“They did not understand
What he said
To them.”
καὶ αὐτοὶ οὐ συνῆκαν τὸ ῥῆμα ὃ ἐλάλησεν αὐτοῖς.
Luke indicates that Mary and Joseph did not understand what Jesus had said to them (καὶ αὐτοὶ οὐ συνῆκαν τὸ ῥῆμα ὃ ἐλάλησεν αὐτοῖς). They did not grasp or comprehend what he was talking about. Somehow, these parents of Jesus had no idea about who he was or what he was going to do. This seems odd, since his parents would have known him better than anyone else.
“But from the beginning
Of creation,
‘God made them
Male
And female.
For this reason,
A man shall leave
His father
And his mother.
He shall be joined
To his wife.
The two shall become
One flesh.’
Thus,
They are no longer two,
But one flesh.”
ἀπὸ δὲ ἀρχῆς κτίσεως ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ ἐποίησεν αὐτούς·
ἕνεκεν τούτου καταλείψει ἄνθρωπος τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν μητέρα,
καὶ ἔσονται οἱ δύο εἰς σάρκα μίαν· ὥστε οὐκέτι εἰσὶν δύο ἀλλὰ μία σάρξ.
This saying of Jesus that points to the importance and indissolubility of marriage can also be found in Matthew, chapter 19:4-6. Mark indicates that Jesus used the creation story of Genesis, chapters 1:27 and 2:24, to emphasize his point. He noted that from the beginning of creation (ἀπὸ δὲ ἀρχῆς κτίσεως) God had made humans male and female (ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ ἐποίησεν αὐτοὺς). At the pinnacle of creation, God created humans in his image, as both men and women were created equal in God’s image. Jesus continued that a man leaves his father and mother (ἕνεκεν τούτου καταλείψει ἄνθρωπος τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν μητέρα). Some Orthodox texts have the phrase about being joined to his wife (καὶ προσκολληθήσεται πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ). The two of them then will become one flesh (καὶ ἔσονται οἱ δύο εἰς σάρκα μίαν), so that they are no longer two but one flesh (ὥστε οὐκέτι εἰσὶν δύο ἀλλὰ μία σὰρξ). Obviously, this has become part of many marriage ceremonial rituals.
“The Lord heard
Susanna’s cry.
Just as she was being led off
To execution,
God stirred up
The Holy Spirit
Of a young lad
Named Daniel.
He shouted
With a loud voice.
‘I want no part
In shedding
That woman’s blood.’”
The Lord heard the prayer cry of Susanna. Just as she was being led to her execution, God stirred up the Holy Spirit in a young man, Daniel. This phrase indicates that this probably belongs as the beginning of this book and not at the end since Daniel is called young, not old. The Holy Spirit appears in prophets quite often. Daniel then shouted out in a loud voice that he wanted no part in the shedding of this woman’s blood.
“I!
Daniel!
Saw in my vision,
By night,
The four winds
Of heaven
Stirring up
The great sea.”
Clearly, the first-person singular indicates that this is no longer a description about Daniel, but Daniel himself writing about his dream or vision. He had this vision at night, as he saw the 4 winds of heaven stirring up the great sea, the Mediterranean Sea.
Mem
“Who can command
To have it done,
If Yahweh
Has not ordained it?
Is it not
From the mouth
Of the Most High
That good
As well as evil comes?
Why should anyone,
Who draws breath,
Complain
About the punishment
Of their sins?”
This author indicates that nothing can get done without the consent of Yahweh. From the mouth of the Most High God comes both good and evil. Once again, there is the question of God and evil. No one should complain about the punishment for their sins from this almighty God. These three verses start with the Hebrew consonant letter Mem in this acrostic poem.
“The Levitical priests
Shall never lack
A man in my presence
To offer burnt offerings,
To make grain offerings,
To make sacrifices forever.”
Now Yahweh indicates, via this oracle, that they would never lack Levitical priests. These priests would offer burnt offerings, grain offerings, and other sacrifices to Yahweh forever.
“In those days,
At that time,
I will cause
A righteous branch
To spring up
For David.
He shall execute justice
In the land.
He shall execute righteousness
In the land.
In those days,
Judah will be saved.
Jerusalem will live in safety.
This is the name
It will be called.
‘Yahweh is our righteousness.’
Thus says Yahweh.
‘David shall never lack
A man to sit
On the throne
Of the house of Israel.’”
This is almost word for word from chapter 23 of this work. Yahweh indicates that a future Davidic king would rule in both Judah and Jerusalem, not Israel as in chapter 23. This king would come from David’s righteous branch. He would rule wisely with justice and righteousness. Judah would be saved and Jerusalem, not Israel, would live in safety. The name of Jerusalem would be called “Yahweh of our righteousness.” However, Yahweh said that they would never lack a descendant of David to sit on the throne as the king of Israel.
“Therefore thus says Yahweh of hosts.
‘Because you have not obeyed
My words,
I am going to send
For all the tribes of the north.’
Says Yahweh.
‘I am going to send
Even for King Nebuchadnezzar
Of Babylon,
My servant.
I will bring them
Against this land
With its inhabitants.
I will bring them
Against all these nations around.
I will utterly destroy them.
I will make them
An object of horror.
A hissing,
An everlasting disgrace.’”
Yahweh declared, via Jeremiah, that the people of Judah had not obeyed his words. Therefore, there would be an invasion from the north. In particular, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, who was the servant of Yahweh, was going to come to this land in order to take away its inhabitants. Note that the king of Babylon was considered a servant of Yahweh, not his opponent. This usage indicates Jeremiah’s favoritism towards Babylon. Yahweh was going to utterly destroy them and their neighbors, so that they would be an object of horror, with people hissing at them in disgrace.
“Says Yahweh.
‘This is your lot.
This is the portion
I have measured out to you.
Because you have forgotten me.
You trusted in lies.
I myself will lift up your skirts
Over your face.
Your shame will be seen.
I have seen your abominations.
I have seen your adulteries.
I have seen your neighing.
I have seen your shameless prostitution
On the hills of the countryside.
Woe to you!
O Jerusalem!
How long will it be
Before you are made clean?’”
Yahweh was really upset, as Jeremiah indicates. Yahweh has chosen their lot and measured the size of it. They had forgotten Yahweh, but trusted in lies. Thus Yahweh was going to violate them by lifting up their skirts over their face, so that everyone could see the shame of their nakedness. Yahweh had seen enough of their abominations that included adultery, complaining, and senseless prostitution on the hills in the countryside. Thus Yahweh issued his curse on them. He had no idea how long it would take to make them clean.
“Says Yahweh.
‘The days are surely coming
When I will attend to
All those who are circumcised
Only in the foreskin.
This includes
Egypt,
Judah,
Edom,
The Ammonites,
Moab,
As well as all those with shaven temples
Who live in the desert.
All these nations are uncircumcised.
All the house of Israel
Is uncircumcised in heart.’”
Yahweh, via Jeremiah, criticizes those who are uncircumcised in their hearts. He seems to indicate that that Egyptians, the Edomites, the Moabites are also circumcised, as it must have been a common custom. He also indicates that Judah is also circumcised along with the Arabs in the desert with their shaven temples. However, the harshest treatment is for the house of Israel that is uncircumcised in the heart.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 