Paragraph 12:9–11

In this paragraph, the LORD reminded Israel that he was still their God. He reviewed how he led them in the past. Nevertheless, Israel responded with wickedness. The LORD used Gilead and Gilgal as examples of that wickedness.

12:9

This verse gives the LORD’s response to Ephraim’s boast in 12:8. He tells them what he will do as a result of the behavior that they boast about. He will make them return to living in tents.

A return to living in tents is a judgment in which the Israelites lose their homes and wealth. However, it is also a time of correction and restoration of their relationship with God. It is in the wilderness that God established his relationship with them the first time, and he will now do so again. See Hosea 2:8–20.

In Hebrew, this verse begins with a word that connects it to the previous verse. In many other places, this word is translated as “and” or “but.” For example:

But I am the Lord your God (New Century Version)

Many versions, however, leave the connection of this verse to the previous one implied. Use a natural way in your language to indicate the connection of this verse to 12:8.

12:9a

But I am the LORD your God ever since the land of Egypt: In this clause, the LORD declares who he is and what he did in Israel’s past. His words imply at least two things:

(a) The LORD is ruler over Israel.

(b) The LORD is the true source of Israel’s wealth.

In Hebrew, this clause is “I Yahweh [am/have-been] your God since/from the land of Egypt.” There are two main interpretations concerning the phrase “since/from the land of Egypt:”

(1) The phrase refers to location. It refers to the exodus from Egypt. The phrase is a shortened form of the full declaration that occurs elsewhere in the OT: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.” For example, Exod. 20:2; Deut. 5:6. With this declaration, the LORD reminds the people who their God is. He is the all-powerful God, their heavenly king, rescuer, and benefactor. For example:

But I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from slavery in Egypt (New Living Translation (2004))

(2) The phrase refers to time. It refers to the time the people lived in Egypt or the time of the exodus from Egypt. With this declaration the LORD reminds the people how long he has been their God: from the time they lived in Egypt up to that current time. For example:

Israel, I, the Lord, am still your God, just as I have been since the time you were in Egypt (Contemporary English Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). It has good support from modern versions and also from the LXX and the Peshitta. However, interpretation (2) also makes sense and is acceptable. Either interpretation can imply the other one.

12:9b

I will again make you dwell in tents, as in the days of the appointed feast: In this clause, the LORD tells what he will do in response to the behavior Ephraim boasts about in 12:8. He will make them live in tents again.

The word again indicates repetition of a past event. Here the event is when the people lived in tents following the exodus from Egypt.

There are two main interpretations of the Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as appointed feast :

(1) The Hebrew word refers to the Feast of Booths/Tabernacles. This was the feast held in autumn, in which the people celebrated the ingathering of crops. During the time of the celebration, the people lived in temporary shelters. It reminded the people of the time when their ancestors lived in tents in the wilderness, after he brought them out of Egypt. See Leviticus 23:42–43. For example:

as in the days of the appointed feast (English Standard Version)

(2) The Hebrew word refers to the Tabernacle/Tent of Meeting. The Tabernacle is the tent in which the LORD was present with the people after he brought them out of Egypt. It was also the place where they came to worship him at that time. For example:

I shall make you live in tents yet again, as in the days of the Tent of Meeting. (Revised English Bible)

Some versions imply the tent of meeting using different words. For example:

I will make you live in tents again, as you did when I came to you in the desert. (Good News Translation)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). It has the majority support of modern versions as well as from the LXX and the Peshitta. Interpretation (2), however, is also acceptable. Both interpretations refer to the time of exodus. Interpretation (1) does so indirectly, by comparing living in tents to the Feast of Booths. That Feast, in turn, reminds them of the time of the exodus. Interpretation (2) directly compares living in tents to the time of the exodus.

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