Deuteronômio 25

Deuteronômio 25

Hughes says: Over the centuries people in every society have tried to cheat others for economic gain. Deut 25:13-16 tackle the problem of dishonesty. Moses says, "You shall not have in your bag two kinds of weights, a large and a small. You shall not have in your house two kinds of measures, a large and a small. A full and fair weight you shall have, a full and fair measure you shall have . . . " (Deut 25:13-15a). Unscrupulous traders had two kinds of "weights" (literally, "stones") and "measures" (literally, "ephahs") - large ones for buying and small ones for selling. The Hebrew word (tsedeq) translated "fair" in the ESV ("honest," TNIV) for the weights and measures one should have is a common word usually translated "righteousness" or "justice." Honesty in all our business dealings is an essential feature of our walk with God and is a requirement for a right relationship with him. We sometimes meet people in the business world who testify to Gods goodness in life while continuing unethical business practices. This is a contradiction and, as we shall see, a huge insult to God. In spite of the strong prohibition of dishonest trade here and in Leviticus 19:35-37, this continued to be a problem in Israel. It is mentioned in Proverbs 11:1; 16:11 and by the prophets (Amos 8:5; Micah 6:11). The tendency to be dishonest, especially when everyone else around us is, is so strong that it can silence the voice of conscience. In many cultures with a so-called shame and honor orientation, people view being shamed as being the biggest evil that can happen to a person. So when one gives into the natural tendency to dishonesty there is no inclination to own up to it when confronted because the shame of being called a liar or a thief is viewed as a greater evil than being a liar or a thief. Parents, therefore, will defend their children to school authorities when they are accused, without determining whether or not the accusation is true. They feel they must not permit their children to be shamed. By doing this they help entrench dishonesty in their children's personalities. Related Resource: Bob Utley's Special Topic - Ancient Near East Weights and Volumes Deuteronomy 25:14 "You shall not have in your house differing measures, a large and a small. Deuteronomy 25 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries USE HONEST MEASURES You shall not have in your house differing measures, a large and a small - Here differing measures in Hebrew is "an ephah and an ephah." NET = "You must not have in your house different measuring containers, a large and a small one." NLT = "you must use full and honest measures." NET NOTE - Heb “an ephah and an ephah.” An ephah refers to a unit of dry measure roughly equivalent to five U.S. gallons (just under 20 liters). On the repetition of the term to indicate diversity, see IBHS 116 §7.2.3c (Here is that note IBHS 116 §7.2.3c = "A singular noun may be repeated syndetically to form a phrase indicating diversity"). (Deuteronomy 25) TSK on "an ephah and an ephah" - This was the cost common measure among the Israelites, by which all the others were made and adjusted. They are not only forbidden to use divers weights and measures, one large or heavy to buy with, and another small and light to sell with, but they were not even allowed to keep such in the house. It is observable also, that these too common but dishonest actions are branded as "an abomination to the Lord," equally with idolatry, and other scandalous crimes Measures - 0374. אֵיפָה ʾēyp̱āh, אֵפָה ʾephah: A feminine noun of measurement transliterated as ephah. An ephah was a dry measurement and equaled ten omers (Ex. 16:36). The ephah equaled three-fifths of a bushel or in metric measure, twenty-two liters. The omer was two quarts or about two liters. The ephah was a measure used often when preparing sacrificial offerings or foods (Lev. 5:11; 6:20[13]; Num. 5:15; 28:5; Judg. 6:19; 1 Sam. 17:17). It is especially prominent in the sacrificial practices of the new temple vision of Ezekiel (45:10, 11, 13, 24; 46:5, 7, 11, 14). Israel was to keep honest measures as a part of her righteousness. Micah observes that in her rebellious and unrighteous practices, Israel had shortened her ephah (Mic. 6:10). The business practices of God’s people were to be based on true weights and measures in the marketplace. Swanson - ephah, i.e., a dry grain measurement, variously reckoned, but usually about 22 liters of volume (Ex 16:36; Lev 5:11; 6:13; 19:36; Nu 5:15; 28:5; Dt 25:14,15; Jdg 6:19; Ru 2:17; 1Sa 1:24; 17:17; Pr 20:10; Isa 5:10; Eze 45:10–46:14 passim; Am 8:5; Mic 6:10); 2. basket, i.e., a large basket which could contain a large volume (Zec 5:6, 7, 8, 9, 10+), note: apparently in these contexts the precise standardized unit is not meant; 3. אֵיפָה וְ־ אֵיפָה (ʾê·p̄ā(h) w- ʾê·p̄ā(h)) two differing measures, fomally, ephah and ephah, i.e., a measure which is not standardized and has a weight or volume which favors one party over another (Dt 25:14; Pr 20:10+) (Dictionary of Semantic Domains - Hebrew) NIDOTTE - Understanding of biblical measures has increased greatly over the last two hundred years; yet one should still exercise much caution. The ancients themselves were probably not excessively precise in their measures as compared to modern practices. Moreover, ancient societies had various measuring norms, probably reflecting local customs (cf. the American gallon and the British imperial gallon; the land mile and the nautical mile). Indeed, caution should not only be exercised in determining the capacity or length of a measure, but also in using the mention of a particular measure in a passage to draw certain literary conclusions (e.g., the existence of a redactor or some perceived source) or to conclude other factors (e.g., the date or provenance of the passage). Ephah - bushel(1), differing measures(2), ephah(33), measure(2). Exod. 16:36; Lev. 5:11; Lev. 6:20; Lev. 19:36; Num. 5:15; Num. 28:5; Deut. 25:14; Deut. 25:15; Jdg. 6:19; Ruth 2:17; 1 Sam. 1:24; 1 Sam. 17:17; Prov. 20:10; Isa. 5:10; Ezek. 45:10; Ezek. 45:11; Ezek. 45:13; Ezek. 45:24; Ezek. 46:5; Ezek. 46:7; Ezek. 46:11; Ezek. 46:14; Amos 8:5; Mic. 6:10; Zech. 5:6; Zech. 5:7; Zech. 5:8; Zech. 5:9; Zech. 5:10 Deuteronomy 25:15 "You shall have a full and just weight; you shall have a full and just measure, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you. that thy days: De 4:40 5:16,33 6:18 11:9 17:20 Ex 20:12 Ps 34:12 Eph 6:3 1Pe 3:10 Deuteronomy 25 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY! You shall have a full and just weight; you shall have a full and just measure, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you = NET = You must have an accurate and correct stone weight and an accurate and correct measuring container, so that your life may be extended in the land the LORD your God is about to give you." NLT = "Yes, always use honest weights and measures, so that you may enjoy a long life in the land the LORD your God is giving you." Honesty is truly the best policy because it prolongs one's days. The corollary is that dishonesty generally shortens one's days (either in jail or death). THOUGHT - This passage makes me think of Bernie Madoff (April 29, 1938 – April 14, 2021) an American fraudster and financier who ran the largest Ponzi scheme in history, worth about $64.8 billion. He was at one time chairman of the NASDAQ stock exchange. He advanced the proliferation of electronic trading platforms and the concept of payment for order flow, which has been described as a "legal kickback". Yes he lived a "long" life but it was effectively "shortened" for he spent his last 12 years behind bars where he eventually died.