“However,
They said
To the nobleman.
‘Lord!
He already
Has ten minas!’”
καὶ εἶπαν αὐτῷ Κύριε, ἔχει δέκα μνᾶς.
Luke uniquely indicated that Jesus remarked that the bystanders said to the nobleman (καὶ εἶπαν αὐτῷ), lord (Κύριε), that he already had 10 minas (ἔχει δέκα μνᾶς). Luke seemed to understand this problem of fairness and equality, but there was no complaint in Matthew. Is it fair to give more to people who already have a lot?
“The disciples
Had forgotten
To bring any bread.
They had only
One loaf
With them
In the boat.”
Καὶ ἐπελάθοντο λαβεῖν ἄρτους, καὶ εἰ μὴ ἕνα ἄρτον οὐκ εἶχον μεθ’ ἑαυτῶν ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ.
There is something similar in Matthew, chapter 16:5. In Matthew, the disciples discovered this problem when they landed on the other side of the Sea of Galilee. However, Mark said that it took place while they were still in the boat. In an ironic twist of fate, the disciples of Jesus forget to bring any bread with them on this trip across the Sea of Galilee, with no indication of the place where they going. Mark said that the disciples forgot to bring loaves of bread (Καὶ ἐπελάθοντο λαβεῖν ἄρτους). They only had one loaf of bread (καὶ εἰ μὴ ἕνα ἄρτον οὐκ εἶχον) with them (μεθ’ ἑαυτῶν) in the boat (ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ). Bread was a key food element of nourishment. Remember the bread of life.
“Thus says Yahweh God!
‘These are the boundaries
By which
You shall divide
The land
For inheritance
Among the twelve tribes
Of Israel.
Joseph shall have two portions.
You shall divide it
Equally.
I swore to give it
To your ancestors.
This land shall fall
To you
As your inheritance.’”
Next Yahweh, via Ezekiel, took up the question of the boundaries of Israel and the division of the land among the tribes. Joshua, in chapters 13-22, first faced this problem. Here, it appears in a more summary fashion. Nevertheless, the problem of what to do with the people already there in this land was not even mentioned. Ezekiel was going to set up these ideal borders or boundaries of Israel. He also was going to lay out the inheritance distribution of the land between the 12 tribes. The tribe of Joseph was to be given 2 portions, one for Manasseh and one for Ephraim. Yahweh had already promised to give this land to their ancestors as their inheritance.
“‘I will set up
Over them
One shepherd,
My servant David.
He shall feed them.
He shall feed them.
He shall be
Their shepherd.
I,
Yahweh,
Will be their God.
My servant David
Shall be the prince
Among them.’
I,
Yahweh,
Have spoken.”
Yahweh’s solution to this problem of the good and bad Israelite sheep was a new shepherd, who is also the old King David (1010-970 BCE). This may be an allusion to a new monarchy in Israel. The new shepherd king would also feed them like Yahweh’s servant David had done for his people. There would be a new prince among the Israelites, like David, the shepherd king. Yahweh, their God, via Ezekiel, had spoken.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 