα χρυσᾶ καὶ λουτῆρες χρυσοῖ, καὶ πάντα τὰ σκεύη οἴκου δρυμοῦ τοῦ Λιβάνου χρυσίῳ συγκεκλεισμένα, οὐκ ἦν ἀργύριον, ὅτι οὐκ ἦν λογιζόμενον ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις Σαλωμών

3 Reigns 10:21 (NETS)

3 Kings 10:21 (English Elpenor)
And all Salomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and gold washbasins, all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon, were of overlaid with gold; there was no silver, for it was not reckoned in the days of Salomon. And all the vessels made by Solomon [were] of gold, and the lavers [were] golden, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; there was no silver, for it was not accounted of in the days of Solomon.

1 Kings 10:22 (Tanakh)

 1 Kings 10:22 (KJV)

1 Kings 10:22 (NET)
For the king had at sea a navy of Tharshish with the navy of Hiram: once in three years came the navy of Tharshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks. For the king had at sea a navy of Tharshish with the navy of Hiram: once in three years came the navy of Tharshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks. Along with Hiram’s fleet, the king had a fleet of large merchant ships that sailed the sea. Once every three years the fleet came into port with cargoes of gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

1 Kings 10:22 (Septuagint BLB)

3 Kings 10:22 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὅτι ναῦς Θαρσις τῷ βασιλεῗ ἐν τῇ θαλάσσῃ μετὰ τῶν νηῶν Χιραμ μία διὰ τριῶν ἐτῶν ἤρχετο τῷ βασιλεῗ ναῦς ἐκ Θαρσις χρυσίου καὶ ἀργυρίου καὶ λίθων τορευτῶν καὶ πελεκητῶν ὅτι ναῦς Θαρσὶς τῷ βασιλεῖ Σαλωμὼν ἐν τῇ θαλάσσῃ μετὰ τῶν νηῶν Χιράμ, μία διὰ τριῶν ἐτῶν ἤρχετο τῷ βασιλεῖ ναῦς ἐκ θαρσὶς χρυσίου καὶ ἀργυρίου καὶ λίθων τορευτῶν καὶ πελεκητῶν.

3 Reigns 10:22 (NETS)

3 Kings 10:22 (English Elpenor)
For the king had a ship of Tharsis at sea with the ships of Chiram, one ship used to come to the king from Tharsis every three years with gold and silver and carved and hewn stones. For Solomon had a ship of Tharsis in the sea with the ships of Chiram: one ship came to the king every three years out of Tharsis, [laden with] gold and silver, and wrought stones, and hewn stones.

1 Kings 9:15 (Tanakh)

 1 Kings 9:15 (KJV)

1 Kings 9:15 (NET)
And this is the reason of the levy which king Solomon raised; for to build the house of the LORD, and his own house, and Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer. And this is the reason of the levy which king Solomon raised; for to build the house of the LORD, and his own house, and Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer. Here are the details concerning the work crews King Solomon conscripted to build the Lord’s temple, his palace, the terrace, the wall of Jerusalem, and the cities of Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer.

1 Kings 9:15 (Septuagint BLB)

3 Kings 10:22α-1 (Septuagint Elpenor)
NA Αὕτη ἦν ἡ πραγματεία τῆς προνομῆς, ἧς ἀνήνεγκεν ὁ βασιλεὺς Σαλωμὼν οἰκοδομῆσαι τὸν οἶκον Κυρίου καὶ τὸν οἶκον τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ τὸ τεῖχος ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ καὶ τὴν ἄκραν, τοῦ περιφράξαι τὸν φραγμὸν τῆς πόλεως Δαυὶδ καὶ τὴν ᾿Ασσοὺρ καὶ τὴν Μαγδὰλ καὶ τὴν Γαζὲρ

3 Reigns 10:22a-1 (NETS)

3 Kings 10:22α-1 (English Elpenor)
This was the business of the foraging that King Salomon brought to build the house of the Lord and the house of the king and the wall of Ierousalem and the citadel, to fortify all round the fence of the city of Dauid and Assour and Magdan and Gazer This was the arrangement of the provision which king Solomon fetched to build the house of the Lord, and the house of the king, and the wall of Jerusalem, and the citadel; to fortify the city of David, and Assur, and Magdal, and Gazer,

1 Kings 9:17 (Tanakh)

 1 Kings 9:17 (KJV)

1 Kings 9:17 (NET)
And Solomon built Gezer, and Bethhoron the nether, And Solomon built Gezer, and Bethhoron the nether, Solomon built up Gezer, lower Beth Horon,

1 Kings 9:17 (Septuagint BLB)

3 Kings 10:22α-2 (Septuagint Elpenor)
NA καὶ τὴν Βαιθωρὼν τὴν ἀνωτέρω

3 Reigns 10:22a-2 (NETS)

3 Kings 10:22α-2 (English Elpenor)
and Upper Baithoron and Baethoron the upper,

1 Kings 9:18 (Tanakh)

 1 Kings 9:18 (KJV)

1 Kings 9:18 (NET)
And Baalath, and Tadmor in the wilderness, in the land, And Baalath, and Tadmor in the wilderness, in the land, Baalath, Tadmor in the wilderness,

1 Kings 9:18 (Septuagint BLB)

3 Kings 10:22α-3 (Septuagint Elpenor)
NA καὶ τὴν ᾿Ιεθαρμὰθ

3 Reigns 10:22a-3 (NETS)

3 Kings 10:22α-3 (English Elpenor)
and Iethermath and Jethermath,

1 Kings 9:19 (Tanakh)

 1 Kings 9:19 (KJV)

1 Kings 9:19 (NET)
And all the cities of store that Solomon had, and cities for his chariots, and cities for his horsemen, and that which Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion. And all the cities of store that Solomon had, and cities for his chariots, and cities for his horsemen, and that which Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion. all the storage cities that belonged to him, and the cities where chariots and horses were kept.  He built whatever he wanted in Jerusalem, Lebanon, and throughout his entire kingdom.

1 Kings 9:19 (Septuagint BLB)

3 Kings 10:22α-4 (Septuagint Elpenor)
NA καὶ πάσας τὰς πόλεις τῶν ἁρμάτων καὶ πάσας τὰς πόλεις τῶν ἱππέων καὶ τὴν πραγματείαν Σαλωμών, ἣν ἐπραγματεύσατο οἰκοδομῆσαι ἐν ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ καὶ ἐν πάσῃ τῇ γῇ, τοῦ μὴ κατάρξαι αὐτοῦ

3 Reigns 10:22a-4 (NETS)

3 Kings 10:22α-4 (English Elpenor)
and all the cities for the chariots and all the cities for the horsemen and the business of Salomon which he was engaged in, to build in Ierousalem and in all the land, and all the cities of the chariots, and all the cities of the horsemen, and the fortification of Solomon which he purposed to build in Jerusalem and in all the land, so that none of the people should rule over him.

1 Kings 9:20 (Tanakh)

 1 Kings 9:20 (KJV)

1 Kings 9:20 (NET)
And all the people that were left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, which were not of the children of Israel, And all the people that were left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, which were not of the children of Israel, Now several non-Israelite peoples were left in the land after the conquest of Joshua, including the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.

1 Kings 9:20 (Septuagint BLB)

3 Kings 10:22β-1 (Septuagint Elpenor)
NA πάντα τὸν λαὸν τὸν ὑπολελειμμένον ὑπὸ τοῦ Χετταίου καὶ τοῦ ᾿Αμορραίου καὶ τοῦ Φερεζαίου καὶ τοῦ Χαναναίου καὶ τοῦ Εὐαίου καὶ τοῦ ᾿Ιεβουσαίου καὶ τοῦ Γεργεσαίου, τῶν μὴ ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν ᾿Ισραὴλ ὄντων

3 Reigns 10:22b-1 (NETS)

3 Kings 10:22β-1 (English Elpenor)
so that all the people who remained of the Chettite and of the Amorrite and of the Pherezite and of the Chananite and of the Heuite and of the Iebousite and of the Gergesite, those who were not of the sons of Israel— All the people that was left of the Chettite and the Amorite, and the Pherezite, and the Chananite, and the Evite, and the Jebusite, and the Gergesite, who were not of the children of Israel,

1 Kings 9:21 (Tanakh)

 1 Kings 9:21 (KJV)

1 Kings 9:21 (NET)
Their children that were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel also were not able utterly to destroy, upon those did Solomon levy a tribute of bondservice unto this day. Their children that were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel also were not able utterly to destroy, upon those did Solomon levy a tribute of bondservice unto this day. Their descendants remained in the land (the Israelites were unable to wipe them out completely).  Solomon conscripted them for his work crews, and they continue in that role to this very day.

1 Kings 9:21 (Septuagint BLB)

3 Kings 10:22β-2 (Septuagint Elpenor)
NA τὰ τέκνα αὐτῶν τὰ ὑπολελειμμένα μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ γῇ, οὓς οὐκ ἐδύναντο οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ ἐξολοθρεῦσαι αὐτούς, καὶ ἀνήγαγεν αὐτοὺς Σαλωμὼν εἰς φόρον ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης

3 Reigns 10:22b-2 (NETS)

3 Kings 10:22β-2 (English Elpenor)
their children who remained after them in the land, those whom the sons of Israel were not able to destroy—would not rule over him.  And Salomom brought them under tribute until this day. their descendants who had been left with him in the land, whom the children of Israel could not utterly destroy; and Solomon made them tributaries until this day.

1 Kings 9:22 (Tanakh)

 1 Kings 9:22 (KJV)

1 Kings 9:22 (NET)
But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no bondmen: but they were men of war, and his servants, and his princes, and his captains, and rulers of his chariots, and his horsemen. But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no bondmen: but they were men of war, and his servants, and his princes, and his captains, and rulers of his chariots, and his horsemen. Solomon did not assign Israelites to these work crews; the Israelites served as his soldiers, attendants, officers, charioteers, and commanders of his chariot forces.

1 Kings 9:22 (Septuagint BLB)

3 Kings 10:22γ (Septuagint Elpenor)
NA καὶ ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν ᾿Ισραὴλ οὐκ ἔδωκε Σαλωμὼν πρᾶγμα, ὅτι αὐτοὶ ἦσαν ἄνδρες οἱ πολεμισταὶ καὶ παῖδες αὐτοῦ καὶ ἄρχοντες καὶ τρισσοὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἄρχοντες τῶν ἁρμάτων αὐτοῦ καὶ ἱππεῖς αὐτοῦ

3 Reigns 10:22c (NETS)

3 Kings 10:22γ (English Elpenor)
And from the sons of Israel Salomon exacted nothing, for they were men who fought, and his servants and captains of his chariots and his horsemen. But of the children of Israel Solomon made nothing; for they were the warriors, and his servants and rulers, and captains of the third order, and the captains of his chariots, and his horsemen.

1 Kings 10:23 (Tanakh)

 1 Kings 10:23 (KJV)

1 Kings 10:23 (NET)
So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom. So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom. King Solomon was wealthier and wiser than any of the kings of the earth.

1 Kings 10:23 (Septuagint BLB)

3 Kings 10:23 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐμεγαλύνθη Σαλωμων ὑπὲρ πάντας τοὺς βασιλεῗς τῆς γῆς πλούτῳ καὶ φρονήσει Καὶ ἐμεγαλύνθη Σαλωμὼν ὑπὲρ πάντας τοὺς βασιλεῖς τῆς γῆς πλούτῳ καὶ φρονήσει

3 Reigns 10:23 (NETS)

3 Kings 10:23 (English Elpenor)
And Salomon was greater than all the kings of the earth in riches and in discernment. And Solomon increased beyond all the kings of the earth in wealth and wisdom.

1 Kings 10:24 (Tanakh)

 1 Kings 10:24 (KJV)

1 Kings 10:24 (NET)
And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. Everyone in the world wanted to visit Solomon to see him display his God-given wisdom.

1 Kings 10:24 (Septuagint BLB)

3 Kings 10:24 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ πάντες βασιλεῗς τῆς γῆς ἐζήτουν τὸ πρόσωπον Σαλωμων τοῦ ἀκοῦσαι τῆς φρονήσεως αὐτοῦ ἧς ἔδωκεν κύριος ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ καὶ πάντες βασιλεῖς τῆς γῆς ἐζήτουν τὸ πρόσωπον Σαλωμὼν τοῦ ἀκοῦσαι τῆς φρονήσεως αὐτοῦ, ἧς ἔδωκε Κύριος τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ

3 Reigns 10:24 (NETS)

3 Kings 10:24 (English Elpenor)
And all the kings of the earth were seeking the face of Salomon to hear his discernment, which the Lord gave into his heart. And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom which the Lord [had] put into his heart.

1 Kings 10:25 (Tanakh)

 1 Kings 10:25 (KJV)

1 Kings 10:25 (NET)
And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and armour, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year. And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and armour, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year. Year after year visitors brought their gifts, which included items of silver, items of gold, clothes, perfume, spices, horses, and mules.

1 Kings 10:25 (Septuagint BLB)

3 Kings 10:25 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ αὐτοὶ ἔφερον ἕκαστος τὰ δῶρα αὐτοῦ σκεύη χρυσᾶ καὶ ἱματισμόν στακτὴν καὶ ἡδύσματα καὶ ἵππους καὶ ἡμιόνους τὸ κατ᾽ ἐνιαυτὸν ἐνιαυτόν καὶ αὐτοὶ ἔφερον ἕκαστος τὰ δῶρα, σκεύη χρυσᾶ καὶ ἱματισμόν, στακτὴν καὶ ἡδύσματα καὶ ἵππους καὶ ἡμιόνους τὸ κατ᾿ ἐνιαυτὸν ἐνιαυτῷ

3 Reigns 10:25 (NETS)

3 Kings 10:25 (English Elpenor)
And they each would bring their gifts, gold utensils and raiment, oil of myrrh and spices and horses and mules, this every year by year. And they brought every one their gifts, vessels of gold, and raiment, and stacte, and spices, and horses, and mules, a rate year by year.

1 Kings 10:26 (Tanakh)

 1 Kings 10:26 (KJV)

1 Kings 10:26 (NET)
And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he bestowed in the cities for chariots, and with the king at Jerusalem. And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he bestowed in the cities for chariots, and with the king at Jerusalem. Solomon accumulated chariots and horses.  He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses.  He kept them in assigned cities and in Jerusalem.

1 Kings 10:26 (Septuagint BLB)

3 Kings 10:26 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἦσαν τῷ Σαλωμων τέσσαρες χιλιάδες θήλειαι ἵπποι εἰς ἅρματα καὶ δώδεκα χιλιάδες ἱππέων καὶ ἔθετο αὐτὰς ἐν ταῗς πόλεσι τῶν ἁρμάτων καὶ μετὰ τοῦ βασιλέως ἐν Ιερουσαλημ καὶ ἦσαν τῷ Σαλωμὼν τέσσαρες χιλιάδες θήλειαι ἵπποι εἰς ἅρματα καὶ δώδεκα χιλιάδες ἱππέων, καὶ ἔθετο αὐτὰς ἐν ταῖς πόλεσι τῶν ἁρμάτων καὶ μετὰ τοῦ βασιλέως ἐν ῾Ιερουσαλήμ

3 Reigns 10:26 (NETS)

3 Kings 10:26 (English Elpenor)
And Salomon had four thousand mares for chariots and twelve thousand horsemen, and he put them in the cities for the chariots and with the king in Ierousalem. And Solomon had four thousand mares for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen: and he put them in the cities of his chariots, and with the king in Jerusalem:

1 Kings 4:21 (Tanakh)

 1 Kings 4:21 (KJV)

1 Kings 4:21 (NET)
And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life. And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life. Solomon ruled all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt.  These kingdoms paid tribute as Solomon’s subjects throughout his lifetime.

1 Kings 4:21 (Septuagint BLB)

3 Kings 10:26α (Septuagint Elpenor)
NA καὶ ἦν ἡγούμενος πάντων τῶν βασιλέων ἀπὸ τοῦ ποταμοῦ καὶ ἕως γῆς ἀλλοφύλων καὶ ἕως ὁρίων Αἰγύπτου

3 Reigns 10:26a (NETS)

3 Kings 10:26β (English Elpenor)
And he was ruling all the kings from the river and as far as the land of allophyles and to the borders of Egypt. and he ruled over all the kings from the river to the land of the Philistines, and to the borders of Egypt.

1 Kings 10:27 (Tanakh)

 1 Kings 10:27 (KJV)

1 Kings 10:27 (NET)
And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycomore trees that are in the vale, for abundance. And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycomore trees that are in the vale, for abundance. The king made silver as plentiful in Jerusalem as stones; cedar was as plentiful as sycamore fig trees are in the foothills.

1 Kings 10:27 (Septuagint BLB)

3 Kings 10:27 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἔδωκεν ὁ βασιλεὺς τὸ χρυσίον καὶ τὸ ἀργύριον ἐν Ιερουσαλημ ὡς λίθους καὶ τὰς κέδρους ἔδωκεν ὡς συκαμίνους τὰς ἐν τῇ πεδινῇ εἰς πλῆθος καὶ ἔδωκεν ὁ βασιλεὺς τὸ χρυσίον καὶ τὸ ἀργύριον ἐν ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ ὡς λίθους, καὶ τὰς κέδρους ἔδωκεν ὡς συκαμίνους τὰς ἐν τῇ πεδινῇ εἰς πλῆθος

3 Reigns 10:27 (NETS)

3 Kings 10:27 (English Elpenor)
And the king gave gold and silver in Ierousalem like stones, and he gave the cedars like sycamores that are in a plain in abundance. And the king made gold and silver in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedars as the sycamores in the plain for multitude.

1 Kings 10:28 (Tanakh)

 1 Kings 10:28 (KJV)

1 Kings 10:28 (NET)
And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king’s merchants received the linen yarn at a price. And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king’s merchants received the linen yarn at a price. Solomon acquired his horses from Egypt and from Que; the king’s traders purchased them from Que.

1 Kings 10:28 (Septuagint BLB)

3 Kings 10:28 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἡ ἔξοδος τῶν ἵππων Σαλωμων ἐξ Αἰγύπτου καὶ ἐκ Θεκουε ἔμποροι τοῦ βασιλέως ἐλάμβανον ἐκ Θεκουε ἐν ἀλλάγματι καὶ ἡ ἔξοδος Σαλωμὼν τῶν ἱππέων καὶ ἐξ Αἰγύπτου καὶ ἐκ Θεκουέ, ἔμποροι τοῦ βασιλέως ἐλάμβανον ἐκ Θεκουὲ ἐν ἀλλάγματι

3 Reigns 10:28 (NETS)

3 Kings 10:28 (English Elpenor)
And Salomon’s import of horses was from Egypt and Thekoue, and the king’s traders would receive them from Thekoue by barter, And the goings forth of Solomon’s horsemen [was] also out of Egypt, and the king’s merchants [were] of Thecue; and they received them out of Thecue at a price.

1 From NET note 26:The Hebrew term כִּכָּר (kikkar, “circle”) refers generally to something that is round. When used of metals it can refer to a disk-shaped weight made of the metal or to a standard unit of weight, generally regarded as a talent. Since the accepted weight for a talent of metal is about 75 pounds, this would have amounted to about 50,000 pounds of gold (cf. NCV); CEV, NLT “twenty-five tons”; TEV “almost 23,000 kilogrammes.”

2 The Septuagint had the following additional text here: This was the arrangement of the provision which king Solomon fetched to build the house of the Lord, and the house of the king, and the wall of Jerusalem, and the citadel; to fortify the city of David, and Assur, and Magdal, and Gazer, and Baethoron the upper, and Jethermath, and all the cities of the chariots, and all the cities of the horsemen, and the fortification of Solomon which he purposed to build in Jerusalem and in all the land, so that none of the people should rule over him.  All the people that was left of the Chettite and the Amorite, and the Pherezite, and the Chananite, and the Evite, and the Jebusite, and the Gergesite, who were not of the children of Israel, their descendants who had been left with him in the land, whom the children of Israel could not utterly destroy; and Solomon made them tributaries until this day.  But of the children of Israel Solomon made nothing; for they were the warriors, and his servants and rulers, and captains of the third order, and the captains of his chariots, and his horsemen (3 Kings 10:22α-22γ Elpenor).

3 The Septuagint had the following additional text here: and he ruled over all the kings from the river to the land of the Philistines, and to the borders of Egypt (3 Kings 10:26β Elpenor).

Religious and Righteous Prayer

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Jesus contrasted religious and righteous prayer in a parable in Luke 18:9-14.  When his disciples were curious why He spoke to people in parables (Matthew 13:10), Jesus answered in two different ways, first (Matthew 13:11, 12 NET):

You have been given the opportunity to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but they have not.  For whoever has will be given more, and will have an abundance.  But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.

Usually, Jesus’ disciples asked for, and received, further explanation what the parables meant.  Jesus continued (Matthew 13:13-15 NET):

For this reason I speak to them in parables (παραβολαῖς, a form of παραβολή): Although they see they do not see, and although they hear they do not hear nor do they understand.  And concerning1 them the prophecy of Isaiah2 is fulfilled that says: ‘You will listen carefully yet will never understand, you will look closely yet will never comprehend.  For the heart of this people has become dull; they are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes, so that they would not see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal3 them.’

So a parable, without an explanation, was deliberately designed to be cryptic, its actual meaning hidden beneath something obvious—Although they see they do not see, and although they hear they do not hear—but misleading—nor do they understand.  Here is the parable (Luke 18:9-14 NET):

Jesus also4 told this parable to some who were confident (πεποιθότας, a form of πείθω) that they were righteous (δίκαιοι, a form of δίκαιος) and looked down on everyone else.  “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself like this: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: extortionists, unrighteous (ἄδικοι, a form of ἄδικος) people, adulterers (μοιχοί, a form of μοιχός) – or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.’  The tax collector, however,5 stood far off and would not even look up to heaven, but beat6 his breast and said, ‘God, be merciful to me, sinner that I am!’  I tell you that this man went down to his home justified (δεδικαιωμένος, a form of δικαιόω) rather than7 the Pharisee.8  For everyone who exalts (ὑψῶν, a form of ὑψόω) himself will be humbled (ταπεινωθήσεται, a form of ταπεινόω), but he who humbles (ταπεινῶν, another form of ταπεινόω) himself will be exalted (ὑψωθήσεται, another form of ὑψόω).”

As I understand it some Pharisees looked down on tax collectors because the latter supported (and profited from supporting) Gentile sinners, the Roman government, by collecting (and sometimes, extorting) money from the god-fearing of Israel.  Many Pharisees viewed Roman rule as illegitimate and believed that Messiah was coming soon to set things right.

What I now call my religious mind helped me misunderstand this parable for years.    Obviously, I hope what I think now shares in the mind of Christ,9 but had you asked me then I probably would have assured you that what I now call my religious mind was the mind of Christ.  Bible study can be like that.  At the end of the book of Judges—In those days Israel had no king; Each man did what he considered to be right10—I assumed that God wanted Israel to have a king and the events described in the book of Judges were the reasons why.  When I read 1 Samuel 8 I had to rethink that assumption.  I’ll try to explain the difference between my religious mind and what I now think.

Luke 18:9-14 (NET)

My Religious Mind

Now
Jesus also told this parable to some who were confident that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else.

Luke 18:9 (NET)

 This has nothing to do with me.  I’m not a hypocritical Pharisee but a follower of Jesus Christ. Faith is the key here: when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith (πίστιν, a form of πίστις) on earth? (Luke 18:8b NET).  Childlike faith pays little heed to words.  It determines their meaning by actions.
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

Luke 18:10 (NET)

 Yeah, I get it.  Pharisees were so wicked in Jesus’ sight that He even preferred tax collectors and prostitutes to Pharisees. In this parable Jesus contrasted two types of prayer.
The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself like this: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: extortionists, unrighteous people, adulterers – or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.’

Luke 18:11, 12 (NET)

 Wow, I wish I were that good! The Pharisee’s confidence flowed from his adherence to God’s law and the precepts of his religion.  This is perhaps the essence of religion, my attempt to please God through my obedience to external norms or standards.  This is a religious prayer from a religious mind.
The tax collector, however, stood far off and would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, be merciful to me, sinner that I am!’

Luke 18:13 (NET)

 Yeah, I remember what that felt like.  I don’t ever want to feel like that again. Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world may be held accountable to God.

Romans 3:19 (NET)
I tell you that this man went down to his home justified rather than the Pharisee.  For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Luke 18:14 (NET)

 So, Jesus wants me to be obedient like the Pharisee, so I can pray like the Pharisee.  He just wants me to be more humble about it, and not disparage those who are less righteous than I. For no one is declared righteous (δικαιωθήσεται, a form of δικαιόω) before him by the works of the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20 NET).  The tax collector prayed the righteous prayer because afterward Jesus justified (δεδικαιωμένος, another form of δικαιόω) him, or declared him righteous (δικαιωθήσεται, a form of δικαιόω).

What shall we say then?  Is there injustice (ἀδικία)11 with God?  Absolutely not!  For he says to Moses:12 “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”  So then, it does not depend on human desire or exertion, but on God who shows mercy.13

 

Addendum: September 28, 2018
Tables comparing Mathew 13:14, 15; Luke 18:9; 18:13, 14 and Romans 9:15, 16 in the NET and KJV follow.

Matthew 13:14, 15 (NET)

Matthew 13:14, 15 (KJV)
And concerning them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: ‘You will listen carefully yet will never understand, you will look closely yet will never comprehend. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
Net Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ ἀναπληροῦται αὐτοῖς ἡ προφητεία Ἠσαΐου ἡ λέγουσα ἀκοῇ ἀκούσετε καὶ οὐ μὴ συνῆτε, καὶ βλέποντες βλέψετε καὶ οὐ μὴ ἴδητε και αναπληρουται επ αυτοις η προφητεια ησαιου η λεγουσα ακοη ακουσετε και ου μη συνητε και βλεποντες βλεψετε και ου μη ιδητε και αναπληρουται αυτοις η προφητεια ησαιου η λεγουσα ακοη ακουσετε και ου μη συνητε και βλεποντες βλεψετε και ου μη ιδητε
For the heart of this people has become dull; they are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes, so that they would not see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Net Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ἐπαχύνθη γὰρ ἡ καρδία τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου, καὶ τοῖς ὠσὶν βαρέως ἤκουσαν καὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτῶν ἐκάμμυσαν, μήποτε ἴδωσιν τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς καὶ τοῖς ὠσὶν ἀκούσωσιν καὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ συνῶσιν καὶ ἐπιστρέψωσιν καὶ ἰάσομαι αὐτούς επαχυνθη γαρ η καρδια του λαου τουτου και τοις ωσιν βαρεως ηκουσαν και τους οφθαλμους αυτων εκαμμυσαν μηποτε ιδωσιν τοις οφθαλμοις και τοις ωσιν ακουσωσιν και τη καρδια συνωσιν και επιστρεψωσιν και ιασωμαι αυτους επαχυνθη γαρ η καρδια του λαου τουτου και τοις ωσιν βαρεως ηκουσαν και τους οφθαλμους αυτων εκαμμυσαν μηποτε ιδωσιν τοις οφθαλμοις και τοις ωσιν ακουσωσιν και τη καρδια συνωσιν και επιστρεψωσιν και ιασομαι αυτους
Luke 18:9 (NET)

Luke 18:9 (KJV)
Jesus also told this parable to some who were confident that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else. And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

Net Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
Εἶπεν δὲ καὶ πρός τινας τοὺς πεποιθότας ἐφ᾿ ἑαυτοῖς ὅτι εἰσὶν δίκαιοι καὶ ἐξουθενοῦντας τοὺς λοιποὺς τὴν παραβολὴν ταύτην ειπεν δε και προς τινας τους πεποιθοτας εφ εαυτοις οτι εισιν δικαιοι και εξουθενουντας τους λοιπους την παραβολην ταυτην ειπεν δε προς τινας τους πεποιθοτας εφ εαυτοις οτι εισιν δικαιοι και εξουθενουντας τους λοιπους την παραβολην ταυτην
Luke 18:13, 14 (NET)

Luke 18:13, 14 (KJV)
The tax collector, however, stood far off and would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, be merciful to me, sinner that I am!’ And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

Net Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ὁ δὲ τελώνης μακρόθεν ἑστὼς οὐκ ἤθελεν οὐδὲ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἐπᾶραι εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν, ἀλλ᾿ ἔτυπτεν τὸ στῆθος |αὐτοῦ| λέγων· ὁ θεός, ἱλάσθητι μοι τῷ ἁμαρτωλῷ και ο τελωνης μακροθεν εστως ουκ ηθελεν ουδε τους οφθαλμους εις τον ουρανον επαραι αλλ ετυπτεν εις το στηθος αυτου λεγων ο θεος ιλασθητι μοι τω αμαρτωλω και ο τελωνης μακροθεν εστως ουκ ηθελεν ουδε τους οφθαλμους εις τον ουρανον επαραι αλλ ετυπτεν εις το στηθος αυτου λεγων ο θεος ιλασθητι μοι τω αμαρτωλω
I tell you that this man went down to his home justified rather than the Pharisee.  For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Net Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
λέγω ὑμῖν, κατέβη οὗτος δεδικαιωμένος εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ παρ᾿ ἐκεῖνον ὅτι πᾶς ὁ ὑψῶν ἑαυτὸν ταπεινωθήσεται, ὁ δὲ ταπεινῶν ἑαυτὸν ὑψωθήσεται λεγω υμιν κατεβη ουτος δεδικαιωμενος εις τον οικον αυτου η εκεινος οτι πας ο υψων εαυτον ταπεινωθησεται ο δε ταπεινων εαυτον υψωθησεται λεγω υμιν κατεβη ουτος δεδικαιωμενος εις τον οικον αυτου η γαρ εκεινος οτι πας ο υψων εαυτον ταπεινωθησεται ο δε ταπεινων εαυτον υψωθησεται
Romans 9:15, 16 (NET)

Romans 9:15, 16 (KJV)
For he says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

Net Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
τῷ Μωϋσεῖ γὰρ λέγει ἐλεήσω ὃν ἂν ἐλεῶ καὶ οἰκτιρήσω ὃν ἂν οἰκτίρω τω γαρ μωση λεγει ελεησω ον αν ελεω και οικτειρησω ον αν οικτειρω τω γαρ μωυση λεγει ελεησω ον αν ελεω και οικτειρησω ον αν οικτειρω
So then, it does not depend on human desire or exertion, but on God who shows mercy. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.

Net Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ἄρα οὖν οὐ τοῦ θέλοντος οὐδὲ τοῦ τρέχοντος ἀλλὰ τοῦ ἐλεῶντος θεοῦ αρα ουν ου του θελοντος ουδε του τρεχοντος αλλα του ελεουντος θεου αρα ουν ου του θελοντος ουδε του τρεχοντος αλλα του ελεουντος θεου

1 The Stephanus Textus Receptus had επ (KJV: in) here. The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

5 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had δὲ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had και (KJV: And).

6 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εις (KJV: upon) here. The NET parallel Greek text, and NA28 did not.

7 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had παρ᾿ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had η and the Byzantine Majority Text had η γαρ.

Everyone Fathered by God Does Not Sin

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John wrote, We know (Οἴδαμεν, a form of εἴδω) that everyone fathered (γεγεννημένος, a form of γεννάω) by God does not sin (ἁμαρτάνει, a form of ἁμαρτάνω), but God protects (τηρεῖ, a form of τηρέω) the one he has fathered (γεννηθεὶς, another form of γεννάω), and the evil one cannot touch (ἅπτεται, a form of ἅπτω) him.1  This is one of the most frightening verses in the Bible to me (taken out of context).

If I am born of God, then I do not sin.  I sin.  Therefore I am not born of God.

This is a perfectly valid argument called modus tollens, denying the consequent.  On the other hand, If we say we have not sinned (ἡμαρτήκαμεν, another form of ἁμαρτάνω), we make (ποιοῦμεν, a form of ποιέω) him a liar and his word (λόγος)2 is not in us.3  Some context will help me understand my position between this rock and hard place and disentangle the fear of my religious mind from the Gospel (1 John 1:5-8 NET).

Now this is the gospel message we have heard from him and announce to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all [Table].  If we say we have (ἔχομεν, a form of ἔχω) fellowship (κοινωνίαν, a form of κοινωνία) with him and yet keep on walking in the darkness, we are lying and not practicing (ποιοῦμεν, a form of ποιέω) the truth (ἀλήθειαν, a form of ἀλήθεια).  But if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have (ἔχομεν, a form of ἔχω) fellowship (κοινωνίαν, a form of κοινωνία) with one another and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses (καθαρίζει, a form of καθαρίζω) us from all sin (ἁμαρτίας, a form of ἁμαρτία) [Table].  If we say we do not bear (ἔχομεν, a form of ἔχω) the guilt of sin (ἁμαρτίαν, another form of ἁμαρτία), we are deceiving ourselves and the truth (ἀλήθεια) is not in us.

Though the word translated gospel message above is ἀγγελία rather than εὐαγγέλιον, I don’t think the NET translators have made a mistake.  This is truly more information about the Gospel, particularly as the Gospel relates to truth, lying and deception.

Gospel, Truth

Lying, Deception
God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.

1 John 1:5b (NET) Table

 If we say we have fellowship with him and yet keep on walking in the darkness, we are lying and not practicing the truth.

1 John 1:6 (NET)
…if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 1:7 (NET) Table

 If we say we do not bear the guilt of sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.

1 John 1:8 (NET)

The passage continues (1 John 1:9, 10 NET):

But if we confess (ὁμολογῶμεν, a form of ὁμολογέω) our sins (ἁμαρτίας, a form of ἁμαρτία), he is faithful (πιστός) and righteous (δίκαιος), forgiving (ἀφῇ, a form of ἀφίημι) us our sins (ἁμαρτίας, a form of ἁμαρτία) and cleansing (καθαρίσῃ, another form of καθαρίζω) us from all unrighteousness (ἀδικίας, a form of ἀδικία).  If we say we have not sinned (ἡμαρτήκαμεν, another form of ἁμαρτάνω), we make (ποιοῦμεν, a form of ποιέω) him a liar and his word (λόγος) is not in us.

Here I find what it means to walk in the light as opposed to in the darkness.

Walk in the Light

Walk in the Darkness
…if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9 (NET)

 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar and his word is not in us.

1 John 1:10 (NET)

John continued, stating his purpose and quieting the fear of my religious mind (1 John 2:1, 2 NET):

(My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin [ἁμάρτητε, another form of ἁμαρτάνω].)  But if anyone does sin (ἁμάρτῃ, another form of ἁμαρτάνω), we have an advocate (παράκλητον, a form of παράκλητος) with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous One (δίκαιον, a form of δίκαιος), and he himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins (ἁμαρτιῶν, a form of ἁμαρτία), and not only for our sins but also for the whole world.

With my fear overcome I see one aspect of God’s protection (τηρεῖ, a form of τηρέω) and one potential meaning for everyone fathered (γεγεννημένος, a form of γεννάω) by God does not sin (ἁμαρτάνει, a form of ἁμαρτάνω).4  Sins that God forgives are also forgotten by God.  But is there more to his τηρέω than that?  (Frankly, I would rather not sin in the first place.)

More Than the Minimum

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To leave the giving, receiving and power of the Holy Spirit out of the Gospel is frankly absurd.  I doubt that was Paul’s intention in his first letter to the Corinthians.  The omission is mine if I limit my view to a specific text.  Jesus, after his resurrection, said (Luke 24:44-49 NET):

“These are my1 words (λόγοι, a form of λόγος) that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses2 and the3 prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled (πληρωθῆναι, a form of πληρόω).”  Then he opened their minds (νοῦν, a form of νοῦς) so they could understand (συνιέναι, a form of συνίημι) the scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it stands written4 that the Christ would suffer (παθεῖν, a form of πάσχω) and would rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance (μετάνοιαν, a form of μετάνοια) for the forgiveness (ἄφεσιν, a form of ἄφεσις) of sins (ἁμαρτιῶν, a form of ἁμαρτία) would be proclaimed (κηρυχθῆναι, a form of κηρύσσω) in his name to all nations, beginning5 from Jerusalem.  You6 are7 witnesses (μάρτυρες, a form of μάρτυς) of these things.  And look, I am sending you what my Father promised (ἐπαγγελίαν, a form of ἐπαγγελία).  But stay in the city8 until you have been clothed (ἐνδύσησθε, a form of ἐνδύω) with power (δύναμιν, a form of δύναμις) from on high.”

Though the Greek word εὐαγγέλιον (gospel) does not appear in the passage above, the promised Holy Spirit is next in order in Jesus’ recitation of what Paul called the Gospel.  His presence in the new believers was the primary means by which the apostles recognized that the Gospel they proclaimed was received (Acts 10; 11:1-18; 15:1-11; 19:1-6 NET).

 

Addendum: September 25, 2018

Tables of Luke 24:44 and 24:46-49 comparing the NET and KJV follow.

Luke 24:44 (NET)

Luke 24:44 (KJV)
Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled.” And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
Net Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
Εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς αὐτούς οὗτοι οἱ λόγοι μου οὓς ἐλάλησα πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἔτι ὢν σὺν ὑμῖν, ὅτι δεῖ πληρωθῆναι πάντα τὰ γεγραμμένα ἐν τῷ νόμῳ Μωϋσέως καὶ τοῖς προφήταις καὶ ψαλμοῖς περὶ ἐμοῦ ειπεν δε αυτοις ουτοι οι λογοι ους ελαλησα προς υμας ετι ων συν υμιν οτι δει πληρωθηναι παντα τα γεγραμμενα εν τω νομω μωσεως και προφηταις και ψαλμοις περι εμου ειπεν δε αυτοις ουτοι οι λογοι ους ελαλησα προς υμας ετι ων συν υμιν οτι δει πληρωθηναι παντα τα γεγραμμενα εν τω νομω μωσεως και προφηταις και ψαλμοις περι εμου
Luke 24:46-49 (NET)

Luke 24:46-49 (KJV)
and said to them, “Thus it stands written that the Christ would suffer and would rise from the dead on the third day, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

Net Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὅτι οὕτως γέγραπται παθεῖν τὸν χριστὸν καὶ ἀναστῆναι ἐκ νεκρῶν τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ και ειπεν αυτοις οτι ουτως γεγραπται και ουτως εδει παθειν τον χριστον και αναστηναι εκ νεκρων τη τριτη ημερα και ειπεν αυτοις οτι ουτως γεγραπται και ουτως εδει παθειν τον χριστον και αναστηναι εκ νεκρων τη τριτη ημερα
and repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Net Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ κηρυχθῆναι ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ μετάνοιαν εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν εἰς πάντα τὰ ἔθνη ἀρξάμενοι ἀπὸ Ἰερουσαλὴμ και κηρυχθηναι επι τω ονοματι αυτου μετανοιαν και αφεσιν αμαρτιων εις παντα τα εθνη αρξαμενον απο ιερουσαλημ και κηρυχθηναι επι τω ονοματι αυτου μετανοιαν και αφεσιν αμαρτιων εις παντα τα εθνη αρξαμενον απο ιερουσαλημ
You are witnesses of these things. And ye are witnesses of these things.

Net Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ὑμεῖς μάρτυρες τούτων υμεις δε εστε μαρτυρες τουτων υμεις δε εστε μαρτυρες τουτων
And look, I am sending you what my Father promised.  But stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
Net Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ [ἰδοὺ] ἐγὼ ἀποστέλλω τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν τοῦ πατρός μου ἐφ᾿ ὑμᾶς· ὑμεῖς δὲ καθίσατε ἐν τῇ πόλει ἕως οὗ ἐνδύσησθε ἐξ ὕψους δύναμιν και ιδου εγω αποστελλω την επαγγελιαν του πατρος μου εφ υμας υμεις δε καθισατε εν τη πολει ιερουσαλημ εως ου ενδυσησθε δυναμιν εξ υψους και ιδου εγω αποστελλω την επαγγελιαν του πατρος μου εφ υμας υμεις δε καθισατε εν τη πολει ιερουσαλημ εως ου ενδυσησθε δυναμιν εξ υψους

1 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had μου here.  The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not (KJV: the).

3 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the article τοῖς here.  The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

4 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had και ουτως εδει (KJV: and thus it behoved) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

6 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δε (KJV: And) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

8 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ιερουσαλημ (KJV: of Jerusalem) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

Introduction

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This is my attempt to use the sharpness and precision of Scripture to distinguish the Gospel from what I call the religious mind.  Admittedly, the religious mind may be nothing more than a subspecies of the carnal mind (KJV) or the outlook of the flesh (NET),1 but it is and has been particularly troubling to me.  To begin let me clarify what I mean by Gospel.  The standard text is 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 (NET):

Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel that I preached to you, that you received and on which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message I preached to you – unless you believed in vain.  For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received – that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day2 according to the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.  Then he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at one time, most3 of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.  Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.  Last of all, as though to one born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also.

These historical facts are only part of the Gospel as I am using the term.  To this, at a minimum, I would add Romans 6:3-6 (NET):

Or do you not know that as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may live a new life.  For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be united in the likeness of his resurrection.  We know that our old man was crucified with him so that the body of sin would no longer dominate us, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

Here is where the Gospel begins to affect my life.  Here is where I share in the Gospel.  But just as the carnal mind or outlook of the flesh argues against the historicity of Christ’s atonement and resurrection, my religious mind debates my liberation from sin.  It fills me with fear and outright unbelief when I encounter statements like 1 John 5:18 (NET):

We know that everyone fathered by God does not sin, but God protects the one4 he has fathered, and the evil one cannot touch him.

But if I remain calm and think for a moment, this fear and unbelief make perfect sense.  My religious mind, as a subspecies of the carnal mind or the outlook of the flesh, feels its own weakness and fears its own demise when confronted with this Gospel (Romans 8:7 NET),

 …because the outlook of the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to the law of God, nor is it able to do so.

 

Addendum: September 22, 2018

Tables comparing 1 Corinthians 15:4; 15:6 and 1 John 5:18 in the NET and KJV follow

1 Corinthians 15:4 (NET) 1 Corinthians 15:4 (KJV)
and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures, And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Net Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ ὅτι ἐτάφη καὶ ὅτι ἐγήγερται τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ κατὰ τὰς γραφὰς και οτι εταφη και οτι εγηγερται τη τριτη ημερα κατα τας γραφας και οτι εταφη και οτι εγηγερται τη τριτη ημερα κατα τας γραφας
1 Corinthians 15:6 (NET) 1 Corinthians 15:6 (KJV)
Then he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
Net Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
ἔπειτα ὤφθη ἐπάνω πεντακοσίοις ἀδελφοῖς ἐφάπαξ, ἐξ ὧν οἱ πλείονες μένουσιν ἕως ἄρτι, τινὲς δὲ ἐκοιμήθησαν επειτα ωφθη επανω πεντακοσιοις αδελφοις εφαπαξ εξ ων οι πλειους μενουσιν εως αρτι τινες δε και εκοιμηθησαν επειτα ωφθη επανω πεντακοσιοις αδελφοις εφαπαξ εξ ων οι πλειους μενουσιν εως αρτι τινες δε και εκοιμηθησαν
1 John 5:18 (NET) 1 John 5:18 (KJV)
We know that everyone fathered by God does not sin, but God protects the one he has fathered, and the evil one cannot touch him. We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
Net Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
Οἴδαμεν ὅτι πᾶς ὁ γεγεννημένος ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ οὐχ ἁμαρτάνει, ἀλλ᾿ ὁ γεννηθεὶς ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ τηρεῖ αὐτόν καὶ ὁ πονηρὸς οὐχ ἅπτεται αὐτοῦ οιδαμεν οτι πας ο γεγεννημενος εκ του θεου ουχ αμαρτανει αλλ ο γεννηθεις εκ του θεου τηρει εαυτον και ο πονηρος ουχ απτεται αυτου οιδαμεν οτι πας ο γεγεννημενος εκ του θεου ουχ αμαρτανει αλλ ο γεννηθεις εκ του θεου τηρει εαυτον και ο πονηρος ουχ απτεται αυτου

1 Romans 8:7

2 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the article τῇ preceding day and third (τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ). The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had it only before third (τη τριτη ημερα).

4 The NET parallel Greek text had αὐτόν here.  NA28, the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εαυτον (KJV: but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself). See NET note 49.

Hello world!

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Welcome.  This is a personal nonlinear Bible study.  So why make it public?…

That’s a really good question.  I can always hope that someone might find it helpful or stimulating.  Maybe someone will comment and help me.

I quote from the NET Bible http://bible.org/