diff --git a/est/01/intro.md b/est/01/intro.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..056608d --- /dev/null +++ b/est/01/intro.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +# Esther 01 General Notes + +### Special concepts in this chapter + +#### The king's divorce + +The king's advisers were afraid that husbands would lose their authority when they heard the queen had refused to come to show her beauty to the king's guests; so the advisers told him to divorce her. + +## Links: + +* __[Esther 01:01 Notes](./01.md)__ +* __[Esther intro](../front/intro.md)| [>>](../02/intro.md)__ + diff --git a/est/02/intro.md b/est/02/intro.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b807cb6 --- /dev/null +++ b/est/02/intro.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +# Esther 02 General Notes + +### Special concepts in this chapter + +#### Esther becomes queen + +Esther was humble and took the advice of the royal officials about how to dress for her time with the king. The king chose Esther to be the new queen. + +#### Mordecai warns the king against a plot + +Esther's cousin, Mordecai, discovered that two men planned to kill the king. He told Esther, who then told the king. She also gave Mordecai credit for telling her. + +## Links: + +* __[Esther 02:01 Notes](./01.md)__ + +__[<<](../01/intro.md) | [>>](../03/intro.md)__ + diff --git a/est/03/intro.md b/est/03/intro.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a4ea8c0 --- /dev/null +++ b/est/03/intro.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +# Esther 03 General Notes + +### Special concepts in this chapter + +#### Haman plots against the Jews + +Mordecai considered prostrating himself before Haman. This would be considered to be worship. It was wrong to worship someone other than Yahweh. Because of this, he refused to do it on religious grounds. This made Haman angry so he decided to kill all the Jews in the Persian Empire. + +## Links: + +* __[Esther 03:01 Notes](./01.md)__ + +__[<<](../02/intro.md) | [>>](../04/intro.md)__ + diff --git a/est/04/intro.md b/est/04/intro.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..33a8f24 --- /dev/null +++ b/est/04/intro.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +# Esther 04 General Notes + +### Special concepts in this chapter + +#### Mordecai warns Esther to act + +Mordecai tells Esther she must beg the king for the Jews' lives, even if she risks her own death. + +### Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter + +#### Implicit information + +There is implicit information translators may not understand. "Who knows whether you have come to this royal position for such a time as this?" This means "maybe God made you the queen so you could save the Jews." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit]]) + +## Links: + +* __[Esther 04:01 Notes](./01.md)__ + +__[<<](../03/intro.md) | [>>](../05/intro.md)__ + diff --git a/est/05/intro.md b/est/05/intro.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9420607 --- /dev/null +++ b/est/05/intro.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +# Esther 05 General Notes + +### Structure and formatting + +This chapter begins a section about Haman's fall (Chapters 5-7). + +### Special concepts in this chapter + +#### Esther's respect +Esther approached the king with the utmost of respect. By doing this, her character became respected by the king. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit]]) + +## Links: + +* __[Esther 05:01 Notes](./01.md)__ + +__[<<](../04/intro.md) | [>>](../06/intro.md)__ + diff --git a/est/06/intro.md b/est/06/intro.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..be8dbee --- /dev/null +++ b/est/06/intro.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +# Esther 06 General Notes + +### Structure and formatting + +This chapter continues the story of Haman's fall. + +### Special concepts in this chapter + +#### Approaching the king +It was not possible for a person to easily approach the king. Normally, access to him was very limited. There are several events in this chapter which show the layers of protection surrounding the king. + +## Links: + +* __[Esther 06:01 Notes](./01.md)__ + +__[<<](../05/intro.md) | [>>](../07/intro.md)__ + diff --git a/est/07/intro.md b/est/07/intro.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e5e6245 --- /dev/null +++ b/est/07/intro.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +# Esther 07 General Notes + +### Structure and formatting + +The story of Haman's fall concludes in this chapter. + +### Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter + +#### Covering Haman's face + +When "the servants covered Haman's face," they were showing that he had been condemned to be executed. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/condemn]]) + +## Links: + +* __[Esther 07:01 Notes](./01.md)__ + +__[<<](../06/intro.md) | [>>](../08/intro.md)__ + diff --git a/est/08/intro.md b/est/08/intro.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..225a0b7 --- /dev/null +++ b/est/08/intro.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +# Esther 08 General Notes + +### Special concepts in this chapter + +#### God's protection +Yahweh is at work in this chapter preventing the Jews from possible destruction. God used Esther and Mordecai to protect their people. + +## Links: + +* __[Esther 08:01 Notes](./01.md)__ + +__[<<](../07/intro.md) | [>>](../09/intro.md)__ + diff --git a/est/09/intro.md b/est/09/intro.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..59c12eb --- /dev/null +++ b/est/09/intro.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +# Esther 09 General Notes + +### Special concepts in this chapter + +#### Purim +The events of this chapter were so significant, the Jews celebrated these events every year after this. It is known as "Purim." + +### Important figures of speech in this chapter + +#### Ironic Situation +The day that was supposed to bring great victory to the enemies of the Jews became a day of great victory for the Jews. This is a type of irony. + +## Links: + +* __[Esther 09:01 Notes](./01.md)__ + +__[<<](../08/intro.md) | [>>](../10/intro.md)__ + diff --git a/est/10/intro.md b/est/10/intro.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..eaa432d --- /dev/null +++ b/est/10/intro.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +# Esther 10 General Notes + +### Special concepts in this chapter + +#### Mordecai's new position + +Through the power of Yahweh, Mordecai was given a new position in the Persian Empire. Mordecai was now the second in command in the kingdom of Persia and he used his position to help other Jews. + +## Links: + +* __[Esther 10:01 Notes](./01.md)__ + +__[<<](../09/intro.md) | __ + diff --git a/est/front/intro.md b/est/front/intro.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bafd363 --- /dev/null +++ b/est/front/intro.md @@ -0,0 +1,47 @@ +# Introduction to Esther + +## Part 1: General Introduction + +### Outline of Esther + +1. King Ahasuerus sends away his wife, the queen (1:1–22) +1. Ahasuerus chooses Esther as the new queen (2:1–23) +1. Haman plots to destroy the Jews (3:1–15) +1. Mordecai asks Esther to help her people (4:1–17) +1. Esther pleads with the king for the Jews (5:1–7:10) +1. The result of Haman's plot to destroy the Jews (8:1–9:16) +1. The Feast of Purim (9:17–32) +1. Conclusion (10:1–3) + +### What is the Book of Esther about? + +The Book of Esther tells how a young Jewish woman named Esther became the queen of Persia. As queen, she worked to save all the Jews in the Persian Empire from being destroyed. + +This book ends by telling why the Jews celebrate the festival of Purim. The name "Purim" comes from the word "pur." It means "lots" or "dice." Haman, the enemy of Jews, threw dice to choose when to attack and destroy the Jews. The Jews celebrate Purim to remember how Yahweh rescued his people from being destroyed. + +### How should the title of this book be translated? + +Translators can use the traditional title of this book, which is "The Book of Esther" or just "Esther." Or they can choose a clearer title, such as "The Book About Esther." + +## Part 2: Important Religious and Cultural Concepts + +### What was the Persian Empire? + +King Cyrus the Great conquered and ruled over many kingdoms. This was in the part of the world called Persia, which is now Iran. So people named his kingdom the Persian Empire. When Cyrus conquered Babylonia in 539 B.C., he then controlled the Jews whom the Babylonians had exiled. + +### Why were there Jews in Babylonia when the Persians conquered it? + +In 586 B.C., the Babylonians conquered and took into exile the people of Judah. These Jews and their descendants were still in Babylon when the Persians conquered it. + +### What was meant by "the laws of the Medes and Persians"? + +The phrase "the laws of the Medes and Persians" is found in Esther 1:19 and Daniel 6:12. It referred to laws and decrees that could not be changed or removed once they were issued. In the book of Esther, the king made a decree that the people could attack the Jews. Later he regretted that decision but he was not able to change the decree. + +The term "Medes" refers to a people group that had formed its own nation, but the Persians conquered them. + +## Part 3: Important Translation Issues + +### What different levels of language are in the Book of Esther? + +In the Book of Esther, people talk to each other in many different situations. There is the polite and stately talk in the Persian court and the words of royal decrees. Friends and close relatives also talk to each other. There are even the words that one uses in speaking to oneself. Translators should use all the ways their own language has to express these different situations in a way that their readers will identify and understand. + diff --git a/neh/01/intro.md b/neh/01/intro.md deleted file mode 100644 index e66978f..0000000 --- a/neh/01/intro.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,27 +0,0 @@ -# Nehemiah 01 General Notes - -### Structure and formatting - -#### "The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah:" -This phrase serves as an introduction to this entire book. - -### Special concepts in this chapter - -#### Repentance -This chapter is a single long record of Nehemiah's repentance on behalf of the people. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/repent]]) - -### Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter - -#### I -While the author of this book is probably Ezra, the word "I" always refers to Nehemiah. - -#### Israel -It is uncertain to whom "Israel" refers. It probably does not refer to the northern kingdom of Israel. Neither does it likely refer to the twelve tribes of Israel. Instead, it is probably a reference to Israel in the sense of the surviving people group. At Nehemiah's time, this people group exclusively comprised the tribe of Judah because the other tribes had already been scattered throughout the entire Near East, where they lost their identity, for the most part. - -## Links: - -* __[Nehemiah 01:01 Notes](./01.md)__ -* __[Nehemiah intro](../front/intro.md)__ - -__| [>>](../02/intro.md)__ - diff --git a/neh/02/intro.md b/neh/02/intro.md deleted file mode 100644 index 3552518..0000000 --- a/neh/02/intro.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,23 +0,0 @@ -# Nehemiah 02 General Notes - -### Structure and formatting - -This chapter begins the account of the construction of the wall. Many scholars believe these chapters teach valuable lessons on leadership ([Nehemiah 2-6](./01.md)). - -#### Special concepts in this chapter - -#### Nehemiah's character -Apparently, Nehemiah's character made an impression on the king. It was very unusual for a king to be so concerned with one of his servants. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit]]) - -#### Cultural Customs -In ancient Persia, they thought it was important for their conquered peoples to practice their own cultural customs. It was thought that this independence promoted peace in their vast kingdom. The rebuilding of Jerusalem may have been seen as a way to allow for the Jewish cultural practices. - -#### Yahweh's control -Yahweh is seen as very powerful. He is able to provide for his people, even through a foreign king. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/peopleofgod]]) - -## Links: - -* __[Nehemiah 02:01 Notes](./01.md)__ - -__[<<](../01/intro.md) | [>>](../03/intro.md)__ - diff --git a/neh/03/intro.md b/neh/03/intro.md deleted file mode 100644 index 02f628d..0000000 --- a/neh/03/intro.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,16 +0,0 @@ -# Nehemiah 03 General Notes - -### Special concepts in this chapter - -#### Priests -The priests worked on rebuilding the city. Normally, the priests were exempt from this type of work. Because they helped, it emphasizes that this is a holy work and something done for Yahweh. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/priest]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/holy]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit]]) - -#### Cooperation -Everyone worked on this project. Many names are mentioned to emphasize the cooperation between the different families. Each was given a section of the wall to rebuild. - -## Links: - -* __[Nehemiah 03:01 Notes](./01.md)__ - -__[<<](../02/intro.md) | [>>](../04/intro.md)__ - diff --git a/neh/04/intro.md b/neh/04/intro.md deleted file mode 100644 index 818d583..0000000 --- a/neh/04/intro.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,19 +0,0 @@ -# Nehemiah 04 General Notes - -### Special concepts in this chapter - -#### Dedication -The people were so dedicated to rebuilding the walls that they worked with their weapons ready for battle right next to them. Even when they were threatened with an attack, they continued to trust in Yahweh. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/trust]]) - -### Important figures of speech in this chapter - -#### Rhetorical Questions - -Sanballat uses a series of rhetorical questions. These are intended to show his intense anger against the Israelites. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion]]) - -## Links: - -* __[Nehemiah 04:01 Notes](./01.md)__ - -__[<<](../03/intro.md) | [>>](../05/intro.md)__ - diff --git a/neh/05/intro.md b/neh/05/intro.md deleted file mode 100644 index 33437db..0000000 --- a/neh/05/intro.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,17 +0,0 @@ -# Nehemiah 05 General Notes - -### Special concepts in this chapter - -#### Equality - -The rich made money from the poor. The rich oppressed the poor by charging interest on loans. Because Nehemiah wanted to treat everyone fairly, he did not collect any taxes from them. This chapter also emphasizes that it was wrong to enslave a fellow Jew. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/oppress]]) - -#### Governor -Nehemiah was a governmental leader in Jerusalem, but he was not a king. Jerusalem had a great deal of independence, but it was under the authority of the Persian king. The term "governor" reflects this idea, but a different term may be used in translation. - -## Links: - -* __[Nehemiah 05:01 Notes](./01.md)__ - -__[<<](../04/intro.md) | [>>](../06/intro.md)__ - diff --git a/neh/06/intro.md b/neh/06/intro.md deleted file mode 100644 index 8f19be6..0000000 --- a/neh/06/intro.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,20 +0,0 @@ -# Nehemiah 06 General Notes - -### Structure and formatting - -The building of the wall is completed in this chapter. - -The ULB sets the lines in 6:6-7 farther to the right on the page than the rest of the text because they are part of a long quotation. - -### Special concepts in this chapter - -#### Miracle - -Completing this city wall in only fifty-two days was considered proof that God had helped the Jews, especially given the opposition that they had experienced from the people in surrounding areas. - -## Links: - -* __[Nehemiah 06:01 Notes](./01.md)__ - -__[<<](../05/intro.md) | [>>](../07/intro.md)__ - diff --git a/neh/07/intro.md b/neh/07/intro.md deleted file mode 100644 index 78786e5..0000000 --- a/neh/07/intro.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,17 +0,0 @@ -# Nehemiah 07 General Notes - -### Special concepts in this chapter - -#### Genealogy - -The people who returned from Persia were counted according to their families. Nehemiah ensured that those who lived in Jerusalem had a completely Jewish ancestry. - -#### Different lists -This list is paralleled in [Ezra 2](../../ezr/02/01.md). The lists do contain some differences in numbers. This is probably due to the timing of their counting. They were likely counted at different times. - -## Links: - -* __[Nehemiah 07:01 Notes](./01.md)__ - -__[<<](../06/intro.md) | [>>](../08/intro.md)__ - diff --git a/neh/08/intro.md b/neh/08/intro.md deleted file mode 100644 index 959ddb5..0000000 --- a/neh/08/intro.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,18 +0,0 @@ -# Nehemiah 08 General Notes - -### Special concepts in this chapter - -#### Reading of the law - -During the exile, the Hebrew language was no longer spoken. Only the priests and Levites still understood it. Ezra read the book of the law to the people in Hebrew and the Levites walked among the crowd translating it into Aramaic for the people to understand. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/priest]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/lawofmoses]]) - -#### Festival of Shelters - -After they heard Ezra read the law of Moses, the people obeyed it by making temporary shelters for themselves with tree branches. They did this to remember that their ancestors slept in shelters when they came out of slavery in Egypt. - -## Links: - -* __[Nehemiah 08:01 Notes](./01.md)__ - -__[<<](../07/intro.md) | [>>](../09/intro.md)__ - diff --git a/neh/09/intro.md b/neh/09/intro.md deleted file mode 100644 index 9edff4c..0000000 --- a/neh/09/intro.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,24 +0,0 @@ -# Nehemiah 09 General Notes - -### Structure and formatting - -This chapter and the next one form a single section. - -### Special concepts in this chapter - -#### Prayer to God - -The people prayed and thanked God for his care for them and the blessings he gave to them. They also confessed their sin of disobeying him. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/bless]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/confess]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/sin]]) - -#### Learning from their ancestor's mistakes -This chapter teaches that the Jews learned from the mistakes of their ancestors. They became determined to worship Yahweh alone, to not intermarry with other peoples, and to worship Yahweh as the law of Moses instructed them. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/lawofmoses]]) - -#### Recalling the great power of God -It was common to recall the great things God did for Israel. This is a reminder to Israel of God's power. It is intended to bring the people to repentance and proper worship of Yahweh. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/repent]]) - -## Links: - -* __[Nehemiah 09:01 Notes](./01.md)__ - -__[<<](../08/intro.md) | [>>](../10/intro.md)__ - diff --git a/neh/10/intro.md b/neh/10/intro.md deleted file mode 100644 index 8fc9db4..0000000 --- a/neh/10/intro.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,18 +0,0 @@ -# Nehemiah 10 General Notes - -### Structure and formatting - -This chapter concludes the passage beginning in chapter 9. - -### Special concepts in this chapter - -#### The vow - -By signing this document, the people vowed or agreed to obey God, not to buy things on the Sabbath and to pay their temple tax. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/vow]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/sabbath]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/temple]]) - -## Links: - -* __[Nehemiah 10:01 Notes](./01.md)__ - -__[<<](../09/intro.md) | [>>](../11/intro.md)__ - diff --git a/neh/11/intro.md b/neh/11/intro.md deleted file mode 100644 index bb2cbce..0000000 --- a/neh/11/intro.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,14 +0,0 @@ -# Nehemiah 11 General Notes - -### Special concepts in this chapter - -#### The places where the Jews lived - -Some people lived in Jerusalem, but most people lived in villages and towns away from Jerusalem. They lived there in order to farm the land raise their animals. The city with its walls was there to provide all of the people with protection if enemies attacked them. - -## Links: - -* __[Nehemiah 11:01 Notes](./01.md)__ - -__[<<](../10/intro.md) | [>>](../12/intro.md)__ - diff --git a/neh/12/intro.md b/neh/12/intro.md deleted file mode 100644 index f265e18..0000000 --- a/neh/12/intro.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,14 +0,0 @@ -# Nehemiah 12 General Notes - -### Special concepts in this chapter - -#### Dedication of the wall - -In the ancient Near East, it was common to dedicate an important structure to a god. When it was completed, the wall was dedicated to Yahweh. Long lists of people are present, indicating that "everyone" was present for this and praised Yahweh. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/falsegod]]) - -## Links: - -* __[Nehemiah 12:01 Notes](./01.md)__ - -__[<<](../11/intro.md) | [>>](../13/intro.md)__ - diff --git a/neh/13/intro.md b/neh/13/intro.md deleted file mode 100644 index 5a58d89..0000000 --- a/neh/13/intro.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,14 +0,0 @@ -# Nehemiah 13 General Notes - -### Special concepts in this chapter - -#### Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem - -Nehemiah was eager to make sure that the Jews kept their promise to obey the law. When he returned from Persia, he found many things wrong: one of the store rooms in the temple had been converted into a guest room for Tobiah, the Levites had not received their portions for working in the temple, people were working on the Sabbath, and many had married heathen wives. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/promise]], [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/lawofmoses]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/temple]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/sabbath]]) - -## Links: - -* __[Nehemiah 13:01 Notes](./01.md)__ - -__[<<](../12/intro.md) | __ - diff --git a/neh/front/intro.md b/neh/front/intro.md deleted file mode 100644 index 5a18900..0000000 --- a/neh/front/intro.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,45 +0,0 @@ -# Introduction to Nehemiah - -## Part 1: General Introduction - -### Outline of Nehemiah - -1. Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem and inspects the walls (1:1-2:20) -1. The people rebuild the walls of Jerusalem (3:1-4:23) -1. Nehemiah helps the poor and provides an unselfish example (5:1–19) -1. Enemies try to slow down the work, but the people finish the walls (6:1–19) -1. Nehemiah lists the people who returned from exile (7:6–73) -1. Ezra reads the Law of Yahweh and the people respond (8:1-10:39) -1. Nehemiah lists the people who lived in and around Jerusalem (11:1–36) -1. Nehemiah lists the priests and Levites (12:1–26) -1. The people dedicate the walls of Jerusalem (12:27–47) -1. Nehemiah corrects problems (13:1–31) - -### What is the Book of Nehemiah about? - -A Jew named Nehemiah lived in Persia and worked for King Artaxerxes. Nehemiah received a report that the walls around Jerusalem were broken down. Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem to help rebuild the city walls. The walls around the city helped protect the city against armies and invaders. - -### How should the title of this book be translated? - -The Book of Nehemiah is named for a Jewish leader named Nehemiah. Translators can use the traditional title "Nehemiah." Or they may choose a clearer title, such as "The Book about Nehemiah." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names]]) - -## Part 2: Important Religious and Cultural Concepts - -### Why were Israelites not allowed to marry people from other nations? - -Foreigners worshiped many false gods. Yahweh did not allow his people to marry foreigners. He knew this would cause the people of Israel to worship false gods. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/falsegod]]) - -### Did all of the people of Israel return to their homeland? - -Many of the Jews remained in Babylon instead of returning to the Promised Land. Many of them were successful in Babylon and desired to remain there. However, this meant that they were unable to worship Yahweh in Jerusalem as their ancestors had done. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/promisedland]]) - -## Part 3: Important Translation Issues - -### How does the Book of Nehemiah use the term "Israel"? - -The Book of Nehemiah uses the term "Israel" to refer to the kingdom of Judah. It was mostly made up of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. The other ten tribes had ended their loyalty to any kings descended from David. God allowed the Assyrians to conquer the other ten tribes and take them into exile. As a result, they mixed with other people groups and did not return to the land of Israel. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/israel]]) - -### Are the events in the Book of Nehemiah told in the order that they actually happened? - -Some of the events in the Book of Nehemiah are not told in the order they actually happened. Translators should pay attention to notes that signal when events are probably out of order. -