Numbers 27:2

Authorized King James Version

And they stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַֽתַּעֲמֹ֜דְנָה
And they stood
to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
#2
וְלִפְנֵ֥י
and before
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
#3
מֹשֶׁ֗ה
Moses
mosheh, the israelite lawgiver
#4
וְלִפְנֵ֥י
and before
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
#5
אֶלְעָזָ֣ר
Eleazar
elazar, the name of seven israelites
#6
הַכֹּהֵ֔ן
the priest
literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)
#7
וְלִפְנֵ֥י
and before
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
#8
הַנְּשִׂיאִ֖ם
the princes
properly, an exalted one, i.e., a king or sheik; also a rising mist
#9
וְכָל
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
#10
הָֽעֵדָ֑ה
and all the congregation
a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd)
#11
פֶּ֥תַח
by the door
an opening (literally), i.e., door (gate) or entrance way
#12
אֹֽהֶל
of the tabernacle
a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance)
#13
מוֹעֵ֖ד
of the congregation
properly, an appointment, i.e., a fixed time or season; specifically, a festival; conventionally a year; by implication, an assembly (as convened for
#14
לֵאמֹֽר׃
saying
to say (used with great latitude)

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Numbers Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine revelation in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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