ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

SIULAI 15, 2023

 בני בליעל Sons of Belial

NGAAHI FOHA ‘O PILEALI

1 SAMUEL 2:12

NOW THE SONS OF ELI WERE WORTHLESS MEN. THEY DID NOT KNOW THE LORD.

1 SAMIUELA 2:12

Pea ko e ongo foha ‘o ‘Īlai ko e hako‘i Pileali: na‘e ‘ikai te na toka‘i ‘a e ‘Eiki, pe ko e konisitūtone ‘o e taula‘eiki mo e kakai. 

Worthless men, good-for-nothings, ne'er-do-wells-so we label those whose only contribution to society is negative. Hebrew uses the colorful expression b'ne Belial, "sons of Belial," to describe such people. The sons of Eli, for instance, were "the sons of Belial." Hannah defended herself when Eli assumed she was drunk, saying, "Do not regard your servant as a bat-Belial [daughter of Belial]" (1:16). Wisdom literature equates a "person of Belial" with a "wicked man" (Prov. 6:12). The origin of the word "Belial" is uncertain. Over time it became another name for Satan, as in the Dead Sea Scrolls and other Jewish literature.

This Hebrew phrase carried over into the NT as well. Paul says, "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols?" (2 Cor. 6:14-16). Christ has called us out of darkness to walk in the light of his love, wisdom, and holiness. We are not b'ne Belial but "sons of the living God" (Rom. 9:26), brothers and sisters of Christ.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, when the cords of death encompass us and the torrents of Belial assail us, be near to save us by your abundant mercy (Ps. 18:4).