Daleth
“Bashan withers.
Carmel withers.
The bloom
Of Lebanon
Fades.”
In this Hebrew letter of Daleth, the lush fertile grazing area of Bashan would wither and dry up. The same goes for the lush mountainous area of Carmel and the rich forests of Lebanon, since they would all fade and dry up also.
“A voice says.
‘Cry out!’
I said.
‘What shall I cry?’
All people are grass.
Their delicacy is
Like the flowers of the field.
The grass withers.
The flower fades
When the breath of Yahweh
Blows upon it.
Surely the people are grass.
The grass withers.
The flower fades.
But the word of our God
Will stand forever.”
Second Isaiah heard a voice tell him to cry out. However, he wanted to know what he should cry out about. The response was that all people were like grass and the flowers of the field. Both the grass withers and the flowers fade when the breath of Yahweh blows on them. Thus the people are grass or flowers that wither and fade. However, the word of God will stand forever and not wither or fade.
“Wisdom is radiant.
Wisdom is unfading.
She is easily discerned
By those who love her.
She is found
By those who seek her.
She hastens to make herself known
To those who desire her.
Whoever rises early to seek her
Will have no difficulty.
She will be found
Sitting at the gate.
To fix one’s thought on her
Is perfect understanding.
Whoever is vigilant
On her account
Will soon be free from care.
Because she goes about seeking
Those worthy of her.
She graciously appears to them
In their paths.
She meets them in every thought.”
The feminine wisdom (ἡ σοφία) is radiant and does not fade away. Wisdom is clearly portrayed as a beautiful desirable woman. If you love, seek, and desire her, you will find her as she makes herself known. If you get up early and go to the gates of the city, you will find her. If you think about her, you will understand her. If you are vigilant, you will be free from all cares. She goes about seeking those who are worthy of her as she appears in their paths.
“A psalm of David
Alep
Do not fret because of the wicked!
Do not be envious of wrongdoers!
They will soon fade like the grass.
They will wither like the green herbs.”
Once again, Psalm 37 is a long acrostic psalm with the letters of the Hebrew alphabet starting each verse, like Psalms 9, 10, 25, and 34. Thus it is a little incoherent as a simple wisdom psalm of David. The evildoers seem to be doing okay. We should not fret, worry, or be envious about wicked evildoers. They would soon fade like the grass and wither up like the green herbs.
“If you direct your heart rightly,
You will stretch out your hands toward him.
If iniquity is in your hand,
Put it far away!
Do not let wickedness reside in your tents!
Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish.
You will be secure.
You will not fear.
You will forget your misery.
You will remember it as waters that have passed away.
Your life will be brighter than the noonday.
Its darkness will be like the morning.
You will have confidence,
Because there is hope.
You will be protected.
You will take your rest in safety.
You will lie down.
No one will make you afraid.
Many will entreat your favor.
But the eyes of the wicked will fail.
All way of escape will be lost to them,
Their hope is to breathe their last.”
Now Zophar turned on Job directly. He told him to pray with his hands stretched out. He wanted him to put away the iniquity in his heart. He was to get rid of the wickedness in his tents. Then his face would be without blemishes. Job would be secure and not fearful. All his misery would be like a stream that passed by. His life would be brighter than the noon day sun. He would have confidence and hope again. He would be protected and safe. He would not be afraid to lie down. People would come to him for favors. The wickedness would fade so that the only escape for the evil people was to wish for a quick death. This was a personal attack on Job.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 