The Children of Promise, Part 1

Posted on January 2, 2024 by admin

[I]t is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God; Paul wrote, rather, the children of promise are counted as descendants.¹ In another essay I asked, “So, if God did not allow [Abimelech] to touch Sarah, why didn’t He do the same for Pharaoh and Sarai?” I’m hoping that a thorough study of the story of Abram/Abraham and Sarai/Sarah will give me not only a richer understanding of Paul’s contrast between the children of the flesh and the children of promise but an answer to this question as well.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Genesis 12:1 (Tanakh)	Genesis 12:1 (NET)	Genesis 12:1 (NETS)	Genesis 12:1 (English Elpenor)
Now HaShem said unto Abram: ‘Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto the land that I will show thee [Table].	Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go out from your country, your relatives, and your father’s household to the land that I will show you.	And the Lord said to Abram, “Go forth from your country and from your kindred and from your father’s house to the land that I will show you [Table].	AND the Lord said to Abram, Go forth out of thy land and out of thy kindred, and out of the house of thy father, and come into the land which I will shew thee.

Here is the first contrast: the children of the flesh (NET note 18: “the natural offspring”) have a point of origin, a country, a kindred, a father’s house, while the children of promise are called by God: Go out from your country, your relatives, and your father’s household to the land that I will show you.² As he³ was walking by the Sea of Galilee [Jesus] saw two brothers, Simon (called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea (for they were fishermen) [Table]. He said to them, “Follow me (δεῦτε ὀπίσω μου).⁴ If you wish to be perfect, Jesus said to a young man who was very rich, go sell your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me (καὶ δεῦρο ἀκολούθει μοι).⁵

The first promise follows:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Genesis 12:2, 3 (Tanakh)	Genesis 12:2, 3 (NET)	Genesis 12:2, 3 (NETS)	Genesis 12:2, 3 (English Elpenor)
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and be thou a blessing [Table].	Then I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great, so that you will exemplify divine blessing.	And I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, and you shall be one blessed [Table].	And I will make thee a great nation, and I will bless thee and magnify thy name, and thou shalt be blessed.
And I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse; and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed’ [Table].	I will bless those who bless you, but the one who treats you lightly I must curse, so that all the families of the earth may receive blessing through you.”	And I will bless those who bless you, and those who curse you I will curse, and in you all the tribes of the earth shall be blessed” [Table].	And I will bless those that bless thee, and curse those that curse thee, and in thee shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed.

This contrast stands out clearly: the children of promise receive promises from God that are not received by the children of the flesh. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest, Jesus promised. Take my yoke on you and learn from me because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls [Table]. For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry.⁶

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Genesis 12:4 (Tanakh)	Genesis 12:4 (NET)	Genesis 12:4 (NETS)	Genesis 12:4 (English Elpenor)
So Abram went, as HaShem had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him; and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.	So Abram left, just as the Lord had told him to do, and Lot went with him. (Now Abram was 75 years old when he departed from Haran.)	And Abram went, as the Lord had told him to, and Lot left with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years of age when he departed from Charran.	And Abram went as the Lord spoke to him, and Lot departed with him, and Abram was seventy-five years old, when he went out of Charrhan.

The enabling grace of God, implicit in his call or command, is manifest among the children of promise as obedience to his word. God’s enabling grace is much less apparent among the children of the flesh. Simon (called Peter) and Andrew his brother⁷ left their nets immediately and followed [Jesus].⁸ But when the young man heard this (e.g., go sell your possessions and give the money to the poor⁹) he went away sorrowful, for he was very rich.¹⁰ Even in the face of this rejection, however, Jesus remained confident in the enabling grace of God: for God all things are possible,¹¹ He said.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Genesis 12:5, 6 (Tanakh)	Genesis 12:5, 6 (NET)	Genesis 12:5, 6 (NETS)	Genesis 12:5, 6 English Elpenor)
And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.	And Abram took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they left for the land of Canaan. They entered the land of Canaan.	And Abram took his wife Sara and his brother’s son Lot and all their possessions that they had acquired and every person whom they had acquired in Charran, and they departed to go to the land of Chanaan, and they came to the land of Chanaan.	And Abram took Sara his wife, and Lot the son of his brother, and all their possessions, as many as they had got, and every soul which they had got in Charrhan, and they went forth to go into the land of Chanaan.
And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Shechem, unto the terebinth of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.	Abram traveled through the land as far as the oak tree of Moreh at Shechem. (At that time the Canaanites were in the land.)	And Abram passed through the land in its length as far as the place Sychem, at the high oak. Now at that time the Chananites used to inhabit the land.	And Abram traversed the land lengthwise as far as the place Sychem, to the high oak, and the Chananites then inhabited the land.

Abram, blessed by God (Genesis 12:2), was sent to the Canaanites, descendants of Canaan, cursed by Noah (Genesis 9:20-27). I’m merely noting it at present, reminding myself to be mindful of how the Canaanites treat Abram (Genesis 12:3) as I proceed.

The Lord’s second promise to Abram follows:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Genesis 12:7 (Tanakh)	Genesis 12:7 (NET)	Genesis 12:7 (NETS)	Genesis 12:7 (English Elpenor)
And HaShem appeared unto Abram, and said: ‘Unto thy seed will I give this land’; and he builded there an altar unto HaShem, who appeared unto him [Table].	The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” So Abram built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.	And the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “To your offspring I will give this land.” And Abram built there an altar to the Lord who had appeared to him [Table].	And the Lord appeared to Abram, and said to him, I will give this land to thy seed. And Abram built an altar there to the Lord who appeared to him.

I’m hesitant to draw any contrast here relative to the children of promise receiving promises from God that are not received by the children of the flesh. Consider this from the song Moses recited:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Deuteronomy 32:8 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 32:8 (NET)	Deuteronomy 32:8 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 32:8 (English Elpenor)
When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when He separated the children of men, He set the borders of the peoples according to the number of the children (בְּנֵ֥י) of Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵֽל).	When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when he divided up humankind, he set the boundaries of the peoples, according to the number of the heavenly assembly [NET note 14: Heb “the sons (bēn, בני) of Israel (yiśrā’ēl, ישׁראל)”].	When the Most High was apportioning nations, as he scattered Adam’s sons, he fixed boundaries of nations according to the number of divine (θεοῦ) sons (ἀγγέλων),	When the Most High divided the nations, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the nations according to the number of the angels (ἀγγέλων) of God (Θεοῦ).

The discrepancy between the Masoretic text and the Septuagint was addressed in a note (14) in the NET:

The idea, perhaps, is that Israel was central to Yahweh’s purposes and all other nations were arranged and distributed according to how they related to Israel. See S. R. Driver, Deuteronomy (ICC), 355-56. For the MT בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל (b^ene yisraʾel, “sons of Israel”) a Qumran fragment has “sons of God,” while the LXX reads ἀγγέλων θεοῦ (angelōn theou, “angels of God”), presupposing בְּנֵי אֵל (b^ene ʾel) or בְּנֵי אֵלִים (bene ʾelim). “Sons of God” is undoubtedly the original reading; the MT and LXX have each interpreted it differently. MT assumes that the expression “sons of God” refers to Israel (cf. Hos. 1:10), while LXX has assumed that the phrase refers to the angelic heavenly assembly (Pss 29:1; 89:6; cf. as well Ps 82). The phrase is also attested in Ugaritic, where it refers to the high god El’s divine assembly. According to the latter view, which is reflected in the translation, the Lord delegated jurisdiction over the nations to his angelic host (cf. Dan. 10:13-21), while reserving for himself Israel, over whom he rules directly. For a defense of the view taken here, see M. S. Heiser, “Deuteronomy 32:8 and the Sons of God,” BSac 158 (2001): 52-74.

Though it feels a bit like dabbling in the occult, I’ll follow this through for a few moments:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Daniel 10:4-6 (Tanakh)	Daniel 10:4-6 (NET)	Daniel 10:4-6 (NETS)	Daniel 10:4-6 (English Elpenor)
And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel;	On the twenty-fourth day of the first month I was beside the great river, the Tigris.	On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, and as I was by the great river (this is the Eddekel),	On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, I was near the great river, which is Tigris Eddekel.
Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man (אִֽישׁ) clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:	I looked up and saw a man (‘îš, איש) clothed in linen; around his waist was a belt made of gold from Ufaz.	and I raised my eyes and saw, and lo, there was one man (ἀνὴρ) clothed in baddin, and his waist girded by gold of Ophaz.	And I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a man (ἀνὴρ) clothed in linen, and his loins were girt with gold of Ophaz:
His body also was like the beryl (כְתַרְשִׁ֗ישׁ), and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.	His body resembled yellow jasper (taršîš, כתרשיש), and his face had an appearance like lightning. His eyes were like blazing torches; his arms and feet had the gleam of polished bronze. His voice thundered forth like the sound of a large crowd.	And his body was like tharsis (ὡσεὶ θαρσις), and his face like an appearance of lightning, and his eyes like torches of fire, and his arms and legs like the appearance of gleaming bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a crowd.	and his body was as Tharsis (ὡσεὶ θαρσίς), and his face was a [sic] the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his legs as the appearance of shining brass, and the voice of his words as the voice of a multitude.

Though Daniel called him אִֽישׁ (‘îš), ἀνὴρ in Greek, his description didn’t sound like any man I’ve ever seen. Rashi, following “Our Sages” recorded in a “Tractate,” understood כְתַרְשִׁ֗ישׁ (taršîš), translated like the beryl (Tanakh, KJV) and resembled yellow jasper (NET), as a measure of immense body size rather than a jaundiced appearance.

And his body was like tarshish: Our Sages of blessed memory explained in Tractate Hullin (9lb): “His body was two thousand parasangs large, like the measurement of the sea named Tarshish, and that is the sea of Africa (the Mediterranean).”¹²

The man spoke to Daniel:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Daniel 10:12-14 (Tanakh)	Daniel 10:12-14 (NET)	Daniel 10:12-14 (NETS)	Daniel 10:12-14 (English Elpenor)
Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God (אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ), thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.	Then he said to me, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel, for from the very first day you applied your mind to understand and to humble yourself before your God (‘ĕlōhîm, אלהיך), your words were heard. I have come in response to your words.	And he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you gave your heart to understanding and to be afflicted before your God (τοῦ θεοῦ σου), your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words.	And he said to me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to afflict thyself before the Lord (Κυρίου) thy God (τοῦ Θεοῦ σου), thy words were heard, and I am come because of thy words.
But the prince (וְשַׂ֣ר) of the kingdom of Persia withstood (עֹמֵ֚ד) me (לְנֶגְדִּי֙) one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief (הָֽרִאשֹׁנִ֖ים) princes (הַשָּׂרִ֥ים), came to help me; and I remained there with the kings (מַלְכֵ֥י) of Persia.	However, the prince (śar, ושׁר) of the kingdom of Persia was opposing (ʿāmaḏ, עמד) me (neḡeḏ, לנגדי) for 21 days. But Michael, one of the leading (ri’šôn, הראשנים) princes (śar, השׁרים), came to help me, because I was left there with the kings (meleḵ, מלכי) of Persia.	And the ruler (καὶ ὁ ἄρχων) of the kingdom of the Persians stood (εἱστήκει) opposite (ἐξ ἐναντίας) me (μου) twenty and one day. And lo, Michael, one of the chief (τῶν πρώτων) rulers (τῶν ἀρχόντων), came to help me, and I left him there with the ruler (τοῦ ἄρχοντος) of the kingdom of the Persians,	But the prince (καὶ ὁ ἄρχων) of the kingdom of the Persians withstood (εἱστήκει ἐξ ἐναντίας) me (μου) twenty-one days: and behold, Michael, one of the princes (τῶν ἀρχόντων τῶν πρώτων), came to help me; and I left him there with the chief (τοῦ ἄρχοντος) of the kingdom of the Persians:
Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.	Now I have come to help you understand what will happen to your people in future days, for the vision pertains to days to come.”	and I have come to instruct you about what will meet your people at the end of days, because the vision is yet for days.”	and I have come to inform thee of all that shall befall thy people in the last days: for the vision is yet for [many] days.

This brief glimpse into an invisible realm disturbed me. How could a heavenly being sent by an omnipotent God be delayed even three weeks by, presumably, another heavenly being? It seemed to lend too much credence to the warring gods of pagan myths. But this time I get a different picture from the Hebrew and Greek words: עֹמֵ֚ד (ʿāmaḏ) לְנֶגְדִּי֙ (neḡeḏ), withstood me (Tanakh, KJV), was opposing me (NET); εἱστήκει ἐξ ἐναντίας μου, stood opposite me (NETS), withstood me (English Elpenor).

Consider Rashi’s commentary to Daniel 10:13:

has been standing against me: to battle with me in heaven by requesting an extension for the kingdom for Persia to enable them to subjugate you (Israel). Behold twenty-one days that he has been standing against me.

the first princes: those counted first among those who enter.

and I remained there: to silence the princes of Persia in heaven.¹³

So now, rather than warring pagan gods or a Star Wars battle sequence complete with light sabers and laser blasters, it sounds more like a parliamentary procedure in the assembly of El:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Psalm 82:1 (Tanakh)	Psalm 82:1 (NET)	Psalm 81:1 (NETS)	Psalm 81:1 (English Elpenor)
God standeth (נִצָּ֥ב) in the congregation (בַּֽעֲדַת) of the mighty¹⁴ (אֵ֑ל); he judgeth among the gods.	A psalm of Asaph. God stands (nāṣaḇ, נצב) in the assembly (ʿēḏâ, בעדת) of El (‘ēl, אל); in the midst of the gods he renders judgment.	A Psalm. Pertaining to Asaph. God stood (ἔστη) in a gathering (ἐν συναγωγῇ) of gods (θεῶν), but in their midst he discerningly judges gods:	[A Psalm for Asaph.] God stands (ἔστη) in the assembly (ἐν συναγωγῇ) of gods (θεῶν); and in the midst [of them] will judge gods.

The only true God, delaying his plan twenty-one earth days to listen patiently with genuine interest to arguments put forth by the heavenly being He put in charge of Persia, sounds much more like the One I am beginning to know. It makes sense to me that Michael and the unnamed heavenly being who appeared to Daniel would argue the Lord’s points and purpose for Israel before Him as well and, ultimately, prevail.

I’ll continue with this in another essay.

Tables comparing Genesis 12:4; 12:5; 12:6; Deuteronomy 32:8; Daniel 10:4; 10:5; 10:6; 10:12; 10:13; 10:14 and Psalm 82:1 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and comparing the Greek of Genesis 12:4; 12:5; 12:6; Deuteronomy 32:8; Daniel 10:4; 10:5; 10:6; 10:12; 10:13; 10:14 and Psalm 82:1 (81:1) in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.

Genesis 12:4 (Tanakh)	Genesis 12:4 (KJV)	Genesis 12:4 (NET)
So Abram went, as HaShem had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him; and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.	So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.	So Abram left, just as the Lord had told him to do, and Lot went with him. (Now Abram was 75 years old when he departed from Haran.)

Genesis 12:4 (BLB Septuagint)	Genesis 12:4 (Elpenor Septuagint)
καὶ ἐπορεύθη Αβραμ καθάπερ ἐλάλησεν αὐτῷ κύριος καὶ ᾤχετο μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ Λωτ Αβραμ δὲ ἦν ἐτῶν ἑβδομήκοντα πέντε ὅτε ἐξῆλθεν ἐκ Χαρραν	καὶ ἐπορεύθη ῞Αβραμ, καθάπερ ἐλάλησεν αὐτῷ Κύριος, καὶ ᾤχετο μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ Λώτ. ῞Αβραμ δὲ ἦν ἐτῶν ἑβδομηκονταπέντε, ὅτε ἐξῆλθε ἐκ Χαρράν
Genesis 12:4 (NETS)	Genesis 12:4 (English Elpenor)
And Abram went, as the Lord had told him to, and Lot left with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years of age when he departed from Charran.	And Abram went as the Lord spoke to him, and Lot departed with him, and Abram was seventy-five years old, when he went out of Charrhan.

Genesis 12:5 (Tanakh)	Genesis 12:5 (KJV)	Genesis 12:5 (NET)
And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.	And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.	And Abram took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they left for the land of Canaan. They entered the land of Canaan.

Genesis 12:5 (BLB Septuagint)	Genesis 12:5 (Elpenor Septuagint)
καὶ ἔλαβεν Αβραμ τὴν Σαραν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ καὶ τὸν Λωτ υἱὸν τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ καὶ πάντα τὰ ὑπάρχοντα αὐτῶν ὅσα ἐκτήσαντο καὶ πᾶσαν ψυχήν ἣν ἐκτήσαντο ἐν Χαρραν καὶ ἐξήλθοσαν πορευθῆναι εἰς γῆν Χανααν καὶ ἦλθον εἰς γῆν Χανααν	καὶ ἔλαβεν ῞Αβραμ Σάραν τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ καὶ τὸν Λὼτ υἱὸν τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ καὶ πάντα τὰ ὑπάρχοντα αὐτῶν, ὅσα ἐκτήσαντο, καὶ πᾶσαν ψυχήν, ἣν ἐκτήσαντο ἐκ Χαρράν, καὶ ἐξήλθοσαν πορευθῆναι εἰς γῆν Χαναάν
Genesis 12:5 (NETS)	Genesis 12:5 (English Elpenor)
And Abram took his wife Sara and his brother’s son Lot and all their possessions that they had acquired and every person whom they had acquired in Charran, and they departed to go to the land of Chanaan, and they came to the land of Chanaan.	And Abram took Sara his wife, and Lot the son of his brother, and all their possessions, as many as they had got, and every soul which they had got in Charrhan, and they went forth to go into the land of Chanaan.

Genesis 12:6 (Tanakh)	Genesis 12:6 (KJV)	Genesis 12:6 (NET)
And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Shechem, unto the terebinth of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.	And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.	Abram traveled through the land as far as the oak tree of Moreh at Shechem. (At that time the Canaanites were in the land.)

Genesis 12:6 (BLB Septuagint)	Genesis 12:6 (Elpenor Septuagint)
καὶ διώδευσεν Αβραμ τὴν γῆν εἰς τὸ μῆκος αὐτῆς ἕως τοῦ τόπου Συχεμ ἐπὶ τὴν δρῦν τὴν ὑψηλήν οἱ δὲ Χαναναῖοι τότε κατῴκουν τὴν γῆν	καὶ διώδευσεν ῞Αβραμ τὴν γῆν εἰς τὸ μῆκος αὐτῆς ἕως τοῦ τόπου Συχέμ, ἐπὶ τὴν δρῦν τὴν ὑψηλήν· οἱ δὲ Χαναναῖοι τότε κατῴκουν τὴν γῆν
Genesis 12:6 (NETS)	Genesis 12:6 (English Elpenor)
And Abram passed through the land in its length as far as the place Sychem, at the high oak. Now at that time the Chananites used to inhabit the land.	And Abram traversed the land lengthwise as far as the place Sychem, to the high oak, and the Chananites then inhabited the land.

Deuteronomy 32:8 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 32:8 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 32:8 (NET)
When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when He separated the children of men, He set the borders of the peoples according to the number of the children of Israel.	When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.	When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when he divided up humankind, he set the boundaries of the peoples, according to the number of the heavenly assembly.

Deuteronomy 32:8 (BLB Septuagint)	Deuteronomy 32:8 (Elpenor Septuagint)
ὅτε διεμέριζεν ὁ ὕψιστος ἔθνη ὡς διέσπειρεν υἱοὺς Αδαμ ἔστησεν ὅρια ἐθνῶν κατὰ ἀριθμὸν ἀγγέλων θεοῦ	ὅτε διεμέριζεν ὁ ῞Υψιστος ἔθνη, ὡς διέσπειρεν υἱοὺς ᾿Αδάμ, ἔστησεν ὅρια ἐθνῶν κατὰ ἀριθμὸν ἀγγέλων Θεοῦ
Deuteronomy 32:8 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 32:8 (English Elpenor)
When the Most High was apportioning nations, as he scattered Adam’s sons, he fixed boundaries of nations according to the number of divine sons,	When the Most High divided the nations, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the nations according to the number of the angels of God.

Daniel 10:4 (Tanakh)	Daniel 10:4 (KJV)	Daniel 10:4 (NET)
And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel;	And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel;	On the twenty-fourth day of the first month I was beside the great river, the Tigris.

Daniel 10:4 (BLB Septuagint)	Daniel 10:4 (Elpenor Septuagint)
ἐν ἡμέρᾳ εἰκοστῇ καὶ τετάρτῃ τοῦ μηνὸς τοῦ πρώτου καὶ ἐγὼ ἤμην ἐχόμενα τοῦ ποταμοῦ τοῦ μεγάλου αὐτός ἐστιν Εδδεκελ	ἐν ἡμέρᾳ εἰκοστῇ τετάρτῃ τοῦ μηνὸς τοῦ πρώτου, καὶ ἐγὼ ἤμην ἐχόμενα τοῦ ποταμοῦ τοῦ μεγάλου, αὐτός ἐστι Τίγρις, ᾿Εδδεκέλ,
Daniel 10:4 (NETS)	Daniel 10:4 (English Elpenor)
On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, and as I was by the great river (this is the Eddekel),	On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, I was near the great river, which is Tigris Eddekel.

Daniel 10:5 (Tanakh)	Daniel 10:5 (KJV)	Daniel 10:5 (NET)
Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:	Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:	I looked up and saw a man clothed in linen; around his waist was a belt made of gold from Ufaz.

Daniel 10:5 (BLB Septuagint)	Daniel 10:5 (Elpenor Septuagint)
καὶ ἦρα τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς μου καὶ εἶδον καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀνὴρ εἷς ἐνδεδυμένος βαδδιν καὶ ἡ ὀσφὺς αὐτοῦ περιεζωσμένη ἐν χρυσίῳ Ωφαζ	καὶ ᾖρα τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς μου καὶ εἶδον καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀνὴρ εἷς ἐνδεδυμένος βαδδίν, καὶ ἡ ὀσφὺς αὐτοῦ περιεζωσμένη ἐν χρυσίῳ ᾿Ωφάζ
Daniel 10:5 (NETS)	Daniel 10:5 (English Elpenor)
and I raised my eyes and saw, and lo, there was one man clothed in baddin, and his waist girded by gold of Ophaz.	And I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a man clothed in linen, and his loins were girt with gold of Ophaz:

Daniel 10:6 (Tanakh)	Daniel 10:6 (KJV)	Daniel 10:6 (NET)
His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.	His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.	His body resembled yellow jasper, and his face had an appearance like lightning. His eyes were like blazing torches; his arms and feet had the gleam of polished bronze. His voice thundered forth like the sound of a large crowd.

Daniel 10:6 (BLB Septuagint)	Daniel 10:6 (Elpenor Septuagint)
καὶ τὸ σῶμα αὐτοῦ ὡσεὶ θαρσις καὶ τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ὡσεὶ ὅρασις ἀστραπῆς καὶ οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ αὐτοῦ ὡσεὶ λαμπάδες πυρός καὶ οἱ βραχίονες αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰ σκέλη ὡς ὅρασις χαλκοῦ στίλβοντος καὶ ἡ φωνὴ τῶν λόγων αὐτοῦ ὡς φωνὴ ὄχλου	καὶ τὸ σῶμα αὐτοῦ ὡσεὶ θαρσίς, καὶ τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ὡσεὶ ὅρασις ἀστραπῆς, καὶ οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ αὐτοῦ ὡσεὶ λαμπάδες πυρός, καὶ οἱ βραχίονες αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰ σκέλη ὡς ὅρασις χαλκοῦ στίλβοντος καὶ ἡ φωνὴ τῶν λόγων αὐτοῦ ὡς φωνὴ ὄχλου
Daniel 10:6 (NETS)	Daniel 10:6 (English Elpenor)
And his body was like tharsis, and his face like an appearance of lightning, and his eyes like torches of fire, and his arms and legs like the appearance of gleaming bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a crowd.	and his body was as Tharsis, and his face was a the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his legs as the appearance of shining brass, and the voice of his words as the voice of a multitude.

Daniel 10:12 (Tanakh)	Daniel 10:12 (KJV)	Daniel 10:12 (NET)
Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.	Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.	Then he said to me, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel, for from the very first day you applied your mind to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard. I have come in response to your words.

Daniel 10:12 (BLB Septuagint)	Daniel 10:12 (Elpenor Septuagint)
καὶ εἶπεν πρός με μὴ φοβοῦ Δανιηλ ὅτι ἀπὸ τῆς πρώτης ἡμέρας ἧς ἔδωκας τὴν καρδίαν σου τοῦ συνιέναι καὶ κακωθῆναι ἐναντίον τοῦ θεοῦ σου ἠκούσθησαν οἱ λόγοι σου καὶ ἐγὼ ἦλθον ἐν τοῖς λόγοις σου	καὶ εἶπε πρός με· μὴ φοβοῦ, Δανιήλ, ὅτι ἀπὸ τῆς πρώτης ἡμέρας, ἧς ἔδωκας τὴν καρδίαν σου τοῦ συνεῖναι καὶ κακωθῆναι ἐναντίον Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ σου, ἠκούσθησαν οἱ λόγοι σου, καὶ ἐγὼ ἦλθον ἐν τοῖς λόγοις σου
Daniel 10:12 (NETS)	Daniel 10:12 (English Elpenor)
And he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you gave your heart to understanding and to be afflicted before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words.	And he said to me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to afflict thyself before the Lord thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come because of thy words.

Daniel 10:13 (Tanakh)	Daniel 10:13 (KJV)	Daniel 10:13 (NET)
But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.	But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days; but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me: and I remained there with the kings of Persia.	However, the prince of the kingdom of Persia was opposing me for 21 days. But Michael, one of the leading princes, came to help me, because I was left there with the kings of Persia.

Daniel 10:13 (BLB Septuagint)	Daniel 10:13 (Elpenor Septuagint)
καὶ ὁ ἄρχων βασιλείας Περσῶν εἱστήκει ἐξ ἐναντίας μου εἴκοσι καὶ μίαν ἡμέραν καὶ ἰδοὺ Μιχαηλ εἷς τῶν ἀρχόντων τῶν πρώτων ἦλθεν βοηθῆσαί μοι καὶ αὐτὸν κατέλιπον ἐκεῖ μετὰ τοῦ ἄρχοντος βασιλείας Περσῶν	καὶ ὁ ἄρχων βασιλείας Περσῶν εἱστήκει ἐξ ἐναντίας μου εἴκοσι καὶ μίαν ἡμέραν, καὶ ἰδοὺ Μιχαὴλ εἷς τῶν ἀρχόντων τῶν πρώτων ἦλθε βοηθῆσαί μοι, καὶ αὐτὸν κατέλιπον ἐκεῖ μετὰ τοῦ ἄρχοντος βασιλείας Περσῶν
Daniel 10:13 (NETS)	Daniel 10:13 (English Elpenor)
And the ruler of the kingdom of the Persians stood opposite me twenty and one day. And lo, Michael, one of the chief rulers, came to help me, and I left him there with the ruler of the kingdom of the Persians,	But the prince of the kingdom of the Persians withstood me twenty-one days: and behold, Michael, one of the princes, came to help me; and I left him there with the chief of the kingdom of the Persians:

Daniel 10:14 (Tanakh)	Daniel 10:14 (KJV)	Daniel 10:14 (NET)
Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.	Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.	Now I have come to help you understand what will happen to your people in future days, for the vision pertains to days to come.”

Daniel 10:14 (BLB Septuagint)	Daniel 10:14 (Elpenor Septuagint)
καὶ ἦλθον συνετίσαι σε ὅσα ἀπαντήσεται τῷ λαῷ σου ἐπ᾽ ἐσχάτων τῶν ἡμερῶν ὅτι ἔτι ἡ ὅρασις εἰς ἡμέρας	καὶ ἦλθον συνετίσαι σε ὅσα ἀπαντήσεται τῷ λαῷ σου ἐπ’ ἐσχάτων τῶν ἡμερῶν, ὅτι ἔτι ἡ ὅρασις εἰς ἡμέρας
Daniel 10:14 (NETS)	Daniel 10:14 (English Elpenor)
and I have come to instruct you about what will meet your people at the end of days, because the vision is yet for days.”	and I have come to inform thee of all that shall befall thy people in the last days: for the vision is yet for [many] days.

Psalm 82:1 (Tanakh)	Psalm 82:1 (KJV)	Psalm 82:1 (NET)
God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.	A psalm of Asaph. God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.	A psalm of Asaph. God stands in the assembly of El; in the midst of the gods he renders judgment.

Psalm 82:1 (BLB Septuagint)	Psalm 81:1 (Elpenor Septuagint)
ψαλμὸς τῷ Ασαφ ὁ θεὸς ἔστη ἐν συναγωγῇ θεῶν ἐν μέσῳ δὲ θεοὺς διακρίνει	Ψαλμὸς τῷ ᾿Ασάφ. – Ο ΘΕΟΣ ἔστη ἐν συναγωγῇ θεῶν, ἐν μέσῳ δὲ θεοὺς διακρινεῖ
Psalm 81:1 (NETS)	Psalm 81:1 (English Elpenor)
A Psalm. Pertaining to Asaph. God stood in a gathering of gods, but in their midst he discerningly judges gods:	[A Psalm for Asaph.] God stands in the assembly of gods; and in the midst [of them] will judge gods.

The Children of Promise, Part 2

Back to Matthew 8:23-34

¹ Romans 9:8 (NET)

² Genesis 12:1 (NET) Table

³ The Stephanus Textus Receptus had ο ιησους (KJV: Jesus) here. The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

⁴ Matthew 4:18, 19a (NET)

⁵ Matthew 19:21 (NET) Table

⁶ Matthew 11:28-30 (NET)

⁷ Matthew 4:18b (NET) Table

⁸ Matthew 4:20 (NET)

⁹ Matthew 19:21b (NET) Table

¹⁰ Matthew 19:22 (NET)

¹¹ Matthew 19:26b (NET) Table

¹² Rashi’s commentary to Daniel 10:6, from The Complete Tanakh on Chabad.org online.

¹³ Rashi’s commentary to Daniel 10:13, from The Complete Tanakh on Chabad.org online.

¹⁴ In the Tanakh on Chabad.org אֵ֑ל (‘ēl) was translated God.

Solomon’s Wealth, Part 3

Posted on April 29, 2012 by admin

Since I opened this context can of worms, and found that expanding the context gave me a different perspective on the meaning of a particular passage, I’ll expand the context again. Even before there were kings in Israel, God gave laws for the then future kings (Deuteronomy 17:14-20).

When he sits on his royal throne he must make a copy of this law on a scroll given to him by the Levitical priests. It must be with him constantly and he must read it as long as he lives, so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and observe all the words of this law and these statutes and carry them out.¹

The passage titled Solomon’s Wealth goes on and on about Solomon’s gold. The law he was supposed to read everyday said he must not accumulate much silver and gold (Deuteronomy 17:17 NET). Solomon’s wealth included a massive throne exalted six steps above everyone else in the room. The law Solomon was commanded to follow carefully said he should not exalt himself above his fellow citizens (Deuteronomy 17:19-20 NET). Solomon’s twelve thousand Egyptian horses were also explicitly forbidden by the law intended to ensure that he and his descendants will enjoy many years ruling over his kingdom in Israel (Deuteronomy 17:16, 20 NET).

Here is a contrast of the two passages:

Solomon’s Wealth (1 Kings 10:14-28 NET)

Provision for Kingship (Deuteronomy 17:16-20 NET)

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

1 Kings 10:14-17 (NET)

All of King Solomon’s cups were made of gold, and all the household items in the Palace of the Lebanon Forest were made of pure gold. There were no silver items, for silver was not considered very valuable in Solomon’s time [Table]. Along with Hiram’s fleet, the king had a fleet of large merchant ships that sailed the sea. Once every three years the fleet came into port with cargoes of gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks [Table]. King Solomon was wealthier and wiser than any of the kings of the earth [Table]. Everyone in the world wanted to visit Solomon to see him display his God-given wisdom [Table]. Year after year visitors brought their gifts, which included items of silver, items of gold, clothes, perfume, spices, horses, and mules [Table].

1 Kings 10:21-25 (NET)

…he must not accumulate much silver and gold.

Deuteronomy 17:17b (NET)

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

1 Kings 10:18-20 (NET)

When he sits on his royal throne he must make a copy of this law on a scroll given to him by the Levitical priests. It must be with him constantly and he must read it as long as he lives, so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and observe all the words of this law and these statutes and carry them out. Then he will not exalt himself above his fellow citizens or turn from the commandments to the right or left…

Deuteronomy 17:18-20 (NET)

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

1 Kings 10:26-28 NET

Moreover, he must not accumulate horses for himself or allow the people to return to Egypt to do so, for the Lord has said you must never again return that way.

Deuteronomy 17: 16 (NET)

If I ignore the topical headings and chapter markings in 1 Kings, both of which are later additions to the text, and simply continue reading after the section called Solomon’s Wealth, I find that Solomon had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines. Solomon followed his wives in the worship of other gods (1 Kings 11:1-5). The law for the kings of Israel stated explicitly that the king should not take many wives lest his affections turn aside (Deuteronomy 17:17 NET).

The Lord Punishes Solomon for Idolatry (1 Kings 11:1-8 NET)

Provision for Kingship (Deuteronomy 17:16-20 NET)

King Solomon fell in love with many foreign women (besides Pharaoh’s daughter), including Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites. They came from nations about which the Lord had warned the Israelites, “You must not establish friendly relations with them! If you do, they will surely shift your allegiance to their gods.” But Solomon was irresistibly attracted to them. He had 700 royal wives and 300 concubines; his wives had a powerful influence over him. When Solomon became old, his wives shifted his allegiance to other gods; he was not wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord his God, as his father David had been. Solomon worshiped the Sidonian goddess Astarte and the detestable Ammonite god Milcom.

1 Kings 11:1-5 (NET)

Furthermore, on the hill east of Jerusalem Solomon built a high place for the detestable Moabite god Chemosh and for the detestable Ammonite god Milcom. He built high places for all his foreign wives so they could burn incense and make sacrifices to their gods.

1 Kings 11:7, 8 (NET)

Furthermore, he must not marry many wives lest his affections turn aside (e.g, from the commandments to the right or left)…

Deuteronomy 17:17a (NET)

There is a summation statement: Solomon did evil in the Lord’s sight…² With a topical heading, Solomon’s Wealth, and another topical heading, The Lord Punishes Solomon for Idolatry, and a chapter change from ten to chapter eleven, this summation appears only to apply to Solomon’s many wives and idolatry. But if I consider that Solomon defied every law God gave the kings of Israel—Because you insist on doing these things and have not kept the covenantal rules I gave you, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant³—I need to question the reliability of the topical headings and chapter break here.

So I have one passage in the Bible that seemed at first glance (with my view limited only to that particular passage) to be a laundry list of Solomon’s wealth and power. When I expanded the context to include an incident from Solomon’s life, the same passage became the fulfillment of God’s promise to Solomon. When I expanded the context again to include God’s law (an incident in the life of the nation of Israel) the same passage became an indictment of Solomon’s reign as king. Now I’m ready to recant and say that Solomon’s dream was just a dream, that it had nothing to do with how rich he was or wasn’t.

Addendum: April 7, 2020
Near the climax of the movie “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” combat veteran Major Lennox (Josh Duhamel) shouts to two unarmed civilians caught in combat: “You guys stick with me, you understand? You stay on my ass.” He takes one of them, Mikaela (Megan Fox), by the hand. The other, Sam (Shia LaBeouf), heads off his own way. Mikaela lives; Sam dies.

Jesus walking by the Sea of Galilee…saw two brothers, Simon (called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea (for they were fishermen). He said to them, “Follow me.”⁴ The Greek words translated Follow me were δεῦτε ὀπίσω μου. According to the Koine Greek Lexicon online ὀπίσω means “toward the back, after, back, backward, (get) behind; follow, close behind (in time); backside, buttocks.” Though it may offend the religious mind, Jesus said essentially, “You stay on my ass,” and I will turn you into fishers of people!⁵ Solomon did not stay on the Lord’s (y^ehôvâh, יְהֹוָ֖ה) ass, as his father David had done.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
1 Kings 11:6 (Tanakh)	1 Kings 11:6 (NET)	3 Reigns 11:8 (NETS)	3 Kings 11:6 (Elpenor English)
And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after (אַחֲרֵ֥י) the LORD, as did David his father.	Solomon did evil in the Lord’s sight; he did not remain loyal to (ʼachar, אַחֲרֵ֥י) the Lord, as his father David had.	and Salomon did evil before the Lord; he did not go after (ὀπίσω) the Lord as Dauid his father.	And Solomon did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord: he went not after (ὀπίσω) the Lord, as David his father.

Tables comparing Deuteronomy 17:18; 17:19; 17:17; 17:20; 17:16; 1 Kings 11:1; 11:2; 11:3; 11:4; 11:5; 11:7; 11:8 and 11:6 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and comparing Deuteronomy 17:18; 17:19; 17:17; 17:20; 17:16; 1 Kings (3 Kings, 3 Reigns) 11:1; 11:2; 11:3; 11:4; 11:5 (11:6); 11:7 (11:5); 11:8 (11:7) and 11:6 (11:8) in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow. Following these is a table comparing Matthew 4:18 in the NET and KJV.

Deuteronomy 17:18 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 17:18 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 17:18 (NET)
And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book, out of that which is before the priests the Levites.	And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:	When he sits on his royal throne he must make a copy of this law on a scroll given to him by the Levitical priests.

Deuteronomy 17:18 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 17:18 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἔσται ὅταν καθίσῃ ἐπὶ τῆς ἀρχῆς αὐτοῦ καὶ γράψει ἑαυτῷ τὸ δευτερονόμιον τοῦτο εἰς βιβλίον παρὰ τῶν ἱερέων τῶν Λευιτῶν	καὶ ὅταν καθίσῃ ἐπὶ τῆς ἀρχῆς αὐτοῦ, καὶ γράψει αὐτῷ τὸ δευτερονόμιον τοῦτο εἰς βιβλίον παρὰ τῶν ἱερέων τῶν Λευιτῶν
Deuteronomy 17:18 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 17:18 (English Elpenor)
And it shall be, when he has set upon the seat of his rule, that he shall write for himself this second law in a book from the priests, the Leuites.	And when he shall be established in his government, then shall he write for himself this repetition of the law into a book by the hands of the priests the Levites;

Deuteronomy 17:19 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 17:19 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 17:19 (NET)
And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life; that he may learn to fear HaShem his G-d, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them;	And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:	It must be with him constantly, and he must read it as long as he lives, so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and observe all the words of this law and these statutes and carry them out.

Deuteronomy 17:19 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 17:19 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἔσται μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀναγνώσεται ἐν αὐτῷ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς ζωῆς αὐτοῦ ἵνα μάθῃ φοβεῗσθαι κύριον τὸν θεὸν αὐτοῦ φυλάσσεσθαι πάσας τὰς ἐντολὰς ταύτας καὶ τὰ δικαιώματα ταῦτα ποιεῗν	καὶ ἔσται μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀναγνώσεται ἐν αὐτῷ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς ζωῆς αὐτοῦ, ἵνα μάθῃ φοβεῖσθαι Κύριον τὸν Θεόν σου καὶ φυλάσσεσθαι πάσας τὰς ἐντολὰς ταύτας καὶ τὰ δικαιώματα ταῦτα ποιεῖν
Deuteronomy 17:19 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 17:19 (English Elpenor)
And it shall be with him, and he shall read from it all the days of his life so that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep all these commandments and these statutes to do them	and it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord thy God, and to keep all these commandments, and to observe these ordinances:

Deuteronomy 17:17 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 17:17 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 17:17 (NET)
Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away; neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.	Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.	Furthermore, he must not marry many wives lest his affections turn aside, and he must not accumulate much silver and gold.

Deuteronomy 17:17 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 17:17 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ οὐ πληθυνεῗ ἑαυτῷ γυναῗκας οὐδὲ μεταστήσεται αὐτοῦ ἡ καρδία καὶ ἀργύριον καὶ χρυσίον οὐ πληθυνεῗ ἑαυτῷ σφόδρα	καὶ οὐ πληθυνεῖ ἑαυτῷ γυναῖκας, ἵνα μὴ μεταστῇ αὐτοῦ ἡ καρδία· καὶ ἀργύριον καὶ χρυσίον οὐ πληθυνεῖ ἑαυτῷ σφόδρα
Deuteronomy 17:17 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 17:17 (English Elpenor)
And he shall not multiply wives for himself, neither shall he turn his heart away; also silver and gold he shall not multiply exceedingly for himself.	And he shall not multiply to himself wives, lest his heart turn away; and he shall not greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.

Deuteronomy 17:20 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 17:20 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 17:20 (NET)
that his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left; to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children, in the midst of Israel.	That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.	Then he will not exalt himself above his fellow citizens or turn from the commandments to the right or left, and he and his descendants will enjoy many years ruling over his kingdom in Israel.

Deuteronomy 17:20 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 17:20 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἵνα μὴ ὑψωθῇ ἡ καρδία αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τῶν ἀδελφῶν αὐτοῦ ἵνα μὴ παραβῇ ἀπὸ τῶν ἐντολῶν δεξιὰ ἢ ἀριστερά ὅπως ἂν μακροχρονίσῃ ἐπὶ τῆς ἀρχῆς αὐτοῦ αὐτὸς καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ ἐν τοῗς υἱοῗς Ισραηλ	ἵνα μὴ ὑψωθῇ ἡ καρδία αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τῶν ἀδελφῶν αὐτοῦ, ἵνα μὴ παραβῇ ἀπὸ τῶν ἐντολῶν δεξιὰ ἢ ἀριστερά, ὅπως ἂν μακροχρονίσῃ ἐπὶ τῆς ἀρχῆς αὐτοῦ, αὐτὸς καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ ἐν τοῖς υἱοῖς ᾿Ισραήλ
Deuteronomy 17:20 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 17:20 (English Elpenor)
so that his heart may not be exalted above his brothers so that he turn not aside from the commandments, right or left, in order that he be long-lived in his rule, he and his sons among the sons of Israel.	that his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, that he depart not from the commandments on the right hand or on the left; that he and his sons may reign long in his dominion among the children of Israel.

Deuteronomy 17:16 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 17:16 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 17:16 (NET)
Only he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses; forasmuch as HaShem hath said unto you: ‘Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.’	But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.	Moreover, he must not accumulate horses for himself or allow the people to return to Egypt to do so, for the Lord has said you must never again return that way.

Deuteronomy 17:16 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 17:16 (Septuagint Elpenor)
διότι οὐ πληθυνεῗ ἑαυτῷ ἵππον οὐδὲ μὴ ἀποστρέψῃ τὸν λαὸν εἰς Αἴγυπτον ὅπως πληθύνῃ ἑαυτῷ ἵππον ὁ δὲ κύριος εἶπεν οὐ προσθήσετε ἀποστρέψαι τῇ ὁδῷ ταύτῃ ἔτι	διότι οὐ πληθυνεῖ ἑαυτῷ ἵππον οὐδὲ μὴ ἀποστρέψῃ τὸν λαὸν εἰς Αἴγυπτον, ὅπως μὴ πληθύνῃ αὐτῷ ἵππον, ὁ δὲ Κύριος εἶπεν· οὐ προσθήσεσθε ἀποστρέψαι τῇ ὁδῷ ταύτῃ ἔτι
Deuteronomy 17:16 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 17:16 (English Elpenor)
For he shall not multiply cavalry for himself or return the people to Egypt in order to multiply cavalry for himself, but the Lord has said to you, “You shall never add to return that way.”	For he shall not multiply to himself horses, and he shall by no means turn the people back to Egypt, lest he should multiply to himself horses; for the Lord said, Ye shall not any more turn back by that way.

1 Kings 11:1 (Tanakh)	1 Kings 11:1 (KJV)	1 Kings 11:1 (NET)
But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites:	But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;	King Solomon fell in love with many foreign women (besides Pharaoh’s daughter), including Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites.

1 Kings 11:1 (Septuagint BLB)	3 Kings 11:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ὁ βασιλεὺς Σαλωμων ἦν φιλογύναιος καὶ ἦσαν αὐτῷ ἄρχουσαι ἑπτακόσιαι καὶ παλλακαὶ τριακόσιαι καὶ ἔλαβεν γυναῗκας ἀλλοτρίας καὶ τὴν θυγατέρα Φαραω Μωαβίτιδας Αμμανίτιδας Σύρας καὶ Ιδουμαίας Χετταίας καὶ Αμορραίας	ΚΑΙ ὁ βασιλεὺς Σαλωμὼν ἦν φιλογύνης. καὶ ἦσαν αὐτῷ γυναῖκες ἄρχουσαι ἑπτακόσιαι καὶ παλλακαὶ τριακόσιαι. καὶ ἔλαβε γυναῖκας ἀλλοτρίας καὶ τὴν θυγατέρα Φαραώ, Μωαβίτιδας, ᾿Αμμανίτιδας, Σύρας καὶ ᾿Ιδουμαίας, Χετταίας καὶ ᾿Αμορραίας,
3 Reigns 11:1 (NETS)	3 Kings 11:1 (English Elpenor)
And King Salomon was a philogynist. And he had seven hundred ruling women and three hundred concubines. And he took foreign women, both the daughter of Pharao, Moabites, Ammonites, Syrians and Idumeans, Chettites and Amorrites,	And king Solomon was a lover of women. [Table16 below] And he took strange women, as well as the daughter of Pharao, Moabitish, Ammanitish women, Syrians and Idumeans, Chettites, and Amorites;

1 Kings 11:2 (Tanakh)	1 Kings 11:2 (KJV)	1 Kings 11:2 (NET)
Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.	Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.	They came from nations about which the Lord had warned the Israelites, “You must not establish friendly relations with them! If you do, they will surely shift your allegiance to their gods.” But Solomon was irresistibly attracted to them.

1 Kings 11:2 (Septuagint BLB)	3 Kings 11:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐκ τῶν ἐθνῶν ὧν ἀπεῗπεν κύριος τοῗς υἱοῗς Ισραηλ οὐκ εἰσελεύσεσθε εἰς αὐτούς καὶ αὐτοὶ οὐκ εἰσελεύσονται εἰς ὑμᾶς μὴ ἐκκλίνωσιν τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν ὀπίσω εἰδώλων αὐτῶν εἰς αὐτοὺς ἐκολλήθη Σαλωμων τοῦ ἀγαπῆσαι	ἐκ τῶν ἐθνῶν, ὧν ἀπεῖπε Κύριος τοῖς υἱοῖς ᾿Ισραήλ· οὐκ εἰσελεύσεσθε εἰς αὐτούς, καὶ αὐτοὶ οὐκ εἰσελεύσονται εἰς ὑμᾶς, μὴ ἐκκλίνωσι τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν ὀπίσω εἰδώλων αὐτῶν· εἰς αὐτοὺς ἐκολλήθη Σαλωμὼν τοῦ ἀγαπῆσαι
3 Reigns 11:2 (NETS)	3 Kings 11:2 (English Elpenor)
from the nations that the Lord forbade to the sons of Israel: “You shall not go into them, and they shall not go in to you, lest they turn away your hearts after their idols”; Salomon clung to them for love.	of the nations concerning whom the Lord forbade the children of Israel, [saying], Ye shall not go in to them, and they shall not come in to you, lest they turn away your hearts after their idols: Solomon clave to these in love.

1 Kings 11:3 (Tanakh)	1 Kings 11:3 (KJV)	1 Kings 11:3 (NET)
And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.	And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.	He had 700 royal wives and 300 concubines; his wives had a powerful influence over him.

1 Kings 11:3 (Septuagint BLB)	3 Kings 11:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)
NA (See verse 1 Table12 above)	NA (See verse 1 Table12 above)
3 Reigns 11:3 (NETS)	3 Kings 11:3 (English Elpenor)
NA (See verse 1 Table12 above)	NA (Verse 1: καὶ ἦσαν αὐτῷ γυναῖκες ἄρχουσαι ἑπτακόσιαι καὶ παλλακαὶ τριακόσιαι was not translated into English)

1 Kings 11:4 (Tanakh)	1 Kings 11:4 (KJV)	1 Kings 11:4 (NET)
For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.	For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.	When Solomon became old, his wives shifted his allegiance to other gods; he was not wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord his God, as his father David had been.

1 Kings 11:4 (Septuagint BLB)	3 Kings 11:4 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐγενήθη ἐν καιρῷ γήρους Σαλωμων καὶ οὐκ ἦν ἡ καρδία αὐτοῦ τελεία μετὰ κυρίου θεοῦ αὐτοῦ καθὼς ἡ καρδία Δαυιδ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐξέκλιναν αἱ γυναῗκες αἱ ἀλλότριαι τὴν καρδίαν αὐτοῦ ὀπίσω θεῶν αὐτῶν	καὶ ἐγενήθη ἐν καιρῷ γήρους Σαλωμὼν καὶ οὐκ ἦν ἡ καρδία αὐτοῦ τελεία μετὰ Κυρίου Θεοῦ αὐτοῦ, καθὼς ἡ καρδία Δαυὶδ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐξέκλιναν γυναῖκες αἱ ἀλλότριαι τὴν καρδίαν αὐτοῦ ὀπίσω θεῶν αὐτῶν
3 Reigns 11:4 (NETS)	3 Kings 11:4 (English Elpenor)
And it happened at the time of Salomon’s old age that his heart was not perfect with the Lord, his God, as was the heart of his father Dauid, and his foreign wives turned away his heart after their gods.	And it came to pass in the time of the old age of Solomon, that his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as [was] the heart of David his father. (not translated: καὶ ἐξέκλιναν γυναῖκες αἱ ἀλλότριαι τὴν καρδίαν αὐτοῦ ὀπίσω θεῶν αὐτῶν)

1 Kings 11:5 (Tanakh)	1 Kings 11:5 (KJV)	1 Kings 11:5 (NET)
For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.	For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.	Solomon worshiped the Sidonian goddess Astarte and the detestable Ammonite god Milcom.

1 Kings 11:5 (Septuagint BLB)	3 Kings 11:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ τῇ Ἀστάρτῃ βδελύγματι Σιδωνίων	καὶ τῇ ᾿Αστάρτῃ βδελύγματι Σιδωνίων
3 Reigns 11:6 (NETS)	3 Kings 11:5 (English Elpenor)
and to Astarte, abomination of the Sidonians.	and to Astarte the abomination of the Sidonians.

1 Kings 11:7 (Tanakh)	1 Kings 11:7 (KJV)	1 Kings 11:7 (NET)
Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.	Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.	Furthermore, on the hill east of Jerusalem Solomon built a high place for the detestable Moabite god Chemosh and for the detestable Ammonite god Milcom.

1 Kings 11:7 (Septuagint BLB)	3 Kings 11:5 (Septuagint Elpenor)
τότε ᾠκοδόμησεν Σαλωμων ὑψηλὸν τῷ Χαμως εἰδώλῳ Μωαβ καὶ τῷ βασιλεῗ αὐτῶν εἰδώλῳ υἱῶν Αμμων	τότε ᾠκοδόμησε Σαλωμὼν ὑψηλὸν τῷ Χαμώς, εἰδώλῳ Μωὰβ καὶ τῷ βασιλεῖ αὐτῶν εἰδώλῳ υἱῶν ᾿Αμμὼν
3 Reigns 11:5 (NETS)	3 Kings 11:7 (English Elpenor)
Then Salomon built a high place to Chamos, idol of Moab, and to their king, idol of the sons of Ammon,	Then Solomon built a high place to Chamos the idol of Moab, and to their king the idol of the children of Ammon,

1 Kings 11:8 (Tanakh)	1 Kings 11:8 (KJV)	1 Kings 11:8 (NET)
And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.	And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.	He built high places for all his foreign wives so they could burn incense and make sacrifices to their gods.

1 Kings 11:8 (Septuagint BLB)	3 Kings 11:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ οὕτως ἐποίησεν πάσαις ταῗς γυναιξὶν αὐτοῦ ταῗς ἀλλοτρίαις ἐθυμίων καὶ ἔθυον τοῗς εἰδώλοις αὐτῶν	καὶ οὕτως ἐποίησε πάσαις ταῖς γυναιξὶν αὐτοῦ ταῖς ἀλλοτρίαις, αἳ ἐθυμίων καὶ ἔθυον τοῖς εἰδώλοις αὐτῶν
3 Reigns 11:7 (NETS)	3 Kings 11:8 (English Elpenor)
And thus he did for all his foreign wives; they were offering incense and sacrificing to their idols,	And thus he acted towards all his strange wives, who burnt incense and sacrificed to their idols.

1 Kings 11:6 (Tanakh)	1 Kings 11:6 (KJV)	1 Kings 11:6 (NET)
And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father.	And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father.	Solomon did evil in the Lord’s sight; he did not remain loyal to the Lord, as his father David had.

1 Kings 11:6 (Septuagint BLB)	3 Kings 11:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐποίησεν Σαλωμων τὸ πονηρὸν ἐνώπιον κυρίου οὐκ ἐπορεύθη ὀπίσω κυρίου ὡς Δαυιδ ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ	καὶ ἐποίησε Σαλωμὼν τὸ πονηρὸν ἐνώπιον Κυρίου· οὐκ ἐπορεύθη ὀπίσω Κυρίου ὡς Δαυὶδ ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ
3 Reigns 11:8 (NETS)	3 Kings 11:6 (English Elpenor)
and Salomon did evil before the Lord; he did not go after the Lord as Dauid his father.	And Solomon did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord: he went not after the Lord, as David his father.

Matthew 4:18 (NET)	Matthew 4:18 (KJV)
As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee he saw two brothers, Simon (called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea (for they were fishermen).	And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

Net Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Περιπατῶν δὲ παρὰ τὴν θάλασσαν τῆς Γαλιλαίας εἶδεν δύο ἀδελφούς, Σίμωνα (τὸν λεγόμενον Πέτρον) καὶ Ἀνδρέαν τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ, βάλλοντας ἀμφίβληστρον εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν (ἦσαν γὰρ ἁλιεῖς)	περιπατων δε ο ιησους παρα την θαλασσαν της γαλιλαιας ειδεν δυο αδελφους σιμωνα τον λεγομενον πετρον και ανδρεαν τον αδελφον αυτου βαλλοντας αμφιβληστρον εις την θαλασσαν ησαν γαρ αλιεις	περιπατων δε παρα την θαλασσαν της γαλιλαιας ειδεν δυο αδελφους σιμωνα τον λεγομενον πετρον και ανδρεαν τον αδελφον αυτου βαλλοντας αμφιβληστρον εις την θαλασσαν ησαν γαρ αλιεις