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shake arrows, consult with household idols, or study the livers of dead animals (Ezek.
21:21).
Divination was one of man’s attempts to know and control the world and the future,
apart from the true God. It was the opposite of true prophecy, which essentially is
submission to God’s sovereignty (Deut. 18:14).
Perhaps the most perplexing uses of this word occur in Num. 22-23 and Prov. 16:10,
where it seems to be an equivalent of prophecy. Balaam was well-known among the
pagans as a diviner; at the same time, he recognized Yahweh as his God (Num. 22:18).
He accepted money for his services and probably was not beyond adjusting the message
to please his clients. This would explain why God, being angry, confronted him (Num.
22:22ff.), even though God had told him to accept the commission and go with his escort
(22:20). It appears that Balaam was resolved to please his clients. Once that resolve was
changed to submission, God sent him on his journey (22:35).
TO DO GOOD
A. Verb.
(
+
, 3190), “to be good, do well, be glad, please, do good.” This word is
found in various Semitic languages, and is very common in Hebrew, both ancient and
modern.
'
is found approximately 100 times in biblical Hebrew. This verbal form is
found first in the story of Cain and Abel, where it is used twice in one verse: “If you
(
, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not
(
, sin is crouching
at the door” (Gen. 4:7,
NASB
). Among other nuances of the verb are “to deal well” (Exod.
1:20), “to play [a musical instrument] well” (1 Sam. 16:17), “to adornmake beautiful” (2
Kings 9:30), and “to inquire diligently” (Deut. 17:4).
B. Adjective.
(
+
, 2896), “good.” This word occurs some 500 times in the Bible. Its first
occurrence is in Gen. 1:4: “God saw that the light was good” (
NASB
). God appraises each
day’s creative work as being “good,” climaxing it with a “very good” on the sixth day
(Gen. 1:31).
As a positive term, the word is used to express many nuances of that which is “good,”
such as a “glad” heart (Judg. 18:20), “pleasing” words (Gen. 34:18), and a “cheerful”
face (Prov. 15:13).
DOORWAY
A. Noun.
(
"#
, 6607), “doorway; opening; entrance; gate.” This word appears 164
times in biblical Hebrew and in all periods.
8
basically represents the “opening through which one enters a building, tent,
tower (fortress), or city.” Abraham was sitting at the “doorway” of his tent in the heat of
the day when his three heavenly visitors appeared (Gen. 18:1). Lot met the men of
Sodom at the “doorway” of his home, having shut the door behind him (Gen. 19:6).
Larger buildings had larger entryways, so in Gen. 43:19
may be rendered by the
more general word, “entrance.” In Gen. 38:14,
may be translated “gateway”:
Tamar “sat in the gateway [
KJV
, “open place”].” Thus a
was both a place to sit (a