Texts in Conversation
Jeremiah 50:25 describes God opening a divine storehouse of weapons to carry out judgment against Babylon, which is also depicted in Jeremiah 10:13 as storing the wind, rain, and hail, reflecting ancient Near Eastern cosmology. Sirach 39:30 echoes this, also describing how fire and hail are set aside for divine vengeance.
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Jeremiah 50:25
Hebrew Bible
24 I set a trap for you, Babylon; you were caught before you knew it. You fought against me; so you were found and captured. 25 I have opened up the place where my weapons are stored. I have brought out the weapons for carrying out my wrath. For I, the Sovereign Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have work to carry out in the land of Babylonia. 26 Come from far away and attack Babylonia! Open up the places where she stores her grain. Pile her up in ruins. Destroy her completely! Do not leave anyone alive!
Date: 5th Century B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
Sirach 39:30
Ben Sira, Ecclesiasticus
Deuterocanon
28 "There are winds created for vengeance, and in their anger they can dislodge mountains; on the day of reckoning they will pour out their strength and calm the anger of their Maker. 29 Fire and hail and famine and pestilence, all these have been created for vengeance; 30 the fangs of wild animals and scorpions and vipers, and the sword that punishes the ungodly with destruction. 31 They take delight in doing his bidding, always ready for his service on earth; and when their time comes they never disobey his command." 32 So from the beginning I have been convinced of all this and have thought it out and left it in writing:
Date: 195-175 B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
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Notes and References
"... Yahweh has a 'storehouse' for rain, hail, or snow (see 10:13); this is the only occurrence of the word in the Hebrew Scriptures for Yahweh's storehouse of weapons, though it occurs in Sirach 39:30. Yahweh has the work of battle to do with the Babylonians! ..."
Holladay, William Lee
Jeremiah 2: A Commentary on the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah, Chapters 26-52
(p. 455) Fortress Press, 1989
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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