Feed the pigs (Lk 15:15-15:15)

“Thus,

He went

And hired himself out

To one of the citizens

Of that country.

He sent him

To his fields

To feed the pigs.”

 

καὶ πορευθεὶς ἐκολλήθη ἑνὶ τῶν πολιτῶν τῆς χώρας ἐκείνης, καὶ ἔπεμψεν αὐτὸν εἰς τοὺς ἀγροὺς αὐτοῦ βόσκειν χοίρους·

 

This long parable story about the prodigal son can only be found in Luke, not in any of the other gospel stories.  Luke indicated that Jesus said that this young prodigal son went and hired himself out (καὶ πορευθεὶς ἐκολλήθη) to one of the citizens of that country (ἑνὶ τῶν πολιτῶν τῆς χώρας ἐκείνης), where he was living.  This land owner sent him to his fields (καὶ ἔπεμψεν αὐτὸν εἰς τοὺς ἀγροὺς αὐτοῦ) to feed the pigs (βόσκειν χοίρους).  Obvious, this was a non-Jewish country where pigs were raised for food, not a Jewish country where there would be no pork eaten.  What could be more humiliating for a Jewish person than taking care of unclean swine or pigs?  Have you ever had a job that you felt was degrading to you?

God is with them (Zech 8:23-8:23)

“Thus says Yahweh of hosts.

‘In those days,

Ten men,

From nations

Of every language,

Shall take hold

Of a Jew,

Grasping his garment,

Saying,

‘Let us go with you!

We have heard

That God is with you!’”

Yahweh once again revealed to Zechariah about what was going to happen.  There would be 10 men from the various language groups who would grasp the garment of a Jew, telling them what they had heard.  They wanted to go with this Jewish person, because they had heard that God was with them.  Thus, Yahweh was becoming more universal than just a Jewish God.