Biblica_1_Layout 1 20/01/12 11:44 Pagina 502 502 JOHN MAKUJINA (see above) 78; tacwy can mean either “go out to fight the enemy”, “surrender to the enemy”, or “go out into exile” (preferred). Ac- cordingly, #rp would refer to an enemy breaching the city walls. Consequently, I offer, for consideration, the following transla- tion, followed by a paraphrase that elucidates the intent of the verse: “Our cattle are well cared for; there will be no breaking through (our walls), nor deportation, nor lamentation in our squares”. “Our cattle are well cared for, without threat from the terrors of invasion or exile”. Erskine College John MAKUJINA P.O. Box 338 - Belk Hall Due West, SC 29639 - USA SUMMARY The interpretation of Ps 144,14 remains unsettled, due primarily to the difficulty of identifying an overall context for the colon. Of the two major positions dominating the debate, one contends that the topic of the entire verse is bovine fecundity, whereas the other considers part of the colon (v. 14b-c) to be about national security. The author finds both views to be problematic and proposes another solution, which retains attractive ele- ments from each position: Ps 144,14 promises the prosperity of livestock, by assuring that they will not become the spoils of war. 78 Even the improbable “heavy with young” is compatible with this scheme. Moreover, the concept of cattle transporting a bountiful harvest is also practicable. The promise of non-aggression is compatible with horticul- tural as well as pastoral prosperity, since horticulture was also threatened by military intruders, as discussed earlier.