Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

SNARES AND TRAPS

Trapping relied on snares (nooses placed on game paths to catch anything from rabbits to pheasants; Amos 3:5), fine meshed nets (for birds; Jer. 5:26-27), large nets (for antelope; Isa. 28:13), and pits, used with nets or wooden spikes (for lions; Ezek. 19:4, 8). Trapping provided supplies for the royal court (1 Kgs. 4:23[MT 5:3]) and, especially in times of famine, for peasants.

Traps and snares are also used metaphorically in the Bible. Female prophets who make charms are like bird traps (Ezek. 13:17-23). Jerusalem is a hunted animal caught in a net (Isa. 28:13). An innocent person, snared in court, is deprived of justice (Isa. 29:21). Hidden dangers (Prov. 22:14) lie in the path of the innocent (Ps. 35:8). The righteous are at risk (Ps. 119:85) from those who seek to entrap them in immoral actions (Prov. 23:27) or in false worship (Deut. 7:16, 25).

In the NT a trap describes the unexpected arrival of the kingdom of God (Luke 21:34-35), the snare of the devil (1 Tim. 3:7; 2 Tim. 2:26), or the lure of riches (1 Tim. 6:9). Other metaphorical uses include the description of Jesus as a trap for the Jews (e.g., 1 Cor. 1:23) and the intent of the Pharisees to trap Jesus with something he might say (Mark 12:13; Luke 11:54).

William R. Domeris







Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)

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