don’t want to sidetrack the conversation, but just out of curiousity, where could one look for more info the meaning of ‘rest’?

By “historical wrath” I take it you mean that the wrath experienced by those with “unbelief” happened for a “time” (in this case, 40 years of “unrest”)? At least in this sense, “wrath” is the lack of rest that is a direct consequence of a lack of faith. A time-limited consequence of disobendience versus eternal condemnation to unrest?

A nitpick about #3:
True, the wrath happened a long ago but so did the actions of those who hardened their hearts. The equation seems to me:
they hardened their hearts -> God’s wrath / no rest
don’t harden your hearts -> ?
It’s not that God’s wrath is hanging over our heads. But I think the wording of #3 may underplay the intended affect of invoking God’s wrath on the audience.

1. Is historical wrath ever spoken of as eternal or everlasting? Or to put it another way, if wrath is ever spoken of as eternal or everlasting, does that exclude it from having as it’s referent events in history?
2. Is wrath or anger ever communicated through symbolism or imagery, apart from the specific use of the words thumos or orge? By concentrating on these two specific words, are we perhaps not seeing the whole picture?
Today’s text would bring to mind not just a few individuals who did not enter, but an entire generation who heard and disbelieved. I think there is a definite allusion here to the historical circumstances and a specific generation who would experience God’s wrath. I say historical.

Jodi (#1)– i still think Abraham Joshua Heschel’s The Sabbath is best on “rest” and should be a prereq for
Christians in this era in our reading of Hebrews…
(i note parenthetically that J Neusner, in his book taking strong issue w rabbi Paul (A Rabbi Talks with Paul — that may not be exact and i cant find it in a hurry in my piles) says nothing but good things about Hebrews… praising it effusively as superlative midrash…
This does tie in with the wrath discussion — as rest and wrath are in psalm 95 and Hebrews posed as opposite poles — and in the long earlier discussion re Joshua, Hebrews is where we read — “Joshua did not give them rest”…
Wrath may be in fact the absence of the Sabbath Rest of Jesus Christ… (which includes all the Sabbath and Jubilee Release themes as well…)
blessings,

Thanks Tim!