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Priesthood, book by H. H. Pope Shenouda III

114- Prophets Who Accepted Prostration

 

[13] Holy Men Of God Accepted the Prostration of the People as an sign of Respect. It was never taken to Mean a Sign of Worship.

Many people prostrated before David the king and prophet, as we have discussed this issue before here on st-takla.org in other sections:

(1 Sam 25:23) Now when Abigail saw David, she hastened to dismount from the donkey, fell on her face before David, and bowed down to the ground.

(2 Sam 1:2) on the third day, behold, it happened that a man came from Saul's camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head. So it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the ground and prostrated himself.

(2 Sam 9:6) Now when Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face and prostrated himself. Then David said, "Mephibosheth?" And he answered, "Here is your servant!"

(2 Sam 9:8) Then he bowed himself, and said, "What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?"

(2 Sam 14:4) And when the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground and prostrated herself, and said, "Help, O king!"

(2 Sam 16:4) So the king said to Ziba, "Here, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours." And Ziba said, "I humbly bow

St-Takla.org Image: Orthodox Coptic monk performing prostration. صورة: راهب قبطي من الكنيسة الأرثوذكسية يقوم بعمل ميطانية أو سجود.

(2 Sam 19:18) Then a ferryboat went across to carry over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. Now Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king when he had crossed the Jordan.

(1 Ki 1:16) And Bathsheba bowed and did homage to the king. Then the king said, "What is your wish?"

(1 Ki 1:31) Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth, and paid homage to the king, and said, "Let my lord King David live forever!"

[14] The Prophet NathanProstrated Before David

(1 Ki 1:23) So they told the king, saying, "Here is Nathan the prophet." And when he came in before the king, he bowed down before the king with his face to the ground.

Nathan the prophet was not mistaken to bow before the anointed of God.

[15] Also The Araunah Jebosite

(2 Sam 24:20) Now Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming toward him. So Araunah went out and bowed before the king with his face to the ground.

Also the Chief Priest:

(2 Sam 18:28) And Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, "All is well!" Then he bowed down with his face to the earth before the king, and said, "Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king!"

[16] Daniel Accepted The King Prostration.

(Dan 2:46) Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, prostrate before Daniel, and commanded that they should present an offering and incense to him.

[17] Elijah Accepted The Prostration Of The Military Captain

(2 Ki 1:13) Again, he sent a third captain of fifty with his fifty men. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and pleaded with him, and said to him: "Man of God, please let my life and the life of these fifty servants of yours be precious in your sight.

[18] Also, Elijah Accepted Prostration From The Shonimite Woman

(2 Ki 4:37) So she went in, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground; then she picked up her son and went out.

[19] Solomon Prostrates To His Mother

(1 Ki 2:19) Bathsheba therefore went to King Solomon, to speak to him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her and bowed down to her, and sat down on his throne and had a throne set for the king's mother; so she sat at his right hand.