Hello Isaac:
Thanks for your responsive remarks.
Please allow me to reply in inverse order.
a. It seems to me that a fair reading of the tense and tenor of jeremiah 17:4, and chapter 17 (your paragraph 2), ... yields the reasonable conclusion that these events will happen; not might; not maybe; not supposedly; not hypothetically ... happen.
b. Taking the "forever" out of עד עולם here, appears to me anyhow, as theology arriving; and facts departing. No factual (versus theological) basis exists for dramatically changing the meaning of עד עולם in genesis 13:15; and jeremiah 17:4.
b. As for jeremiah 18:16 (your paragraph1), I would respond with
והיתה הקשת בענן וראיתיה לזכר ברית עולם בין אלהים ובן כל נפש חיה בכל בשר אשר על הארץ
genesis 9:16
Does this covenant become a "world class" covenant or a "long term" convenant (versus a "forever covenant"), given the missing little עד ?
I look forward to hearing from you, on your understanding of the meaning of עולם in genesis 9:16? Does it mean "forever?" or simply "world class?" or "long term?"
regards,
fred burlingame
On Sun, Dec 12, 2010 at 3:36 PM, Isaac Fried <if AT math.bu.edu> wrote:
1. SHRIYQOT OLAM could be 'world class hissing' or 'hissing for a long time'. The prophet is certainly not saying LA-SUM ARCAM LE- SHAMAH AD OLAM. Otherwise, the hissing against this land is, indeed, without end.
2. The AD OLAM in Jer. 17:4 is only for the anger that is supposedly forever, the promise given to ABRAHAM is not claimed to be revoked, because the prophet knows that it is irrevocable.
Isaac Fried, Boston University
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