Difference between revisions of "Strength"

<p> <em> Chel'âh </em> ( '''''חֶלְאָה''''' , Strong'S #2458), “strength; power; wealth; property; capable; valiant; army; troops; influential; upper-class people (courtiers).” The cognates of this word have been found in Aramaic, Akkadian, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic. Biblical [[Hebrew]] attests it about 245 times and in all periods. </p> <p> First, this word signifies a faculty or “power,” the ability to effect or produce something. The word is used of physical “strength” in the sense of power that can be exerted: “If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength …” (Eccl. 10:10). [[Quite]] often this word appears in a military context. Here it is the physical strength, power, and ability to perform in battle that is in view. This idea is used of men in 1 Sam. 2:4: “The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength” (cf. Ps. 18:32, 39). Ps. 33:17 applies the word to a war horse. An interesting use of <em> chel'âh </em> appears in Num. 24:17-18, where [[Balaam]] prophesied the destruction of [[Moab]] and [[Edom]] at the hands of Israel: “And Edom shall be a possession, [[Seir]] also shall be a possession for his enemies; and lsrael shall do valiantly” (v. 18). The idea here is dynamic; something is happening. One might also render this phrase: “Israel performs mightily.” This translation of the word is somewhat inexact; a noun is translated as an adverb. </p> <p> Second, <em> chel'âh </em> 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 <em> chel'âh </em> 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 <em> chel'âh </em> in the sense of “wealth” or products of the ability of a tree to produce fruit. </p> <p> 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, <em> chel'âh </em> 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). </p> <p> 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.…” </p> <p> Fifth, <em> chel'âh </em> 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). </p>