A third dream for Joseph (Mt 2:19-2:19)

“When Herod died,

An angel of the Lord

Appeared in a dream

To Joseph,

In Egypt.”

 

Τελευτήσαντος δὲ τοῦ Ἡρῴδου, ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος Κυρίου φαίνεται κατ’ ὄναρ τῷ Ἰωσὴφ ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ

 

When King Herod died (Τελευτήσαντος δὲ τοῦ Ἡρῴδου) around 4 BCE, the angel of the Lord again appeared (ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος Κυρίου φαίνεται) to Joseph (τῷ Ἰωσὴφ) for the 3rd time in a dream (κατ’ ὄναρ), while he was still in Egypt (ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ). God, the Father, was continuing to communicate with Joseph via the angel of the Lord, God, in dreams.

Sacrifices to God are useless without prayer (Ps 50:12-50:15)

“‘If I were hungry,

I would not tell you.

The world and all that is in it is mine.

Do I eat the flesh of bulls?

Do I drink the blood of goats?

Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving!’

Pay your vows to the Most High!

Call on me in the day of trouble!

I will deliver you.

You shall glorify me.”

God is not hungry. Anyway the whole world and everything in it is his. He does not eat the flesh of bulls or the blood of goats. He wanted instead a sacrifice of thanksgiving. He wanted them to pay vows to the Most High God, himself. He wanted them to call on him in their day of trouble. He wanted them to communicate with him by praying. Then he would deliver them because they had glorified him.

God is greater than any mortal man (Job 33:12-33:22)

“But in this you are not right.

I will answer you.

God is greater than any mortal man.

Why do you contend against him?

You say.

‘He will answer none of my words.’

God speaks in one way.

God speaks in two ways,

Although people do not perceive it.

In a dream,

In a vision of the night,

When deep sleep falls on mortals,

While they slumber on their beds,

Then he opens the ears of men.

He terrifies them with warnings.

So that he may turn man aside from their deeds.

He tries to keep them from pride.

He wants to spare their souls from the pit.

He wants to spare their lives from traversing the river.

They are also chastened with pain upon their beds.

They have continual strife in their bones.

Their lives loathe bread.

Their appetites loathe dainty food.

Their flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen.

Their bones, once invisible, now stick out.

Their souls draw near the pit.

Their lives draw near to those who bring death.”

Elihu felt that Job was wrong. He cannot contend against God, since God is greater than any mortal. Job was complaining that God was not listening and communicating with him. Elihu explained that God communicated in 1 or 2 ways but people do not understand it. Sometimes, he communicates via a dream when people are asleep with terrifying results. Other times, God strikes mortals with painful illness while they are in their beds also. This painful experience may be a learning experience. They get so sick that they do not want to eat anything. They waste away so that all that you see are their bones sticking out through their skin as they get close to death. So God does communicate but we mortals do not hear or understand dreams and illness. The pit may mean a burial place or Sheol, but probably just a burial place.

Judith is led to the tent of General Holofernes (Jdt 10:14-10:17)

“The men heard her words. They observed her face. She was in their eyes marvelously beautiful. They said to her.

‘You have saved your life by hurrying down to see our lord.

Go at once to his tent.

Some of us will escort you.

We will hand you over to him.  

When you stand before him,

Have no fear in your heart.

Tell him what you have just said.

He will treat you well.’

They chose from their number a hundred men to accompany her and her maid. They brought them to the tent of General Holofernes.”

The Assyrian troops heard her words and say her face. They realized that she was beautiful.   There was never a question of language or interpretation for they seem to be able to communicate with each other very easily. They told her that she had saved her life. They wanted to escort her to go to the general’s tent as 100 of the soldiers were to escort her and her maid. They told her not to fear the general because he would treat them correctly. She should just say what she had told them. So the 2 ladies set out with a 100 man escort to see General Holofernes.