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In a few earlier posts, I've hinted at the idea that the temple should be conceived of as feminine, a bride-house in which Yahweh the husband dwells. A curious turn of phrase in 1 Kings 9 fits with that idea. After the dedication of Solomon's temple, Yahweh appears to him in a dream, warning Solomon of dire consequences for Israel and the temple if he turns away from Yahweh toward idols. 9:7, part of the warning, is arranged in a somewhat chiastic fashion:
A. I will cut off
B. Israel
C. from the land which I gave them
B'. And the house
C'. which I consecrated for My name
A'. I will send out from before My face.
The connection between B and B' is not unexpected; the house represents Israel. What is unexpected is the verb used with "house": not "destroy" or "demolish" (though that is implied in v 8), but "send out." The verb SHALACH that is used here is used in Gen 3:23 to describe Yahweh driving Adam and Eve from the garden, and also of a husband divorcing his wife (Deut 22:19, 29; Is 50:1). By expelling the "house" from before His face, Yahweh is threatening Israel with divorce, threatening to drive the bride-house from the garden land where He had placed her.
posted by Peter J. Leithart on Saturday, October 09, 2004 at 10:52 AM
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1 & 2 Kings
Brazos Theological Commentary
The Promise Of His Appearing: An Exposition Of Second Peter
A Great Mystery: Fourteen Wedding Sermons
Deep Comedy: Trinity, Tragedy, And Hope In Western Literature
Miniatures & Morals: The Christian Novels of Jane Austen
The Priesthood of the Plebs: A Theology of Baptism
A Son To Me: An Exposition of 1 & 2 Samuel
From Silence to Song: The Davidic Liturgical Revolution
Ascent to Love: A Guide to Dante's Divine Comedy
Blessed Are the Hungry: Meditations on the Lord's Supper
A House For My Name: A Survey of the Old Testament
Heroes of the City of Man: A Christian Guide to Select Ancient Literature
Brightest Heaven of Invention: A Christian Guide To Six Shakespeare Plays
Wise Words: Family Stories That Bring the Proverbs to Life
The Kingdom and the Power: Rediscovering the Centrality of the Church
