577. Smiting the Hands

Narrator: Chris Genthree
 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 8
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Several different emotions seem to have been represented at different times by the action of smiting the hands, all of which we group in one note.
1. It was sometimes a sign of contempt. Of the wicked rich man Job says, “Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place” (Job 27:2323Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place. (Job 27:23)). Jeremiah represents Jerusalem as so desolate that all the passersby clap their hands at her. See Lamentations 2:1515All that pass by clap their hands at thee; they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city that men call The perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth? (Lamentations 2:15).
2. It was sometimes a sign of anger. When Balaam blessed Israel, instead of cursing them, “Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together” (Num. 24:1010And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times. (Numbers 24:10)). So when the Lord beheld the wickedness of the house of Israel, the representation of his kindled wrath is expressed in these words: “Behold, therefore I have smitten mine hand at thy dishonest gain which thou hast made, and at thy blood which hath been in the midst of thee” (Ezek. 22:1313Behold, therefore I have smitten mine hand at thy dishonest gain which thou hast made, and at thy blood which hath been in the midst of thee. (Ezekiel 22:13)).
3. It was sometimes a sign of sorrow. In sorrow, for the idolatry of Israel, the Lord commanded Ezekiel to smite with his hand. See Ezekiel 6:1111Thus saith the Lord God; Smite with thine hand, and stamp with thy foot, and say, Alas for all the evil abominations of the house of Israel! for they shall fall by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence. (Ezekiel 6:11). It was sometimes a sign of triumph. In this manner the Ammonites rejoiced over fallen Israel. God says, “Thou hest clapped thine hands, and stamped with the feet, and rejoiced in heart with all thy despite against the land of Israel” (Ezek. 25:66For thus saith the Lord God; Because thou hast clapped thine hands, and stamped with the feet, and rejoiced in heart with all thy despite against the land of Israel; (Ezekiel 25:6)). It is to be noticed that in this text, and in the one last quoted, clapping the hand is connected with stamping the foot.
It was sometimes the sign of a pledge or an oath. The hand was used for this purpose by uplifting. See note on Genesis 14:2222And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, (Genesis 14:22) (#5). A similar purpose was accomplished by two persons striking hands. See note on Proverbs 11:2121Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered. (Proverbs 11:21) (#461). In addition to this, the striking of one hand upon another belonging to the same man was also considered as a pledge of earnestness and of truth. Thus Ezekiel is told in the text to smite his hands together, and in verse 17 the Lord promises to smite his hands together. In both instances there is a pledge to the performance of what is stated.
Smiting the hands together has the signification of an oath in some parts of the East to this day.