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).
Showing posts with label jacob. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jacob. Show all posts
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Sheol - Genesis 44:31
The fourth time the word Sheol is used in the old testament is in Genesis 44:31.
"...it will happen when he sees that the youth is not [with us], he will die, and your servants will bring the gray hair of your servant, our father, in sorrow, to Sheol."
In Genesis 44:29, a few passages earlier, Jacob was directly quoted by Judah, who is speaking to his brother Joseph in Egypt. Here in this passage, Judah emphasizes again the consequences of Joseph keeping Benjamin, their youngest brother, in Egypt.
Again, Sheol, in this passage, is referring to the grave, just like it had in the previous 3 verses.
"...it will happen when he sees that the youth is not [with us], he will die, and your servants will bring the gray hair of your servant, our father, in sorrow, to Sheol."
In Genesis 44:29, a few passages earlier, Jacob was directly quoted by Judah, who is speaking to his brother Joseph in Egypt. Here in this passage, Judah emphasizes again the consequences of Joseph keeping Benjamin, their youngest brother, in Egypt.
Again, Sheol, in this passage, is referring to the grave, just like it had in the previous 3 verses.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
