The Hebrew word genez, represented by H1595, refers to a treasure, coffer, or chest. It appears 3 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible. Derived from an unused root meaning to store, it specifically denotes a secure place for holding valuable items, such as a royal treasury or a storage chest.
In its biblical occurrences, H1595 is used in two distinct contexts. In the book of Esther, it refers to the royal treasuries of the king. Haman promises to pay ten thousand talents of silver into the king's treasuries H1595 as part of his plot to have the Jews destroyed Esther 3:9. This same event is recounted by Mordecai, who speaks of the money Haman promised for the king's treasuries H1595 to achieve his goal Esther 4:7. In Ezekiel, the word describes a container for commercial goods, listing chests H1595 of rich apparel among the valuable merchandise of merchants Ezekiel 27:24.
Several related words help clarify the context in which a genez is used:
- H3701 keçeph (silver; by implication, money): This word identifies the valuable contents intended for the treasury. In Haman's proposal, a massive amount of silver H3701 is offered to fill the king's treasuries Esther 3:9.
- H4428 melek (a king): This term establishes ownership and authority over the treasuries. The word genez is used exclusively in reference to the king's H4428 treasuries, highlighting their connection to royal wealth and power Esther 3:9.
- H8254 shâqal (to pay, weigh): This word describes the action of depositing wealth into a treasury. Haman promised to pay H8254 a specific sum of money to the king's treasuries, linking the physical place to the financial transaction Esther 4:7.
The use of H1595 carries significant thematic weight in its few appearances.
- Royal Wealth and Authority: The king's treasuries H1595 are a direct symbol of the monarch's immense financial power and the centralized nature of the kingdom's wealth Esther 3:9.
- Commerce and Valuables: The term's use for chests H1595 of apparel illustrates its broader application to securing valuable goods for international trade, not just currency Ezekiel 27:24.
- The Price of Evil: The word is central to a wicked transaction, where a vast sum is promised to the king's treasuries H1595 in exchange for a decree to destroy H6 an entire people, showing how accumulated wealth can be leveraged for nefarious ends Esther 4:7.
In summary, H1595 is a specific term for a repository of value. While rare, its appearances powerfully illustrate contexts of royal finance, commercial trade, and the moral implications of wealth. It provides a concrete image of where valuable assets—from money intended for a king to merchandise bound for market—were stored and secured in the biblical world.
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