After reading chapter 21:
* We have finally reached the last chapter of Judges! The story of the last two chapters continues: Back at the beginning of chapter 20, when the Israelites gathered at Mizpah, apparently they made a solemn oath to Yahweh that not one of them would ever give a daughter to a Benjamite in marriage. Now, after the battle, they are again at Bethel, where they are bewailing the loss of one of the tribes of Israel. Really? They purposefully conducted a battle in which over 65,000 armed men, and whole towns full of people,plus their animals, were killed, and now they are grieving for the lost tribe of Benjamin? They ask why this should have happened! Good question. A little too late, though.
*The next day they built an altar (Isn't that a no-no? Or does this story take place before that restriction?) and presented burnt offerings to Yahweh. Then they asked who wasn't present in the roll call of the tribes of Israel at Mizpah. (As if they didn't know.) Those people "deserved" to be put to death. Show up or die. Well, in chapter 20 we saw that the Benjamite tribe wasn't there, so I guess the implication is that they deserved to die. In spite of that, the Israelites are now worried about how the remaining Benjamites will get wives, since they vowed not to give them their daughters as wives. Not to mention, all the Benjamite women have been killed...by the Israelites. The mind boggles.
*Somehow, the Israelites realized that no one from Jabesh Gilead had been represented at the assembly in Mizpah either. (Maybe they didn't get the memo.) So, the Israelites sent 12,000 armed men to Jabesh Gilead. Guess what they did. They slaughtered every living human, men, women, and children......except the virgin young women. They took them to the camp at Shiloh. (Wait a minute, I thought they were assembled at Mizpah. Or was it Bethel?) Why? To give them to the remaining Benjamites as wives! Problem solved. Well, almost.
*Next, the assembly sent a message of peace to the remaining Benjamites who were in hiding. The Benjamites returned and were given the young women of Jabesh Gilead as a consolation prize. How nice. (???) There was a problem, though. There were not enough young women to go around. Awkward. Everyone was sad for the Benjamites. The Benjamites needed heirs so that a tribe of Israel would not be wiped out. (And whose fault was that?) That pesky oath was preventing the Israelites from giving the Benjamites wives. They didn't want to be cursed for breaking the oath. That would not be good.
*Not to worry, they had a solution. They instructed the Benjamites who were still single to go to the annual festival of the Lord in Shiloh. While there, they were to hide in the vinyards, waiting and watching for the girls of Shiloh to come out and join the dancing. Then, they were to rush out and seize a wife and take her back to the land of Benjamin. (Where have I heard a story like this before? ) When the fathers and brothers complained, they were asked to be kind and help out the Benjamites, because they didn't have wives after the war. Plus, technically, the oath was not broken, because they didn't give away the girls, they were taken. Then the Benjamites rebuilt their towns, and everyone else went home. The end.
Thursday, June 30, 2016
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Judges chapter 20, part 2
*On the third day, Yahweh told the Israelites to battle with the Benjamites for the third time. This time he would give them the victory. The Israelites set up an ambush around Gibeah. The rest of the troops took up battle stations as before. The Benjamite army went out to meet them in battle. The army had set up 10,000 of its best fighting men to meet the Benjamites in a full frontal attack. The Israelites won the battle that day, killing 25,100 Benjamites. This was practically the whole Benjamite army. (Verse 15)
*Next follows a more detailed account: During the battle, the Benjamites killed about thirty Israelites, giving the Benjamites the impression they could win again. The Israelites pretended to retreat, drawing the Benjamites away from the city. Meanwhile, the men of the ambush went into Gibeah by a prearranged plan, killed all the inhabitants, and sent up a smoke signal. When the smoke began to rise from the city, the Benjamites saw it and were frightened. At this sign, the Israelites turned back on them. The Benjamites ran in the direction of the desert but could not escape. The Israelites that had been in the town came out and easily overran them. 18,000 Benjamites were killed. The remainder turned and fled in another direction, but 5,000 were cut down by the Israelites along the roads. 2,000 more were chased as far as Gidom and killed. This is the only place Gidom is ever mentioned, in the Bible or anywhere else.
*Six hundred Benjamites managed to escape and hide in the desert for four months. Meanwhile, the Israelites put every single Benjamite town to the sword, including the animals. Then they set all the towns on fire. All that carnage to avenge the death of one person.
*Next follows a more detailed account: During the battle, the Benjamites killed about thirty Israelites, giving the Benjamites the impression they could win again. The Israelites pretended to retreat, drawing the Benjamites away from the city. Meanwhile, the men of the ambush went into Gibeah by a prearranged plan, killed all the inhabitants, and sent up a smoke signal. When the smoke began to rise from the city, the Benjamites saw it and were frightened. At this sign, the Israelites turned back on them. The Benjamites ran in the direction of the desert but could not escape. The Israelites that had been in the town came out and easily overran them. 18,000 Benjamites were killed. The remainder turned and fled in another direction, but 5,000 were cut down by the Israelites along the roads. 2,000 more were chased as far as Gidom and killed. This is the only place Gidom is ever mentioned, in the Bible or anywhere else.
*Six hundred Benjamites managed to escape and hide in the desert for four months. Meanwhile, the Israelites put every single Benjamite town to the sword, including the animals. Then they set all the towns on fire. All that carnage to avenge the death of one person.
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Judges chapter 20, part 1
After reading chapter 20:
*Unfortunately, we are not done with the story of the Levite and the concubine. After the
Levite sent the pieces of the concubine to all the tribes of Israel, "all" the Israelites assembled before Yahweh in Mizpah. There were 400,000 soldiers armed with swords, another nice round number. Except it wasn't ALL the Israelites; the Benjaminites were not there. And surely the surrounding lands were not completely emptied of Israelites for the time it took the gathering to take place. Remember, these people mostly travelled on foot. Not only that, wasn't assembling before Yahweh supposed to be done in Shiloh?
*At the assembly, the Israelites asked the Levite to tell his story. (The bible calls him a husband but calls the woman a concubine, which is not the same thing as a wife.) The Levite tells the story slightly differently than we read in the last chapter. Now, he says the men of Gibeah were wanting to kill him, instead of have sex with him, but maybe to him that was equivalent to death. He skips over the part where he hands his concubine over to the men and goes straight to the rape. He also neglects to tell how he found her and how he had expected her to just get up off the ground and go home. Instead he says he cut her up and sent the pieces to the tribes of Israel, because of the "lewd and disgraceful" act that had been committed. No mention of how he had allowed it to happen.
*Apparently the assembly cast lots to determine what the will of Yahweh was in this situation. (Verse 9) The men, um Yahweh, decided that ten percent of the soldiers would be responsible for getting provisions for the army. (Which usually meant taking what they needed from the people of the surrounding countryside.) Then the whole army would march on the Benjaminites in Gibeah and give them what they deserved. First, however, they sent men through the tribe of Benjamin, asking them to hand over the perpetrators. They refused. Then the Benjaminites gathered 26,000 swordsman of their own, 700 of them from Gibeah. There were also 700 left handed, stone slinging experts. They could "sling a stone at a hair and not miss."
*Next, before the battle, the Israelites (All 400,000?)went to Bethel to ask God a question. Why couldn't they have asked him the question in Mizpah? It makes more sense when you know that Beth-el means "house of God." This is the place Jacob supposedly had his vision of God on top of a ladder to heaven. Apparently, the ark of the covenant was now in Bethel (verse 27), along with an altar for burnt offerings, which I find confusing. Then what is at Shiloh? And why was such a big deal made of Shiloh earlier in the book of Joshua? Shiloh is where lots were cast "in the presence of Yahweh" to determine the distribution of the promised land. The presence of Yahweh appears to be mobile.
*We are also, told in verse 28, that Phineas, the son of Eleazar, the grandson of Aaron, was the high priest ministering in front of the ark. Either this story takes place out of historical sequence in the book of Judges, or Phineas is a couple of hundred years old. Phineas was alive when Moses was still around back in Numbers 25.
*For what question did the Israelites go to Bethel to ask Yahweh? Why, which tribe gets to fight first, of course. Yahweh picked Judah. Lots again? Or priestly declaration? We will never know. The next morning, positions were taken and the battle began. 22,000 Israelites were mowed down. Next, they simultaneously took up their positions of the day before and went to weep before Yahweh in Bethel. They asked Yahweh if they should keep fighting. He said yes. The next day, the Benjaminites cut down 18,000 Israelites with the sword. The Israelites went crying back to Yahweh. They fasted, made burnt offerings and groveled. They again asked Yahweh if they should keep fighting. He said yes.
*Unfortunately, we are not done with the story of the Levite and the concubine. After the
Levite sent the pieces of the concubine to all the tribes of Israel, "all" the Israelites assembled before Yahweh in Mizpah. There were 400,000 soldiers armed with swords, another nice round number. Except it wasn't ALL the Israelites; the Benjaminites were not there. And surely the surrounding lands were not completely emptied of Israelites for the time it took the gathering to take place. Remember, these people mostly travelled on foot. Not only that, wasn't assembling before Yahweh supposed to be done in Shiloh?
*At the assembly, the Israelites asked the Levite to tell his story. (The bible calls him a husband but calls the woman a concubine, which is not the same thing as a wife.) The Levite tells the story slightly differently than we read in the last chapter. Now, he says the men of Gibeah were wanting to kill him, instead of have sex with him, but maybe to him that was equivalent to death. He skips over the part where he hands his concubine over to the men and goes straight to the rape. He also neglects to tell how he found her and how he had expected her to just get up off the ground and go home. Instead he says he cut her up and sent the pieces to the tribes of Israel, because of the "lewd and disgraceful" act that had been committed. No mention of how he had allowed it to happen.
*Apparently the assembly cast lots to determine what the will of Yahweh was in this situation. (Verse 9) The men, um Yahweh, decided that ten percent of the soldiers would be responsible for getting provisions for the army. (Which usually meant taking what they needed from the people of the surrounding countryside.) Then the whole army would march on the Benjaminites in Gibeah and give them what they deserved. First, however, they sent men through the tribe of Benjamin, asking them to hand over the perpetrators. They refused. Then the Benjaminites gathered 26,000 swordsman of their own, 700 of them from Gibeah. There were also 700 left handed, stone slinging experts. They could "sling a stone at a hair and not miss."
*Next, before the battle, the Israelites (All 400,000?)went to Bethel to ask God a question. Why couldn't they have asked him the question in Mizpah? It makes more sense when you know that Beth-el means "house of God." This is the place Jacob supposedly had his vision of God on top of a ladder to heaven. Apparently, the ark of the covenant was now in Bethel (verse 27), along with an altar for burnt offerings, which I find confusing. Then what is at Shiloh? And why was such a big deal made of Shiloh earlier in the book of Joshua? Shiloh is where lots were cast "in the presence of Yahweh" to determine the distribution of the promised land. The presence of Yahweh appears to be mobile.
*We are also, told in verse 28, that Phineas, the son of Eleazar, the grandson of Aaron, was the high priest ministering in front of the ark. Either this story takes place out of historical sequence in the book of Judges, or Phineas is a couple of hundred years old. Phineas was alive when Moses was still around back in Numbers 25.
*For what question did the Israelites go to Bethel to ask Yahweh? Why, which tribe gets to fight first, of course. Yahweh picked Judah. Lots again? Or priestly declaration? We will never know. The next morning, positions were taken and the battle began. 22,000 Israelites were mowed down. Next, they simultaneously took up their positions of the day before and went to weep before Yahweh in Bethel. They asked Yahweh if they should keep fighting. He said yes. The next day, the Benjaminites cut down 18,000 Israelites with the sword. The Israelites went crying back to Yahweh. They fasted, made burnt offerings and groveled. They again asked Yahweh if they should keep fighting. He said yes.
Saturday, June 25, 2016
Judges 19
After reading chapter 19:
*Here we have another odd story beginning with the assertion that in those days there was no king. A Levite from the hill country of Ephraim had a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah. She ran away from him back to her father's house. The Levite went to Judah with a servant and two donkeys to get her back. The woman's father got the Levite to stay there for three days by plying him with food and drink. He wanted to leave but was convinced to stay another day with more eating and drinking. The father tried the same tactics again the fifth day, but the Levite finally left late in the day with his concubine and servant. They travelled toward Jebus where the Jebusites lived, supposedly another name for Jerusalem. However, there appears to be plenty of doubt that the Jebusites ever existed outside the pages of the Bible.
*The Levite's servant wanted to stay in Jebus, but the Levite didn't want to stay among non- Israelites. Instead, they went to Gibeah in Benjamin. When they got there, they sat in the city square waiting to be offered hospitality for the night but none of the Benjaminites invited them home. That evening an old Ephraimite who lived in Gibeah saw them and offered them room and board for the night.
*While they were eating and drinking, some wicked men of the city surrounded the house, pounded on the door, and demanded that the visitor be brought out so they could have sex with him. Sound familiar? Just as in the story of Lot, two women are offered to the men instead, the homeowner's virgin daughter and the Levite's concubine. Why didn't the homeowner sacrifice his own body to save his guest from the unwanted attention? It seems obvious that the women were considered less valuable and more expendable. The men would not listen to the homeowner, so the Levite sent his concubine out to the wolves. She has no Angels to save her. This story makes me so angry. It continues with the concubine being raped and abused all night. At daybreak she makes her way back to the house and falls down dead on the threshold. The next morning, as the Levite is leaving, he sees his concubine laying there and orders her to get up because it is time to go. How cold can you get? Even though it is a story, I wish she could get up, so she could spit in his face and vomit all over him.
*The Levite loads his dead concubine on a donkey and heads home. When he gets there, he cuts up his concubine into twelve pieces and sends the pieces to the twelve tribes of Israel. This event was the subject of much consternation, with people exclaiming that something must be done, people must speak up. What I wonder is which part or parts were they upset about? Was it the Levite's behavior, or the behavior of the men of Gibeah? Is this supposed to prove a king was needed in the land?
*Here we have another odd story beginning with the assertion that in those days there was no king. A Levite from the hill country of Ephraim had a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah. She ran away from him back to her father's house. The Levite went to Judah with a servant and two donkeys to get her back. The woman's father got the Levite to stay there for three days by plying him with food and drink. He wanted to leave but was convinced to stay another day with more eating and drinking. The father tried the same tactics again the fifth day, but the Levite finally left late in the day with his concubine and servant. They travelled toward Jebus where the Jebusites lived, supposedly another name for Jerusalem. However, there appears to be plenty of doubt that the Jebusites ever existed outside the pages of the Bible.
*The Levite's servant wanted to stay in Jebus, but the Levite didn't want to stay among non- Israelites. Instead, they went to Gibeah in Benjamin. When they got there, they sat in the city square waiting to be offered hospitality for the night but none of the Benjaminites invited them home. That evening an old Ephraimite who lived in Gibeah saw them and offered them room and board for the night.
*While they were eating and drinking, some wicked men of the city surrounded the house, pounded on the door, and demanded that the visitor be brought out so they could have sex with him. Sound familiar? Just as in the story of Lot, two women are offered to the men instead, the homeowner's virgin daughter and the Levite's concubine. Why didn't the homeowner sacrifice his own body to save his guest from the unwanted attention? It seems obvious that the women were considered less valuable and more expendable. The men would not listen to the homeowner, so the Levite sent his concubine out to the wolves. She has no Angels to save her. This story makes me so angry. It continues with the concubine being raped and abused all night. At daybreak she makes her way back to the house and falls down dead on the threshold. The next morning, as the Levite is leaving, he sees his concubine laying there and orders her to get up because it is time to go. How cold can you get? Even though it is a story, I wish she could get up, so she could spit in his face and vomit all over him.
*The Levite loads his dead concubine on a donkey and heads home. When he gets there, he cuts up his concubine into twelve pieces and sends the pieces to the twelve tribes of Israel. This event was the subject of much consternation, with people exclaiming that something must be done, people must speak up. What I wonder is which part or parts were they upset about? Was it the Levite's behavior, or the behavior of the men of Gibeah? Is this supposed to prove a king was needed in the land?
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Religiously Motivated Violence
I'm sure you had your fill of the news lately, and your fill of the opinion of the events in Orlando by everyone and their brother. When I see the usual social media response to tragedy by the use of memes and heartfelt posts, mostly by christians, I avoid commenting or responding in any way. I do not make any public statements myself. Because of religious fundamentalism, I don't have the world's permission to be open and authentic and feel secure. Plus, personally, those types social media sermons always feel a little self serving. They are designed to either make the poster feel good about themselves or to try to convince the general public that the poster is one of the good guys. Not like those other people who don't know how to "hate the sin and love the sinner." But, as others have said, no one's thoughts, prayers, or lengthy treatises are going to help anyone. My own feelings of sorrow and my opinion of these events won't change anything.
Why? Because certain books written by mere mortals are still revered as being of divine origin. Because too many people still believe in supernatural beings with power to influence events and grant wishes. Because too many people are burdened with unnecessary guilt for breaking the irrational rules of invisible despots and fear of divine justice meted out through eternal torture. Because too many people still believe that invisible supernatural beings can give their followers messages through their holy books or visions, dreams, signs, and portents. Because too many people subscribe to the gruesome, barbaric, violent, and inhumane concept of blood sacrifice as necessary for atonement of sins and as a means of reconciliation with their supreme master.
Why are people surprised and shocked at religiously motivated violence? Religion is where these ideas were born, out of a misunderstanding of how the natural world works and the percieved need to appease gods who supposedly make all the rules and who can give or take life on a whim. If someone actually believes that his/her god needs appeasing, they are potentially capable of any number of horrific acts. What is surprising to me is that it doesn't happen more often. I would like to think it is because deep down inside most people can't really swallow all the claims of their holy books and their preachers.
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Judges chapter 18
After reading chapter 18:
*Again, we are reminded that Israel had no king. Also, the Danite tribe apparently didn't have a permanent homeland in the promised land, because they had been unable to occupy the land Yahweh had supposedly given them. (See Judges 1:34) The Danites sent out spies to explore the land, presumably to find a place they could settle. The spies came to Micah's house and spent the night. While there, they heard the voice of the young Levite who had become Micah's personal priest and they recognized him. This doesn't make much sense because the Levite was from Bethlehem in Judah. The study Bible suggests that they didn't know him personally, they just recognized his accent.
*The Levite told the Danite spies that he was working for Micah as his priest. The Danites asked the Levite to ask Yahweh if their journey would be successful. He told them they had Yahweh's approval. Of course he did. Basically he could say whatever he wanted because Gods don't talk to regular people. They wouldn't know if he made it up. What a sweet deal. The spies went on to Laish and saw that it was a great place to live, peaceful, safe, prosperous, and unsuspecting. When the spies returned to the other Danites they told them how wonderful that land was and suggested an immediate attack.
*Six hundred armed Danite men set out for Laish and came to Micah's house. The previous Danite spies told their kinsmen that Micah owned household gods, a cast idol and an ephod. So the army stopped at the entrance to the gate of the place Micah lived. The spies went in and "retrieved" the sacred objects. The priest asked them what they were doing. They sushed him and bribed him with a job as the priest of the whole clan, instead of one household. The priest was glad to accept and went with them when they left. They moved on, putting their livestock and small children in the front of the group as a buffer. Cowards.
*Meanwhile, Micah gathered some allies and went after the Danites. The Danites wanted to know why Micah came after them with an army. Micah replied that the reason was obvious, they had stolen the gods he had made and his priest. Which is kind of funny if you think about it. The Danites basically told him to get lost, unless he wanted them to attack his family. Micah saw that he was outnumbered and left.
*The Danites went on to attack the peaceful and unsuspecting people of Laish. They killed them all and burnt down their city. No one came to their aid. Then the Danites rebuilt the city, settled there, and named it Dan. Jonathan and his sons, descendants of Moses, were priests for the tribe of Dan. Is this the same person as the Levite mentioned in previous verses? The Danites set up and used Micah's idols the whole time the tabernacle was in Shiloh.
*I find it hard to figure out what to make of this story. Did Yahweh approve, disapprove, or not even care bout the preceding events? The Danites were successful; they were also thieves, murderers, idolaters, and law breakers. And nothing bad happened to them as a result of their actions. Why?
(We know it is because Yahweh didn't actually exist, but what is the purpose of this story?)
*By the way, Samson had been a Danite. Also, this story is apparently an account of what happened in Joshua 19: 47. It's not clear when it was supposed to have happened chronologically.
Edited.
*Again, we are reminded that Israel had no king. Also, the Danite tribe apparently didn't have a permanent homeland in the promised land, because they had been unable to occupy the land Yahweh had supposedly given them. (See Judges 1:34) The Danites sent out spies to explore the land, presumably to find a place they could settle. The spies came to Micah's house and spent the night. While there, they heard the voice of the young Levite who had become Micah's personal priest and they recognized him. This doesn't make much sense because the Levite was from Bethlehem in Judah. The study Bible suggests that they didn't know him personally, they just recognized his accent.
*The Levite told the Danite spies that he was working for Micah as his priest. The Danites asked the Levite to ask Yahweh if their journey would be successful. He told them they had Yahweh's approval. Of course he did. Basically he could say whatever he wanted because Gods don't talk to regular people. They wouldn't know if he made it up. What a sweet deal. The spies went on to Laish and saw that it was a great place to live, peaceful, safe, prosperous, and unsuspecting. When the spies returned to the other Danites they told them how wonderful that land was and suggested an immediate attack.
*Six hundred armed Danite men set out for Laish and came to Micah's house. The previous Danite spies told their kinsmen that Micah owned household gods, a cast idol and an ephod. So the army stopped at the entrance to the gate of the place Micah lived. The spies went in and "retrieved" the sacred objects. The priest asked them what they were doing. They sushed him and bribed him with a job as the priest of the whole clan, instead of one household. The priest was glad to accept and went with them when they left. They moved on, putting their livestock and small children in the front of the group as a buffer. Cowards.
*Meanwhile, Micah gathered some allies and went after the Danites. The Danites wanted to know why Micah came after them with an army. Micah replied that the reason was obvious, they had stolen the gods he had made and his priest. Which is kind of funny if you think about it. The Danites basically told him to get lost, unless he wanted them to attack his family. Micah saw that he was outnumbered and left.
*The Danites went on to attack the peaceful and unsuspecting people of Laish. They killed them all and burnt down their city. No one came to their aid. Then the Danites rebuilt the city, settled there, and named it Dan. Jonathan and his sons, descendants of Moses, were priests for the tribe of Dan. Is this the same person as the Levite mentioned in previous verses? The Danites set up and used Micah's idols the whole time the tabernacle was in Shiloh.
*I find it hard to figure out what to make of this story. Did Yahweh approve, disapprove, or not even care bout the preceding events? The Danites were successful; they were also thieves, murderers, idolaters, and law breakers. And nothing bad happened to them as a result of their actions. Why?
(We know it is because Yahweh didn't actually exist, but what is the purpose of this story?)
*By the way, Samson had been a Danite. Also, this story is apparently an account of what happened in Joshua 19: 47. It's not clear when it was supposed to have happened chronologically.
Edited.
Monday, June 13, 2016
Judges chapter 17
After reading chapter 17:
*This story surprised me. I don't remember ever having read it or heard about it before. I read on to the next couple of chapters and was even more amazed. It will become clear why no one ever talks about the next few stories. What is not clear is why they are in the book of Judges when they are not about individual judges. The one common thread is a phrase stating "these things happened before there was a king in Israel, when everyone did as they saw fit." It would appear that the stories were written after there was a king to show people who complained about being under the rule of a king that things could be worse. Or that statement could have been added to the original text to show disapproval of former religious practices.
*A man named Micah goes to his mother and says,"Mom, remember those 1,100 shekels (coincidentally the same amount Delilah was given to betray Samson) that got stolen and how you put a curse on the person who stole them? Well, that was me. Then his mother blessed him in the name of Yahweh, which is kind of odd, but maybe it was supposed to counteract the curse. The son returned the money, but the mother decided the silver would be consecrated to Yahweh for her son. So, she took 200 of the shekels to a silver smith who made them into an idol, presumably of Yahweh, which is against the law of Moses. However, this passage does not condemn her actions, even though my study bible commentary does. The mother and Micah don't appear to be aware of the laws against idols and their worship.
*Micah put the idol in his house. He also had other idols, a shrine and an ephod. Plus, he made his son a priest. A priest's duties were basically servicing the gods. They would perform ceremonial sacrifices, feed and wash and dress the idols, and other ritual acts of worship for the gods. We are told Micah did this because there was no king, and everyone did as he saw fit. The writers obviously believed in the power of government to control the standards of religious activity.
*A young Levite from Bethlehem in Judah, left home looking for a place to stay. We are not told why. That does not stop my study bible from speculating that the Levites probably lacked support from the other Israelites because the law of Moses was not being followed. Poor babies, they had to go out and earn a living just like everyone else. This Levite wandered on to Micah's property and Micah offered him the job of priest at ten shekels a year, plus room and board. What did his son/priest do then? He had to put up wth the Levite becoming just like another son in his father's eyes, and he didn't have a cushy job any more. However, Micah himself was thrilled. A Levite was his personal priest, which he thought meant that Yahweh would be extra good to him.
*This is the first we have heard about Levites in the book of judges.
*This story surprised me. I don't remember ever having read it or heard about it before. I read on to the next couple of chapters and was even more amazed. It will become clear why no one ever talks about the next few stories. What is not clear is why they are in the book of Judges when they are not about individual judges. The one common thread is a phrase stating "these things happened before there was a king in Israel, when everyone did as they saw fit." It would appear that the stories were written after there was a king to show people who complained about being under the rule of a king that things could be worse. Or that statement could have been added to the original text to show disapproval of former religious practices.
*A man named Micah goes to his mother and says,"Mom, remember those 1,100 shekels (coincidentally the same amount Delilah was given to betray Samson) that got stolen and how you put a curse on the person who stole them? Well, that was me. Then his mother blessed him in the name of Yahweh, which is kind of odd, but maybe it was supposed to counteract the curse. The son returned the money, but the mother decided the silver would be consecrated to Yahweh for her son. So, she took 200 of the shekels to a silver smith who made them into an idol, presumably of Yahweh, which is against the law of Moses. However, this passage does not condemn her actions, even though my study bible commentary does. The mother and Micah don't appear to be aware of the laws against idols and their worship.
*Micah put the idol in his house. He also had other idols, a shrine and an ephod. Plus, he made his son a priest. A priest's duties were basically servicing the gods. They would perform ceremonial sacrifices, feed and wash and dress the idols, and other ritual acts of worship for the gods. We are told Micah did this because there was no king, and everyone did as he saw fit. The writers obviously believed in the power of government to control the standards of religious activity.
*A young Levite from Bethlehem in Judah, left home looking for a place to stay. We are not told why. That does not stop my study bible from speculating that the Levites probably lacked support from the other Israelites because the law of Moses was not being followed. Poor babies, they had to go out and earn a living just like everyone else. This Levite wandered on to Micah's property and Micah offered him the job of priest at ten shekels a year, plus room and board. What did his son/priest do then? He had to put up wth the Levite becoming just like another son in his father's eyes, and he didn't have a cushy job any more. However, Micah himself was thrilled. A Levite was his personal priest, which he thought meant that Yahweh would be extra good to him.
*This is the first we have heard about Levites in the book of judges.
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
Joshua chapter 16
After reading chapter 16:
*Verses 1-3 are a short story of Samson visiting a prostitute in Gaza, which apparently is no problem to Yahweh. While he was there, the people of Gaza surrounded the place and waited to ambush him at the city gate and kill him. Samson left at midnight and foiled their plans by tearing off the city gate, posts and bars included. He carried them up to the top of a hill. The only purpose of this story seems to be to illustrate how strong he was.
*Next we are told the story of Delilah, a Woman from the valley of Sorek. Samson fell in love with her. However, the rulers of the Philistines offered her 1,100 shekels of silver to find out the secret of his strength and reveal it to them so they can control him. It seems that Delilah did not feel the same way Samson felt about her. She asked Samson what made him so strong. We already know it is his long hair, but that hasn't actually been revealed by the story yet. Samson tells her he must be bound by seven fresh thongs that have not been dried. Those would probably have been straps made out of animal skin. The Philistines gave Delilah the thongs and she tied Samson up, but he snapped them easily.
*If you were Samson, would you continue to be in love with Delilah? Well he doesn't seem phased. She complains that he lied to her! So he tells her that being tied with new ropes will make him weak. Of course Delilah ties him up with new ropes but he also breaks them easily. Delilah tells him to stop lying and making a fool out of her. So he tells her to weave the seven braids on his head into some fabric on a loom and pin it tightly. Delilah does that, but of course it doesn't work either. Now she plays the "you don't really love me" card and nags him " day after day until he was tired to death."
*Finally, Samson tells Delilah if his head were shaved he would lose all his strength. She tells the Philistines. They pay her the silver. She has a man come in and shave Samson's head while he is asleep on her lap, and he became weak. Then she yells,"Samson, the Philistines are upon you," He jumps up thinking he will just shake himself free as usual. But Yahweh had left him. He must have been living in Samson's hair. The Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes, bound him with bronze shackles, and made him do manual labor in prison. Meanwhile his hair began to grow back, as hair does.
*The Philistines had a big party celebrating their victory over Samson. They gave credit for this victory to their God Dagon and decided to bring out Samson to entertain themselves. Now this party was taking place in Dagon's temple. Samson, being blind, asked a servant to place his hands on the pillars of the temple. Then Samson prayed to Yahweh for strength. Because Samson's hair had grown back enough, Yahweh decided to grant his request. Samson braced himself against the central pillars and pushed with all his might. The temple fell down on the approximately 3,000 people gathered there, himself included. So, he killed more people in his death than he had killed in his whole life. That's quite an accomplishment. Plus, he couldn't have done it without Yahweh. And his hair.
*One interesting fact about Dagon: evidence for him as a God has been found dating back to around 2,300 B.C.E. Evidence for Yahweh as a god only goes as far back as approximately 1,400 B.C.E.
Read more about Samson here.
Edited
*Verses 1-3 are a short story of Samson visiting a prostitute in Gaza, which apparently is no problem to Yahweh. While he was there, the people of Gaza surrounded the place and waited to ambush him at the city gate and kill him. Samson left at midnight and foiled their plans by tearing off the city gate, posts and bars included. He carried them up to the top of a hill. The only purpose of this story seems to be to illustrate how strong he was.
*Next we are told the story of Delilah, a Woman from the valley of Sorek. Samson fell in love with her. However, the rulers of the Philistines offered her 1,100 shekels of silver to find out the secret of his strength and reveal it to them so they can control him. It seems that Delilah did not feel the same way Samson felt about her. She asked Samson what made him so strong. We already know it is his long hair, but that hasn't actually been revealed by the story yet. Samson tells her he must be bound by seven fresh thongs that have not been dried. Those would probably have been straps made out of animal skin. The Philistines gave Delilah the thongs and she tied Samson up, but he snapped them easily.
*If you were Samson, would you continue to be in love with Delilah? Well he doesn't seem phased. She complains that he lied to her! So he tells her that being tied with new ropes will make him weak. Of course Delilah ties him up with new ropes but he also breaks them easily. Delilah tells him to stop lying and making a fool out of her. So he tells her to weave the seven braids on his head into some fabric on a loom and pin it tightly. Delilah does that, but of course it doesn't work either. Now she plays the "you don't really love me" card and nags him " day after day until he was tired to death."
*Finally, Samson tells Delilah if his head were shaved he would lose all his strength. She tells the Philistines. They pay her the silver. She has a man come in and shave Samson's head while he is asleep on her lap, and he became weak. Then she yells,"Samson, the Philistines are upon you," He jumps up thinking he will just shake himself free as usual. But Yahweh had left him. He must have been living in Samson's hair. The Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes, bound him with bronze shackles, and made him do manual labor in prison. Meanwhile his hair began to grow back, as hair does.
*The Philistines had a big party celebrating their victory over Samson. They gave credit for this victory to their God Dagon and decided to bring out Samson to entertain themselves. Now this party was taking place in Dagon's temple. Samson, being blind, asked a servant to place his hands on the pillars of the temple. Then Samson prayed to Yahweh for strength. Because Samson's hair had grown back enough, Yahweh decided to grant his request. Samson braced himself against the central pillars and pushed with all his might. The temple fell down on the approximately 3,000 people gathered there, himself included. So, he killed more people in his death than he had killed in his whole life. That's quite an accomplishment. Plus, he couldn't have done it without Yahweh. And his hair.
*One interesting fact about Dagon: evidence for him as a God has been found dating back to around 2,300 B.C.E. Evidence for Yahweh as a god only goes as far back as approximately 1,400 B.C.E.
Read more about Samson here.
Edited
Saturday, June 4, 2016
Joshua chapter 15
After reading chapter 15:
*Later, at the time of the wheat harvest, Samson decided to go visit his wife again. Her father would not let him see her. He told Samson that he had given Samson's wife to his friend because he thought Samson hated her. This time Samson was really mad (As opposed to the time he killed 30 men for their clothes.)and decided to get even. He caught 300 foxes (All by himself? I wonder how long that took?) tied them together in pairs by their tails, tied a torch to every pair of tails, and let the foxes loose on the Philistines grain fields. All their fields, trees, and vinyards were burned. Upon investigating, the Philistines discovered Samson did it because his wife had been given away. So, they burnt up the wife and her father. That made Samson even madder. He took revenge by slaughtering many of them. Then he went and stayed (hid)in a cave.
*The Philistines went to the land of Judah to try to find, capture, and kill Samson. Three thousand men of Judah went to the cave (How did they know where to find him?) and chastised Samson for being rude to their Philistine rulers. He said he had only done what they did to him. Yeah but who started the whole mess? The men of Judah intended to take him back and hand him over. Samson made them swear not to kill him themselves. They tied him up with two new ropes and led him away. When the Philistines saw him coming, they shouted. That amazing Spirit of the Lord came upon him again and gave him the strength to break the ropes. After that, he picked up the jawbone of a donkey and killed a thousand men. Then he made a cute little poem about how he had made donkeys of them all.
*After all that hard work, Samson was very thirsty and cried out to Yahweh who caused a spring of water to come out of the ground. Samson drank and was revived. He then led the Israelites for twenty years. Apparently Yahweh was okay with All these events.
*Later, at the time of the wheat harvest, Samson decided to go visit his wife again. Her father would not let him see her. He told Samson that he had given Samson's wife to his friend because he thought Samson hated her. This time Samson was really mad (As opposed to the time he killed 30 men for their clothes.)and decided to get even. He caught 300 foxes (All by himself? I wonder how long that took?) tied them together in pairs by their tails, tied a torch to every pair of tails, and let the foxes loose on the Philistines grain fields. All their fields, trees, and vinyards were burned. Upon investigating, the Philistines discovered Samson did it because his wife had been given away. So, they burnt up the wife and her father. That made Samson even madder. He took revenge by slaughtering many of them. Then he went and stayed (hid)in a cave.
*The Philistines went to the land of Judah to try to find, capture, and kill Samson. Three thousand men of Judah went to the cave (How did they know where to find him?) and chastised Samson for being rude to their Philistine rulers. He said he had only done what they did to him. Yeah but who started the whole mess? The men of Judah intended to take him back and hand him over. Samson made them swear not to kill him themselves. They tied him up with two new ropes and led him away. When the Philistines saw him coming, they shouted. That amazing Spirit of the Lord came upon him again and gave him the strength to break the ropes. After that, he picked up the jawbone of a donkey and killed a thousand men. Then he made a cute little poem about how he had made donkeys of them all.
*After all that hard work, Samson was very thirsty and cried out to Yahweh who caused a spring of water to come out of the ground. Samson drank and was revived. He then led the Israelites for twenty years. Apparently Yahweh was okay with All these events.
Friday, June 3, 2016
Joshua chapter 14
After reading chapter 14:
*Samson is now grownup up. He went to Timnah and saw a Philistine woman that he wanted to marry. His parents would have preferred he marry an Israelite woman, not a woman from those "uncircumcised Philistines." But Samson insisted that she was the one he wanted. Plus, Yahweh was secretly causing this infatuation just so there would be a confrontation with the Philistines.
*The family travelled to Timnah, presumably to acquire the bride for Samson. When they came to the outskirts of the town, Samson was attacked by a lion. Samson got a rush of the Spirit of the Lord (sounds more like adrenaline to me) and tore the lion apart with his bare hands, but he didn't tell his parents about it. I don't know how they could have missed seeing it. Then he went on to the town, talked with the woman, and decided he liked her.
*Later, Samson and his parents went back to Timnah so he could marry the Philistine woman. On the way, he decided to take a look at the dead lion's carcass and found that some bees had made a honeycomb in it. He scooped out honey with his hands and ate it as he went along. He also gave some to his parents but didn't tell them where he had gotten it from.
*There was a wedding feast which typically lasts seven days. Samson was given 30 companions, presumably similar to groomsmen. He told these companions that he was going to tell them a riddle. If they could guess the answer by the end of the feast, they would be awarded thirty complete sets of clothes. If they could not guess they would have to give him thirty complete sets of clothes. Sounds fair. Not. They foolishly agreed. The riddle was "Out of the eater, something to eat; out of the strong, something sweet." This obviously refers to the lion and the honey. Of course no one but Samson would know that. The game was rigged.
*After three days of trying to guess the answer to the riddle, the men went to Samson's wife and threatened to burn her and her father's house if she didn't get the answer to the riddle for them. In order to get the answer, his wife played the "you don't love me if you won't tell me" card. Samson refused to tell her so she cried for the rest of the feast. On the seventh day, he got tired of her persistence and told her. She told the riddle to the men of her town. They told Samson the answer just as the feast was coming to an end. Of course he knew where they got the answer from.
*Again, Samson recieved a rush of power from the Spirit of the Lord. He went to Ashkelon, another Philistine town, killed thirty men, stole their clothes, and gave them to the men who had given the answer to the riddle. He left the wedding and went back home. His wife was given to the equivalent of the best man.
*In previous stories the Spirit of the Lord helped people to prophesy, make laws, and win wars. This time it seems to have just been used to make Samson a killing machine. It sounds to me more like Samson had anger and entitlement issues. The cheater hates to be cheated.
*Samson is now grownup up. He went to Timnah and saw a Philistine woman that he wanted to marry. His parents would have preferred he marry an Israelite woman, not a woman from those "uncircumcised Philistines." But Samson insisted that she was the one he wanted. Plus, Yahweh was secretly causing this infatuation just so there would be a confrontation with the Philistines.
*The family travelled to Timnah, presumably to acquire the bride for Samson. When they came to the outskirts of the town, Samson was attacked by a lion. Samson got a rush of the Spirit of the Lord (sounds more like adrenaline to me) and tore the lion apart with his bare hands, but he didn't tell his parents about it. I don't know how they could have missed seeing it. Then he went on to the town, talked with the woman, and decided he liked her.
*Later, Samson and his parents went back to Timnah so he could marry the Philistine woman. On the way, he decided to take a look at the dead lion's carcass and found that some bees had made a honeycomb in it. He scooped out honey with his hands and ate it as he went along. He also gave some to his parents but didn't tell them where he had gotten it from.
*There was a wedding feast which typically lasts seven days. Samson was given 30 companions, presumably similar to groomsmen. He told these companions that he was going to tell them a riddle. If they could guess the answer by the end of the feast, they would be awarded thirty complete sets of clothes. If they could not guess they would have to give him thirty complete sets of clothes. Sounds fair. Not. They foolishly agreed. The riddle was "Out of the eater, something to eat; out of the strong, something sweet." This obviously refers to the lion and the honey. Of course no one but Samson would know that. The game was rigged.
*After three days of trying to guess the answer to the riddle, the men went to Samson's wife and threatened to burn her and her father's house if she didn't get the answer to the riddle for them. In order to get the answer, his wife played the "you don't love me if you won't tell me" card. Samson refused to tell her so she cried for the rest of the feast. On the seventh day, he got tired of her persistence and told her. She told the riddle to the men of her town. They told Samson the answer just as the feast was coming to an end. Of course he knew where they got the answer from.
*Again, Samson recieved a rush of power from the Spirit of the Lord. He went to Ashkelon, another Philistine town, killed thirty men, stole their clothes, and gave them to the men who had given the answer to the riddle. He left the wedding and went back home. His wife was given to the equivalent of the best man.
*In previous stories the Spirit of the Lord helped people to prophesy, make laws, and win wars. This time it seems to have just been used to make Samson a killing machine. It sounds to me more like Samson had anger and entitlement issues. The cheater hates to be cheated.
Thursday, June 2, 2016
Becoming the Best You
I recently told some online atheist friends that I was getting tired of reading and researching about atheism and was ready to move on to the business of living my life without a god. (I intend to continue working on this blog.) One friend suggested I consider what it meant to achieve "self-actualization." I was intrigued and asked for some practical suggestions. So, taking what she gave me, and what I have come up with by exploring the topic, I created a list that I call Becoming the Best You. Now I have it hanging on my frig. You don't have to be an atheist to take life principles like these to heart.
Becoming the Best You
1. Level up in something you already do.
2. Learn more through self education and trying new things.
3. Expand the ways you express yourself through communication.
4. Expand the ways you express yourself through creativity.
5. Expand the ways you express yourself through kindness and generosity.
6. Expand your understanding of, and regard for, nature and humanity
7. Form new healthy habits.
8. Work to do well the things you choose to do.
9. Be of useful service to those in need.
10. Encourage others to become their best selves.
Many websites that talk about self actualization have lists of things not to do. I've never found that kind of thing helpful. That is why I only included positive statements in my list. They are general enough so that anyone can apply them to their own life in the way that has the most meaning to them.
Edited
Becoming the Best You
1. Level up in something you already do.
2. Learn more through self education and trying new things.
3. Expand the ways you express yourself through communication.
4. Expand the ways you express yourself through creativity.
5. Expand the ways you express yourself through kindness and generosity.
6. Expand your understanding of, and regard for, nature and humanity
7. Form new healthy habits.
8. Work to do well the things you choose to do.
9. Be of useful service to those in need.
10. Encourage others to become their best selves.
Many websites that talk about self actualization have lists of things not to do. I've never found that kind of thing helpful. That is why I only included positive statements in my list. They are general enough so that anyone can apply them to their own life in the way that has the most meaning to them.
Edited
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
Judges chapter 13
After reading chapter 13:
*The Israelites did "evil" in the sight of Yahweh, so he delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for a standard biblical length of time, forty years. Then a man named Manoah from the Danite clan had a wife who was childless. The angel of Yahweh appeared to her as a man and told her she would have a son. This son was to be a Nazarite, set apart to Yahweh from birth. The mother was not to drink anything fermented, or eat anything unclean. Also, the boy will never have a haircut. Numbers 6 describes the Nazarite vow. However, it appears to be voluntary and temporary, unlike this boy to be born, who has a permanent decision made for him.
*The woman went to her husband and told him what had happened. Manoah prayed to Yahweh to send the Angel back to teach them how to raise the boy. The angel appeared to the woman again while she was working in the field. She ran and told her husband. Manoah followed her back to the field and spoke to the angel. He asked him for instructions. The angel basically repeated what he had originally told the woman. Manoah volunteered to prepare a young goat to eat. The angel, who Manoah seems to have thought was a prophet, turned it down. He told Manoah to make a burnt offering to Yahweh instead. Manoah asked the angel what his name was but was told he wouldn't be able to understand it.
*Manoah sacrificed a goat and a grain offering to the Yahweh on a rock, which was a clear violation of the law of the Israelites. Sacrifices were to be done by the priests at the altar in front of the tabernacle, which was currently supposed to be in Shiloh.( Numbers 18 and 22)However, Yahweh doesn't seem to have a problem with it at this time. As the flames of the sacrifice blazed up, the angel ascended to heaven in the flame. Manoah and his wife fell with their faces to the ground. Manoah thought they were doomed to die but his wife replied practically that, if that were true, Yahweh would not have accepted the sacrifice and told them about their future son. Eventually, the boy was born and they named him Samson. One day the Spirit of Yahweh began to stir in him.
* One can't help wondering how many women of ancient times told their husbands that a god had decided she would become pregnant.
Edited.
*The Israelites did "evil" in the sight of Yahweh, so he delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for a standard biblical length of time, forty years. Then a man named Manoah from the Danite clan had a wife who was childless. The angel of Yahweh appeared to her as a man and told her she would have a son. This son was to be a Nazarite, set apart to Yahweh from birth. The mother was not to drink anything fermented, or eat anything unclean. Also, the boy will never have a haircut. Numbers 6 describes the Nazarite vow. However, it appears to be voluntary and temporary, unlike this boy to be born, who has a permanent decision made for him.
*The woman went to her husband and told him what had happened. Manoah prayed to Yahweh to send the Angel back to teach them how to raise the boy. The angel appeared to the woman again while she was working in the field. She ran and told her husband. Manoah followed her back to the field and spoke to the angel. He asked him for instructions. The angel basically repeated what he had originally told the woman. Manoah volunteered to prepare a young goat to eat. The angel, who Manoah seems to have thought was a prophet, turned it down. He told Manoah to make a burnt offering to Yahweh instead. Manoah asked the angel what his name was but was told he wouldn't be able to understand it.
*Manoah sacrificed a goat and a grain offering to the Yahweh on a rock, which was a clear violation of the law of the Israelites. Sacrifices were to be done by the priests at the altar in front of the tabernacle, which was currently supposed to be in Shiloh.( Numbers 18 and 22)However, Yahweh doesn't seem to have a problem with it at this time. As the flames of the sacrifice blazed up, the angel ascended to heaven in the flame. Manoah and his wife fell with their faces to the ground. Manoah thought they were doomed to die but his wife replied practically that, if that were true, Yahweh would not have accepted the sacrifice and told them about their future son. Eventually, the boy was born and they named him Samson. One day the Spirit of Yahweh began to stir in him.
* One can't help wondering how many women of ancient times told their husbands that a god had decided she would become pregnant.
Edited.
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