Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Daniel Wagner" <dan.wagner AT netzero.net>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: John Ronning <ronning AT xsinet.co.za>
To: Biblical Hebrew <b-hebrew AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2001 12:43 AM
Subject: Re: the law of mankind


> Raymond de Hoop wrote:
> > 
> > 
> > John,
> > 
> > In your interpretation I've found no explanation of to
> > what <Hebr> WZ)T <endH> in verse 19c refers. This seems
> > crucial to me, because we find this word also in verse
> > 19a. There <Hebr> Z)T <endH>(v. 19a) refers to the
> > preceding words in verse 18bc:
> > 
> 
> Raymond,
> 
> I take the first *zo't* in v. 19 ("this was small in your
> sight, O Lord GOD") as referring to what God has already
> done for David (agreeing with the end of v. 18).  I take the
> second *zo't* as referring to what God has spoken concerning
> what he will do for David into the distant future.  Thus far
> we are probably in agreement.
> 
> I interpret *zo't torat ha'adam* to mean that the content of
> the revelation of the future is along the pattern of the
> commission given to Adam and Eve in the past, the
> fulfillment of which was put off into the future by their
> fall into sin.  David recognizes that its fulfillment is now
> connected to him, so we can see why he was in such amazement
> at the promise given to him - he is basically being elevated
> to the status of the patriarchs.
> 
> I think the difficulty I would have with your interpretation
> is that you have to explain how David takes the revelation
> as something applicable to *ha'adam* i.e. mankind in
> general, as opposed to just Israel.

What's wrong with the idea that the _Torah_ here is a general term for 
*revelation*, not just "law" as restricted to a legal sense? The revelation 
given in the Davidic Covenant was thus applicable more to mankind generally 
(especially in the distant future) than it was to Israel (in the present and 
near future), as were all the covenants. Abraham's was to make his seed a 
future blessing to all the nations/families; Noah's was world-wide; etc. The 
covenants were given to Israel not as an end in itself, but as a means to a 
greater, worldwide end of salvation to the Gentiles through the Messiah.

Dan Wagner


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