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  • From: "Harold R. Holmyard III" <hholmyard AT ont.com>
  • To: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] 'Prophesying' 1 Samuel 18:10
  • Date: Tue, 6 Jul 2004 22:46:28 -0500

Dear Brian

There seem to be two different, though related, problems here.
First, is the question I originally raised as to the meaning of the word NB) in the Hithpael in this verse.
Secondly, we have the problem of 'an evil spirit from the Lord'.

In relation to the first problem, I am looking to find a word in Manobo (the Philippine language that I'm trying to translate into) that carries the idea of ecstatic speaking in the style of a prophet. At present I have not found a suitable word that really fits this idea. I will try to research if there is another word when I next return to the village where I can ask several language informants.
The words that I have as options so far are;
'tagna' which means to prophesy with the basic idea of predicting an outcome.
'tagna-tagna' which means to pretend to 'tagna', or to predict without any real certainty of the outcome being fulfilled.
'babansagon' which means to shout / rage
'pabailan' which means to act like a spirit priest
'nangon-nangon' which means to give a discourse / preach

Any ideas of how I might use one of these?

HH: In the Niphal it occurs 87 times, and in the Hithpael 28. I mistakenly said earlier that the Qal was the standard form; I mean the Niphal. The word generally means to speak for God but it usually involves foretelling. Is there any way that you could modify the verb somewhat the way NIV added the word "frantic" to the word "prophesying" at 1 Kings 18:29? That is, could you add other words? The Hithpael of NB) often seems to involve continuing activity. The speaking is ongoing, perhaps for hours and hours. Waltke and O'Connor give "appear as a prophet" as a meaning for the Hithpael of NB) (though not necessarily at this verse). Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar says that the Hithpael of NB) means "to act in an excited manner like a prophet, to rave." Perhaps to give the feel of it you could say something like "prophesying in a wild way."

In relation to the second problem of 'RUAX RA`AH ME'ET YHWH' I am struggling with the concept of this (as have scholars for generations). In the 'Bible Speaks Today' commentary on Samuel, Mary Evans sees this as a way of expressing 'episodes of bleak depression' which God sent to Saul, seeing God as the ultimate source of everything that comes into our lives whether good or bad. In Manobo, there is no generic word for a spirit. A person has a spirit or 'spiritual double' as it is described in some anthropological textbooks, which is what leaves the body when one dies, and is what is seen in dreams. There are also demons, and there is God's Spirit.
On the other hand, the seat of emotions in Manobo is the breath, where in English it is mostly seen as being the heart. So, if one were to translate the idea of a depression sent by God to Saul into Manobo it would read something like 'a bad breath sent by God'. (Nothing to do with halitosis!)
So far in my translation I have been using such a phrase, with a footnote explaining that it could also be interpreted to mean 'a demon from God'. I don't know though whether this is a legitimate translation. I was influenced unduly perhaps by the similarity of 'RUAX' in Hebrew meaning both 'breath' and 'spirit' and the Manobo word which means both 'breath' and 'emotions'.

HH: Keil felt that both in Judges 9:23 and in 1 Sam 16:14 it is a demon. See the NET Bible on Judges 9:23:

God sent a spirit to stir up hostility45 between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem. He made the leaders of Shechem disloyal to Abimelech.

45tn Heb "an evil spirit." A nonphysical, spirit being is in view, like the one who volunteered to deceive Ahab (1 Kgs 22:21). The traditional translation, "evil spirit," implies the being is inherently wicked, perhaps even demonic, but this is not necessarily the case. The Hebrew adjective hu*r* (r*u*h) can have a nonethical sense, "harmful; dangerous; calamitous." When modifying j^Wr (rW^j, "spirit") it may simply indicate that the being in view causes harm to the object of God's judgment. G. F. Moore (Judges [ICC], 253) here refers to a "mischief-making spirit."

On 1 Sam 16:14 the NET Bible has:

16:14 Now the Spirit of the Lord had turned away from Saul, and an evil spirit21 from the Lord tormented him.

21tn Or "an injurious spirit." The phrase need not refer to an evil, demonic spirit. The Hebrew word translated "evil" may refer to the character of the spirit or to its effect upon Saul. If the latter, another translation option might be "a mischief-making spirit."

HH: So the NET Bible is internally inconsistent in its notes due to the different views of different translators.

HH: The NIV Study Bible says about Judg 9:23 that it perhaps it is a spirit of distrust and bitterness. It says, "The Hebrew for 'spirit' is often used to describe an attitude or disposition." So it is the opposite of NET Bible on this verse. On 1 Sam 16:14ff., the notes includes these words:

"evil spirit from the Lord." This statement and similar ones in Scripture indicate that evil spirits are subject to God's control and operate only within divinely determined boundaries."

HH: So the NIV Study Bible, understanding demonic spirits in 1 Sam 16:14, also takes the opposite position of the NET Bible on this passage, but in the other direction from the first time. My own thinking is that demonic spirits were probably active in both situations, in Judges 9:23 and 1 Sam 16:14. The wording is similar to that in 1 Kings 22:22, where it is a demonic spirit who influences people, probably suggesting evil thoughts which the prophets find enticing. A demonic spirit could do the same to create hostility between two groups (Jdg 9:23) or to create extreme depression (1 Sam 16:14).

Yours,
Harold Holmyard




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