“5.a. 1591– (A name for) an ill-conceived, extravagant building or residence which often proves too costly to finish building or is otherwise ridiculed.”
https://www.oed.com/dictionary/folly_n1?tl=true
Ha, did you see what you just quoted there?
I live in dictionaries, so this was an instant connect-the-dots:
Luke 14
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
Not just relevant for the verses, but because the “money” word is “counteth”:
Strong’s:
5585 psephizo {psay-fid’-zo}
from 5586; TDNT - 9:604,1341; v
AV - count 2; 2
1) to count with pebbles, to compute, calculate, reckon
2) to give one’s vote by casting a pebble into the urn
3) to decide by voting
“2”, because there is only the one other place where this verb psephizo ψηφίζω appears —
Revelation 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding *count* the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5585/kjv/tr/0-1/
The 2 verses use different inflections, but the default form is
psephizo ψηφίζω
= 2025
***
Speaking of costs —
It’s an Obama temple detail that jumped out when I first saw the article, but I didn’t mention it in my initial reply (like anyone was gonna care).
But now, perhaps it will appear more relevant, because it’s about important building projects:
>>>The $830 million monolith — slated to open in Chicago next year — has drawn comparisons to the “Death Star” on social media, and some locals have described it as a “concrete tomb” and a “monstrosity.”<<<
In the Jewish world, 830 is a key figure because it’s the traditional years for the existence of the two Temples:
410 years for Solomon’s Temple, and 420 years for the Second Temple.
“For 830 years — from 833 to 423 BCE and again from 349 BCE to 69 CE — there stood an edifice upon a Jerusalem hilltop which served as the point of contact between heaven and earth. So central was this edifice to our lives as Jews that nearly two-thirds of the mitzvot (commandments of the Torah) are contingent upon its existence. Its destruction is regarded as the greatest tragedy of our history, and its rebuilding will mark the ultimate redemption — the restoration of harmony within G‑d’s creation and between G‑d and His creation.”
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/52754/jewish/The-Holy-Temple-an-Anthology.htm
***
As long as the subject has come up, one thing I have not seen in any commentaries (but maybe it’s out there — it sure ought to be), is for anyone having continued the time continuum for calculating the existence of the Third Temple:
410, 420, *430*
That’s because 430 is a number that comes up a lot for its spiritual significance, being the value of nefesh, “soul”.
Specifically, the nefesh is the lowest [animal] soul level involving basic life functions. It is equated with the world of action, of doing. Also equated with King David and the Kingdom.
Now unless the builders of the Obama temple are going to cough up another $430 million, it’s a doomed Death Star. A mega FAIL, just on general principle:
Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
psephizo ψηφίζω = 2025
“Merry Christmas! Sh*tter was full!” ~ Cousin Eddie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RC7Nz0ostKA
That is a fascinating analysis! I have to run, but am going to look at it more closely later!