And I came to them of the captivity, to the heap of new corn, to them that dwelt by the river Chobar, and I sat where they sat: and I remained there seven days mourning in the midst of them.
וָאָב֨וֹא אֶל־הַגּוֹלָ֜ה תֵּ֣ל אָ֠בִיב הַיֹּשְׁבִ֤ים אֶֽל־נְהַר־כְּבָר֙ ואשר וָֽאֵשֵׁ֔ב הֵ֖מָּה יוֹשְׁבִ֣ים שָׁ֑ם וָאֵשֵׁ֥ב שָׁ֛ם שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִ֖ים מַשְׁמִ֥ים בְּתוֹכָֽם׃
3 Church Fathers comment on this verse
I found myself in captivity, within the village of the captives located on the hill of Hiv near the Hobar River. It is likely that the imprisoned Jews received a message from the prophet regarding the fate of their city, their temple, and their holy artifacts.
The hand of the Lord was upon me, empowering me. I approached the captives, to a place that produced new fruit, among those residing by the river Hovar. There, I sat where they sat and spent seven days grieving alongside them. The LXX notes that the hand of the Lord was mighty upon me. I entered among the captives, being lifted up, and journeyed around the inhabitants of the river Hobar, eventually sitting with them for seven days, lamenting in their presence. Instead of our translation which refers to a place of new fruits, Aquila, Symmachus, and Theodotion utilized the Hebrew phrase thel abib, which the LXX interprets as he was lifted up, and I went around, suggesting it was preferable to convey some meaning than to leave readers confused.
From the Jewish tradition, we understand that thel abib signifies the gathering of grain or produce, which, after a time of hunger and need, offers some hope for nourishment, akin to the fragile and small Israel that resided by the river Hobar, as if revived and lifted from the ground, promising a harvest to the people of Judah. The hand of the Lord rested upon the prophet, fortifying him so he could be called a watchman and share his teachings. Yet, prior to this, he spent seven days among them, observing their actions to discern what he would later need to correct. His grief stemmed from recognizing their wickedness and the just judgment of God, aligned with the sins of the unrighteous. Instead of using the term lament, which is rendered in Hebrew as masmim, Theodotion chose the word wonder, reflecting the prophet's astonishment at their transgressions. Meanwhile, Aquila, in his second edition known among the Jews as κατὰ ἀκρίβειαν (precisely), translated it as ἠρεμάξων, indicating a sense of calmness and specificity, showing that although he was amidst the captives, his spirit remained detached from them.
I found myself in captivity and was elevated, meaning I journeyed not on foot but was transported through the air. I explored the dwellers of the river Hovar, spending time among them for seven days. Upon reaching those to whom I had been instructed, the prophet recounts that I remained silent for seven days, anticipating the divine inspiration.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS