25:21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat,
and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,
25:22 for you will heap coals of fire on his head, 1
and the Lord will reward you. 2
1 sn The imagery of the “burning coals” represents pangs of conscience, more readily effected by kindness than by violence. These coals produce the sharp pain of contrition through regret (e.g., 18:19; 20:22; 24:17; Gen 42-45; 1 Sam 24:18-20; Rom 12:20). The coals then would be an implied comparison with a searing conscience.
2 sn The second consequence of treating enemies with kindness is that the