Question Corner

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 5, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 18.

“Enquire and make search and ask diligently.”

767. What is the Meaning of the Word “Hell”?

What is the meaning of the word “hell” in Matt. 10:28; Luke 12:5? ERNEST READER.

The word is the same in both texts. It is from Gehenna, the place of future punishment of the wicked. It comes from a Hebrew word, meaning the Valley of Hinnom, where the filth and offal from the city of Jerusalem were consumed. It is therefore the symbol of utter destruction.

768. “We Fly Away.” Ps. 90:10.

Please explain Ps. 90:10, “We fly away.” Does the original give any light? E. E.

It simply means to pass away. The original word is translated, “be faint,” “flee away,” “fly,” etc. It simply means to pass away suddenly, pass out of existence; the place we were one moment knows us not the next.

769. Eli and Samuel.

Why is Eli always referred to as an example for parents to avoid, while nothing is ever said about Samuel? It seems that his children did not turn out much better than Eli’s. J. E. G.

Doubtless because of what the Lord said, as recorded in 1 Sam. 2:22–30; 3:13, 14. His neglect seemed to be very great, while his sons were constantly with him. Samuel’s work for Israel took him much away from his home. His neglect was a mistake for Israel’s sake; Eli’s seems to have been to shirk an unpleasant duty.

770. Matt. 12:40 with John 2:19.

Please show the harmony between these scriptures: “As Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Matt. 12:40. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” John 2:19. O. B.

What is meant by “heart of the earth”? Does it mean the grave, or does it mean the powers of earth? Our Lord was in the hands of the powers of earth from the time of His betrayal and arrest. See John 12:23, 27; Luke 22:53. The three days and nights then began, parts of days being counted as whole days, as is common in Scripture, and as is shown in Luke 24:21.

771. Origin of the Canaanites.

Please tell me whether I am right or wrong in believing that the Canaanites were and are the colored or black race? Were not the Egyptians some of the descendants of Ham, and the Israelites the descendants of Shem, and the Gentiles the descendants of Japheth? U. A. N.

The negroes of America were not descendants of the Canaanites. See the sons of Ham in Gen. 10:6. The Canaanites doubtless descended from Canaan, the Egyptians from Mizraim, and the darker tribes of Africa from Cush. All of the sons of Ham may have been of darker complexion than their brethren. The hot climate and soil doubtless modified the different tribes. The Israelites descended from Shem; the white, or Aryan race, as the European nations from Japheth. The term Gentiles is generally applied to all those nations—Shemitic, Hamitic, and Japhetic—outside of Israel.

772. The Sons of God.

Who were the “sons of God” in Gen. 6:2 that took them wives of the daughters of men? V. A. U.

The “sons of God” were sons of Seth, men who worshiped God, and who called “themselves by the name of the Lord.” Gen. 4:26, margin. The “daughters of men” were descendants of the wicked who knew not God. All were descendants of Adam. Your idea that the first and second chapters of Genesis both give an account of the same creation of man, one in general and the other in particular, is correct.