A few thoughts on Exodus 34:29
- Moses’ second descent from Sinai is much different from the first. This time he has two new tablets and a changed complexion: the skin of his face is “shining” (from Heb. qrn) because he had been talking with God. The use of qrn here is odd since it usually means “horns,” not “to shine,” as depicted in Michelangelo’s statue of Moses in the church of San Pietro, Rome. Michelangelo based his depiction of Moses on the translation of qrn in the Vulgate (“he knew not that his face was horned“).
- Scholars differ on the interpretation of qrn in Exod 34: Jirku (“horns”), Propp (“disfigurement,” or blistered skin), Sasson (“horns”), Stuart (“rays”), Sanders (“light”), Cassuto (“rays of light”), Childs (“rays of light”), Enns (“afterglow”), etc. The LXX has, “the skin of [Moses'] face had become glorified.” Paul follows the LXX: “The Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory” (2 Cor 3:7).
- While it is true that qrn normally means “horns” (see HALOT, vol 3, 1144), in this case we must consider alternatives. The verbal form here in Exod 34 literally means “to show horns,” not “to shine.” But consider this analogy: my kids and I drew a picture of the sun today with yellow crayons. Like most kids do (and adults too), we drew spikes, or “horns,” around the sun to show that it emanates light and that it’s really hot. Perhaps what we have in Exod 34 is similar. The skin of Moses’ face shines just like the sun shines. Instead of saying that Moses’ face “was shining” (using the normal language of illumination) the author of Moses depicts Moses’ face much like we would draw the sun: he had horns of light (a similar analogy would be the head of the Statue of Liberty); that is, rays that reflect the very brightness of Yahweh’s own presence. As Cassuto writes, “Something of the divine glory remained with [Moses], and on an infinitesimal scale he also had rays at his side—enveloping his countenance.”
- Habbakuk 3:4 substantiates the interpretation of qrn as rays of light: “[God's] brightness was like the light; beams of light (qrn) come from his hand; and there he veiled his power.”
New Titles from Peter Enns
I noticed today that Peter Enns has two new books that will be available later this year: a commentary on Ecclesiastes (NHC) and another entitled The Evolution of Adam. He gives a description of each in this post, and both will be intriguing to say the least. I think it interesting that he says the following in his description of the Ecclesiastes commentary:
Those of you who know me well will not be surprised that in the theological section I apply a Christotelic hermeneutic. Also, for the truly geekified among you, I do not see Qohelet’s words as corrected by the epilogue but affirmed as wise–though not the final word. I also see Qohelet as a suffering Christ figure. (Yes, you heard me right.)
Having read Enns’ Exodus commentary in its entirety (in the NIVAC series), I can vouch for Enns’ exegetical skill. That commentary is superb, and so I look forward to good things from this one too. Enns is well-versed in the Wisdom writings and the secondary literature. Interested students should pick up his annotated bibliography, Poetry and Wisdom (Baker), which I found really helpful last year during my independent study on Proverbs with Duane Garrett.
On The Evolution of Adam, Enns says it “applies the approach of Inspiration and Incarnation to a specific and pressing issue: in view of evolution, what does it mean to read the Bible well? So think of EOA as I&I part two.” Having also read I&I (and having significant disagreements), this new work will no doubt receive attention from evangelicals, especially given the events surrounding I&I at Westminster Seminary and the ensuing debate that lead to Enns’ departure.
Eisenbrauns Deal of the Day!
Eisenbrauns has Biblia Sacra for its deal of the day. It’s half off for those interested!
Biblia Sacra Utriusque Testamenti
Editio Hebraica et Graeca
The Nestle-Aland 27th edition and BHS small edition bound together
Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft Stuttgart, 1994
93 + 810 pages (Greek) + lvii + 1574 pages (Hebrew), Greek and Hebrew
Cloth
ISBN: 9783438052506
List Price: $139.99
Your Price: $70.00
www.eisenbrauns.com/item/BIBLIASAC
Charles Halton on Authors or Criminals
Charles Halton has recently penned an interesting blog on authorship, plagiarism and authority. Then John Meade and Jim Hamilton added some critical comments, and the ensuing discussion is worth a look.
Adoption Video for Crossway
In March of this year the Adopting for Life conference was in Louisville, KY. A friend of ours asked if we would like to be interviewed by Crossway (who published Russell Moore’s book, “Adopted for Life“) about our upcoming adoption. The interview is now on Vimeo here, and will be on the Crossway blog sometime soon (we’re not really sure when).
At the time when this video was shot we were one week away from picking up our two kids from Ethiopia. I think you can see how excited we were, and how pretty my wife is . . .
14 Famous Man Caves
One thing I really enjoy is getting a chance to peek into the offices and libraries of famous writers, historians, and politicians. So I had a lot of fun reading this post from the Art of Manliness site (a great blog, if you’ve never been there), which highlights (with photos) fourteen offices of famous men in history: 14 Famous Man Caves
It’s a lot of fun if you like history and libraries! Jefferson’s study is the only one that I’ve visited:
I’d much rather visit Teddy Roosevelt’s trophy room!
Bookbinding
I sent four Bibles off to Ace Bookbinding recently to have them repaired and rebound. I got them back in the mail yesterday (what a birthday surprise!) and I couldn’t be happier with the results. Three of these I tend to use regularly: a small ESV, a large-print Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, and the NA27/NET diglot. I also picked up a Reader’s Hebrew and Greek Bible recently and hope to use it for reading more lengthy passages. The problem is that the cover and binding were fairly poor quality, so I added it into the mix.
My ESV was particularly miserable. I had silver duct tape around the sides to keep the binding together. Now it has a clean calfskin cover.
With Ace Bookbinding, even though you can choose from many colors, they can also match the color of the original, as in my Greek New Testament:
I never did like the title, “A Reader’s Hebrew and Greek Bible,” so I asked them to leave “Reader’s” off the new cover:
This is probably the Bible that gets most wear and tear, so I’m thankful and excited for the new binding. Since it is a bigger Bible (in terms of thickness), Ace provides the option of adding more ribbon dividers, so I now have four ribbons instead of one.
As you can see, the pages are sown instead of glued for each Bible, so I expect them to last a very long time:
Many thanks to Ace Bookbinding for their good work! If you need a Bible or a big book rebound, I encourage you to check them out. I think they did a fantastic job.
A Birthday Full of Joy
My sweet wife sent emailed me this today for my birthday, with this caption (if you’re using a reader you have to click on vimeo link to see the video):
Josh,
We love you more than words could ever express. God has blessed us immeasurably by giving us the gift of YOU as a husband and father. Thank you for working hard every day for us, thank you for leading our home in integrity and wisdom, thank you for loving Jesus most of all.
I don’t deserve you. But I’m so thankful God has been gracious to allow me to be married to you!
It’s a joy (and an easy thing!) to celebrate the day God made this world a better place by putting you in it.
Can’t wait to see you later on today!
Happy Birthday, Daddy! from Jennifer Philpot on Vimeo.
And then we played in water all day…
Anne Rice
A couple of years ago I read Anne Rice’s “Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt” and wrote some thoughts here on the blog. Recently I saw this video of her sharing how she returned to the Roman Catholic church after 38 years of being an agnostic. It’s a fascinating video and I encourage you to watch it in its entirety:
Old Testament Readings, Anonymous Elders, and Jim Hamilton
At Kenwood we have three scripture readings during our main worship service: a Call to Worship, an Old Testament reading and a New Testament reading. This past Sunday (6/27) we had a hiccup in the service. One of our elders (who will remain anonymous) didn’t realize that he was scheduled for the Old Testament reading. So, when we finished singing “A Mighty Fortress,” and I noticed that this anonymous elder was not walking to pulpit, I began to get a little nervous. But you must understand why I’m nervous at this point: I’m the one responsible for the worship service. If someone is not walking to the pulpit it’s really my fault! So I scramble through hymnals and papers around the piano looking for a Bible, somehow hopeful that I can get to the pulpit and do the reading myself without making it look like I’m unorganized (pet peeve, by the way). I look over at Jim Hamilton seated in the second row, and he’s looking conspicuously around the room for that same anonymous elder who should be at the pulpit reading the Bible by now. He strikes back an inquisitive but partly accusing look in my direction, as if to say, “Haven’t you organized the worship service?” I send back a shrugged shoulder, hoping that he gets the message that the anonymous elder is supposed to be reading. Jim gets my drift, and true to his character (he’s great at spontaneity), he marches quickly up to the pulpit, ready for the task. And this was the result:
We have all been in worship services where our concentration is broken by some distraction. It’s either a high screeching microphone, a baby crying during a prayer, or an anonymous elder forgetting that he’s scheduled to read and pray during the service. We know this well and its amusing to some degree. But each week I try to organize a worship service that might limit our distractions and instead cause all of our efforts to focus on the greatness of God in Christ. Indeed, the whole elder team labors to do this, not simply because we think it’s the right “mood” for worship, but because we want to worship God rightly; that is, in a way that would bring him the most glory. Limiting distractions, I think, is helpful to meeting this goal.
So Jim marched to the pulpit without having read Isaiah 44:24-45:7 and without having prepared a prayer. But afterward, instead of being distracted and instead of feeling some disconnect, Jim helped draw our attention to the greatness of God by reading the Bible with emotion, vigor, sincerity and enthusiasm. And I think his response helped everyone in the congregation, not least myself. In the end, our minds and hearts were once more focused on magnificence of God, and on the awesome privilege we have of worshiping him freely.
I think that Jim should consider a Bible audio book, no?
