New American Standard Bible 1995

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1 Kings

21

:

10

and seat two worthless men before him, and let them testify against him, saying, 'You cursed God and the king.' Then take him out and stone him to death."

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
and seat to sit, remain, dwell Verb H3427 וְ֠הֹושִׁיבוּ ve·ho·v·shi·vu
two two (a card. number) Noun H8147 שְׁנַ֨יִם she·na·yim
Analysis:

Two: Two divergent opinions

The classic example for the number "two" is found in Matthew chapter 26. There, Yeshua says to His disciples,

"You know that after two days comes the Passover, and the Son of Man will be given over for crucifixion."  Matthew 26:2

The phrase "after two days" is somewhat meaningless because after two days can mean three or more days. The period is unspecified. The reason for such ambiguous language is because the purpose of the number two in this passage is not solely numerical. This means that the text is not intending to provide the reader with some definite information concerning a time period. Rather, the purpose of the number two in this context is one of the numerological meanings of the number two.  Often the number two relates to two divergent opinions. In the aforementioned verse, the author wants to inform the reader that there are two very different understandings for this coming Passover. Yeshua wants to emphasize that He is going up to Jerusalem in order to die as the true Passover sacrifice. Even though Yeshua states this emphatically, the disciples did not receive this. In fact, the disciples did not perceive at all what was going to take place during Passover in regard to Yeshua. In other words, Yeshua and the disciples have two divergent opinions concerning the Passover.

This same principle is also found in the Hebrew Bible (Old Covenant). In the book of Amos one reads,

"Can two walk together without them having agreed" Amos 3:3

The word which was translated into English with the phrase "them having agreed" is נועדו. The root of this word is יעד, which relates to a specific destination. The word which precedes this word is בלתי and in this context the word implies a change to the condition. In other words, had there not been a change in the condition, then the two could not walk together, i.e. they could not have arrived at the common destination.

The concept of divergent or different is also seen in the book of Genesis. In speaking about the sun and moon one reads, "And God made two great lights…" (Genesis 1:16). Obviously the sun and moon are very different, as one is a source of light, while the latter just reflects light. Also in the book of Genesis, one encounters the account of the flood. Here Noah is commanded to bring onto the ark two sorts of each type of animal. In this passage, the two relates to two different (or divergent) kinds of the same sort, i.e. male and female. 

Likewise, two angels came to Sodom, demonstrating that the people of Sodom had a very different way of living from that of the Law of God. Once again, the reader should not assume that every occurrence of the number two in the Bible demands this interpretation. However, one will find in a great majority of Biblical passages, the reader will be assisted in arriving at the proper interpretation, when he considers this divergent quality for the number two. 

Loveisrael.org - Baruch Korman, Ph.D. - All Rights Reserved - Used with Permission 2016 

worthless worthlessness Noun H1100 בְלִיַּעַל֮ ve·li·ya·'al
men man H376    
before in front of, in sight of, opposite to sub H5048 נֶגְדֹּו֒ neg·dov
him, and let them testify to bear witness Verb H5749 וִיעִדֻ֣הוּ vi·'i·du·hu
against him, saying, to utter, say Verb H559 לֵאמֹ֔ר le·mor,
You cursed to kneel, bless Verb H1288 בֵּרַ֥כְתָּ be·rach·ta
God God, god Noun H430 אֱלֹהִ֖ים e·lo·him
and the king.' king Noun H4428 וָמֶ֑לֶךְ va·me·lech;
Then take to go or come out Verb H3318 וְהֹוצִיאֻ֥הוּ ve·ho·v·tzi·'u·hu
him out and stone to stone, put to death by stoning Verb H5619 וְסִקְלֻ֖הוּ ve·sik·lu·hu
him to death." to die Verb H4191 וְיָמֹֽת׃ ve·ya·mot.

Parallel Verses

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New American Standard Bible 1995 and seat two worthless men before him, and let them testify against him, saying, 'You cursed God and the king.' Then take him out and stone him to death."
King James Bible and seat And set two worthless men men, sons of Belial, before him, and let them testify to bear witness against him, saying, 'You cursed Thou didst blaspheme God and the king.' Then take king. And then carry him out out, and stone him to death."him, that he may die.
Hebrew Greek English and seat two worthless men before him, and let them testify against him, saying, 'You cursed God and the king.' Then take him out and stone him to death."