their arms

April 15, 2017

Yahweh against the prophetess’s activities (Ezek 13:20-13:21)

“Therefore thus says Yahweh God.

‘I am against

Your bands

With which you hunt lives.

I will tear them

From your arms.

I will let the lives

Go free

Like the lives

That you hunt down

Like birds.

I will tear off

Your veils.

I will save my people

From your hands.

They shall no longer

Be prey

In your hands.

You shall know

That I am Yahweh.”

Yahweh was opposed to the activities of the prophetesses. He was against their so-called magical arm bands. He was going to tear them off their arms. He was going to let free, those whom they were hunting. How they were hunting them was not clear. Perhaps, it was some kind of voodoo. These people would be set free like birds. He was also going to tear off their veils or kerchiefs. Yahweh was going to save his people from them, so that they would not be prey in their hands anymore. They would learn to know that he was God, Yahweh.

May 16, 2016

Lack of education (Sir 21:18-21:21)

“Like a house in ruins

Is wisdom to a fool.

To the ignorant,

Knowledge is talk

That has no meaning.

To a senseless man,

Education is

Fetters on his feet.

Education is

Like manacles on his right hand.

A fool raises his voice

When he laughs.

But the wise

Smile quietly.

To the sensible person,

Education is

Like a golden ornament.

Education is

Like a bracelet on the right arm.”

The foolish people do not understand or appreciate education. The ignorant foolish people think that wisdom is a ruined house, since smart talk is meaningless. The ignorant ones think that education is nothing but chains on their feet and handcuffs on their hands. It holds them back from physical activity. The foolish laugh loudly, but the wise smile quietly. For the sensible person, education is a golden ornament or a bracelet on their arms. The fools are happy with their lack of education because they are ignorant.

July 30, 2015

Yahweh questions Job about the dawn (Job 38:12-38:15)

“Have you commanded the morning

Since your days began?

Have you caused the dawn to know its place?

Have you caused the dawn to take hold of the skirts of the earth?

Have you caused the wicked to be shaken out of it?

It is changed like clay under the seal.

It is dyed like a garment.

Light is withheld from the wicked.

Their uplifted arm is broken.”

Yahweh wanted to know if Job was in charge of making days begin. Obviously he was not. Somehow the morning sun put the wicked in their places. The morning sun changed the clay and dyed it like a garment. The wicked somehow were in darkness. Their arms would be broken if they lifted them to Yahweh.

June 19, 2015

Judas Maccabeus relies on the Lord (2 Macc 10:27-10:28)

“Rising from their prayer, they took up their arms. They advanced a considerable distance from the city. When they came near the enemy they halted. Just as dawn was breaking, the two armies joined battle. The one army had a pledge of success and victory, based not only on their valor but their reliance upon the Lord. However, the other army made their rage their leader in the fight.”

Having finished praying, the men of Judas Maccabeus took up their arms and marched into battle. The battle began at dawn. The army of Judas had a pledge of success and victory because they relied on the Lord. The other army was fighting out of rage and anger.