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Rod, StaffAid to Bible Understanding
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punishment to come upon the nation of Assyria for thus thinking that it was greater than the One using it and for lifting itself up against him.—Isa. 10:5, 15.
When Jehovah made a covenant for the kingdom with David, he said of the line of kings of David’s dynasty: “I myself shall become his father, and he himself will become my son. When he does wrong, I will also reprove him with the rod of men and with the strokes of the sons of Adam.” (2 Sam. 7:14) Here the rod of discipline that Jehovah as a Father would use was the authority of the governments of the world, such as Babylon. This nation was used to overturn the kingdom of God in the hands of the kings of David’s line, until ‘he should come whose legal right it is.’ (Ezek. 21:27) In 70 C.E., the Roman armies under General Titus were a “rod” to execute punishment on unfaithful Jerusalem.—Dan. 9:26, 27.
Wrong use of the rod
The governments and judges of earthly nations often used their rod of authority in an unrighteous way, even fighting against God and his people. When Jesus Christ was brought before the Jewish high court and before Pilate the Roman governor, he was afflicted, mocked, spit upon, beaten and finally killed. The Jewish leaders first used their authority against Jesus, and then made the “rod” heavier by turning him over to the Roman government for execution. The prophet Micah foretold such affliction in these words: “With the rod they will strike upon the cheek the judge of Israel.” (Mic. 5:1) After Jesus’ death and resurrection the Jewish rulers used their authority to persecute Jesus’ followers, and in many instances Rome and the other governments of earth likewise used their rod of authority in a wrong way. For this they would be brought to account by God.—John 19:8-11; 2 Thess. 1:6-9.
Parental authority
“Rod” is used also to symbolize the authority of parents over their children. The book of Proverbs makes many references to this authority, the term symbolizing all forms of discipline used, including the literal rod used for chastisement. The parent is actually responsible before God to exercise this rod, controlling the child. If the parent fails in this he will bring ruination and death to his child and disgrace and God’s disapproval to himself also. (Prov. 10:1; 15:20; 17:25; 19:13) “Foolishness is tied up with the heart of a boy; the rod of discipline is what will remove it far from him.” “Do not hold back discipline from the mere boy. In case you beat him with the rod, he will not die. With the rod you yourself should beat him, that you may deliver his very soul from Sheol itself.” (Prov. 22:15; 23:13, 14) In fact, “the one holding back his rod is hating his son, but the one loving him is he that does look for him with discipline.”—Prov. 13:24; 19:18; 29:15; 1 Sam. 2:27-36.
Jehovah God, as the ‘Father of the spiritual lives’ of Christians, does not spare the “rod” toward his children. The inspired Christian writer of the letter to the Hebrews said: “God is dealing with you as with sons. For what son is he that a father does not discipline? . . . but he does so for our profit that we may partake of his holiness.” (Heb. 12:7, 9, 10) In administering discipline to the Christian congregation Jehovah placed authority in the hands of faithful men, particularly the apostles. This authority was to ‘build up the brothers and not to tear them down.’ (2 Cor. 10:1-11; see OVERSEER [Relative authority].) It included the right to exercise discipline toward wrongdoers. When the congregation at Corinth deviated from righteousness and began to look to men rather than to Christ, Paul wrote correcting them and said: “What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and mildness of spirit?”—1 Cor. 4:21.
The staff of leadership, shepherding
The shepherd used his staff or crook in directing, defending and helping his flock. Jehovah and his Son Jesus Christ provide similar shepherding for God’s flock of people. Jehovah often spoke of Israel, in covenant relationship with him, as his flock. David wrote: “Jehovah is my Shepherd. . . . He leads me in the tracks of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk in the valley of deep shadow, I fear nothing bad. For you are with me; your rod and your staff are the things that comfort me.” (Ps. 23:1-4) Micah prayed: “Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your inheritance.”—Mic. 7:14; compare John 10:11, 14; Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 2:25; 5:4.
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RodanimAid to Bible Understanding
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RODANIM
(Roʹda·nim).
Listed as one of Javan’s four sons at 1 Chronicles 1:7. There is considerable uncertainty as to the correct spelling of the name, since the Masoretic text at 1 Chronicles 1:7 has “Rodanim,” whereas many Hebrew manuscripts and the Latin Vulgate here read “Dodanim.” “Dodanim” also appears in the Masoretic text at Genesis 10:4, where, however, the Septuagint Version and the Samaritan Pentateuch read “Rodanim.” In Hebrew the letter “r” (ר) and the letter “d” (ד) are very similar and hence could be confused by a copyist. (Thus “Riphath” in the Masoretic text of Genesis 10:3 appears in the same Hebrew text as “Diphath” at 1 Chronicles 1:6.) Most translations present both names; The Anchor Bible (Genesis, 1964), however, gives “Rodanim” in Genesis, and The Jerusalem Bible (1966) reads “the Dananites,” perhaps due to considering the name as relating to an ancient people of such name in Cilicia in Asia Minor. Many lexicographers consider “Rodanim” to be the preferred reading, but there is no certainty.
Those who prefer “Dodanim” as the correct rendering connect the descendants of Javan’s son with the people of Dardania, based on the use of “Dordanim” in the Jerusalem Talmud and in the Targum of Jonathan (an Aramaic paraphrase of the Pentateuch). However, Dardania, a place near ancient Troy in NW Asia Minor, is considered by many to be too obscure to have figured in the list of the distribution of the nations as set forth in Genesis and Chronicles. The same might be said concerning the “Dananites” referred to in The Jerusalem Bible translation. (Also in the Rand McNally Bible Atlas [1966], p. 48).
Most commentators, therefore, reading the name as “Rodanim,” consider it likely that the people descending from this son of Javan populated the island of Rhodes and the neighboring islands of the Aegean Sea.
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RoebuckAid to Bible Understanding
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ROEBUCK
A small deer resembling a gazelle. The roebuck stands over two feet (.6 meter) high at the shoulder and measures about four feet (1.2 meters) in length. Only the males have antlers and these are shed each year. In this the roebuck differs from the gazelle with its permanent horns, usually present in both sexes. The roebuck’s summer coat is reddish brown, and this may have given the creature its Hebrew name yahh·murʹ, considered to be derived from a root meaning “redness.” This animal is not gregarious. Generally only small groups of three or four, the buck, the doe and a fawn or two, may be seen feeding together. The roebuck has one mate for life.
Being a chewer of the cud and a splitter of the hoof, the roebuck was acceptable for food according to the terms of the Mosaic law. (Deut. 14:5, 6) The flesh of this creature was one of the regularly provided meats for King Solomon’s table.—1 Ki. 4:22, 23.
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RogelimAid to Bible Understanding
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ROGELIM
(Ro·geʹlim) [(place of) fullers or spies].
A town in Gilead and home of David’s friend Barzillai. (2 Sam. 17:27-29; 19:31, 32) Some geographers tentatively place Rogelim at Tell Barsina, less than sixteen miles (c. 25 kilometers) SE of the Sea of Galilee. Wadi er-Rujeili, near there, possibly preserves the name Rogelim.
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RohgahAid to Bible Understanding
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ROHGAH
(Rohʹgah).
Second-listed son, of Shemer in the genealogy of Asher.—1 Chron. 7:30, 34.
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