The Horn in My Flesh

Theological students can sometimes be full of playful mischief. The Bible College students were once doing a faculty-imitation skit at an end- of-the-year  banquet when they discovered a unique way to twist a text. They referred to me as the "horn in their flesh" with apologies to the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:7. Ah, how students hate assignments! In subsequent research, I discovered to my delight that "horn" is indeed a brilliant Biblical subject. Please indulge me while I bore you with the details.

 

Not only is the word used in both testaments--qeren in Hebrew and keras in Greek--the Hebrew lexicographer, Gesenius, says that a horn is metaphorically put as a "symbol of strength, might [and] power (ahem!), the image being drawn from the bull and other animals that push with their horns. Smith's Bible Dictionary concurs, adding that "horns are the chief weapons and ornaments of the animals which possess them; hence they are also used as a type of victory." Since Palestine was a pastoral (farming) country, the Israelites used horns from various animals to serve a multitude of purposes. The ram's horn (the shofar) was used as a trumpet (Joshua 6:13) signaling various events. Horns were also converted into flasks for fluid storage, such as olive oil (1 Samuel 16:1,13). The word horn was also used in metaphorical constructions. The false prophet Zedekiah advised the Ahab-Jehoshaphat alliance to attack the Arameans (1 Kings 22:11). In order to drive home his point, he placed "do-it-yourself" iron horns on his head and ran back and forth, saying "With these you will gore the Arameans until they are destroyed." Micaiah, the true prophet of God, predicted disaster in spite of the somewhat picturesque object lesson and was duly punished for telling the truth. So horns can convey both positive and negative meanings.

 

When God exalts the "horn of an individual," he confers great power and prosperity on him (1 Samuel 2:10; Psalms 89:24). When one exalts or lifts up his horn, it means he indulges in arrogance and insolence (Psalms 75:4-5). When the Bible says "the horn of Moab is broken," it means her strength is broken (Jeremiah 48:25) To "exalt the horn of God" is to praise or laud Him (1 Chronicles 25:5--Hebrew text). David also calls God "the horn of my salvation" (Psalms 18:3), which means that God is the instrument of his deliverance.

 

In prophetic language, the horn denoted a king or a kingdom (Daniel 7:8,11,21; Revelation 17:12, 16). On ancient coins bearing the images of Alexander the Great or the Seleucids, they are portrayed with horns (the sign of power) on their heads.

 

In the Temple and in the Tabernacle, the altar of burnt offering and the altar of incense were framed with horns at their ends (Exodus 27:2 and Exodus 30:2). These projections (horns) served to hold the victim being sacrificed in place and these horns were also smeared with blood (Exodus 29:12; Leviticus 4:7). It was also a place of refuge and asylum when someone ran into the Temple and clung to the horns of the altar (1 Kings 2:28). Unfortunately, it did not always work for the offender. To cut off the horns of the altar rendered the altar useless for religious purposes (Amos 3:14).  

 

Have you ever seen Michelangelo's statue of Moses? It has horns on the head of the seated figure. Why would that be? When Moses came down from receiving the tables of stone, his face shone (Exodus 34:29-35). The Hebrew text uses the word qeren usually translated horn but in this case means "rays" or "beams." Perhaps you have seen when the first rays of the morning sun come up that they project like horns. The first translators unwisely stuck with the word horn, which was transferred to Moses' head before the words "rays of light" (protrusions of light beams) were discovered to be the proper translation (cf., Habakkuk 3:4). It simply means Moses' face shone. Understandably, beams of light came from one who had been in  the presence of God.

 

Well, now I have let you horn in on my secret horn o' plenty. No use to blow your own horn now. In closing, may I remind you that Zechariah exults God for "raising up a horn of salvation for us" (Luke 1:69) who is Christ the Lord. Heaven came down to save us--to make it happen. (By the way, why is the Devil portrayed as having horns? Any answers? Let me know).

 

Till Gabriel blows his trumpet (horn), 

 

Al--"the Horne of Africa."