Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Jerry Shepherd <jshepherd53 AT gmail.com>]

Hi b-Hebrewers,

 

Here's the rest of Block's (and my) argumentation regarding the proper translation of

x:ykiAm vyai  in Ezek 3:26.  (for the first part, see the post of July 16).

 

In 3:14, after his vision in ch. 1 and his being addressed by Yahweh in 2:1—3:11, Ezekiel says that he returns to the exiles in "bitterness" and in the "anger of my spirit."  Important to notice here is the fact that the bitterness and anger are the result of the message which Ezekiel will have to deliver.  As he takes his place among the exiles, he sits in front of them for seven days, silent, and ~ymiv.m;.  Most translations render this word as something like "overwhelmed," "stunned," "astonished," "in a stupor," etc., and the commentaries usually explain this as the result of having a vision of God.  But these translations do not capture the force of this word, which every other place it is used in the Hebrew Bible, has very negative connotations.  A better translation would be along the lines of "devastated" or horrified."  The reason for this devastation is not the vision of God per se, but rather the horror of the message which Ezekiel has been given to relate the exiles, a message of "lamentation, mourning, and woe" (2:10).  He is so repulsed by the commission of preaching such a message, that he sits in front of the exiles for seven days, devastated, and refusing to deliver the message.  Thus, when Yahweh gives his "watchman" speech to Ezekiel in 3:16-21, it is expressly directed toward Ezekiel's failure to carry out his commission for the precvious seven days.

 

When Yahweh then tells Ezekiel that he cannot be an x:ykiAm vyai  for the people, that is, an arbitrator or pleader on their behalf, that actually constitutes a disciplinary action against him.  Because he sat silent in front of the exiles for seven days, he will now, for seven years, have the prophetic prerogative of interceding on behalf of the people removed from him, receiving it back only when Jerusalem falls seven years later.  Interestingly, this is the inverse of what happens in the next chapter.  Ezekiel's punishment is seven years, one year for each day.   The sign-action that Ezekiel will perform in ch. 4 is bearing the sins of Israel and Judah for 430 day, one day for each year.

 

What think ye?

 

Blessings,

 

Jerry

Jerry Shepherd

Taylor Seminary

Edmonton, Alberta

jshepherd53 AT gmail.com