LanceJ
Puritan Board Freshman
A question for the Hebraists in the forum:
While attending to study this morning I came across WLC 121:
Q. 121. Why is the word Remember set in the beginning of the fourth commandment?
A. The word Remember is set in the beginning of the fourth commandment, partly, because of the great benefit of remembering it, we being thereby helped in our preparation to keep it, and, in keeping it, better to keep all the rest of the commandments, and to continue a thankful remembrance of the two great benefits of creation and redemption, which contain a short abridgment of religion; and partly, because we are very ready to forget it, for that there is less light of nature for it, and yet it restraineth our natural liberty in things at other times lawful; that it cometh but once in seven days, and many worldly businesses come between, and too often take off our minds from thinking of it, either to prepare for it, or to sanctify it; and that Satan with his instruments much labor to blot out the glory, and even the memory of it, to bring in all irreligion and impiety.
The proof text for the emboldened portion is Lamentations 1:7. I noted that the KJV renders the Hebrew word מִשְׁבַּתֶּֽהָ as "her Sabbaths" but the ESV and other modern translations render it as "her downfall". I understand that the word's root meaning has in mind cessation/rest but it seems that the KJV is following the understanding as cessation from rest ergo "Sabbaths" where as the modern take is rendering it as cessation from existence or ruin. As best as I can tell this appears to be the only place in the MT this form of the word is used. Curious to know (aside from perhaps the context of the passage) what the precedent is for rending the word this way.
The Vulgate appears to follow a similar rendering (i.e KJV) but the Peshitta for example would render it the same way the modern versions do.
As a kicker Calvin says this and (unsurprisingly?) seems to agree with the traditional rendering:
Calvin: It is added, Seen, her have enemies, they laughed at her Sabbath, or at her cessation, which I do not dislike. But they who render it “leisure,” or idleness, either pervert or too much obscure the meaning of the Prophet. In the word “cessation,” there is an irony, for the enemies did not simply laugh at cessation, but did so in mockery, as they took this opportunity to taunt them for their religion. We know that the Sabbaths of the Jews were always hated by the heathens; and they were thereby subjected to many reproaches; for by way of reproach they called the Jews Sabbatharians. And when they wished ignominiously to traduce the whole service of God, as under the law, they named it “Sabbaths.” There is, then, no doubt but that the heathens reproachfully taunted the Jews because they observed the Sabbath; “See, now is the time to worship God.” And we also see that God upbraided the Jews in a similar way by saying, “Until the land shall enjoy its Sabbaths.” (Lev. 26:43) For when the Jews had the opportunity and leisure (when no enemies molested them) to observe the worship of God, they contemptuously profaned the Sabbaths. As, then, God’s worship had been so disgracefully neglected by them, God said, “The land itself shall in your stead keep the Sabbath;” how? it shall not be ploughed, it shall not bring forth fruit. (Lev. 26:34, Lev. 26:35) That cessation was called by God Sabbath, but not without a taunt; for he cuttingly reproved the Jews for having violated the Sabbaths, as was also done by Jeremiah, (Jer. 17:22, Jer. 17:27) It then appears to me probable that taunts were cast by enemies against the Jews, that they might now have a long and a continual Sabbath, while the city was deserted and no one dwelt there. For it would have been cold and unmeaning to say that the enemies laughed at the cessation of it. The Prophet would have no doubt used a different word, if his purpose had been to point out the blasphemy of enemies as to God’s worship. The enemies then saw and laughed at her cessation; but this cessation they called by way of reproach Sabbatharian.
Thanks to all who contribute!
While attending to study this morning I came across WLC 121:
Q. 121. Why is the word Remember set in the beginning of the fourth commandment?
A. The word Remember is set in the beginning of the fourth commandment, partly, because of the great benefit of remembering it, we being thereby helped in our preparation to keep it, and, in keeping it, better to keep all the rest of the commandments, and to continue a thankful remembrance of the two great benefits of creation and redemption, which contain a short abridgment of religion; and partly, because we are very ready to forget it, for that there is less light of nature for it, and yet it restraineth our natural liberty in things at other times lawful; that it cometh but once in seven days, and many worldly businesses come between, and too often take off our minds from thinking of it, either to prepare for it, or to sanctify it; and that Satan with his instruments much labor to blot out the glory, and even the memory of it, to bring in all irreligion and impiety.
The proof text for the emboldened portion is Lamentations 1:7. I noted that the KJV renders the Hebrew word מִשְׁבַּתֶּֽהָ as "her Sabbaths" but the ESV and other modern translations render it as "her downfall". I understand that the word's root meaning has in mind cessation/rest but it seems that the KJV is following the understanding as cessation from rest ergo "Sabbaths" where as the modern take is rendering it as cessation from existence or ruin. As best as I can tell this appears to be the only place in the MT this form of the word is used. Curious to know (aside from perhaps the context of the passage) what the precedent is for rending the word this way.
The Vulgate appears to follow a similar rendering (i.e KJV) but the Peshitta for example would render it the same way the modern versions do.
As a kicker Calvin says this and (unsurprisingly?) seems to agree with the traditional rendering:
Calvin: It is added, Seen, her have enemies, they laughed at her Sabbath, or at her cessation, which I do not dislike. But they who render it “leisure,” or idleness, either pervert or too much obscure the meaning of the Prophet. In the word “cessation,” there is an irony, for the enemies did not simply laugh at cessation, but did so in mockery, as they took this opportunity to taunt them for their religion. We know that the Sabbaths of the Jews were always hated by the heathens; and they were thereby subjected to many reproaches; for by way of reproach they called the Jews Sabbatharians. And when they wished ignominiously to traduce the whole service of God, as under the law, they named it “Sabbaths.” There is, then, no doubt but that the heathens reproachfully taunted the Jews because they observed the Sabbath; “See, now is the time to worship God.” And we also see that God upbraided the Jews in a similar way by saying, “Until the land shall enjoy its Sabbaths.” (Lev. 26:43) For when the Jews had the opportunity and leisure (when no enemies molested them) to observe the worship of God, they contemptuously profaned the Sabbaths. As, then, God’s worship had been so disgracefully neglected by them, God said, “The land itself shall in your stead keep the Sabbath;” how? it shall not be ploughed, it shall not bring forth fruit. (Lev. 26:34, Lev. 26:35) That cessation was called by God Sabbath, but not without a taunt; for he cuttingly reproved the Jews for having violated the Sabbaths, as was also done by Jeremiah, (Jer. 17:22, Jer. 17:27) It then appears to me probable that taunts were cast by enemies against the Jews, that they might now have a long and a continual Sabbath, while the city was deserted and no one dwelt there. For it would have been cold and unmeaning to say that the enemies laughed at the cessation of it. The Prophet would have no doubt used a different word, if his purpose had been to point out the blasphemy of enemies as to God’s worship. The enemies then saw and laughed at her cessation; but this cessation they called by way of reproach Sabbatharian.
Thanks to all who contribute!
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