Biblical Hebrew Forum

[peter_kirk AT SIL.ORG]

Eric Weiss wrote:

"So I guess using I Kings 8:11 of the priests "being unable to stand 
up" is another example of poor Charismatic exegesis"

Don't blame the charismatics, blame the translators if anyone! First, 
I think charismatics interpret this verb not as "stand up" but rather 
as "remain standing". The translation "the priests could not stand to 
minister" is as old as King James, and was repeated in the 
pre-charismatic movement RSV. Now an excellent exegete may be prepared 
to go against the accepted English translations from his superior 
knowledge of Hebrew, but that would be very dangerous for your average 
pastor with perhaps a year of Hebrew, so you really can't accuse them 
of poor exegesis for not rejecting the plain sense of the most 
respected English translations. Also, it is by no means plain from the 
Hebrew that (MD cannot mean "stand up" in such a context - see Ezekiel 
2:1 and my comments in a separate posting.

Peter Kirk