שַׁאֲנַ֨ן מוֹאָ֜ב מִנְּעוּרָ֗יו וְשֹׁקֵ֥ט הוּא֙ אֶל־שְׁמָרָ֔יו וְלֹֽא־הוּרַ֤ק מִכְּלִי֙ אֶל־כֶּ֔לִי וּבַגּוֹלָ֖ה לֹ֣א הָלָ֑ךְ עַל־כֵּ֗ן עָמַ֤ד טַעְמוֹ֙ בּ֔וֹ וְרֵיח֖וֹ לֹ֥א נָמָֽר׃ (ס)
Dès son jeune âge, Moab vivait dans la quiétude et reposait en paix sur ses lies; il n’a pas été transvasé d’un récipient dans un autre et n’a pas connu le chemin de l’exil. Aussi son goût a-t-il persisté et son parfum ne s’est point altéré
Guide for the Perplexed
THE term ‘amad (he stood) is a homonym signifying in the first instance “to stand upright,” as “When he stood (be-‘omdo) before Pharaoh” (Gen. 41:46); “Though Moses and Samuel stood (ya‘amod)” (Jer. 15:1); “He stood by them” (Gen. 18:8). It further denotes “cessation and interruption,” as “but they stood still (‘amedu) and answered no more” (Job 32:16); “and she ceased (va-ta‘amod) to bear” (Gen. 29:35). Next it signifies “to be enduring and lasting,” as, “that they may continue (yo‘amedu) many days” (Jer. 32:14); “Then shalt thou be able to endure (‘amod)” (Exod. 18:23); “His taste remained (‘amad) in him” (Jer. 48:11), i.e., it has continued and remained in existence without any change: “His righteousness standeth for ever” (Ps. 111:3), i.e., it is permanent and everlasting. The verb applied to God must be understood in this latter sense, as in Zechariah 14:4, “And his feet shall stand (ve-‘amedu) in that day upon the Mount of Olives” (Zech. 14:4), “His causes, i.e., the events of which He is the cause, will remain efficient,” etc. This will be further elucidated when we speak of the meaning of regel (foot). (Vide infra, chap. xxviii.) In the same sense is this verb employed in Deuteronomy 5:28, “But as for thee, stand thou here by me,” and Deuteronomy 5:5, “I stood between the Lord and you.”