The twelfth time Sheol is mentioned in the Bible is in Job 7:9. Chapter 7 is one of the most anguishing parts of Job's discourse, as he pointedly questions the persistent trials he suffered.
As usual, translating from Hebrew, we get:
"The cloud fades - vanishes - so he who goes down to Sheol shall not come up." - Job 7:9
The KJV renders it this way: "As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more."
This compares the person who goes to Sheol to a fading, vanishing cloud. It is an apt description, since our bodies dissolve and turn to "dust" after death.
Here, like we've seen so far, Sheol clearly means the grave.
Showing posts with label grave. Show all posts
Showing posts with label grave. Show all posts
Friday, February 15, 2008
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Sheol - The book of Job
To recap, so far we have learned that Sheol is in the ground and very little more. Our examinations of the first 11 times it is mentioned have yielded "grave" as the best possible translation of this Hebrew word.
Now, we move on to the book of Job, which is a fascinating story of the nature of suffering and what we perceive as personal injustice. Sheol is mentioned 8 times in the Job alone!
Although the majority of Job is considered Hebrew poetry, we can still glean some insights on Sheol and how the Jews viewed it.
Now, we move on to the book of Job, which is a fascinating story of the nature of suffering and what we perceive as personal injustice. Sheol is mentioned 8 times in the Job alone!
Although the majority of Job is considered Hebrew poetry, we can still glean some insights on Sheol and how the Jews viewed it.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Sheol - 1 Kings 2:6 and 1 Kings 2:9
The tenth and eleventh time the word Sheol is used in the Old Testament is in 1 Kings 2:6 and 1 Kings 2:9 which are part of a very bloody chapter.
At this juncture, King David is near death and gives some commands to his son Solomon, who is next in line for the throne. He gives his command to Solomon to kill Joab, who was a rather wicked and bloodthirsty commander of the army.
"And do according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray hair go down to Sheol in peace." - 1 Kings 2:6
Obviously, this also refers to the grave. There is no way that Solomon could control whether Joab had a peaceful time in Sheol if it meant a place of torment.
Then King David tells Solomon to kill Shimei who also was a thorn in his side during his rule.
"And now, do not acquit him, for you are a wise man, and you know that which you shall do to him, and shall bring down his gray hair, with blood, to Sheol." - 1 Kings 2:9
This also is referring to the grave, just like the previous entry.
At this juncture, King David is near death and gives some commands to his son Solomon, who is next in line for the throne. He gives his command to Solomon to kill Joab, who was a rather wicked and bloodthirsty commander of the army.
"And do according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray hair go down to Sheol in peace." - 1 Kings 2:6
Obviously, this also refers to the grave. There is no way that Solomon could control whether Joab had a peaceful time in Sheol if it meant a place of torment.
Then King David tells Solomon to kill Shimei who also was a thorn in his side during his rule.
"And now, do not acquit him, for you are a wise man, and you know that which you shall do to him, and shall bring down his gray hair, with blood, to Sheol." - 1 Kings 2:9
This also is referring to the grave, just like the previous entry.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Recap of Sheol in Genesis
All 4 times that Sheol is used in Genesis was in the context of a comment by Jacob/Israel who understood it simply to be a place of interrment upon death. No context of burning, fire, cold, wet, dry, or even consciousness or awareness was stated or implied at this point.
Now, Moses wrote the book of Genesis, which took place prior to his birth.
Next, we will look at the remainder of the mentions of Sheol in the Pentateuch (which is simply the five books of Moses - Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy).
Now, Moses wrote the book of Genesis, which took place prior to his birth.
Next, we will look at the remainder of the mentions of Sheol in the Pentateuch (which is simply the five books of Moses - Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy).
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Sheol - Genesis 44:29
The third time Sheol is in the Old Testament is in Genesis 44:29, which is a continuation of the Joseph story.
It reads: "And [if] you take also this one from my face and happen on him harm, you will bring my gray hair, in sorrow, to Sheol."
Clearly, this again is referring to the grave, as it is nearly the exact same wording spoken by Jacob in our previous passage.
This time, the brothers are quoting Jacob in front of their brother Joseph, who is doing a rather intense Q&A session with them!
It reads: "And [if] you take also this one from my face and happen on him harm, you will bring my gray hair, in sorrow, to Sheol."
Clearly, this again is referring to the grave, as it is nearly the exact same wording spoken by Jacob in our previous passage.
This time, the brothers are quoting Jacob in front of their brother Joseph, who is doing a rather intense Q&A session with them!
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Sheol - Genesis 42:38
This entry continues the story of Jacob, who already previously lost his son Joseph.
Genesis 42:38, translated directly from Hebrew in an Interlinear Bible, says:
And he said, "My son shall not go with you, for his brother is dead, and he alone is left. And [if] harm come[s] to him in the way which you go in, you would bring down my gray hair, in sorrow, to Sheol."
This is remarkably similar to what Jacob said before when he mourned the alleged death of his son Joseph. Now, the brothers want to take Joseph's younger son, Benjamin (from Jacob's second wife, Rachel, whom he loved) to Egypt because the person they want grain from (Joseph in disguise) demanded it.
Jacob is, at this point, having no part of it.
But, getting back to Sheol, clearly this is referring to the same place, or state of being as it did in Genesis 37:35. Furthermore, Jacob is clearly stating that he would die of grief.
Genesis 42:38, translated directly from Hebrew in an Interlinear Bible, says:
And he said, "My son shall not go with you, for his brother is dead, and he alone is left. And [if] harm come[s] to him in the way which you go in, you would bring down my gray hair, in sorrow, to Sheol."
This is remarkably similar to what Jacob said before when he mourned the alleged death of his son Joseph. Now, the brothers want to take Joseph's younger son, Benjamin (from Jacob's second wife, Rachel, whom he loved) to Egypt because the person they want grain from (Joseph in disguise) demanded it.
Jacob is, at this point, having no part of it.
But, getting back to Sheol, clearly this is referring to the same place, or state of being as it did in Genesis 37:35. Furthermore, Jacob is clearly stating that he would die of grief.
Sheol - Genesis 37:35
I've decided that I'm going to share some of my research on Hell, beginning with each instance where it is mentioned in the bible. Specifically, every place where the original language (in this entry, Hebrew) word is used.
The first place the word Sheol (which is commonly translated "grave" and "hell") is found is at Genesis 37:35.
Translated directly from Hebrew in an Interlinear Bible, it says:
And arose all his sons and all his daughters to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said, "I will go down to my son, mourning, to Sheol. And his father wept for him."
The "he" in this passage is Jacob/Israel who was just informed that his favorite son, Joseph, had been mauled by wild animals. It was a setup by Joseph's brothers, but Jacob assumed they were telling the truth.
Now, just so we are clear on the construct of Jacob's statement, "I will go down to my son, mourning, to Sheol," note that there are two prepositional phrases there.
To my son, and;
To Sheol.
It doesn't really matter which one is taken first, because both point to Sheol. Jacob is saying that his son, Joseph, is in Sheol, because he is dead. Furthermore, he says that he will go there too, where his son already is. Even though Joseph wasn't really dead, Jacob believed he was, and uttered his statement based on that belief.
The fact that he said he would go mourning, means that he would die in sorrow. Clearly, that didn't happen, even though Joseph was dead to him for many years until they went to be reunited in Egypt.
Obviously, this Sheol is merely referencing the grave, and not some burning place of torment.
The first place the word Sheol (which is commonly translated "grave" and "hell") is found is at Genesis 37:35.
Translated directly from Hebrew in an Interlinear Bible, it says:
And arose all his sons and all his daughters to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said, "I will go down to my son, mourning, to Sheol. And his father wept for him."
The "he" in this passage is Jacob/Israel who was just informed that his favorite son, Joseph, had been mauled by wild animals. It was a setup by Joseph's brothers, but Jacob assumed they were telling the truth.
Now, just so we are clear on the construct of Jacob's statement, "I will go down to my son, mourning, to Sheol," note that there are two prepositional phrases there.
To my son, and;
To Sheol.
It doesn't really matter which one is taken first, because both point to Sheol. Jacob is saying that his son, Joseph, is in Sheol, because he is dead. Furthermore, he says that he will go there too, where his son already is. Even though Joseph wasn't really dead, Jacob believed he was, and uttered his statement based on that belief.
The fact that he said he would go mourning, means that he would die in sorrow. Clearly, that didn't happen, even though Joseph was dead to him for many years until they went to be reunited in Egypt.
Obviously, this Sheol is merely referencing the grave, and not some burning place of torment.
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