POST. The word “post” is used in the KJV to tr. several Heb. words that refer to a door, doorway, or threshold. In addition, “post” in the KJV is used to tr. a Heb. word for “runner” or “carrier” (Jer 51:31).

I. Door post. There are four Heb. words tr. “post” in the KJV.

1. אַ֫יִל֙, H382, is regularly tr. “post” (Ezek 40, 41); the RSV consistently trs. it “jamb.” It is also tr. “lintel” (KJV, RSV, 1 Kings 6:31).

2. אַמָּה֩, H567, is found in Isaiah 6:4 where it is tr. “posts” (KJV) and “foundations” (RSV). Cf. Akkad. ’ammatu (A. Salonen, Die Türen des alten Mesopotamien [1961], p. 74, n. 1.)

3. מְזוּזָה, H4647, is regularly tr. “post” or “doorpost” in the KJV. The RSV trs. it simply “door” (Prov 8:34) and “window” (following the LXX in 1 Kings 7:5). It was esp. important because on Passover, it and the lintel (מַשְׁקﯴף, H5485) were sprinkled with blood (Exod 12:7, 22, 23). In later times this term was applied to the small cylinder that was attached to the doorpost and contained a strip of parchment on which was written “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might” (Deut 6:4, 5; cf. v. 9). Every pious person on passing by, reverently touched this cylinder and then kissed his fingers. The slave had his ear pierced by the cylinder if he wanted to stay with his master (Exod 21:6).

4. סַפ֙, H6197, is tr. by KJV “threshold” (Judg 19:27; 1 Kings 14:17; Ezek 40:6, 7; 43:8; Zeph 2:14), “door” (2 Kings 12:9; 22:4; Esth 2:21; Isa 6:4). The RSV consistently trs. “threshold” in the above cited passages. In three passages (2 Chron 3:7; Ezek 41:16; Amos 9:1) where the KJV trs. “post,” the RSV rightly substitutes “threshold.” (Cf. Akkad. sippu, A. Salonen, op. cit., p. 63.)

II. Carrier of letters. רָ֥ץ (pl. רָצִימ׃֩), “runners” were state messengers who formed the royal guard (1 Sam 22:17; 1 Kings 14:27; 2 Kings 11:4, 13). They guarded the king’s house and were available for service. From these were chosen the couriers (KJV “posts”), who conveyed royal letters throughout the kingdom (2 Chron 30:6; Esth 3:13, 15; Job 9:25; Jer 51:31). Some of those in Persia were mounted on swift horses (Esth 8:10).