Biblical Hebrew Forum

["K Randolph" <kwrandolph AT gmail.com>]

Steve:

On 12/25/06, Steve Miller <smille10 AT sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> I think the reason that most modern translations use the "not like the 1st,
> so also the latter will be" meaning, is the reason Karl gives: that the
> context seems more sensible for verse 29 to compare the 2nd expedition to
> the first. In general I feel that modern Christian translations place too
> much emphasis on context over what the verse actually says. In prophecy, I
> think it is more important to let each verse speak for itself.
>
> Without the witness of a negative applying only to what is before the "and",
> I support your translation.
>
> -Steve Miller
> Detroit
> www.voiceinwilderness.info
Two points.

It is not good linguistic practice to take verses out of context.
While it is true that often, in fact most of the time, reference to
context is not needed to understand a verse, yet all times verses are
written in context, and sometimes the context clears up what might be
unclear without the context.

In this verse the negative refers not to parts within the comparison,
but to the total comparison itself: "not 'as the first, so the
second'" referring to the two invasions. In the first invasion, he had
total victory, in the second merely the threat of Roman intervention
caused him to flee in shame. So the two invasions were "not 'as the
first, so the second'".

Karl W. Randolph.