4:12: The word of God is … sharper than any two-edged sword.
See Tg. Song. 3:8 and Midr. Ps. 45 § 6 (136A) at § Eph 6:17 B. ‖
Pesiqta 102B: “A two-edged sword חֶרֶב פִּיפִיּוֹת in their (the pious’) hand” (Ps 149:6). R. Judah (ca. 150) …
said, “This refers to the written and the oral Torah.” — In Midr. Song. 1:2
(83A), R. Nehemiah (ca. 150) is the author. ‖ Babylonian Talmud Berakot 5A: R.
Isaac (ca. 300) said, “He who reads the Shema (of the evening) on his bed is
like one who has a sword with two edges חרב של שתי פיפיות in his hand; as it says, ‘Raising praises to God in their mouth
and a two-edged sword in their hand’ (Ps 149:6).” ‖ Midrash Song of Songs 1:2
(83A): R. Samuel (so read!) b. Nahman (ca. 260) said, “The words of the Torah
are like a weapon: as a weapon remains (as assistance) for its owner in the
hour of the battle, so the words of the Torah remain for the one who occupies
himself earnestly with them.” R. Hanina b. Aha (ca. 330) proved this from the
following, “ ‘Raising praises to God in their mouth and a two-edged sword
in their hand’ (Ps 149:6). As a sword consumes on two sides, so the Torah gives
life in this and in the future world.” — The last saying is attributed in
Pesiq. 102B to R. Nehemiah (ca. 150). ‖ See further Midr. Ps. 149 § 5 (271A);
Gen. Rab. 21 (14C). (Hermann L. Strack and Paul Billerbeck, A
Commentary on the New Testament from the Talmud and Midrash, ed. Jacob N.
Cerone, 4 vols. [trans. Andrew Bowden and Joseph Longarino; Bellingham, Wash.:
Lexham Press, 2021], 3:800)
