King James Bible

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1 Samuel

10

:

2

When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
which thou wentest along Verb H1980 בְּלֶכְתְּךָ֤ be·lech·te·cha
to day age Noun H3117 הַיֹּום֙ hai·yo·vm
then thou shalt find be able Verb H4672 וּמָצָאתָ֩ u·ma·tza·ta
two both Noun H8147 שְׁנֵ֨י she·nei
Analysis:

Two: Two divergent opinions

The classic example for the number "two" is found in Matthew chapter 26. There, Yeshua says to His disciples,

"You know that after two days comes the Passover, and the Son of Man will be given over for crucifixion."  Matthew 26:2

The phrase "after two days" is somewhat meaningless because after two days can mean three or more days. The period is unspecified. The reason for such ambiguous language is because the purpose of the number two in this passage is not solely numerical. This means that the text is not intending to provide the reader with some definite information concerning a time period. Rather, the purpose of the number two in this context is one of the numerological meanings of the number two.  Often the number two relates to two divergent opinions. In the aforementioned verse, the author wants to inform the reader that there are two very different understandings for this coming Passover. Yeshua wants to emphasize that He is going up to Jerusalem in order to die as the true Passover sacrifice. Even though Yeshua states this emphatically, the disciples did not receive this. In fact, the disciples did not perceive at all what was going to take place during Passover in regard to Yeshua. In other words, Yeshua and the disciples have two divergent opinions concerning the Passover.

This same principle is also found in the Hebrew Bible (Old Covenant). In the book of Amos one reads,

"Can two walk together without them having agreed" Amos 3:3

The word which was translated into English with the phrase "them having agreed" is נועדו. The root of this word is יעד, which relates to a specific destination. The word which precedes this word is בלתי and in this context the word implies a change to the condition. In other words, had there not been a change in the condition, then the two could not walk together, i.e. they could not have arrived at the common destination.

The concept of divergent or different is also seen in the book of Genesis. In speaking about the sun and moon one reads, "And God made two great lights…" (Genesis 1:16). Obviously the sun and moon are very different, as one is a source of light, while the latter just reflects light. Also in the book of Genesis, one encounters the account of the flood. Here Noah is commanded to bring onto the ark two sorts of each type of animal. In this passage, the two relates to two different (or divergent) kinds of the same sort, i.e. male and female. 

Likewise, two angels came to Sodom, demonstrating that the people of Sodom had a very different way of living from that of the Law of God. Once again, the reader should not assume that every occurrence of the number two in the Bible demands this interpretation. However, one will find in a great majority of Biblical passages, the reader will be assisted in arriving at the proper interpretation, when he considers this divergent quality for the number two. 

Loveisrael.org - Baruch Korman, Ph.D. - All Rights Reserved - Used with Permission 2016 

men great Noun H376 אֲנָשִׁ֜ים a·na·shim
close accompanying Prepostion H5973 עִם־ im-
by Rachel's Rachel Noun H7354 רָחֵ֛ל ra·chel
sepulchre burial Noun H6900 קְבֻרַ֥ת ke·vu·rat
in the border border Noun H1366 בִּגְב֥וּל big·vul
of Benjamin Benjamin Noun H1144 בִּנְיָמִ֖ן bin·ya·min
at Zelzah Zelzah Noun H6766 בְּצֶלְצַ֑ח be·tzel·tzach;
Analysis:
Read more about: Zelzah
and they will say answer Verb H559 וְאָמְר֣וּ ve·'a·me·ru
unto thee The asses ass Noun H860 הָאֲתֹנֹות֙ ha·'a·to·no·vt
which after Particle H834 אֲשֶׁ֣ר a·sher
went along Verb H1980 הָלַ֣כְתָּ ha·lach·ta
to seek ask Verb H1245 לְבַקֵּ֔שׁ le·vak·kesh,
are found be able Verb H4672 נִמְצְא֤וּ nim·tze·'u
now behold behold Particle H2009 וְהִנֵּ֨ה ve·hin·neh
and lo thy father chief Noun H1 אָבִ֙יךָ֙ a·vi·cha
hath left cast off Verb H5203 נָטַ֤שׁ na·tash
the care act Noun H1697 דִּבְרֵ֣י div·rei
of the asses ass Noun H860 הָאֲתֹנֹ֔ות ha·'a·to·no·vt,
and sorroweth be afraid careful Verb H1672 וְדָאַ֤ג ve·da·'ag
for you saying answer Verb H559 לֵאמֹ֔ר le·mor,
What how long Pronoun H4100 מָ֥ה mah
What shall I do accomplish Verb H6213 אֶעֱשֶׂ֖ה e·'e·seh
you afflicted Noun H1121 לִבְנִֽי׃ liv·ni.

Locations

Zelzah

ZELZAHzel'-za (tseltsach; hallomenous megala): A place where Samuel told Saul he would meet two men with news that the asses were found. Its position is defined as "by Rachel's sepulchre, in the border of Benjamin" (1 Samuel 10:2). It has been thought that the place of meeting was sufficiently indicated without the word betseltsach, which is translated "at Z... View Details

People

Rachel

a wife of Jacob

Parallel Verses

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King James Bible When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?
Hebrew Greek English When thou art departed "When you go from me to day, today, then thou shalt you will find two men by close to Rachel's sepulchre tomb in the border territory of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses to you, 'The donkeys which thou wentest you went to seek are found: and, lo, thy look for have been found. Now behold, your father hath left has ceased to be concerned about the care of the asses, donkeys and sorroweth is anxious for you, saying, What "What shall I do for about my son?son?"'
New American Standard Bible 1995 When thou art departed "When you go from me to day, today, then thou shalt you will find two men by close to Rachel's sepulchre tomb in the border territory of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses to you, 'The donkeys which thou wentest you went to seek are found: and, lo, thy look for have been found. Now behold, your father hath left has ceased to be concerned about the care of the asses, donkeys and sorroweth is anxious for you, saying, What "What shall I do for about my son?son?"'