subvert “leadery leaders who lead” (adj., n., v.) to “ruling rulers (who rule!)”

Related to Hebrew Polity

A Judge seems to be the Israelite commander in chief, they save, Y-Sh-A

רָדָה rāḏâ ("dominion", lit. to tread upon, H7287) Gen1:26, 28. not active, not a command - it is a given, part of imago dei. it cannot be disclaimed.

• כָּבַשׁ kāḇaš (to sudbue, H3533) Gen1:28 is first imperative,
• qāḏaš does not appear until Gen2:3(!), foundation for priestly caste comes after rule/subdue
• sounds like yāḏa (to know, H3045) - what the serpent (and the tree) promises Gen 3:5

HOW are we to rāḏâ?

• עָבַד āḇaḏ (serve, H5647) and שָׁמַר šāmar (protect, H8104), our next tasks, appear in Gen2:5
  • Abel fed sheep, Cain abad
  • Cain: "I do not yāḏa, am I my brothers šāmar?" I do not know or rule as I should. I have forfeited my humanity.
• NOT pereḵ (ruthlessly, H6531) : Lev25:43,46,53 (Egyptians were pereḵ - Ex1:13)
• Priests do not do so (at least not on their own authority), Jer5:31

Saul was made the first nāḡîḏ (H5057) over Israel 1Sam10:1. LXX has archo and archon

Jacob (Gen 49:10) said Judah would carry a šēḇeṭ (H7626) and a “ruler’s staff” (ḥāqaq ḥāqaq (H2710) and that his line will receive the peoples obedience (yᵊqāhâ, H3349)

Zebulun (Judges 5:14) carries a šēḇeṭ sāp̄ar (H5608; writer, scribe, accountant)

רָדָה rāḏâ

(to tread or smush, H7287) 7x T, 4x C

Gen.1:26 God said, “Let us make humanity in our image, after our likeness. And let them have rāḏâ..."

Gen.1:28 God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have rāḏâ..."

Lev.25:43 You shall not rāḏâ ruthlessly but shall fear your God. (cf. vv.46, 53)