ISAIAH 11

AND
THE MESSIANIC RHINENCEPHALON
Sidney Davis
MGI, BIBLE 514
The Prophetic Voice: Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel
Hebrew College
Fall !!"
Rabbi Reuven Z. Cohn
!
ISAIAH 11 AND THE MESSIANIC RHINENCEPHALON


Isaia# 11$ %
In ani&al ana'o&y( '#e r#inen)e*#alon is '#a' *ar' o+ '#e brain involved wi'# ol+a)'ion or
s&ell,
1
T#e &essiani) r#inen)e*#alon re+ers 'o a dis'ing-is#ing .-ali'y o+ '#e &essia#
'#a' involves a s*e)ial s-*erna'-rally gi+'ed sense o+ s&ell, How s-)# an idea )an be
li'erally -nders'ood in '#e 'e/' is '#e 'as0 o+ '#is *a*er,
Mos' readers wi'#o-' a))ess 'o a Hebrew 1ible wo-ld #ave di++i)-l'y lo)a'ing '#is
bibli)al 'e/'( sin)e &os' 'ransla'ors #ave a&ended '#e 'e/' +inding '#e obvio-s 'ransla'ion
'o be 2li'erally3 non4sensi)al, I *ro*ose +ollowing an i&*or'an' )ase s'-dy by Ian Ri')#ie

(
'#a' '#e *ra)'i)e o+ a&ending '#is 'e/' si&*ly be'rays a 5es'ern bias '#a' )o-ld be
)orre)'ed wi'# so&e #el* +ro& an A+ri)an )-l'-ral *ers*e)'ive, In '#e +ollowing
*aragra*#s are vario-s re+eren)es and )o&&en'aries +ro& 6ewis# and C#ris'ian so-r)es
'#a' in+or& -s 'o '#e li'eral &eaning o+ '#e 'e/',
D-ring '#e 1ar4 7o)#ba rebellion( i' was '#o-g#' '#a' '#e des'r-)'ion o+ '#e Te&*le
&ean' '#a' 8od #ad re9e)'ed and abandoned #is *eo*le and wo-ld no' go o-' wi'# '#e
ar&ies o+ Israel agains' '#e Ro&ans( so '#ere was no *oin' in a**ealing 'o 8od:s #el*,
5#en '#e a))lai&ed &essia# 1ar47o)#ba wo-ld go 'o ba''le ;wi'# #is <!!(!!! &ig#'y
warriors w#o #ad donned Te+illin 2=, 8i''in >"a3? #e )i'ed Psal& @! ba)0 'o 8od
%
( by
de)laring( AMas'er o+ '#e -niverse( we don:' need yo-r #el* 44 9-s' don:' #el* o-r
ene&iesBC 2=, 8i''in <$>3,
<
T#e Tal&-d des)ribes '#e dea'# o+ 1ar 7o)#ba as 'a0ing *la)e a' '#e #ands o+ '#e sages$
Tal&-d 4 San#edrin D%b$ A1ar 7oEiba reigned 'wo and a #al+ years( and '#en said 'o '#e
Rabbis( FI a& '#e Messia#,: T#ey answered( FO+ Messia# i' is wri''en '#a' #e s&ells and
9-dgesG le' -s see w#e'#er #e ;1ar 7oEiba? )an do so,: 5#en '#ey saw '#a' #e was -nable
'o 9-dge by '#e s)en'( '#ey slew #i&,C
>
I' &ay #ave been '#a' 1ar 7o)#ba a)'-ally and
li'erally s-++ered +ro& anos&ia 2la)0 o+ '#e abili'y 'o s&ell3 beyond '#e inna'e inabili'y 'o
9-dge by s&ell,
1
In ani&al ana'o&y( '#e r#inen)e*#alon is a *ar' o+ '#e brain involved wi'# ol+a)'ion 28rayHs Ana'o&y
S-b9e)' I1"D4 "@3,

Ri')#ie( AT#e Nose 7nows$ 1odily 7nowing in Isaia# 11,%(C Journal for the Study of the Old Testament
"J 2!!3$ >D4J%,
%
Psal&s @!$1! AHave yo- no' re9e)'ed -s( O 8od( so '#a' yo- do no' go +or'# wi'# o-r ar&iesKC
<
Also 6er-sale& Tal&-d Taani' <$>
>
2See no'e 1% below3,
1
T#e Tal&-d '#-s des)ribes '#e &essia#
@
as a *erson w#o will 9-dge wi'# #is sense o+
s&ell( Aand #e s#all be ani&a'ed 4 vharicho 2*ower o+ s&ell3 wi'# '#e +ear o+ '#e Lord,C
J
T#is &ean' #e wo-ld be able 'o de'e)' '#e 'r-'# o+ a *erson and wo-ld 'r-'#+-lly 9-dge
be'ween inno)en' and g-il'y Ano' a+'er '#e sig#' o+ #is eyes s#all #e 9-dge,C
Lerse %. And s#all &a0e #i& o+ .-i)0 -nders'anding in '#e +ear o+ '#e Lord ,,, Or F)a-se
#i& 'o s&ell '#e +ear o+ '#e Lord:G '#a' is( 'o dis)ern in w#o& i' was$ '#is is one e++e)' o+
'#e S*iri':s res'ing -*on #i&( and *ar'i)-larly as '#e s*iri' o+ -nders'anding( and o+ '#e
+ear o+ '#e Lord( w#ereby #e #as a .-i)0 and s#ar* dis)erning o+ i'G no' &erely o+ '#e
gra)e o+ +ear( so as 'o 0now w#a' '#a' is( and w#a' '#e e/er)ise o+ i'G or so as 'o &a0e i'
'#e r-le o+ #is a)'ions( '#o-g# all '#is is 'r-eG b-' so as 'o dis)ern w#ere and in w#o& i'
was( and was no'G #e )o-ld dis'ing-is# be'ween #i& '#a' +eared 8od and #i& '#a' +eared
#i& no'G #e 0new Na'#anael 'o be an Israeli'e indeed( in w#o& '#ere was no g-ile( 6o#n
1$<J and '#e S)ribes and P#arisees 'o be #y*o)ri'es( Ma''#ew $1", As '#e 6ews
-nders'and '#is *assage o+ '#e Messia#( and o+ #is .-i)0 s&ell( as '#e word -sed signi+ies(
or o+ #is dis)erning o+ good and bad &en( '#ey &a0e '#is 'o be a r-le o+ 9-dging '#e
Messia# byG and a))ordingly &ade -se o+ i' wi'# one '#a' se' -* #i&sel+ +or '#e Messia#(
and 'oo0 '#e na&e o+ 1ar)o)#ab( '#e son o+ a s'ar( re+erring 'o N-&bers <$1J and 'ried
#i& w#e'#er #e )o-ld dis)ern a good &an +ro& a bad &anG and be)a-se #e )o-ld no'(
'#ey re9e)'ed #i& as a +alse Messia#( and )alled #i& 1ar)oEiba( '#e son o+ a lie,C 28ill:s
Co&&en'ary3
"
AM&a0e #i& o+ .-i)0 -nders'anding4li'erally( A.-i)04s)en'ed in '#e +ear o+ 6e#ova#CG
endowed wi'# a sing-lar saga)i'y in dis)erning '#e gen-ine *rin)i*le o+ religio-s +ear o+
8od( w#en i' lies dor&an' in '#e ye' -nawa0ened sinner 2M' 1$!G A) 1!$14<"G 1@$1<3
;Horsley?, 1-' Ma-rer( AHe s#all delig#' in '#e +ear o+ 8od,C T#e Hebrew &eans A'o
delig#' in '#e odorsC o+ any'#ing 2E/ %!$%"G A& >$13G As&ell(C '#a' is( Adelig#' in,C
26a&ieson4Fa-sse'41rown 1ible Co&&en'ary3
D
AT#e Hebrew 'e/' reads li'erally( Aand #is s&elling is in '#e +ear o+ '#e Lord,C In A&os
>$1 '#e Hi*#il o+

2r!"#( As&ellC3 )arries '#e n-an)e o+ As&ell wi'# delig#'( ge'

*leas-re +ro&,C T#ere '#e Lord de)lares '#a' #e does no' As&ell wi'# delig#'C 2i,e,( ge'
*leas-re +ro&3 Israel:s religio-s asse&blies( w#i)# *robably s'and by &e'ony&y +or '#e
in)ense o++ered d-ring '#ese +es'ivals, In Isa 11$% '#ere is no sa)ri+i)ial )on'e/' 'o s-gges'
s-)# a -se( b-' i' is *ossible '#a' A'#e +ear o+ '#e LordC is li0ened 'o in)ense, T#is )o&ing
0ing will ge' '#e sa&e 0ind o+ delig#' +ro& obeying 2+earing3 '#e Lord( as a dei'y does in
'#e in)ense o++ered by wors#i*ers, Some regard such an explanation as strained in this
context, and prefer to omit this line from the text as a virtual dittograph of the preceding
statement.C 2NET 1ible No'es on Isa 11$%3
1!
@
San#edrin D%b
J
Isaia# 11$% 26PL3
"
8ill:s Co&&en'ary #''*$NNgoodboo0s+ree,)o&N)o&&en'ariesNgillN%!11,#'&lIIsaia#11$%
D
#''*$NNwww,))el,orgN))elN9a&iesonN9+b,/,//iii,/ii,#'&l
1!
#''*$NNne',bible,orgNverse,*#*Kboo0OIsaP)#a*'erO11PverseO%

AA,L, AAnd s#all &a0e #i& o+ .-i)0 -nders'anding,C 4 I,E, derives +ro& ( A'o
s&ell(C and e/*lains w#y '#is verb #as been )#osen 'o signi+y A'o in.-ireC or A'o
inves'iga'e *ro*erly,C
11
A%, And will &a0e #i& saga)io-s, ;And s#all &a0e #i& o+ .-i)0 -nders'anding, 2Heb,
s)en' or s&ell,3 Q Eng, Ler, his snuffing up with pleasure] T#e verb RST( 2ria)#(3 w#i)# is
#ere *-' in '#e Hi*#il )on9-ga'ion( signi+ies li'erally 'o s&ellG b-' &ay also be e/*lained
in an a)'ive sense( as &eaning 'o give a 0een s&ellG w#i)# agrees be''er( I '#in0( wi'# '#is
*assage( so '#a' '#is saga)i'y &ay be also in)l-ded a&ong '#e gi+'s o+ '#e S*iri', And '#is
e++e)' is *e)-liarly a**li)able 'o '#e *erson o+ C#ris'( na&ely( '#a' +ar beyond w#a' '#e
godly are able 'o )on)eive( #e is endowed wi'# s#rewd dis)ern&en' +or governing #is
*eo*le, 5e o-g#' 'o a''end( +irs' o+ all( 'o '#e &e'a*#or in '#e verb s&ell( w#i)# &eans
'#a' C#ris' will be so s#rewd '#a' #e will no' need 'o learn +ro& w#a' #e #ears( or +ro&
w#a' #e sees; +or by s&elling alone #e will *er)eive w#a' wo-ld o'#erwise be
-n0nown.
1
6ewis# and early C#ris'ian )o&&en'a'ors agree on '#e 'ransla'ion and &eaning o+ '#e 'e/'
des*i'e '#e +a)' '#a' C#ris'ian )o&&en'a'ors a**ly '#ese verses o+ Isaia# 'o 6es-s, I' is
no'able '#a' a))ording 'o '#e 8os*els( 6es-s did no' *ass A'#e s&ell 'es'C i,e,( being able
'o 9-dge wi'#o-' A'#e sig#' o+ #is eyesC$
AAnd w#en '#ey #ad bli!"#l!$! %i&( '#ey s'r-)0 #i& on '#e +a)e( and as0ed #i&(
saying( Pro*#esy( w#o is i' '#a' s&o'e '#eeKC L-0e $@< 2)*,Ma''#ew @$@"G Mar0
1<$@>3,
A n-&ber o+ s)#olars #ave s-gges'ed -nders'anding '#is blind+olding s)ene as a 'es'
1%
'#a'
bo'# 6es-s and 1ar 7o)#ba 2see above3 +ailed,
1<
5#a' is ra'#er a&aEing abo-' all '#is is revealed i+ we loo0 a' a li'eral 'ransla'ion o+ '#e
Hebrew 'e/' o+ v, % in'o Englis#$
He s#all s&ell in '#e +ear o+ '#e LordG
He s#all no' 9-dge by w#a' #is eyes see(
Or de)ide by w#a' #is ears #ear,
11
T#e )o&&en'ary o+ Ibn EEra on Isaia# 1y Abra#a& ben MeUr Ibn EEra( Mi)#ael FriedlVnder
P-blis#ed by P-b, +or '#e So)ie'y o+ Hebrew Li'era'-re( 1"J% I'e& no'es$ v, %
1
Co&&en'ary On T#e 1oo0 o+ T#e Pro*#e' Isaia# by 6o#n Calvin Transla'ed +ro& '#e original La'in by
T#e Rev, 5illia& Pringle 4 Lol,1 C#ris'ian Classi)s E'#eral Library( 8rand Ra*ids( MI 4
#''*$NNwww,))el,org
1%
6,D,M, Derre''( in Law in the ew Testament 2London$ Dar'on( Long&an P Todd( 1DJ%3( O''o 1e'E(
!ufstieg und iedergang der "#manischen $elt II >N1( @%J4%DG 6,C, O:Neill( AT#e Mo)0ing o+ 1ar
7o)#ba and 6es-s(C Journal for the Study of Judaism %1N1 2!!!3$ %D4<1,
1<
6,C, O:Neill *oin's o-' '#a' '#e only o'#er eviden)e we #ave abo-' '#e dea'# o+ 1ar 7o)#ba 2E-sebi-s
%cclesiastical &istory <(@(%3 *oin's 'o #is e/e)-'ion a' '#e #ands o+ '#e Ro&ans in AD 1%<N1%> 2'#e
eig#'een'# year o+ Hadrian3, O:Neill )on)l-des +ro& '#is '#a' '#e Tal&-d #as 'rans+or&ed a s'ory '#a' was
originally abo-' 6es-s in'o a s'ory abo-' 1ar 7o)#ba,
%
I' is )lear '#a' '#e verb in '#e +irs' )la-se o+ Isaia# 11$% is '#e verb RST to smell, T#ere are
no 'e/'-al varian's, And ye' 2as '#e varia'ions o+ '#e 'ransla'ed 'e/' s#ow a' '#e end3
genera'ions o+ 1ible 'ransla'ors in '#e Englis#4s*ea0ing world #ave s'-&bled w#en '#ey
rea)#ed '#is line o+ 'e/'( a**aren'ly be)a-se +ew did no' #ave '#e )-l'-ral sensi'ivi'y or
i&agina'ion 'o )on)eive o+ w#a' i' &ig#' &ean +or '#e &essia# 'o 9-dge or de)ide on '#e
basis o+ #is sense o+ s&ell,
1>
Modern )o&&en'aries sin)e '#e las' #al+ o+ '#e 1D
'#
)en'-ry do no' 'ransla'e WRSX TY Z[\
2-]eri)#]-3 as As&ell,C So&e #ave #eld '#a' WRSX TY Z[\ is a *roble& o+ '#e )orr-*'ion o+ an
an)ien' 'e/' in i's 'rans&ission *ro)ess, I' &ay no' #ave always been '#a' way, Resear)#
in re)en' years s#ows in)reasing eviden)e '#a' o-r -nders'anding o+ '#e senses was on)e
very di++eren' in '#e 5es' and i' is s'ill di++eren' 'oday in *ar's o+ '#e world no' ye'
a++e)'ed by '#e &odern wes'ern worldview,
1@
AIn '#e 8arden o+ Eden( Ada& and C#ava de+iled +o-r o-' o+ '#eir +ive senses, All '#e
senses e/)e*' +or one are &en'ioned 4 sig#'( 'o-)#( 'as'e( #earing 2see 8enesis %$@4"3,
T#ey #eard '#e ser*en':s all-ring words( '#e +r-i' was Aa delig#' 'o '#e eyesC( '#ey
'o-)#ed i' by 'a0ing +ro& i's +r-i' and '#ey 'as'ed i', 1-' '#e sense o+ As&ellC re&ained
-n'arnis#ed, I' was -ns-llied by and no' involved in '#e sin and so re&ained '#e only *-re
and -nble&is#ed sense,C 21nei =issa)#er( Adar 1$1!3,
1J
AT#e *ower o+ s)en' is none'#eless o+ a di++eren' )lass 'o '#e o'#er senses, A))ording 'o
6ewis# eso'eri) 'radi'ion( '#e odors e&i''ed by *eo*le re+le)' '#eir ini.-i'ies 2^o#ar
%$1"@$13, Indeed( i' is re)o-n'ed '#a' '#e #oly 0abbalis'( Rabbi =i'E#a0 L-ria 21>%<4
1>J3( )o-ld iden'i+y *eo*le:s sins a))ording 'o '#eir s&ell,
AIndeed Isaia# '#e *ro*#e' singles o-' '#e +a)-l'y o+ s&ell o+ '#e &essia# 2see Isaia# 11$%G
1, San#edrin D%b3C
1"
I' wo-ld a**ear '#en '#a' '#e gi+' o+ As&ellC as one o+ '#e a''rib-'es o+ '#e &essia# is
&ore '#an a &ere &e'a*#or, However wi'# '#e rise o+ s)ien)e sin)e '#e 'i&e o+ '#e
Enlig#'en&en'( '#e i&*or'an)e o+ s&ell as a sensory o+ *er)e*'ion or as a reliable &eans
o+ 0nowing de)lined, To '#e &odern wes'ern &ind( '#is is si&*ly no' a )on)eivable
no'ion '#a' #as any basis in reali'y, T#ere is no s)ien'i+i) &e'#od on w#i)# one &ay
observe s&elling as a &e'#od o+ 'r-e dis)ern&en', S&ell is s-)# a negle)'ed sense in '#e
&odern 5es' '#a' we )an s)ar)ely )on)eive o+ i' as being an i&*or'an' s-b9e)' o+ )-l'-ral
elabora'ion, T#e li'eral sense o+ '#e Isaia# 'e/' wo-ld see& 'o give so&e indi)a'ion '#a'
'#is was no' always '#e )ase, In '#e *re4Enlig#'en&en' era( i' was *o*-larly believed '#a'
1>
T#e e/*lana'ion by 1, D-#& in 1D1< #as be)o&e '#e s'andard e/*lana'ion o+ '#e verse, He says '#a' '#e
verse is Fa varian' wi'# &eaningless 'e/',: 1, D-#&( 'as (uch Jesa)a 28_''ingen$ Landen#oe)0 P
R-*re)#'( 1D1<3( 1!@G .-o'ed in Ri')#ie( AT#e Nose 7nows(C @D
1@
see 8,R, Driver AAbbrevia'ions in '#e Massore'i) Te/'C( Te/'-s I 21D@!3( *,1D( R,E, Cle&en's( Isaia# 14
%D 2NC1G 8rand Ra*ids$ Eerd&ans( 1D"!3( *,1%G O''o 7aiser( Isaia# 141$A Co&&en'ary 2OTLG
London$SCM Press( 1DJ3( *,1>@
1J
Rabbi Os#er C#ai& Levene 4 T#e Living Law 4 Pars#as 7ora)# 4 7e'ores$ I' S&ells Divine 4 Tora#,org,
1"
5orld o+ O-r Sages$ Swee' S)en's( 1y Rabbi Levi Coo*er( O)'ober <( !!J( Pardes Ins'i'-'e o+ 6ewis#
S'-dies( #''*$NNwww,*ardes,org,ilNonline`learningNwee0ly4'al&-dN!!J41!4@,*#*
<
grea' sinners )o-ld be re)ogniEed by '#eir s'en)#, Lir'-es and +laws -ndis)erned by '#e
senses )o-ld be de'e)'ed by '#e sense o+ s&ell, T#e &edieval 6ewis# sage Ibn EEra no'es
'#a' s&ell is '#e &os' reliable o+ '#e senses,
1D
T#e )o&&on e/*ressions Aso&e'#ing doesn:' s&ell rig#'(C and A'#is s'in0sC -sed 'o
ill-s'ra'e si'-a'ions '#a' +eel in'-i'ively wrong( all-de 'o '#e asso)ia'ion be'ween s&ell
and 9-dg&en', S&ell is )onne)'ed 'o in'-i'ion and ins*ira'ion( bo'# o+ w#i)# e&ana'e
+ro& a s-*er)ons)io-s level above logi) and reason, T#e &essia# re*resen's '#e
)ons-&&a'e s'a'e o+ ongoing ins*ira'ion +ro& '#e LordG '#ere+ore( #e will be able 'o
9-dge '#ro-g# #is re)'i+ied sense o+ s&ell,
In '#e 1ibli)al worldview( s&ell &-s' #ave o))-*ied a signi+i)an' *ar' as one:s sensory
and sy&boli) )ons)io-sness and in '#e Isaia# 'e/' s-*erior 'o #earing and sig#', I' is
in'eres'ing 'o no'e '#a' &any lang-ages )on+la'e +eeling and s&elling as iden'i)al, For
e/a&*le( T#e Englis# word As)en'C )o&es +ro& '#e Fren)# sentir w#i)# )arries '#e
do-ble &eaning o+ 'o +eel and 'o s&ell b-' is &ore )o&&only -sed as an e/*ression o+
+eeling, T#e *#rase Ane vo-s sen'eE de &oiKC Can be li'erally 'ransla'ed as Ado yo- s&ell
&eKC as i' is &os' )o&&only 'ransla'ed( Ado yo- +eel &eKC
!
T#is 'e/' wi'# i's varian' 'ransla'ions and in'er*re'a'ions re+le)' a E-ro45es'ern
worldview *aradig&, T#e li'eral rendering o+ '#e 'e/' )anno' be 'ransla'ed wi'#in a
5es'ern )-l'-ral &ilie- '#a' +inds a #o&e in observable reali'y or a #-&an di&ension, I'
wo-ld in +a)' a**ear non4sensi)al '#a' a #-&an )o-ld li'erally 9-dge by s)en'( s&elling(
sni++ing or w#i++ing -nless -nders'ood in a *-rely &e'a*#ori)al way, S-)# A-n)er'ain'iesC
in 'ransla'ion or in'er*re'a'ion &ay be d-e 'o an a**aren' in)ongr-i'y be'ween '#e an)ien'
Israeli'e and &odern worldviews and no'( as so&e #ave #eld a *roble& o+ '#e )orr-*'ion
o+ an an)ien' 'e/' in i's 'rans&ission *ro)ess, However( '#ere is wi'#in A+ri)an religio-s
)ons)io-sness an A+ri)an worldview '#a' )an be bo-g#' 'o bear on '#is 'e/' '#a' a**ears
'o lend i'sel+ in so&e ways 'o valida'e a 'radi'ional rabbini) -nders'anding,
A Case S'-dy 4 Legio Maria o+ A+ri)an C#-r)# Mission
Dr, Ian Ri')#ie *resen's an in'eres'ing )ase s'-dy o+ '#e Legio Maria o+ A+ri)an C#-r)#
Mission o+ '#e L-o *eo*le in 7enya Eas' A+ri)a, One o+ '#e &os' *ro&inen' +ea'-res o+
'#is C#-r)# are *eo*le )alled in '#e L-o lang-age ngwecho &eaning A)#ie+ sni++ersC,
T#is is be)a-se '#ey sni++( or s&ell o-' '#e *resen)e o+ evil, T#is 'er& ngwecho re+ers 'o
'#e role *layed by )er'ain gi+'ed *ersons in '#e L-o Tradi'ional Religion( w#o )o-ld(
'#ro-g# '#e sense o+ s&ell( sni++ o-' evil and dis*ose o+ i', T#ey )an Asni++C anyone 'o
sense o-' w#e'#er '#a' *erson:s in'en'ions are evil or good, To do '#is '#ey so&e'i&es
sni++ '#e air, I+ '#e *erson a''e&*'ing 'o en'er a )#-r)# +or e/a&*le were sensed 'o be o+
evil in'en'( '#en #e or s#e wo-ld no' be *er&i''ed 'o en'er, T#is as*e)' o+ A+ri)an
Tradi'ional Religion is also +o-nd a&ong o'#er e'#ni) gro-*s in A+ri)a,
1
1D
FriedlVnder( o*, )i',( *,@!,
!
A )o&&on idio& -sed in A+ri)an A&eri)an )-l'-ral *arlan)e 'o &ean( Ado yo- -nders'and &e wi'#o-'
&y saying '#e wordsC *o*-lariEed as '#e 'i'le song by A&eri)an RP1Nso-l singer( An'#ony Ha&il'on in '#e
so-nd'ra)0 'o '#e !!J +il& A&eri)an 8angs'er, I' does no' &ean '#e 'a)'ile A+eelC +ro& 'o-)#,
>
T#e Legio Maria re*resen's an A+ri)an a))-l'-ra'ed C#ris'ian religion '#a' #as dee* roo's
in 'radi'ional A+ri)an religio-s )ons)io-sness +o-nd all over A+ri)a, 5e &ay e/*e)' '#a'
s-)# a )ons)io-sness 'o in+l-en)e an A+ri)an -nders'anding and in'er*re'a'ion o+ '#e
1ible, Ri')#ie:s )ase s'-dy de&ons'ra'es '#a' ol+a)'ion in &any A+ri)an 'radi'ional
religions is )onsidered a &eans o+ dis)ern&en' in several res*e)'s s-*erior 'o any o'#er
sense( +or i' )an reveal i&*or'an' '#ings no' a))essible '#ro-g# any o'#er sense,
5#a' is &ore is '#a' '#e A+ri)an worldview as seen +ro& A+ri)an a))-l'-ra'ed religio-s
'radi'ion is )loser 'o '#e 'radi'ional worldview o+ an)ien' Israel( '#an ei'#er o+ '#e& is 'o
'#a' o+ '#e &odern E-ro45es'ern worldview, T#e worldview o+ 'radi'ional A+ri)a( and o+
an)ien' Israel e.-ally -nders'and s&ell as &ore '#an a &e'a*#or o+ 0nowing( and '#-s '#e
*assage &a0es sense 'o an Israeli'e( as well as 'o an A+ri)an diviner or a &e&ber o+ '#e
Legio Maria, T#is is an e/a&*le o+ o'#er *ossibili'ies '#a' an A+ri)an worldview )an #ave
+or new insig#'s in'o +or&erly di++i)-l' 1ible *assages '#a' o'#erwise lend '#e&selves 'o
&-l'i*le and varian' 'ransla'ions and in'er*re'a'ions d-e 'o A-n)er'ain'ies,C
1ibli)al s)#olars and )ri'i)s o+'en )i'e &any as*e)'s o+ Israeli'e religion and bibli)al
'radi'ions as '#e res-l' o+ lo)al Canaani'e a))-l'-ra'ions s-)# as '#e na&e +or 8od A%l,C
Isaia# 11$% see&s 'o *oin' 'o an e/*ression or an en)-l'-ra'ion +o-nd only in A+ri)a, I+
'#is is 'r-e( '#is &ay *oin' 'o '#e &a''er o+ Israeli'e origins '#a' )o-n'er *o*-lar
)on)e*'ions,

T#e *#rase A)an yo- +eel &eKC #as be)o&e a )o&&on idio&, To say A)an yo- s&ell
&eKC wo-ld be -n)onven'ional 'o '#e &odern wes'ern &ind, How )an one &e'a*#ori)ally
s&ell '#e '#o-g#'s and in'en'ions o+ ano'#er *ersonK In '#e do&inan' )-l'-re( '#ere is
no'#ing '#a' &a0es i&*li)i' )o&*arison be'ween s&elling and 0nowing( b-' '#a' wo-ld
de*end on -*on ones( )-l'-re( 'radi'ion and worldview, S&ell is no' 9-s' a biologi)al and
*sy)#ologi)al e/*erien)eG i' is also a so)ial and )-l'-ral *#eno&enon, T#ere a**ears 'o
be so&e i&*li)a'ion '#a' individ-als give o++ so&e 0ind o+ s&ell '#ro-g# '#eir a)'ions(
'#o-g#'s( e&o'ions( a''i'-des( and words,
T#e vario-s 1ible 'ransla'ions o+ Isaia# 11$% below do no' all )arry '#e li'eral sense o+ '#e
'e/' w#i)# we #ave seen wo-ld &a0e li''le sense re&oved +ro& '#e )-l'-re o+ an)ien'
Israel as *reserved in 6ewis# 'radi'ion and '#e e/*ression o+ '#a' li'eral sense as seen in
'radi'ional A+ri)an religion,
A))ording 'o '#e li'eral sense( WRSX TY Z[\ 2-]eri)#]-3 'ransla'ed as As&ellC re+ers 'o '#e
r#inen)e*#alon( '#e *#ysiologi)al +a)-l'ies o+ ol+a)'ion or '#e nose i'sel+ b-' i' is -s-ally
'ransla'ed &e'a*#ori)ally in vario-s 'er&s as Asense(C Adelig#'(C Aani&a'ed(C Abrea'#(C
Aen9oy&en'(C A+ragran)e(C A.-i)0 -nders'anding(C Are+res#(C Asaga)io-s(: and so on,
1
Ri')#ie( Ian( T#e Messia# 5#ose Nose 7nows Or$ S-rvivals o+ A+ri)an Religion on C#ris'ianiEed 7enya$
T#e Legio Maria as Case S'-dy( Mar)# >( 1DD", 4 #''*$NNwww%,sy&*a'i)o,)aNian,ri')#ieNLegio,#'&

6a&es L, 7-gal in #is boo0 aHow 'o read '#e 1iblea wri'es abo-' '#e s)#olarly #y*o'#esis aT#e
Canaani'es Are bsa 2*,%"13 )i'ing ar)#eologi)al da'a '#a' indi)a'es '#a' ins'ead o+ a vas' )on.-es' '#ere was
essen'ially a *o*-la'ion s#i+' in w#i)# '#e Israeli'es ended -* in)or*ora'ing in'o '#e Canaani'e 2Ha&i'eN
C-s#i'e3 *o*-la'ion,
@
S)ri*'-re &eans w#a' S)ri*'-re says even w#en i' disagrees or is no' )ongr-en' wi'# o-r
own )on)e*'ions,
%
Larian's in Englis# Transla'ions o+ Isaia# 11$%
6ewis# S'-dy 1ible
He s#all sense '#e 'r-'# by #is reveren)e +or '#e LORD,
Li', AHis sensing ;s#all be?CG &eaning o+ Heb, -n)er'ain
6ewis# P-bli)a'ion So)ie'y Tana)#( 1D1J
And #is delight s#all be in '#e +ear o+ '#e Lord
6-dai)a Press Lersion
And #e s#all be animated by '#e +ear o+ '#e Lord
T#e 6er-sale& 1ible
2T#e +ear o+ =a#we# is his *reath3
New 5orld Transla'ion
and '#ere will be en)oyment by #i& in '#e +ear o+ 6e#ova#
T#e S)ri*'-res 2Ins'i'-'e +or S)ri*'-re Resear)#3
and s#all &a0e Hi& *reathe in '#e +ear o+ ;'e'ragra&a'on?,
T#e E&*#asiEed 1ible
so will #e +ind fragrance in '#e reveren)e o+ =a#we#
New A&eri)an S'andard 1ible 2c1DD>3
And He will delight in '#e +ear o+ '#e LORD
8OD:S 5ORDd Transla'ion 2c1DD>3
He will gladly *ear '#e +ear o+ '#e LORD,
7ing 6a&es 1ible
And s#all &a0e #i& o+ +uic, understanding in '#e +ear o+ '#e LORD$
2&argin$ -nders'anding, Heb, s)en', or( s&ell3
A&eri)an S'andard Lersion
And #is delight s#all be in '#e +ear o+ 6e#ova#
1ible in 1asi) Englis#
And #e will no' *e guided in #is 9-dging by w#a' #e sees( or give de)isions by '#e #earing
o+ #is ears$
%
S*inoEa( Tra)'a'-s T#eologo4Poli'i)-s 21@J!3
J
Do-ay4R#ei&s 1ible
And #e s#all be filled with the spirit o+ '#e +ear o+ '#e Lord,
Darby 1ible Transla'ion
And #is delight will be in '#e +ear o+ 6e#ova#G
Englis# Revised Lersion
And #is delight s#all be in '#e +ear o+ '#e LORD$
5ebs'er:s 1ible Transla'ion
And will &a0e #i& o+ +uic, understanding in '#e +ear o+ '#e LORD$
5orld Englis# 1ible
His delight will be in '#e +ear o+ =a#we#,
=o-ng:s Li'eral Transla'ion
To refresh #i& in '#e +ear o+ 6e#ova#(
New Cen'-ry Lersion3
T#is 0ing will be glad to o*ey '#e Lord,
T#e Message
Fear4o+48od will be all #is )oy and delight,
New In'erna'ional Reader:s Lersion
T#e 1ran)# will ta,e delight in res*e)'ing '#e Lord,
Con'e&*orary Englis# Lersion
His greatest )oy will be 'o obey '#e LORD,
"