Read Proverbs 16 here (text coming …) or at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraph:
10:1b-19:9 {p} …
Pro 15:30-16:24 Chiastic Structure (and the Expanded Chiasm pdf):
The 1D pair of the structure is amazing. Here it is:
Verse 10 is translated in the NKJV as, “Divination is on the lips of the king;” however, the Hebrew Bible in English has it as, “A divine sentence is on the lips of the king.” This verse has been used historically to maintain that anyone who is king had a divine right to rule, and the judgment of his lips was as if a prophet had said, “Thus saith YHVH.” However, the meaning of the verse is that since the king’s judgment determines life and death for his people (see vs. 14, “The wrath of a king is as messengers of death”), judging in the place of God until the Day of Judgment, then his lips had better not transgress in their judgment—he is under an extreme responsibility to make sure his judgment is just.
Thus the seemingly out of place verse about honest weights and scales belonging to YHVH. In the ancient world, they did not at first use coin money when conducting transactions. But every merchant had a balance scale and a set of weights. Let’s say an item for purchase will cost an ounce of silver. The merchant set out his scale, put a weight equaling one ounce on one side, and the customer would pile bits of silver from his purse on the other side, until the scale balanced. So a king is to weigh his judgments carefully and honestly, maintaining the balance between mercy and truth (vs. 6, “By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for”). He can only do this through wisdom and understanding.
If there are questions, these are good resources:
Deuteronomy 16:18-17:7, Judging with just judgment – Christine Miller
Romans 13, The governing authorities – Christine Miller
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