hand, massa is also a common noun in Hebrew meaning “oracle” (literally “burden”). So rather than indicating where Lemuel came from (RSV, NEB), it may describe what is being said as a “weighty word” (cf. NIV, TEV). Whether we should think of Lemuel as a young king being given some words of motherly advice, or as a dissolute king being severely scolded by her, is difficult to say. At all events, there is no mistaking this mother’s strong concern for her son. This comes out very clearly in verse