Article January 2, 1937 Issue

Bible Notes

"Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies" (Ps. 23:5)—Moffatt suggests the rendering: "Thou art my host, spreading a feast for me, while my foes have to look on;" while Dr. Briggs records the illuminating comment: "The Psalmist is not without adversaries, but they are not dangerous. He has guest-right with Yahweh. He is safe and secure, because, in accordance with Oriental customs, the host is obliged to protect his guest from all enemies, at all costs" (Commentary on Psalms, Vol. 1, p. 210).

"When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room" (Luke 14:8; cf. verse 7)—The Greek term rendered "highest room" in verse 8, and "chief rooms" in the preceding verse, does not, of course, refer to any "room" in its familiar sense of "chamber," but describes "the chief (most honourable) reclining-place on the dining couches at a dinner-table" (Souter: Greek Lexicon, p. 223).

"They were in the way going up to Jerusalem" (Mark 10:32)—It may be recalled that Jerusalem was in a literal sense "a city that is set on an hill," and, as a result, those who would reach it from any point had perforce to go up; while, conversely, we are informed that the man in the parable who "fell among thieves" "went down from Jerusalem to Jericho" (Luke 10:30).

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