Read 1 Kings 19 here (text coming …) or at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraphs:
18:15-19:14 {s} A great victory over the false prophets of Baal, however Elijah becomes discouraged because of Jezebel’s threat
19:15-21 {p} Elijah anointed Elisha as prophet in his place; Elisha followed him
The Strong theme:
18:1-19:21 {s+s+p} Elijah’s victory over the false prophets of Baal, and the drought; however Jezebel’s threat sends him into despair, from which YHVH lifts him
1 Kin 19:3-21 Chiastic structure:
Mount Horeb, where Elijah went in 1 Kin 19:8, is the same as Mount Sinai, where Moses received the Ten Commandments (Deu 5:2; the covenant made is recorded in Exo 19-20).
The central axis highlights the contrast that YHVH was not in the crashing noise or destructive power of wind, earthquake, and fire, but in the voice of small quietness, something barely discernable.
Small is from Strong’s H1854, דקק daqaq, a primitive verb meaning “to crush or pulverize.” As per The Ancient Hebrew Lexicon, the quph was transposed from an original kaph due to their similar sounds.
dalet ד = door, thus enter, move, hang
kaph כ ך = open palm, thus bend, open, allow, tame
kaph כ ך = open palm, thus bend, open, allow, tame
“The pictograph of the door represents the idea of moving back and forth. The kaph is a picture of the palm of the hand representing a bowl from its shape. Combined these pictures mean “the moving back and forth in a cup.” Seeds are placed in a stone mortar, a stone cup, the stone pestle is moved around the cup to crush the seeds into a powder.” – Ancient Hebrew Lexicon
The parable being told by the Hebrew Root Word is of the back and forth movement (dalet) of the pestle in a mortar (kaph) which opens (kaph) the seed and allows it to be crushed into a fine powder.
Quiet is from Strong’s H1826, דמם damam, a primitive verb meaning “to be silent, to be still.”
dalet ד = door, thus enter, move, hang
mem מ ם = water, thus chaos, mighty, blood
mem מ ם = water, thus chaos, mighty, blood
“The pictograph of the door represents the idea of moving back and forth. The mem is a picture of water and can represent any liquid, especially blood. Combined these pictures mean “the moving back and forth of water” or the “flowing of blood.” Similarly, the grape plant takes water from the ground and moves it to the fruit where the water becomes the blood of the grape.” – Ancient Hebrew Lexicon
The parable being told is that when the back and forth movement (dalet) of the blood (mem) ceases within the body, the ruddiness of the face (mem) grows pale in silence and stillness.
And the teaching of the Comparison and Contrast Teaching Tool? Quiet the noise of your mind and heart, and cover your face (representing an attitude of humility) in the presence of YHVH, to hear His voice of small quietness. In the face of the threats of the enemy, and in the moment of your despar, He will sustain you, and He will answer you.
Leave a Reply