This is my one hundred thirty-sixth monthly teaching letter and continues my twelfth year of publication. This is another in a series on the apostle Paul, and we’ll address what Paul meant by the term “beast” at Hebrews 12:20 where he stated: “For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart.” In order to cover the term “beast”, when used as an idiom throughout Scripture, we will start with a much misunderstood passage found at Jeremiah 31:27 which is rendered thusly by the KJV (except for the name “Yahweh”):
“Behold, the days come, saith Yahweh, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man(120), and with the seed of beast(929).”
In order to grasp the importance of what is being said in this verse, one must take into consideration the entire 30th and 31st chapters of Jeremiah, plus much of Ezekiel chapter 18. This verse is prophecy, and one must determine at what period of time it was, or will be fulfilled. It is only when we survey all of the 30th and 31st chapters of Jeremiah that we can discover the time element for such a fulfillment. The following is a verse-by-verse, general topical outline of chapters 30 and 31 found in Adam Clarke’s Commentary. We must remember, though, during his lifetime, Clarke was not aware that the present-day people calling themselves “Jews” were and are not Israelites of the tribe of Judah, but nevertheless, some of his comments are worthy of note. Before continuing with this subject, I would highly recommend that each reader take the time to read and study Jeremiah chapters 30 & 31 using the following outline by Clarke:
“CHAPTER XXX: This and the following chapter [XXXI] must relate to a still future restoration of the posterity of Jacob from their several dispersions, as no deliverance hitherto afforded them comes up to the terms of it; for, after the return from Babylon, they were again enslaved by the Greeks and Romans, contrary to the prediction in the eighth verse [of chapter XXX] ... so that this prophecy remains to be fulfilled in the reign of David, i.e., the Messiah; the type, according to the general structure of the prophetical writings, being put for the antitype. The prophecy opens by an easy transition from the temporal deliverance spoken of before, and describes the mighty revolutions that shall precede the restoration of the descendants of Israel, 1-9, who are encouraged to trust in the promises of God, 10, 11. They are, however, to expect corrections; which shall have a happy issue in a future period, 12-17. The great blessings of Messiah’s reign are enumerated, 18-22; and the wicked and impenitent declared to have no share in them, 23, 24.