Charge

Figurative: (1) of a special duty mishmereth, "thing to be watched"), "the charge of Yahweh" (Lev 8:35), the injunctions given in Ex 29; "the charge of the tabernacle" (Nu 1:53); "the charge of the sons of Getshon" (Nu 3:25); (2) of the burden of expense (kabhedh, "to be, or make heavy"; adapanos, "without expense"), "lest we be chargeable unto thee" (2 Sam 13:25 the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American) "burdensome"); "The former governors .... were charge unto the people" (Neh 5:15 margin "laid burdens upon"); "that .... I may make the gospel without charge" (1 Cor 9:18; see CHARGES); (3) of oversight, care, custody, "Who gave him a charge over the earth?" (Job 34:13); "to have the charge of the gate" (2 Ki 7:17); "charge of the vessels of service" (1 Ch 9:28); "cause ye them that have charge (pequddoth, "inspectors") over the city" (Ezek 9:1); "who had the charge of all her treasure" (Acts 8:27 the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American) "was over"); (4) of a command, injunction, requirement, "He gave him a charge" (Gen 28:6); "His father charged the people with the oath" (1 Sam 14:27); "Jesus strictly (m "sternly") charged them" (Mt 9:30); "I charge you by the Lord" (1 Thess 5:27 the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American) "adjure"); "having received such a charge" (Acts 16:24, paraggelia, "private or extra message"); "This charge I commit unto thee" (1 Tim 1:18); (5) of blame, responsibility, reckoning, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge" (Acts 7:60); "nothing laid to his charge" (Acts 23:29); "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?" (Rom 8:33).

M. O. Evans