15 January 2008

Matthew 14: Herod and Jesus

Yesterday I noticed striking parallels in the first two paragraphs of Matthew 14, which are almost exactly the same length (vv 1-12 = 170 words, vv 13-21 = 157 words). The first account is of Herod at a party, who on a promise to a dancing girl has John the Baptist beheaded (this is Herod Antipas, one of 3 sons of Herod the Great, along with Philip, mentioned in v. 3, and Archelaus). The second is of Jesus feeding the 5,000. I think Matthew is deliberately contrasting the two characters.

Both Herod and Jesus:
  • are confronted with a crowd of people
  • have requests lodged at them
  • make a promise to the people
  • order something to be "brought" "here" in their response to the request
  • hear about each other.

The great difference, of course, is that Herod was self-serving (didn't want to disappoint his guests, so he murdered), Jesus was other-serving. Herod was inspired by the allure of a dancing female; Jesus was inspired by the desperate need of the people. Herod brought death; Jesus brought life.

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4 comments:

  1. EricTuesday, 15 January, 2008

    That's very interesting, Dane. I don't know how much you're aware of the new scholarship on Hebrew literature, but it is often opined that Hebrew narrators will put two scenes side-by-side that don't seem to have much to do with each other, and nudge the reader to start drawing implicit contrasts between the two. Matthew was such a good reader of the OT, maybe he picked it up unconsciously from them!

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  2. Dane OrtlundWednesday, 16 January, 2008

    Fascinating! Did not know that.

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  3. LaurzieWednesday, 16 January, 2008

    That is interesting! I'll have to go look again with fresh eyes at both passages. Thanks for sharing! Love to you and your sweet ones.

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  4. Dane OrtlundThursday, 17 January, 2008

    Huge to the Hausams! I like the new blog look.

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