Bible scholars have discovered the phrase, "this day," and it denotes a covenant-making day.
Five-fold Ancient Covenants
When Jacob enters into a covenant with his father-in-law, Laban, all five components of an ancient Hebrew covenant are manifested in Genesis, chapter 31. The five parts are:
1. Historical background
2. Covenant extended by the party with more power
3. Witnesses
4. Terms and conditions
5. Ceremony to make the covenant binding
Covenant Between Jacob and Laban
After Jacob recites the history of his employment, Laban extends the covenant to Jacob. Laban has to be the one to do this because he has the goods and daughters for marriage. The scripture states,
"And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that thou seest is mine: and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born?
"Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee" (Genesis 31:43-44).
Notice the connection between the leitwort, "this day," and covenant-making. Then, a heap of stones is constructed and named "the heap of witness" in both Aramaic and Hebrew. Often, the presence of witnesses is highlighted with this leitwort. Then the leitwort is repeated:
"And Laban said, This heap is a witness between me and thee this day. Therefore was the name of it called Galeed" (Genesis 31:48).
Joshua's People Make a Covenant
Perhaps the most well-known "this day" leitwort occurs when Joshua's people make a covenant. He proposes to the people,
"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15).
In this case, the people themselves become witnesses to the covenant:
"And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the Lord, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses" (Joshua 24:22).
The people entered into a covenant with God to serve Him at all times, as the scriptures records, "So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem" (Joshua 24:25). Joshua wrote the words in the book of the law and set a stone under an oak near the tabernacle to serve as a witness to the covenant.
"And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the Lord which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God" (Joshua 24:27).
It is highly probable that Joshua and his people made this covenant during the Feast of Tabernacles, as the king (or leader) would recite the paragraph of the king during this feast.
A Royal Covenant
As David was seeking a successor to the throne, there arose a dispute from Adonijah's desire to become king. David had promised Bathsheba that their son, Solomon, would be the new king. David renews this covenant by saying:
"Even as I sware unto thee by the Lord God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day" (1 Kings 1:30).
Then the leitwort is repeated: "And also thus said the king, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which hath given one to sit on my throne this day, mine eyes even seeing it (1 Kings 1:48).
King Benjamin's Covenant in the Book of Mormon
It is also highly probable that King Benjamin gave his famous discourse during the Feast of Tabernacles. The similarities with Joshua's speech are striking. Benjamin uses the phrase, "this day" five times during his speech. That is a significant number of times. Here are the verses containing this leitwort:
My brethren, all ye that have assembled yourselves together, you that can hear my words which I shall speak unto you this day . . . (Mosiah 2:9)
And even I, myself, have labored with mine own hands that I might serve you, and that ye should not be laden with taxes, and that there should nothing come upon you which was grievous to be borne—and of all these things which I have spoken, ye yourselves are witnesses this day (Mosiah 2:14).
Yet, my brethren, I have not done these things that I might boast, neither do I tell these things that thereby I might accuse you; but I tell you these things that ye may know that I can answer a clear conscience before God this day (Mosiah 2:14).
For even at this time, my whole frame doth tremble exceedingly while attempting to speak unto you; but the Lord God doth support me, and hath suffered me that I should speak unto you, and hath commanded me that I should declare unto you this day, that my son Mosiah is a king and a ruler over you (Mosiah 2:30).
And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters (Mosiah 5:7).
In the second reference, witnesses are called in, and in the fifth reference, there is the connection between covenants and the leitwort, "this day."
Alma's Covenant of Baptism
This leitwort appears many times in all of the Standard Works. One final example in the Book of Mormon will be given. When Alma gives his speech to the people in Gideon, he cites the following:
"Yea, I say unto you come and fear not, and lay aside every sin, which easily doth beset you, which doth bind you down to destruction, yea, come and go forth, and show unto your God that ye are willing to repent of your sins and enter into a covenant with him to keep his commandments, and witness it unto him this day by going into the waters of baptism (Alma 7:15).
The Hebrew writing style of Leitwort serves to focus its reader on a general theme to emphasize its importance. Covenants are an important part of ancient and modern worship, and are necessary to receive the full blessings of the Lord. The context of leitwort in Biblical and restoration scripture, such as the Book of Mormon, further testifies of the mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith as a prophet, seer, and revelator.
As David was seeking a successor to the throne, there arose a dispute from Adonijah's desire to become king. David had promised Bathsheba that their son, Solomon, would be the new king. David renews this covenant by saying:
"Even as I sware unto thee by the Lord God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day" (1 Kings 1:30).
Then the leitwort is repeated: "And also thus said the king, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which hath given one to sit on my throne this day, mine eyes even seeing it (1 Kings 1:48).
King Benjamin's Covenant in the Book of Mormon
It is also highly probable that King Benjamin gave his famous discourse during the Feast of Tabernacles. The similarities with Joshua's speech are striking. Benjamin uses the phrase, "this day" five times during his speech. That is a significant number of times. Here are the verses containing this leitwort:
My brethren, all ye that have assembled yourselves together, you that can hear my words which I shall speak unto you this day . . . (Mosiah 2:9)
And even I, myself, have labored with mine own hands that I might serve you, and that ye should not be laden with taxes, and that there should nothing come upon you which was grievous to be borne—and of all these things which I have spoken, ye yourselves are witnesses this day (Mosiah 2:14).
Yet, my brethren, I have not done these things that I might boast, neither do I tell these things that thereby I might accuse you; but I tell you these things that ye may know that I can answer a clear conscience before God this day (Mosiah 2:14).
For even at this time, my whole frame doth tremble exceedingly while attempting to speak unto you; but the Lord God doth support me, and hath suffered me that I should speak unto you, and hath commanded me that I should declare unto you this day, that my son Mosiah is a king and a ruler over you (Mosiah 2:30).
And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters (Mosiah 5:7).
In the second reference, witnesses are called in, and in the fifth reference, there is the connection between covenants and the leitwort, "this day."
Alma's Covenant of Baptism
This leitwort appears many times in all of the Standard Works. One final example in the Book of Mormon will be given. When Alma gives his speech to the people in Gideon, he cites the following:
"Yea, I say unto you come and fear not, and lay aside every sin, which easily doth beset you, which doth bind you down to destruction, yea, come and go forth, and show unto your God that ye are willing to repent of your sins and enter into a covenant with him to keep his commandments, and witness it unto him this day by going into the waters of baptism (Alma 7:15).
The Hebrew writing style of Leitwort serves to focus its reader on a general theme to emphasize its importance. Covenants are an important part of ancient and modern worship, and are necessary to receive the full blessings of the Lord. The context of leitwort in Biblical and restoration scripture, such as the Book of Mormon, further testifies of the mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith as a prophet, seer, and revelator.
No comments:
Post a Comment