(ט) יָפֶ֣ה עֲשִׂיתִ֔יו בְּרֹ֖ב דָּלִיּוֹתָ֑יו וַיְקַנְאֻ֙הוּ֙ כׇּל־עֲצֵי־עֵ֔דֶן אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּגַ֥ן הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ {פ}
(י) לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה יַ֕עַן אֲשֶׁ֥ר גָּבַ֖הְתָּ בְּקוֹמָ֑ה וַיִּתֵּ֤ן צַמַּרְתּוֹ֙ אֶל־בֵּ֣ין עֲבוֹתִ֔ים וְרָ֥ם לְבָב֖וֹ בְּגׇבְהֽוֹ׃ (יא) וְאֶ֨תְּנֵ֔הוּ בְּיַ֖ד אֵ֣יל גּוֹיִ֑ם עָשׂ֤וֹ יַֽעֲשֶׂה֙ ל֔וֹ כְּרִשְׁע֖וֹ גֵּרַשְׁתִּֽהוּ׃
(י) לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה יַ֕עַן אֲשֶׁ֥ר גָּבַ֖הְתָּ בְּקוֹמָ֑ה וַיִּתֵּ֤ן צַמַּרְתּוֹ֙ אֶל־בֵּ֣ין עֲבוֹתִ֔ים וְרָ֥ם לְבָב֖וֹ בְּגׇבְהֽוֹ׃ (יא) וְאֶ֨תְּנֵ֔הוּ בְּיַ֖ד אֵ֣יל גּוֹיִ֑ם עָשׂ֤וֹ יַֽעֲשֶׂה֙ ל֔וֹ כְּרִשְׁע֖וֹ גֵּרַשְׁתִּֽהוּ׃
(9) I made it beautiful
In the profusion of its branches;
And all the trees of Eden envied it
In the garden of God.
(10) Assuredly, thus said the Sovereign GOD: Because itdit Heb. “you.” towered high in stature, and thrust its top up among the leafy trees,eleafy trees Meaning of Heb. uncertain. and it was arrogant in its height, (11) I delivered it into the hands of the mightiest of nations. They treated it as befitted its wickedness. I banished it.
In the profusion of its branches;
And all the trees of Eden envied it
In the garden of God.
(10) Assuredly, thus said the Sovereign GOD: Because itdit Heb. “you.” towered high in stature, and thrust its top up among the leafy trees,eleafy trees Meaning of Heb. uncertain. and it was arrogant in its height, (11) I delivered it into the hands of the mightiest of nations. They treated it as befitted its wickedness. I banished it.
Questions:
- Consider verses 9–11. What was behavior is under scrutiny in these verses?
- Recall The Utopian Illusion by Vincent Calabrese. Are there appropriate vs. inappropriate ways to strive for utopia?
- Within the tree metaphor, is the absolute height or relative height of the cedar more problematic? Can a tall tree be "humble"? How? What leads to "humility"?