Psalm 22, Part 10

This is a continuing look into Psalm 22 as the music in Jesus’ heart as He endured the cross.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Psalm 22:17 (Tanakh/KJV) Psalm 22:17 (NET) Psalm 21:18 (NETS)

Psalm 21:18 (Elpenor English)

I may tell (אֲסַפֵּ֥ר) all my bones: they look and stare upon me. I can count (sāp̄ar, אספר) all my bones; my enemies are gloating over me in triumph. I counted (ἐξηρίθμησα) all my bones, but they took note and observed me; They counted (ἐξηρίθμησαν) all my bones; and they observed and looked upon me.

In the Tanakh and KJV אֲסַפֵּ֥ר was translated I may tell.  It was translated I can count in the NET.  It can mean both.  Consider the first occurrences of forms of סָפַר in the KJV translation (Genesis 15:5 KJV):

And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell (sāp̄ar, וספר) the stars, if thou be able to number (sāp̄ar, לספר) them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

I’m not sure what the translators thought Abraham should tell the stars.  Rashi’s commentary on Psalm 22:17 (22:18) read:

I tell about all my bones: The pain of my bones.

I could understand better if the Lord told Abraham to tell [about] the stars, especially their great number.  But the KJV translation of Genesis 15:5 was unique among the Bible versions I use.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Genesis 15:5 (Tanakh) Table Genesis 15:5 (NET) Genesis 15:5 (NETS) Table

Genesis 15:5 (English Elpenor)

And He brought him forth abroad, and said: ‘Look now toward heaven, and count (וּסְפֹר֙) the stars, if thou be able to count (לִסְפֹּ֣ר) them’; and He said unto him: ‘So shall thy seed be.’ The Lord took him outside and said, “Gaze into the sky and count (sāp̄ar, וספר) the stars—if you are able to count (sāp̄ar, לספר) them!”  Then he said to him, “So will your descendants be.” Then he brought him outside and said to him, “Look up to the sky, and number (ἀρίθμησον) the stars, if you will be able to count (ἐξαριθμῆσαι) them.”  And he said, “So shall your offspring be.” And he brought him out and said to him, Look up now to heaven, and count (ἀρίθμησον) the stars, if thou shalt be able to number (ἐξαριθμῆσαι) them fully, and he said, Thus shall thy seed be.

The relationship between count, number and tell is perhaps easiest to understand when Abraham’s servant returned and recounted to Isaak all the matters (τὰ ῥήματα) that he had carried out.[1]

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Genesis 24:66 (Tanakh/KJV) Genesis 24:66 (NET) Genesis 24:66 (NETS)

Genesis 24:66 (English Elpenor)

And the servant told (וַיְסַפֵּ֥ר) Isaac all the things that he had done. The servant told (sāp̄ar, ויספר) Isaac everything that had happened. And the servant recounted (διηγήσατο) to Isaak all the matters that he had carried out. And the servant told (διηγήσατο) Isaac all that he had done.

Abraham had commanded this servant: 1) You must not acquire a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living.[2]  2) You must go instead to my country 3) and to my relatives 4) to find a wife for my son Isaac.[3]  5) Be careful never to take my son back there![4]  In the NETS translation I can practically hear the servant recalling his master’s instructions (ῥήματα, a form of ῥῆμα; NETS: matters) one by one and recounting for Isaac all that he had done to fulfill them.

Exposure is the theme of Psalm 22:17 whether They counted (ἐξηρίθμησαν, a form of ἐξαριθμέω) all my bones (English Elpenor) or Jesus counted (ἐξηρίθμησα a form of ἐξαριθμέω) all [his own] bones (NETS), whether his bones look and stare upon him (Tanakh) or his enemies are gloating over [him] in triumph (NET).  Rashi, too, understoodThey look:” as “They rejoice at my misfortune” without specifying whether They were Jesus’ own bones mocking Him as they were stretched by hanging on a cross or the crowd standing around him.

None of the Gospel narratives cover these few moments of Jesus’ crucifixion in quite the cinematic detail of these two verses: For dogs have compassed me.[5]  I can hear this as action description in a screenplay:

Jesus lies naked on his back on the cross.  A knot of Roman soldiers surround him like a pack of wild dogs devouring their prey.

The assembly of the wicked have inclosed me.[6]  Here we see the action from Jesus’ point-of-view.

Jesus sees the faces of his executioners as they fasten him to the cross: one is stoic, another perfunctory, one revels in the cruelty of his task as another winces at the pain of his victim.

They pierced my hands and my feet.[7]

Jesus’ hand spasms as a nail pierces his flesh between his ulna and radius just below the wrist.

He groans as a nail pins both of his feet, one on top of the other, through his insteps flat to the cross.

I may tell all my bones.[8]

As the soldiers raise the cross Jesus sees the bones of his arms as his body stretches, suspended by his nailed wrists.

They counted all my bones.[9]

As Jesus’ body rises above the heads of the soldiers, bystanders see his ribs pressed against his flesh as if his chest is about to burst.

They look and stare upon me.[10]

From his clawed hand to his radius, ulna and humerus wrenching his shoulders, from his rib cage to his pelvis twisting, the sagging flesh of his legs barely disguises his femur, tibia and fibula. 

His bloodied toes arch back as he presses upward on the spike impaling his feet, seeking a moment’s relief from the ache of his arms and shoulders.

Jesus, staring down at the agony of his own body, lifts his eyes.

And they observed and looked upon me.[11]

Every writhing and twisting, every twitch and flutter, every bodily function is displayed for all to see.

The next verse follows:

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Psalm 22:18 (Tanakh/KJV) Psalm 22:18 (NET) Psalm 21:19 (NETS)

Psalm 21:19 (English Elpenor)

They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. They are dividing up my clothes among themselves; they are rolling dice for my garments. they divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots. They are dividing up my clothes among themselves; they are rolling dice for my garments.

Here Jesus, suspended on an upright cross, sees what happens beneath him.  These shots were described fairly well in the Gospel narratives:

Matthew 27:35, 36 (NET) Mark 15:24, 25 (NET) Luke 23:34 (NET) Table John 19:23, 24 (NET)
When they had crucified him, Then they crucified[12] him Now when the soldiers crucified Jesus,
they took his clothes
But Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”
they divided his clothes and[13] divided[14] his clothes,
and made four shares, one for each soldier, and the tunic remained.  (Now the tunic was seamless,[15] woven from top to bottom as a single piece.) [Table]  So the soldiers said[16] to one another, “Let’s not tear it,
by throwing dice.[17] throwing dice for them, Then they threw dice[18] but throw dice
to divide his clothes.
to decide what each would take.
to see who will get it.”  This took place to fulfill the scripture that says, “They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they threw dice.”  So the soldiers did these things.
Then they sat down and kept guard over him there.
It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him.

Crucifixion was designed that the body and soul of the victim cry out, “This is wrong!”  The torture for most of us would be that there is nothing we could do to end it but die.  Jesus always had another option (John 10:17, 18 NET).

This is why the Father loves me—because I lay down my life, so that I may take it back again.  No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down of my own free will.  I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it back again.  This commandment I received from my Father.”

The detail in this psalm must have been quite helpful to the One intent on fulfilling the Scriptures: everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled,[19] Jesus reminded his disciples after his resurrection.  For I am reasonably convinced that the last temptation of Christ had much more to do with enduring the cross than any fantasy of domestic bliss.

A table comparing the Greek of Matthew 27:35b in the Stephanus Textus Receptus and the Septuagint follows:

Matthew 27:35b (Stephanus Textus Receptus) Psalm 22:18 (Septuagint BLB) Psalm 21:19 (Septuagint Elpenor)
διεμερισαντο τα ιματια μου εαυτοις και επι τον ιματισμον μου εβαλον κληρον διεμερίσαντο τὰ ἱμάτιά μου ἑαυτοῗς καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν ἱματισμόν μου ἔβαλον κλῆρον διεμερίσαντο τὰ ἱμάτιά μου ἑαυτοῖς καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν ἱματισμόν μου ἔβαλον κλῆρον
Matthew 27:35b (KJV) Psalm 21:19 (NETS) Psalm 21:19 (English Elpenor)
They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. they divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots. They parted my garments [among] themselves, and cast lots upon my raiment.

According to a note (63) in the NET Matthew alluded to Psalm 22:18 (21:19).  A table comparing the Greek of Matthew’s allusion with that of the Septuagint follows.

Matthew 27:35b (NET Parallel Greek) Psalm 22:18 (Septuagint BLB) Psalm 21:19 (Septuagint Elpenor)
διεμερίσαντο τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ βάλλοντες κλῆρον διεμερίσαντο τὰ ἱμάτιά μου ἑαυτοῗς καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν ἱματισμόν μου ἔβαλον κλῆρον διεμερίσαντο τὰ ἱμάτιά μου ἑαυτοῖς καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν ἱματισμόν μου ἔβαλον κλῆρον
Matthew 27:35b (NET) Psalm 21:19 (NETS) Psalm 21:19 (English Elpenor)
they divided his clothes by throwing dice they divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots. They parted my garments [among] themselves, and cast lots upon my raiment.

According to a note (42) in the NET Mark alluded to Psalm 22:18 (21:19).  A table comparing the Greek of Mark’s allusion with that of the Septuagint follows.

Mark 15:24b (NET Parallel Greek) Psalm 22:18 (Septuagint BLB) Psalm 21:19 (Septuagint Elpenor)
διαμερίζονται τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ, βάλλοντες κλῆρον διεμερίσαντο τὰ ἱμάτιά μου ἑαυτοῗς καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν ἱματισμόν μου ἔβαλον κλῆρον διεμερίσαντο τὰ ἱμάτιά μου ἑαυτοῖς καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν ἱματισμόν μου ἔβαλον κλῆρον
Mark 15:24b (NET) Psalm 21:19 (NETS) Psalm 21:19 (English Elpenor)
divided his clothes, throwing dice they divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots. They parted my garments [among] themselves, and cast lots upon my raiment.

According to a note (84) in the NET Luke alluded to Psalm 22:18 (21:19).  A table comparing the Greek of Luke’s allusion with that of the Septuagint follows.

Luke 23:34b (NET Parallel Greek) Psalm 22:18 (Septuagint BLB) Psalm 21:19 (Septuagint Elpenor)
διαμεριζόμενοι δὲ τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ ἔβαλον |κλήρους| διεμερίσαντο τὰ ἱμάτιά μου ἑαυτοῗς καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν ἱματισμόν μου ἔβαλον κλῆρον διεμερίσαντο τὰ ἱμάτιά μου ἑαυτοῖς καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν ἱματισμόν μου ἔβαλον κλῆρον
Luke 23:34b (NET) Psalm 21:19 (NETS) Psalm 21:19 (English Elpenor)
Then they threw dice to divide his clothes. they divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots. They parted my garments [among] themselves, and cast lots upon my raiment.

According to a note (77) in the NET John quoted Psalm 22:18 (21:19).  A table comparing the Greek of John’s quotation with that of the Septuagint follows.

John 19:24b (NET Parallel Greek) Psalm 22:18 (Septuagint BLB) Psalm 21:19 (Septuagint Elpenor)
διεμερίσαντο τὰ ἱμάτια μου ἑαυτοῖς καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν ἱματισμόν μου ἔβαλον κλῆρον διεμερίσαντο τὰ ἱμάτιά μου ἑαυτοῗς καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν ἱματισμόν μου ἔβαλον κλῆρον διεμερίσαντο τὰ ἱμάτιά μου ἑαυτοῖς καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν ἱματισμόν μου ἔβαλον κλῆρον
John 19:24b (NET) Psalm 21:19 (NETS) Psalm 21:19 (English Elpenor)
They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they threw dice. they divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots. They parted my garments [among] themselves, and cast lots upon my raiment.

Tables comparing Psalm 22:17; Genesis 24:66; 24:3; 24:4; 24:6 and Psalm 22:18 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Psalm 22:17 (21:18); Genesis 24:66; 24:3; 24:4; 24:6 and Psalm 22:18 (21:19) in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24 and John 19:24 in the NET and KJV follow.

Psalm 22:17 (Tanakh) Psalm 22:17 (KJV) Psalm 22:17 (NET)
I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. I can count all my bones; my enemies are gloating over me in triumph.
Psalm 22:17 (Septuagint BLB) Psalm 21:18 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐξηρίθμησα πάντα τὰ ὀστᾶ μου αὐτοὶ δὲ κατενόησαν καὶ ἐπεῗδόν με ἐξηρίθμησαν πάντα τὰ ὀστᾶ μου, αὐτοὶ δὲ κατενόησαν καὶ ἐπεῖδόν με
Psalm 21:18 (NETS) Psalm 21:18 (English Elpenor)
I counted all my bones, but they took note and observed me; They counted all my bones; and they observed and looked upon me.
Genesis 24:66 (Tanakh) Genesis 24:66 (KJV) Genesis 24:66 (NET)
And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done. The servant told Isaac everything that had happened.
Genesis 24:66 (Septuagint BLB) Genesis 24:66 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ διηγήσατο ὁ παῗς τῷ Ισαακ πάντα τὰ ῥήματα ἃ ἐποίησεν καὶ διηγήσατο ὁ παῖς τῷ ᾿Ισαὰκ πάντα τὰ ρήματα, ἃ ἐποίησεν
Genesis 24:66 (NETS) Genesis 24:66 (English Elpenor)
And the servant recounted to Isaak all the matters that he had carried out. And the servant told Isaac all that he had done.
Genesis 24:3 (Tanakh) Genesis 24:3 (KJV) Genesis 24:3 (NET)
And I will make thee swear by HaShem, the G-d of heaven and the G-d of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell. And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: so that I may make you solemnly promise by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of the earth: You must not acquire a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living.
Genesis 24:3 (Septuagint BLB) Genesis 24:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐξορκιῶ σε κύριον τὸν θεὸν τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ τὸν θεὸν τῆς γῆς ἵνα μὴ λάβῃς γυναῗκα τῷ υἱῷ μου Ισαακ ἀπὸ τῶν θυγατέρων τῶν Χαναναίων μεθ᾽ ὧν ἐγὼ οἰκῶ ἐν αὐτοῗς καὶ ἐξορκιῶ σε Κύριον τὸν Θεὸν τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ τὸν Θεὸν τῆς γῆς, ἵνα μὴ λάβῃς γυναῖκα τῷ υἱῷ μου ᾿Ισαὰκ ἀπὸ τῶν θυγατέρων τῶν Χαναναίων, μεθ᾿ ὧν ἐγὼ οἰκῶ ἐν αὐτοῖς
Genesis 24:3 (NETS) Genesis 24:3 (English Elpenor)
and I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of the sky and the God of earth, so that you do not get a wife for my son Isaak from the daughters of the Chananites, whom I live among, and I will adjure thee by the Lord the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou take not a wife for my son Isaac from the daughters of the Chananites, with whom I dwell, in the midst of them.
Genesis 24:4 (Tanakh) Genesis 24:4 (KJV) Genesis 24:4 (NET)
But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son, even for Isaac.’ But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac. You must go instead to my country and to my relatives to find a wife for my son Isaac.”
Genesis 24:4 (Septuagint BLB) Genesis 24:4 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἀλλὰ εἰς τὴν γῆν μου οὗ ἐγενόμην πορεύσῃ καὶ εἰς τὴν φυλήν μου καὶ λήμψῃ γυναῗκα τῷ υἱῷ μου Ισαακ ἐκεῗθεν ἀλλ᾿ εἰς τὴν γῆν μου, οὗ ἐγεννήθην, πορεύσῃ καὶ εἰς τὴν φυλήν μου καὶ λήψῃ γυναῖκα τῷ υἱῷ μου ᾿Ισαὰκ ἐκεῖθεν
Genesis 24:4 (NETS) Genesis 24:4 (English Elpenor)
but you shall go to my country, where I was born, and to my tribe, and get a wife for my son Isaak from there.” But thou shalt go instead to my country, where I was born, and to my tribe, and thou shalt take from thence a wife for my son Isaac.
Genesis 24:6 (Tanakh) Genesis 24:6 (KJV) Genesis 24:6 (NET)
And Abraham said unto him: ‘Beware thou that thou bring not my son back thither. And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again. “Be careful never to take my son back there!” Abraham told him.
Genesis 24:6 (Septuagint BLB) Genesis 24:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)
εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς αὐτὸν Αβρααμ πρόσεχε σεαυτῷ μὴ ἀποστρέψῃς τὸν υἱόν μου ἐκεῗ εἶπε δὲ πρὸς αὐτὸν ῾Αβραάμ· πρόσεχε σεαυτῷ, μὴ ἀποστρέψῃς τὸν υἱόν μου ἐκεῖ
Genesis 24:6 (NETS) Genesis 24:6 (English Elpenor)
But Abraham said to him, “Take heed to yourself; do not bring my son back there. And Abraam said to him, Take heed to thyself that thou carry not my son back thither.
Psalm 22:18 (Tanakh) Psalm 22:18 (KJV) Psalm 22:18 (NET)
They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. They are dividing up my clothes among themselves; they are rolling dice for my garments.
Psalm 22:18 (Septuagint BLB) Psalm 21:19 (Septuagint Elpenor)
διεμερίσαντο τὰ ἱμάτιά μου ἑαυτοῗς καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν ἱματισμόν μου ἔβαλον κλῆρον διεμερίσαντο τὰ ἱμάτιά μου ἑαυτοῖς καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν ἱματισμόν μου ἔβαλον κλῆρον
Psalm 21:19 (NETS) Psalm 21:19 (English Elpenor)
they divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots. They parted my garments [among] themselves, and cast lots upon my raiment.
Matthew 27:35 (NET) Matthew 27:35 (KJV)
When they had crucified him, they divided his clothes by throwing dice. And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
Σταυρώσαντες δὲ αὐτὸν διεμερίσαντο τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ βάλλοντες κλῆρον σταυρωσαντες δε αυτον διεμερισαντο τα ιματια αυτου βαλλοντες κληρον ινα πληρωθη το ρηθεν υπο του προφητου διεμερισαντο τα ιματια μου εαυτοις και επι τον ιματισμον μου εβαλον κληρον σταυρωσαντες δε αυτον διεμερισαντο τα ιματια αυτου βαλλοντες κληρον
Mark 15:24 (NET) Mark 15:24 (KJV)
Then they crucified him and divided his clothes, throwing dice for them, to decide what each would take. And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
Καὶ σταυροῦσιν αὐτὸν καὶ διαμερίζονται τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ, βάλλοντες κλῆρον ἐπ᾿ αὐτὰ τίς τί ἄρῃ και σταυρωσαντες αυτον διεμεριζον τα ιματια αυτου βαλλοντες κληρον επ αυτα τις τι αρη και σταυρωσαντες αυτον διαμεριζονται τα ιματια αυτου βαλλοντες κληρον επ αυτα τις τι αρη
John 19:24 (NET) John 19:24 (KJV)
So the soldiers said to one another, “Let’s not tear it, but throw dice to see who will get it.”  This took place to fulfill the scripture that says, “They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they threw dice.”  So the soldiers did these things. They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots.  These things therefore the soldiers did.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
εἶπαν οὖν πρὸς ἀλλήλους· μὴ σχίσωμεν αὐτόν, ἀλλὰ λάχωμεν περὶ αὐτοῦ τίνος ἔσται· ἵνα ἡ γραφὴ πληρωθῇ [ἡ λέγουσα]· διεμερίσαντο τὰ ἱμάτια μου ἑαυτοῖς καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν ἱματισμόν μου ἔβαλον κλῆρον. Οἱ μὲν οὖν στρατιῶται ταῦτα ἐποίησαν. ειπον ουν προς αλληλους μη σχισωμεν αυτον αλλα λαχωμεν περι αυτου τινος εσται ινα η γραφη πληρωθη η λεγουσα διεμερισαντο τα ιματια μου εαυτοις και επι τον ιματισμον μου εβαλον κληρον οι μεν ουν στρατιωται ταυτα εποιησαν ειπον ουν προς αλληλους μη σχισωμεν αυτον αλλα λαχωμεν περι αυτου τινος εσται ινα η γραφη πληρωθη η λεγουσα διεμερισαντο τα ιματια μου εαυτοις και επι τον ιματισμον μου εβαλον κληρον οι μεν ουν στρατιωται ταυτα εποιησαν

[1] Genesis 24:66 (NETS)

[2] Genesis 24:3b (NET)

[3] Genesis 24:4 (NET)

[4] Genesis 24:6a (NET)

[5] Psalm 22:16a (Tanakh) Table

[6] Psalm 22:16b (Tanakh) Table

[7] Psalm 22:16c (Tanakh) Table

[8] Psalm 22:17a (Tanakh)

[9] Psalm 21:18a (English Elpenor)

[10] Psalm 22:17b (Tanakh)

[11] Psalm 21:18b (English Elpenor)

[12] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had σταυροῦσιν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had σταυρωσαντες (KJV: when they had crucified).

[13] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had καὶ here.  The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

[14] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had διαμερίζονται here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had διεμεριζον (KJV: they parted).

[15] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had ἄραφος here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had αρραφος (KJV: without seam).

[16] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had εἶπαν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ειπον (KJV: They said).

[17] The Stephanus Textus Receptus had ινα πληρωθη το ρηθεν υπο του προφητου διεμερισαντο τα ιματια μου εαυτοις και επι τον ιματισμον μου εβαλον κληρον (KJV: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots) here.  The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

[18] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had κλήρους here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had κληρον (KJV: lots).

[19] Luke 24:44b (NET) Table

Who Am I? Part 7

In another essay I presented his Jewish and Roman trials as a kind of ultimate tempting of the flesh of Adam and an ultimate proving of the Holy Spirit which descendedin bodily form like a dove[1] upon Jesus the Christ or Messiah.  I characterized those trials as a time “when sinners, Jerusalem, the whole world, perhaps even the created cosmos were in extreme danger of falling into the hands of an angry God.”  I want to continue with his crucifixion.

Nail me to a cross and I’m stuck there but Jesus said (John 10:17, 18 NET):

This is why the Father loves me – because I lay down my life, so that I may take it back again.  No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down of my own free will.[2]  I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it back again.  This commandment I received from my Father.

It says to me that at any moment throughout his ordeal of ultimate humiliation Jesus, yehôvâh in the flesh of Adam,[3] could have decided that enough was enough, sat down at the right hand of his Father in heaven and been none the worse for wear—personally.

As they led him away, Luke recorded in his Gospel narrative, they seized Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country.  They placed the cross on his back and made him carry it behind Jesus.[4]  Matthew and Mark recorded the same incident.  I might have assumed that He was too holy to carry his own cross except that John recalled Jesus carrying his own cross (John 19:16, 17 NET).  Apparently the One who said, If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me,[5] was too weak to carry his all the way to his crucifixion.

Two other (ἕτεροι, a form of ἕτερος) criminals (κακοῦργοι, a form of κακοῦργος) were also led away to be executed with him.[6]  Isaiah had prophesied, he was numbered with the transgressors,[7] though he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.[8]  But with the words ἕτεροι κακοῦργοι δύο Luke captured (See: ἕτεροι; Luke 11:15, 16) the social reality of Jesus as one of three criminals condemned to death by the duly authorized governor of Judea.  His punishment was neither cruel nor unusual under the prevailing standards of their socially constructed reality.

A great number of the people followed him (Luke 23:27-31 NET):

among them women who were mourning and wailing for him.  But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.  For this is certain: The days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore children, and the breasts that never nursed!’  Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’  For if such things are done when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “Place of the Skull”) and offered Jesus wine mixed with gall to drink.  But after tasting it, he would not drink it.[9]  There they crucified him along with two others, one on each side, with Jesus in the middle.[10]  But Jesus said, “Father, forgive (ἄφες, a form of ἀφίημι) them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”[11]

Jesus, naked[12] on the cross, looked down as the soldiers who crucified Him took his clothes and made four shares, one for each soldier, and the tunic remained. (Now the tunic was seamless, woven from top to bottom as a single piece.)  So the soldiers said to one another, “Let’s not tear it, but throw dice to see who will get it.”  This took place to fulfill the scripture that says, “They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they threw dice.”  So the soldiers did these things.[13]  David (1 Samuel 16:1 – 1 Kings 2:11) had prophesied, they look and stare upon me.  They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.[14]

Then they sat down and kept guard over him there.[15]  It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him.[16]  That would be the second morning since the night of his arrest with little or no sleep for Jesus.  The people also stood there watching, but the rulers ridiculed him, saying, “He saved others.  Let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, his chosen one!”  The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!”[17]

Pilate also had a notice written and fastened to the cross, which read: “Jesus the Nazarene, the king of the Jews.”[18]  Thus many of the Jewish residents of Jerusalem read this notice, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the notice was written in Aramaic (Ἑβραϊστί; literally, in Hebrew; NET note 67), Latin, and Greek.  Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The king of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am king of the Jews.’”  Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”[19]

Those who passed by defamed him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha!  You who can destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself and come down from the cross!”  In the same way even the chief priests – together with the experts in the law – were mocking him among themselves: “He saved others, but he cannot save himself!  Let the Christ, the king of Israel, come down from the cross now, that we may see and believe!”[20]  He trusts in God – let God, if he wants to, deliver him now because he said, ‘I am God’s Son’!”  The robbers who were crucified with him also spoke abusively to him.[21]  One of the criminals who was hanging there railed at him, saying, “Aren’t you the Christ?  Save yourself and us!”[22]

This is the point in the story where I wished Jesus would come down from the cross as more than twelve legions of angels came screaming out of the sky to the tune of Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries to kill everyone who mocked Him.  Actually it is the ideal of the Sicarii—walking up to an “enemy” (anyone who disagrees with my “truth”) plunging a long knife into him several times and melting away again into the crowd—that appeals to the sin in my flesh more than the straight-up warfare of the Zealots.  Cowardice prevented me from ever actualizing the murderous intentions of my heart.  And until the moment that sentence formed in my mind I hadn’t thanked God for that fear.  All this may help explain why years of imitating the Pharisees felt like a step toward godliness to me.

But the other [criminal] rebuked him [the former criminal], saying, “Don’t you fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?  And we rightly so, for we are getting what we deserve for what we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.”  Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom.”  And Jesus said to him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise”[23] as a door of hope opened (Hosea 2:14-17 Tanakh).

Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.  And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt (Table).  And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD (yehôvâh, יהוה), that thou shalt call me Ishi (ʼı̂ysh, אישי); and shalt call me no more Baali (baʽălı̂y, בעלי Table).  For I will take away the names of Baalim (baʽal, הבעלים) out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name (Table).

As confessions go, And we rightly so, for we are getting what we deserve for what we did is nothing compared to Achan’s confession (Joshua 7:19-25 Tanakh)

And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me (Table).

And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done (Table): When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it (Table).

So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it.

And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the LORD.

And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor (Table).

And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day.  And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones (Table).

I wonder now whether Achan and his sons and his daughters, after suffering the punishment of criminals, face an implacable Judge or a merciful Savior, not because of the merits of Achan’s confession but because of the merits of that Savior: But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness.[24]

Now standing beside Jesus’ cross were his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.  So when Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing there, he said to his mother, “Woman, look, here is your son!”  He then said to his disciple, “Look, here is your mother!”  From that very time the disciple took her into his own home.[25]

Now from noon until three, darkness came over all the land.  At about three o’clock Jesus shouted with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?”[26] that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”[27]  After six hours on the cross Jesus lamented his loneliness even as He affirmed his confidence in the Scripture, written for his comfort (Psalm 22:6-18) for the very moment He prayed it (Psalm 22:1, 23, 24 Tanakh):

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.  For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.

When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “This man is calling for Elijah.”  Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink.  But the rest said, “Leave him alone!  Let’s see if Elijah will come to save him.”[28]  After this Jesus, realizing that by this time everything was completed, said (in order to fulfill the scripture [Psalm 22:15]), “I am thirsty!”  A jar full of sour wine was there, so they put a sponge soaked in sour wine on a branch of hyssop and lifted it to his mouth.  When he had received the sour wine, Jesus said, “It is completed!”[29]  David had already spoken for Jesus’ failing breath (Psalm 22:25-31 Tanakh):

My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.  The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.  All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.   For the kingdom is the LORD’s: and he is the governor among the nations.  All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.  A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.

The temple curtain was torn in two.  Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!”  And after he said this he breathed his last.[30]  The earth shook and the rocks were split apart.  And tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had died were raised.  (They came out of the tombs after his resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.)[31]

Now when the centurion, who stood in front of him, saw how he died, he said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”[32]  And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts.[33] 

Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me? Jesus asked.  The words that I say to you, I do not speak on my own initiative, but the Father residing in me performs his miraculous deeds.[34]  And in the letter to the Hebrews we are encouraged: Think of him who endured such opposition against himself by sinners, so that you may not grow weary in your souls and give up.[35]  I tell you the solemn truth, Jesus promised, the person who believes in me will perform the miraculous deeds that I am doing, and will perform greater deeds than these, because I am going to the Father.[36]  For, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.[37]

The Gospel harmony I made to write this essay follows.

The Crucifixion

Matthew Mark Luke

John

So they took Jesus, and carrying his own cross…

 John 19:16b, 17a

As they were going out, they found a man from Cyrene named Simon, whom they forced to carry his cross.

Matthew 27:32

The soldiers forced a passerby to carry his cross, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country…

Mark 15:21a

As they led him away, they seized Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country.  They placed the cross on his back and made him carry it behind Jesus.

Luke 23:26

(he was the father of Alexander and Rufus).

Mark 15:21b

A great number of the people followed him, among them women who were mourning and wailing for him.  But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.  For this is certain: The days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore children, and the breasts that never nursed!’  Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’  For if such things are done when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

Luke 23:27-31

Two other criminals were also led away to be executed with him.

Luke 23:32

They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “Place of the Skull”)…

Matthew 27:33

They brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha (which is translated, “Place of the Skull”).

Mark 15:22

So when they came to the place that is called “The Skull” …

Luke 23:33a

…he went out to the place called “The Place of the Skull” (called in Aramaic Golgotha).

John 19:17b

…and offered Jesus wine mixed with gall to drink.  But after tasting it, he would not drink it.

Matthew 27:34

They offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.

Mark 15:23

When they had crucified him…

Matthew 27:35a

Then they crucified him…

Mark 15:24a

…they crucified him there…

Luke 23:33b

There they crucified him…

John 19:18a

…along with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.

Luke 23:33c

…along with two others, one on each side, with Jesus in the middle.

John 19:18b

[But Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”]

Luke 23:34a

…they divided his clothes by throwing dice.

Matthew 27:35b

…and divided his clothes, throwing dice for them, to decide what each would take.

Mark 15:24b

Then they threw dice to divide his clothes.

Luke 23:34b

Then they sat down and kept guard over him there.

Matthew 27:36

It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him.

Mark 15:25

The people also stood there watching, but the rulers ridiculed him, saying, “He saved others.  Let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, his chosen one!”  The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!”

Luke 23:35-37

Above his head they put the charge against him, which read: “This is Jesus, the king of the Jews.”

Matthew 27:37

The inscription of the charge against him read, “The king of the Jews.”

Mark 15:26

There was also an inscription over him, “This is the king of the Jews.”

Luke 23:38

Pilate also had a notice written and fastened to the cross, which read: “Jesus the Nazarene, the king of the Jews.”

John 19:19

Thus many of the Jewish residents of Jerusalem read this notice, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the notice was written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The king of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am king of the Jews.’”  Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

John 19:20-22

Now when the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and made four shares, one for each soldier, and the tunic remained. (Now the tunic was seamless, woven from top to bottom as a single piece.)  So the soldiers said to one another, “Let’s not tear it, but throw dice to see who will get it.” This took place to fulfill the scripture that says, “They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they threw dice.”  So the soldiers did these things.

John 19:23, 24

Then two outlaws were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.  Those who passed by defamed him, shaking their heads  and saying, “You who can destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself!  If you are God’s Son, come down from the cross!”  In the same way even the chief priests – together with the experts in the law and elders – were mocking him: “He saved others, but he cannot save himself!  He is the king of Israel!  If he comes down now from the cross, we will believe in him!

Matthew 27:38-42

And they crucified two outlaws with him, one on his right and one on his left.  Those who passed by defamed him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who can destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself and come down from the cross!”  In the same way even the chief priests – together with the experts in the law – were mocking him among themselves: “He saved others, but he cannot save himself!  Let the Christ, the king of Israel, come down from the cross now, that we may see and believe!”

Mark 15:27-32a

He trusts in God – let God, if he wants to, deliver him now because he said, ‘I am God’s Son’!”

Matthew 27:43

The robbers who were crucified with him also spoke abusively to him.

Matthew 27:44

Those who were crucified with him also spoke abusively to him.

Mark 15:32b

One of the criminals who was hanging there railed at him, saying, “Aren’t you the Christ?  Save yourself and us!”  But the other rebuked him, saying, “Don’t you fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?  And we rightly so, for we are getting what we deserve for what we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.”  Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom.”  And Jesus said to him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Luke 23:39-43

Now standing beside Jesus’ cross were his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.  So when Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing there, he said to his mother, “Woman, look, here is your son!”  He then said to his disciple, “Look, here is your mother!”  From that very time the disciple took her into his own home.

John 19:25-27

Now from noon until three, darkness came over all the land.

Matthew 27:45

Now when it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.

Mark 15:33

It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, because the sun’s light failed.

Luke 23:44, 45a

At about three o’clock Jesus shouted with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “This man is calling for Elijah.”  Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink.  But the rest said, “Leave him alone!  Let’s see if Elijah will come to save him.”

Matthew 27:46-49

Around three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  When some of the bystanders heard it they said, “Listen, he is calling for Elijah!”  Then someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Leave him alone!  Let’s see if Elijah will come to take him down!”

Mark 15:34-36

After this Jesus, realizing that by this time everything was completed, said (in order to fulfill the scripture), “I am thirsty!”  A jar full of sour wine was there, so they put a sponge soaked in sour wine on a branch of hyssop and lifted it to his mouth.  When he had received the sour wine, Jesus said, “It is completed!”

John 19:28-30a

Then Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up his spirit.  Just then the temple curtain was torn in two, from top to bottom.

Matthew 27:50, 51a

But Jesus cried out with a loud voice and breathed his last.  And the temple curtain was torn in two, from top to bottom.

Mark 15:37, 38

The temple curtain was torn in two.  Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!”  And after he said this he breathed his last.

Luke 23:45, 46

 

 

Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

John 19:30b

The earth shook and the rocks were split apart.  And tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had died were raised.  (They came out of the tombs after his resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.)

Matthew 27:51b-53

Now when the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and what took place, they were extremely terrified and said, “Truly this one was God’s Son!”

Matthew 27:54

Now when the centurion, who stood in front of him, saw how he died, he said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”

Mark 15:39

Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent!”

Luke 23:47

And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts.

Luke 23:48

Many women who had followed Jesus from Galilee and given him support were also there, watching from a distance.

Matthew 27:55

There were also women, watching from a distance.

Mark 15:40a

And all those who knew Jesus stood at a distance, and the women who had followed him from Galilee saw these things.

Luke 23:49

Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

Matthew 27:56

Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome.  When he was in Galilee, they had followed him and given him support.  Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were there too.

Mark 15:40b, 41


[1] Luke 3:22a (NET)

[2] The words free will were added by the translators to the Greek word ἐμαυτοῦ translated my own.

[3] Romans, Part 55; My Reasons and My Reason, Part 5; Romans, Part 38; Fear – Genesis, Part 6; Who Am I? Part 2

[4] Luke 23:26 (NET)

[5] Matthew 16:24 (NET)

[6] Luke 23:32 (NET)

[7] Isaiah 53:12b (Tanakh)

[8] Isaiah 53:9b (Tanakh)

[9] Matthew 27:33, 34 (NET)  David Mathis offers the following explanation in his blog post “The Wine Jesus Drank” on desiringGod.

[10] John 19:18 (NET)

[11] Luke 23:34a (NET) Table

[12] Stephen Ray, “Was Jesus Crucified Naked?,” Defender’s of the Catholic Faith

[13] John 19:23, 24 (NET)

[14] Psalm 22:17b, 18 (Tanakh)

[15] Matthew 27:36 (NET)

[16] Mark 15:25 (NET)

[17] Luke 23:35-37 (NET)

[18] Though it differs slightly from the synoptic Gospels I’m going with John’s account because he, the disciple whom [Jesus] loved, was actually there (John 19:25-27) near enough to read it.

[19] John 19:19-22 (NET)

[20] Mark 15:29-32a (NET)

[21] Matthew 27:43, 44 (NET)

[22] Luke 23:39 (NET)

[23] Luke 23:40-43 (NET)

[24] 1 John 1:9 (NET)

[25] John 19:25-27 (NET)

[26] I had thought and written that this was Aramaic.  E. A. Knapp in his article “Did the Messiah Speak Aramaic or Hebrew? (part 2)” on Torah Class online disputes that.

[27] Matthew 27:45, 46 (NET) Table

[28] Matthew 27:47-49 (NET)

[29] John 19:28-30a (NET)

[30] Luke 23:45b, 46 (NET)

[31] Matthew 27:51b-53 (NET)

[32] Mark 15:39 (NET)

[33] Luke 23:48 (NET)

[34] John 14:10 (NET)

[35] Hebrews 12:3 (NET)

[36] John 14:12 (NET)

[37] Galatians 5:22, 23a (NET)