Snares and Traps

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Like the bird that does not see the net before them, people are blinded by their selfishness and cannot see the trap of our own wantonness. No matter how much information you share with them they cannot see nor understand the error[1] and dangers of their own desire and wantonness for benefits of men who "exercise authority[2] one over the other". An appetite for the dainties of rulers like FDR and others at the expense of their neighbor will and has entangled the masses in the yoke of bondage[3] through covetousness which is idolatry.[4]  : In ancient days when people first desired socialism they wanted the welfare of a ruler who exercised authority to provide benefits. We were warned to "put a knife to thy throat" if we had an appetite for those dainties of rulers.
King David writes "Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake." Psalms 69:23 The phrase "continually shake" is another way of saying easily triggered or even angered. Just before that David warned, "Let their table become a snare before them: and [that which should have been] for [their] welfare, [let it become] a trap." Psalms 69:22  : Paul quotes David because Rome and Judea were becoming socialist systems with their free bread and Corban. "And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:" Romans 11:9 : The growing hate of these people greedy for gain always turns to persecution when they come into power. Once they think it is okay to covet their neighbors' goods through socialism they "continue with an appetite for benefits and the habit of receiving them by way of a rule of force and violence. The people, having grown accustomed to feed at the expense of others and to depend for their livelihood on the property of others... institute the rule of violence; and now uniting their forces massacre, banish, and plunder, until they degenerate again into perfect savages and find once more a master and despot." Using force to obtain benefits traps the people and darkens their ability to see the truth. Those wages of unrighteousness makes the people merchandise and will curse children through a system of surety and debt. But it also turns people into "perfect savages" which you see with Antifa and the angry unreasonable left.


Snares and Traps

We are warned over and over again in the Bible in many ways about eating at the table of rulers, Benefactors, and Fathers of the earth, desiring their benefits and rewards or dainties. We are told by David that which should have been for their welfare could become a trap and that it would snare us, make us merchandise and even entangle us again in the yoke of bondage. This is especially true when those benefits come at the expense of our neighbor and that we would be devoured because of the appetite.


"Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?" Isaiah 40:21


The word snare shows up in the Bible a number of times but it is translated from more than one word.

The Hebrew word pach formed with the Hebrew letters חפ PeiChet [5] appears as snare 22 times but also, gin and plate twice each.[6] It can mean both a bird trap and an agent of calamity[7] The term is sometimes seen with the word "fowler"[8] which has to do with baiting people, usually with benefits at the expense of others.

The primitive root of Pach is pachach חחפ which means snared as "to ensnare, trap".[9] It appears only in Isaiah 42:22 "But this [is] a people robbed and spoiled; [they are] all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore."

Abraham, Moses, John the Baptist and Jesus and the early Church advocated a Daily ministration for the needy of the Christian community that was dependent on Charity only and it was not like the system of Corban of the Pharisees nor the free bread of Rome which makes the word of God to none effect by degenerating the social bonds of a free society. It was their Pure Religion that brought them into a Christian conflict with Public religion and the Covetous Practices of the World.

A much different word mowqesh[10] שׁקומ is also translated "snare" some 20 times but also gin, trap, ensnared, snared.[11]

Its primitive root is yaqosh[12] שׁקי and appears as a form of snare some half dozen times.[13]

There is also naqash[14] שׁקנ appearing only a few times in the Bible.[15]

There is another word that appears as snare only once and that is sᵉbakah[16] הכבשׂ. While it appears some 15 times[17] in the Bible it normally is translated network having to do with lattice-work or a net and netting. It is from the word sabak [18] ךבשׂ which also appears only once in the Bible.[19]

We should also look at the word trap which we see instead of snare and once in Job 18:10 "The snare [is] laid for him in the ground, and a trap for him in the way."

It is from malkodeth [20] תדכלמ which is from lakad [21] דכל meaning to to capture, take, seize.

And finally there is mashchiyth [22] תיחשׁמ which really is a complex word meaning ruin, destruction from the word shachath[23] תחשׁ meaning to destroy or corrupt.

God wants the people to be free souls under Him, ruled by Him in their hearts and minds. But the Liberty under God is destroyed because the people do not live by te Perfect law of liberty but by covetous practices.

When Paul the Apostle wrote his epistles he was not talking to people who think they were Christians but people who had repented and were with us. Together they were setting the table of the Lord by faith, hope and charity and the perfect law of liberty.

"Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality." Romans 12:13

Jesus had appointed the kingdom to His disciples who were following his instructions in caring for one another in love, which is charity. True Christians, being doers of the word, did not eat at the table of rulers for through the early Church they had set up a daily ministration dividing the freewill offerings of the people from house to house.

"And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart," Acts 2:46

Paul was quoting David [24] when he wrote in Romans 11:9 "And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:"

The word we see as trap is thera [25] θήρα and is used in conjunction with the Greek term pagis παγίς meaning a snare, trap, noose as we will see below.

Isaiah 1:23 Thy princes [are] rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.

If you read the Bible knowing that in the Kingdom of God the people who sought His righteousness were served by the Church in the wilderness in the Old Testament and the Early Church appointed by Christ in the New Testament a new light of understanding may emerge. The Church or Called out were always the ministers who were appointed to be separate from the world. The important thing to constantly bear in mind is that both provided for the welfare of a peculiar people through the Corban of the people freely given.

Calling yourself a Christian does not make it so.
Saying that you accept Jesus as your personal savior while you still seek the benefits of the table of rulers makes that acceptance false.
Coveting the benefits of a Benefactors who exercise authority over your neighbor makes you one of the workers of iniquity.

It is time for the Modern Christian to Repent.

2 Timothy 2:25 "In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will."


The Bible is full of warnings about snares and traps including an appetite for the Benefits, dainties and rewards offered through the table or Welfare of kings and rulers which result in the covetous practices that makes men merchandise and a surety for debt and curses their children. Plutarch even proclaimed such benefits destroyed liberty and Polybius said an appetite for benefits turns you into a savage ready for the first despot who comes along.

New Testament

In the New Testament we see pagis [26] παγίς appearing five times[27] meaning snare, trap, noose.

Another word is brochos[28] appearing only in 1 Corinthians 7:35 "And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction."


Snares and traps

Exodus 20:17 "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that [is] thy neighbour’s."

Exodus 23:32 "Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. 33 They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee."

Exodus 34:12 "Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee:"

Deuteronomy 7:16 "And thou shalt consume all the people which the LORD thy God shall deliver thee; thine eye shall have no pity upon them: neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that [will be] a snare unto thee."

Deuteronomy 7:25 The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold [that is] on them, nor take [it] unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it [is] an abomination to the LORD thy God.

Deuteronomy 12:30 "Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise."

Judges 2:2 "And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this? 3 Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you."

Joshua 23:13 "Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out [any of] these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you."

Proverbs 23:1 "When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what [is] before thee: 2 And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite. 3 Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.

4 ¶ Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. 5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
6 ¶ Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats: 7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

8 The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words. : 9 ¶ Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.

10 ¶ Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless: 11 For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee."

Polybius expounds on this same truth when he writes to the Rome of his day

"The masses continue with an appetite for benefits and the habit of receiving them by way of a rule of force and violence. The people, having grown accustomed to feed at the expense of others and to depend for their livelihood on the property of others... institute the rule of violence; [29] and now uniting their forces massacre, banish, and plunder,[30] until they degenerate again into perfect savages and find once more a master and monarch." [31] [32]

Polybius saw the downfall of the republic by way of their free bread and welfare a 150 years before the first Emperor of Rome and 175 years before the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus the Christ who opposed these same systems of free bread at your neighbor's expense.
The authoritarian State often uses force and violence to become the Benefactors of the people if the covet what is their neighbors'. They make a social contract where one class of citizen is forced to provide for another class through "legal charity" which is not true charity. The writings of the Apostles warned along with countless passages of ancient writings of the prophets including Proverbs 23 which warned them about what Christ forbid which was the covetous practices of socialist forms of government.

Exodus 34:12 "Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a [[snare]] in the midst of thee:

Judges 10:14 "Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.15 And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day. 16 And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel."

1 Samuel 8:18 "And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day. 19 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; 20 That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles."


“Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap.” Psalms 69:22

“And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:” Romans 11:9

Psalms 9:16 "The LORD is known [by] the judgment [which] he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.

Matthew 6:11 "Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen."

Proverbs 1:10 "My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. 11 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: 12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: 13 We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: 14 Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse: 15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: 16 For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. 17 Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. 18 And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives. 19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

20 ¶ Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:

21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying, 22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? 23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. 24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: 30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. 31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. 32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. 33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

Job 18:5 ¶ Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine. 6 The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him. 7 The steps of his strength shall be straitened, and his own counsel shall cast him down. 8 For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walketh upon a snare. 9 The gin shall take him by the heel, and the robber shall prevail against him. 10 The snare is laid for him in the ground, and a trap for him in the way.

Proverbs 12:13 ¶ The wicked is snared by the transgression of [his] lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.

Proverbs 13:14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

Proverbs 14:27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

Proverbs 18:7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

Proverbs 20:25 It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.

Proverbs 22:5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.

Proverbs 29:6 ¶ In the transgression of an evil man [there is] a snare: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice. 7 ¶ The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it. 8 ¶ Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath. 9 ¶ If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest. 10 ¶ The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul. 11 ¶ A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards. 12 ¶ If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.

Proverbs 29:23 ¶ A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit. 24 ¶ Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not. 25 ¶ The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe. 26 ¶ Many seek the ruler’s favour; but every man’s judgment cometh from the LORD. 27 ¶ An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.

Ecclesiastes 7:26 And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart [is] snares and nets, [and] her hands [as] bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.

Ecclesiastes 9:12 For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so [are] the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.

Isaiah 1:23 Thy princes [are] rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.

Isaiah 42:18 ¶ Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see. 19 Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the LORD’S servant? 20 Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not. 21 The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable. 22 But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore. 23 Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken and hear for the time to come? 24 Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the LORD, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law. 25 Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart.


Ezekiel 11:1 ¶ Moreover the spirit lifted me up, and brought me unto the east gate of the LORD’S house, which looketh eastward: and behold at the door of the gate five and twenty men; among whom I saw Jaazaniah the son of Azur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people. 2 Then said he unto me, Son of man, these are the men that devise mischief, and give wicked counsel in this city: 3 Which say, It is not near; let us build houses: this city is the caldron, and we be the flesh. 4 Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man. 5 And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and said unto me, Speak; Thus saith the LORD; Thus have ye said, O house of Israel: for I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them. 6 Ye have multiplied your slain in this city, and ye have filled the streets thereof with the slain. 7 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Your slain whom ye have laid in the midst of it, they are the flesh, and this city is the caldron: but I will bring you forth out of the midst of it. 8 Ye have feared the sword; and I will bring a sword upon you, saith the Lord GOD. 9 And I will bring you out of the midst thereof, and deliver you into the hands of strangers, and will execute judgments among you. 10 Ye shall fall by the sword; I will judge you in the border of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. 11 This city shall not be your caldron, neither shall ye be the flesh in the midst thereof; but I will judge you in the border of Israel: Ezekiel 11:12 And ye shall know that I [am] the LORD: for ye have not walked in my statutes, neither executed my judgments, but have done after the manners of the heathen that [are] round about you.

Jeremiah 5:25 ¶ Your iniquities have turned away these [things], and your sins have withholden good [things] from you. 26 For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men. 27 As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich. 28 They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge. 29 Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? 30 A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; 31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?


Jeremiah 11:12 Then shall the cities of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem go, and cry unto the gods unto whom they offer incense: but they shall not save them at all in the time of their trouble. 13 For according to the number of thy cities were thy gods, O Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have ye set up altars to that shameful thing, even altars to burn incense unto Baal. 14 Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble.


Micah 3:1 ¶ And I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel; [Is it] not for you to know judgment? 2 Who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones; 3 Who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them; and they break their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as flesh within the caldron. 4 Then shall they cry unto the LORD, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings. 5 Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him.

Micah 7:2 "The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net."

1 Timothy 3:7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Romans 13:9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if [there be] any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Romans 13:11 ¶ And that, knowing the time, that now [it is] high time to awake out of sleep: for now [is] our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Mark 7:20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

Matthew 5:34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: 35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

James 5:12 ¶ But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and [your] nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

Galatians 5:12 I would they were even cut off which trouble you.

13 ¶ For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only [use] not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. 16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.


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Footnotes

  1. ↑ The way of error
    2 Peter 2:15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam [the son] of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
    Jude 1:11 "Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. 12 These are spots(not "unspotted" like Pure Religion) in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds [they are] without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;"
    Revelation 2:14-17 "But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication ("to permit one’s self to be drawn away by another into idolatry"). 15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth [it]."
    Ezekiel 16:49 "Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy."
  2. ↑ Not exercise authority
    Matthew 20:25 "But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you:..."
    Mark 10:42 "But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you:..."
    Luke 22:25 "And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye [shall] not [be] so:..."
  3. ↑ Table as a snare
    Psalms 69:22-23 “Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap. 23 Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake."”
    Romans 11:9 “And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:”
    Proverbs 23:1 "When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what [is] before thee: 2 And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite. 3 Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat."
    Exodus 23:32 "Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. 33 They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee."
    Exodus 34:12 "Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee:"
    Deuteronomy 7:16 "And thou shalt consume all the people which the LORD thy God shall deliver thee; thine eye shall have no pity upon them: neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that [will be] a snare unto thee."
    Judges 2:2 "And ye shall make no league [covenant] with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?"
    Proverbs 1:10 "My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not."
    Proverbs 6:2 “Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.” Swear not
    Luke 21:34 "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and [so] that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth."
    1 Timothy 6:9 "But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and [into] many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."
  4. ↑ Covetousness is idolatry
    Colossians 3:5 "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:"
    Ephesians 5:5 "For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God."
    1 Corinthians 5:10 "Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat."
  5. ↑ 06341 ^חפ^ pach \@pakh\@ from 06351; n m; AV-snare 22, gin 2, plate 2, snares + 03027 1; 27
    1) bird trap, trap, snare
    1a) bird trap (literal)
    1b) of calamities, plots, source or agent of calamity (fig.)
    2) plate (of metal)
  6. ↑ Exodus 39:3 And they did beat the gold into thin plates <06341>, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, and in the purple, and in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, with cunning work.
    Numbers 16:38 The censers of these sinners against their own souls, let them make them broad plates <06341> for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before the LORD, therefore they are hallowed: and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel.
    Joshua 23:13 Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares <06341> and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.
    Job 18:9 The gin <06341> shall take him by the heel, and the robber shall prevail against him.
    Job 22:10 Therefore snares <06341> are round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee;
    Psalms 11:6 Upon the wicked he shall rain snares <06341>, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.
    Psalms 69:22 Let their table become a snare <06341> before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap.
    Psalms 91:3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare <06341> of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
    Psalms 119:110 The wicked have laid a snare <06341> for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts.
    Psalms 124:7 Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare <06341> of the fowlers: the snare <06341> is broken, and we are escaped.
    Psalms 140:5 The proud have hid a snare <06341> for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah.
    Psalms 141:9 Keep me from the snares <06341> which they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity.
    Psalms 142:3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare <06341> for me.
    Proverbs 7:23 Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare <06341>, and knoweth not that it is for his life.
    Proverbs 22:5 Thorns and snares <06341> are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.
    Ecclesiastes 9:12 For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare <06341>; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.
    Isaiah 8:14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin <06341> and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
    Isaiah 24:17 Fear, and the pit, and the snare <06341>, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.
    Isaiah 24:18 And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare <06341>: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake.
    Jeremiah 18:22 Let a cry be heard from their houses, when thou shalt bring a troop suddenly upon them: for they have digged a pit to take me, and hid snares <06341> for my feet.
    Jeremiah 48:43 Fear, and the pit, and the snare <06341>, shall be upon thee, O inhabitant of Moab, saith the LORD. Jeremiah 48:44 He that fleeth from the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that getteth up out of the pit shall be taken in the snare <06341>: for I will bring upon it, even upon Moab, the year of their visitation, saith the LORD.
    Hosea 5:1 Hear ye this, O priests; and hearken, ye house of Israel; and give ye ear, O house of the king; for judgment is toward you, because ye have been a snare <06341> on Mizpah, and a net spread upon Tabor.
    Hosea 9:8 The watchman of Ephraim was with my God: but the prophet is a snare <06341> of a fowler in all his ways, and hatred in the house of his God.
    Amos 3:5 Can a bird fall in a snare <06341> upon the earth, where no gin is for him? shall one take up a snare <06341> from the earth, and have taken nothing at all?
  7. ↑ 06341 ^חפ^ pach \@pakh\@ from 06351; n m; AV-snare 22, gin 2, plate 2, snares + 03027 1; 27
    1) bird trap, trap, snare
    1a) bird trap (literal)
    1b) of calamities, plots, source or agent of calamity (fig.)
    2) plate (of metal)
  8. ↑ Psalms 124:7 Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.
    Hosea 9:8 The watchman of Ephraim [was] with my God: [but] the prophet [is] a snare of a fowler in all his ways, [and] hatred in the house of his God.
    Psalms 91:3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, [and] from the noisome pestilence.
  9. ↑ 06351 ^חחפ^ pachach \@paw-khakh’\@ a primitive root; v; AV-snared 1; 1 1) (Hiphil) to ensnare, trap
  10. ↑ 04170 ^שׁקומ^ mowqesh \@mo-kashe’\@ or ^שׁקמ^ moqesh \@mo-kashe’\@ from 03369; n m; AV-snare 20, gin 3, trap 2, ensnared 1, snared 1; 27 1) bait, lure, snare
  11. ↑ Exodus 10:7 And Pharaoh’s servants said unto him, How long shall this man be a snare <04170> unto us? let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God: knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed? Exodus 23:33 They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare <04170> unto thee. Exodus 34:12 Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare <04170> in the midst of thee: Deuteronomy 7:16 And thou shalt consume all the people which the LORD thy God shall deliver thee; thine eye shall have no pity upon them: neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that will be a snare <04170> unto thee. Joshua 23:13 Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps <04170> unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you. Judges 2:3 Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare <04170> unto you. Judges 8:27 And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare <04170> unto Gideon, and to his house. 1 Samuel 18:21 And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare <04170> to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain. 2 Samuel 22:6 The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares <04170> of death prevented me; Job 34:30 That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared <04170>. Job 40:24 He taketh it with his eyes: his nose pierceth through snares <04170>. Psalms 18:5 The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares <04170> of death prevented me. Psalms 64:5 They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares <04170> privily; they say, Who shall see them? Psalms 69:22 Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap <04170>. Psalms 106:36 And they served their idols: which were a snare <04170> unto them. Psalms 140:5 The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins <04170> for me. Selah. Psalms 141:9 Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the gins <04170> of the workers of iniquity. Proverbs 12:13 The wicked is snared <04170> by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble. Proverbs 13:14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares <04170> of death. Proverbs 14:27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares <04170> of death. Proverbs 18:7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare <04170> of his soul. Proverbs 20:25 It is a snare <04170> to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry. Proverbs 22:25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare <04170> to thy soul. Proverbs 29:6 In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare <04170>: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice. Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare <04170>: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe. Isaiah 8:14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare <04170> to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Amos 3:5 Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin <04170> is for him? shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all?
  12. ↑ 03369 ^שׁקי^ yaqosh \@yaw-koshe’\@ a primitive root; v; AV-snare 5, lay a snare 1, laid 1, fowlers 1; 8 1) to lure, entice, snare, lay a snare or lure, set a trap 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to lay snares (fig. of devices of wicked) 1a2) fowlers (participle) 1b) (Niphal) to be ensnared, be caught by a bait 1c) (Pual) to be entrapped
  13. ↑ Deuteronomy 7:25 The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared <03369> therein: for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God. Psalms 124:7 Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers <03369>: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. Psalms 141:9 Keep me from the snares which they have laid <03369> for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity. Proverbs 6:2 Thou art snared <03369> with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. Ecclesiastes 9:12 For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared <03369> in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them. Isaiah 8:15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared <03369>, and be taken. Isaiah 28:13 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared <03369>, and taken. Jeremiah 50:24 I have laid a snare <03369> for thee, and thou art also taken, O Babylon, and thou wast not aware: thou art found, and also caught, because thou hast striven against the LORD.
  14. ↑ 05367 ^שׁקנ^ naqash \@naw-kash’\@ a primitive root; v; AV-lay a snare 2, snare 2, catch 1; 5 1) to knock, strike, bring down 1a) (Qal) to strike down 1b) (Niphal) to be thrust after, be impelled 1c) (Piel) to strike at, take aim at 1d) (Hithpael) to be struck 2) (CLBL) to ensnare 2a) (Qal) to ensnare 2b) (Niphal) to be ensnared 2c) (Piel) to lay snares 2d) (Hithpael) to lay snares
  15. ↑ Deuteronomy 12:30 Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared <05367> by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. 1 Samuel 28:9 And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare <05367> for my life, to cause me to die? Psalms 9:16 The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared <05367> in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah. Psalms 38:12 They also that seek after my life lay snares <05367> for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long. Psalms 109:11 Let the extortioner catch <05367> all that he hath; and let the strangers spoil his labour.
  16. ↑ 07639 ^הכבשׂ^ sᵉbakah \@seb-aw-kaw’\@ from 07638; n f; AV-network 7, wreath 3, wreathen work 2, checker 1, lattice 1, snare 1; 15 1) network, lattice-work, net, netting 1a) lattice 1b) net-ornament (on pillars) 1c) network, toils (for catching animals)
  17. ↑ 1 Kings 7:17 And nets of checker <07639> work, and wreaths of chain work, for the chapiters which were upon the top of the pillars; seven for the one chapiter, and seven for the other chapiter. 1 Kings 7:18 And he made the pillars, and two rows round about upon the one network <07639>, to cover the chapiters that were upon the top, with pomegranates: and so did he for the other chapiter. 1 Kings 7:20 And the chapiters upon the two pillars had pomegranates also above, over against the belly which was by the network <07639>: and the pomegranates were two hundred in rows round about upon the other chapiter. 1 Kings 7:41 The two pillars, and the two bowls of the chapiters that were on the top of the two pillars; and the two networks <07639>, to cover the two bowls of the chapiters which were upon the top of the pillars; 1 Kings 7:42 And four hundred pomegranates for the two networks <07639>, even two rows of pomegranates for one network <07639>, to cover the two bowls of the chapiters that were upon the pillars; 2 Kings 1:2 And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice <07639> in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease. 2 Kings 25:17 The height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, and the chapiter upon it was brass: and the height of the chapiter three cubits; and the wreathen work <07639>, and pomegranates upon the chapiter round about, all of brass: and like unto these had the second pillar with wreathen work <07639>. 2 Chronicles 4:12 To wit, the two pillars, and the pommels, and the chapiters which were on the top of the two pillars, and the two wreaths <07639> to cover the two pommels of the chapiters which were on the top of the pillars; 2 Chronicles 4:13 And four hundred pomegranates on the two wreaths <07639>; two rows of pomegranates on each wreath <07639>, to cover the two pommels of the chapiters which were upon the pillars. Job 18:8 For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walketh upon a snare <07639>. Jeremiah 52:22 And a chapiter of brass was upon it; and the height of one chapiter was five cubits, with network <07639> and pomegranates upon the chapiters round about, all of brass. The second pillar also and the pomegranates were like unto these. Jeremiah 52:23 And there were ninety and six pomegranates on a side; and all the pomegranates upon the network <07639> were an hundred round about.
  18. ↑ 07638 ^ךבשׂ^ sabak \@saw-bawk’\@ from an unused root meaning to entwine; n m; AV-net 1; 1 1) network, lattice-work, net, netting 1a) lattice 1b) net-ornament (on pillars) 1c) network, toils (for catching animals)
  19. ↑ 1 Kings 7:17 [And] nets of checker work, and wreaths of chain work, for the chapiters which [were] upon the top of the pillars; seven for the one chapiter, and seven for the other chapiter.
  20. ↑ 04434 ^תדכלמ^ malkodeth \@mal-ko’- deth\@ from 03920; n f; AV-trap 1; 1 1) a catching instrument, snare, trap
  21. ↑ 03920 ^דכל^ lakad \@law-kad’\@ a primitive root; v; AV-take 112, catch 5, at all 1, frozen 1, holden 1, stick together 1; 121 1) to capture, take, seize 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to capture, seize 1a2) to capture (of men) (fig.) 1a3) to take (by lot) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be captured 1b2) to be caught (of men in trap, snare) (fig.) 1c) (Hithpael) to grasp each other
  22. ↑ 04889 ^תיחשׁמ^ mashchiyth \@mash-kheeth’\@ from 07843; n m; AV-destroy 4, corruption 2, destruction 2, set a trap 1, destroying 1, utterly 1; 11 1) ruin, destruction
  23. ↑ 07843 ^תחשׁ^ shachath \@shaw-khath’\@ a primitive root;ShinChetTav with the addition of other letters a word meaning will change v; {See TWOT on 2370} AV-destroy 96, corrupt 22, mar 7, destroyer 3, corrupters 2, waster 2, spoilers 2, battered 1, corruptly 1, misc 11; 147
    1) to destroy, corrupt, go to ruin, decay
    1a) (Niphal) to be marred, be spoiled, be corrupted, be corrupt, be injured, be ruined, be rotted
    1b) (Piel)
    1b1) to spoil, ruin
    1b2) to pervert, corrupt, deal corruptly (morally)
    1c) (Hiphil)
    1c1) to spoil, ruin, destroy
    1c2) to pervert, corrupt (morally)
    1c3) destroyer (participle)
    1d) (Hophal) spoiled, ruined (participle)
    • ש Shin Eternal Flame of Spiritual Revelation, bound to the coal of righteousness, the Divine Essence. [sun... teeth... consume destroy] (Numeric value: 300)
    • ח Chet The Life Force - Dynamic nature of - cause and effect - give life and live.[fence, thread, hedge, chamber...cycle] (Numeric value: 8)
    • ת Tav is a Seal of a Higher kingdom or realm through faith. The paradigm keter–malchut “The Crown of Sovereignty” from the Tree of Life spiritually linking worlds or realms through an unseen doorway of faith. The Aleph & Tav are the first and last letters. [door sign cross seal] (Numeric value: 400)
  24. ↑ Psalms 69:22 "Let their table become a snare before them: and [that which should have been] for [their] welfare, [let it become] a trap."
    Romans 11:9 "And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:"
  25. ↑ 2339 ~θήρα~ thera \@thay’-rah\@ from ther (a wild animal, as game); ; n f AV-trap 1; 1 1) a hunting of wild beasts to destroy them 2) metaph. of preparing destruction for men
  26. ↑ 3803 ~παγίς~ pagis \@pag-ece’\@ from 4078; n f AV-snare 5; 5 1) snare, trap, noose 1a) of snares in which birds are entangled and caught 1a1) implies unexpectedly, suddenly, because birds and beasts are caught unawares 1b) a snare, i.e. whatever brings peril, loss, destruction 1b1) of a sudden and unexpected deadly peril 1b2) of the allurements and seductions of sin 1b3) the allurements to sin by which the evil holds one bound 1b4) the snares of love
  27. ↑ Luke 21:35 For as a snare <3803> shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Romans 11:9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare <3803>, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: 1 Timothy 3:7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare <3803> of the devil. 1 Timothy 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare <3803>, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 2 Timothy 2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare <3803> of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
  28. ↑ 1029 ~βρόχος~ brochos \@brokh’-os\@ of uncertain derivation; ; n m AV-snare 1; 1 1) a noose, slip-knot, by which any person or thing is caught, or fastened, or suspended 2) to throw a noose upon one, a figure borrowed from war or the chase so that by craft or by force one is bound to some necessity, to constrain him to obey some command
  29. ↑ Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
  30. ↑ Luke 16:16 The law and the prophets [were] until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
  31. ↑ "But when a new generation arises and the democracy falls into the hands of the grandchildren of its founders, they have become so accustomed to freedom and equality that they no longer value them, and begin to aim at pre-eminence; and it is chiefly those of ample fortune who fall into this error. 6 So when they begin to lust for power and cannot attain it through themselves or their own good qualities, they ruin their estates, tempting and corrupting the people in every possible way. 7 And hence when by their foolish thirst for reputation they have created among the masses an appetite for gifts and the habit of receiving them, democracy in its turn is abolished and changes into a rule of force and violence. 8 For the people, having grown accustomed to feed at the expense of others and to depend for their livelihood on the property of others, as soon as they find a leader who is enterprising but is excluded from the houses of office by his penury, institute the rule of violence; 9 and now uniting their forces massacre, banish, and plunder, until they degenerate again into perfect savages and find once more a master and monarch." Polybius: The Histories (composed at Rome around 130 BC)Fragments of Book at Loeb's classic library, or see our comparison of translations at Polybius#Translations_compare
  32. ↑ An alternate translation in context, "9. For no sooner had the knowledge of the jealousy and hatred existing in the citizens against them which is replaced by democracy, emboldened some one to oppose the government by word or deed, than he was sure to find the whole people ready and prepared to take his side. Having then got rid of these rulers by assassination or exile, they do not venture to set up a king again, being still in terror of the injustice to which this led before; nor dare they intrust the common interests again to more than one, considering the recent example of their misconduct: and therefore, as the only sound hope left them is that which depends upon themselves, they are driven to take refuge in that; and so changed the constitution from an oligarchy to a democracy, and took upon themselves the superintendence and charge of the state. And as long as any survive who have had experience of oligarchical supremacy and domination, they regard their present constitution as a blessing, and hold equality and freedom as of the utmost value. But as soon as a new generation has arisen, and the democracy has descended to their children’s children, long association weakens their value for equality and freedom, and some seek to become more powerful than the ordinary citizens; and the most liable to this temptation are the rich. (which degenerates into rule of corruption and violence, only to be stopped by a return to despotism.) So when they begin to be fond of office, and find themselves unable to obtain it by their own unassisted efforts and their own merits, they ruin their estates, while enticing and corrupting the common people in every possible way. By which means when, in their senseless mania for reputation, they have made the populace ready and greedy to receive bribes, the virtue of democracy is destroyed, and it is transformed into a government of violence and the strong hand. For the mob, habituated to feed at the expense of others, and to have its hopes of a livelihood in the property of its neighbours, as soon as it has got a leader sufficiently ambitious and daring, being excluded by poverty from the sweets of civil honours, produces a reign of mere violence. Then come tumultuous assemblies, massacres, banishments, redivisions of land; until, after losing all trace of civilisation, it has once more found a master and a despot." Translator: Evelyn Shirley Shuckburgh, Release Date: November 8, 2013 [EBook #44126]


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