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The Literal Meaning of Prophecy

Questions on the Literal Meaning of Prophecy

1. Were Promises of becoming a great multitude literary hyperbole?
2. When and When Not is Scripture to be Taken Literally?
3. Saadia Gaon: The Literal Meaning of Scripture Must be Accepted

1. Question: Were Promises of becoming a great multitude literary hyperbole?
One of the signs claimed by "Ephraimites" concerning the Lost Ten Tribes involves the promise that descendants of Israel would be exceeding numerous. Perhaps Scripture was merely using expressions of exaggeration for large numbers of people in a relative sense? i.e. compare the following criticism of "Brit-Am Ephramite" type beliefs:
'Another major cornerstone of this teaching is that social-historical Israel, as it is traditionally perceived, cannot possibly fulfill the promises of physical multiplicity that was to equal "the sand of the sea," "the dust of the earth," or the "stars of the sky." Such a hyper-literalist reading of these phrases, which rules out their common-sense interpretation, ignores the scriptural record. For 2 Chron 1:9 states clearly that the people over whom King Solomon reigned [Israel] were "a people as numerous as the dust of the earth." Isa 10:22 also refers to the people of Israel being "as the sand of the sea" in number.'

Are these and similar expressions merely "rhetorical conventions used by the biblical writers". Is the promise of a great multitude merely Biblical hyperbole?

Answer: An Immense multitude by universal standards of Israelites was Prophesied and Literally Intended!
The protagonists are trying to say here that the promises to the Patriarchs that their seed would be "the sand of the sea," "the dust of the earth," or the "stars of the sky" could be fulfilled through the present-day Jews (whom they refer to as "social-historical Israel, as it is traditionally perceived") who number at present around 13 million which in the eyes of the Patriarchs would have been considered an immense number. 
Two verses are selected also as examples of hyperbole (exaggeration) as if to show us that other prophecies referring to the multiplicity of Israelites in the future do not have to be taken literally. Even if the verses chosen as exaggerations were pertinent it would not necessarily prove anything. First (a) we will look at the verses in question.
AFTER THAT (b) we will look below at the at the question "How Many Israelites Will There Be?", and the relevant verses that predict a great multitude. We will see that the simple meaning of the verses DOES REQUIRE an immense number of people by existing world standards. This is taking the verses on their own. When however the verses concerning multitude are taken together with other verses predicting that Israel will be the most powerful, richest, and far-reaching of all the nations of the world then the simple straightforward understanding that an immense multitude by world-wide standards is intended becomes even more obvious. The same applies concerning all other Biblical proofs used to determine the present-day identity of the Lost Tribes of Israel.

(a) Concerning the verses that were chosen to represent "hyperbole":

Solomon prayed for help from the Almighty mentioning that he ruled over a people as numerous as the "dust of the earth"
[2-Chronicles 1:8] AND SOLOMON SAID UNTO GOD, THOU HAST SHEWED GREAT MERCY UNTO DAVID MY FATHER, AND HAST MADE ME TO REIGN IN HIS STEAD.
[2-Chronicles 1:9] NOW, O LORD GOD, LET THY PROMISE UNTO DAVID MY FATHER BE ESTABLISHED: FOR THOU HAST MADE ME KING OVER A PEOPLE LIKE THE DUST OF THE EARTH IN MULTITUDE.
It may well be that the Israelites whom Solomon ruled over really did number several millions which would have been considered an enormous number at the time.

Isaiah prophesied a calamity that would come on Israel leaving only a comparatively few survivors out of the multitude that once existed:
[Isaiah 10:22] FOR THOUGH YOUR PEOPLE ISRAEL BE AS THE SAND OF THE SEA, ONLY A REMNANT OF THEM WILL RETURN. DESTRUCTION IS DECREED, OVERFLOWING WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS.
[Isaiah 10:23] FOR THE LORD, THE LORD OF HOSTS, WILL MAKE A FULL END, AS DECREED, IN THE MIDST OF ALL THE EARTH.
 [Isaiah 10:24] THEREFORE THUS SAYS THE LORD, THE LORD OF HOSTS: O MY PEOPLE, WHO DWELL IN ZION, BE NOT AFRAID OF THE ASSYRIANS WHEN THEY SMITE WITH THE ROD AND LIFT UP THEIR STAFF AGAINST YOU AS THE EGYPTIANS DID.
The Brit-Am Commentary explained these verses as saying:
BE AS THE SAND OF THE SEA they will be exceedingly numerous towards the end times.
DESTRUCTION- a great calamity may take place. Only a few may survive. Our survival or the survival of our descendants is dependent on our deeds and intentions. We should endeavor to improve ourselves and influence for good those we can.

It is true that the simple meaning of the verse in Isaiah concerns the nation of Israel prior to the depredations of Assyria that occurred by conventional reckoning ca. 730-720 BCE.
This however was the style of Isaiah who (similarly to the other prophets) took contemporary events and used them as prototypes concerning the distant future. See our note on Protypical Prophecy. Scripture itself suggests this explanation and it is consistent with the view of the Rabbinical Sages.

(b) In Regards to other verses of Scripture about an immense multitude, the intention was that these verses should be taken literally!

See the question How Many Israelites Will There Be?



2. When and When Not is Scripture to be Taken Literally?

Extract from:
Handbook of Jewish Thought
by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, Israel 1979, p.145

Quote:
7:74 The Torah must be studied as a whole, since one ambiguous passage may be clarified by another.178
One must be careful to take an overall view, and not interpret any scripture out of context.179
7:75 There are times when the Torah speaks in allegory and metaphor.180

 There are four conditions under which there is a tradition that the Torah is not to be taken according to its literal meaning:181
1.  Where the plain meaning is rejected by common experience.
2. Where it is repudiated by obvious logic.182
3.Where it is contradicted by obvious scripture.
4. Where it is opposed by clear Talmudic tradition.183
 
7:76 Where none of these conditions hold, the scripture must be taken literally, and not rejected on the basis of mere prejudice.184 In such a case, even when a passage is also interpreted allegorically, the literal meaning must still be retained.185

Sources:
178.    BaMidbar Rabbah 19:17; Tanchuma, Chukath 23. Cf. Yerushalmi, Rosh HaShanah 3:5 (17a); Tosafoth, Kerithoth 14a, s.v. Elah; Sedey Chemed, P'ath HaSadeh, Dalet 24 (2:134).
179.    Rambam, Iggereth Teimon (in Iggereth HaRambam), p. 19. Cf. Berakhoth 10a; Rashi ad loc. s.v. Shapil.
180.    Moreh Nevukhim, Introduction, from Hosea 12:11.
181.    Emunoth VeDeyoth 7:2 (83a).
182.    As in the cases of anthropomorphisms; Moreh Nevukhim 2:25. See above, 2:23.
183.    Cf. Minchath Chinukh 232:4; and Zohar 3:85a; Minchath Pittim, Orach Chaim 156; Makor Chesed on Sefer Chasidim 673:1.
184.    Emunoth VeDeyoth 7:2.
185.    Shabbath 63a; Yevamoth iib, 24a; Teshuvoth Rashbam 415; Rashbam to Genesis 1:1, Ramban on Sefer HaMitzvoth, Shoresh 2 (19b); Maharatz Chajas, Shabbath 63a, Megillah 13a, Yevamoth 79a; HaMikra VeHaMesorah 16. It is for this reason that the Torah is called a "witness;" lkkarim 3:21.




3. Saadia Gaon: The Literal Meaning of Scripture Must be Accepted
Saadiah ben Yosef Gaon (b. Egypt 882/892, d. Baghdad 942)
Translated by Yair Davidiy


We, all the Children of Israel, believe that everything in the Prophets has the literal meaning of the written words.
There may be exceptions if the apparent simple meaning fits one of four categories:
1. It contradicts common experience as in the case of Eve who was described as the Mother of all Living Creatures (Genesis 3:20).
2. It contradicts common sense as when God is described as a Devouring Fire (Deuteronomy 4:24).
3. It contradicts another part of Scripture, as when Malachi (3:10) tells us to test God whereas we have already been told (Deuteronomy 6:17) not to test the LORD your God.
4.It contradicts what our forerunners [the Sages] received as where it says FORTY STRIPES HE MAY GIVE HIM, AND NOT EXCEED [Deuteronomy 25:3] and our Sages said that no more than 39 stripes may be administered.

 
The way to resolve all these [apparent contradictions] is to seek a linguistic parallel where the words are used in such a way as to accord with how we interpret them and not contradict it.
 
The mother of all living creatures [concerning Eve, Genesis 3:20] may also be understood to mean the mother of all human beings.
 
FOR THE LORD THY GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE [Deuteronomy 4:24] is a simile and approximation since HIS punishments are like a consuming fire that burns quickly as its says, FOR A FIRE IS KINDLED IN MINE ANGER [Deuteronomy 32:22].

 
So too, we find it says,
PROVE ME NOW HEREWITH [Malachi 3:10] after having already said,
YE SHALL NOT TEMPT [Hebrew: "
tinasu" i.e. test] THE LORD YOUR GOD [Deuteronomy 6:16].
The solution is that a proving-test may have two applications:
One is to test whether the Creator can do something or not. This is forbidden as it says AND THEY TEMPTED GOD IN THEIR HEART BY ASKING MEAT FOR THEIR LUST. YEA, THEY
SPAKE AGAINST GOD; THEY SAID, CAN GOD FURNISH A TABLE IN THE   WILDERNESS? [Psalms 78:18-19].


The second way of testing involves the situation of the individual in the eyes of the Creator as to whether he has an elevated status or not. The testee already admits that God can do the thing. This is permitted, as we find with Gideon:
                    
[Judges 6:36] AND GIDEON SAID UNTO GOD, IF THOU WILT SAVE ISRAEL BY MINE HAND, AS THOU HAST SAID,
 
[Judges 6:37] BEHOLD, I WILL PUT A FLEECE OF WOOL IN THE FLOOR; AND IF THE DEW BE ON THE
FLEECE ONLY, AND IT BE DRY UPON ALL THE EARTH BESIDE, THEN SHALL I KNOW THAT THOU WILT SAVE ISRAEL BY MINE  HAND, AS THOU HAST SAID.
 
This test [of the Almighty by Gideon] is in the same category as  PROVE ME NOW HEREWITH [Malachi 3:10].

 
We find that FORTY STRIPES HE MAY GIVE HIM, AND NOT EXCEED [Deuteronomy 25:3] is interpreted by our Rabbis  to mean thirty-nine. [The number forty may be considered] to be a rounding-off of 39 just as the forty years of wandering in the Wilderness was actually only 39 rounded off to forty as it says,
AFTER THE NUMBER OF THE DAYS IN WHICH YE SEARCHED THE LAND, EVEN FORTY  DAYS, EACH DAY FOR A YEAR, SHALL YE BEAR YOUR INIQUITIES, EVEN FORTY
YEARS? [Numbers 14:34]. In this case the first year had already passed by without them bearing the punishment.
 
In like manner [we seek] similar resolutions to apparent difficulties whenever we come across one of the four contradictions mentioned above.

 
Source: Ha-Emunot ve-HaDaot, HaMamar HaShevii, Techiat Ha-Maytim,
Lewin-Epstein edition p.109

Verses:            
 [Numbers 14:34] AFTER THE NUMBER OF THE DAYS IN WHICH YE SEARCHED THE LAND, EVEN FORTY  DAYS, EACH DAY FOR A YEAR, SHALL YE BEAR YOUR INIQUITIES, EVEN FORTY YEARS, AND YE SHALL  KNOW MY BREACH OF PROMISE.                     
 
[Deuteronomy 4:24] FOR THE LORD THY GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE, EVEN A JEALOUS GOD.
 
[Deuteronomy 6:15] (FOR THE LORD THY GOD IS A JEALOUS GOD AMONG YOU) LEST THE ANGER OF THE LORD  THY GOD BE KINDLED AGAINST THEE, AND DESTROY THEE FROM OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH.              
 
[Malachi 3:10] BRING YE ALL THE TITHES INTO THE STOREHOUSE, THAT THERE MAY BE MEAT IN MINE HOUSE, AND PROVE ME NOW HEREWITH, SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS, IF I WILL NOT OPEN YOU THE WINDOWS OF HEAVEN, AND POUR YOU OUT A BLESSING, THAT THERE SHALL NOT BE ROOM ENOUGH TO RECEIVE IT.                     
 
[Deuteronomy 6:16] YE SHALL NOT TEMPT THE LORD YOUR GOD, AS YE TEMPTED HIM IN MASSAH.


See Also:
Prophecy


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