Questioning Paul
Volume 1: The Great Galatians Debate
Chapter 12 part 3
Sha’uwl’s modus operandi was to justify his "allusive sayings" through "terse references to the word." His "mocking interpretations" were all "arrogantly spoken." His arguments were "simplistic and contrived," resulting in the most popular "counterfeit" ever foisted against humanity, one bolstered by his always-present "clichés." He even claimed to bear "offspring," experiencing birth pangs to deliver the descendents of his faith. In this regard, Sha’uwl was fixated on "misapplying" the connotations and "significance" of the Hebrew word for "offspring," zera’, claiming that it gave rise to his faith. And as is the case with most deceivers, Paulos made "pledges" and demanded that believers hold them and him in the "highest esteem." He even claimed that he was the co-savior, completing the sacrifice and message.
Sha’uwl dismissed and demeaned all those who would dare question him. He claimed that by challenging him, a person was actually demonstrating their animosity toward God, and that by implication, such a person was serving Satan. Although the opposite is true, most Christians fall for this ad hominem ploy, dismissing evidenced arguments against their religion and its author by claiming that the critic is hell-bent.
Believers routinely commit the logical fallacies of ad hominem, non sequitur, red herring, and straw man. Using the ad hominem fallacy, they readily discard a valid proposition by demeaning the one who pronounced it. For example, the overwhelming preponderance of Muslims were unable to refute anything in Prophet of Doom so they dismissed the best documented, most comprehensive, contextual, and chronological presentation of Muhammad’s words and deeds by profane attacks on my character. A thousand pages of evidence were thereby discarded with a flippant: "the author is a jerk." With the non sequitur approach, the faithful make general statements which are widely accepted, but such statements, regardless of their veracity, do not support their premise. It is this disassociation that makes such an argument fallacious. An example of this would be: "Since God’s Word is eternal that proves that my Bible is inerrant." With the red herring fallacy, rather than deal with the evidence brought against their religion, believers try to distract people’s attention from it. For example, rather than deal with Paul’s admission that he was insane, a person deploying this fallacy will say something like: "You can’t tell me that I don’t have a relationship with Jesus or that Christ isn’t my savior." And finally, as the straw man fallacy implies, rather than attempt to refute the case which has actually been presented, the apologist will errantly convey their opponent’s argument and then attack their artificial construct. Someone deploying this fallacy would "disprove" the creation account by criticizing religious interpretations of it rather than address the actual Hebrew text Yahowah inspired.
The reason religious belief systems like Christianity are adverse to evidence and reason, and the questions these tools raise, is because those who seek the truth lose their faith. Neither facts nor logic matter in matters of religion. The believer’s pledge, even in a vacuum, is considered sufficient and binding.
Before we press on, here is a summary of where we have just been. Of Sha’uwl, Yahowah revealed...
"Upon My requirements and responsibilities, I have decided I will literally and continually stand. And I will choose to always stand and present Myself upon that which protects and fortifies.
So then I will be on the lookout in order to see what he will say about Me, observing how he will question Me. But then, how can I be expected to change My attitude, My thinking, or My response concerning My disapproving rebuke? (2:1LEB)
Then Yahowah answered, approaching me, and He said, ‘Write this revelation and then expound upon and reiterate it using letters upon writing tablets so that by reciting this, he might run and go away. (2:2LEB)
Still indeed, this revelation from God is for the of the Mow’ed Appointed Meeting Times. It provides a witness and speaks, pouring out evidence in the end which entraps. The extended period of time required for this question to be resolved shall not prove it false. Expect him in this regard, because indeed, he will absolutely come, neither being delayed nor lingering. (2:3LEB)
Pay attention, he will be puffed up with false pride. His soul, it is not right nor straightforward in him. So then through trust and reliance, by being firmly established and upheld by that which is dependable and truthful, those who are righteous and vindicated live. (2:4LEB)
Moreover, because the intoxicating wine and inebriating spirit of the man of deceptive infidelity and treacherous betrayal is a high-minded moral failure, and is arrogant with meritless presumptions, he will not rest, find peace, nor live, whoever is open to the broad path, the duplicitous and improper way, associated with Sha’uwl.
He and his soul are like the plague of death. And so those who are brought together by him, accepting him, will never be satisfied. Most every Gentile will gather together unto him, all of the people from different races and nations. (2:5LEB)
They do not ask questions, any of them, about him. Terse references to the Word they lift up as taunts to ridicule, along with allusive sayings, simplistic and contrived equivalencies, and mocking interpretations, controlling through comparison, counterfeit and clichés, along with derisive words arrogantly conveyed.
There are hard and perplexing questions which need to be asked of him, and double dealings to be known regarding him. And so they should say, ‘Woe to the one who claims to be great so as to increase his offspring, acting like a rabbi, when neither apply to him. For how long will they make pledges based upon his significance, becoming burdened by his testimony?’" (Chabaquwq / Embrace This / Habakkuk 2:6LEB)
This next statement is associated with the previous prediction. It is rendered from the Dead Sea Scrolls because the Qumran text differs considerably from the Masoretic:
"And (wa) he loads himself down (ta’an – he burdens himself) with (‘eth) thick (‘aphelah – dark and wicked) mud (tyt – dirt and dust to be swept away), so why not (ha lo’) quickly, for a short period of time (peta’ – instantly), rise up and take a stand (quwm)? And (wa) those of you who are bitten and are making payments to him (nashak – those showing interest, earning money, or becoming indebted to him), wake up from your stupor (yaqats – take action and alter your state of awareness) moving away in fear of him (zuwa’ – in dread of him, abhorring his terrifying and vexing nature). Because (wa) you will be (hayah) considered (la) plunder, victimized by them (mashchah la – as booty, spoiled by them)." (Chabaquwq / Embrace This / Habakkuk 2:7LEB)
God is saying that the only thing "kabed – weighty and significant" about Sha’uwl is that he has covered himself and others in muck. Methinks Yah was poking fun at Sha’uwl’s murky and messy prose. But clearly, God does not want us to remain in the mud with him, which is why He is asking us to get off of our knees and take a stand.
So we cannot say that we were not warned or advised. God even told us how to respond to this horrible individual. He wants us to stand up against all forms of corruption: political, religious, military, and economic. We are to confront lies and liars.
Paul routinely solicits money from believers. It is one of many reasons Christian clerics embrace him. Following his example, Christian institutions have made merchandise of men. So Yah is trying to rouse his victims before it is too late.
"Because (ky) you (‘atah) have plundered, stealing the possessions of (shalal – you have looted and victimized) an enormous number of (rab – a great many; and serving as the basis of rabbi) Gentiles (Gowym – people from different races and places), so (wa – therefore (from the DSS)) they shall loot and victimize (shalal – plunder and rob) all of (kol) the remaining (yether – the residue of the wealth of) nations (Gowym – Gentiles from different races and places) by means of (min) the blood (dam) of humankind (‘adam – mankind) and also (wa) through the violent and cruel destructive forces terrorizing (chamac – the immoral maiming and murdering which oppresses) the Land (‘erets – the Promised Land, singular, and thus Yisra’el) and (wa) Yah’s city (qiryah – to Encounter Yah, Yaruwshalaim – the source of teaching regarding reconciliation, also singular; from qarah – to encounter and meet Yah – an abbreviation of Yahowah), even all of those (wa kol) living in her (yashab ba – dwelling in her (Yaruwshalaim is a feminine noun))." (Chabaquwq / Embrace This / Habakkuk 2:8LEB)
Paul mercilessly attacks "Jews" throughout his letters, making them the enemy of his new religion, thereby, creating the anti-Semitism that ultimately took root in the Christian church. Paul, a Roman citizen, seeded the hatred of God’s Chosen People that boiled over seventy years later with the destruction of Yisra’el and Yaruwshalaim by the empire’s legions. It happened just as Yahowah predicted it would. Six-hundred and eighty-four years from the time this prophecy was committed to writing, Yaruwshalaim was sacked and the temple was destroyed. Sixty-three years later, Yisra’el was salted, and those not murdered by Rome where hauled off into slavery.
According to Yahowah, to be "cut off" from Him is to be estranged from the Covenant, thereby, excluded from this relationship, and forsaken, which is to be damned. Therefore, you do not want God to say of you what He said of Sha’uwl...
"Woe (howy) to one who is cut off, coveting (batsa’ – to one who is greedy and dies), while wickedly (ra’ – harmfully and immorally, adversarialy and malignantly) soliciting ill-gotten gain (betsa’ – theft through deception, and threat of violence, immoral solicitation and plunder) in relation to him setting (la sym – for him to place and appoint) his house and temple (la beyth – his household and establishment) in association with heights of heaven (ba ha marowm – in an advantaged, desirable, elevated, and high place or status in association with God’s home in heaven) so as to spare (la natsal – for the purpose of snatching away and delivering the plunder) the acquired property and possessions (qan – what has been confiscated through envy and religious zeal, the nest egg and snare) from the paws (kaph – hands and palms, the control) of fellow countrymen (ra’ – of those living in close proximity)." (Chabaquwq / Embrace This / Habakkuk 2:9LEB)
The Roman Catholic Church, which was founded on Pauline Doctrine, not only constructs gold-laden cathedrals and has storehouses filled with tens of billions of dollars of ill-gotten gain, they have positioned themselves as having sole possession of the keys to heaven. It is interesting, however, that recently they have had to return more than a billion dollars to the families of children their priests have molested, priests following the Pauline mandate not to marry.
Yahowah’s next line is a succinct, unambiguous, and damning summation of Galatians and the consequence of Pauline Christianity. God’s verdict regarding this man is irrefutable.
"You have deliberately decided upon and conspired at the advice of another to promote a shameful plot to confuse (ya’ats bosheth – after consultation, you have come to an informed conclusion through deliberation to conceive and perpetrate a lowly plan with the intended purpose to confound while displaying an adversarial attitude; note: bosheth – shameful, lowly, and confusing is from bashan – the serpent, associating this adversarial scheme with Satan, with whom Sha’uwl admittedly consulted) those who approach your house (la beyth – those who enter and are associated with your household and your construct), ruining and reducing by cutting off (qatsah – severely injuring and destroying by scraping away and ending the existence of) many (rab – a multitude of) people from different races and places (gowym – Gentiles; Greeks in Sha’uwl’s parlance who he claimed exclusively for himself) and in the process (wa) losing (chata’ – forfeiting by impugning guilt upon through missing the way and bearing the loss on) your soul (nepesh)." (Chabaquwq / Embrace This / Habakkuk 2:10LEB)
This answers a question I’m often asked: did Paul deliberately perpetrate this fraud or was he misled. It also affirms the now obvious connection between Sha’uwl and Satan, the very spirit he acknowledged had possessed and goaded him.
Recognizing that "beyth – family and home" serves as the basis for the "beryth – family-oriented covenant relationship," with this second reference to "home, family, and household," God is inferring that Sha’uwl’s "new covenant" is a shameful plot designed to confuse the unwary, leading them away from His Covenant And remember, Paul referred to himself as the mother of the faithful, and thus of his new covenant family. He even wrote about life in the household he had conceived.
To be cut off from Yahowah’s Covenant, the Covenant Sha’uwl condemned in Galatians, is to die with one’s soul ceasing to exist. So while the soul of the perpetrator of this crime will be lost forever in She’owl, the souls of his victims are reduced to nothing, their lives squandered as a result of Sha’uwl’s shameful scheme.
Since God has a lot more to say about Sha’uwl, while I’d like to move on to other tests and prophetic statements, let’s linger here a while longer and see if Yah has anything more to say that might be of value regarding His perceptions of this man and his message. And what we find in the next verse is another reference to "the Rock," to the Disciple Yahowsha’ prepared, established, and named to publicly question and confront Sha’uwl.
"Indeed (ky – surely and truly), the Rock (‘eben) as part of the structure of a home (qyr – as the walls and ceiling which provide protection for a family), will issue a proclamation (za’aq – will issue a summons for an assembly meeting and will cry out (qal imperfect)), and (wa) that which connects (kaphyc – the plaster, the rafter, and the beam comprising the structure of a home) from (min) the timber (‘ets – the carpenter’s work, the tree, and gallows), he will answer and respond (‘anah – making a public declaration, providing a contextual reply (qal imperfect))." (Chabaquwq / Embrace This / Habakkuk 2:11LEB)
And while we know that Shim’own Kephas, the man Yahowsha’ personally named the Rock, "summoned" Sha’uwl to Yaruwshalaim and issued a "proclamation" against him, there are some other, less obvious, symbols in the verse. And foremost among them is that Shim’own acquired the moniker "Rock" when Yahowsha’, in Hebrew, told Shim’own: "Upon (‘al) this (ze’th) Rock (‘eben), I will build (banah) My Invitations to be Called Out and Meet (Miqra’ey)." Banah speaks of "building and reestablishing a home for the family," and thus is quite similar to qyr and kaphyc which represent the physical sum and substance of the home – its "flesh" – the walls, ceiling, plaster, rafters, and beams. Throwing the rock at the man who in Gnostic fashion hated the flesh, by referencing the building materials associated with a home, is Yahowah’s way of rewarding and enlightening those who are observant.
Similarly, Yahowah associates Yahowsha’ with "‘ets – timber" to reveal how He, as the Passover Lamb and the Upright Pillar of the Tabernacle, provides eternal life for His family by way of the upright wooden pillars of Passover’s doorway. And that is why Yahowah uses "‘anah – to answer and respond" in this context. It is the operative word of the Miqra’ey, where Yahowah asks us "‘anah – to answer and respond" to His Invitations to be Called Out and Meet, because they provide the lone means to salvation.
"Woe to (howy – a strong warning to) the one who reestablishes (banah – the one who builds a family, erects and constructs a home (qal participle)) the place of exposed naked flesh and anguish (‘iyr – the city where terror is exposed; from "‘uwr – to incite and to stir up by blinding and rendering the chaff naked and laying the skin bare") in blood (ba dam – through death; from "damam – to destroy by making deaf and dumb"), and he forms (wa kuwn – he proposes, prepares, establishes, and supports (the polel stem reveals that the subject suffers the effect of the verb’s action and the perfect conjugation affirms that the process is complete)) a populated institution promoting (qiryah – a city; from "qarah and qary’ah – to encounter, meet, and befall the foundation, beams, building, and furnishings of an institution where people congregate based upon preaching") that which is unrighteous, invalid, and harmful (ba ‘awlah – in wickedness with evil intent, unjustly damaging others through perversity)." (Chabaquwq / Embrace This / Habakkuk 2:12LEB)
It’s interesting that immediately after using banah to make a point relative to the previous verse, we find it in this one. Great minds think alike. Not mine, mind you, but here we find Yahowsha’ and Yahowah communicating the same message by juxtaposing "rock" and "build." And here banah is being deployed to warn readers against participating in his "banah – rebuilt and reconstructed" family of faith.
In most English bibles, you will find both ‘iyr and qiryah rendered "city" as if they were translating a repetition of the same word. But considering Yahowah’s prowess for effective communication, when we find different words being deployed to convey a similar idea, examining the etymology is always productive, as it is here.
In that ‘iyr is from ‘uwr, we discover that it addresses the "blindness" so many have to "the flesh being naked and exposed" or how they can be "incited" so that they "suffer anguish" and "perpetrate terror." And in that qiryah is a derivative of qarah and qary’ah, in this word’s history, we "encounter the foundation and furnishings of a popular institution where many people congregate as a result of and to listen to preaching." These are loaded terms with Pauline implications.
Blood is of the flesh. A miniscule amount is shed during circumcision, but it is poured out in great abundance by the Passover Lamb.
While no connection may be intended, from a pronunciation perspective, ‘Uwr, the name of the Babylonian city that Yahowah’s asked Abraham to "yatsa’ – come out of" in "Kasdym – Chaldea" so that he could "la halak – walk toward" God in the Promised Land, sounds similar to ‘iyr, in that it is actually based upon ‘uwr.
Sha’uwl’s testimony is "‘awlah – invalid and harmful, perverse and damaging, unjust and evil," leading to "unrighteousness." And while that was Paul’s intent, it is Yahowah’s to "howy – warn us" about him.
There is a much better choice...
"Why not look here and pay attention (ha lo’ hineh – why not look up and behold ("hineh – pay attention" is conveyed by the two ee found in efei)) by means of an association with (min ‘eth – by approaching and being part of) Yahowah (efei) of conscripts who provide assistance (tsaba’ – vast array of spiritual implements who are enlisted and arranged in a command and control regimen, serving as effective tools by following orders)?
But instead (wa), the people (‘am – family) expend their energy and grow weary (yaga’ – they toil and labor, growing tired for lack of rest (qal imperfect)) amongst an abundance of worthlessness (ba day ‘esh – with excessive trifling uselessness which is of no value), and the nations which gather together (la’owm – the peoples who congregate) in more than enough (ba day – with an excess of) delusions and fantasies which are poured forth which are unreal and have no benefit, resulting in nothingness (ryq – fictitious myths which are unreliable, of empty and vain deceptions which are poured out, experienced, and consumed) exhausting and destroying them (ya’eph – physically draining and ruining them and causing them to be slighted, diminishing to nothingness (qal imperfect))." (Chabaquwq / Embrace This / Habakkuk 2:13LEB)
Here, ‘am can mean "people, family, or nation," and almost always speaks of Yisra’el. La’owm addresses "large populations which gather or congregate together," who seldom have an affinity with the Promised Land. The former, representing Sha’uwl and Rabbinical Judaism, obeying their Talmud, toil for nothing. The latter, representing Paulos and Christianity, believing the myths, delusions and fantasies this man has extolled are destroyed by them.
As an interesting aside, ‘esh, the word translated "worthlessness," also speaks of "lightning," addressing the "worthless flashing light" Sha’uwl claimed to see in the sky which became part of his conversion experience. It also means "fire," especially in the sense of that which "combusts and consumes." In this role ‘esh serves as a metaphor for judgment.
And once again, there is a better, more satisfying and fulfilling choice...
"Indeed (ky – but this is reliable and true), She will fulfill, edify, and completely satisfy (male’ – She will impart an abundance of that which is healthy, valuable, empowering, and satisfying (the niphal stem is the grammatical voice of genuine relationships and the imperfect conjugation addresses ongoing effects)) the land (‘erets – realm, region, and world) to approach, to actually know, and to become genuinely familiar with (la yada’ ‘eth – to move toward, discover, and acknowledge, coming to understand and appreciate becoming friends in association with (qal infinitive)) Yahowah’s (efei) manifestation of power, glorious presence, and abundant value (kabowd – splendor, honor, respect, status, and reward), similar to (ka) the rain (maym – the waters) providing a covering (kacah – spread over and overflowing, filling and adorning (piel imperfect)) for the sea (‘al yam – upon a lake)." (Chabaquwq / Embrace This / Habakkuk 2:14LEB)
"She" refers to the maternal manifestation of God’s light, the ‘ishah, better known as the "Ruwach Qodesh – Set-Apart Spirit." Our Spiritual Mother makes us appear perfect before God by adorning us in Her Garment of Light. She not only plays the leading role in fulfilling most of the Miqra’ey, She enriches and empowers the Covenant’s children, imparting an abundance of valuable information. She not only equips us to better know Yah, She makes it possible for us to enter His presence.
When we consider what has preceded this statement, it is hard to miss the fact that Paul’s spirit weakens and destroys while Yah’s Spirit enlightens and edifies. Paul’s spirit poisons while Yah’s Spirit heals. And that is because Yahowah’s promises are all fulfilled by His Spirit during the Miqra’ey, while Sha’uwl’s promises are all as vain and worthless as the spirit which possessed him.
"‘Erets – land" and "kacah – to cover" are initially brought together in the story of the flood, where Yahowah washes away the initial and vicious scum of religion and politics so as to give humankind the opportunity to get to know Him, to approach Him, and to be with Him – to la yada’ ‘eth Yahowah. Moreover, the "kacah – covering" in the sense of the Garment of Light adorning the Covenant’s children, "maym – waters" representing the source of life and cleaning, and "kabowd – the manifestation of power and glorious presence" of Yahowah, are all references to the Set-Apart Spirit of God.
Also, by condemning the destructive mythology of Sha’uwl in verse 13 to the completely satisfying presence of our Spiritual Mother in verse 14, we find Yahowah doing what I have attempted to do throughout Questioning Paul: comparing the empty myths of man to the glorious and satisfying nature of God.
We considered this next statement way back in chapter three. It not only warns us about Sha’uwl’s profuse venom and his perverted sexuality, it addresses Paulos’ "little and lowly reputation" in addition to his animosity toward circumcision. So from Sha’uwl and Questioning Him to Paulos and his lowly and little moniker, from poisonous toxins to an unacceptable approach to the sign of the Covenant, this is an indicting summation of this man’s legacy.
"Woe to (howy – a strong warning to) the one who causes and allows his companions and countryman to drink (shaqah ra’), thereby, associating them with (caphach) this antagonizing venom upon you (chemah – this poisonous and serpentine toxin which injures and antagonizes you, making you displeasing and antagonistic), but also (wa ‘aph – and yet surely) intoxicating (shakar) for the purpose of (ma’an) looking at (nabat ‘al) their genitals (ma’aowr – male genitalia)." (Chabaquwq / Embrace This / Habakkuk 2:15LEB)
"You will get your fill of (saba’ – you will be met with an abundance of (the qal perfect indicates that his is completely reliable while the second person masculine singular reveals that this is directed a lone male individual)) shame and infamy, a little and lowly status (qalown – dishonor, disgrace, scorn, and a very small and humbling reputation) instead of (min) honor and glory (kabowd – the manifestation of the power and presence of God which rewards and empowers).
Choosing to intoxicate (shathah – deciding to actually inebriate (qal imperative)), in addition (gam – besides), you (‘atah) also (wa) elect to show them unacceptable, going round about over their choice not to become circumcised (‘arel muwcab – choosing to deploy circular reasoning in altering their perspective regarding their decision to remain uncircumcised for religious reasons, you have chosen to actually make them unacceptable (niphal imperative and qal imperative)).
Upon you is (‘al – before you is) the binding cup (kowc) of Yahowah’s (efei) right hand (yamyn – serving as a metaphor for judgment), therefore, (wa) public humiliation and a lowly status (qyqalown – shame and ignominy, dishonor and disgrace) will be your reward (‘al kabowd – the manifestation of your reputation and attribution of your status (second person masculine singular suffix – thus addressing a solitary man))." (Chabaquwq / Embrace This / Habakkuk 2:16LEB)
Pauline Doctrine is an intoxicating poison, venom from the most vile of serpents. But more indicting still, Sha’uwl, who never knew the love of a woman, provocatively expressed his love for a young man, Timothy. And even though Paul detested circumcision, and spoke hatefully about the sign and requirement of the Covenant, he personally circumcised his love interest. Furthermore, Sha’uwl so craved recognition and status, he heaped it upon himself. But here God is saying that Sha’uwl’s poisonous and inebriating attack against the decision to be circumcised will come full circle and engulf him in shame. The man who claimed to be God’s exclusive apostle to the Gentiles has become the man of infamy: "Paulos – Little and Lowly."
I dare say, in the whole of Yahowah’s prophetic testimony, no prediction is as dire as this one. But that is because no one ever did what Paul has done. It was not required of anyone else.
If nothing else, Yahowah has provided His evaluation of Paul and His assessment of his followers. In this light, the only way to view him and his religion favorably would be to ignore God and estrange ourselves from Him. The debate is over. The choice is black and white. If we are to be true to this prophetic warning, we should question everything Paul says and writes. And we should hold him accountable. It may be too little, but it is never too late.
Continuing to intertwine encouragement into the midst of this overwhelming condemnation of Sha’uwl and his demonic associate, Yahowah reaffirms His promise...
"Indeed from (ky – this is reassuring instead because from) this grievous injustice against and blatant wrongdoing in opposition to (chamac – this unrighteous and unrestrained campaign of error and towrahlessness in destructive conflict with) that which purifies, empowers, and enriches (labanown – typically transliterated Lebanon, but from "laban – purifying, cleansing, and whitening" and "‘own – being substantially empowered, growing vigorously, while becoming enormously enriched"), He will constantly keep you covered and continually protected (kacah – He will always provide a covering by which He adorns you, clothing and forgiving you (the piel imperfect affirms that we, as those being clothed, receive continuous protection) and as for (wa) the destructive demonic (shed – the Devil’s devastating and ruinous) beasts (bahemah), He will shatter them (chathath – He will astound them, causing them to wane)..." (Chabaquwq / Embrace This / Habakkuk 2:17LEB)
I was personally stunned that Sha’uwl actually and unequivocally admitted to being demon-possessed, because back when I was a Christian, we constantly speculated on what the "thorn in my side" represented, oblivious to the fact that he answered the question not once, but twice. But even when I first came to be troubled by the conflicts between Paul and God, I never thought that Yahowah was this frank with us. And yet six-hundred and sixty-six years before the most blatantly errant and hideously destructive man in human history perpetrated his great crime against humanity, Yahowah referred to him and his wayward spirit as "demonic beasts."
While Paul and Satan have had their run, and their way with humankind, their dominion is about to come to a crashing end. Babylon and the Beast will soon be shattered. Their power will wane. And when that happens, when the unrighteous campaign against the Towrah is snuffed out, those who remain under God’s constant protection will stand tall, not unlike the once towering cedars of Lebanon.
Those standing beside Yahowah upon His return will have four things in common: 1) We will have come to know and love Yahowah. 2) We will have accepted the conditions of the Covenant. 3) We will have answered Yahowah’s Invitations to be Called Out and Meet. 4) And we will have arrived at this place and time because we devoted the time to observe His Torah and Prophets.
The rewards are priceless, but they do not come without a significant investment of time. This verse is a classic example. Chamac could have been superficially defined as "violence against" instead of "this grievous injustice against and blatant wrongdoing in opposition to." The former, however, requires us to ignore the fact that nouns are defined by their verbal forms. And here the verb chamac communicates: "injustice and wrongdoing in opposition to oppress, and unrighteousness based upon an unethical and false witness which is laid bare against the standard."
Labanown could have been transliterated "Lebanon" instead of being defined by its component parts. And as we now know, laban is defined as: "purifying, cleansing, and whitening." And ‘own speaks of "being substantially empowered, growing vigorously, all while becoming substantially enriched." Therefore, the translation of labanown as "that which purifies, empowers, and enriches" is more relevant and edifying than a simple transliteration.
Kacah could have been flippantly rendered "He conceals and hides you." But, instead, "He will constantly keep you covered and continually protected" enables us to incorporate the implications of the piel stem and imperfect conjugation. And it is considerably more consistent with how kacah is deployed throughout the Towrah and Prophets.
Shed was written as a construct noun, which means that it is forever bound to "bahemah – the beasts" in this sentence. That means that the "beasts" possess the attributes associated with shed. These could have been inadequately translated "the havoc making and destructive nature of" instead of "the destructive demonic." But by choosing the former, we’d have to ignore the fact that prior to the Masoretic diacritical marks the Hebrew word written Shin Dalet was equally comfortable being rendered "breast," "demon and devil," or "destructive havoc." While "bosom" can be disregarded in this context, there is no valid justification for selecting "demonic" over "destructive." Therefore, when trying to communicate the whole truth, the only responsible and sensible approach is to include both definitions, especially since they work in harmony to define the nature of the "beasts."
Speaking of the bahemah, the plural form could have been conveyed as "wild animals" rather than "beasts." However, in light of Yahowsha’s integration of the Devil, the Beast, the False Prophet, and the Whore of Babylon in the Revelation to Yahowchanan, any other rendering would have been irresponsible.
Also, chathath could have been translated "He will frighten and dismay them" instead of "He will shatter them." However, since the primary definition of the word provides a perfect foreshadowing of what we are told will be the ultimate fate of Satan, His Beast and False Prophet, in addition to his religious, political, economic and militaristic system known as the Whore of Babylon, why not render the word accordingly?
So in every case I took the time to consider every aspect of each word, consistently examining the roots. And as a result, the renderings I selected are every bit as justifiable, if not substantially preferable, to those typically found in popular bible translations. The only difference is that I was careful and strove to methodically examine every word under an etymological microscope, while striving to provide a rendering that was not only as correct and complete as is possible, but also the most fitting within this context of this discussion.
End of part 3