Tag Archives: Job 1:8

The Lost Son of Perdition, Part 10

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This is a continuation of my consideration of God’s love for Satan revealed in the book of Job: the Lord (Yᵊhōvâ, יהוה) allowed Satan to carry out his scientific experiment on Job, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and turns away from evil.1 Satan had a hypothesis why Job feared God, and a test for that hypothesis. But when the experiment was over Job didn’t curse God to his face as Satan’s test had predicted (Job 1:20-22 NET).

Then Job got up and tore his robe. He shaved his head, and then he threw himself down with his face to the ground [Table]. He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return there. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. May the name of the Lord be blessed!” [Table] In all this Job did not sin, nor did he charge God with moral impropriety [Table].

This result effectively falsified Satan’s hypothesis.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Job 2:4, 5 (Tanakh/KJV)

Job 2:4, 5 (NET)

Job 2:4, 5 (NETS)

Job 2:4, 5 (English Elpenor)
And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life (נַפְשֽׁוֹ). But Satan answered the Lord, “Skin for skin! Indeed, a man will give up all that he has to save his life (nep̄eš, נפשו). Then the slanderer continued and said to the Lord, “Skin for skin; whatever a person has he will use to pay for his life (τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ). And the devil answered and said to the Lord, Skin for skin, all that a man has will he give as a ransom for his life (τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ).
But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse (יְבָֽרְכֶֽךָּ) thee to thy face But extend your hand and strike his bone and his flesh, and he will no doubt curse (bāraḵ, יברכך) you to your face!” However, stretch out your hand, and touch his bones and his flesh; surely he will bless (εὐλογήσει) you to your face!” Nay, but put forth thine hand, and touch his bones and his flesh: verily he will bless (εὐλογήσει) thee to [thy] face.

In other words, Satan rejected the conclusion that his hypothesis was false. He said he would have gotten the result he desired, if not for the Lord’s arbitrary condition placed on his test. The Lord had said to Satan (Job 1:12b NET [Table]):

All right then, everything he has is in your power. Only do not extend your hand against the man himself!

The Lord (יהוה) didn’t debate the merits of the scientific method with Satan:

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Job 2:6 (Tanakh/KJV)

Job 2:6 (NET)

Job 2:6 (NETS)

Job 2:6 (English Elpenor)
And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life (נַפְשׁ֖וֹ). So the Lord said to Satan, “All right, he is in your power; only preserve his life (nep̄eš, נפשו).” Then the Lord said to the slanderer, “Very well, I am handing him over to you; only spare his life (τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ).” And the Lord said to the devil, Behold, I deliver him up to thee; only save his life (τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ).

The Lord’s love, kindness and patience toward Satan is, frankly, a bit perplexing to me here. Is it simply who He is because God is love?2 Was He demonstrating his superiority? Was He leading Satan to repentance? Or was He goading Satan to store up wrath for [himself] in the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed?3

I also admit to being confused about Satan’s hypothesis at this point: Is it for nothing that Job fears God? [Table] Have you not made a hedge around him4 [Table] to shield him from disease? It seems even less likely to me now that Satan was conducting a scientific experiment to ascertain why/how Job was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.5 I’m thinking that Satan just wanted Job to curse God.

I, on the other hand, am more interested in how Job was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil6 even when Satan by the Lord’s leave took everything from him. The Lord’s confidence to continue with Satan’s charade encourages me that I’m on the right track with the idea that Job believed the Lord, and the Lord credited it as righteousness to him.7 The Lord’s confidence to continue with Satan’s test didn’t come from his faith in Job, but from his faith in the life-transforming power of his own credited righteousness.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Job 2:7, 8 (Tanakh/KJV)

Job 2:7, 8 (NET)

Job 2:7, 8 (NETS)

Job 2:7, 8 (English Elpenor)
So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and he afflicted Job with a malignant ulcer from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. So the slanderer went out from the Lord, and he struck Iob with a grievous festering sore from his feet to his head. So the devil went out from the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from [his] feet to [his] head.
And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes. Job took a shard of broken pottery to scrape himself with while he was sitting among the ashes. And he took a potsherd, so that he could scrape away the pus, and sat on the rubbish heap outside the city. And he took a potsherd to scrape away the discharge, and sat upon a dung-heap outside the city.

Job’s wife seemed to have an uncanny grasp of the situation, even more so because her advice seems more in line with Satan’s reasoning than the Lord’s.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Job 2:9 (Tanakh/KJV)

Job 2:9 (NET)

Job 2:9 (NETS)

Job 2:9 (English Elpenor)
Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. Then his wife said to him, “Are you still holding firmly to your integrity? Curse God, and die!” Then after a long time had passed, his wife said to him, “How long will you persist and say, ‘Look, I will hang on a little longer, while I wait for the hope of my deliverance?’ For look, your legacy has vanished from the earth—sons and daughters, my womb’s birth pangs and labors, for whom I wearied myself with hardships in vain. And you? You sit in the refuse of worms as you spend the night in the open air. As for me, I am one that wanders about and a hired servant—from place to place and house to house, waiting for when the sun will set, so I can rest from the distresses and griefs that now beset me. Now say some word to the Lord and die!” And when much time had passed, his wife said to him, How long wilt thou hold out, saying, 9α Behold, I wait yet a little while, expecting the hope of my deliverance? 9β for, behold, thy memorial is abolished from the earth, [even thy] sons and daughters, the pangs and pains of my womb which I bore in vain with sorrows; 9γ and thou thyself sittest down to spend the nights in the open air among the corruption of worms, 9δ and I am a wanderer and a servant from place to place and house to house, waiting for the setting of the sun, that I may rest from my labours and my pangs which now beset me: but say some word against the Lord, and die.

If I thought this was contemporary fiction I might go off on a feminist rant about misogyny and the patriarchy. Though I do think the literary form of Job is drama, I believe the story is true. But as drama, Job’s wife is the first everyman character one encounters. She reacts more like what Satan claimed to expect from his scientific experiment on Job, not because she is female but because she is human. I say “claimed” because Satan (Septuagint: ὁ διάβολος) is a liar.

I’m becoming more and more convinced that Satan already knew that Job was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil8 because Job believed the Lord, and the Lord credited it as righteousness to him.9 Satan already knew, even if he held onto some vague hope, that because of the power of the Lord’s credited righteousness there was nothing he could do to cause Job to curse God. Satan’s actual intent was to baffle us with misdirection, and to terrorize us with all he would do to us if we believed the Lord and the Lord credited it as righteousness to us.

Job’s wife sounds like Satan because everyman is from [their] father the devil, and [we] want to do what [our] father desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not uphold the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he lies, he speaks according to his own nature because he is a liar and the father of lies.10

That everyman is from [their] father the devil is a point for everyman to concede to Jesus, the shut door at the entrance to the kingdom of God, and the light that will highlight our inner devil all too clearly. God, be merciful to me, sinner that I am,11 is the key to open the shut door that is Jesus, the light of the world.

Did the rabbis who translated the Septuagint add words to Job’s wife’s soliloquy to make her more sympathetic? Or did the editors of the Masoretic text delete them to make her more direct? I’m favoring the latter here because in the Masoretic text Job’s wife quotes the Lord almost verbatim even as she sounds more like Satan:

Job 2:3 (NET) The Lord

Job 2:9 (NET) Job’s Wife
he still (ʿôḏ, ועדנו) holds firmly (ḥāzaq, מחזיק) to his integrity (tummâ, בתמתו) Are you still (ʿôḏ, עדך) holding firmly (ḥāzaq, מחזיק) to your integrity (tummâ, בתמתך)?

Here is a comparison of the Greek in the Septuagint for contrast:

Job 2:3 (Septuagint BLB) Table

Job 2:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)

Job 2:9 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 2:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἔτι δὲ ἔχεται ἀκακίας ἔτι δὲ ἔχετε ἀκακίας μέχρι τίνος καρτερήσεις λέγων μέχρι τίνος καρτερήσεις λέγων

Job 2:3 (NETS)

Job 2:3 (English Elpenor)

Job 2:9 (NETS)

Job 2:9 (English Elpenor)
And he still maintains his innocence and he yet cleaves to innocence How long will you persist and say How long wilt thou hold out, saying

Quoting the Lord verbatim is a clever synopsis that cuts immediately to the point. But the longer version of her speech seems more like a wife’s anguish watching her husband suffer, as well as her own anguish as long as he lives and she is not free to marry again. All this demonstrates perhaps is that the rabbis wrote better fiction. But I have faith that the story is true, and the Greek of the Septuagint seems much less like Job’s wife was privy to the Lord’s words verbatim.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Job 2:10 (Tanakh/KJV)

Job 2:10 (NET)

Job 2:10 (NETS)

Job 2:10 (English Elpenor)
But [Job] said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil (הָרָ֖ע)? In all this did not Job sin with his lips. But he replied, “You’re talking like one of the godless women would do! Should we receive what is good from God, and not also receive what is evil (raʿ, הרע)?” In all this Job did not sin by what he said. But Iob looked up and said to her, “You have spoken like one of the foolish women. If we received the good things from the Lord’s hand, shall we not bear the bad (τὰ κακὰ)?” In all these things that happened to him Iob did not sin at all with his lips before God. But he looked on her, and said to her, Thou hast spoken like one of the foolish women. If we have received good things of the hand of the Lord, shall we not endure evil things (τὰ κακὰ)? In all these things that happened to him, Job sinned not at all with his lips before God.

In one sense, Job’s faith sounds naive. He accepts what has happened to him as evil from the hand of God (Septuagint: of the Lord, Κυρίου). He seems oblivious to Satan’s part in any of it. I wondered briefly whether Job thought of Satan as one of the gods. The rabbis who translated the Septuagint seem to have anticipated that question and answered it in the negative by translating האלהים (‘ĕlōhîm) Κυρίου here rather than θεοῦ. But Job’s theology was absolutely correct since Satan could do nothing without the Lord’s permission.

Job’s wife, especially in the Masoretic text, seems to believe that Job’s blamelessness is a personal achievement, a righteousness derived from law: Job still holds firmly to his integrity. But Job’s acceptance of both good and evil from the hand of the Lord sounds more to me like the fruit of a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christ’s faithfulness12 so many years before the Word became flesh and took up residence among us.13

The Lord boasts about Job: There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and turns away from evil.14 The Lord has every right to boast. Job’s righteousness is the Lord’s handiwork. Job does not boast: The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. May the name of the Lord be blessed!15 What do you have that you did not receive? Paul wrote the Corinthians. And if you received it, why do you boast as though you did not?16 He also wrote to the Romans: Indeed, he who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, freely give us all things?17

Satan doesn’t appear again in the book of Job except by proxy in his influence over natural born human beings. I want to continue to study the book of Job in another essay series, but here I’ll sum up a bit. This side excursion into the book of Job began for me with a question: Who did Jesus command, “What you are about to do, do quickly.”18

The narrative is quite clear that Jesus spoke to Judas Iscariot. But right before Jesus spoke those words, John also made it clear that Satan (ὁ σατανᾶς) had entered into Judas. In the book of Job Satan needed the Lord’s permission to do anything to Job. Was, What you are about to do, do quickly, Jesus’ permission? I lay down my life, so that I may take it back again, Jesus said. No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down of my own free will (ἐμαυτοῦ). I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it back again. This commandment I received from my Father.19

“It’s difficult to say that He was speaking to both: ποίησον is singular. But was He speaking to Satan/Judas, a unitary singular, at that moment?”20 Then Satan entered into him21 (τότε εἰσῆλθεν εἰς ἐκεῖνον ὁ σατανᾶς) seems to be something more than You people are from your father the devil, and you want to do what your father desires.22 And now I wonder if that “ something more” exempts Judas somehow from all people Jesus will draw to Himself if or when He was crucified.23

Tables comparing Job 2:4; 2:5; 2:6; 2:7; 2:8; 2:9 and 2:10 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Job 2:4; 2:5; 2:6; 2:7; 2:8; 2:9 and 2:10 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.

Job 2:4 (Tanakh)

Job 2:4 (KJV)

Job 2:4 (NET)
And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. But Satan answered the Lord, “Skin for skin! Indeed, a man will give up all that he has to save his life.

Job 2:4 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 2:4 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὑπολαβὼν δὲ ὁ διάβολος εἶπεν τῷ κυρίῳ δέρμα ὑπὲρ δέρματος ὅσα ὑπάρχει ἀνθρώπῳ ὑπὲρ τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ ἐκτείσει ὑπολαβὼν δὲ ὁ διάβολος εἶπε τῷ Κυρίῳ· δέρμα ὑπὲρ δέρματος· καὶ πάντα, ὅσα ὑπάρχει ἀνθρώπῳ, ὑπὲρ τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ ἐκτίσει

Job 2:4 (NETS)

Job 2:4 (English Elpenor)
Then the slanderer continued and said to the Lord, “Skin for skin; whatever a person has he will use to pay for his life. And the devil answered and said to the Lord, Skin for skin, all that a man has will he give as a ransom for his life.

Job 2:5 (Tanakh)

Job 2:5 (KJV)

Job 2:5 (NET)
But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. But extend your hand and strike his bone and his flesh, and he will no doubt curse you to your face!”

Job 2:5 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 2:5 (Septuagint Elpenor)
οὐ μὴν δὲ ἀλλὰ ἀποστείλας τὴν χεῗρά σου ἅψαι τῶν ὀστῶν αὐτοῦ καὶ τῶν σαρκῶν αὐτοῦ εἰ μὴν εἰς πρόσωπόν σε εὐλογήσει οὐ μὴν δὲ ἀλλὰ ἀποστείλας τὴν χεῖρά σου ἅψαι τῶν ὀστῶν αὐτοῦ καὶ σαρκῶν αὐτοῦ· ἦ μὴν εἰς πρόσωπόν σε εὐλογήσει

Job 2:5 (NETS)

Job 2:5 (English Elpenor)
However, stretch out your hand, and touch his bones and his flesh; surely he will bless you to your face!” Nay, but put forth thine hand, and touch his bones and his flesh: verily he will bless thee to [thy] face.

Job 2:6 (Tanakh)

Job 2:6 (KJV)

Job 2:6 (NET)
And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life. So the Lord said to Satan, “All right, he is in your power; only preserve his life.”

Job 2:6 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 2:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)
εἶπεν δὲ ὁ κύριος τῷ διαβόλῳ ἰδοὺ παραδίδωμί σοι αὐτόν μόνον τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ διαφύλαξον εἶπε δὲ ὁ Κύριος τῷ διαβόλῳ· ἰδοὺ παραδίδωμί σοι αὐτόν, μόνον τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ διαφύλαξον

Job 2:6 (NETS)

Job 2:6 (English Elpenor)
Then the Lord said to the slanderer, “Very well, I am handing him over to you; only spare his life.” And the Lord said to the devil, Behold, I deliver him up to thee; only save his life.

Job 2:7 (Tanakh)

Job 2:7 (KJV)

Job 2:7 (NET)
So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and he afflicted Job with a malignant ulcer from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

Job 2:7 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 2:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐξῆλθεν δὲ ὁ διάβολος ἀπὸ τοῦ κυρίου καὶ ἔπαισεν τὸν Ιωβ ἕλκει πονηρῷ ἀπὸ ποδῶν ἕως κεφαλῆς ᾿Εξῆλθε δὲ ὁ διάβολος ἀπὸ προσώπου Κυρίου καὶ ἔπαισε τὸν ᾿Ιὼβ ἕλκει πονηρῷ ἀπὸ ποδῶν ἕως κεφαλῆς

Job 2:7 (NETS)

Job 2:7 (English Elpenor)
So the slanderer went out from the Lord, and he struck Iob with a grievous festering sore from his feet to his head. So the devil went out from the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from [his] feet to [his] head.

Job 2:8 (Tanakh)

Job 2:8 (KJV)

Job 2:8 (NET)
And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes. And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes. Job took a shard of broken pottery to scrape himself with while he was sitting among the ashes.

Job 2:8 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 2:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἔλαβεν ὄστρακον ἵνα τὸν ἰχῶρα ξύῃ καὶ ἐκάθητο ἐπὶ τῆς κοπρίας ἔξω τῆς πόλεως καὶ ἔλαβεν ὄστρακον, ἵνα τὸν ἰχῶρα ξύῃ, καὶ ἐκάθητο ἐπὶ τῆς κοπρίας ἔξω τῆς πόλεως

Job 2:8 (NETS)

Job 2:8 (English Elpenor)
And he took a potsherd, so that he could scrape away the pus, and sat on the rubbish heap outside the city. And he took a potsherd to scrape away the discharge, and sat upon a dung-heap outside the city.

Job 2:9 (Tanakh)

Job 2:9 (KJV)

Job 2:9 (NET)
Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. Then his wife said to him, “Are you still holding firmly to your integrity? Curse God, and die!”

Job 2:9 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 2:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)
χρόνου δὲ πολλοῦ προβεβηκότος εἶπεν αὐτῷ ἡ γυνὴ αὐτοῦ μέχρι τίνος καρτερήσεις λέγων Χρόνου δὲ πολλοῦ προβεβηκότος εἶπεν αὐτῷ ἡ γυνὴ αὐτοῦ· μέχρι τίνος καρτερήσεις λέγων· 9α ἰδοὺ ἀναμένω χρόνον ἔτι μικρὸν προσδεχόμενος τὴν ἐλπίδα τῆς σωτηρίας μου; 9β ἰδοὺ γὰρ ἠφάνισταί σου τὸ μνημόσυνον ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς, υἱοὶ καὶ θυγατέρες, ἐμῆς κοιλίας ὠδῖνες καὶ πόνοι, οὓς εἰς τὸ κενὸν ἐκοπίασα μετὰ μόχθων· 9γ σύ τε αὐτὸς ἐν σαπρίᾳ σκωλήκων κάθησαι διανυκτερεύων αἴθριος, 9δ κἀγὼ πλανῆτις καὶ λάτρις, τόπον ἐκ τόπου περιερχομένη καὶ οἰκίαν ἐξ οἰκίας, προσδεχομένη τὸν ἥλιον πότε δύσεται, ἵνα ἀναπαύσωμαι τῶν μόχθων μου καὶ τῶν ὀδυνῶν, αἵ με νῦν συνέχουσιν· ἀλλὰ εἰπόν τι ῥῆμα πρὸς Κύριον καὶ τελεύτα

Job 2:9 (NETS)

Job 2:9 (English Elpenor)
Then after a long time had passed, his wife said to him, “How long will you persist and say, ‘Look, I will hang on a little longer, while I wait for the hope of my deliverance?’ For look, your legacy has vanished from the earth—sons and daughters, my womb’s birth pangs and labors, for whom I wearied myself with hardships in vain. And you? You sit in the refuse of worms as you spend the night in the open air. As for me, I am one that wanders about and a hired servant—from place to place and house to house, waiting for when the sun will set, so I can rest from the distresses and griefs that now beset me. Now say some word to the Lord and die!” And when much time had passed, his wife said to him, How long wilt thou hold out, saying, 9α Behold, I wait yet a little while, expecting the hope of my deliverance? 9β for, behold, thy memorial is abolished from the earth, [even thy] sons and daughters, the pangs and pains of my womb which I bore in vain with sorrows; 9γ and thou thyself sittest down to spend the nights in the open air among the corruption of worms, 9δ and I am a wanderer and a servant from place to place and house to house, waiting for the setting of the sun, that I may rest from my labours and my pangs which now beset me: but say some word against the Lord, and die.

Job 2:10 (Tanakh)

Job 2:10 (KJV)

Job 2:10 (NET)
But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips. But he replied, “You’re talking like one of the godless women would do! Should we receive what is good from God, and not also receive what is evil?” In all this Job did not sin by what he said.

Job 2:10 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 2:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὁ δὲ ἐμβλέψας εἶπεν αὐτῇ ὥσπερ μία τῶν ἀφρόνων γυναικῶν ἐλάλησας εἰ τὰ ἀγαθὰ ἐδεξάμεθα ἐκ χειρὸς κυρίου τὰ κακὰ οὐχ ὑποίσομεν ἐν πᾶσιν τούτοις τοῗς συμβεβηκόσιν αὐτῷ οὐδὲν ἥμαρτεν Ιωβ τοῗς χείλεσιν ἐναντίον τοῦ θεοῦ ὁ δὲ ἐμβλέψας εἶπεν αὐτῇ· ἵνα τί ὥσπερ μία τῶν ἀφρόνων γυναικῶν ἐλάλησας οὕτως; εἰ τὰ ἀγαθὰ ἐδεξάμεθα ἐκ χειρὸς Κυρίου, τὰ κακὰ οὐχ ὑποίσομεν; ἐν πᾶσι τούτοις τοῖς συμβεβηκόσιν αὐτῷ οὐδὲν ἥμαρτεν ᾿Ιὼβ τοῖς χείλεσιν ἐναντίον τοῦ Θεοῦ

Job 2:10 (NETS)

Job 2:10 (English Elpenor)
But Iob looked up and said to her, “You have spoken like one of the foolish women. If we received the good things from the Lord’s hand, shall we not bear the bad?” In all these things that happened to him Iob did not sin at all with his lips before God. But he looked on her, and said to her, Thou hast spoken like one of the foolish women. If we have received good things of the hand of the Lord, shall we not endure evil things? In all these things that happened to him, Job sinned not at all with his lips before God.

1 Job 1:8b (NET) Table

2 1 John 4:8 (NET)

3 Romans 2:5 (NET) Table

4 Job 1:9b, 10a (NET)

5 Job 1:1b (NET) Table

6 Ibid.

7 Genesis 15:6 (NET) Table

8 Job 1:1b (NET) Table

9 Genesis 15:6 (NET) Table

10 John 8:44 (NET) Table

11 Luke 18:13 (NET) Table

12 Philippians 3:9b (NET)

13 John 1:14a (NET)

14 Job 1:8b (NET) Table

15 Job 1:21b (NET) Table

16 1 Corinthians 4:7b (NET)

17 Romans 8:32 (NET) Table

18 John 13:27b (NET)

19 John 10:17b, 18 (NET)

21 John 13:27a (NET)

22 John 8:44a (NET) Table

The Lost Son of Perdition, Part 9

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This is a continuation of my consideration of God’s love for Satan revealed in the book of Job. The Lord (Yᵊhōvâ, יהוה) allowed (Job 1:12) Satan to carry out his scientific experiment on Job, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and turns away from evil.1

Satan stated his hypothesis before the Lord (Job 1:9b, 10 NET):

Is it for nothing that Job fears God? [Table] Have you not made a hedge around him and his household and all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock have increased in the land [Table].

In other words, Job’s blamelessness, uprightness, fear or worship of God, turning away from evil was the result of God’s bribe of material well-being (Job 1:1-3). Satan proposed a test for this hypothesis (Job 1:11 NET [Table]):

But extend your hand and strike everything he has, and he will no doubt curse you to your face!

The Lord permitted Satan to take Job’s oxen and donkeys along with most of his servants who tended them (Job 1:14, 15), his sheep along with most of his servants who tended them (Job 1:16), his camels along with most of his servants who tended them (Job 1:17), and his children along with most of his servants who attended them (Job 1:18, 19).

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Job 1:20-22 (Tanakh/KJV)

Job 1:20-22 (NET)

Job 1:20-22 (NETS)

Job 1:20-22 (English Elpenor)
Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, Then Job got up and tore his robe. He shaved his head, and then he threw himself down with his face to the ground. So Iob arose, tore his clothes and shaved the hair of his head and fell on the ground and did obeisance and said, So Job arose, and rent his garments, and shaved the hair of his head, and fell on the earth, and worshipped,
And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return there. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. May the name of the Lord be blessed!” “I came naked from my mother’s womb; naked also shall I return there; the Lord gave; the Lord has taken away; as it seemed good to the Lord, so it turned out; blessed be the name of the Lord.” and said, I myself came forth naked from my mother᾿s womb, and naked shall I return thither; the Lord gave, the Lord has taken away: as it seemed good to the Lord, so has it come to pass; blessed be the name of the Lord.
In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. In all this Job did not sin, nor did he charge God with moral impropriety. In all these things that happened to him Iob did not sin at all before the Lord, and did not charge God with folly. In all these events that befell him Job sinned not at all before the Lord, and did not impute folly to God.

Satan’s hypothesis was falsified: removing Job’s material blessings did not cause him to curse God. When I first read the book of Job, however, I knew very little about the scientific method, particularly its limitations. I didn’t know God very well either.

I assumed that the meaning of this story was that Job’s blamelessness, uprightness, fear or worship of God and turning away from evil was something either innate to Job or acquired by his own efforts, definitely not the result of anything God had done. In fact, I assumed that Job’s innate or self-achieved blamelessness, uprightness, fear or worship of God and turning away from evil was the reason God had made a hedge around him and his household, blessed the work of his hands, and caused his livestock to increase in the land.

Now I believe that Satan’s falsified hypothesis was nearer the truth than my own. The following was recorded regarding Job:

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Job 1:4, 5 (Tanakh/KJV)

Job 1:4, 5 (NET)

Job 1:4, 5 (NETS)

Job 1:4, 5 (English Elpenor)
And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. Now his sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one in turn, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. Now his sons used to gather with one another and hold a feast each day; they used to take along their three sisters as well, to eat and drink with them. And his sons visiting one another prepared a banquet every day, taking with them also their sisters to eat and drink with them.
And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually. When the days of their feasting were finished, Job would send for them and sanctify them; he would get up early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job thought, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s customary practice. And when the feast days had run their course, Iob used to send and purify them, rising early in the morning, and he used to offer a sacrifice on their behalf, according to their number, and one bull calf as a sin offering for their souls–for Job said, “Perhaps my sons thought bad things in their mind toward God.” So this is what Job would always do. And when the days of the banquet were completed, Job sent and purified them, having risen up in the morning, and offered sacrifices for them, according to their number, and one calf for a sin-offering for their souls: for Job said, Lest peradventure my sons have thought evil in their minds against God. Thus, then Job did continually.

In other words, Job believed the Lord, and [I now assume] the Lord credited it as righteousness to him.2 And that righteousness came in the form of God’s own love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.3 Was Satan unaware of this? I don’t know.

If he knew it and carried out the whole charade described in the book of Job anyway, he was more duplicitous than I’ve ever imagined. The whole design of his argument, hypothesis and experiment was intended to throw me (and anyone else) off the scent of God’s graciousness. If Satan knew, then God certainly recognized his duplicity. His love for Satan in terms of his patience becomes all the more astounding.

Satan came before the Lord again.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Job 2:1, 2 (Tanakh/KJV)

Job 2:1, 2 (NET)

Job 2:1, 2 (NETS)

Job 2:1, 2 (English Elpenor)
Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. Again the day came when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also arrived among them to present himself before the Lord. Now it happened, when it was the set day and the angels of God came to present themselves before the Lord, the slanderer also came among them. [to present himself before the Lord] And it came to pass on a certain day, that the angels of God came to stand before the Lord, and the devil came among them to stand before the Lord.
And the LORD said unto Satan (הַשָּׂטָ֔ן), From whence comest thou? And Satan (הַשָּׂטָ֚ן) answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the Lord said to Satan (śāṭān, השׁטן), “Where have you come from?” Satan (śāṭān, השׁטן) answered the Lord, “From roving about on the earth, and from walking back and forth across it.” And the Lord said to the slanderer (τῷ διαβόλῳ), “Where are you coming from?” Then the slanderer (ὁ διάβολος) said before the Lord, “I have come, after traversing what is under heaven and walking about everywhere.” And the Lord, said to the devil (τῷ διαβόλῳ), Whence comest thou? Then the devil (ὁ διάβολος) said before the Lord, I am come from going through the world, and walking about the whole earth.

The Hebrew word הַשָּׂטָ֔ן (Tanakh, KJV, NET: Satan) was translated τῷ διαβόλῳ and ὁ διάβολος in the Septuagint. Be sober and alert, Peter warned his readers. Your enemy the devil (διάβολος), like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour.4 Still, the Lord loved him patiently.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Job 2:3 (Tanakh/KJV)

Job 2:3 (NET)

Job 2:3 (NETS)

Job 2:3 (English Elpenor)
And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a pure and upright man, one who fears God and turns away from evil. And he still holds firmly to his integrity, so that you stirred me up to destroy him without reason.” Then the Lord said, “So did you notice my attendant Iob–that there is no one of those on the earth like him, an innocent, genuine, blameless, religious man, staying away from all wrong? And he still maintains his innocence, though you said to destroy his possessions for no reason.” And the Lord said to the devil, Hast thou then observed my servant Job, that there is none of [men] upon the earth like him, a harmless, true, blameless, godly man, abstaining from all evil? and he yet cleaves to innocence, whereas thou has told [me] to destroy his substance without cause?

In another essay I made such an issue of Mr. Cox’s translation of Job 1:8 in the NETS, I want to compare the Greek and Hebrew of Job 2:3 here. The Greek of the Septuagint follows:

Job 1:8 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 2:3 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 1:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)

Job 2:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)
προσέσχες τῇ διανοίᾳ σου κατὰ τοῦ παιδός μου Ιωβ προσέσχες οὖν τῷ θεράποντί μου Ιωβ προσέσχες τῇ διανοίᾳ σου κατὰ τοῦ παιδός μου ᾿Ιώβ προσέσχες οὖν τῷ θέραποντί μου ᾿Ιώβ

Job 1:8 (NETS)

Job 2:3 (NETS)

Job 1:8 (English Elpenor)

Job 2:3 (English Elpenor)
Did you give thought to your disposition against my servant Iob So did you notice my attendant Iob Hast thou diligently considered my servant Job Hast thou then observed my servant Job

While the Greek of Job 1:8 was τῇ διανοίᾳ σου κατὰ τοῦ παιδός μου, the Greek of Job 2:3 was οὖν τῷ θεράποντί μου. The Hebrew in the Masoretic text, however, was not that different.

Job 1:8

Job 2:3

Hebrew

Greek

Hebrew

Greek
השׁמת προσέσχες השׁמת προσέσχες
לבך τῇ διανοίᾳ σου לבך οὖν
על κατὰ אל
עבדי τοῦ παιδός μου עבדי τῷ θεράποντί μου
איוב Ιωβ איוב Ιωβ

Only the preposition על (ʿal), translated κατὰ in the Septuagint, was changed in verse 2:3 to אל (‘ēl). I don’t really mean to imply that οὖν was intended as a Greek translation of the Hebrew word לבך (lēḇ), only that it is second in the word string. If the rabbis who translated the Septuagint were able to glean this much difference from a preposition, it is well beyond my knowledge of both Greek and Hebrew.

Though I’ve developed a healthy skepticism regarding the originality of the Masoretic text when it differs dramatically from the Septuagint, a brief survey of the most blatant difference (παιδός and θεράποντί) persuaded me not to pursue it any further [See Table below] at this time .

Reference Hebrew NET Septuagint NETS/Elpenor
Genesis 24:24 לבן son θεράποντι attendant/servant
Exodus 4:10 עבדך servant θεράποντί attendant/servant
Exodus 14:31 עבדו servant θεράποντι attendant/servant
Deuteronomy 3:24 עבדך me θεράποντι attendant/servant
Job 2:3 עבדי servant θέραποντί attendant/servant

Four of the five occurrences of θέραποντί (a form of θεράπων) in the Septuagint were translations of forms of עֶבֶד (ʿeḇeḏ). The fifth was probably not a translation of לבן (bēn) but of a word in a phrase which no longer appears in the Masoretic text [See Table below]. There is one occurrence of θεράπων in the New Testament as a description of Moses (Hebrews 3:5 NET):

Now Moses5 was faithful in all God’s house as a servant (θεράπων), to testify to the things that would be spoken.

Hebrews 3:5 alludes to, and quotes from, Numbers 12:7 in the Septuagint where the Hebrew word עַבְדִּ֣י (ʿeḇeḏ), My servant (Tanakh, KJV, NET), was translated ὁ θεράπων μου:

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Numbers 12:7 (Tanakh)

Numbers 12:7 (NET)

Numbers 12:7 (NETS)

Numbers 12:7 (English Elpenor)
My servant (עַבְדִּ֣י) Moses is not so; he is trusted in all My house; My servant (ʿeḇeḏ, עבדי) Moses is not like this; he is faithful in all my house. Not so my attendant (ὁ θεράπων μου) Moyses; in my whole house he is faithful. My servant (ὁ θεράπων μου) Moses [is] not so; he is faithful in all my house.

It seems that the rabbis used forms of θεράπων as an honorific among slaves and servants, and Job had earned that honorific by holding onto his innocence. I’ll continue in another essay.

A table comparing the Greek of the quotation of Numbers 12:7 in Hebrews 3:5 follows:

Hebrews 3:5 (NET Parallel Greek)

Numbers 12:7 (Septuagint BLB)

Numbers 12:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)
πιστὸς ἐν ὅλῳ τῷ οἴκῳ αὐτοῦ ἐν ὅλῳ τῷ οἴκῳ μου πιστός ἐστιν ἐν ὅλῳ τῷ οἴκῳ μου πιστός ἐστι

Hebrews 3:5 (NET)

Numbers 12:7 (NETS)

Numbers 12:7 (English Elpenor)
faithful in all God’s house in my whole house he is faithful he is faithful in all my house

A table of all occurrences of forms of θεράπων found in the Septuagint follows:

θεράπων Exodus 33:11; Numbers 12:7; Joshua 1:2; Job 3:19; Job 7:2; Job 42:7; Job 42:8; Proverbs 18:14
θεράποντες Exodus 9:30; Exodus 10:7; Exodus 12:30
θεράποντος Numbers 12:8; 1 Chronicles 16:40; Job 32:13; Job 42:8
θεραπόντων Genesis 50:17; Exodus 5:21; Exodus 7:9; Exodus 7:10; Exodus 7:20; Exodus 8:3; Exodus 8:9; Exodus 8:11; Exodus 8:24; Exodus 8:29; Exodus 8:31; Exodus 9:8; Exodus 9:14; Exodus 9:20; Exodus 9:34; Exodus 10:1; Exodus 10:6; Exodus 11:3; Exodus 14:5; Exodus 14:8; Deuteronomy 9:27; Proverbs 27:27
θεράποντι Genesis 24:44; Exodus 4:10; Exodus 14:31; Deuteronomy 3:24; Job 2:3
θεράπουσιν Numbers 32:31; Deuteronomy 29:2; Deuteronomy 34:11
θεράποντα Numbers 11:11; Job 19:16; Job 42:8
θεράποντας Exodus 8:4; Exodus 8:21

A table illustrating the difference between the Septuagint and Masoretic text in Genesis 24:44 follows:

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Genesis 24:44 (Tanakh)

Genesis 24:44 (NET)

Genesis 24:44 (NETS)

Genesis 24:44 (English Elpenor)
and she shall say to me: Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels; let the same be the woman whom HaShem hath appointed for my master’s son. Then she will reply to me, “Drink, and I’ll draw water for your camels too.” May that woman be the one whom the Lord has chosen for my master’s son.’ and she should say to me, “You drink, and I will fetch water for your camels too,” may this be the woman whom the Lord prepared for his own attendant (θεράποντι) Isaak, and by this I shall know that you have done mercy toward my lord Abraam.’ and she shall say to me, Both drink thou, and I will draw water for thy camels, this [shall be] the wife whom the Lord has prepared for his own servant (θεράποντι) Isaac; and hereby shall I know that thou hast wrought mercy with my master Abraam.

Tables comparing Job 1:20; 1:21; 1:22; 1:4; 1:5; 2:1; 2:2; 2:3; Numbers 12:7 and Genesis 24:44 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Job 1:20; 1:21; 1:22; 1:4; 1:5; 2:1; 2:2; 2:3; Numbers 12:7 and Genesis 24:44 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing 1 Peter 5:8 and Hebrews 3:5 in the NET and KJV follow.

Job 1:20 (Tanakh)

Job 1:20 (KJV)

Job 1:20 (NET)
Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, Then Job got up and tore his robe. He shaved his head, and then he threw himself down with his face to the ground.

Job 1:20 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 1:20 (Septuagint Elpenor)
οὕτως ἀναστὰς Ιωβ διέρρηξεν τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐκείρατο τὴν κόμην τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ καὶ πεσὼν χαμαὶ προσεκύνησεν καὶ εἶπεν Οὕτως ἀναστὰς ᾿Ιὼβ ἔρρηξε τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐκείρατο τὴν κώμην τῆς κεφαλῆς καὶ πεσὼν χαμαὶ προσεκύνησε τῷ Κυρίῳ καὶ εἶπεν

Job 1:20 (NETS)

Job 1:20, 21a (English Elpenor)
So Iob arose, tore his clothes and shaved the hair of his head and fell on the ground and did obeisance and said, So Job arose, and rent his garments, and shaved the hair of his head, and fell on the earth, and worshipped, 21 and said,

Job 1:21 (Tanakh)

Job 1:21 (KJV)

Job 1:21 (NET)
And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return there. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. May the name of the Lord be blessed!”

Job 1:21 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 1:21 (Septuagint Elpenor)
αὐτὸς γυμνὸς ἐξῆλθον ἐκ κοιλίας μητρός μου γυμνὸς καὶ ἀπελεύσομαι ἐκεῗ ὁ κύριος ἔδωκεν ὁ κύριος ἀφείλατο ὡς τῷ κυρίῳ ἔδοξεν οὕτως καὶ ἐγένετο εἴη τὸ ὄνομα κυρίου εὐλογημένον αὐτὸς γυμνὸς ἐξῆλθον ἐκ κοιλίας μητρός μου, γυμνὸς καὶ ἀπελεύσομαι ἐκεῖ· ὁ Κύριος ἔδωκεν, ὁ Κύριος ἀφείλατο· ὡς τῷ Κυρίῳ ἔδοξεν, οὕτω καὶ ἐγένετο· εἴη τὸ ὄνομα Κυρίου εὐλογημένον εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας

Job 1:21 (NETS)

Job 1:21 (English Elpenor)
“I came naked from my mother’s womb; naked also shall I return there; the Lord gave; the Lord has taken away; as it seemed good to the Lord, so it turned out; blessed be the name of the Lord.” and said, I myself came forth naked from my mother᾿s womb, and naked shall I return thither; the Lord gave, the Lord has taken away: as it seemed good to the Lord, so has it come to pass; blessed be the name of the Lord.

Job 1:22 (Tanakh)

Job 1:22 (KJV)

Job 1:22 NET)
In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. In all this Job did not sin, nor did he charge God with moral impropriety.

Job 1:22 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 1:22 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐν τούτοις πᾶσιν τοῗς συμβεβηκόσιν αὐτῷ οὐδὲν ἥμαρτεν Ιωβ ἐναντίον τοῦ κυρίου καὶ οὐκ ἔδωκεν ἀφροσύνην τῷ θεῷ ᾿Εν τούτοις πᾶσι τοῖς συμβεβηκόσιν αὐτῷ οὐδὲν ἥμαρτεν ᾿Ιὼβ ἐναντίον τοῦ Κυρίου καὶ οὐκ ἔδωκεν ἀφροσύνην τῷ Θεῷ

Job 1:22 (NETS)

Job 1:22 (English Elpenor)
In all these things that happened to him Iob did not sin at all before the Lord, and did not charge God with folly. In all these events that befell him Job sinned not at all before the Lord, and did not impute folly to God.

Job 1:4 (Tanakh)

Job 1:4 (KJV)

Job 1:4 (NET)
And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. Now his sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one in turn, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

Job 1:4 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 1:4 (Septuagint Elpenor)
συμπορευόμενοι δὲ οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἐποιοῦσαν πότον καθ᾽ ἑκάστην ἡμέραν συμπαραλαμβάνοντες ἅμα καὶ τὰς τρεῗς ἀδελφὰς αὐτῶν ἐσθίειν καὶ πίνειν μετ᾽ αὐτῶν συμπορευόμενοι δὲ οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἐποιοῦσαν πότον καθ᾿ ἑκάστην ἡμέραν, συμπαραλαμβάνοντες ἅμα καὶ τὰς τρεῖς ἀδελφὰς αὐτῶν ἐσθίειν καὶ πίνειν μετ᾿ αὐτῶν

Job 1:4 (NETS)

Job 1:4 (English Elpenor)
Now his sons used to gather with one another and hold a feast each day; they used to take along their three sisters as well, to eat and drink with them. And his sons visiting one another prepared a banquet every day, taking with them also their sisters to eat and drink with them.

Job 1:5 (Tanakh)

Job 1:5 (KJV)

Job 1:5 (NET)
And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually. And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually. When the days of their feasting were finished, Job would send for them and sanctify them; he would get up early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job thought, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s customary practice.

Job 1:5 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 1:5 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ὡς ἂν συνετελέσθησαν αἱ ἡμέραι τοῦ πότου ἀπέστελλεν Ιωβ καὶ ἐκαθάριζεν αὐτοὺς ἀνιστάμενος τὸ πρωὶ καὶ προσέφερεν περὶ αὐτῶν θυσίας κατὰ τὸν ἀριθμὸν αὐτῶν καὶ μόσχον ἕνα περὶ ἁμαρτίας περὶ τῶν ψυχῶν αὐτῶν ἔλεγεν γὰρ Ιωβ μήποτε οἱ υἱοί μου ἐν τῇ διανοίᾳ αὐτῶν κακὰ ἐνενόησαν πρὸς θεόν οὕτως οὖν ἐποίει Ιωβ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας καὶ ὡς ἂν συνετελέσθησαν αἱ ἡμέραι τοῦ πότου, ἀπέστελλεν ᾿Ιὼβ καὶ ἐκαθάριζεν αὐτοὺς ἀνιστάμενος τὸ πρωΐ καὶ προσέφερε περὶ αὐτῶν θυσίας κατὰ τὸν ἀριθμὸν αὐτῶν καὶ μόσχον ἕνα περὶ ἁμαρτίας περὶ τῶν ψυχῶν αὐτῶν· ἔλεγε γὰρ ᾿Ιώβ· μή ποτε οἱ υἱοί μου ἐν τῇ διανοίᾳ αὐτῶν κακὰ ἐνενόησαν πρὸς Θεόν. οὕτως οὖν ἐποίει ᾿Ιὼβ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας

Job 1:5 (NETS)

Job 1:5 (English Elpenor)
And when the feast days had run their course, Iob used to send and purify them, rising early in the morning, and he used to offer a sacrifice on their behalf, according to their number, and one bull calf as a sin offering for their souls–for Job said, “Perhaps my sons thought bad things in their mind toward God.” So this is what Job would always do. And when the days of the banquet were completed, Job sent and purified them, having risen up in the morning, and offered sacrifices for them, according to their number, and one calf for a sin-offering for their souls: for Job said, Lest peradventure my sons have thought evil in their minds against God. Thus, then Job did continually.

Job 2:1 (Tanakh)

Job 2:1 (KJV)

Job 2:1 (NET)
Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. Again the day came when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also arrived among them to present himself before the Lord.

Job 2:1 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 2:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐγένετο δὲ ὡς ἡ ἡμέρα αὕτη καὶ ἦλθον οἱ ἄγγελοι τοῦ θεοῦ παραστῆναι ἔναντι κυρίου καὶ ὁ διάβολος ἦλθεν ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν παραστῆναι ἐναντίον τοῦ κυρίου ΕΓΕΝΕΤΟ δὲ ὡς ἡ ἡμέρα αὕτη καὶ ἦλθον οἱ ἄγγελοι τοῦ Θεοῦ παραστῆναι ἔναντι Κυρίου, καὶ ὁ διάβολος ἦλθεν ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν παραστῆναι ἐναντίον τοῦ Κυρίου

Job 2:1 (NETS)

Job 2:1 (English Elpenor)
Now it happened, when it was the set day and the angels of God came to present themselves before the Lord, the slanderer also came among them. [to present himself before the Lord] And it came to pass on a certain day, that the angels of God came to stand before the Lord, and the devil came among them to stand before the Lord.

Job 2:2 (Tanakh)

Job 2:2 (KJV)

Job 2:2 (NET)
And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From roving about on the earth, and from walking back and forth across it.”

Job 2:2 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 2:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἶπεν ὁ κύριος τῷ διαβόλῳ πόθεν σὺ ἔρχῃ τότε εἶπεν ὁ διάβολος ἐνώπιον τοῦ κυρίου διαπορευθεὶς τὴν ὑπ᾽ οὐρανὸν καὶ ἐμπεριπατήσας τὴν σύμπασαν πάρειμι καὶ εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τῷ διαβόλῳ· πόθεν σὺ ἔρχῃ; τότε εἶπεν ὁ διάβολος ἐνώπιον τοῦ Κυρίου· διαπορευθεὶς τὴν ὑπ᾿ οὐρανὸν καὶ ἐμπεριπατήσας τὴν σύμπασαν πάρειμι

Job 2:2 (NETS)

Job 2:2 (English Elpenor)
And the Lord said to the slanderer, “Where are you coming from?” Then the slanderer said before the Lord, “I have come, after traversing what is under heaven and walking about everywhere.” And the Lord, said to the devil, Whence comest thou? Then the devil said before the Lord, I am come from going through the world, and walking about the whole earth.

Job 2:3 (Tanakh)

Job 2:3 (KJV)

Job 2:3 (NET)
And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a pure and upright man, one who fears God and turns away from evil. And he still holds firmly to his integrity, so that you stirred me up to destroy him without reason.”

Job 2:3 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 2:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)
εἶπεν δὲ ὁ κύριος πρὸς τὸν διάβολον προσέσχες οὖν τῷ θεράποντί μου Ιωβ ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν κατ᾽ αὐτὸν τῶν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἄνθρωπος ἄκακος ἀληθινός ἄμεμπτος θεοσεβής ἀπεχόμενος ἀπὸ παντὸς κακοῦ ἔτι δὲ ἔχεται ἀκακίας σὺ δὲ εἶπας τὰ ὑπάρχοντα αὐτοῦ διὰ κενῆς ἀπολέσαι εἶπε δὲ ὁ Κύριος πρὸς τὸν διάβολον· προσέσχες οὖν τῷ θέραποντί μου ᾿Ιώβ, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστι κατ᾿ αὐτὸν τῶν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἄνθρωπος ὅμοιος αὐτῷ, ἄκακος, ἀληθινός, ἄμεμπτος, θεοσεβής, ἀπεχόμενος ἀπὸ παντὸς κακοῦ; ἔτι δὲ ἔχετε ἀκακίας· σὺ δὲ εἶπας τὰ ὑπάρχοντα αὐτοῦ διακενῆς ἀπολέσαι

Job 2:3 (NETS)

Job 2:3 (English Elpenor)
Then the Lord said, “So did you notice my attendant Iob–that there is no one of those on the earth like him, an innocent, genuine, blameless, religious man, staying away from all wrong? And he still maintains his innocence, though you said to destroy his possessions for no reason.” And the Lord said to the devil, Hast thou then observed my servant Job, that there is none of [men] upon the earth like him, a harmless, true, blameless, godly man, abstaining from all evil? and he yet cleaves to innocence, whereas thou has told [me] to destroy his substance without cause?

Numbers 12:7 (Tanakh)

Numbers 12:7 (KJV)

Numbers 12:7 (NET)
My servant Moses is not so; he is trusted in all My house; My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. My servant Moses is not like this; he is faithful in all my house.

Numbers 12:7 (Septuagint BLB)

Numbers 12:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)
οὐχ οὕτως ὁ θεράπων μου Μωυσῆς ἐν ὅλῳ τῷ οἴκῳ μου πιστός ἐστιν οὐχ οὕτως ὁ θεράπων μου Μωυσῆς· ἐν ὅλῳ τῷ οἴκῳ μου πιστός ἐστι

Numbers 12:7 (NETS)

Numbers 12:7 (English Elpenor)
Not so my attendant Moyses; in my whole house he is faithful. My servant Moses [is] not so; he is faithful in all my house.

Genesis 24:44 (Tanakh)

Genesis 24:44 (KJV)

Genesis 24:44 (NET)
and she shall say to me: Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels; let the same be the woman whom HaShem hath appointed for my master’s son. And she say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels: let the same be the woman whom the LORD hath appointed out for my master’s son. Then she will reply to me, “Drink, and I’ll draw water for your camels too.” May that woman be the one whom the Lord has chosen for my master’s son.’

Genesis 24:44 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 24:44 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἴπῃ μοι καὶ σὺ πίε καὶ ταῗς καμήλοις σου ὑδρεύσομαι αὕτη ἡ γυνή ἣν ἡτοίμασεν κύριος τῷ ἑαυτοῦ θεράποντι Ισαακ καὶ ἐν τούτῳ γνώσομαι ὅτι πεποίηκας ἔλεος τῷ κυρίῳ μου Αβρααμ καὶ εἴπῃ μοι, καὶ σὺ πίε καὶ ταῖς καμήλοις σου ὑδρεύσομαι, αὕτη ἡ γυνή, ἣν ἡτοίμασε Κύριος τῷ ἑαυτοῦ θεράποντι ᾿Ισαάκ, καὶ ἐν τούτῳ γνώσομαι, ὅτι πεποίηκας ἔλεος τῷ κυρίῳ μου ῾Αβραάμ

Genesis 24:44 (NETS)

Genesis 24:44 (English Elpenor)
and she should say to me, “You drink, and I will fetch water for your camels too,” may this be the woman whom the Lord prepared for his own attendant Isaak, and by this I shall know that you have done mercy toward my lord Abraam.’ and she shall say to me, Both drink thou, and I will draw water for thy camels, this [shall be] the wife whom the Lord has prepared for his own servant Isaac; and hereby shall I know that thou hast wrought mercy with my master Abraam.

1 Peter 5:8 (NET)

1 Peter 5:8 (KJV)
Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
Νήψατε, γρηγορήσατε. ὁ ἀντίδικος ὑμῶν διάβολος ὡς λέων ὠρυόμενος περιπατεῖ ζητῶν [τινα] καταπιεῖν νηψατε γρηγορησατε οτι ο αντιδικος υμων διαβολος ως λεων ωρυομενος περιπατει ζητων τινα καταπιη νηψατε γρηγορησατε ο αντιδικος υμων διαβολος ως λεων ωρυομενος περιπατει ζητων τινα καταπιη

Hebrews 3:5 (NET)

Hebrews 3:5 (KJV)
Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that would be spoken. And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ Μωϋσῆς μὲν πιστὸς ἐν ὅλῳ τῷ οἴκῳ αὐτοῦ ὡς θεράπων εἰς μαρτύριον τῶν λαληθησομένων και μωσης μεν πιστος εν ολω τω οικω αυτου ως θεραπων εις μαρτυριον των λαληθησομενων και μωυσης μεν πιστος εν ολω τω οικω αυτου ως θεραπων εις μαρτυριον των λαληθησομενων

1 Job 1:8b (NET) Table

2 Genesis 15:6 (NET) Table

3 Galatians 5:22b, 23a (NET) Table

4 1 Peter 5:8 (NET) The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had καταπιεῖν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had καταπιη (KJV: he may devour).

The Lost Son of Perdition, Part 6

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This is a continuation of my consideration of God’s love for Satan revealed in the book of Job.  I left off at Job 1:8 (NETS) Table:

And the Lord said to him, “Did you give thought to your disposition against my servant Iob—because there is no one of those on the earth like him, a man who is blameless, genuine, religious, staying away from every evil thing?”

I quoted the NETS here not because I think Claude E. Cox the English translator might agree with me.  On the contrary the abstract of his paper—“Translator as Author: The Old Greek Translator of Job”—presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature in 2015 leads me to believe that he ascribed editorial prerogatives to the Greek translator(s) of Job rather than the Masoretes.

This paper attempts to access the mind of the translator of Job by examining those instances the OG has no correspondence in the source text. Since these pieces of text cannot really be called “translation,” they belong uniquely to the translator.

Johann Cook in a paper titled, “The Profile and some Theological Aspects of the Old Greek of Job – Resurrection and Life after Death as Points in Case1” quoted from Mr. Cox’s introduction to his translation of Job:[1]

According to Cox,19 the OGJOB is a work of good literary quality. The usual Hebraisms that are the tell-tale signs of translation Greek in much of the Septuagint corpus are absent – this applies to LXX Proverbs too. There can be no doubt that the translators of LXX Proverbs and the OGJOB were both steeped in Greek and Jewish culture.20

Another general characteristic of the translation consists of transferring passages from elsewhere in Job or from other parts of the Septuagint into the translation, so-called inter-/intra-textual rendering.21 This phenomenon was detected by Dhorme22 and Ziegler and studied by Heater, who calls it “the anaphoric translation technique.”23

I quoted Mr. Cox’s translation because he alone recognized the foreknowledge of God in προσέσχες τῇ διανοίᾳ σου κατὰ (English Elpenor: Hast thou diligently considered) with his rendering: Did you give thought to your disposition against…  Rather than singling Job out to brag about his righteousness, in Mr. Cox’s translation  יהוה (Yᵊhōvâ) is fully aware that Satan has singled out Job and set his own heart and mind against him.

I wondered if the Greek translators of Job heard this foreknowledge in the Hebrew from which the Greek was translated: השׁמת (śûm) לבך (lēḇ) על (ʿal).  In this particular instance Rashi’s commentary seems to confirm what the Greek translators heard in the Hebrew and what Mr. Cox heard in turn in the Greek: “Have you paid attention to My servant Job: that you should desire to denounce him?”  If I had studied Mr. Cox’s translation of Job many years earlier might I have come to a different conclusion about God’s love and my hunger and thirst for righteousness, and served my wife and family better?

I can’t go back.  I can only go on.

Masoretic Text

 Septuagint
Job 1:9 (Tanakh/KJV) Job 1:9 (NET) Job 1:9 (NETS)

Job 1:9 (Elpenor English)
Then Satan answered the LORD (יְהֹוָ֖ה), and said, Doth Job fear God (אֱלֹהִֽים) for nought? Then Satan answered the Lord (Yᵊhōvâ, יהוה), “Is it for nothing that Job fears God (‘ĕlōhîm, אלהים)? Then the slanderer answered and said before the Lord (τοῦ κυρίου), “Does Iob really worship the Lord (τὸν θεόν) for nothing? Then the devil answered, and said before the Lord (τοῦ Κυρίου), Does Job worship the Lord (τὸν Κύριον) for nothing?

Like Eve I’m very susceptible to Satan’s reasoning.  I don’t want to take away from this that I should fear (yārē’, יָרֵ֥א) God for nought (ḥinnām, הַ֣חִנָּ֔ם), that true righteousness would be to worship (σέβεται, a form of σέβω) the Lord for nothing (μὴ δωρεὰν).  The Greek word δωρεὰν in particular might deceive me.

As you go, Jesus instructed his disciples, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near!’  Heal the sick, raise the dead,[2] cleanse lepers, cast out demons.  Freely (δωρεὰν) you received, freely (δωρεὰν) give.[3]  Would it not be better to worship the Lord freely?  Jesus’ own attitude and the answer to this question are revealed as He continued (Matthew 10:9, 10 NET):

Do not take gold, silver, or copper in your belts; no bag for the journey; or an extra tunic, or sandals or staff; for the worker deserves his provisions.

Jesus believes the worker deserves his provisions (ἄξιος γὰρ ὁ ἐργάτης τῆς τροφῆς αὐτοῦ).  This ought to be a no-brainer.  My employer provided everything I needed to do the job he also paid me to do.  Imagine being sent out to Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers and cast out demons without the grace of God to enable one to do so.

That grace, that enabling power to Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers and cast out demons is what was freely (δωρεὰν) received by Jesus’ disciples.  Then and only then did he command them to freely (δωρεὰν) give the benefit of that enabling power to Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers and cast out demons to others.  Jesus never asked them to worship Him freely, sending them out to Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers and cast out demons by their own power, their own authority or their own righteousness.

Now without faith it is impossible to please [God], for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.[4]  The Greek words translated he rewards were the noun μισθαποδότης followed by the verb γίνεται (a form of γίνομαι): literally “he becomes the paymaster of” those who seek him.  In other words, God is a better employer than the man who “provided everything I needed to do the job he also paid me to do.”

And my God will supply your every need, Paul wrote believing Philippians, according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.[5]  What then shall we say about these things? Paul asked believing Romans rhetorically.  If God is for us, who can be against us?  Indeed, he who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, freely give us all things [Table]?[6]  (The Greek word translated freely give here was χαρίσεται, a form of χαρίζομαι).

Satan continued:

Masoretic Text

 Septuagint
Job 1:10 (Tanakh/KJV) Job 1:10 (NET) Job 1:10 (NETS)

Job 1:10 (Elpenor English)
Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. Have you not made a hedge around him and his household and all that he has on every side?  You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock have increased in the land. Have you not put a fence around things external to him, both what is within his household as well as what is outside of all that belongs to him, all around?  You blessed the works of his hands, and his livestock you increased on the earth. Hast thou not made a hedge about him, and about his household, and all his possessions round about? and hast thou not blessed the works of his hands, and multiplied his cattle upon the land?

It is difficult to use Satan’s words to decipher what he thinks or believes.  Jesus described the devil (διαβόλου, a form of διάβολος) as one who does not uphold the truth because there is no truth in him.  Whenever he lies, he speaks according to his own nature because he is a liar and the father of lies.[7]  Still, Satan’s words express a thought or belief as a hypothesis: Job does not fear or worship God freely (or, for nothing).  Job worships God because God has blessed the works of Job’s hands and protected the fruit of Job’s labors.

We are told the following about Job:

Masoretic Text

 Septuagint
Job 1:2, 3 (Tanakh/KJV) Job 1:2, 3 (NET) Job 1:2, 3 (NETS)

Job 1:2, 3 (Elpenor English)
And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. Now there were born to him seven sons and three daughters. And he had seven sons and three daughters.
His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east. His possessions included 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys; in addition he had a very great household.  Thus he was the greatest of all the people in the east. And his livestock was: seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred she-donkeys at pasture; as well he had very many servants and extensive activities in the land, and that man was well-born among those of the east. And his cattle consisted of seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred she-asses in the pastures, and a very great household, and he had a great husbandry on the earth; and that man was [most] noble of the [men] of the east.

Satan’s hypothesis was that this was the reason Job feared or worshiped God.  He proposed a test for this hypothesis.

Masoretic Text

 Septuagint
Job 1:11 (Tanakh/KJV) Job 1:11 (NET) Job 1:11 (NETS)

Job 1:11 (Elpenor English)
But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse (יְבָֽרְכֶֽךָּ) thee to thy face. But extend your hand and strike everything he has, and he will no doubt curse (bāraḵ, יברכך) you to your face!” But stretch out your hand, and touch all that he has; surely he will bless (εὐλογήσει) you to your face!” But put forth thine hand, and touch all that he has: verily he will bless (εὐλογήσει) thee to [thy] face.

A note (30) in the NET reads:

The Hebrew verb is בָּרַךְ (barakh), which means “to bless.” Here is a case where the writer or a scribe has substituted the word “curse” with the word “bless” to avoid having the expression “curse God”…

Rashi’s commentary reads:

But: were you to touch all that he has, would he not blaspheme You to Your face immediately? This is a question…

Another note (53) in the NET reads:

The formula used in the expression is the oath formula: “if not to your face he will curse you” meaning “he will surely curse you to your face.” Satan is so sure that the piety is insincere that he can use an oath formula.

The Greek translators of the Septuagint seem to confirm that oath formula: εἰ μὴν (BLB), translated surely (NETS); ἦ μὴν (Elpenor), translated verily (English Elpenor).  By translating εὐλογήσει (a form of εὐλογέω) in the positive sense to bless rather than the negative sense to curse, the English translators of the Septuagint have made Satan’s words sarcastic to the point of mockery.

To review: Satan’s hypothesis is that Job does not fear or worship God freely (or, for nothing); Job worships God because God has blessed the works of Job’s hands and protected the fruit of Job’s labor.  Satan’s proposed test of this hypothesis is, strike everything he has, and he will no doubt curse you (or not bless you) to your face.

God announces the end from the beginning and reveals beforehand what has not yet occurred.[8]  He didn’t need a scientific experiment to know Job’s response.  Satan lacks this knowledge.  Love is patient, love is kind…[9]  God was both patient with, and kind to, Satan when He authorized this scientific experiment.

Masoretic Text

 Septuagint
Job 1:12 (Tanakh/KJV) Job 1:12 (NET) Job 1:12 (NETS)

Job 1:12 (Elpenor English)
And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand.  So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD. So the Lord said to Satan, “All right then, everything he has is in your power.  Only do not extend your hand against the man himself!”  So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. Then the Lord said to the slanderer, “Look, all that he has I am giving into your power, but do not touch him.”  So the slanderer went out from the Lord. Then the Lord said to the devil, Behold, I give into thine hand all that he has, but touch not himself.  So the devil went out from the presence of the Lord.

I’ll pick this up in another essay.

Tables comparing Job 1:9; 1:10; 1:2; 1:3; 1:11 and 1:12 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Job 1:9; 1:10; 1:2; 1:3; 1:11 and 1:12 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and a table comparing Matthew 10:8 in the NET and KJV follow.

Job 1:9 (Tanakh)

 Job 1:9 (KJV)

Job 1:9 (NET)
Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Then Satan answered the Lord, “Is it for nothing that Job fears God?

Job 1:9 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 1:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἀπεκρίθη δὲ ὁ διάβολος καὶ εἶπεν ἐναντίον τοῦ κυρίου μὴ δωρεὰν σέβεται Ιωβ τὸν θεόν ἀπεκρίθη δὲ ὁ διάβολος καὶ εἶπεν ἐναντίον τοῦ Κυρίου· μὴ δωρεὰν ᾿Ιὼβ σέβεται τὸν Κύριον

Job 1:9 (NETS)

Job 1:9 (English Elpenor)
Then the slanderer answered and said before the Lord, “Does Iob really worship the Lord for nothing? Then the devil answered, and said before the Lord, Does Job worship the Lord for nothing?

Job 1:10 (Tanakh)

 Job 1:10 (KJV)

Job 1:10 (NET)
Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. Have you not made a hedge around him and his household and all that he has on every side?  You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock have increased in the land.

Job 1:10 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 1:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)
οὐ σὺ περιέφραξας τὰ ἔξω αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰ ἔσω τῆς οἰκίας αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰ ἔξω πάντων τῶν ὄντων αὐτῷ κύκλῳ τὰ ἔργα τῶν χειρῶν αὐτοῦ εὐλόγησας καὶ τὰ κτήνη αὐτοῦ πολλὰ ἐποίησας ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς οὐ σὺ περιέφραξας τὰ ἔξω αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰ ἔσω τῆς οἰκίας αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰ ἔξω πάντων τῶν ὄντων αὐτοῦ κύκλῳ; τὰ δὲ ἔργα τῶν χειρῶν αὐτοῦ εὐλόγησας καὶ τὰ κτήνη αὐτοῦ πολλὰ ἐποίησας ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς

Job 1:10 (NETS)

Job 1:10 (English Elpenor)
Have you not put a fence around things external to him, both what is within his household as well as what is outside of all that belongs to him, all around?  You blessed the works of his hands, and his livestock you increased on the earth. Hast thou not made a hedge about him, and about his household, and all his possessions round about? and hast thou not blessed the works of his hands, and multiplied his cattle upon the land?

Job 1:2 (Tanakh)

 Job 1:2 (KJV)

Job 1:2 (NET)
And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. Seven sons and three daughters were born to him.

Job 1:2 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 1:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐγένοντο δὲ αὐτῷ υἱοὶ ἑπτὰ καὶ θυγατέρες τρεῗς ἐγένοντο δὲ αὐτῷ υἱοὶ ἑπτὰ καὶ θυγατέρες τρεῖς

Job 1:2 (NETS)

Job 1:2 (English Elpenor)
Now there were born to him seven sons and three daughters. And he had seven sons and three daughters.

Job 1:3 (Tanakh)

 Job 1:3 (KJV)

Job 1:3 (NET)
His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east. His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east. His possessions included 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys; in addition he had a very great household.  Thus he was the greatest of all the people in the east.

Job 1:3 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 1:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἦν τὰ κτήνη αὐτοῦ πρόβατα ἑπτακισχίλια κάμηλοι τρισχίλιαι ζεύγη βοῶν πεντακόσια ὄνοι θήλειαι νομάδες πεντακόσιαι καὶ ὑπηρεσία πολλὴ σφόδρα καὶ ἔργα μεγάλα ἦν αὐτῷ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς καὶ ἦν ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐκεῗνος εὐγενὴς τῶν ἀφ᾽ ἡλίου ἀνατολῶν καὶ ἦν τὰ κτήνη αὐτοῦ πρόβατα ἑπτακισχίλια, κάμηλοι τρισχίλιαι, ζεύγη βοῶν πεντακόσια, θήλειαι ὄνοι νομάδες πεντακόσιαι, καὶ ὑπηρεσία πολλὴ σφόδρα καὶ ἔργα μεγάλα ἦν αὐτῷ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς· καὶ ἦν ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐκεῖνος εὐγενὴς τῶν ἀφ᾿ ἡλίου ἀνατολῶν

Job 1:3 (NETS)

Job 1:3 (English Elpenor)
And his livestock was: seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred she-donkeys at pasture; as well he had very many servants and extensive activities in the land, and that man was well-born among those of the east. And his cattle consisted of seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred she-asses in the pastures, and a very great household, and he had a great husbandry on the earth; and that man was [most] noble of the [men] of the east.

Job 1:11 (Tanakh)

 Job 1:11 (KJV)

Job 1:11 (NET)
But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. But extend your hand and strike everything he has, and he will no doubt curse you to your face!”

Job 1:11 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 1:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἀλλὰ ἀπόστειλον τὴν χεῗρά σου καὶ ἅψαι πάντων ὧν ἔχει εἰ μὴν εἰς πρόσωπόν σε εὐλογήσει ἀλλὰ ἀπόστειλον τὴν χεῖρά σου καὶ ἅψαι πάντων, ὧν ἔχει· ἦ μὴν εἰς πρόσωπόν σε εὐλογήσει

Job 1:11 (NETS)

Job 1:11 (English Elpenor)
But stretch out your hand, and touch all that he has; surely he will bless you to your face!” But put forth thine hand, and touch all that he has: verily he will bless thee to [thy] face.

Job 1:12 (Tanakh)

 Job 1:12 (KJV)

Job 1:12 (NET)
And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand.  So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD. So the Lord said to Satan, “All right then, everything he has is in your power.  Only do not extend your hand against the man himself!”  So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

Job 1:12 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 1:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)
τότε εἶπεν ὁ κύριος τῷ διαβόλῳ ἰδοὺ πάντα ὅσα ἔστιν αὐτῷ δίδωμι ἐν τῇ χειρί σου ἀλλὰ αὐτοῦ μὴ ἅψῃ καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ὁ διάβολος παρὰ τοῦ κυρίου τότε εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τῷ διαβόλῳ· ἰδοὺ πάντα, ὅσα ἐστὶν αὐτῷ, δίδωμι ἐν τῇ χειρί σου, ἀλλ᾿ αὐτοῦ μὴ ἅψῃ. καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ὁ διάβολος ἀπὸ προσώπου Κυρίου

Job 1:12 (NETS)

Job 1:12 (English Elpenor)
Then the Lord said to the slanderer, “Look, all that he has I am giving into your power, but do not touch him.”  So the slanderer went out from the Lord. Then the Lord said to the devil, Behold, I give into thine hand all that he has, but touch not himself.  So the devil went out from the presence of the Lord.

Matthew 10:8 (NET)

Matthew 10:8 (KJV)
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ἀσθενοῦντας θεραπεύετε, νεκροὺς ἐγείρετε, λεπροὺς καθαρίζετε, δαιμόνια ἐκβάλλετε· δωρεὰν ἐλάβετε, δωρεὰν δότε ασθενουντας θεραπευετε λεπρους καθαριζετε νεκρους εγειρετε δαιμονια εκβαλλετε δωρεαν ελαβετε δωρεαν δοτε ασθενουντας θεραπευετε λεπρους καθαριζετε δαιμονια εκβαλλετε δωρεαν ελαβετε δωρεαν δοτε

[1] Johann Cook, “The Profile and some Theological Aspects of the Old Greek of Job – Resurrection and Life after Death as Points in Case,” OTE 24/2 (2011), p. 327

[2] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had νεκροὺς ἐγείρετε here.  The Stephanus Textus Receptus had it following cleanse lepers (KJV: cleanse the lepers).  The Byzantine Majority Text did not have it at all.

[3] Matthew 10:7, 8 (NET)

[4] Hebrews 11:6 (NET)

[5] Philippians 4:19 (NET) Table

[6] Romans 8:31, 32 (NET)

[7] John 8:44b (NET) Table

[8] Isaiah 46:10a (NET) Table

[9] 1 Corinthians 13:4a (NET)

The Lost Son of Perdition, Part 5

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Then Satan entered Judas, the one called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve.[1]  And after Judas took the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.”[2]

Jesus’ command here—do quickly (ποίησον τάχιον)—fills me with awe as I consider the responsibility of authority.  Was He speaking to Judas?  Was He speaking to Satan?  It’s difficult to say that He was speaking to both: ποίησον is singular.  But was He speaking to Satan/Judas, a unitary singular, at that moment?

It leads me to Paul’s letter to the Ephesians (Ephesians 3:7-12 NET):

I became[3] a servant of this gospel according to the gift of God’s grace that was given[4] to me by the exercise of his power.  To me—less than the least of all the[5] saints—this grace was given, to proclaim to[6] the Gentiles the[7] unfathomable riches[8] of Christ and to enlighten everyone about God’s secret plan[9]—the mystery that has been hidden for ages in God who has created all things.[10]  The purpose of this enlightenment is that through the church the multifaceted wisdom of God should now be disclosed to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms.  This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ[11] Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access[12] to God by way of Christ’s faithfulness.

I’m assuming that the rulers (ἀρχαῖς, a form of ἀρχή) and the authorities (ἐξουσίαις, a form of ἐξουσία) in the heavenly realms here are identical to those Paul mentioned later in the same letter (Ephesians 6:10-12 NET):

Finally,[13] be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power.  Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers (ἀρχάς, another form of ἀρχή), against the powers (ἐξουσίας, another form of ἐξουσία), against the world rulers of this darkness,[14] against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.

These are the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms to whom the multifaceted wisdom of God should now be disclosed through the church (διὰ τῆς ἐκκλησίας).  I want to be careful to think in terms of the ἐκκλησία, those called by God to faith in Christ, since churches include both the ἐκκλησία and those still dominated by the rulers (ἀρχάς), the powers (ἐξουσίας), the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.  While this is a constant source of perplexity and disappointment to us, I think Satan probably knows at any given moment those who are his and those who are not.

I’m assuming also that this disclosure to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms has more to do with our actions prompted by faith than our words.  Perhaps, it has even more to do with God’s actions toward and through us than our actions per se.  And if that’s true I may be straining gnats to distinguish between the ἐκκλησία and churches.  God’s acts through us to those among us who are Satan’s own could be as much a part of this disclosure (Matthew 5:43-48) as anything else I might be imagining.

This brings me to God’s love for Satan revealed in the book of Job.

Masoretic Text

 Septuagint
Job 1:1 (Tanakh/KJV) Table Job 1:1 (NET) Job 1:1 (NETS)

Job 1:1 (Elpenor English)
There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job.  And that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. There was a certain man in the land of Ausitis, whose name was Iob, and that man was genuine, blameless, righteous, religious, staying away from every evil thing. There was a certain man in the land of Ausis, whose name [was] Job; and that man was true, blameless, righteous, [and] godly, abstaining from everything evil.

The first time I read the book of Job I didn’t think of it as God’s love for Satan, or, frankly, his love for anyone.  It struck me as a strange tale, actually a strange drama of unseen forces, choices and actions that might impact my life and peace of mind.  At first, I didn’t believe that God is love.[15]  Now I want to remember that fact as I consider the beginning of Job.

Masoretic Text

 Septuagint
Job 1:6 (Tanakh/KJV) Job 1:6 (NET) Job 1:6 (NETS)

Job 1:6 (Elpenor English)
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan (הַשָּׂטָ֖ן) came also among them. Now the day came when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord—and Satan (śāṭān, השׁטן) also arrived among them. And when the set day came, then, look, the angels of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and the slanderer (διάβολος) came with them. And it came to pass on a day, that behold, the angels of God came to stand before the Lord, and the devil (διάβολος) came with them.

The Greek transliterations of הַשָּׂטָ֖ן (śāṭān) used in the New Testanment—σατανᾶς, σατανᾶ and σατανᾶν—do not occur in the Septuagint: σατανᾶς, σατανᾶ and σατανᾶν.  The Greek word σαταν occurs in the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text versions of 2 Corinthians 12:7, along with 1 Kings (3 Reigns, 3 Kings) 11:14 in the Septuagint.  Here is 2 Corinthians 12:7 quoted from the KJV:

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations,[16] there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan[17] (Σατᾶν) to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

A table of 1 Kings 11:14 follows:

Masoretic Text

 Septuagint
1 Kings 11:14 (Tanakh/KJV) 1 Kings 11:14 (NET) 3 Reigns 11:14 (NETS)

3 Kings 11:14 (Elpenor English)
And the LORD stirred up an adversary (שָׂטָן֙) unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king’s seed in Edom. The Lord brought against Solomon an enemy (śāṭān, שׁטן), Hadad the Edomite, a descendant of the Edomite king. And the Lord raised up a satan (σαταν) against Salomon, Hader the Idumean and Hesrom son of Eliadae who was in Raemmath, Hadrazar, king of Souba, his master, and men were gathered around him, and he was leader of a band, and he first captured Damasek, and they were a satan (σαταν) to Israel all the days of Salomon.  And Hader the Idumean was of the seed of the kingdom in Idumea. And the Lord raised up and [sic] enemy (σατὰν) to Solomon, Ader the Idumaean, and Esrom son of Eliadae who [dwelt] in Raama, [and] Adadezer king of Suba his master; (and men gathered to him, and he was head of the conspiracy, and he seized on Damasec,) and they were adversaries (σατὰν) to Israel all the days of Solomon: and Ader the Idumaean [was] of the seed royal in Idumaea.

The Greek translation διάβολος in Job 1:6 doesn’t cause me to question the originality of הַשָּׂטָ֖ן (śāṭān) in the Masoretic text.  A verse near the end of the New Testament ties both of these words together (Revelation 12:9 NET):

So that huge dragon—the ancient serpent, the one called the devil (Διάβολος) and Satan[18] (Σατανᾶς), who deceives the whole world—was thrown down to the earth, and his angels along with him.

I was familiar with Revelation when I first read Job.  And I was familiar with the ancient serpent (ὁ ὄφις ὁ ἀρχαῖος) from the story in Genesis.

Masoretic Text

 Septuagint
Genesis 3:1 (Tanakh) Genesis 3:1 (NET) Genesis 3:1 (NETS)

Genesis 3:1 (Elpenor English)
Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which HaShem G-d had made.  And he said unto the woman: ‘Yea, hath G-d said: Ye shall not eat of any tree of the garden?’ Now the serpent was shrewder than any of the wild animals that the Lord God had made.  He said to the woman, “Is it really true that God said, ‘You must not eat from any tree of the orchard’?” Now the snake (ὄφις) was the most sagacious of all the wild animals that were upon the earth, which the Lord God had made.  And the snake (ὄφις) said to the woman, “Why is it that God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree that is in the orchard’?” NOW the serpent (ὄφις) was the most crafty of all the brutes on the earth, which the Lord God made, and the serpent (ὄφις) said to the woman, Wherefore has God said, Eat not of every tree of the garden?

I assume that before the fall most if not all of the animals Adam and Eve had anything to do with had the ability to speak.  Genesis 3:2 does not read:

And the woman fled in terror, saying, “Help, help, a talking snake!”

On the contrary, Eve doesn’t comment on the serpent’s ability to speak at all.  She proceeds as if it is perfectly natural for one in dominion over the animals to be questioned by, and to teach, them about the Lord (Yᵊhōvâ, יהוה) God (‘ĕlōhîm, אלהים).  So when I first read Job, the Lord (Yᵊhōvâ, יהוה) seemed a little too chummy for my taste with Satan (השׁטן), the ancient serpent who had deceived her.

Masoretic Text

 Septuagint
Job 1:7 (Tanakh/KJV) Job 1:7 (NET) Job 1:7 (NETS)

Job 1:7 (Elpenor English)
And the LORD said unto Satan (הַשָּׂטָ֖ן), Whence comest thou?  Then Satan (הַשָּׂטָ֚ן) answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. The Lord said to Satan (śāṭān, השׁטן), “Where have you come from?”  And Satan (śāṭān, השׁטן) answered the Lord, “From roving about on the earth, and from walking back and forth across it.” And the Lord said to the slanderer (διαβόλῳ), “Where have you come from?”  And the slanderer (διάβολος) answered the Lord, “I have come after going round the earth and walking about what is under heaven.” And the Lord said to the devil (διαβόλῳ), Whence art thou come?  And the devil (διάβολος) answered the Lord, and said, I am come from compassing the earth, and walking up and down in the world.

But if I believe that God is love, I recall that love is not easily angered or resentful.[19]  The Greek words translated easily angered were οὐ παροξύνεται (a form of παροξύνω).  The Greek words translated resentful were οὐ λογίζεται τὸ κακόν (literally: “not counting the evil”).  Another translation reads: love keeps no record of wrongs.[20]  Here λογίζεται (a form of λογίζομαι) was translated keeps no record.  Another form of λογίζομαι was translated not counting in 2 Corinthians 5:19 (NET):

In other words, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting (μὴ λογιζόμενος, another form of λογίζομαι) people’s trespasses against them, and he has given us the message of reconciliation.

I’ll continue with the next verse in Job:

Masoretic Text

 Septuagint
Job 1:8 (Tanakh/KJV) Job 1:8 (NET) Job 1:8 (NETS)

Job 1:8 (Elpenor English)
And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? So the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job?  There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and turns away from evil.” And the Lord said to him, “Did you give thought to your disposition against my servant Iob—because there is no one of those on the earth like him, a man who is blameless, genuine, religious, staying away from every evil thing?” And the Lord said to him, Hast thou diligently considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a man blameless, true, godly, abstaining from everything evil?

When I first read this I heard the Lord (Yᵊhōvâ, יהוה) bragging to Satan about Job.  Considering what happened next, I was led to Ecclesiastes (Ecclesiastes 7:16-18 NIV).

Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise—why destroy yourself?  Do not be overwicked, and do not be a fool—why die before your time?  It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other.  Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes.

I sensed the growing hunger and thirst for righteousness within me.  My misunderstanding of God in the book of Job, my natural instinct to seek out ballast and the philosophical bent of my mind made this little bit of Aristotelian sagacity quite compelling.  I even quoted it to my second wife.

Everything turned out fine for me.  I lead a ridiculously blessed life that seems completely undeserved.  It didn’t turn out so well for my family, and so I am repenting of practicing this particular mean between the extremes.  Whatever Solomon meant it is no excuse to quench the Holy Spirit.  By the grace of God I will do my best now to follow wherever his hunger and thirst for righteousness leads.

And believing that God is love, I no longer hear Him bragging to Satan: Love is not glad about injustice, but rejoices in the truth.[21]  [Y]our word is truth,[22] Jesus prayed to his Father.  I’ll continue with this in another essay.

Tables comparing Job 1:6; 1 Kings 11:14; Genesis 3:1; Job 1:7; 1:8; Ecclesiastes 7:16; 7:17 and 7:18 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Job 1:6; 1 Kings (3 Reigns, 3 Kings) 11:14; Genesis 3:1; Job 1:7; 1:8; Ecclesiastes 7:16; 7:17 and 7:18 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing Ephesians 3:7-9; 3:11, 12; 6:10; 6:12; 2 Corinthians 12:7 and Revelation 12:9 in the NET and KJV follow.

Job 1:6 (Tanakh)

 Job 1:6 (KJV)

Job 1:6 (NET)
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. Now the day came when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord—and Satan also arrived among them.

Job 1:6 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 1:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ὡς ἐγένετο ἡ ἡμέρα αὕτη καὶ ἰδοὺ ἦλθον οἱ ἄγγελοι τοῦ θεοῦ παραστῆναι ἐνώπιον τοῦ κυρίου καὶ ὁ διάβολος ἦλθεν μετ᾽ αὐτῶν Καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἡ ἡμέρα αὕτη, καὶ ἰδοὺ ἦλθον οἱ ἄγγελοι τοῦ Θεοῦ παραστῆναι ἐνώπιον τοῦ Κυρίου, καὶ ὁ διάβολος ἦλθε μετ᾿ αὐτῶν

Job 1:6 (NETS)

Job 1:6 (English Elpenor)
And when the set day came, then, look, the angels of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and the slanderer came with them. And it came to pass on a day, that behold, the angels of God came to stand before the Lord, and the devil came with them.

1 Kings 11:14 (Tanakh)

 1 Kings 11:14 (KJV)

1 Kings 11:14 (NET)
And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king’s seed in Edom. And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king’s seed in Edom. The Lord brought against Solomon an enemy, Hadad the Edomite, a descendant of the Edomite king.

1 Kings 11:14 (Septuagint BLB)

3 Kings 11:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἤγειρεν κύριος σαταν τῷ Σαλωμων τὸν Αδερ τὸν Ιδουμαῗον καὶ τὸν Εσρωμ υἱὸν Ελιαδαε τὸν ἐν Ραεμμαθ Αδραζαρ βασιλέα Σουβα κύριον αὐτοῦ καὶ συνηθροίσθησαν ἐπ᾽ αὐτὸν ἄνδρες καὶ ἦν ἄρχων συστρέμματος καὶ προκατελάβετο τὴν Δαμασεκ καὶ ἦσαν σαταν τῷ Ισραηλ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας Σαλωμων καὶ Αδερ ὁ Ιδουμαῗος ἐκ τοῦ σπέρματος τῆς βασιλείας ἐν Ιδουμαίᾳ Καὶ ἤγειρε Κύριος σατὰν τῷ Σαλωμὼν τὸν ῎Αδερ τὸν ᾿Ιδουμαῖον καὶ τὸν ᾿Εσρὼμ υἱὸν ᾿Ελιαδαέ, τὸν ἐν Ῥαεμμὰθ ᾿Αδραζὰρ βασιλέα Σουβὰ κύριον αὐτοῦ· καὶ συνηθροίσθησαν ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν ἄνδρες, καὶ ἦν ἄρχων συστρέμματος καὶ προκατελάβετο τὴν Δαμασέκ· καὶ ἦσαν σατὰν τῷ ᾿Ισραὴλ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας Σαλωμών. καὶ ῎Αδερ ὁ ᾿Ιδουμαῖος ἐκ τοῦ σπέρματος τῆς βασιλείας ἐν ᾿Ιδουμαίᾳ

3 Reigns 11:14 (NETS)

3 Kings 11:14 (English Elpenor)
And the Lord raised up a satan against Salomon, Hader the Idumean and Hesrom son of Eliadae who was in Raemmath, Hadrazar, king of Souba, his master, and men were gathered around him, and he was leader of a band, and he first captured Damasek, and they were a satan to Israel all the days of Salomon.  And Hader the Idumean was of the seed of the kingdom in Idumea. And the Lord raised up and enemy to Solomon, Ader the Idumaean, and Esrom son of Eliadae who [dwelt] in Raama, [and] Adadezer king of Suba his master; (and men gathered to him, and he was head of the conspiracy, and he seized on Damasec,) and they were adversaries to Israel all the days of Solomon: and Ader the Idumaean [was] of the seed royal in Idumaea.

Genesis 3:1 (Tanakh)

 Genesis 3:1 (KJV)

Genesis 3:1 (NET)
Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which HaShem G-d had made.  And he said unto the woman: ‘Yea, hath G-d said: Ye shall not eat of any tree of the garden?’ Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made.  And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? Now the serpent was shrewder than any of the wild animals that the Lord God had made.  He said to the woman, “Is it really true that God said, ‘You must not eat from any tree of the orchard’?”

Genesis 3:1 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 3:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὁ δὲ ὄφις ἦν φρονιμώτατος πάντων τῶν θηρίων τῶν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ὧν ἐποίησεν κύριος ὁ θεός καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ὄφις τῇ γυναικί τί ὅτι εἶπεν ὁ θεός οὐ μὴ φάγητε ἀπὸ παντὸς ξύλου τοῦ ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ Ο δὲ ὄφις ἦν φρονιμώτατος πάντων τῶν θηρίων τῶν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ὧν ἐποίησε Κύριος ὁ Θεός. καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ὄφις τῇ γυναικί· τί ὅτι εἶπεν ὁ Θεός, οὐ μὴ φάγητε ἀπὸ παντὸς ξύλου τοῦ παραδείσου

Genesis 3:1 (NETS)

Genesis 3:1 (English Elpenor)
Now the snake was the most sagacious of all the wild animals that were upon the earth, which the Lord God had made.  And the snake said to the woman, “Why is it that God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree that is in the orchard’?” NOW the serpent was the most crafty of all the brutes on the earth, which the Lord God made, and the serpent said to the woman, Wherefore has God said, Eat not of every tree of the garden?

Job 1:7 (Tanakh)

 Job 1:7 (KJV)

Job 1:7 (NET)
And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou?  Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou?  Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”  And Satan answered the Lord, “From roving about on the earth, and from walking back and forth across it.”

Job 1:7 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 1:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἶπεν ὁ κύριος τῷ διαβόλῳ πόθεν παραγέγονας καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ διάβολος τῷ κυρίῳ εἶπεν περιελθὼν τὴν γῆν καὶ ἐμπεριπατήσας τὴν ὑπ᾽ οὐρανὸν πάρειμι καὶ εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τῷ διαβόλῳ· πόθεν παραγέγονας; καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ διάβολος τῷ Κυρίῳ εἶπε· περιελθὼν τὴν γῆν καὶ ἐμπεριπατήσας τὴν ὑπ᾿ οὐρανὸν πάρειμι

Job 1:7 (NETS)

Job 1:7 (English Elpenor)
And the Lord said to the slanderer, “Where have you come from?”  And the slanderer answered the Lord, “I have come after going round the earth and walking about what is under heaven.” And the Lord said to the devil, Whence art thou come?  And the devil answered the Lord, and said, I am come from compassing the earth, and walking up and down in the world.

Job 1:8 (Tanakh)

 Job 1:8 (KJV)

Job 1:8 (NET)
And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? So the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job?  There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and turns away from evil.”

Job 1:8 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 1:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ κύριος προσέσχες τῇ διανοίᾳ σου κατὰ τοῦ παιδός μου Ιωβ ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν κατ᾽ αὐτὸν τῶν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἄνθρωπος ἄμεμπτος ἀληθινός θεοσεβής ἀπεχόμενος ἀπὸ παντὸς πονηροῦ πράγματος καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ Κύριος· προσέσχες τῇ διανοίᾳ σου κατὰ τοῦ παιδός μου ᾿Ιώβ, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστι κατ᾿ αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ἄνθρωπος ἄμεμπτος, ἀληθινός, θεοσεβής, ἀπεχόμενος ἀπὸ παντὸς πονηροῦ πράγματος

Job 1:8 (NETS)

Job 1:8 (English Elpenor)
And the Lord said to him, “Did you give thought to your disposition against my servant Iob—because there is no one of those on the earth like him, a man who is blameless, genuine, religious, staying away from every evil thing?” And the Lord said to him, Hast thou diligently considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a man blameless, true, godly, abstaining from everything evil?

Ecclesiastes 7:16 (Tanakh)

 Ecclesiastes 7:16 (KJV)

Ecclesiastes 7:16 (NET)
Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? So do not be excessively righteous or excessively wise; otherwise you might be disappointed.

Ecclesiastes 7:16 (Septuagint BLB)

Ecclesiastes 7:16 (Septuagint Elpenor)
μὴ γίνου δίκαιος πολὺ καὶ μὴ σοφίζου περισσά μήποτε ἐκπλαγῇς μὴ γίνου δίκαιος πολύ, μηδὲ σοφίζου περισσά, μήποτε ἐκπλαγῇς

Ecclesiastes 7:16 (NETS)

Ecclesiastes 7:16 (English Elpenor)
Do not be very righteous, and do not be excessively wise, lest you be horrified. Be not very just; neither be very wise: lest thou be confounded.

Ecclesiastes 7:17 (Tanakh)

 Ecclesiastes 7:17 (KJV)

Ecclesiastes 7:17 (NET)
Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? Do not be excessively wicked and do not be a fool; otherwise you might die before your time.

Ecclesiastes 7:17 (Septuagint BLB)

Ecclesiastes 7:17 (Septuagint Elpenor)
μὴ ἀσεβήσῃς πολὺ καὶ μὴ γίνου σκληρός ἵνα μὴ ἀποθάνῃς ἐν οὐ καιρῷ σου μὴ ἀσεβήσῃς πολὺ καὶ μὴ γίνου σκληρός, ἵνα μὴ ἀποθάνῃς ἐν οὐ καιρῷ σου

Ecclesiastes 7:17 (NETS)

Ecclesiastes 7:17 (English Elpenor)
Do not be very ungodly, and do not become hard so that you should not die when it is not your time. Be not very wicked; and be not stubborn: lest thou shouldest die before thy time.

Ecclesiastes 7:18 (Tanakh)

 Ecclesiastes 7:18 (KJV)

Ecclesiastes 7:18 (NET)
It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all. It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all. It is best to take hold of one warning without letting go of the other warning; for the one who fears God will follow both warnings.

Ecclesiastes 7:18 (Septuagint BLB)

Ecclesiastes 7:18 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἀγαθὸν τὸ ἀντέχεσθαί σε ἐν τούτῳ καί γε ἀπὸ τούτου μὴ ἀνῇς τὴν χεῗρά σου ὅτι φοβούμενος τὸν θεὸν ἐξελεύσεται τὰ πάντα ἀγαθὸν τὸ ἀντέχεσθαί σε ἐν τούτῳ, καί γε ἀπὸ τούτου μὴ μιάνῃς τὴν χεῖρά σου, ὅτι φοβουμένοις τὸν Θεὸν ἐξελεύσεται τὰ πάντα

Ecclesiastes 7:18 (NETS)

Ecclesiastes 7:18 (English Elpenor)
It is good that you hold on to the one; indeed, do not let your hand go from the other, for the one who fears God will go forth in all things. It is well for thee to hold fast by this; also by this defile not thine hand: for to them that fear God all things shall come forth [well].

Epehesians 3:7-9 (NET)

Epehesians 3:7-9 (KJV)
I became a servant of this gospel according to the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the exercise of his power. Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
οὗ ἐγενήθην διάκονος κατὰ τὴν δωρεὰν τῆς χάριτος τοῦ θεοῦ τῆς δοθείσης μοι κατὰ τὴν ἐνέργειαν τῆς δυνάμεως αὐτοῦ ου εγενομην διακονος κατα την δωρεαν της χαριτος του θεου την δοθεισαν μοι κατα την ενεργειαν της δυναμεως αυτου ου εγενομην διακονος κατα την δωρεαν της χαριτος του θεου την δοθεισαν μοι κατα την ενεργειαν της δυναμεως αυτου
To me—less than the least of all the saints—this grace was given, to proclaim to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
Ἐμοὶ τῷ ἐλαχιστοτέρῳ πάντων ἁγίων ἐδόθη ἡ χάρις αὕτη, τοῖς ἔθνεσιν εὐαγγελίσασθαι τὸ ἀνεξιχνίαστον πλοῦτος τοῦ Χριστοῦ εμοι τω ελαχιστοτερω παντων των αγιων εδοθη η χαρις αυτη εν τοις εθνεσιν ευαγγελισασθαι τον ανεξιχνιαστον πλουτον του χριστου εμοι τω ελαχιστοτερω παντων αγιων εδοθη η χαρις αυτη εν τοις εθνεσιν ευαγγελισασθαι τον ανεξιχνιαστον πλουτον του χριστου
and to enlighten everyone about God’s secret plan—the mystery that has been hidden for ages in God who has created all things. And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ φωτίσαι [πάντας] τίς ἡ οἰκονομία τοῦ μυστηρίου τοῦ ἀποκεκρυμμένου ἀπὸ τῶν αἰώνων ἐν τῷ θεῷ τῷ τὰ πάντα κτίσαντι και φωτισαι παντας τις η κοινωνια του μυστηριου του αποκεκρυμμενου απο των αιωνων εν τω θεω τω τα παντα κτισαντι δια ιησου χριστου και φωτισαι παντας τις η οικονομια του μυστηριου του αποκεκρυμμενου απο των αιωνων εν τω θεω τω τα παντα κτισαντι δια ιησου χριστου

Ephesians 3:11, 12 (NET)

Ephesians 3:11, 12 (KJV)
This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
κατὰ πρόθεσιν τῶν αἰώνων ἣν ἐποίησεν ἐν τῷ Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ τῷ κυρίῳ ἡμῶν κατα προθεσιν των αιωνων ην εποιησεν εν χριστω ιησου τω κυριω ημων κατα προθεσιν των αιωνων ην εποιησεν εν χριστω ιησου τω κυριω ημων
in whom we have boldness and confident access to God by way of Christ’s faithfulness. In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ἐν ᾧ ἔχομεν τὴν παρρησίαν καὶ προσαγωγὴν ἐν πεποιθήσει διὰ τῆς πίστεως αὐτοῦ εν ω εχομεν την παρρησιαν και την προσαγωγην εν πεποιθησει δια της πιστεως αυτου εν ω εχομεν την παρρησιαν και την προσαγωγην εν πεποιθησει δια της πιστεως αυτου
Ephesians 6:10 (NET)

Ephesians 6:10 (KJV)
Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
Τοῦ λοιποῦ, ἐνδυναμοῦσθε ἐν κυρίῳ καὶ ἐν τῷ κράτει τῆς ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ το λοιπον αδελφοι μου ενδυναμουσθε εν κυριω και εν τω κρατει της ισχυος αυτου το λοιπον αδελφοι μου ενδυναμουσθε εν κυριω και εν τω κρατει της ισχυος αυτου

Ephesians 6:12 (NET)

Ephesians 6:12 (KJV)
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ἡμῖν ἡ πάλη πρὸς αἷμα καὶ σάρκα ἀλλὰ πρὸς τὰς ἀρχάς, πρὸς τὰς ἐξουσίας, πρὸς τοὺς κοσμοκράτορας τοῦ σκότους τούτου, πρὸς τὰ πνευματικὰ τῆς πονηρίας ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις οτι ουκ εστιν ημιν η παλη προς αιμα και σαρκα αλλα προς τας αρχας προς τας εξουσιας προς τους κοσμοκρατορας του σκοτους του αιωνος τουτου προς τα πνευματικα της πονηριας εν τοις επουρανιοις οτι ουκ εστιν ημιν η παλη προς αιμα και σαρκα αλλα προς τας αρχας προς τας εξουσιας προς τους κοσμοκρατορας του σκοτους του αιωνος τουτου προς τα πνευματικα της πονηριας εν τοις επουρανιοις

2 Corinthians 12:7 (NET)

2 Corinthians 12:7 (KJV)
even because of the extraordinary character of the revelations.  Therefore, so that I would not become arrogant, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to trouble me—so that I would not become arrogant. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ τῇ ὑπερβολῇ τῶν ἀποκαλύψεων. διὸ ἵνα μὴ ὑπεραίρωμαι, ἐδόθη μοι σκόλοψ τῇ σαρκί, ἄγγελος σατανᾶ, ἵνα με κολαφίζῃ, ἵνα μὴ ὑπεραίρωμαι και τη υπερβολη των αποκαλυψεων ινα μη υπεραιρωμαι εδοθη μοι σκολοψ τη σαρκι αγγελος σαταν ινα με κολαφιζη ινα μη υπεραιρωμαι και τη υπερβολη των αποκαλυψεων ινα μη υπεραιρωμαι εδοθη μοι σκολοψ τη σαρκι αγγελος σαταν ινα με κολαφιζη ινα μη υπεραιρωμαι

Revelation 12:9 (NET)

Revelation 12:9 (KJV)
So that huge dragon—the ancient serpent, the one called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world—was thrown down to the earth, and his angels along with him. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ ἐβλήθη ὁ δράκων ὁ μέγας, ὁ ὄφις ὁ ἀρχαῖος, ὁ καλούμενος Διάβολος καὶ ὁ Σατανᾶς, ὁ πλανῶν τὴν οἰκουμένην ὅλην, ἐβλήθη εἰς τὴν γῆν, καὶ οἱ ἄγγελοι αὐτοῦ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἐβλήθησαν και εβληθη ο δρακων ο μεγας ο οφις ο αρχαιος ο καλουμενος διαβολος και ο σατανας ο πλανων την οικουμενην ολην εβληθη εις την γην και οι αγγελοι αυτου μετ αυτου εβληθησαν και εβληθη ο δρακων ο μεγας ο οφις ο αρχαιος ο καλουμενος διαβολος και σατανας ο πλανων την οικουμενην ολην εβληθη εις την γην και οι αγγελοι αυτου μετ αυτου εβληθησαν

[1] Luke 22:3 (NET) Table

[2] John 13:27 (NET)

[3] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἐγενήθην here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εγενομην (KJV: I was made).

[4] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had δοθείσης here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δοθεισαν (KJV: given).

[5] The Stephanus Textus Receptus had the article των preceding saints.  The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

[6] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εν (KJV: among) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[7] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the nominative/accusative neuter article τὸ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the accusative masculine article τον.

[8] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the masculine/neuter noun πλοῦτος in the nominative case here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the masculine noun πλουτον in the accusative case.

[9] The Stephanus Textus Receptus had κοινωνια (KJV: fellowship) here, where the NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had οἰκονομία.

[10] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δια ιησου χριστου (KJV: by Jesus Christ) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[11] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the article τῷ preceding Christ.  The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

[12] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article την preceding confident access.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[13] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had Τοῦ λοιποῦ here in the genitive case, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had το λοιπον αδελφοι μου (KJV: Finally, my brethren).

[14] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had του αιωνος (KJV: of this world) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[15] 1 John 4:8, 16 (NET)

[16] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had διὸ (NET: Therefore) following revelations.  The Sephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

[17] The Sephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had σαταν here, where the NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had σατανᾶ.

[18] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Stephanus Textus Receptus had the article ὁ preceding Satan.  The Byzantine Majority Text did not.

[19] 1 Corinthians 13:5b (NET)

[20] 1 Corinthians 13:5b (NIV)

[21] 1 Corinthians 13:6 (NET)

[22] John 17:17b (NET) Table

My Reasons and My Reason, Part 8

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Considering walking in the light led me back here to try to bring this series of essays to some sort of conclusion.  Much as I might like something more definitive, this—like the rest of my life—will be more in-process.  But it highlights the advantage of taking notes by writing essays.

While it was probably good for me to type out Scripture verses and passages (copy and paste came later) and salutary to suspend my own judgments until a sufficient quantity of God’s own thoughts had washed over and through me, the notes that resulted from this exercise were simply typed lists of Scripture passages bound together only by the Greek or Hebrew word they shared.  Though it shaped my understanding of the Greek or Hebrew word in question, once the meaning of the exercise dimmed in memory my notes didn’t help me recall it.  Writing essays forces me to translate the gestalt that forms from word studies into a linear pattern of words, phrases, sentences and paragraphs that I can return to again and again as new patterns emerge.

This essay begins for all practical purposes with my divorce from my second wife (third wife if you’re willing to count my high school girlfriend).  One of the reasons she divorced me was stated: “I don’t like your sexuality.  And when I do, I don’t like myself.”

I’m persuaded a decade or so later—knowing we get along just fine now that sex and living together are off the table—that it wasn’t female emotional-speak, when a man should hear the emotion conveyed by the words rather than their literal content.  She was a poet, speaking content and feeling in a few precise words.  When I heard them I became the submissive sadist who had goaded her into a discomforting situation.

I was under the most extreme emotional duress, rejected again by another wife after having been accepted (including my masochistic sexuality).  I had believed she was God’s gift to me, that He had given me the desire of my heart and He was about to take that gift away, albeit through my inability to please a wife.  I don’t expect that He will ever taunt Satan with words like, Have you considered my servant Dan?  There is no one like him on the earth, a pure and upright man, one who fears God and turns away from evil.[1]  I was in no shape to say blessed be the name of the Lord.[2]  That was accomplished entirely by the Holy Spirit.  He flooded Paul’s definition of love back into my mind (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a NET):

Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious.  Love does not brag, it is not puffed up.  It is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful.  It is not glad about injustice, but rejoices in the truth.  It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never ends.   

That’s not to say that it had ever left entirely.  To Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind[3] and to Love your neighbor as yourself,[4] it’s nice to know what love is.  But under extreme emotional duress Paul’s definition became my mantra.

The obvious advantage of this is that Paul’s definition of love coincides absolutely with the fruit of the Holy Spirit: the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control[5] He is ever-producing in the believer, like a fountain of water springing up to eternal life.[6]  Jesus stood up and shouted out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink.  Just as the scripture says, ‘From within him will flow rivers of living water.’”[7]  And whatever the flow rate in ordinary times I’m convinced He increases it in times of duress, emotional or otherwise.

Though I was completely wrong the first time I was divorced to think that I could love like God and fulfill the law by turning Paul’s definition of love into rules I would obey in my own strength, the Holy Spirit was not wrong to make that definition my mantra.  It reminds me of another mantra from the movie The Patriot.

It comes at the turning point for widower and war veteran Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson).  He has avoided being dragged back into war until now.  He and his two younger sons Nathan (Trevor Morgan) and Samuel (Bryan Chafin) prepare an ambush for the Redcoats who have captured his eldest son Gabriel (Heath Ledger).  “What did I tell you fellas about shooting,” Benjamin asks his obviously frightened young sons.  “Aim small, miss small,” they respond in unison.  Benjamin prays, “Lord make me fast and accurate.”  Nathan repeats “aim small, miss small” as a mantra to steady his breathing.

When I consider sin as a missing of the mark,[8] “aim small, miss small” has a lot to do with how Paul’s definition of love worked as a mantra of righteousness.  A bit of impatience with God or my wife was a long way from atheism or murder.  Aiming at kindness kept the worst of my bitter diatribes at bay.  A little envy did not lead to adultery.  None of these small misses were quite as devastating as missing the absolutes of God’s law.  Paul’s definition of love may well be the God-ordained hedge about the law working in consonance with the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Still, here I am with a desire for that combination of humiliation, pain and pleasure called masochism.  Now, admittedly, I have no desire for missionary-position sex with somebody’s grandmother.  Maybe this is the way sexual desire dies, most kinky last.  I don’t honestly know.  But it leads me aside here to another consideration.

Paul wrote believers in Rome (Romans 8:12-14 NET):

So then, brothers and sisters, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh (for if you live according to the flesh, you will die), but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live.  For all who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God.

The Greek word translated you put to death was θανατοῦτε (a form of θανατόω).  I’ve been frustrated at times not knowing how to behead, stab, shoot or poison the practices of the body (πράξεις τοῦ σώματος), as distinguished from the works of the flesh (ἔργα τῆς σαρκός).  In the past believers tried asceticism.  Today psychology is all the rage.  But I think that θανατοῦτε is a bit more passive than its English translation may seem.

Brother will hand over (Παραδώσει, a form of παραδίδωμι) brother to death, Jesus prophesied, and a father his child.  Children will rise against parents and have them put to death (θανατώσουσιν, another form of θανατόω).[9]  Here θανατώσουσιν was associated with Παραδώσει, “to give into the hands (of another).”  The brother, the father and the children would not kill directly but surrender their victims to another authority.  And I think that pattern holds.

The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were trying to find false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death (θανατώσωσιν, another form of θανατόω).[10]  When it was early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people plotted against Jesus to execute (θανατῶσαι, another form of θανατόω) him.[11]  But when it got right down to it the chief priests and elders handed him over (παρέδωκαν, another form of παραδίδωμι) to Pilate the governor.[12]  Even Pilate handed him over (παρέδωκεν, another form of παραδίδωμι) [to others] to be crucified.[13]  I am to put to death the [practices[14]] of the body by the Spirit (πνεύματι, a form of πνεῦμα, dative case).

If I leave the killing to God, suddenly his beyond intimate knowledge of me as an individual is comforting rather than a threat.  Let the Creator and Lover of my soul perform the spiritual equivalent of neurosurgery in his own time with his own steady hand.  My part is to hand the practices of the body over to Him.  For all who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God.

I do, however, recognize another desire of my heart, a desire to do word studies in the Bible to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom [He has] sent.[15]  When I spent countless hours typing Scripture passages, or even copying and pasting them, though I wanted and needed to do it, I felt guilty about all the time I “wasted.”  I should have been making money or music or doing something “good.”  What I’ve learned from all that I’ve suffered is that studying God’s word is doing something good.

Now I have more time off from work than I can actually afford.  Bible study is not only good for me and the thing I look most forward to being off work to do, it is the most economical way to spend idle time.  Also, it is time spent when every inclination of the thoughts of [my mind] is not only evil (raʽ, רע) all the time.[16]  Yes, I have learned a more circumspect view of who and what I am now, as well as my own capacity for doing good (apart from being led by the Holy Spirit).  Why do you call me good? Jesus asked the ἄρχων.  No one is good except God alone.[17]

Of course He chooses which of the desires (mishʼâlâh, משאלת; Septuagint: αἰτήματα, a form of αἴτημα) of my heart (lêb, לבך; Septuagint: καρδίας, a form of καρδία) to grant and which to kill.  The heart (lêb, הלב; Septuagint: καρδία) is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?  I the LORD (yehôvâh, יהוה) search the heart (lêb, לב; Septuagint: καρδίας, a form of καρδία), I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.[18]

If I’m honest about it, almost the last thing I would desire now is a wife to disrupt my Bible study routine.  So, unless I plan to attempt a biblical justification for hiring a dominatrix, my masochism will just have to wither away.  Though I failed to find a definitive “masochism is sin”[19] in Scripture I think my life has demonstrated that for me at least masochism is not beneficial (συμφέρει, a form of συμφέρω).  And I’ve spent the better part of a lifetime coming even to that tentative conclusion.  I can certainly afford to be a little patient with the sexual obsessions of others.

I’ve written about Chad Allen before and won’t repeat it here.  The love and grace he demonstrated toward his accusers as producer and actor of Save Me deeply affected me and I loved him, though we had never met.  “The final thing the movie did for me was introduce me to the Gay Christian Network,” I wrote.

While not untrue it was perhaps misleading since the Gay Christian Network was nothing more than the Scriptural musings of Justin Lee to me.  I didn’t always agree with Mr. Lee’s conclusions but his process gave me confidence that the Holy Spirit would work in anyone pursuing God through his word that way.  Now that he has moved on to other endeavors the Gay Christian Network became the writings of Isaac Archuleta to me.  I admit to being somewhat less sanguine about his more psychological approach.

So, can I live in a world where my heart’s desire to do word studies in the Bible is granted while my heart’s desire to enjoy hot, kinky sex with a loving wife is strangled?  The simple answer is no—not on my own, not apart from the fruit of the Holy Spirit.  This brings me back to Habakkuk.  He didn’t describe the fruit of the spirit as a river or a fountain of living water but as the feet of a deer (Habakkuk 3:17-19 NIV):

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.  The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights (NASB: And makes me walk on my high places).

As a coda to this essay: My eighty-six-year-old mother fell again and broke her arm.  My ex-wife is staying with her until I can get there.

[1] Job 1:8 (NET)

[2] Job 1:21b (KJV)

[3] Matthew 22:37 (NET) Table

[4] Matthew 22:39 (NET)

[5] Galatians 5:22, 23 (NET)

[6] John 4:14b (NET)

[7] John 7:37b, 38 (NET)

[8] Greek: ἁμαρτάνω; Hebrew: châṭâʼ (חָטָא)

[9] Matthew 10:21 (NET)

[10] Matthew 26:59 (NET)

[11] Matthew 27:1 (NET)

[12] Matthew 27:2b (NET)

[13] Matthew 27:26b (NET)

[14] πράξεις (a form of πρᾶξις) is from the verb πράσσω, “to ‘practise’, that is, perform repeatedly or habitually.”  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be paid back according to what he has done (ἔπραξεν, a form of πράσσω) while in the body, whether good or evil (2 Corinthians 5:10 NET).

[15] John 17:3b (NET)

[16] Genesis 6:5b (NET)

[17] Luke 18:19 (NET)

[18] Jeremiah 17:9, 10 (Tanakh)

[19] I might try again at another time with a word study of ἀσέλγεια.