belligerent children

[Babs]

Okay, that was misleading. This is not actually about antagonistic offspring. Rather a question about a verse discussed at my church last week.

Psalms 127:

4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

Why is the imagery here so bellocentric?

[Indy Coug]

Okay, that was misleading. This is not actually about antagonistic offspring. Rather a question about a verse discussed at my church last week.

Psalms 127:

4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

Why is the imagery here so bellocentric?

I think we need the rest of the story behind what led to Psalms 127.

[Solon]

I think we need the rest of the story behind what led to Psalms 127.

I don't know enough about it, but the first part of the Psalm refers to building a city and protecting it with Yahweh's supervision. This seems especially appropriate for Solomon, who was known for his extensive building program. I imagine the psalmist is trying to connect Yahweh's supervision over Israel to a Father's supervision over his sons. Like a warrior using his arrows, faithful and well-trained sons will protect their father's construction.

I also imagine the warrior theme resounded with the time and place.

I just feel bad for the little girls.

[Babs]

I don't know enough about it, but the first part of the Psalm refers to building a city and protecting it with Yahweh's supervision. This seems especially appropriate for Solomon, who was known for his extensive building program. I imagine the psalmist is trying to connect Yahweh's supervision over Israel to a Father's supervision over his sons. Like a warrior using his arrows, faithful and well-trained sons will protect their father's construction.

I also imagine the warrior theme resounded with the time and place.

I just feel bad for the little girls.

I looked and found a commentary that suggests the context is the destruction of and attempt to rebuild the temple. The idea is that though there was delay and difficulty in trying to rebuild the temple, to do so on human power, without waiting on the Lord, would be a futile effort.

The reference to children as defense is perhaps a suggestion that Jerusalem needed to foster a strong young generation to prevent the kind of humiliation and destruction suffered in the loss of the temple.

[Solon]

I looked and found a commentary that suggests the context is the destruction of and attempt to rebuild the temple. The idea is that though there was delay and difficulty in trying to rebuild the temple, to do so on human power, without waiting on the Lord, would be a futile effort.

The reference to children as defense is perhaps a suggestion that Jerusalem needed to foster a strong young generation to prevent the kind of humiliation and destruction suffered in the loss of the temple.

If this is right, then it's not a Solomonian psalm (say it out loud!) after all, but something from after the exile - right? Hmmm.

[clackamascoug]

Okay, that was misleading. This is not actually about antagonistic offspring. Rather a question about a verse discussed at my church last week.

Psalms 127:

4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

Why is the imagery here so bellocentric?

Here we go.. another polygamy and the fruits at the gate thread.

[Fiyero]

Not to be confused with the best OT story of all time: Elisha and the She-Bears!

[Gidget]

I looked and found a commentary that suggests the context is the destruction of and attempt to rebuild the temple. The idea is that though there was delay and difficulty in trying to rebuild the temple, to do so on human power, without waiting on the Lord, would be a futile effort.

The reference to children as defense is perhaps a suggestion that Jerusalem needed to foster a strong young generation to prevent the kind of humiliation and destruction suffered in the loss of the temple.

This is along the lines of the thinking in the "quiverfull movement." Some people that engage in this way of life have admitted as such.

http://www.quiverfull.com/

or you can wiki it.

[Babs]

This is along the lines of the thinking in the "quiverfull movement." Some people that engage in this way of life have admitted as such.

http://www.quiverfull.com/

or you can wiki it.

yeah, that showed up when I googled for commentary. Sounds, um, neat. I actually don't mind couples that choose this lifestyle for themselves so much as what they're teaching their daughters about their health. Somehow likening ortho-novum to abortion or telling girls they'll get cancer if they use condoms doesn't resonate well with me.