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phrase: “Israel performs mightily.” This translation of the word is somewhat inexact; a
noun is translated as an adverb.
Second,
means “wealth, property.” This nuance of the word focuses on that
which demonstrates one’s ability, his wealth or goods; Levi, Simeon, and their cohorts
attacked the Shechemites: “And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives
took they captive, and spoiled even all that was in the home” (Gen. 34:29—the first
biblical occurrence of the word). In Num. 31:9
includes all the possessions of the
Midianites except the women, children, cattle, and flocks. Thus it seems to be a little
narrower in meaning. When this nuance is used with the Hebrew word “to do or make,”
the resulting phrase means “to become wealthy or make wealth” (cf. Deut. 8:18; Ruth
4:11). This is in marked contrast to the emphasis of the same construction in Num. 24:18.
Joel 2:22 uses
in the sense of “wealth” or products of the ability of a tree to
produce fruit.
Third, several passages use the word in the sense of “able.” In Gen. 47:6 the ability to
do a job well is in view. Pharaoh told Joseph: “The land of Egypt is before thee; in the
best of the land make thy father and brethren to dwell; in the land of Goshen let them
dwell: and if thou knowest any men of activity [capable men] among them, then make
them rulers over my cattle.” This word can also represent the domestic skills of a
woman—Ruth is described as a woman of ability and, therefore, either potentially or
actually a good wife (Ruth 3:11; Prov. 12:4). When applied to men,
sometimes
focuses on their ability to conduct themselves well in battle as well as being loyal to their
commanders (1 Sam. 14:52; 1 Kings 1:42). When used in such contexts, the word may be
translated “valiant”: “And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul:
and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him” (1 Sam.
14:52; cf. Num. 24:18; 1 Sam. 14:48).
Fourth, this word sometimes means “army”; “And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, that
he shall follow after them; and I will be honored upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host
[army] …” (Exod. 14:4). The word can also refer to the army as troops in the sense of a
combination of a lot of individuals. Under such an idea the word can represent the
members of an army distributed to perform certain functions. Jehoshaphat “placed forces
in all the fenced cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah …” (2 Chron.
17:2). This is also the emphasis in 1 Kings 15:20: “Ben-hadad … sent the captains of the
hosts which he had [
NASB
, “commanders of his armies”] against the cities of Israel.…”
Fifth,
sometimes represents the “upper class,” who, as in all feudal systems,
were at once soldiers, wealthy, and influential; Sanballat “spake before his brethren and
the army of Samaria,” i.e., in the royal court (
NASB
, “wealthy men”; Neh. 4:2). The
Queen of Sheba was accompanied by a large escort of upperclass people from her
homeland: “And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train …” (1 Kings 10:2).
TO STRETCH OUT
A. Verb.
(
+
, 5186), “to stretch forth, spread out, stretch down, turn aside.” This verb
also occurs in Arabic, late Aramaic, and postbiblical Hebrew. The Bible attests it in all
periods and about 215 times.