Prov 22 20 - Excellent Things

Prov 22:20-21

20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, 21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?

excellent =

7991 שָׁלִישׁ, שָׁלִישׁ, שָׁלִישׁ, שָׁלִשִׁי [shaliysh, shalowsh, shalosh /shaw·leesh/] n m.

From 7969; TWOT 2403e, 2403f, 2403g; GK 8955 and 8956 and 8957 and 8998; 20 occurrences; AV translates as “captain” 11 times, “lord” four times, “instrument of musick” once, “great measure” once, “excellent thing” once, “measure” once, and “prince” once.

1 third part.

     1a name of a measure.

2 a musical instrument.

      2a maybe three-stringed, triangular shape, or three-barred.

      2b perhaps a sistrum or triangle.

3 shield carrier, adjutant, officer, captain.

7969 מִשְׁלֹשׁ, שָׁלֹשׁ [shalowsh, shalosh, shâlowshah, shâloshah /shaw·loshe/] n m/f.

A primitive number; TWOT 2403a; GK 5456 and 8993; 430 occurrences; AV translates as “three” 388 times, “thirteen + 6240” 13 times, “thirteenth + 6240” 11 times, “third” nine times, “thrice + 6471” four times, “threescore and thirteen + 7657” twice, “stories” once, “forks + 7053” once, and “oftentimes + 6471” once.

1 three, triad. 1a 3, 300, third.

From the Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament  TWOT

2403     שָׁלַשׁ (šālaš) do a third time, do three times. Denominative verb occurring in the Piel and Pual.

2403a     שָׁלֹשׁ (šālōš) three.

2403b     שְׁלִישִׁי (šĕlı̂šı̂) third, one third. Used fifteen times.

2403c     שִׁלְשׁוֹם (šilšôm) three days ago, day before yesterday. Used twenty-five times, always in conjunction with ˒etmôl or tĕmôl.

2403d     שְׁלֹשִׁים (šĕlōšı̂m) thirty. This is the plural form of šālōš “three.”

2403e     שָׁלִישׁ (šālı̂š) I, third part (of a measure). Found twice.

2403f     שָׁלִישׁ (šālı̂š) II, a musical instrument, three stringed (?), or triangular (?), or three-barred (?)

2403g     שָׁלִישׁ (šālı̂š) III, shield carrier, adjutant. Used sixteen times.

2403h     שִׁלֵּשׁ (šillēš) third generation.

2403i     שָׁלִשִׁים (šālišı̂m) (Qere), שׁלשׁום (Kethib) excellent things.

(šālōš). Three. This number plays a significant role in the Old Testament. As the first of the plural numbers (two is considered dual) it very easily came to represent the smallest complete cycle. It cannot be accidental that periods of three days, weeks, months or years are so frequently encountered in the Scriptures. When Ezra assembled the Jews at the river in preparation for the return to Jerusalem (Ezr 8:15) he stayed there three days, during which time he mustered the people and found no Levites present. This was evidently a time of final preparation. After they arrived, he waited three days before tallying all the wealth they had brought along (Ezr 8:32–33). Similarly, Nehemiah waited three days after arriving in Jerusalem before beginning his survey of the walls (Neh 2:11).

A period of three units of time seems to have been appropriate for justice to have run its course when tempered by grace. Thus Joseph imprisoned his brothers three days (Gen 42:17). Israel experienced a famine of three years (II Sam 21:1) before discovering the reason, and Elijah’s drought lasted three years (I Kgs 18:1). In each case the deliberate design was a full taste of retribution to be followed by a gracious restoration. It is highly probable that there is a similar significance in the choice of the three day sojourn of Jesus’ body in the grave, i.e., man’s sin fully judged, yet grace triumphant.

A threefold act gives a sense of finality, of definitiveness. Elijah stretched himself three times on the dead boy (I Kgs 17:21). After Leah had given birth to three sons she felt that now she had proven herself and that Jacob must now surely accept her fully (Gen 29:34). The threefold blessing of Aaron in Num 6:24–27, in which the name of the Lord is invoked three times on Israel, has a definitive quality, as does the trisagion of Isa 6:3, and while the doctrine of the Trinity is not hereby proven, it is at least consistent with the New Testament revelation.

As the number of the smallest plurality, three was appropriate as representing an innermost circle of friends or followers. Thus. of David’s thirty mighty men, three were distinguished as being most select (II Sam 23:9). (Cf. also the three select disciples among Jesus’ twelve.)

The religious year had gone full cycle when the three major feasts had been celebrated (Ex 23:14, 17), and Daniel made it a rule to pray three times daily.

HebrewStrongs in H7991

The King James Version

20 occurrences

8998 שָׁלִשִׁי (šā∙li∙šî): n.masc.; ≡ Str 7991; TWOT 2403e—LN 55.14-55.22 (as a title) the Three, i.e., a ruling body of three persons of high rank (2Sa 23:8, 18+), note: some sources think this refers to a permanent supreme command of the militia army (each in charge of a third of the army)

----

n n: noun

m m: masculine

TWOT Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament

GK Goodrick-Kohlenberger

AV Authorized Version

n n: noun

m/f m/f: masculine/feminine

TWOT Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament

GK Goodrick-Kohlenberger

AV Authorized Version

n. noun, or nouns

masc. masculine

Str Strong’s Lexicon

TWOT Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament

LN Louw-Nida Greek-English Lexicon

+ More references in bhs