p. 460 | Question Corner by M. C. Wilcox

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jul 27, 1915

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 42, No. 29.

Question Corner

By M. C. Wilcox

Conducted by M. C. Wilcox

154 — The Hire of a Harlot

In Deut. 23:18, the hire of a harlot is said to be an abomination to the Lord; but in Isa. 23:18, it is stated that such hire shall be holiness to the Lord. Please harmonize. A. K.

The first of the scriptures has reference to actual, continual, physical harlotry. We have samples of a similar kind in the saloon business, which preys upon the lives and characters of men. Men try to justify themselves by making gifts to the cause of God. Such gifts are an abomination. Such also would be the hire of one who is selling his or her soul to sin, continual iniquity.

The second passage, Isa. 23:18, does not have reference to physical but spiritual harlotry. Tyre is represented as being left desolate; and the visiting of Tyre after her desolation means that God would do a work for her. He did, and a Christian church was raised up in the city of Tyre. And in that Christian church there were those who gave to God their means and of the wealth of Tyre; yet the city itself did not escape the punishment that was due her.

There is another thought in connection with this merchandise and hire being holiness to Jehovah, and that is, its being devoted the same as was Jericho. Jericho was holy to Jehovah. That is, it all belonged to Him. Man must not profit by it. So when Jericho was taken, it was destroyed, or devoted. And so with Tyre. She had so sinned against God that the Lord utterly destroyed the city. No one profited by her destruction.

155 — Buying Swords

For what reason is it, probably, that Jesus instructed the apostles to buy swords, when He forbade Peter to use the blade when he wanted to defend the Lord? INQUIRER.

It is generally held that this was done simply that the Scriptures might be fulfilled. They did not need to buy swords, for they had sufficient without them; but the Lord took that occasion to give to His people instruction for all time when He directed Peter to put up the sword into its place, and declared that “they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.”

156 — Chronology of Nehemiah

In the margin of Neh. 1:1 it says, “B. C. about 446”; and in the margin of Neh. 13:23 I find, “About 434.” This makes a period of about twelve years; but in the notes on the Old Testament it is stated that the book of Nehemiah covers a period of thirty-two years—445 to 413. Why is there such a great difference in the length of the period?

The difference between the thirty-two years and the twelve years can be understood by this fact,—that the dates at the beginning of chapters refer only to the time of the events with which the chapter opens. For instance, the Bible before us, B. C. 445 is given at the beginning of chapter 13. That simply has reference to the day in which the reading took place that is there mentioned; but those who have given special attention to chronology, place the latter part of chapter 13 twenty years later. “Prideaux’s Connection Between the Old and the New Testament” gives a chapter or two on this very thing.