David’s Forgiveness, Part 1

How blessed are those whose actions are blameless, Psalm 119 begins, who obey the law of the Lord.   How blessed are those who observe his rules, and seek him with all their heart, who, moreover, do no wrong, but follow in his footsteps.  You demand that your precepts be carefully kept.1  Every word is true [See Addendum below], but the psalmist was aware that his actions were not blameless, that he did not obey the Law of the Lord, or follow in his footsteps.

If only I were predisposed to keep your statutes!  The Psalm continues.  Then I would not be ashamed, if I were focused on all your commands.2  The psalmist made promises, whether foxhole promises or genuine I can’t say for sure.  I will give you sincere thanks, when I learn your just regulations.  I will keep your statutes.3  The psalmist’s final plea persuades me, however, that the spirit was willing even if the flesh was weakDo not completely abandon me!4

This is the human condition before God in a nutshell.  It sets the stage as I begin to grapple with what happened to David as a result of his sin.  I want to analyze David’s sin like this:

God’s Law – Exodus 20:1, 13, 14 (NET)

David’s Sin – 2 Samuel 12:9 (NET)5 Table

God spoke all these words (dâbâr, הדברים) [Table]: [David showed] contempt for the word (dâbâr, דבר) of the Lord by doing evil in [his] sight…
You shall not murder [Table]. 1. [he] struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword
You shall not commit adultery [Table]. 2. [he took] his wife as [his] own

I have returned to this incident over and over, trying to understand the Gospel and David’s relationship to it in the Lord’s mind.  Initially, given my perverse predilections, I analyzed 2 Samuel 12:9b-12 and 14 as “Sin” and its corresponding “Punishment.”

Sin

Punishment

You have killed [Uriah] with the sword of the Ammonites.

2 Samuel 12:9 (NET)

So now the sword will never depart from your house.

2 Samuel 12:10 (NET) Table

For [Because] you have despised me by taking the wife of Uriah the Hittite as your own!

2 Samuel 12:10 (NET)

I am about to bring disaster on you from inside your own household!  Right before your eyes I will take your wives and hand them over to your companion.  He will have sexual relations with your wives in broad daylight!  Although you have acted in secret, I will do this thing before all Israel, and in broad daylight.

2 Samuel 12:11,12 (NET) Table1 Table2

…because you have treated the Lord with such contempt in this matter…

2 Samuel 12:14 (NET) Table

…the son who has been born to you will certainly die.

2 Samuel 12:14 (NET)

The problem with my initial analysis was that it tainted the Lord’s forgiveness in my mind.  I felt all warm and fuzzy about that forgiveness when I read the words, but my analysis convinced me that what the Lord actually did was reduce David’s sentence.

Sin

Punishment

David’s Actual Punishment

You have killed [Uriah] with the sword of the Ammonites.

2 Samuel 12:9 (NET)

Whoever strikes someone so that he dies must surely be put to death….if a man willfully attacks his neighbor to kill him cunningly, you will take him even from my altar that he may die.

Exodus 21:12, 14 (NET) Table1 Table2

So now the sword will never depart from your house.

2 Samuel 12:10 (NET)

For [Because] you have despised me by taking the wife of Uriah the Hittite as your own!

2 Samuel 12:10 (NET)

If a man commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death.

Leviticus 20:10 (NET) Table

I am about to bring disaster on you from inside your own household!  Right before your eyes I will take your wives and hand them over to your companion. He will have sexual relations with your wives in broad daylight! Although you have acted in secret, I will do this thing before all Israel, and in broad daylight.

2 Samuel 12:11, 12 (NET)

…because you have treated (nā’aṣ, נאץ) the Lord with such contempt (nā’aṣ, נאצת) in this matter…

2 Samuel 12:14a (NET)

?

…the son who has been born to you will certainly die.

2 Samuel 12:14b (NET)

I couldn’t find a punishment in the law to relate directly to 2 Samuel 12:14a.  The Hebrew word for the way David treated the Lord (nâʼats, נאץ) is found first in Numbers.  When the Israelite spies returned from the promised land, all but Caleb said (Numbers 13:31-33 NET):

We are not able to go up against these people, because they are stronger than we are!…The land that we passed through to investigate is a land that devours its inhabitants.  All the people we saw there are of great stature.  We even saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak came from the Nephilim), and we seemed liked grasshoppers both to ourselves and to them.

This majority opinion discouraged the people.  They complained to Moses and Aaron (Numbers 14:2b-4 NET):

If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had perished in this wilderness!  Why has the Lord brought us into this land only to be killed by the sword, that our wives and our children should become plunder?  Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?…Let’s appoint a leader and return to Egypt.

I was having a similar meltdown, blaming Jesus (A.K.A. “that vengeful Jehovah”) for punishing David’s innocent son for David’s sin.  Moses and Aaron prostrated themselves before their distraught people.  Joshua and Caleb rushed in, tore their robes, and said (Numbers 14:7-9 NET):

The land we passed through to investigate is an exceedingly good land.  If the Lord delights in us, then he will bring us into this land and give it to us – a land that is flowing with milk and honey.  Only do not rebel against the Lord, and do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us.  Their protection has turned aside from them, but the Lord is with us.  Do not fear them!

The people threatened to stone them and probably would have if the glory of the Lord had not appeared to all the Israelites at the tent of meeting.6  The Lord said to Moses, “How long will this people despise (nā’aṣ, ינאצני) me, and how long will they not believe in me, in spite of the signs that I have done among them?7

This same Hebrew word occurs in Deuteronomy 31:16-21 (NET):

Then the Lord said to Moses, “You are about to die, and then these people will begin to prostitute themselves with the foreign gods of the land into which they are going.  They will reject (ʽâzab, ועזבני) me and break my covenant that I have made with them.  At that time my anger will erupt against them and I will abandon (ʽâzab, ועזבתים) them and hide my face from them until they are devoured.  Many disasters and distresses will overcome them so that they will say at that time, ‘Have not these disasters overcome us because our God is not among us?’  But I will certainly hide myself at that time because of all the wickedness they will have done by turning to other gods.  Now write down for yourselves the following song and teach it to the Israelites.  Put it into their very mouths so that this song may serve as my witness against the Israelites!  For after I have brought them to the land I promised to their ancestors – one flowing with milk and honey – and they eat their fill and become fat, then they will turn to other gods and worship them; they will reject (nā’aṣ, ונאצוני) me and break my covenant.  Then when many disasters and distresses overcome them this song will testify against them, for their descendants will not forget it.  I know the intentions they have in mind today, even before I bring them to the land I have promised.”

The unbelief and rebellion in my heart that came from calling the death of David’s son a punishment for David’s sin caused me to rethink my position.  I noticed then that 2 Samuel 12:14 came after 2 Samuel 12:13 (NET Table): Then David exclaimed to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord!”  Nathan replied to David, “Yes, and the Lord has forgiven [See Addendum below] your sin.  You are not going to die.”

That’s right, it finally dawned on me, the punishment for David’s sin was death.  Nathan prophesied the death of David’s son after God forgave David.  If these events, for lack of a better term, were punishments they would be David’s death.  They couldn’t be punishments.  Perhaps these events had as much to do with David’s forgiveness as with his sin, I thought.  God’s forgiveness was the intervening event that changed everything, otherwise David would be dead, no fuss, no muss, and I wouldn’t be confused, trying to figure out how to think and feel about events that couldn’t happen to a dead man.

 

Addendum: November 22, 2014
For some reason it didn’t occur to me two years ago to question the translation of ʽâbar as forgiven.  The Septuagint’s παρεβίβασεν [February 15, 2018: παρεβίβασεν is a form of παραβιβάζω: “to put aside, remove, to usurp, to pass over”] was not defined on most sites I visited.  One site braved “cause to mount.”  I’m not inclined to touch that at the moment, beyond the observation that it doesn’t sound like the translators of the Septuagint believed that David was forgiven anything.  Only the modern translations and paraphrases in my possession, NET and CEV, translate ʽâbar as forgiven (forgives, TEV, TMSG); put away, KJV, NKJV, ASV, DNT; taken away, GWT, NIV; pass away, YLT.  If put away, taken away or pass away are something less than forgiven, I would consider returning to my original position that the events following the ʽâbar of David’s sin are punishments.

 

Addendum: April 14, 2020
The difference between the Masoretic text and Septuagint in Psalm 119:2 (118:2) seemed important enough to highlight.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Psalm 119:2 (Tanakh) Psalm 119:2 (NET) Psalm 118:2 (NETS)

Psalm 118:2 (English Elpenor)

Blessed are they that keep (נֹֽצְרֵ֥י) his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. How blessed are those who observe (nāṣar, נצרי) his rules, and seek him with all their heart, Happy are those who search out (ἐξερευνῶντες) his testimonies; wholeheartedly they will seek (ἐκζητήσουσιν) him. Blessed are they that search out (ἐξερευνῶντες) his testimonies: they will diligently seek (ἐκζητήσουσιν) him with the whole heart.

Where the Masoretic text had (nāṣar, נֹֽצְרֵ֥י), the rabbis chose ἐξερευνῶντες (a form of ἐξερευνάω).  They firmly established the link between searching the Scriptures and seeking the Lord.  The Greek word translated seek in the Septuagint was ἐκζητήσουσιν (a form of ἐκζητέω).  Running נֹֽצְרֵ֥י through Morfix was very interesting.

Morfix

Hebrew Tanakh Homographs Definition
נֹֽצְרֵ֥ keep נֵצֶר stem, shoot; (literary) scion; נצרים – reeds
נָצַר (literary) to guard, to save; (weaponry) to lock; to keep, to maintain
הֵצֵר to narrow; (sewing) to take in
יָצַר to create; to produce, to generate
נִצֵּר to Christianize
הֵצֵר to be sorry (for something), to regret

Peter used different forms of both ἐξερευνάω and ἐκζητέω in his first letter (1 Peter 1:10-12 NET):

Concerning this salvation, the prophets who predicted the grace that would come to you searched (ἐξεζήτησαν, a form of ἐκζητέω) and investigated carefully8 (ἐξηραύνησαν, a form of ἐξερευνάω).  They probed (ἐραυνῶντες, a form of ἐρευνάω) into what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he testified beforehand about the sufferings appointed for Christ and his subsequent glory.  They were shown that they were serving not themselves but you,9 in regard to the things now announced to you through those who proclaimed the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things angels long to catch a glimpse of.

Again, the rabbis who translated the Hebrew text into Greek before Jesus had come to be rejected by Israel understood Psalm 119:3 (118:3) differently, or had different Hebrew text to understand and translate.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Psalm 119:3 (Tanakh) Psalm 119:3 (NET) Psalm 118:3 (NETS)

Psalm 118:3 (English Elpenor)

They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways. who, moreover, do no wrong, but follow in his footsteps. For those who practice lawlessness did not walk in his ways. For they that work iniquity have not walked in his ways.

Tables comparing Psalm 119:1; 119:2; 119:3; 119:4; 119:5; 119:6; 119:7; 119:8; Numbers 13:31; 13:32; 13:33; 14:2; 14:3; 14:4; 14:7; 14:8; 14:9; 14:10; 14:11; Deuteronomy 31:16; 31:17; 31:18; 31:19; 31:20 and 31:21 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and Psalm 119:1 (118:1); 119:2 (118:2); 119:3 (118:3); 119:4 (118:4); 119:5 (118:5); 119:6 (118:6); 119:7 (118:7); 119:8 (118:8); Numbers 13:31 (13:32); 13:32 (13:33); 13:33 (13:34); 14:2 (14:2, 3a); 14:3 (14:3b); 14:4; 14:7; 14:8; 14:9; 14:10; 14:11; Deuteronomy 31:16; 31:17; 31:18; 31:19; 31:20 and 31:21 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.  Following those are tables comparing 1 Peter 1:10 and 1:12 in the NET and KJV.

Psalm 119:1 (Tanakh)

Psalm 119:1 (KJV)

Psalm 119:1 (NET)

Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. ALEPH.  Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. (Alef) How blessed are those whose actions are blameless, who obey the law of the Lord.

Psalm 119:1 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 118:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)

αλληλουια αʹ αλφ μακάριοι οἱ ἄμωμοι ἐν ὁδῷ οἱ πορευόμενοι ἐν νόμῳ κυρίου ᾿Αλληλούϊα. – ΜΑΚΑΡΙΟΙ οἱ ἄμωμοι ἐν ὁδῷ οἱ πορευόμενοι ἐν νόμῳ Κυρίου

Psalm 118:1 (NETS)

Psalm 118:1 (English Elpenor)

Hallelouia.  alph.  Happy are the blameless in way, who walk in the Lord’s law. [Alleluia.]  Blessed are the blameless in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.

Psalm 119:2 (Tanakh)

Psalm 119:2 (KJV)

Psalm 119:2 (NET)

Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. How blessed are those who observe his rules, and seek him with all their heart,

Psalm 119:2 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 118:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)

μακάριοι οἱ ἐξερευνῶντες τὰ μαρτύρια αὐτοῦ ἐν ὅλῃ καρδίᾳ ἐκζητήσουσιν αὐτόν μακάριοι οἱ ἐξερευνῶντες τὰ μαρτύρια αὐτοῦ· ἐν ὅλῃ καρδίᾳ ἐκζητήσουσιν αὐτόν

Psalm 118:2 (NETS)

Psalm 118:2 (English Elpenor)

Happy are those who search out his testimonies; wholeheartedly they will seek him. Blessed are they that search out his testimonies: they will diligently seek him with the whole heart.

Psalm 119:3 (Tanakh)

Psalm 119:3 (KJV)

Psalm 119:3 (NET)

They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways. Yea, they do no unrighteousness; They walk in his ways. who, moreover, do no wrong, but follow in his footsteps.

Psalm 119:3 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 118:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)

οὐ γὰρ οἱ ἐργαζόμενοι τὴν ἀνομίαν ἐν ταῗς ὁδοῗς αὐτοῦ ἐπορεύθησαν οὐ γὰρ οἱ ἐργαζόμενοι τὴν ἀνομίαν ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτοῦ ἐπορεύθησαν

Psalm 118:3 (NETS)

Psalm 118:3 (English Elpenor)

For those who practice lawlessness did not walk in his ways. For they that work iniquity have not walked in his ways.

Psalm 119:4 (Tanakh)

Psalm 119:4 (KJV)

Psalm 119:4 (NET)

Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. You demand that your precepts be carefully kept.

Psalm 119:4 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 118:4 (Septuagint Elpenor)

σὺ ἐνετείλω τὰς ἐντολάς σου φυλάξασθαι σφόδρα σὺ ἐνετείλω τὰς ἐντολάς σου τοῦ φυλάξασθαι σφόδρα

Psalm 118:4 (NETS)

Psalm 118:4 (English Elpenor)

It is you who commanded your commandments to keep diligently. Thou hast commanded [us] diligently to keep thy precepts.

Psalm 119:5 (Tanakh)

Psalm 119:5 (KJV)

Psalm 119:5 (NET)

O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! Oh that my ways were established To observe thy statutes! If only I were predisposed to keep your statutes.

Psalm 119:5 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 118:5 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ὄφελον κατευθυνθείησαν αἱ ὁδοί μου τοῦ φυλάξασθαι τὰ δικαιώματά σου ὄφελον κατευθυνθείησαν αἱ ὁδοί μου τοῦ φυλάξασθαι τὰ δικαιώματά σου.

Psalm 118:5 (NETS)

Psalm 118:5 (English Elpenor)

O that my ways may be directed to keep your statutes! O that my ways were directed to keep thine ordinances.

Psalm 119:6 (Tanakh)

Psalm 119:6 (KJV)

Psalm 119:6 (NET)

Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments. Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments. Then I would not be ashamed, if I were focused on all your commands.

Psalm 119:6 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 118:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)

τότε οὐ μὴ ἐπαισχυνθῶ ἐν τῷ με ἐπιβλέπειν ἐπὶ πάσας τὰς ἐντολάς σου τότε οὐ μὴ αἰσχυνθῶ ἐν τῷ με ἐπιβλέπειν ἐπὶ πάσας τὰς ἐντολάς σου

Psalm 118:6 (NETS)

Psalm 118:6 (English Elpenor)

Then I shall not be put to shame, as I regard all your commandments. Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect to all thy commandments.

Psalm 119:7 (Tanakh)

Psalm 119:7 (KJV)

Psalm 119:7 (NET)

I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments. I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments. I will give you sincere thanks, when I learn your just regulations.

Psalm 119:7 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 118:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἐξομολογήσομαί σοι κύριε ἐν εὐθύτητι καρδίας ἐν τῷ μεμαθηκέναι με τὰ κρίματα τῆς δικαιοσύνης σου ἐξομολογήσομαί σοι ἐν εὐθύτητι καρδίας ἐν τῷ μεμαθηκέναι με τὰ κρίματα τῆς δικαιοσύνης σου

Psalm 118:7 (NETS)

Psalm 118:7 (English Elpenor)

I will acknowledge you with uprightness of heart, when I have learned the judgments of your righteousness. I will give thee thanks with uprightness of heart, when I have learnt the judgments of thy righteousness.

Psalm 119:8 (Tanakh)

Psalm 119:8 (KJV)

Psalm 119:8 (NET)

I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly. I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly. I will keep your statutes.  Do not completely abandon me.

Psalm 119:8 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 118:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)

τὰ δικαιώματά σου φυλάξω μή με ἐγκαταλίπῃς ἕως σφόδρα τὰ δικαιώματά σου φυλάξω· μή με ἐγκαταλίπῃς ἕως σφόδρα

Psalm 118:8 (NETS)

Psalm 118:8 (English Elpenor)

Your statutes I will observe; do not utterly forsake me. I will keep thine ordinances: O forsake me not greatly.

Numbers 13:31 (Tanakh)

Numbers 13:31 (KJV)

Numbers 13:31 (NET)

But the men that went up with him said: ‘We are not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.’ But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against these people, because they are stronger than we are!”

Numbers 13:31 (Septuagint BLB)

Numbers 13:32 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ οἱ ἄνθρωποι οἱ συναναβάντες μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ εἶπαν οὐκ ἀναβαίνομεν ὅτι οὐ μὴ δυνώμεθα ἀναβῆναι πρὸς τὸ ἔθνος ὅτι ἰσχυρότερόν ἐστιν ἡμῶν μᾶλλον καὶ οἱ ἄνθρωποι οἱ συναναβάντες μετ’ αὐτοῦ εἶπαν· οὐκ ἀναβαίνομεν, ὅτι οὐ μὴ δυνώμεθα ἀναβῆναι πρὸς τὸ ἔθνος, ὅτι ἰσχυρότερον ἡμῶν ἐστι μᾶλλον.

Numbers 13:32 (NETS)

Numbers 13:32 (English Elpenor)

But the men who went up together with him said, “We are not going up, because by no means will we be able to go up against the nation, because they are much stronger than we.” But the men that went up together with him said, We will not go up, for we shall not by any means be able to go up against the nation, for it is much stronger than we.

Numbers 13:32 (Tanakh)

Numbers 13:32 (KJV)

Numbers 13:32 (NET)

And they spread an evil report of the land which they had spied out unto the children of Israel, saying: ‘The land, through which we have passed to spy it out, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of great stature. And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. Then they presented the Israelites with a discouraging report of the land they had investigated, saying, “The land that we passed through to investigate is a land that devours its inhabitants.  All the people we saw there are of great stature.

Numbers 13:32 (Septuagint BLB)

Numbers 13:33 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἐξήνεγκαν ἔκστασιν τῆς γῆς ἣν κατεσκέψαντο αὐτήν πρὸς τοὺς υἱοὺς Ισραηλ λέγοντες τὴν γῆν ἣν παρήλθομεν αὐτὴν κατασκέψασθαι γῆ κατέσθουσα τοὺς κατοικοῦντας ἐπ᾽ αὐτῆς ἐστιν πᾶς ὁ λαός ὃν ἑωράκαμεν ἐν αὐτῇ ἄνδρες ὑπερμήκεις καὶ ἐξήνεγκαν ἔκστασιν τῆς γῆς, ἣν κατεσκέψαντο αὐτὴν πρὸς τοὺς υἱοὺς ᾿Ισραήλ, λέγοντες· τὴν γῆν, ἣν παρήλθομεν αὐτὴν κατασκέψασθαι, γῆ κατέσθουσα τοὺς κατοικοῦντας ἐπ’ αὐτῆς ἐστι· καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαός, ὃν ἑωράκαμεν ἐν αὐτῇ, ἄνδρες ὑπερμήκεις

Numbers 13:33 (NETS)

Numbers 13:33 (English Elpenor)

And they brought about consternation for the land that they had spied out, to the sons of Israel, saying, “The land we passed through to spy out—it is a land that devours those who live upon it.  All the people that we saw in it are very tall men, And they brought a horror of that land which they surveyed upon the children of Israel, saying, The land which we passed by to survey it, is a land that eats up its inhabitants; and all the people whom we saw in it are men of extraordinary stature.

Numbers 13:33 (Tanakh)

Numbers 13:33 (KJV)

Numbers 13:33 (NET)

And there we saw the Nephilim, the sons of Anak, who come of the Nephilim; and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.’ And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight. We even saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak came from the Nephilim), and we seemed like grasshoppers both to ourselves and to them.”

Numbers 13:33 (Septuagint BLB)

Numbers 13:34 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἐκεῗ ἑωράκαμεν τοὺς γίγαντας καὶ ἦμεν ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν ὡσεὶ ἀκρίδες ἀλλὰ καὶ οὕτως ἦμεν ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν καὶ ἐκεῖ ἑωράκαμεν τοὺς γίγαντας καὶ ἦμεν ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν ὡσεὶ ἀκρίδες, ἀλλὰ καὶ οὕτως ἦμεν ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν

Numbers 13:34 (NETS)

Numbers 13:34 (English Elpenor)

and we have seen the giants there, and we were before them like grasshoppers—indeed even so we were before them.” And there we saw the giants; and we were before them as locusts, yea even so were we before them.

Numbers 14:2 (Tanakh)

Numbers 14:2 (KJV)

Numbers 14:2 (NET)

And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron; and the whole congregation said unto them: ‘Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would we had died in this wilderness! And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! And all the Israelites murmured against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had perished in this wilderness!

Numbers 14:2 (Septuagint BLB)

Numbers 14:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ διεγόγγυζον ἐπὶ Μωυσῆν καὶ Ααρων πάντες οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ καὶ εἶπαν πρὸς αὐτοὺς πᾶσα ἡ συναγωγή ὄφελον ἀπεθάνομεν ἐν γῇ Αἰγύπτῳ ἢ ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ ταύτῃ εἰ ἀπεθάνομεν καὶ διεγόγγυζον ἐπὶ Μωυσῆν καὶ ᾿Ααρὼν πάντες οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραήλ, καὶ εἶπαν πρὸς αὐτοὺς πᾶσα ἡ συναγωγή· ὄφελον ἀπεθάνομεν ἐν τῇ Αἰγύπτῳ, ἢ ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ ταύτῃ εἰ ἀπεθάνομεν

Numbers 14:2 (NETS)

Numbers 14:2, 3a (English Elpenor)

And all the sons of Israel were complaining against Moyses and Aaron, and all the congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt!  Or if we had died in this wilderness! And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron; and all the congregation said to them, (3) Would we had died in the land of Egypt! or in this wilderness, would we had died!

Numbers 14:3 (Tanakh)

Numbers 14:3 (KJV)

Numbers 14:3 (NET)

And wherefore doth HaShem bring us unto this land, to fall by the sword?  Our wives and our little ones will be a prey; were it not better for us to return into Egypt?’ And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? Why has the Lord brought us into this land only to be killed by the sword, that our wives and our children should become plunder?  Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?”

Numbers 14:3 (Septuagint BLB)

Numbers 14:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἵνα τί κύριος εἰσάγει ἡμᾶς εἰς τὴν γῆν ταύτην πεσεῗν ἐν πολέμῳ αἱ γυναῗκες ἡμῶν καὶ τὰ παιδία ἔσονται εἰς διαρπαγήν νῦν οὖν βέλτιον ἡμῗν ἐστιν ἀποστραφῆναι εἰς Αἴγυπτον καὶ ἱνατί Κύριος εἰσάγει ἡμᾶς εἰς τὴν γῆν ταύτην πεσεῖν ἐν πολέμῳ; αἱ γυναῖκες ἡμῶν καὶ τὰ παιδία ἔσονται εἰς διαρπαγήν· νῦν οὖν βέλτιον ἡμῖν ἐστιν ἀποστραφῆναι εἰς Αἴγυπτον

Numbers 14:3 (NETS)

Numbers 14:3b (English Elpenor)

And why is the Lord bringing us into this land to fall in war? Our wives and children will become plunder!  Now then, it is better for us to turn back into Egypt.” and why does the Lord bring us into this land to fall in war? our wives and our children shall be for a prey: now then it is better to return into Egypt.

Numbers 14:4 (Tanakh)

Numbers 14:4 (KJV)

Numbers 14:4 (NET)

And they said one to another: ‘Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.’ And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt. So they said to one another, “Let’s appoint a leader and return to Egypt.”

Numbers 14:4 (Septuagint BLB)

Numbers 14:4 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ εἶπαν ἕτερος τῷ ἑτέρῳ δῶμεν ἀρχηγὸν καὶ ἀποστρέψωμεν εἰς Αἴγυπτον καὶ εἶπαν ἕτερος τῷ ἑτέρῳ· δῶμεν ἀρχηγὸν καὶ ἀποστρέψωμεν εἰς Αἴγυπτον

Numbers 14:4 (NETS)

Numbers 14:4 (English Elpenor)

And they said one to the other, “Let us assign a chief and turn back into Egypt.” And they said one to another, Let us make a ruler, and return into Egypt.

Numbers 14:7 (Tanakh)

Numbers 14:7 (KJV)

Numbers 14:7 (NET)

And they spoke unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: ‘The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceeding good land. And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. They said to the whole community of the Israelites, “The land we passed through to investigate is an exceedingly good land.

Numbers 14:7 (Septuagint BLB)

Numbers 14:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ εἶπαν πρὸς πᾶσαν συναγωγὴν υἱῶν Ισραηλ λέγοντες ἡ γῆ ἣν κατεσκεψάμεθα αὐτήν ἀγαθή ἐστιν σφόδρα σφόδρα καὶ εἶπαν πρὸς πᾶσαν συναγωγὴν υἱῶν ᾿Ισραὴλ λέγοντες· ἡ γῆ, ἣν κατεσκεψάμεθα αὐτήν, ἀγαθή ἐστι σφόδρα σφόδρα

Numbers 14:7 (NETS)

Numbers 14:7 (English Elpenor)

and they said to all the congregation of Israel’s sons, saying, “The land, that which we spied out, is very, very good. and spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, The land which we surveyed is indeed extremely good.

Numbers 14:8 (Tanakh)

Numbers 14:8 (KJV)

Numbers 14:8 (NET)

If HaShem delight in us, then He will bring us into this land, and give it unto us–a land which floweth with milk and honey. If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. If the Lord delights in us, then he will bring us into this land and give it to us—a land that is flowing with milk and honey.

Numbers 14:8 (Septuagint BLB)

Numbers 14:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)

εἰ αἱρετίζει ἡμᾶς κύριος εἰσάξει ἡμᾶς εἰς τὴν γῆν ταύτην καὶ δώσει αὐτὴν ἡμῗν γῆ ἥτις ἐστὶν ῥέουσα γάλα καὶ μέλι εἰ αἱρετίζει ἡμᾶς Κύριος, εἰσάξει ἡμᾶς εἰς τὴν γῆν ταύτην καὶ δώσει αὐτὴν ἡμῖν, γῆ ἥτις ἐστὶ ῥέουσα γάλα καὶ μέλι

Numbers 14:8 (NETS)

Numbers 14:8 (English Elpenor)

If the Lord is choosing us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us: a land that is flowing with milk and honey. If the Lord choose us, he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which flows with milk and honey.

Numbers 14:9 (Tanakh)

Numbers 14:9 (KJV)

Numbers 14:9 (NET)

Only rebel not against HaShem, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us; their defence is removed from over them, and HaShem is with us; fear them not.’ Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not. Only do not rebel against the Lord, and do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us.  Their protection has turned aside from them, but the Lord is with us.  Do not fear them!”

Numbers 14:9 (Septuagint BLB)

Numbers 14:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἀλλὰ ἀπὸ τοῦ κυρίου μὴ ἀποστάται γίνεσθε ὑμεῗς δὲ μὴ φοβηθῆτε τὸν λαὸν τῆς γῆς ὅτι κατάβρωμα ἡμῗν ἐστιν ἀφέστηκεν γὰρ ὁ καιρὸς ἀπ᾽ αὐτῶν ὁ δὲ κύριος ἐν ἡμῗν μὴ φοβηθῆτε αὐτούς ἀλλὰ ἀπὸ τοῦ Κυρίου μὴ ἀποστάται γίνεσθε· ὑμεῖς δὲ μὴ φοβηθῆτε τὸν λαὸν τῆς γῆς, ὅτι κατάβρωμα ἡμῖν ἐστιν· ἀφέστηκε γὰρ ὁ καιρὸς ἀπ’ αὐτῶν, ὁ δὲ Κύριος ἐν ἡμῖν· μὴ φοβηθῆτε αὐτούς

Numbers 14:9 (NETS)

Numbers 14:9 (English Elpenor)

Only do not become deserters from the Lord.  But as for you, do not fear the people of the land, since they are food for us; for the right time has departed from them, but the Lord is among us.  Do not fear them.” Only depart not from the Lord; and fear ye not the people of the land, for they are meat for us; for the season [of prosperity] is departed from them, but the Lord [is] among us: fear them not.

Numbers 14:10 (Tanakh)

Numbers 14:10 (KJV)

Numbers 14:10 (NET)

But all the congregation bade stone them with stones, when the glory of HaShem appeared in the tent of meeting unto all the children of Israel. But all the congregation bade stone them with stones.  And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel. However, the whole community threatened to stone them.  But the glory of the Lord appeared to all the Israelites at the tent of meeting.

Numbers 14:10 (Septuagint BLB)

Numbers 14:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ εἶπεν πᾶσα ἡ συναγωγὴ καταλιθοβολῆσαι αὐτοὺς ἐν λίθοις καὶ ἡ δόξα κυρίου ὤφθη ἐν νεφέλῃ ἐπὶ τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου ἐν πᾶσι τοῗς υἱοῗς Ισραηλ καὶ εἶπε πᾶσα ἡ συναγωγὴ καταλιθοβολῆσαι αὐτοὺς ἐν λίθοις. καὶ ἡ δόξα Κυρίου ὤφθη ἐν τῇ νεφέλῃ ἐπὶ τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου πᾶσι τοῖς υἱοῖς ᾿Ισραήλ.

Numbers 14:10 (NETS)

Numbers 14:10 (English Elpenor)

And all the congregation said that they would stone them with stones.  And the glory of the Lord appeared in a cloud upon the tent of witness among all the sons of Israel. And all the congregation bade stone them with stones; and the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud on the tabernacle of witness to all the children of Israel.

Numbers 14:11 (Tanakh)

Numbers 14:11 (KJV)

Numbers 14:11 (NET)

And HaShem said unto Moses: ‘How long will this people despise Me? and how long will they not believe in Me, for all the signs which I have wrought among them? And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them? The Lord said to Moses, “How long will this people despise me, and how long will they not believe in me, in spite of the signs that I have done among them?

Numbers 14:11 (Septuagint BLB)

Numbers 14:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ εἶπεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν ἕως τίνος παροξύνει με ὁ λαὸς οὗτος καὶ ἕως τίνος οὐ πιστεύουσίν μοι ἐν πᾶσιν τοῗς σημείοις οἷς ἐποίησα ἐν αὐτοῗς καὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν· ἕως τίνος παροξύνει με ὁ λαὸς οὗτος καὶ ἕως τίνος οὐ πιστεύουσί μοι ἐπὶ πᾶσι τοῖς σημείοις, οἷς ἐποίησα ἐν αὐτοῖς

Numbers 14:11 (NETS)

Numbers 14:11 (English Elpenor)

And the Lord said to Moyses, “How long is this people going to provoke me, and how long are they not going to believe me amidst all the signs that I have performed among them? And the Lord said to Moses, How long does this people provoke me? and how long do they refuse to believe me for all the signs which I have wrought among them?

Deuteronomy 31:16 (Tanakh)

Deuteronomy 31:16 (KJV)

Deuteronomy 31:16 (NET)

And HaShem said unto Moses: ‘Behold, thou art about to sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go astray after the foreign gods of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake Me, and break My covenant which I have made with them. And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them. Then the Lord said to Moses, “You are about to die, and then these people will begin to prostitute themselves with the foreign gods of the land into which they are going.  They will reject me and break my covenant that I have made with them.

Deuteronomy 31:16 (Septuagint BLB)

Deuteronomy 31:16 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ εἶπεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν ἰδοὺ σὺ κοιμᾷ μετὰ τῶν πατέρων σου καὶ ἀναστὰς ὁ λαὸς οὗτος ἐκπορνεύσει ὀπίσω θεῶν ἀλλοτρίων τῆς γῆς εἰς ἣν οὗτος εἰσπορεύεται ἐκεῗ εἰς αὐτήν καὶ ἐγκαταλείψουσίν με καὶ διασκεδάσουσιν τὴν διαθήκην μου ἣν διεθέμην αὐτοῗς καὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν· ἰδοὺ σὺ κοιμᾷ μετὰ τῶν πατέρων σου, καὶ ἀναστὰς οὗτος ὁ λαὸς ἐκπορνεύσει ὀπίσω θεῶν ἀλλοτρίων τῆς γῆς, εἰς ἣν οὗτος εἰσπορεύεται, καὶ καταλείψουσί με καὶ διασκεδάσουσι τὴν διαθήκην μου, ἣν διεθέμην αὐτοῖς

Deuteronomy 31:16 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 31:16 (English Elpenor)

And the Lord said to Moyses, “Look, you are lying down with your fathers.  And this people, having risen up, will prostitute after foreign gods of the land into which it is going there into it, and they will forsake me and break my covenant that I have established with them. And the Lord said to Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, and this people will arise and go a whoring after the strange gods of the land, into which they are entering: and they will forsake me, and break my covenant, which I made with them.

Deuteronomy 31:17 (Tanakh)

Deuteronomy 31:17 (KJV)

Deuteronomy 31:17 (NET)

Then My anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide My face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall come upon them; so that they will say in that day: Are not these evils come upon us because our G-d is not among us? Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall befall them; so that they will say in that day, Are not these evils come upon us, because our God is not among us? At that time my anger will erupt against them, and I will abandon them and hide my face from them until they are devoured.  Many disasters and distresses will overcome them so that they will say at that time, ‘Have not these disasters overcome us because our God is not among us?’

Deuteronomy 31:17 (Septuagint BLB)

Deuteronomy 31:17 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ὀργισθήσομαι θυμῷ εἰς αὐτοὺς ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ καὶ καταλείψω αὐτοὺς καὶ ἀποστρέψω τὸ πρόσωπόν μου ἀπ᾽ αὐτῶν καὶ ἔσται κατάβρωμα καὶ εὑρήσουσιν αὐτὸν κακὰ πολλὰ καὶ θλίψεις καὶ ἐρεῗ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ διότι οὐκ ἔστιν κύριος ὁ θεός μου ἐν ἐμοί εὕροσάν με τὰ κακὰ ταῦτα καὶ ὀργισθήσομαι θυμῷ εἰς αὐτοὺς ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ καὶ καταλείψω αὐτοὺς καὶ ἀποστρέψω τὸ πρόσωπόν μου ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν, καὶ ἔσται κατάβρωμα, καὶ εὑρήσουσιν αὐτὸν κακὰ πολλὰ καὶ θλίψεις, καὶ ἐρεῖ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ· διότι οὐκ ἔστι Κύριος ὁ Θεός μου ἐν ἐμοί, εὕροσάν με τὰ κακὰ ταῦτα

Deuteronomy 31:17 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 31:17 (English Elpenor)

And I shall be angry with wrath against them in that day, and I will abandon them and turn away my face from them, and it will become food, and many evils and afflictions will find it.  And in that day it will say, ‘Because the Lord my God is not with me, these evils have found me.’ And I will be very angry with them in that day, and I will leave them and turn my face away from them, and they shall be devoured; and many evils and afflictions shall come upon them; and they shall say in that day, Because the Lord my God is not with me, these evils have come upon me.

Deuteronomy 31:18 (Tanakh)

Deuteronomy 31:18 (KJV)

Deuteronomy 31:18 (NET)

And I will surely hide My face in that day for all the evil which they shall have wrought, in that they are turned unto other gods. And I will surely hide my face in that day for all the evils which they shall have wrought, in that they are turned unto other gods. But I will certainly hide myself at that time because of all the wickedness they will have done by turning to other gods.

Deuteronomy 31:18 (Septuagint BLB)

Deuteronomy 31:18 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἐγὼ δὲ ἀποστροφῇ ἀποστρέψω τὸ πρόσωπόν μου ἀπ᾽ αὐτῶν ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ διὰ πάσας τὰς κακίας ἃς ἐποίησαν ὅτι ἐπέστρεψαν ἐπὶ θεοὺς ἀλλοτρίους ἐγὼ δὲ ἀποστροφῇ ἀποστρέψω τὸ πρόσωπόν μου ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ διὰ πάσας τὰς κακίας, ἃς ἐποίησαν, ὅτι ἀπέστρεψαν ἐπὶ θεοὺς ἀλλοτρίους

Deuteronomy 31:18 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 31:18 (English Elpenor)

But I by turning will turn my face from them on that day, on account of all the evils they have done, because they turned to foreign gods. And I will surely turn away my face from them in that day, because of all their evil doings which they have done, because they turned aside after strange gods.

Deuteronomy 31:19 (Tanakh)

Deuteronomy 31:19 (KJV)

Deuteronomy 31:19 (NET)

Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach thou it the children of Israel; put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for Me against the children of Israel. Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel. Now write down for yourselves the following song and teach it to the Israelites.  Put it into their very mouths so that this song may serve as my witness against the Israelites!

Deuteronomy 31:19 (Septuagint BLB)

Deuteronomy 31:19 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ νῦν γράψατε τὰ ῥήματα τῆς ᾠδῆς ταύτης καὶ διδάξετε αὐτὴν τοὺς υἱοὺς Ισραηλ καὶ ἐμβαλεῗτε αὐτὴν εἰς τὸ στόμα αὐτῶν ἵνα γένηταί μοι ἡ ᾠδὴ αὕτη εἰς μαρτύριον ἐν υἱοῗς Ισραηλ καὶ νῦν γράψατε τὰ ρήματα τῆς ᾠδῆς ταύτης καὶ διδάξατε αὐτὴν τοὺς υἱοὺς ᾿Ισραὴλ καὶ ἐμβαλεῖτε αὐτὴν εἰς τὸ στόμα αὐτῶν, ἵνα γένηταί μοι ἡ ᾠδὴ αὕτη κατὰ πρόσωπον μαρτυροῦσα ἐν υἱοῖς ᾿Ισραήλ

Deuteronomy 31:19 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 31:19 (English Elpenor)

And now write the words of this song, and teach it to the sons of Israel, and put it in their mouth in order that this song may be to me a witness among the sons of Israel. And now write the words of this song, and teach it to the children of Israel, and ye shall put it into their mouth, that this song may witness for me among the children of Israel to their face.

Deuteronomy 31:20 (Tanakh)

Deuteronomy 31:20 (KJV)

Deuteronomy 31:20 (NET)

For when I shall have brought them into the land which I swore unto their fathers, flowing with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten their fill, and waxen fat; and turned unto other gods, and served them, and despised Me, and broken My covenant; For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant. For after I have brought them to the land I promised to their ancestors—one flowing with milk and honey—and they eat their fill and become fat, then they will turn to other gods and worship them; they will reject me and break my covenant.

Deuteronomy 31:20 (Septuagint BLB)

Deuteronomy 31:20 (Septuagint Elpenor)

εἰσάξω γὰρ αὐτοὺς εἰς τὴν γῆν τὴν ἀγαθήν ἣν ὤμοσα τοῗς πατράσιν αὐτῶν δοῦναι αὐτοῗς γῆν ῥέουσαν γάλα καὶ μέλι καὶ φάγονται καὶ ἐμπλησθέντες κορήσουσιν καὶ ἐπιστραφήσονται ἐπὶ θεοὺς ἀλλοτρίους καὶ λατρεύσουσιν αὐτοῗς καὶ παροξυνοῦσίν με καὶ διασκεδάσουσιν τὴν διαθήκην μου εἰσάξω γὰρ αὐτοὺς εἰς τὴν γῆν τὴν ἀγαθήν, ἣν ὤμοσα τοῖς πατράσιν αὐτῶν δοῦναι αὐτοῖς, γῆν ρέουσαν γάλα καὶ μέλι, καὶ φάγονται καὶ ἐμπλησθέντες κορήσουσι· καί ἐπιστραφήσονται ἐπὶ θεοὺς ἀλλοτρίους καὶ λατρεύσουσιν αὐτοῖς καὶ παροξυνοῦσί με καὶ διασκεδάσουσι τὴν διαθήκην μου

Deuteronomy 31:20 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 31:20 (English Elpenor)

For I will bring them into the good land which I swore to their fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey, and they shall eat and, filled, shall be sated and will turn to foreign gods and serve them and provoke me and break my covenant. For I will bring them into the good land, which I sware to their fathers, to give to them a land flowing with milk and honey: and they shall eat and be filled and satisfy [themselves]; then will they turn aside after other gods, and serve them, and they will provoke me, and break my covenant.

Deuteronomy 31:21 (Tanakh)

Deuteronomy 31:21 (KJV)

Deuteronomy 31:21 (NET)

then it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are come upon them, that this song shall testify before them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed; for I know their imagination how they do even now, before I have brought them into the land which I swore.’ And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I sware. Then when many disasters and distresses overcome them this song will testify against them, for their descendants will not forget it.  I know the intentions they have in mind today, even before I bring them to the land I have promised.”

Deuteronomy 31:21 (Septuagint BLB)

Deuteronomy 31:21 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἀντικαταστήσεται ἡ ᾠδὴ αὕτη κατὰ πρόσωπον μαρτυροῦσα οὐ γὰρ μὴ ἐπιλησθῇ ἀπὸ στόματος αὐτῶν καὶ ἀπὸ στόματος τοῦ σπέρματος αὐτῶν ἐγὼ γὰρ οἶδα τὴν πονηρίαν αὐτῶν ὅσα ποιοῦσιν ὧδε σήμερον πρὸ τοῦ εἰσαγαγεῗν με αὐτοὺς εἰς τὴν γῆν τὴν ἀγαθήν ἣν ὤμοσα τοῗς πατράσιν αὐτῶν καὶ ἀντικαταστήσεται ἡ ᾠδὴ αὕτη κατὰ πρόσωπον μαρτυροῦσα, οὐ γὰρ μὴ ἐπιλησθῇ ἀπὸ στόματος αὐτῶν καὶ ἀπὸ στόματος τοῦ σπέρματος αὐτῶν· ἐγὼ γὰρ οἶδα τὴν πονηρίαν αὐτῶν, ὅσα ποιοῦσιν ὧδε σήμερον πρὸ τοῦ εἰσαγαγεῖν με αὐτοὺς εἰς τὴν γῆν τὴν ἀγαθήν, ἣν ὤμοσα τοῖς πατράσιν αὐτῶν

Deuteronomy 31:21 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 31:21 (English Elpenor)

And this song will confront them, by witnessing contrariwise, for it will not be forgotten from the mouth of their offspring. For I know their evil, what they are doing here today, before I have brought them into the good land I swore to their fathers. And this song shall stand up to witness against them; for they shall not forget it out of their mouth, or out of the mouth of their seed; for I know their wickedness, what they are doing here this day, before I have brought them into the good land, which sware to their fathers.

1 Peter 1:10 (NET)

1 Peter 1:10 (KJV)

Concerning this salvation, the prophets who predicted the grace that would come to you searched and investigated carefully. Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

περὶ ἧς σωτηρίας ἐξεζήτησαν καὶ ἐξηραύνησαν προφῆται οἱ περὶ τῆς εἰς ὑμᾶς χάριτος προφητεύσαντες περι ης σωτηριας εξεζητησαν και εξηρευνησαν προφηται οι περι της εις υμας χαριτος προφητευσαντες περι ης σωτηριας εξεζητησαν και εξηρευνησαν προφηται οι περι της εις υμας χαριτος προφητευσαντες

1 Peter 1:12 (NET)

1 Peter 1:12 (KJV)

They were shown that they were serving not themselves but you, in regard to the things now announced to you through those who proclaimed the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things angels long to catch a glimpse of. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

οἷς ἀπεκαλύφθη ὅτι οὐχ ἑαυτοῖς ὑμῖν δὲ διηκόνουν αὐτά, ἃ νῦν ἀνηγγέλη ὑμῖν διὰ τῶν εὐαγγελισαμένων ὑμᾶς [ἐν] πνεύματι ἁγίῳ ἀποσταλέντι ἀπ᾿ οὐρανοῦ, εἰς ἃ ἐπιθυμοῦσιν ἄγγελοι παρακύψαι οις απεκαλυφθη οτι ουχ εαυτοις ημιν δε διηκονουν αυτα α νυν ανηγγελη υμιν δια των ευαγγελισαμενων υμας εν πνευματι αγιω αποσταλεντι απ ουρανου εις α επιθυμουσιν αγγελοι παρακυψαι οις απεκαλυφθη οτι ουχ εαυτοις υμιν δε διηκονουν αυτα α νυν ανηγγελη υμιν δια των ευαγγελισαμενων υμας εν πνευματι αγιω αποσταλεντι απ ουρανου εις α επιθυμουσιν αγγελοι παρακυψαι

1 Psalm 119:1-4 (NET)

2 Psalm 119:5, 6 (NET)

3 Psalm 119:7, 8a (NET)

4 Psalm 119:8b (NET)  A note in the NET, apparently by a dissenting translator, could spin this differently if it is the more correct translation.  “Heb ‘do not abandon me to excess.’ For other uses of the phrase עַד מְאֹד (’ad mÿ’od, ‘to excess’), see Ps 38:6, 8.”

5 April 13, 2020: 2 Samuel 12:9 in the NET now reads: Why have you shown contempt for the Lord’s decrees (dâbâr, דבר) by doing evil in my sight?  You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and you have taken his wife to be your own wife! You have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.

6 Numbers 14:10 (NET)

7 Numbers 14:11 (NET)

9 The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had ὑμῖν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had ημιν (KJV: unto us).

Jedidiah, Part 1

I want to turn my attention to the circumstances when God named Solomon Jedidiah.  It all started one spring when King David didn’t go to war with his army.  He couldn’t sleep.  He got up and walked on the roof of his palace.  He saw a woman bathing.  Now David wasn’t a young prince catching his first glimpse of a naked woman.  He had several wives and concubines by this time.  He had the means, as it were, to entertain this traveler, as the prophet Nathan would later describe David’s lust.  David sent a messenger to find out about the woman.  So he knew she was Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, a soldier serving in his army, before he summoned her and before he had sex with her (2 Samuel 11:1-4).

The cover-up began after Bathsheba sent word to David that she was pregnant (2 Samuel 11:5).  So David summoned Uriah home from the war.  He asked him how the campaign was going and sent him home to his wife.  But Uriah refused to go home.  He would not enjoy the comforts and pleasures of home and wife while his comrades-in-arms camped in the open.  The next day David wined and dined Uriah, and got him drunk.  Still Uriah would not go home to Bathsheba.  So David sent Uriah back to the front with a sealed letter for Joab the commander of David’s army.

Apparently Uriah delivered the message unopened to Joab, because he faithfully delivered his own death sentence to his executioner.  Joab faithfully carried out David’s instructions to put Uriah in the front lines and then withdraw from him in the thick of battle.  Uriah died.  After an appropriate time of grieving for appearance’s sake, David took Bathsheba as another wife, and she gave birth to a son.

Later the Lord Jesus sent Nathan, a prophet, with an adroit hypothetical to David:  There were two men in a certain city, Nathan explained, one rich and the other poor.  The rich man had a great many flocks and herds.  But the poor man had nothing except for a little lamb he had acquired. He raised it, and it grew up alongside him and his children.  It used to eat his food, drink from his cup, and sleep in his arms.  It was just like a daughter to him.  When a traveler arrived at the rich man’s home, he did not want to use one of his own sheep or cattle to feed the traveler who had come to visit him. Instead, he took the poor man’s lamb and cooked it for the man who had come to visit him.

As surely as the Lord lives, David said angrily, the man who did this deserves to die!  Because he committed this cold-hearted crime, he must pay for the lamb four times over!

You are that man!1 Nathan said to David.

I want to pause here a moment to fully appreciate David’s position vis-à-vis the law.  The law the Lord Jesus gave to Moses at Sinai was quite specific.  If a man commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death.2  So David had not only condemned himself but Bathsheba, for whom he presumably had some affection, to death.  Also, Whoever strikes someone so that he dies must surely be put to death.3  Now if one were to argue the technicality that David didn’t exactly strike Uriah himself, the law the Lord Jesus delivered to Moses continued, But if a man willfully attacks his neighbor to kill him cunningly, you will take him even from my altar that he may die.4

The altar was a place where Israelite sinners could find mercy and forgiveness.  Whenever a leader, by straying unintentionally, sins and violates one of the commandments of the Lord his God which must not be violated, the Lord Jesus told Moses, and he pleads guilty, or his sin that he committed is made known to him, he must bring a flawless male goat as his offering.5  I have to admit that I don’t know if David’s actions would qualify as unintentional.  I’m not even sure if this remedy was meant to apply to adultery or murder.  I do know that you will take him even from my altar that he may die sounds ominous.

This is what the Lord God of Israel says, Nathan continued, “I chose you to be king over Israel and I rescued you from the hand of Saul.  I gave you your master’s house, and put your master’s wives into your arms.  I also gave you the house of Israel and Judah.  And if all that somehow seems insignificant, I would have given you so much more as well!  Why have you shown contempt for the word of the Lord by doing evil in my sight?  You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and you have taken his wife as your own!  You have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.  So now the sword will never depart from your house.  For you have despised me by taking the wife of Uriah the Hittite as your own!”  This is what the Lord says: “I am about to bring disaster on you from inside your own household!  Right before your eyes I will take your wives and hand them over to your companion.  He will have sexual relations with your wives in broad daylight!  Although you have acted in secret, I will do this thing before all Israel, and in broad daylight.”6

I have sinned against the Lord!7 David exclaimed.

A lot is made of confession of sin in the religious circles I frequent.  So I want to quote another, even better confession, as confessions go (Joshua 7:20, 21 NET).

It is true.  I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel in this way:  I saw among the goods we seized a nice robe from Babylon, two hundred silver pieces, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels.  I wanted them, so I took them.  They are hidden in the ground right in the middle of my tent with the silver underneath.

This is Achan’s confession for stealing some of the things that had been devoted to the Lord Jesus.  Jesus had warned them that they would not stand before their enemies if they betrayed him in this way.  And sure enough, Achan’s sin was discovered after the Israelites suffered a defeat in battle.

Joshua, the Israelite leader who succeeded Moses, was crying and praying face down on the ground when the Lord Jesus spoke to him: Get up!  Why are you lying there face down?  Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenantal commandment!  They have taken some of the riches; they have stolen them and deceitfully put them among their own possessions.  The Israelites are unable to stand before their enemies; they retreat because they have become subject to annihilation.  I will no longer be with you, unless you destroy what has contaminated you.8

Achan was discovered by lot.  His confession was intended to justify the Lord not himself.  Joshua sent messengers who discovered the stolen articles exactly where Achan claimed they were hidden.

The one caught with the riches must be burned up along with all who belong to him, because he violated the Lord’s covenant and did such a disgraceful thing in Israel,9 the Lord Jesus declared.

Then Joshua and all Israel took Achan…along with the silver, the robe, the bar of gold, his sons, daughters, ox, donkey, sheep, tent, and all that belonged to him and brought them up to the Valley of Disaster [or, Achor].10  Joshua said, “Why have you brought disaster on us?  The Lord will bring disaster on you today!”  All Israel stoned him to death.  (They also stoned and burned the others.)  Then they erected over him a large pile of stones (it remains to this very day) and the Lord’s anger subsided.  So that place is called the Valley of Disaster11 to this very day.12

This turn of events is admittedly shocking to our ears and abhorrent to our beliefs about confession of sin.  But it was the prophet Hosea, long after the time of David, speaking about another future time when Israel would return to the Lord in repentance, who prophesied that the Lord Jesus would turn the “Valley of Trouble” [or, Achor] into an “Opportunity [or, doorway] for Hope” (Hosea 2:15-17 NET).

From there I will give back her vineyards to her, and turn the “Valley of Trouble”13 into an “Opportunity for Hope.”  There she will sing as she did when she was young,14 when she came up from the land of Egypt.  “At that time,” declares the Lord, “you will call, ‘My husband’; you will never again call me, ‘My master.’  For I will remove the names of the Baal idols from your lips, so that you will never again utter their names!”

But even before these promises came to pass, the prophet Nathan, sent by the Lord Jesus, replied to David’s confession, Yes, and the Lord has forgiven your sin.  You are not going to die.  Nonetheless, because you have treated the Lord with such contempt in this matter, the son who has been born to you will certainly die.15

 

Addendum: July 6, 2019
Tables comparing 2 Samuel 12:1; 12:2; 12:3; 12:4; 12:5; 12:6; 12:7; Leviticus 20:10; Exodus 21:12; 21:14; Leviticus 4:22; 4:23; 2 Samuel 12:8; 12:9; 12:10; 12:11; 12:12; 12:13; Joshua 7:20; 7:21; 7:10; 7:11; 7:12; 7:15; 7:24; 7:25; 7:26; Hosea 2:15; 2:16; 2:17 and 2 Samuel 12:14 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing 2 Samuel (Kings, Reigns) 12:1; 12:2; 12:3; 12:4; 12:5; 12:6; 12:7; Leviticus 20:10; Exodus 21:12; 21:14; Leviticus 4:22; 4:23; 2 Samuel (Kings, Reigns) 12:8; 12:9; 12:10; 12:11; 12:12; 12:13; Joshua 7:20; 7:21; 7:10; 7:11; 7:12; 7:15; 7:24; 7:25; 7:26; Hosea 2:15 (2:17); 2:16 (2:18); 2:17 (2:19) and 2 Samuel (Kings, Reigns) 12:14 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.

2 Samuel 12:1 (Tanakh)

2 Samuel 12:1 (KJV)

2 Samuel 12:1 (NET)

And HaShem sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him: ‘There were two men in one city: the one rich, and the other poor. And the LORD sent Nathan unto David.  And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. So the Lord sent Nathan to David.  When he came to David, Nathan said, “There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor.

2 Samuel 12:1 (Septuagint BLB)

2 Kings 12:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἀπέστειλεν κύριος τὸν Ναθαν τὸν προφήτην πρὸς Δαυιδ καὶ εἰσῆλθεν πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ δύο ἦσαν ἄνδρες ἐν πόλει μιᾷ εἷς πλούσιος καὶ εἷς πένης ΚΑΙ ἀπέστειλε Κύριος τὸν Νάθαν τὸν προφήτην πρὸς Δαυίδ, καὶ εἰσῆλθε πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· δύο ἦσαν ἄνδρες ἐν πόλει μιᾷ, εἷς πλούσιος, καὶ εἷς πένης

2 Reigns 12:1 (NETS)

2 Kings 12:1 (English Elpenor)

And the Lord sent Nathan the prophet to Dauid.  And he went in to him and said to him, “There were two men in one city, one rich and one poor. And the Lord sent Nathan the prophet to David; and he went in to him, and said to him, There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor.
2 Samuel 12:2 (Tanakh) 2 Samuel 12:2 (KJV)

2 Samuel 12:2 (NET)

The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds; The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: The rich man had a great many flocks and herds.

2 Samuel 12:2 (Septuagint BLB)

2 Kings 12:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ τῷ πλουσίῳ ἦν ποίμνια καὶ βουκόλια πολλὰ σφόδρα καὶ τῷ πλουσίῳ ἦν ποίμνια καὶ βουκόλια πολλὰ σφόδρα

2 Reigns 12:2 (NETS)

2 Kings 12:2 (English Elpenor)

And the rich man had very many flocks and herds, And the rich [man] had very many flocks and herds.

2 Samuel 12:3 (Tanakh)

2 Samuel 12:3 (KJV)

2 Samuel 12:3 (NET)

but the poor man had nothing save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and reared; and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own morsel, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. But the poor man had nothing except for a little lamb he had acquired.  He raised it, and it grew up alongside him and his children.  It used to eat his food, drink from his cup, and sleep in his arms.  It was just like a daughter to him.

2 Samuel 12:3 (Septuagint BLB)

2 Kings 12:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ τῷ πένητι οὐδὲν ἀλλ᾽ ἢ ἀμνὰς μία μικρά ἣν ἐκτήσατο καὶ περιεποιήσατο καὶ ἐξέθρεψεν αὐτήν καὶ ἡδρύνθη μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ καὶ μετὰ τῶν υἱῶν αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό ἐκ τοῦ ἄρτου αὐτοῦ ἤσθιεν καὶ ἐκ τοῦ ποτηρίου αὐτοῦ ἔπινεν καὶ ἐν τῷ κόλπῳ αὐτοῦ ἐκάθευδεν καὶ ἦν αὐτῷ ὡς θυγάτηρ καὶ τῷ πένητι οὐδὲν ἀλλ’ ἢ ἀμνὰς μία μικρά, ἣν ἐκτήσατο καὶ περιεποίησατο καὶ ἐξέθρεψεν αὐτὴν καὶ ἡδρύνθη μετ’ αὐτοῦ καὶ μετὰ τῶν υἱῶν αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό, ἐκ τοῦ ἄρτου αὐτοῦ ἤσθιε καὶ ἐκ τοῦ ποτηρίου αὐτοῦ ἔπινε καὶ ἐν τῷ κόλπῳ αὐτοῦ ἐκάθευδε καὶ ἦν αὐτῷ ὡς θυγάτηρ

2 Reigns 12:3 (NETS)

2 Kings 12:3 (English Elpenor)

And the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought.  And he preserved and reared it, and it grew up with him and with his sons together; it used to eat from his bread and drink from his cup and sleep in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him. But the poor [man had] only one little ewe lamb, which he had purchased, and preserved, and reared; and it grew up with himself and his children in common; it ate of his bread and drank of his cup, and slept in his bosom, and was to him as a daughter.

2 Samuel 12:4 (Tanakh)

2 Samuel 12:4 (KJV)

2 Samuel 12:4 (NET)

And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him, but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.’ And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him. “When a traveler arrived at the rich man’s home, he did not want to use one of his own sheep or cattle to feed the traveler who had come to visit him.  Instead, he took the poor man’s lamb and cooked it for the man who had come to visit him.”

2 Samuel 12:4 (Septuagint BLB)

2 Kings 12:4 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἦλθεν πάροδος τῷ ἀνδρὶ τῷ πλουσίῳ καὶ ἐφείσατο λαβεῗν ἐκ τῶν ποιμνίων αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐκ τῶν βουκολίων αὐτοῦ τοῦ ποιῆσαι τῷ ξένῳ ὁδοιπόρῳ ἐλθόντι πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ ἔλαβεν τὴν ἀμνάδα τοῦ πένητος καὶ ἐποίησεν αὐτὴν τῷ ἀνδρὶ τῷ ἐλθόντι πρὸς αὐτόν καὶ ἦλθε πάροδος τῷ ἀνδρὶ τῷ πλουσίῳ, καὶ ἐφείσατο λαβεῖν ἐκ τῶν ποιμνίων αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐκ τῶν βουκολίων αὐτοῦ τοῦ ποιῆσαι τῷ ξένῳ ὁδοιπόρῳ τῷ ἐλθόντι πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ ἔλαβε τὴν ἀμνάδα τοῦ πένητος καὶ ἐποίησεν αὐτὴν τῷ ἀνδρὶ τῷ ἐλθόντι πρὸς αὐτόν

2 Reigns 12:4 (NETS)

2 Kings 12:4 (English Elpenor)

And there came a traveler to the rich man, and he refrained from taking anything from his flocks and from his herds to prepare for the stranger, since he had come to him as a wayfarer, and he took the ewe lamb of the poor man and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” And a traveller came to the rich man, and he spared to take of his flocks and of his herds, to dress for the traveller that came to him; and he took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that came to him.

2 Samuel 12:5 (Tanakh)

2 Samuel 12:5 (KJV)

2 Samuel 12:5 (NET)

And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan: ‘As HaShem liveth, the man that hath done this deserveth to die; And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: Then David became very angry at this man.  He said to Nathan, “As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this deserves to die!

2 Samuel 12:5 (Septuagint BLB)

2 Kings 12:5 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἐθυμώθη ὀργῇ Δαυιδ σφόδρα τῷ ἀνδρί καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ πρὸς Ναθαν ζῇ κύριος ὅτι υἱὸς θανάτου ὁ ἀνὴρ ὁ ποιήσας τοῦτο καὶ ἐθυμώθη ὀργῇ Δαυὶδ σφόδρα τῷ ἀνδρί, καὶ εἶπε Δαυὶδ πρὸς Νάθαν· ζῇ Κύριος, ὅτι υἱὸς θανάτου ὁ ἀνὴρ ὁ ποιήσας τοῦτο

2 Reigns 12:5 (NETS)

2 Kings 12:5 (English Elpenor)

And Dauid was greatly inflamed with anger at the man.  And Dauid said to Nathan, “The Lord lives, for the man who did this is a son of death, And David was greatly moved with anger against the man; and David said to Nathan, [As] the Lord lives, the man that did this thing shall surely die.

2 Samuel 12:6 (Tanakh)

2 Samuel 12:6 (KJV)

2 Samuel 12:6 (NET)

and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.’ And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. Because he committed this cold-hearted crime, he must pay for the lamb four times over!”

2 Samuel 12:6 (Septuagint BLB)

2 Kings 12:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ τὴν ἀμνάδα ἀποτείσει ἑπταπλασίονα ἀνθ᾽ ὧν ὅτι ἐποίησεν τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο καὶ περὶ οὗ οὐκ ἐφείσατο καὶ τὴν ἀμνάδα ἀποτίσει ἑπταπλασίονα, ἀνθ’ ὧν ὅτι ἐποίησε τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο καὶ περὶ οὗ οὐκ ἐφείσατο.

2 Reigns 12:6 (NETS)

2 Kings 12:6 (English Elpenor)

and he shall restore the ewe lamb sevenfold, because he did this thing, and because he did not refrain.” And he shall restore the lamb seven-fold, because he has not spared.

2 Samuel 12:7 (Tanakh)

2 Samuel 12:7 (KJV)

2 Samuel 12:7 (NET)

And Nathan said to David: ‘Thou art the man.  Thus saith HaShem, the G-d of Israel: I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man.  Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; Nathan said to David, “You are that man!  This is what the Lord God of Israel has said: ‘I chose you to be king over Israel and I rescued you from the hand of Saul.

2 Samuel 12:7 (Septuagint BLB)

2 Kings 12:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ εἶπεν Ναθαν πρὸς Δαυιδ σὺ εἶ ὁ ἀνὴρ ὁ ποιήσας τοῦτο τάδε λέγει κύριος ὁ θεὸς Ισραηλ ἐγώ εἰμι ἔχρισά σε εἰς βασιλέα ἐπὶ Ισραηλ καὶ ἐγώ εἰμι ἐρρυσάμην σε ἐκ χειρὸς Σαουλ καὶ εἶπε Νάθαν πρὸς Δαυίδ· σὺ εἶ ὁ ἀνὴρ ὁ ποιήσας τοῦτο· τάδε λέγει Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ᾿Ισραήλ· ἐγώ εἰμι χρίσας σε εἰς βασιλέα ἐπὶ ᾿Ισραήλ, καὶ ἐγώ εἰμι ἐρρυσάμην σε ἐκ χειρὸς Σαοὺλ

2 Reigns 12:7 (NETS)

2 Kings 12:7 (English Elpenor)

And Nathan said to Dauid, “You are the man who did this!  This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: I am—I anointed you to be king over Israel, and I am—I rescued you from the hand of Saoul, And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man that has done this.  Thus says the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee to be king over Israel, and I rescued thee out the hand of Saul;

Leviticus 20:10 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 20:10 (KJV)

Leviticus 20:10 (NET)

And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. If a man commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death.

Leviticus 20:10 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 20:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἄνθρωπος ὃς ἂν μοιχεύσηται γυναῗκα ἀνδρὸς ἢ ὃς ἂν μοιχεύσηται γυναῗκα τοῦ πλησίον θανάτῳ θανατούσθωσαν ὁ μοιχεύων καὶ ἡ μοιχευομένη ἄνθρωπος ὃς ἂν μοιχεύσηται γυναῖκα ἀνδρός, ἢ ὃς ἂν μοιχεύσηται γυναῖκα τοῦ πλησίον, θανάτῳ θανατούσθωσαν, ὁ μοιχεύων καὶ ἡ μοιχευομένη

Leviticus 20:10 (NETS)

Leviticus 20:10 (English Elpenor)

A person who commits adultery with the wife of a man or who commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor—let both the adulterer and the adulteress by death be put to death. Whatever man shall commit adultery with the wife of a man, or whoever shall commit adultery with the wife of his neighbour, let them die the death, the adulterer and the adulteress.

Exodus 21:12 (Tanakh)

Exodus 21:12 (KJV)

Exodus 21:12 (NET)

He that smiteth a man, so that he dieth, shall surely be put to death. He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death. “Whoever strikes someone so that he dies must surely be put to death.

Exodus 21:12 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 21:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἐὰν δὲ πατάξῃ τίς τινα καὶ ἀποθάνῃ θανάτῳ θανατούσθω Εὰν δὲ πατάξῃ τίς τινα, καὶ ἀποθάνῃ, θανάτῳ θανατούσθω

Exodus 21:12 (NETS)

Exodus 21:12 (English Elpenor)

Now if someone strikes someone and he dies, let him be put to death with death. And if any man smite another and he die, let him be certainly put to death.

Exodus 21:14 (Tanakh)

Exodus 21:14 (KJV)

Exodus 21:14 (NET)

And if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from Mine altar, that he may die. But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die. But if a man willfully attacks his neighbor to kill him cunningly, you will take him even from my altar that he may die.

Exodus 21:14 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 21:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἐὰν δέ τις ἐπιθῆται τῷ πλησίον ἀποκτεῗναι αὐτὸν δόλῳ καὶ καταφύγῃ ἀπὸ τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου μου λήμψῃ αὐτὸν θανατῶσαι ἐὰν δέ τις ἐπιθῆται τῷ πλησίον ἀποκτεῖναι αὐτὸν δόλῳ καὶ καταφύγῃ, ἀπὸ τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου μου λήψῃ αὐτὸν θανατῶσαι

Exodus 21:14 (NETS)

Exodus 21:14 (English Elpenor)

Now if someone attacks his neighbor to kill him treacherously and he flees, from my altar you shall take him to put him todeath. And if any one lie in wait for his neighbour to slay him by craft, and he go for refuge, thou shalt take him from my altar to put him to death.

Leviticus 4:22 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 4:22 (KJV)

Leviticus 4:22 (NET)

When a ruler sinneth, and doeth through error any one of all the things which HaShem his G-d hath commanded not to be done, and is guilty: When a ruler hath sinned, and done somewhat through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD his God concerning things which should not be done, and is guilty; “‘Whenever a leader, by straying unintentionally, sins and violates one of the commandments of the Lord his God which must not be violated, and he pleads guilty,

Leviticus 4:22 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 4:22 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἐὰν δὲ ὁ ἄρχων ἁμάρτῃ καὶ ποιήσῃ μίαν ἀπὸ πασῶν τῶν ἐντολῶν κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ αὐτῶν ἣ οὐ ποιηθήσεται ἀκουσίως καὶ ἁμάρτῃ καὶ πλημμελήσῃ ἐὰν δὲ ὁ ἄρχων ἁμάρτῃ, καὶ ποιήσῃ μίαν ἀπὸ πασῶν τῶν ἐντολῶν Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ αὐτοῦ, ἣ οὐ ποιηθήσεται, ἀκουσίως, καὶ ἁμάρτῃ καὶ πλημμελήσῃ

Leviticus 4:22 (NETS)

Leviticus 4:22 (English Elpenor)

But if the ruler sins and does unintentionally one of any of the commandments of the Lord their God, which shall not be done, and sins and is in error And if a ruler sin, and break one of all the commands of the Lord his God, [doing the thing] which ought not to be done, unwillingly, and shall sin and trespass,

Leviticus 4:23 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 4:23 (KJV)

Leviticus 4:23 (NET)

if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, be known to him, he shall bring for his offering a goat, a male without blemish. Or if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, come to his knowledge; he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish: or his sin that he committed is made known to him, he must bring a flawless male goat as his offering.

Leviticus 4:23 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 4:23 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ γνωσθῇ αὐτῷ ἡ ἁμαρτία ἣν ἥμαρτεν ἐν αὐτῇ καὶ προσοίσει τὸ δῶρον αὐτοῦ χίμαρον ἐξ αἰγῶν ἄρσεν ἄμωμον καὶ γνωσθῇ αὐτῷ ἡ ἁμαρτία, ἣν ἥμαρτεν ἐν αὐτῇ, καὶ προσοίσει τὸ δῶρον αὐτοῦ χίμαρον ἐξ αἰγῶν, ἄρσεν ἄμωμον

Leviticus 4:23 (NETS)

Leviticus 4:23 (English Elpenor)

and the sin wherein he has sinned becomes known to him, then he shall bring his gift: a young billy goat, a male without blemish. and his trespass wherein he has sinned, be known to him,– then shall he offer for his gift a kid of the goats, a male without blemish.

2 Samuel 12:8 (Tanakh)

2 Samuel 12:8 (KJV)

2 Samuel 12:8 (NET)

and I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that were too little, then would I add unto thee so much more. And I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things. I gave you your master’s house, and put your master’s wives into your arms. I also gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if all that somehow seems insignificant, I would have given you so much more as well!

2 Samuel 12:8 (Septuagint BLB)

2 Kings 12:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἔδωκά σοι τὸν οἶκον τοῦ κυρίου σου καὶ τὰς γυναῗκας τοῦ κυρίου σου ἐν τῷ κόλπῳ σου καὶ ἔδωκά σοι τὸν οἶκον Ισραηλ καὶ Ιουδα καὶ εἰ μικρόν ἐστιν προσθήσω σοι κατὰ ταῦτα καὶ ἔδωκά σοι τὸν οἶκον τοῦ κυρίου σου καὶ τὰς γυναῖκας τοῦ κυρίου σου ἐν τῷ κόλπῳ σου καὶ ἔδωκά σοι τὸν οἶκον ᾿Ισραὴλ καὶ ᾿Ιούδα· καὶ εἰ μικρόν ἐστι, προσθήσω σοι κατὰ ταῦτα

2 Reigns 12:8 (NETS)

2 Kings 12:8 (English Elpenor)

and I gave you the house of your master and the wives of your master into your bosom, and I gave you the house of Israel and of Iouda, and if it is too little, I will add to you in accordance with these. and I gave thee the house of the lord, and the wives of thy lord into thy bosom, and I gave to thee the house of Israel and Juda; and if that had been little, I would have given thee yet more.

2 Samuel 12:9 (Tanakh)

2 Samuel 12:9 (KJV)

2 Samuel 12:9 (NET)

Wherefore hast thou despised the word of HaShem, to do that which is evil in My sight?  Uriah the Hittite thou hast smitten with the sword, and his wife thou hast taken to be thy wife, and him thou hast slain with the sword of the children of Ammon. Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. Why have you shown contempt for the Lord’s decrees by doing evil in my sight?  You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and you have taken his wife to be your own wife! You have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.

2 Samuel 12:9 (Septuagint BLB)

2 Kings 12:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)

τί ὅτι ἐφαύλισας τὸν λόγον κυρίου τοῦ ποιῆσαι τὸ πονηρὸν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῗς αὐτοῦ τὸν Ουριαν τὸν Χετταῗον ἐπάταξας ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ καὶ τὴν γυναῗκα αὐτοῦ ἔλαβες σεαυτῷ εἰς γυναῗκα καὶ αὐτὸν ἀπέκτεινας ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ υἱῶν Αμμων τί ὅτι ἐφαύλισας τὸν λόγον Κυρίου τοῦ ποιῆσαι τὸ πονηρὸν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτοῦ; τὸν Οὐρίαν τὸν Χετταῖον ἐπάταξας ἐν ρομφαίᾳ καὶ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ ἔλαβες σεαυτῷ εἰς γυναῖκα καὶ αὐτὸν ἀπέκτεινας ἐν ρομφαίᾳ υἱῶν ᾿Αμμών

2 Reigns 12:9 (NETS)

2 Kings 12:9 (English Elpenor)

Why is it that you trivialized the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight?  You struck Ourias the Chetite with a sword and took his wife for yourself for a wife and killed him with a sword of the sons of Ammon. Why hast thou set at nought the word of the Lord, to do that which is evil in his eyes? thou hast slain Urias the Chettite with the sword, and thou hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and thou hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

2 Samuel 12:10 (Tanakh)

2 Samuel 12:10 (KJV)

2 Samuel 12:10 (NET)

Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from thy house; because thou hast despised Me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. So now the sword will never depart from your house.  For you have despised me by taking the wife of Uriah the Hittite as your own!’

2 Samuel 12:10 (Septuagint BLB)

2 Kings 12:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ νῦν οὐκ ἀποστήσεται ῥομφαία ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου σου ἕως αἰῶνος ἀνθ᾽ ὧν ὅτι ἐξουδένωσάς με καὶ ἔλαβες τὴν γυναῗκα τοῦ Ουριου τοῦ Χετταίου τοῦ εἶναί σοι εἰς γυναῗκα καὶ νῦν οὐκ ἀποστήσεται ρομφαία ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου σου ἕως αἰῶνος ἀνθ’ ὧν ὅτι ἐξουδένωσάς με καὶ ἔλαβες τὴν γυναῖκα τοῦ Οὐρίου τοῦ Χετταίου τοῦ εἶναί σοι εἰς γυναῖκα

2 Reigns 12:10 (NETS)

2 Kings 12:10 (English Elpenor)

And now, a sword shall never depart from your house, because you counted me as nothing and took the wife of Ourias the Chettite to be your wife. Now therefore the sword shall not depart from thy house for ever, because thou has set me at nought, and thou hast taken the wife of Urias the Chettite, to be thy wife.

2 Samuel 12:11 (Tanakh)

2 Samuel 12:11 (KJV)

2 Samuel 12:11 (NET)

Thus saith HaShem: Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. This is what the Lord has said: ‘I am about to bring disaster on you from inside your own household!  Right before your eyes I will take your wives and hand them over to your companion.  He will go to bed with your wives in broad daylight!

2 Samuel 12:11 (Septuagint BLB)

2 Kings 12:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)

τάδε λέγει κύριος ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἐξεγείρω ἐπὶ σὲ κακὰ ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου σου καὶ λήμψομαι τὰς γυναῗκάς σου κατ᾽ ὀφθαλμούς σου καὶ δώσω τῷ πλησίον σου καὶ κοιμηθήσεται μετὰ τῶν γυναικῶν σου ἐναντίον τοῦ ἡλίου τούτου τάδε λέγει Κύριος· ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἐξεγείρω ἐπὶ σὲ κακὰ ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου σου καὶ λήψομαι τὰς γυναῖκάς σου κατ’ ὀφθαλμούς σου καὶ δώσω τῷ πλησίον σου, καὶ κοιμηθήσεται μετὰ τῶν γυναικῶν σου ἐναντίον τοῦ ἡλίου τούτου

2 Reigns 12:11 (NETS)

2 Kings 12:11 (English Elpenor)

This is what the Lord says: Behold, I am raising up trouble against you out of your own house, and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives before this sun. Thus says the Lord, Behold, I will raise up against thee evil out of thy house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and will give them to thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.

2 Samuel 12:12 (Tanakh)

2 Samuel 12:12 (KJV)

2 Samuel 12:12 (NET)

For thou didst it secretly; but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.’ For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun. Although you have acted in secret, I will do this thing before all Israel, and in broad daylight.’”

2 Samuel 12:12 (Septuagint BLB)

2 Kings 12:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ὅτι σὺ ἐποίησας κρυβῇ κἀγὼ ποιήσω τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο ἐναντίον παντὸς Ισραηλ καὶ ἀπέναντι τούτου τοῦ ἡλίου ὅτι σὺ ἐποίησας κρυβῇ, κἀγὼ ποιήσω τὸ ρῆμα τοῦτο ἐναντίον παντὸς ᾿Ισραὴλ καὶ ἀπέναντι τοῦ ἡλίου τούτου.

2 Reigns 12:12 (NETS)

2 Kings 12:12 (English Elpenor)

For you did it secretly, and I will do this thing before all Israel and before this sun.” For thou didst it secretly, but I will do this thing in the sight of all Israel, and before the sun.

2 Samuel 12:13 (Tanakh)

2 Samuel 12:13 (KJV)

2 Samuel 12:13 (NET)

And David said unto Nathan: ‘I have sinned against HaShem.’  And Nathan said unto David: ‘The HaShem also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD.  And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. Then David exclaimed to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord!”  Nathan replied to David, “Yes, and the Lord has forgiven your sin.  You are not going to die.

2 Samuel 12:13 (Septuagint BLB)

2 Kings 12:13 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ τῷ Ναθαν ἡμάρτηκα τῷ κυρίῳ καὶ εἶπεν Ναθαν πρὸς Δαυιδ καὶ κύριος παρεβίβασεν τὸ ἁμάρτημά σου οὐ μὴ ἀποθάνῃς καὶ εἶπε Δαυὶδ τῷ Νάθαν· ἡμάρτηκα τῷ Κυρίῳ. καὶ εἶπε Νάθαν πρὸς Δαυίδ· καὶ Κύριος παρεβίβασε τὸ ἁμάρτημά σου, οὐ μὴ ἀποθάνῃς

2 Reigns 12:13 (NETS)

2 Kings 12:13 (English Elpenor)

And Dauid said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”  And Nathan said to Dauid, “Indeed, the Lord put aside your sin; you shall not die. And David said to Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord.  And Nathan said to David, And the Lord has put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

Joshua 7:20 (Tanakh)

Joshua 7:20 (KJV)

Joshua 7:20 (NET)

And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: Achan told Joshua, “It is true. I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel in this way:

Joshua 7:20 (Septuagint BLB)

Joshua 7:20 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἀπεκρίθη Αχαρ τῷ Ἰησοῗ καὶ εἶπεν ἀληθῶς ἥμαρτον ἐναντίον κυρίου θεοῦ Ισραηλ οὕτως καὶ οὕτως ἐποίησα καὶ ἀπεκρίθη ῎Αχαρ τῷ ᾿Ιησοῖ καὶ εἶπεν· ἀληθῶς ἥμαρτον ἐναντίον Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ ᾿Ισραήλ· οὕτως καὶ οὕτως ἐποίησα

Joshua 7:20 (NETS)

Joshua 7:20 (English Elpenor)

And Achar answered Iesous and said, “ Truly I have sinned against the Lord, God of Israel.  Thus and so have I done. And Achar answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel: thus and thus have I done:

Joshua 7:21 (Tanakh)

Joshua 7:21 (KJV)

Joshua 7:21 (NET)

When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it. When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it. I saw among the goods we seized a nice robe from Babylon, two hundred silver pieces, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels. I wanted them, so I took them. They are hidden in the ground right in the middle of my tent with the silver underneath.”

Joshua 7:21 (Septuagint BLB)

Joshua 7:21 (Septuagint Elpenor)

εἶδον ἐν τῇ προνομῇ ψιλὴν ποικίλην καλὴν καὶ διακόσια δίδραχμα ἀργυρίου καὶ γλῶσσαν μίαν χρυσῆν πεντήκοντα διδράχμων καὶ ἐνθυμηθεὶς αὐτῶν ἔλαβον καὶ ἰδοὺ αὐτὰ ἐγκέκρυπται ἐν τῇ γῇ ἐν τῇ σκηνῇ μου καὶ τὸ ἀργύριον κέκρυπται ὑποκάτω αὐτῶν εἶδον ἐν τῇ προνομῇ ψιλὴν ποικίλην καλὴν καὶ διακόσια δίδραχμα ἀργυρίου καὶ γλῶσσαν μίαν χρυσῆν πεντήκοντα διδράχμων καὶ ἐνθυμηθεὶς αὐτῶν ἔλαβον, καὶ ἰδοὺ αὐτὰ ἐγκέκρυπται ἐν τῇ σκηνῇ μου καὶ τὸ ἀργύριον κέκρυπται ὑποκάτω αὐτῶν

Joshua 7:21 (NETS)

Joshua 7:21 (English Elpenor)

I saw in the spoil a beautiful, multi-colored carpet and two hundred didrachmas of silver and one golden tongue-shaped object of fifty didrachmas, and I coveted them and took them.  And look, they are hidden in the ground in my tent, and the silver is hidden underneath them.” I saw in the spoil an embroidered mantle, and two hundred didrachmas of silver, and one golden wedge of fifty didrachmas, and I desired them and took them; and, behold, they are hid in my tent, and the silver is hid under them.
Joshua 7:10 (Tanakh) Joshua 7:10 (KJV)

Joshua 7:10 (NET)

And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? The Lord responded to Joshua, “Get up! Why are you lying there face down?

Joshua 7:10 (Septuagint BLB)

Joshua 7:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ εἶπεν κύριος πρὸς Ἰησοῦν ἀνάστηθι ἵνα τί τοῦτο σὺ πέπτωκας ἐπὶ πρόσωπόν σου καὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς ᾿Ιησοῦν· ἀνάστηθι, ἱνατί τοῦτο σὺ πέπτωκας ἐπὶ πρόσωπόν σου

Joshua 7:10 (NETS)

Joshua 7:10 (English Elpenor)

And the Lord said to Iesous, “Stand up.  Why is it that you have fallen upon your face? And the Lord said to Joshua, Rise up; why hast thou fallen upon thy face?

Joshua 7:11 (Tanakh)

Joshua 7:11 (KJV)

Joshua 7:11 (NET)

Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenantal commandment!  They have taken some of the riches; they have stolen them and deceitfully put them among their own possessions.

Joshua 7:11 (Septuagint BLB)

Joshua 7:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἡμάρτηκεν ὁ λαὸς καὶ παρέβη τὴν διαθήκην ἣν διεθέμην πρὸς αὐτούς καὶ κλέψαντες ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀναθέματος ἐνέβαλον εἰς τὰ σκεύη αὐτῶν ἡμάρτηκεν ὁ λαὸς καὶ παρέβη τὴν διαθήκην, ἣν διεθέμην πρὸς αὐτούς, καὶ κλέψαντες ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀναθέματος ἐνέβαλον εἰς τὰ σκεύη αὐτῶν

Joshua 7:11 (NETS)

Joshua 7:11 (English Elpenor)

The people have sinned and transgressed the covenant that I made with them.  And they have stolen from what is devoted and put it into their own belongings. The people has sinned, and transgressed the covenant which I made with them; they have stolen from the cursed thing, and put it into their store.

Joshua 7:12 (Tanakh)

Joshua 7:12 (KJV)

Joshua 7:12 (NET)

Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you. Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you. The Israelites are unable to stand before their enemies; they retreat because they have become subject to annihilation.  I will no longer be with you, unless you destroy what has contaminated you.

Joshua 7:12 (Septuagint BLB)

Joshua 7:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)

οὐ μὴ δύνωνται οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ὑποστῆναι κατὰ πρόσωπον τῶν ἐχθρῶν αὐτῶν αὐχένα ἐπιστρέψουσιν ἔναντι τῶν ἐχθρῶν αὐτῶν ὅτι ἐγενήθησαν ἀνάθεμα οὐ προσθήσω ἔτι εἶναι μεθ᾽ ὑμῶν ἐὰν μὴ ἐξάρητε τὸ ἀνάθεμα ἐξ ὑμῶν αὐτῶν καὶ οὐ μὴ δύνωνται οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ ὑποστῆναι κατὰ πρόσωπον τῶν ἐχθρῶν αὐτῶν· αὐχένα ἐπιστρέψουσιν ἔναντι τῶν ἐχθρῶν αὐτῶν, ὅτι ἐγενήθησαν ἀνάθεμα· οὐ προσθήσω ἔτι εἶναι μεθ’ ὑμῶν, ἐὰν μὴ ἐξάρητε τὸ ἀνάθεμα ἐξ ὑμῶν αὐτῶν

Joshua 7:12 (NETS)

Joshua 7:12 (English Elpenor)

The sons of Israel shall not be able to stand before their enemies; they shall turn their backs before their enemies, because they have become what is devoted.  I will be with you no longer, unless you remove what is devoted from yourselves. And the children of Israel will not be able to stand before their enemies; they will turn their back before their enemies, for they have become an accursed thing: I will not any longer be with you, unless ye remove the cursed thing from yourselves.

Joshua 7:15 (Tanakh)

Joshua 7:15 (KJV)

Joshua 7:15 (NET)

And it shall be, that he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: because he hath transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel. And it shall be, that he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: because he hath transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel. The one caught with the riches must be burned up along with all who belong to him, because he violated the Lord’s covenant and did such a disgraceful thing in Israel.’”

Joshua 7:15 (Septuagint BLB)

Joshua 7:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ὃς ἂν ἐνδειχθῇ κατακαυθήσεται ἐν πυρὶ καὶ πάντα ὅσα ἐστὶν αὐτῷ ὅτι παρέβη τὴν διαθήκην κυρίου καὶ ἐποίησεν ἀνόμημα ἐν Ισραηλ καὶ ὃς ἂν ἐνδειχθῇ, κατακαυθήσεται ἐν πυρὶ καὶ πάντα, ὅσα ἐστὶν αὐτῷ, ὅτι παρέβη τὴν διαθήκην Κυρίου καὶ ἐποίησεν ἀνόμημα ἐν ᾿Ισραήλ

Joshua 7:15 (NETS)

Joshua 7:15 (English Elpenor)

And the one who is indicated shall be burned with fire, and all that he has, because he has transgressed the covenant of the Lord and has committed lawlessness in Israel.” And the man who shall be pointed out, shall be burnt with fire, and all that he has; because he has transgressed the covenant of the Lord, and has wrought wickedness in Israel.

Joshua 7:24 (Tanakh)

Joshua 7:24 (KJV)

Joshua 7:24 (NET)

And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor. And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor. Then Joshua and all Israel took Achan, son of Zerah, along with the silver, the robe, the bar of gold, his sons, daughters, ox, donkey, sheep, tent, and all that belonged to him and brought them up to the Valley of Disaster.

Joshua 7:24 (Septuagint BLB)

Joshua 7:24 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἔλαβεν Ἰησοῦς τὸν Αχαρ υἱὸν Ζαρα καὶ ἀνήγαγεν αὐτὸν εἰς φάραγγα Αχωρ καὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰς θυγατέρας αὐτοῦ καὶ τοὺς μόσχους αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰ ὑποζύγια αὐτοῦ καὶ πάντα τὰ πρόβατα αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν σκηνὴν αὐτοῦ καὶ πάντα τὰ ὑπάρχοντα αὐτοῦ καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀνήγαγεν αὐτοὺς εἰς Εμεκαχωρ καὶ ἔλαβεν ᾿Ιησοῦς τὸν ῎Αχαρ υἱὸν Ζαρὰ καὶ ἀνήγαγεν αὐτὸν εἰς φάραγγα ᾿Αχὼρ καὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰς θυγατέρας αὐτοῦ καὶ τοὺς μόσχους αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰ ὑποζύγια αὐτοῦ καὶ πάντα τὰ πρόβατα αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν σκηνὴν αὐτοῦ καὶ πάντα τὰ ὑπάρχοντα αὐτοῦ, καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς μετ’ αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἀνήγαγεν αὐτοὺς εἰς ᾿Εμεκαχώρ

Joshua 7:24 (NETS)

Joshua 7:24 (English Elpenor)

And Iesous took Achar son of Zara and brought him up to the ravine of Achor, and his sons and his daughters and his bull calves and his draft animals and all his sheep and his tent and all his belongings—and all the people with him.  And he brought them up to Emekachor. And Joshua took Achar the son of Zara, and brought him to the valley of Achor, and his sons, and his daughters, and his calves, and his asses, and all his sheep, and his tent, and all his property, and all the people [were] with him; and he brought them to Emec Achor.

Joshua 7:25 (Tanakh)

Joshua 7:25 (KJV)

Joshua 7:25 (NET)

And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day.  And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones. And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day.  And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones. Joshua said, “Why have you brought disaster on us?  The Lord will bring disaster on you today!”  All Israel stoned him to death.  (They also stoned and burned the others.)

Joshua 7:25 (Septuagint BLB)

Joshua 7:25 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ εἶπεν Ἰησοῦς τῷ Αχαρ τί ὠλέθρευσας ἡμᾶς ἐξολεθρεύσαι σε κύριος καθὰ καὶ σήμερον καὶ ἐλιθοβόλησαν αὐτὸν λίθοις πᾶς Ισραηλ καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Ιησοῦς τῷ ῎Αχαρ· τί ὠλόθρευσας ἡμᾶς; ἐξολοθρεύσαι σε Κύριος καθὰ καὶ σήμερον. καὶ ἐλιθοβόλησαν αὐτὸν λίθοις πᾶς ᾿Ισραήλ

Joshua 7:25 (NETS)

Joshua 7:25 (English Elpenor)

And Iesous said to Achar, “Why have you destroyed us?  May the Lord destroy you as also today.”  And all Israel stoned him with stones. And Joshua said to Achar, Why hast thou destroyed us? the Lord destroy thee as at this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones.

Joshua 7:26 (Tanakh)

Joshua 7:26 (KJV)

Joshua 7:26 (NET)

And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day.  So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger.  Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day. And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day.  So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger.  Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day. Then they erected over him a large pile of stones (it remains to this very day ) and the Lord’s anger subsided.  So that place is called the Valley of Disaster to this very day.

Joshua 7:26 (Septuagint BLB)

Joshua 7:26 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἐπέστησαν αὐτῷ σωρὸν λίθων μέγαν καὶ ἐπαύσατο κύριος τοῦ θυμοῦ τῆς ὀργῆς διὰ τοῦτο ἐπωνόμασεν αὐτὸ Εμεκαχωρ ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης καὶ ἐπέστησαν αὐτῷ σωρὸν λίθων μέγαν. καὶ ἐπαύσατο Κύριος τοῦ θυμοῦ τῆς ὀργῆς· διὰ τοῦτο ἐπωνόμασεν αὐτὸ ᾿Εμεκαχὼρ ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης

Joshua 7:26 (NETS)

Joshua 7:26 (English Elpenor)

And they set up over him a great heap of stones.  And the Lord ceased from burning anger.  Therefore he named it Emekachor until this day. And they set up over him a great heap of stones; and the Lord ceased from his fierce anger.  Therefore he called the place Emecachor until this day.

Hosea 2:15 (Tanakh)

Hosea 2:15 (KJV)

Hosea 2:15 (NET)

And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt. And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt. From there I will give back her vineyards to her, and turn the “Valley of Trouble” into an “Opportunity for Hope.”  There she will sing as she did when she was young, when she came up from the land of Egypt.

Hosea 2:15 (Septuagint BLB)

Hosea 2:17 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ δώσω αὐτῇ τὰ κτήματα αὐτῆς ἐκεῗθεν καὶ τὴν κοιλάδα Αχωρ διανοῗξαι σύνεσιν αὐτῆς καὶ ταπεινωθήσεται ἐκεῗ κατὰ τὰς ἡμέρας νηπιότητος αὐτῆς καὶ κατὰ τὰς ἡμέρας ἀναβάσεως αὐτῆς ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου καὶ δώσω αὐτῇ τὰ κτήματα αὐτῆς ἐκεῖθεν καὶ τὴν κοιλάδα ᾿Αχὼρ διανοῖξαι σύνεσιν αὐτῆς, καὶ ταπεινωθήσεται ἐκεῖ κατὰ τὰς ἡμέρας νηπιότητος αὐτῆς καὶ κατὰ τὰς ἡμέρας ἀναβάσεως αὐτῆς ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου.

Hosea 2:15 (NETS)

Hosea 2:17 (English Elpenor)

And from there I will give her her estates and the valley of Achor, to open up her understanding.  And there she will be brought low as in the days of her infancy and as in the days of her coming up out of the land of Egypt. And I will give her possessions from thence, and the valley of Achor to open her understanding: and she shall be afflicted there according to the days of her infancy, and according to the days of her coming up out of the land of Egypt.

Hosea 2:16 (Tanakh)

Hosea 2:16 (KJV)

Hosea 2:16 (NET)

And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali. And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali. “At that time,” declares the Lord, “you will call, ‘My husband’; you will never again call me, ‘My master.’

Hosea 2:16 (Septuagint BLB)

Hosea 2:18 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἔσται ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ λέγει κύριος καλέσει με ὁ ἀνήρ μου καὶ οὐ καλέσει με ἔτι Βααλιμ καὶ ἔσται ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ, λέγει Κύριος, καλέσει με· ὁ ἀνήρ μου, καὶ οὐ καλέσει με ἔτι Βααλείμ

Hosea 2:16 (NETS)

Hosea 2:18 (English Elpenor)

And it shall be on that day, says the Lord, she will call me “My husband” and no longer call me “Baalim.” And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord, [that] she shall call me, My husband, and shall no longer call me Baalim.

Hosea 2:17 (Tanakh)

Hosea 2:17 (KJV)

Hosea 2:17 (NET)

For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name. For I will take away the names of the Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be mentioned by their name. For I will remove the names of the Baal idols from your lips, so that you will never again utter their names!”

Hosea 2:17 (Septuagint BLB)

Hosea 2:19 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἐξαρῶ τὰ ὀνόματα τῶν Βααλιμ ἐκ στόματος αὐτῆς καὶ οὐ μὴ μνησθῶσιν οὐκέτι τὰ ὀνόματα αὐτῶν καὶ ἐξαρῶ τὰ ὀνόματα τῶν Βααλεὶμ ἐκ στόματος αὐτῆς καὶ οὐ μὴ μνησθῶσιν οὐκ ἔτι τὰ ὀνόματα αὐτῶν

Hosea 2:17 (NETS)

Hosea 2:19 (English Elpenor)

And I will remove the names of the Baalim from her mouth, and their names will be remembered no more. And I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and their names shall be remembered no more at all.

2 Samuel 12:14 (Tanakh)

2 Samuel 12:14 (KJV)

2 Samuel 12:14 (NET)

Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast greatly blasphemed the enemies of HaShem, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.’ Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die. Nonetheless, because you have treated the Lord with such contempt in this matter, the son who has been born to you will certainly die.”

2 Samuel 12:14 (Septuagint BLB)

2 Kings 12:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)

πλὴν ὅτι παροξύνων παρώξυνας τοὺς ἐχθροὺς κυρίου ἐν τῷ ῥήματι τούτῳ καί γε ὁ υἱός σου ὁ τεχθείς σοι θανάτῳ ἀποθανεῗται πλὴν ὅτι παροργίζων παρώργισας τοὺς ἐχθροὺς Κυρίου ἐν τῷ ρήματι τούτῳ, καί γε ὁ υἱός σου ὁ τεχθείς σοι θανάτῳ ἀποθανεῖται

2 Reigns 12:14 (NETS)

2 Kings 12:14 (English Elpenor)

Yet because provokingly you provoked the enemies of the Lord by this thing, indeed your son who was born to you will die by death. Only because thou hast given great occasion of provocation to the enemies of the Lord by this thing, thy son also that is born to thee shall surely die.

1 2 Samuel 12:1-7 (NET)

2 Leviticus 20:10 (NET)

3 Exodus 21:12 (NET)

4 Exodus 21:14 (NET)

5 Leviticus 4:22, 23 (NET)

6 2 Samuel 12:7-12 (NET)

7 2 Samuel 12:13a (NET)

8 Joshua 7:10-12 (NET)

9 Joshua 7:15 (NET)

10 This was Εμεκαχωρ (Table50) in the Septuagint, a Greek transliteration of the Hebrew עמק (ʽêmeq; NET: Valley) and עכור (ʽâkôr; NET: of Disaster).

11 See footnote 10 above (Table54).

12 Joshua 7:24-26 (NET)

13 The Hebrew עמק (ʽêmeq; NET: Valley) and עכור (ʽâkôr; NET: of Trouble) was translated κοιλάδα Αχωρ (Table56) in the Septuagint.

14 This phrase was significantly different in the English translations of the Septuagint (Table56), but that must wait for another essay.

15 2 Samuel 12:13, 14 (NET)

Adultery in the Law, Part 2

I first entertained the idea that πορνεία in the New Testament might be defined by Leviticus 20:11-21 because of the similarity in word order between Matthew 15:19 (NET) and the Law in Exodus 20:2-17 (NET)

Exodus 20:2-17 (NET)

Matthew 15:19 (NET)

“I, the Lord, am your God, who brought you from the land of Egypt, from the house of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or that is on the earth beneath or that is in the water below.  You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I, the Lord, your God, am a jealous God, responding to the transgression of fathers by dealing with children to the third and fourth generations of those who reject me [Table], and showing covenant faithfulness to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold guiltless anyone who takes his name in vain. “Remember the Sabbath day to set it apart as holy [Table].  For six days you may labor and do all your work [Table], but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; on it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, or your male servant, or your female servant, or your cattle, or the resident foreigner who is in your gates [Table].  For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, and he rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy [Table]. “Honor your father and your mother, that you may live a long time in the land the Lord your God is giving to you.

Exodus 20:2-12 (NET)

For out of the heart come evil (πονηροί, a form of πονηρός) ideas (διαλογισμοὶ, a form of διαλογισμός)…
“You shall not murder.

Exodus 20:13 (NET) Table

murder (φόνοι, a form of φόνος)…
“You shall not commit adultery.

Exodus 20:14 (NET) Table

adultery (μοιχεῖαι, a form of μοιχεία)…
sexual immorality (πορνεῖαι, a form of πορνεῖον)…
“You shall not steal.

Exodus 20:15 (NET)

theft (κλοπαί, a form of κλοπή)…
“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

Exodus 20:16 (NET)

false testimony (ψευδομαρτυρίαι, a form of ψευδομαρτυρία)…
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.  You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

Exodus 20:17 (NET) Table

slander (βλασφημίαι, a form of βλασφημία).

If I allowed that evil ideas covered idolatrous worship of other gods, taking the Lord’s name in vain, not keeping the Sabbath and not honoring father and mother, then only sexual immorality (πορνεία) [See Addendum below] and slander (βλασφημία) lacked a direct correspondent in the law.  Leviticus 20:11-21 (NET) seemed to fill in that gap for πορνεία.

Exodus 20:14 (NET) Table

Matthew 15:19 (NET)

Leviticus 20:10-21 (NET)

“You shall not commit adultery. …adultery (μοιχεῖαι, a form of μοιχεία)… If a man commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death.

Leviticus 20:10 (NET) Table

sexual immorality (πορνεῖαι, a form of πορνεία)… If a man has sexual intercourse with his father’s wife, he has exposed his father’s nakedness.  Both of them must be put to death; their blood guilt is on themselves [Table].  If a man has sexual intercourse with his daughter-in-law, both of them must be put to death.  They have committed perversion; their blood guilt is on themselves [Table].  If a man has sexual intercourse with a male as one has sexual intercourse with a woman, the two of them have committed an abomination.  They must be put to death; their blood guilt is on themselves [Table].  If a man has sexual intercourse with both a woman and her mother, it is lewdness.  Both he and they must be burned to death, so there is no lewdness in your midst [Table].  If a man has sexual intercourse with any animal, he must be put to death, and you must kill the animal [Table].  If a woman approaches any animal to have sexual intercourse with it, you must kill the woman, and the animal must be put to death; their blood guilt is on themselves [Table].  If a man has sexual intercourse with his sister, whether the daughter of his father or his mother, so that he sees her nakedness and she sees his nakedness, it is a disgrace.  They must be cut off in the sight of the children of their people.  He has exposed his sister’s nakedness; he will bear his punishment for iniquity [Table].  If a man has sexual intercourse with a menstruating woman and uncovers her nakedness, he has laid bare her fountain of blood and she has exposed the fountain of her blood, so both of them must be cut off from the midst of their people [Table].  You must not expose the nakedness of your mother’s sister and your father’s sister, for   such a person has laid bare his own close relative.  They must bear their punishment for iniquity [Table].  If a man has sexual intercourse with his aunt, he has exposed his uncle’s nakedness; they must bear responsibility for their sin, they will die childless [Table].  If a man has sexual intercourse with his brother’s wife, it is indecency.  He has exposed his brother’s nakedness; they will be childless [Table].

Leviticus 20:11-21 (NET)

The advantage of this interpretation is that Leviticus 20:11-21 is a finite list as opposed to the open-ended translation of πορνεία as immorality.  It does not pander to men who want to divorce their wives, remarry, and justify themselves by law.  And it is not without precedent in Bible translation.  The translators of the New American Bible1 understood πορνεία this way in Matthew 5:32, 19:9; Acts 15:20, 29, and 21:25.  The disadvantages will follow.

 

Addendum: September 24, 2021
I thought πορνεῖαι was a form of πορνεία, but according to the Koine Greek Lexicon online it is a form of πορνεῖον: “brothel, a house of prostitution.”  There is only one occurrence of πορνεῖαι in the Septuagint.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
2 Kings 9:22 (Tanakh) Table 2 Kings 9:22 (NET) 4 Reigns 9:22 (NETS)

4 Kings 9:22 (Elpenor English)

And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said: ‘Is it peace, Jehu?’  And he answered: ‘What peace, so long as the harlotries (זְנוּנֵ֞י) of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?’ When Joram saw Jehu, he asked, “Is everything all right, Jehu?”  He replied, “How can everything be all right as long as your mother Jezebel promotes idolatry (zᵊnûnîm, זנוני) and pagan practices?” And it happened, when Ioram saw Iou, that he said, “Is it peace, Iou?”  And Iou said, “What peace?  The whoredoms (πορνεῗαι) of Iezabel your mother and her sorceries are still many.” And it came to pass when Joram saw Ju, that he said, [Is it] peace, Ju?  And Ju said, How [can it be] peace? as yet [there are] the whoredoms (πορνεῖαι) of thy mother Jezabel, and her abundant witchcrafts.

Tables comparing Exodus 20:2; 20:3; 20:4; 20:6; 20:7; 20:12; 20:15 (20:13); 20:16 (20:13) and 2 Kings 9:22 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Exodus 20:2; 20:3; 20:4; 20:6; 20:7; 20:12; 20:15 (20:14); 20:16 and 2 Kings (4 Reigns, 4 Kings) 9:22 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.

Exodus 20:2 (Tanakh)

Exodus 20:2 (KJV)

Exodus 20:2 (NET)

I am HaShem thy G-d , who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. “I, the Lord, am your God, who brought you from the land of Egypt, from the house of slavery.

Exodus 20:2 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 20:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἐγώ εἰμι κύριος ὁ θεός σου ὅστις ἐξήγαγόν σε ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου ἐξ οἴκου δουλείας ἐγώ εἰμι Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου, ὅστις ἐξήγαγόν σε ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου, ἐξ οἴκου δουλείας

Exodus 20:2 (NETS)

Exodus 20:2 (English Elpenor)

I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the Land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. I am the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

Exodus 20:3 (Tanakh)

Exodus 20:3 (KJV)

Exodus 20:3 (NET)

Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. “You shall have no other gods before me.

Exodus 20:3 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 20:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)

οὐκ ἔσονταί σοι θεοὶ ἕτεροι πλὴν ἐμοῦ οὐκ ἔσονταί σοι θεοὶ ἕτεροι πλὴν ἐμοῦ

Exodus 20:3 (NETS)

Exodus 20:3 (English Elpenor)

You shall have no other gods besides me. Thou shalt have no other gods beside me.

Exodus 20:4 (Tanakh)

Exodus 20:4 (KJV)

Exodus 20:4 (NET)

Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor any manner of likeness, of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: “You shall not make for yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or that is on the earth beneath or that is in the water below.

Exodus 20:4 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 20:4 (Septuagint Elpenor)

οὐ ποιήσεις σεαυτῷ εἴδωλον οὐδὲ παντὸς ὁμοίωμα ὅσα ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ ἄνω καὶ ὅσα ἐν τῇ γῇ κάτω καὶ ὅσα ἐν τοῗς ὕδασιν ὑποκάτω τῆς γῆς οὐ ποιήσεις σεαυτῷ εἴδωλον, οὐδὲ παντὸς ὁμοίωμα, ὅσα ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ ἄνω καὶ ὅσα ἐν τῇ γῇ κάτω καὶ ὅσα ἐν τοῖς ὕδασιν ὑποκάτω τῆς γῆς

Exodus 20:4 (NETS)

Exodus 20:4 (English Elpenor)

You shall not make for yourself an idol or likeness of anything whatever is in heaven above and whatever is in the earth beneath and whatever is in the waters beneath the earth. Thou shalt not make to thyself an idol, nor likeness of anything, whatever things are in the heaven above, and whatever are in the earth beneath, and whatever are in the waters under the earth.

Exodus 20:6 (Tanakh)

Exodus 20:6 (KJV)

Exodus 20:6 (NET)

and showing mercy unto the thousandth generation of them that love Me and keep My commandments. And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. and showing covenant faithfulness to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Exodus 20:6 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 20:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ποιῶν ἔλεος εἰς χιλιάδας τοῗς ἀγαπῶσίν με καὶ τοῗς φυλάσσουσιν τὰ προστάγματά μου καὶ ποιῶν ἔλεος εἰς χιλιάδας τοῖς ἀγαπῶσί με καὶ τοῖς φυλάσσουσι τὰ προστάγματά μου

Exodus 20:6 (NETS)

Exodus 20:6 (English Elpenor)

and doing mercy unto thousands, for those who love me and keep my ordinances. and bestowing mercy on them that love me to thousands [of them], and on them that keep my commandments.

Exodus 20:7 (Tanakh)

Exodus 20:7 (KJV)

Exodus 20:7 (NET)

Thou shalt not take the name of HaShem thy G-d in vain; for HaShem will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain . Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold guiltless anyone who takes his name in vain.

Exodus 20:7 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 20:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)

οὐ λήμψῃ τὸ ὄνομα κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ σου ἐπὶ ματαίῳ οὐ γὰρ μὴ καθαρίσῃ κύριος τὸν λαμβάνοντα τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ ματαίῳ οὐ λήψει τὸ ὄνομα Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ σου ἐπί ματαίῳ· οὐ γὰρ μὴ καθαρίσῃ Κύριος Θεός σου τὸν λαμβάνοντα τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ ματαίῳ

Exodus 20:7 (NETS)

Exodus 20:7 (English Elpenor)

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.  For the Lord will never acquit the one who takes his name in vain. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord thy God will not acquit him that takes his name in vain.

Exodus 20:12 (Tanakh)

Exodus 20:12 (KJV)

Exodus 20:12 (NET)

Honour thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which HaShem thy G-d giveth thee. Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. “Honor your father and your mother, that you may live a long time in the land the Lord your God is giving to you.

Exodus 20:12 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 20:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)

τίμα τὸν πατέρα σου καὶ τὴν μητέρα ἵνα εὖ σοι γένηται καὶ ἵνα μακροχρόνιος γένῃ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς τῆς ἀγαθῆς ἧς κύριος ὁ θεός σου δίδωσίν σοι τίμα τὸν πατέρα σου καὶ τὴν μητέρα σου, ἵνα εὖ σοι γένηται, καὶ ἵνα μακροχρόνιος γένῃ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς τῆς ἀγαθῆς, ἧς Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου δίδωσί σοι

Exodus 20:12 (NETS)

Exodus 20:12 (English Elpenor)

Honor your father and your mother so that it may be well with you and so that you may be long-lived on the good land that the Lord your God is giving you. Honour thy father and thy mother, that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest live long on the good land, which the Lord thy God gives to thee.

Exodus 20:13 (Tanakh)

Exodus 20:15 (KJV)

Exodus 20:15 (NET)

Thou shalt not murder; Thou shalt not commit adultery; Thou shalt not steal; Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Thou shalt not steal. “You shall not steal.

Exodus 20:15 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 20:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)

οὐ κλέψεις οὐ κλέψεις

Exodus 20:14 (NETS)

Exodus 20:14 (English Elpenor)

You shall not steal. Thou shalt not steal.

Exodus 20:13 (Tanakh)

Exodus 20:16 (KJV)

Exodus 20:16 (NET)

Thou shalt not murder; Thou shalt not commit adultery; Thou shalt not steal; Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

Exodus 20:16 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 20:16 (Septuagint Elpenor)

οὐ ψευδομαρτυρήσεις κατὰ τοῦ πλησίον σου μαρτυρίαν ψευδῆ οὐ ψευδομαρτυρήσεις κατὰ τοῦ πλησίον σου μαρτυρίαν ψευδῆ

Exodus 20:16 (NETS)

Exodus 20:16 (English Elpenor)

You shall not testify falsely against your neighbor with false witness. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

2 Kings 9:22 (Tanakh)

2 Kings 9:22 (KJV)

2 Kings 9:22 (NET)

And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said: ‘Is it peace, Jehu?’  And he answered: ‘What peace, so long as the harlotries of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?’ And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu?  And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many? When Joram saw Jehu, he asked, “Is everything all right, Jehu?”  He replied, “How can everything be all right as long as your mother Jezebel promotes idolatry and pagan practices?”

2 Kings 9:22 (Septuagint BLB)

4 Kings 9:22 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς εἶδεν Ιωραμ τὸν Ιου καὶ εἶπεν εἰ εἰρήνη Ιου καὶ εἶπεν Ιου τί εἰρήνη ἔτι αἱ πορνεῗαι Ιεζαβελ τῆς μητρός σου καὶ τὰ φάρμακα αὐτῆς τὰ πολλά καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς εἶδεν ᾿Ιωρὰμ τὸν ᾿Ιού, καὶ εἶπεν· εἰ εἰρήνη ᾿Ιού; καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Ιού· τί εἰρήνη; ἔτι αἱ πορνεῖαι ᾿Ιεζάβελ τῆς μητρός σου καὶ τὰ φάρμακα αὐτῆς τὰ πολλά

4 Reigns 9:22 (NETS)

4 Kings 9:22 (English Elpenor)

And it happened, when Ioram saw Iou, that he said, “Is it peace, Iou?”  And Iou said, “What peace?  The whoredoms of Iezabel your mother and her sorceries are still many.” And it came to pass when Joram saw Ju, that he said, [Is it] peace, Ju?  And Ju said, How [can it be] peace? as yet [there are] the whoredoms of thy mother Jezabel, and her abundant witchcrafts.

Adultery in the Law, Part 1

I want to study the background information in the Old Testament to see if I can understand what Jesus, Paul and the New Testament writers meant by πορνεία.  Since I’m treating πορνεία like the unknown X, I’ll track the Hebrew word נָאַף (nā’ap̄), equivalent to μοιχάω in Greek, to commit adultery.

The first occurrence is Exodus 20:14 (NET) [Table]: You shall not commit adultery (nā’ap̄, תנאף).  And the next is Leviticus 20:10 (NET Table) where the penalty for ינאף (nā’ap̄) is described:

If a man commits adultery (nā’ap̄, ינאף) with his neighbor’s wife, both the adulterer (nā’ap̄, הנאף) and the adulteress (nā’ap̄, והנאפת) must be put to death [See Addendum below].

What follows is a list of other capital offenses (Leviticus 20:11 NET Table):

If a man has sexual intercourse (šāḵaḇ, ישכב) with his father’s wife, he has exposed his father’s nakedness.  Both of them must be put to death; their blood guilt is on themselves.

I assume that the father was already dead, otherwise the law is redundant and falls under נָאַף (nā’ap̄).  Similarly in Leviticus 20:12 (NET) I assume that the son was dead:

If a man has sexual intercourse (šāḵaḇ, ישכב) with his daughter-in-law, both of them must be put to death.  They have committed (ʿāśâ, עשׁו) perversion (teḇel, תבל); their blood guilt is on themselves.

The list continues (Leviticus 20:13-16 NET):

If a man has sexual intercourse (šāḵaḇ, ישכב) with a male as one has sexual intercourse (miškāḇ, משכבי) with a woman, the two of them have committed (ʿāśâ, עשׁו) an abomination (tôʿēḇâ, תועבה).  They must be put to death; their blood guilt is on themselves.  If a man has sexual intercourse (lāqaḥ, יקח) with both a woman and her mother, it is lewdness (zimmâ, זמה).  Both he and they must be burned to death, so there is no lewdness (zimmâ, זמה) in your midst [See Addendum below].  If a man has (nāṯan, יתן) sexual intercourse (šᵊḵōḇeṯ, שכבתו) with any animal, he must be put to death, and you must kill the animal.  If a woman approaches any animal to have sexual intercourse (rāḇaʿ, לרבעה) with it, you must kill the woman, and the animal must be put to death; their blood guilt is on themselves.

In Leviticus 20:17 (NET) offenders are to be cut off (probably executed) in the sight of the children of their people, and in verse 18 (NET), cut off from the midst of their people.

If a man has sexual intercourse (lāqaḥ, יקח) with his sister, whether the daughter of his father or his mother, so that he sees her nakedness and she sees his nakedness, it is a disgrace (ḥeseḏ, חסד).  They must be cut off in the sight of the children of their people.  He has exposed his sister’s nakedness; he will bear his punishment for iniquity [Table].  If a man has sexual intercourse (šāḵaḇ, ישכב) with a menstruating woman and uncovers her nakedness, he has laid bare her fountain of blood and she has exposed the fountain of her blood, so both of them must be cut off from the midst of their people.

Finally, the punishment incurred in Leviticus 20:19-21 was childlessness.

You must not expose the nakedness of your mother’s sister and your father’s sister, for such a person has laid bare his own close relative.  They must bear their punishment for iniquity [Table].  If a man has sexual intercourse (šāḵaḇ, ישכב) with his aunt, he has exposed his uncle’s nakedness; they must bear responsibility for their sin, they will die childless [Table].  If a man has sexual intercourse with (lāqaḥ, יקח) his brother’s wife, it is indecency (nidâ, נדה).  He has exposed his brother’s nakedness; they will be childless.

I assume that the execution of this sentence was intentionally left to God (in the form of reproductive issues) rather than to men (infanticide).  But it would be difficult to demonstrate except in the most oblique way.  Abraham (Abram) for instance married his niece1 Sarai more than four hundred thirty years2 before the law prohibited3 such marriage.  What is intriguing about this is that until God intervened, fulfilling his promise to Abram, Sarai was barren; she had no children.4

Whether these sentences were ever actually executed in a systematic way in Israel is a question I’ll leave for others.  My interest is simply to introduce the question:  Is Leviticus 20:11-21 what Jesus, Paul and the New Testament writers meant by the Greek word πορνεία?

 

Addendum: January 16, 2019
A table comparing Galatians 3:17 in the NET and KJV follows.

Galatians 3:17 (NET)

Galatians 3:17 (KJV)

What I am saying is this: The law that came four hundred thirty years later does not cancel a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to invalidate the promise. And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

τοῦτο δὲ λέγω· διαθήκην προκεκυρωμένην ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ ὁ μετὰ τετρακόσια καὶ τριάκοντα ἔτη γεγονὼς νόμος οὐκ ἀκυροῖ εἰς τὸ καταργῆσαι τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν τουτο δε λεγω διαθηκην προκεκυρωμενην υπο του θεου εις χριστον ο μετα ετη τετρακοσια και τριακοντα γεγονως νομος ουκ ακυροι εις το καταργησαι την επαγγελιαν τουτο δε λεγω διαθηκην προκεκυρωμενην υπο του θεου εις χριστον ο μετα ετη τετρακοσια και τριακοντα γεγονως νομος ουκ ακυροι εις το καταργησαι την επαγγελιαν

 

Addendum: September 17, 2021
Note 21 in the NET reads:

The reading of the LXX minuscule mss has been followed here (see the BHS footnote a-a). The MT has a dittography, repeating “a man who commits adultery with the wife of” (see the explanation in J. E. Hartley, Leviticus [WBC], 328). The duplication found in the MT is reflected in some English versions, e.g., KJV, ASV, NASB, NIV.

Both versions of the Septuagint I’ve been using seem to confirm the Masoretic text here.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Leviticus 20:10 (Tanakh/KJV) Leviticus 20:10 (NET) Leviticus 20:10 (NETS)

Leviticus 20:10 (Elpenor English)

And the man that committeth adultery (יִנְאַף֙) with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery (יִנְאַ֖ף) with his neighbour’s wife, both the adulterer (הַנֹּאֵ֖ף) and the adulteress (וְהַנֹּאָֽפֶת) shall surely be put to death. If a man commits adultery (nā’ap̄, ינאף) with his neighbor’s wife, both the adulterer (nā’ap̄, הנאף) and the adulteress (nā’ap̄, והנאפת) must be put to death. A person who commits adultery (μοιχεύσηται) with the wife of a man or who commits adultery (μοιχεύσηται) with the wife of his neighbor—let both the adulterer (μοιχεύων) and the adulteress (μοιχευομένη) by death be put to death. Whatever man shall commit adultery (μοιχεύσηται) with the wife of a man, or whoever shall commit adultery (μοιχεύσηται) with the wife of his neighbour, let them die the death, the adulterer (μοιχεύων) and the (μοιχευομένη) adulteress.

The Greek translations of זִמָּ֖ה (zimmâ) in Leviticus 20:14 surprised me enough to be highlighted.  I’m not grasping the general, specific, technical or emotional connotations of זִמָּ֖ה (zimmâ), ἀνόμημά or ἀνομία apparently.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Leviticus 20:14 (Tanakh) Leviticus 20:14 (NET) Leviticus 20:14 (NETS)

Leviticus 20:14 (Elpenor English)

And if a man take (יִקַּ֧ח) with his wife also her mother, it is wickedness (זִמָּ֣ה): they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness (זִמָּ֖ה) among you. If a man has marital relations (lāqaḥ, יקח) with both a woman and her mother, it is lewdness (zimmâ, זמה).  Both he and they must be burned to death, so there is no lewdness (zimmâ, זמה) in your midst. He who takes (λάβῃ) a wife and her mother—it is transgression of the law (ἀνόμημά); they shall burn both him and them with fire, and there shall be no lawlessness (ἀνομία) among you. Whosoever shall take (λάβῃ) a woman and her mother, it is iniquity (ἀνόμημά): they shall burn him and them with fire; so there shall not be iniquity (ἀνομία) among you.

Tables comparing Leviticus 20:12; 20:13; 20:14; 20:15; 20:16; 20:18; 20:21 and Genesis 11:30 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Leviticus 20:12; 20:13; 20:14; 20:15; 20:16; 20:18; 20:21 and Genesis 11:30 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.

Leviticus 20:12 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 20:12 (KJV)

Leviticus 20:12 (NET)

And if a man lie with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall surely be put to death; they have wrought corruption; their blood shall be upon them. And if a man lie with his daughter in law, both of them shall surely be put to death: they have wrought confusion; their blood shall be upon them. If a man goes to bed with his daughter-in-law, both of them must be put to death.  They have committed perversion; their blood guilt is on themselves.

Leviticus 20:12 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 20:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἐάν τις κοιμηθῇ μετὰ νύμφης αὐτοῦ θανάτῳ θανατούσθωσαν ἀμφότεροι ἠσεβήκασιν γάρ ἔνοχοί εἰσιν καὶ ἐάν τις κοιμηθῇ μετὰ νύμφης αὐτοῦ, θανάτῳ θανατούσθωσαν ἀμφότεροι· ἠσεβήκασι γάρ, ἔνοχοί εἰσι

Leviticus 20:12 (NETS)

Leviticus 20:12 (English Elpenor)

And if anyone lies with his daughter-in-law, let both of them by death be put to death, for they have behaved impiously; they are liable. And if any one should lie with his daughter-in-law, let them both be put to death; for they have wrought impiety, they are guilty.

Leviticus 20:13 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 20:13 (KJV)

Leviticus 20:13 (NET)

And if a man lie with mankind, as with womankind, both of them have committed abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. If a man goes to bed with a male as one goes to bed with a woman, the two of them have committed an abomination.  They must be put to death; their blood guilt is on themselves.

Leviticus 20:13 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 20:13 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ὃς ἂν κοιμηθῇ μετὰ ἄρσενος κοίτην γυναικός βδέλυγμα ἐποίησαν ἀμφότεροι θανατούσθωσαν ἔνοχοί εἰσιν καὶ ὃς ἂν κοιμηθῇ μετά ἄρσενος κοίτην γυναικός, βδέλυγμα ἐποίησαν ἀμφότεροι· θανάτῳ θανατούσθωσαν, ἔνοχοί εἰσιν

Leviticus 20:13 (NETS)

Leviticus 20:13 (English Elpenor)

And he who lies with a male in a bed for a woman, both have committed an abomination; by death let them be put to death; they are liable. And whoever shall lie with a male as with a woman, they have both wrought abomination; let them die the death, they are guilty.

Leviticus 20:14 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 20:14 (KJV)

Leviticus 20:14 (NET)

And if a man take with his wife also her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you. And if a man take a wife and her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you. If a man has marital relations with both a woman and her mother, it is lewdness.  Both he and they must be burned to death, so there is no lewdness in your midst.

Leviticus 20:14 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 20:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ὃς ἐὰν λάβῃ γυναῗκα καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτῆς ἀνόμημά ἐστιν ἐν πυρὶ κατακαύσουσιν αὐτὸν καὶ αὐτάς καὶ οὐκ ἔσται ἀνομία ἐν ὑμῗν ὃς ἂν λάβῃ γυναῖκα καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτῆς, ἀνόμημά ἐστιν, ἐν πυρὶ κατακαύσουσιν αὐτὸν καὶ αὐτάς, καὶ οὐκ ἔσται ἀνομία ἐν ὑμῖν

Leviticus 20:14 (NETS)

Leviticus 20:14 (English Elpenor)

He who takes a wife and her mother—it is transgression of the law; they shall burn both him and them with fire, and there shall be no lawlessness among you. Whosoever shall take a woman and her mother, it is iniquity: they shall burn him and them with fire; so there shall not be iniquity among you.

Leviticus 20:15 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 20:15 (KJV)

Leviticus 20:15 (NET)

And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death; and ye shall slay the beast. And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast. If a man has sexual relations with any animal, he must be put to death, and you must kill the animal.

Leviticus 20:15 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 20:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ὃς ἂν δῷ κοιτασίαν αὐτοῦ ἐν τετράποδι θανάτῳ θανατούσθω καὶ τὸ τετράπουν ἀποκτενεῗτε καὶ ὃς ἂν δῷ κοιτασίαν αὐτοῦ ἐν τετράποδι, θανάτῳ θανατούσθω, καὶ τὸ τετράπουν ἀποκτενεῖτε

Leviticus 20:15 (NETS)

Leviticus 20:15 (English Elpenor)

And he who gives his sleeping-with to a quadruped, by death let him be put to death, and you shall kill the quadruped. And whosoever shall lie with a beast, let him die the death; and ye shall kill the beast.

Leviticus 20:16 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 20:16 (KJV)

Leviticus 20:16 (NET)

And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. If a woman approaches any animal to copulate with it, you must kill the woman, and the animal must be put to death; their blood guilt is on themselves.

Leviticus 20:16 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 20:16 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ γυνή ἥτις προσελεύσεται πρὸς πᾶν κτῆνος βιβασθῆναι αὐτὴν ὑπ᾽ αὐτοῦ ἀποκτενεῗτε τὴν γυναῗκα καὶ τὸ κτῆνος θανάτῳ θανατούσθωσαν ἔνοχοί εἰσιν καὶ γυνή, ἥτις προσελεύσεται πρὸς πᾶν κτῆνος βιβασθῆναι αὐτὴν ὑπ᾿ αὐτοῦ, ἀποκτενεῖτε τὴν γυναῖκα καὶ τὸ κτῆνος· θανάτῳ θανατούσθωσαν, ἔνοχοί εἰσιν

Leviticus 20:16 (NETS)

Leviticus 20:16 (English Elpenor)

And a woman who shall approach any animal for her to be mounted by it—you shall kill the woman and the animal; by death the shall be put to death; they are liable. And whatever woman shall approach any beast, so as to have connexion with it, ye shall kill the woman and the beast: let them die the death, they are guilty.

Leviticus 20:18 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 20:18 (KJV)

Leviticus 20:18 (NET)

And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness–he hath made naked her fountain, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood–both of them shall be cut off from among their people. And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness; he hath discovered her fountain, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among their people. If a man goes to bed with a menstruating woman and uncovers her nakedness, he has laid bare her fountain of blood, and she has exposed the fountain of her blood, so both of them must be cut off from the midst of their people.

Leviticus 20:18 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 20:18 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἀνήρ ὃς ἂν κοιμηθῇ μετὰ γυναικὸς ἀποκαθημένης καὶ ἀποκαλύψῃ τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῆς τὴν πηγὴν αὐτῆς ἀπεκάλυψεν καὶ αὕτη ἀπεκάλυψεν τὴν ῥύσιν τοῦ αἵματος αὐτῆς ἐξολεθρευθήσονται ἀμφότεροι ἐκ τοῦ γένους αὐτῶν καὶ ἀνήρ, ὃς ἂν κοιμηθῇ μετὰ γυναικὸς ἀποκαθημένης καὶ ἀποκαλύψῃ τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῆς, τὴν πηγὴν αὐτῆς ἀπεκάλυψε, καὶ αὕτη ἀπεκάλυψε τὴν ῥύσιν τοῦ αἵματος αὐτῆς· ἐξολοθρευθήσονται ἀμφότεροι ἐκ τῆς γενεᾶς αὐτῶν

Leviticus 20:18 (NETS)

Leviticus 20:18 (English Elpenor)

And a man who lies with a woman who sits apart and uncovers her shame—he has laid bare her spring, and she has laid bare her flow of blood; both of them shall be exterminated from their race. And whatever man shall lie with a woman that is set apart [for a flux], and shall uncover her nakedness, he has uncovered her fountain, and she has uncovered the flux of her blood: they shall both be destroyed from among their generation.

Leviticus 20:21 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 20:21 (KJV)

Leviticus 20:21 (NET)

And if a man shall take his brother’s wife, it is impurity: he hath uncovered his brother’s nakedness; they shall be childless. And if a man shall take his brother’s wife, it is an unclean thing: he hath uncovered his brother’s nakedness; they shall be childless. If a man has marital relations with his brother’s wife, it is indecency.  He has exposed his brother’s nakedness; they will be childless.

Leviticus 20:21 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 20:21 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ὃς ἂν λάβῃ τὴν γυναῗκα τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ ἀκαθαρσία ἐστίν ἀσχημοσύνην τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ ἀπεκάλυψεν ἄτεκνοι ἀποθανοῦνται ὃς ἐὰν λάβῃ γυναῖκα τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ, ἀκαθαρσία ἐστίν· ἀσχημοσύνην τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ ἀπεκάλυψεν, ἄτεκνοι ἀποθανοῦνται

Leviticus 20:21 (NETS)

Leviticus 20:21 (English Elpenor)

He who takes the wife of his brother—it is impurity; he has uncovered his brother’s shame; they shall die childless. Whoever shall take his brother’s wife, it is uncleanness; he has uncovered his brother’s nakedness; they shall die childless.

Genesis 11:30 (Tanakh)

Genesis 11:30 (KJV)

Genesis 11:30 (NET)

And Sarai was barren; she had no child. But Sarai was barren; she had no child. But Sarai was barren; she had no children.

Genesis 11:30 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 11:30 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἦν Σαρα στεῗρα καὶ οὐκ ἐτεκνοποίει καὶ ἦν Σάρα στεῖρα καὶ οὐκ ἐτεκνοποίει

Genesis 11:30 (NETS)

Genesis 11:30 (English Elpenor)

And Sara was barren, and she was not bearing children. And Sara was barren, and did not bear children.

1 Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran…. And Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves.  The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah; she was the daughter of Haran, the father of both Milcah and Iscah. (Genesis 11:27a, 29 NET)  Was Sarah the Sister and Wife of Abraham?

2 Galatians 3:17

3 I am assuming that, You must not expose the nakedness of your father’s brother; you must not approach his wife to have sexual intercourse with her (Leviticus 18:14 NET), includes a niece (who literally exposes the nakedness of her father’s brother). Reversibility seems to be indicated in the command against sexual intercourse with a sister (Leviticus 20:17 NET): …so that he sees her nakedness and she sees his nakedness, it is a disgrace.

4 Genesis 11:30 NET