peoples

September 30, 2015

Yahweh is king (Ps 47:1-47:4)

To the choirmaster leader, a psalm of the Korahites

“Clap your hands!

All you peoples!

Shout to God!

Shout with loud songs of joy!

Yahweh!

The Most High is awesome!

He is a great king over all the earth.

He subdued peoples under us.

He subdued nations under our feet.

He chose our heritage for us.

We are the pride of Jacob.

He loves us.”

Selah

Psalm 47 is another in the string of Korahite choral songs that proclaims Yahweh as king. They were to clap their hands and shout for joy because Yahweh was awesome. He was and is the king of the earth. He has subdued peoples and nations under the pride of Jacob, the Israelites. Yahweh has chosen Jacob and his descendants as his heritage because he loves them. This section ends with the musical interlude pause of the Selah.

April 14, 2015

The sending of the royal edict that favors the Jews (Esth 8:13-8:14)

“A copy of the document was to be issued as a decree in every province, and published to all peoples. The Jews were to be ready on that day to take revenge on their enemies. So the couriers, mounted on their swift royal horses hurried out, urged by the king’s command. The decree was issued in the citadel of Susa.”

Now we are back at the Hebrew text, which summarizes the letter. A copy of this decree was sent to every one of the 127 provinces so that all the people knew about this. The Jews were to be ready on the 13th of Adar to take revenge against their enemies. This word went out by the royal couriers with their swift royal horses. The king had urged them on, since this decree came from the Persian capital of Susa.

April 6, 2015

The posting of the decree (Esth 3:14-3:15)

“Copies of the document were posted in every province. All the peoples were ordered to be prepared for that day. The couriers went in haste by order of the king. The matter was expedited also in Susa the capital. While the king and Haman caroused together, the city of Susa was thrown into confusion.”

Now we are back to the mixed Hebrew and Greek text. Obviously, the couriers brought the decree out to all the provinces. Everyone was to get ready for this massacre day. They also spread this news in the capital city of Susa. King Artaxerxes and Haman sat down to drink, thinking that their mission was accomplished. However, the city of Susa was confused by this decree.