After reading chapter 19:
*Here we read again about cities of refuge for persons who have killed unintentionally. The Israelites are to divide the land they will acquire into three parts. Each part is to have a centrally located city with easy access by roads. These cities are to be the cities of refuge, a place to escape the "avenger of blood", probably a relative of the deceased who is assigned the task of avenging the death. If god enlarges thier territory as he promised, they are to set aside three more cities. This is slightly different than Numbers 35 which tells them to set aside six towns to begin with. Numbers also says these are Levite towns, Deuteronomy does not. Intentional murderers cannot be given refuge, they are to be handed over to the avenger of blood.
*Verse 14 has a command not to move boundary stones, which has nothing to do with the verses before or after and seems totally out of place.
*Next we are again told that a criminal matter can only be established by the testimony of more than one witness. Judges must investigate and make sure witnesses are not malicious. A false witness is to be punished in the way he intended his victim to be punished. Show no pity. Life for life, hand for hand, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. Extenuating circumstances don't matter. I guess that keeps things simple.
Showing posts with label Numbers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Numbers. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Deuteronomy chapters 3 and 4
After reading chapters 3 and 4:
*In chapter 3, Moses retells the story of the defeat and decimation of the territory of Og, King of Bashan, told in Numbers 21, but with embellishments. The Deuteronomist emphasizes the great physical size of the people the Israelites encounter, much more than the author of Numbers did. Next, we are again told of the division of the land East of the Jordon to the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half tribe of Mannaseh, in return for their help in conquering Canaan for the rest of the Israelites. Then, it is reiterated that Moses will not cross into the promised land, instead Joshua will lead the Israelites in the conquest of Canaan.
*In chapter 4, Moses tells them to remember what happened at Baal Peor. That story is found in Numbers 25. That was a lesson to teach them to obey all of Yahweh's commands when they enter the promised land. Supposedly, it will make all the other nations think the Israelites are special snowflakes and their God is the specialist snowflake of all. Then he asks them to remember when they stood before the lord at Horeb and recieved the ten commandments. There is one problem here. It was 40 years ago. Everyone alive in this chapter would have been under the age of twenty at that time, many not even born yet. Yahweh wasn't speaking to them at Mt. Horeb, but their parents and grandparents, and they are dead because of god's decree that none of them would live to enter the promised land, except Joshua and Caleb.
*Next, Moses reminds the Israelites that God is a jealous God and he will tolerate no idolatry of any kind. If they should practice idolatry, they will "quickly perish," be destroyed, and scattered among the nations so that only a few survive. (Here is one reason to think this book was put together after the exile, prophecy written after the fact.) There they would worship idols that do not see, hear, eat, or smell, instead of Yahweh, who also doesn't see hear, eat, or smell. However, later they would turn back to Yahweh and obey him, so that it would go well with them and they would live long in the land. The Israelites are asked,"has any other God taken a nation for himself by miraculous signs and wonders like Yaweh?" Apparently not. Then we are again told of the cities of refuge, one for each of the three clans that will be living on the east side of the Jordan. This ends the first speech of Moses in Deuteronomy.
*The stories of Balaam, and the slaughter of the Midianites, along with the keeping and distribution of the Midianite young women, are skipped.
Edited.
*In chapter 3, Moses retells the story of the defeat and decimation of the territory of Og, King of Bashan, told in Numbers 21, but with embellishments. The Deuteronomist emphasizes the great physical size of the people the Israelites encounter, much more than the author of Numbers did. Next, we are again told of the division of the land East of the Jordon to the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half tribe of Mannaseh, in return for their help in conquering Canaan for the rest of the Israelites. Then, it is reiterated that Moses will not cross into the promised land, instead Joshua will lead the Israelites in the conquest of Canaan.
*In chapter 4, Moses tells them to remember what happened at Baal Peor. That story is found in Numbers 25. That was a lesson to teach them to obey all of Yahweh's commands when they enter the promised land. Supposedly, it will make all the other nations think the Israelites are special snowflakes and their God is the specialist snowflake of all. Then he asks them to remember when they stood before the lord at Horeb and recieved the ten commandments. There is one problem here. It was 40 years ago. Everyone alive in this chapter would have been under the age of twenty at that time, many not even born yet. Yahweh wasn't speaking to them at Mt. Horeb, but their parents and grandparents, and they are dead because of god's decree that none of them would live to enter the promised land, except Joshua and Caleb.
*Next, Moses reminds the Israelites that God is a jealous God and he will tolerate no idolatry of any kind. If they should practice idolatry, they will "quickly perish," be destroyed, and scattered among the nations so that only a few survive. (Here is one reason to think this book was put together after the exile, prophecy written after the fact.) There they would worship idols that do not see, hear, eat, or smell, instead of Yahweh, who also doesn't see hear, eat, or smell. However, later they would turn back to Yahweh and obey him, so that it would go well with them and they would live long in the land. The Israelites are asked,"has any other God taken a nation for himself by miraculous signs and wonders like Yaweh?" Apparently not. Then we are again told of the cities of refuge, one for each of the three clans that will be living on the east side of the Jordan. This ends the first speech of Moses in Deuteronomy.
*The stories of Balaam, and the slaughter of the Midianites, along with the keeping and distribution of the Midianite young women, are skipped.
Edited.
Saturday, January 2, 2016
Deuteronomy chapter 1 And 2
After reading chapter 1 and 2:
*There is a short introduction telling us it is the fortieth year and the first day of the eleventh month since the Israelites left Egypt. They are east of the Jordan, in the territory of Moab and Moses is going to speak. 1:6-4:40 is Moses's speech.
* In chapter 1, Moses tells the Israelites about God's promise of land, the choosing of the leaders of the twelve tribes, the sending out of the twelve spies, the people's unwillingness and fear to take over the promised land because of the size of the people, God's 40 year punishment of wandering in the wilderness, the attempt and failure to fight without God, and the beating by the Amorites.These stories are all repeats, mostly from the book of Numbers. However, in Numbers, they were beaten by Amalekites and Canaanites, not Amorites.
*In chapter 2, we have wording that does not occur in Numbers. Here we are told that the Israelites circumnavigated the hill country of Seir because that is where the descendants of Esau lived. They were told to respect them as brothers and pay them for any food and water they consumed. In Numbers, these people are called Edomites (chapter 20) and they deny the Israelites passage through their land after being asked. Plus, in Deuteronomy, God tells the Israelites not to provoke the descendants of Esau because he was not going to give the Israelites any of that land.
*Next, we are again skipped over the succeeding 38 years to the time when all the original fighting men of Israel had died. The Israelites were told not to harass the Moabites or Ammonites because their land was for Lot's descendants. We are given stories about what tribes were displaced so that the Moabites, Ammonites, and descendants of Esau could have the land they occupied.
*Next we are told of the battle with King Sihon of Heshbon. The Israelites ask to pass through his land and say that the Moabites and descendants of Esau were okay with that (verse29) but Numbers tells a different story. King Sihon refuses to let them pass. The Israelites completely destroy Sihon's land and people, with god's help. However, they didn't touch the land of the Ammonites, by god's command. In Numbers, it was because the Ammonite border was fortified. (21:24)
*There is a short introduction telling us it is the fortieth year and the first day of the eleventh month since the Israelites left Egypt. They are east of the Jordan, in the territory of Moab and Moses is going to speak. 1:6-4:40 is Moses's speech.
* In chapter 1, Moses tells the Israelites about God's promise of land, the choosing of the leaders of the twelve tribes, the sending out of the twelve spies, the people's unwillingness and fear to take over the promised land because of the size of the people, God's 40 year punishment of wandering in the wilderness, the attempt and failure to fight without God, and the beating by the Amorites.These stories are all repeats, mostly from the book of Numbers. However, in Numbers, they were beaten by Amalekites and Canaanites, not Amorites.
*In chapter 2, we have wording that does not occur in Numbers. Here we are told that the Israelites circumnavigated the hill country of Seir because that is where the descendants of Esau lived. They were told to respect them as brothers and pay them for any food and water they consumed. In Numbers, these people are called Edomites (chapter 20) and they deny the Israelites passage through their land after being asked. Plus, in Deuteronomy, God tells the Israelites not to provoke the descendants of Esau because he was not going to give the Israelites any of that land.
*Next, we are again skipped over the succeeding 38 years to the time when all the original fighting men of Israel had died. The Israelites were told not to harass the Moabites or Ammonites because their land was for Lot's descendants. We are given stories about what tribes were displaced so that the Moabites, Ammonites, and descendants of Esau could have the land they occupied.
*Next we are told of the battle with King Sihon of Heshbon. The Israelites ask to pass through his land and say that the Moabites and descendants of Esau were okay with that (verse29) but Numbers tells a different story. King Sihon refuses to let them pass. The Israelites completely destroy Sihon's land and people, with god's help. However, they didn't touch the land of the Ammonites, by god's command. In Numbers, it was because the Ammonite border was fortified. (21:24)
Thursday, December 17, 2015
Numbers wrap up
*In this book we learn nothing about heaven, hell, Angels, demons, the devil, life after death, or promise of a spiritual savior.
*We are told the Israelites wandered in the desert for forty years, but are almost told nothing about those intervening years, except the names of the camp sites. They supposedly moved an average of once a year. During that time, every adult who had been over twenty when the Israelites came out of Egypt died, except for Caleb and Joshua. Moses also hasn't died yet. Miriam and Aaron have.
*According to the numbers supposedly recorded, the number of fighting men in the group has only decreased by about a thousand over the forty years.The balance of the population of each tribe has shifted. The tribe of Levites remains small. The tribe of Judah Is the largest tribe. There are still well over a million Israelites travellling together, along with their substantial flocks and herds.
*The Levites are not required to fight. They have special duties and privileges that pretty much guarantee they are the wealthiest and best fed tribe in the group.
*There were a couple of protests and departures from absolute obedience to Yahweh that were dealt with swiftly and violently, usually by Yahweh or a priest.
*Speaking of herds of animals, apparently they were able to have enough water and food to maintain large flocks, in spite of claims that they themselves were starving and thirsty.
*Not one single event or individual mentioned in the Book of Numbers is corroborated in the current archaeological record. Many place names can be found, many more can not. To convict someone of murder you need the testimony of at least two eyewitnesses. To accept that the book of Numbers is the "word of God" you only need faith. The book does not say it was written by Moses or that it is the word of God.
We will move on to Deuteronomy after the 1st of January. Until then we will take a look at the birth of Jesus.
Edited.
*We are told the Israelites wandered in the desert for forty years, but are almost told nothing about those intervening years, except the names of the camp sites. They supposedly moved an average of once a year. During that time, every adult who had been over twenty when the Israelites came out of Egypt died, except for Caleb and Joshua. Moses also hasn't died yet. Miriam and Aaron have.
*According to the numbers supposedly recorded, the number of fighting men in the group has only decreased by about a thousand over the forty years.The balance of the population of each tribe has shifted. The tribe of Levites remains small. The tribe of Judah Is the largest tribe. There are still well over a million Israelites travellling together, along with their substantial flocks and herds.
*The Levites are not required to fight. They have special duties and privileges that pretty much guarantee they are the wealthiest and best fed tribe in the group.
*There were a couple of protests and departures from absolute obedience to Yahweh that were dealt with swiftly and violently, usually by Yahweh or a priest.
*Speaking of herds of animals, apparently they were able to have enough water and food to maintain large flocks, in spite of claims that they themselves were starving and thirsty.
*Not one single event or individual mentioned in the Book of Numbers is corroborated in the current archaeological record. Many place names can be found, many more can not. To convict someone of murder you need the testimony of at least two eyewitnesses. To accept that the book of Numbers is the "word of God" you only need faith. The book does not say it was written by Moses or that it is the word of God.
We will move on to Deuteronomy after the 1st of January. Until then we will take a look at the birth of Jesus.
Edited.
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Numbers chapter 36
After reading Numbers chapter 36:
*Now we have arrived at the end of the book of Numbers. What wisdom do we find imparted here?
The inheritance of Zelophehad's daughters is at stake again. Their relatives are concerned that if the daughters marry men from other tribes, those tribes will get the ancestral wealth and property that the women bring, and their tribe of origin would lose out. So the previous instructions about the daughters' inheritance are revised and clarified. What Yahweh meant to say all along was they got to keep their inheritance as long as they married within their family tribe. The same goes for every other
Israelite woman. No inheritance in Israel is to pass from one tribe to another. So Zelophehad's daughters married their cousins.
The end.
*Now we have arrived at the end of the book of Numbers. What wisdom do we find imparted here?
The inheritance of Zelophehad's daughters is at stake again. Their relatives are concerned that if the daughters marry men from other tribes, those tribes will get the ancestral wealth and property that the women bring, and their tribe of origin would lose out. So the previous instructions about the daughters' inheritance are revised and clarified. What Yahweh meant to say all along was they got to keep their inheritance as long as they married within their family tribe. The same goes for every other
Israelite woman. No inheritance in Israel is to pass from one tribe to another. So Zelophehad's daughters married their cousins.
The end.
Numbers chapter 35
After reading chapter 35:
*Now, Yahweh tells Moses to tell the Israelites that the Levites must be given their own towns in the promised land. They also get the surrounding land, 3,000 feet on each side of the town, for pasture. The Levites are to be given 48 towns in all. Six of them are to be cities of refuge, three on the east side of the Jordan, three on the west. The cities of refuge are places for Israelites and "foreigners" to hide in when they have accidentally killed someone and are waiting for trial. Otherwise, "the avenger" of the death may not let them live that long.
*At trial, a death is considered murder when it is caused by a blow with an iron object, a stone (except in the case of stoning ordered by God or the priests, of course.) or a lethal piece of wood. If the cause of death is shoving someone with malice a forethought, throwing something at a person with intent to harm, or hitting with fists, that is murder. Those who murder are to be put to death by "the avenger of blood" whenever he meets them.
*Suddenly shoving someone, unintentionally throwing something at someone, accidentally dropping a stone on someone, all done without hostility to a non- enemy are not considered murder. However that person is still in danger from the "avenger of blood", so the community must protect him by sending him back to the city of refuge in which he had been waiting before the trial. He has to stay there until the death of the current high priest. But if he leaves the city of refuge before the proper time, and the avenger finds him, he's toast. The avenger will not be guilty of murder if he kills the person, even if the person had been judged not guilty by the assembly. So, who is this avenger? Probably the nearest male relative. These are basically honor killings.
*In order for the assembly to judge someone a murderer, there must be at least two witnesses to the event. No one is to be put to death on the testimony of one witness. The murderer cannot be bought out of his death sentence. Even the person judged not guilty cannot be bought out of his term spent in the city of refuge before the death of the high priest. We also learn that bloodshed pollutes the land, and the only way to make the land happy again is to kill the person who did the killing, more bloodshed, go figure.
*So, use poison and don't let anyone see you. (You do realize this is a joke, right?)
*Now, Yahweh tells Moses to tell the Israelites that the Levites must be given their own towns in the promised land. They also get the surrounding land, 3,000 feet on each side of the town, for pasture. The Levites are to be given 48 towns in all. Six of them are to be cities of refuge, three on the east side of the Jordan, three on the west. The cities of refuge are places for Israelites and "foreigners" to hide in when they have accidentally killed someone and are waiting for trial. Otherwise, "the avenger" of the death may not let them live that long.
*At trial, a death is considered murder when it is caused by a blow with an iron object, a stone (except in the case of stoning ordered by God or the priests, of course.) or a lethal piece of wood. If the cause of death is shoving someone with malice a forethought, throwing something at a person with intent to harm, or hitting with fists, that is murder. Those who murder are to be put to death by "the avenger of blood" whenever he meets them.
*Suddenly shoving someone, unintentionally throwing something at someone, accidentally dropping a stone on someone, all done without hostility to a non- enemy are not considered murder. However that person is still in danger from the "avenger of blood", so the community must protect him by sending him back to the city of refuge in which he had been waiting before the trial. He has to stay there until the death of the current high priest. But if he leaves the city of refuge before the proper time, and the avenger finds him, he's toast. The avenger will not be guilty of murder if he kills the person, even if the person had been judged not guilty by the assembly. So, who is this avenger? Probably the nearest male relative. These are basically honor killings.
*In order for the assembly to judge someone a murderer, there must be at least two witnesses to the event. No one is to be put to death on the testimony of one witness. The murderer cannot be bought out of his death sentence. Even the person judged not guilty cannot be bought out of his term spent in the city of refuge before the death of the high priest. We also learn that bloodshed pollutes the land, and the only way to make the land happy again is to kill the person who did the killing, more bloodshed, go figure.
*So, use poison and don't let anyone see you. (You do realize this is a joke, right?)
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Numbers chapter 34
After reading chapter 34:
*This chapter delineates the borders of the land Yahweh is giving the Israelites. The wikipedia article on the promised land has maps that show where these borders would have been. Notice that the area of the promised land differs from that which yahweh promised to Abraham's descendants at the end of Genesis chater 15. There, the the northern border was the Euphrates and the southern border "the river of Egypt."
*After that, Moses says this land will be divided up among the remaining nine and a half tribes, after the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh get the land they requested on the east side of the Jordan. A leader was to be chosen from each of the nine and a half tribes, for the purpose of portioning out the "inheritance" of the Israelites.
*This chapter delineates the borders of the land Yahweh is giving the Israelites. The wikipedia article on the promised land has maps that show where these borders would have been. Notice that the area of the promised land differs from that which yahweh promised to Abraham's descendants at the end of Genesis chater 15. There, the the northern border was the Euphrates and the southern border "the river of Egypt."
*After that, Moses says this land will be divided up among the remaining nine and a half tribes, after the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh get the land they requested on the east side of the Jordan. A leader was to be chosen from each of the nine and a half tribes, for the purpose of portioning out the "inheritance" of the Israelites.
Monday, December 14, 2015
Numbers chapter 33
After reading chapter 33:
*The first part of the chapter is a record of all the travels and stops the Israelites made over the forty years of wandering. There were supposedly 42 separate camp sites, none of which left any evidence of well over a million people for modern archaeologists to find.
*In the second part, Yahweh tells Moses to tell the Israelites that when they cross the Jordan into canaan they are to destroy all the Canaanite idols, of stone and metal. They are to also destroy any "high places" which were usually hilltop temples or places of sacrifice. They were to take over the land after it was divvied up by tribe and doled out to individual families by the casting of lots.
Then God says that if the Israelites do not drive the current inhabitants out of the land, they will end up regretting it. Not only will the people be an irritant, but God will do to the Israelites what he's been thinking of doing to the Canaanites, whatever that is.
*The first part of the chapter is a record of all the travels and stops the Israelites made over the forty years of wandering. There were supposedly 42 separate camp sites, none of which left any evidence of well over a million people for modern archaeologists to find.
*In the second part, Yahweh tells Moses to tell the Israelites that when they cross the Jordan into canaan they are to destroy all the Canaanite idols, of stone and metal. They are to also destroy any "high places" which were usually hilltop temples or places of sacrifice. They were to take over the land after it was divvied up by tribe and doled out to individual families by the casting of lots.
Then God says that if the Israelites do not drive the current inhabitants out of the land, they will end up regretting it. Not only will the people be an irritant, but God will do to the Israelites what he's been thinking of doing to the Canaanites, whatever that is.
Numbers chapter 32
After reading chapter 32:
*While the Israelites were still on the east side of the Jordan River, the Reubenites and Gadites went to Moses and asked to be able to settle on that side, in the lands of Jazer and Gilead, instead of in canaan. They liked that land because it had enough space and food for their large herds of animals.
*After an initial protest, some insults and veiled threats, and some bargaining, Moses agreed , on condition that their fighting men still help the rest of the Israelites conquer the Canaanites. Plus, if they didn't help, they would be sorry. The Ruebenites and Gadites consented. Moses gave them the land, as though it was his to give. They built many "cities" which are named in the text.
*While the Israelites were still on the east side of the Jordan River, the Reubenites and Gadites went to Moses and asked to be able to settle on that side, in the lands of Jazer and Gilead, instead of in canaan. They liked that land because it had enough space and food for their large herds of animals.
*After an initial protest, some insults and veiled threats, and some bargaining, Moses agreed , on condition that their fighting men still help the rest of the Israelites conquer the Canaanites. Plus, if they didn't help, they would be sorry. The Ruebenites and Gadites consented. Moses gave them the land, as though it was his to give. They built many "cities" which are named in the text.
Saturday, December 12, 2015
Numbers chapter 31
After reading chapter 31:
*After a brief intermission, laying down some religious and social rules, Yahweh tells Moses to take vengeance on the Midianites, who used to be Moabites, presumably for the crime of inviting them to other god's BBQs and showing the men a good time. So, 12,000 men, 1,000 from each tribe, were sent into battle, along with Phineas, the son of the high priest, the same guy who had run a spear through the Midianite woman and Israeli man. They fought against Midian and killed every man, including Balaam, the guy with the talking donkey.
*The Israelite army burned the Midianite towns and camps, after they plundered them. They took their spoils, including the women and children , back to the Israelite camp. Moses was upset, because it was the Midianite/Moabite women who had enticed the Israelite men. He ordered all the sexually active women killed. The reason given for this was that they were following Balaam's advice on how to turn the Israelites away from Yahweh. This is very strange because chapters 22-24 clearly show Balaam speaking on behalf of Yahweh and the Israelites, and blessing them. There is no mention of him giving any advice for turning the Israelites away from Yahweh.
*Moses also ordered the killing of all the boys, but gives no reason. Then, he says the Israelite army can save all the virgin girls for themselves, we can guess the reason. The fighting men who had killed, and the captive virgins, were to remain outside the camp for seven days, to be "purified." The thought of this makes my blood run cold. All metals, were to be passed through a fire and washed with holy water, for cleansing. Everything that couldn't be passed through a fire was just to be washed with the water of cleansing.
*Next, Yahweh told Moses to count all the people ( the girls) and the animals that were captured and divide up the spoils. Half for the fighting men, half for the rest of the community. From the soldier's share, one out of every 500, of the girls, cattle, sheep, goats, and donkeys was to be given to the priests, um, the lord. From the community share, one out of every 50. We are given the numbers for each of the kinds of animals and the virgins, because this is the book of numbers after all. There were 32,000 females divvied up that day.
*After the distribution of the spoils, the commanders of the army told Moses that not a single fighting man had been lost. Incredible. They also had gold to give to the priests, um, the lord. Of course Moses and the priests accepted the gold on Yahweh's behalf, and the soldiers had some left over for themselves, naturally.
*After a brief intermission, laying down some religious and social rules, Yahweh tells Moses to take vengeance on the Midianites, who used to be Moabites, presumably for the crime of inviting them to other god's BBQs and showing the men a good time. So, 12,000 men, 1,000 from each tribe, were sent into battle, along with Phineas, the son of the high priest, the same guy who had run a spear through the Midianite woman and Israeli man. They fought against Midian and killed every man, including Balaam, the guy with the talking donkey.
*The Israelite army burned the Midianite towns and camps, after they plundered them. They took their spoils, including the women and children , back to the Israelite camp. Moses was upset, because it was the Midianite/Moabite women who had enticed the Israelite men. He ordered all the sexually active women killed. The reason given for this was that they were following Balaam's advice on how to turn the Israelites away from Yahweh. This is very strange because chapters 22-24 clearly show Balaam speaking on behalf of Yahweh and the Israelites, and blessing them. There is no mention of him giving any advice for turning the Israelites away from Yahweh.
*Moses also ordered the killing of all the boys, but gives no reason. Then, he says the Israelite army can save all the virgin girls for themselves, we can guess the reason. The fighting men who had killed, and the captive virgins, were to remain outside the camp for seven days, to be "purified." The thought of this makes my blood run cold. All metals, were to be passed through a fire and washed with holy water, for cleansing. Everything that couldn't be passed through a fire was just to be washed with the water of cleansing.
*Next, Yahweh told Moses to count all the people ( the girls) and the animals that were captured and divide up the spoils. Half for the fighting men, half for the rest of the community. From the soldier's share, one out of every 500, of the girls, cattle, sheep, goats, and donkeys was to be given to the priests, um, the lord. From the community share, one out of every 50. We are given the numbers for each of the kinds of animals and the virgins, because this is the book of numbers after all. There were 32,000 females divvied up that day.
*After the distribution of the spoils, the commanders of the army told Moses that not a single fighting man had been lost. Incredible. They also had gold to give to the priests, um, the lord. Of course Moses and the priests accepted the gold on Yahweh's behalf, and the soldiers had some left over for themselves, naturally.
Friday, December 11, 2015
Numbers chapter 30
After reading chapter 30:
*This chapter is about vows to Yahweh, or pledges and obligations. A man who makes a vow must keep it completely. A woman who makes a vow must keep it, unless her husband or father forbids it at any time, then it becomes nullified. However, if he nullifies her vow some time after it has been made, he is responsible for her guilt, as if that actually means anything.
* You may ask why a husband or father would want to nullify a vow made by a woman. My guess is because it affects him personally. A woman could vow never to marry, or to refrain from sex if married. She might vow to give away personal possessions or money that the man has an interest in. She might also vow to spend all her days in prayer, not attending to household matters. Notice that a woman can not nullify a husband's vow, which is no surprise, considering it was a patriarchical society.
*This chapter is about vows to Yahweh, or pledges and obligations. A man who makes a vow must keep it completely. A woman who makes a vow must keep it, unless her husband or father forbids it at any time, then it becomes nullified. However, if he nullifies her vow some time after it has been made, he is responsible for her guilt, as if that actually means anything.
* You may ask why a husband or father would want to nullify a vow made by a woman. My guess is because it affects him personally. A woman could vow never to marry, or to refrain from sex if married. She might vow to give away personal possessions or money that the man has an interest in. She might also vow to spend all her days in prayer, not attending to household matters. Notice that a woman can not nullify a husband's vow, which is no surprise, considering it was a patriarchical society.
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Numbers chapter 28 and 29
After reading chapter 28 and 29
*Here we have a reiteration of the routine sacrifices and feast days, with instructions, that we saw in Leviticus. The bible is very fond of repetition, almost like it was really written as separate books and not one unified whole. There are daily sacrifices, sabbath sacrifices, monthly sacrifices, the passover, the feast of weeks, the feast of trumpets, the day of atonement, and the feast of tabernacles. We are again reminded that these are for Yahweh, even though he does not eat or drink and the priests get whatever is not burnt up. Because God just loves the smell of BBQ. Me too.
*Here we have a reiteration of the routine sacrifices and feast days, with instructions, that we saw in Leviticus. The bible is very fond of repetition, almost like it was really written as separate books and not one unified whole. There are daily sacrifices, sabbath sacrifices, monthly sacrifices, the passover, the feast of weeks, the feast of trumpets, the day of atonement, and the feast of tabernacles. We are again reminded that these are for Yahweh, even though he does not eat or drink and the priests get whatever is not burnt up. Because God just loves the smell of BBQ. Me too.
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
Numbers chapter 27
After reading chapter 27:
*The daughters of a man named Zelophehad went to the tabernacle and stood before Moses and the other leaders. They wanted their father's inheritance because their father had no sons. Moses asked Yahweh what to do and he said if a man has no sons, his daughters inherit. Then he laid out a plan of inheritance for someone who dies without direct (male) descendants.
*After that Yaweh tells Moses to go up on a mountain to look at the promised land, then he will die. Moses asked him to appoint a new leader first. God told Moses to choose Joshua and commission him in the presence of the priests and the assembly. Joshua was to obtain his decisions from Eleazar the priest, who would get them by asking the "Urim" which was an unidentified object used for divination, introduced in Exodus 28. So, Joshua was commissioned.
*The daughters of a man named Zelophehad went to the tabernacle and stood before Moses and the other leaders. They wanted their father's inheritance because their father had no sons. Moses asked Yahweh what to do and he said if a man has no sons, his daughters inherit. Then he laid out a plan of inheritance for someone who dies without direct (male) descendants.
*After that Yaweh tells Moses to go up on a mountain to look at the promised land, then he will die. Moses asked him to appoint a new leader first. God told Moses to choose Joshua and commission him in the presence of the priests and the assembly. Joshua was to obtain his decisions from Eleazar the priest, who would get them by asking the "Urim" which was an unidentified object used for divination, introduced in Exodus 28. So, Joshua was commissioned.
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Numbers chapter 26
After reading chapter 26
*This chapter contains the numbers of a second census of men twenty years and older who are able to serve in the army, taken after the plague in chapter 25. Remember, this is approximately 40 years after the first census. It does not include women, children, and Levites. The tribe of Rueben was down by 2,770. The tribe of Simeon was down by 27,100! The tribe of Gad was down by 5,150. The tribe of Judah was increased by 1,900. The tribe of Issachar increased by 9,900. The tribe of Zebulon increased by3,100. The tribe of Manasseh increased by 20,500! The tribe of Ephraim decreased by 12,000. The tribe of Benjamin increased by 10,200. The tribe of Dan increased by 1,700. The tribe of Asher increased by 11,900. The tribe of Naphtali decreased by 8,000.
*According to verse 51, there was a net loss of 1,820 fighting men. Not bad for 40 years in the wilderness. The above numbers were nice and even again. They were also very suggestive. The large number lost to the tribe of Simeon might be accounted for by the various punishments Yahweh meted out to those that were disobedient.
*Yahweh tells Moses that the promised land is to be portioned out according to the size of the tribe. The bigger the tribe, the more land. Within the tribes, the land was to be distributed by lot, essentially drawing straws. The largest tribe was Judah, of course.
*The Levites, males a month old or more, were counted last. They had increased by exactly 1,000. Amazing. Supposedly, not one of the current population of Israelites was of the group counted by Moses and Aaron, except Caleb and Joshua. (And Moses) Which would have to mean there were no men over the age of 60 at this time.
*This chapter contains the numbers of a second census of men twenty years and older who are able to serve in the army, taken after the plague in chapter 25. Remember, this is approximately 40 years after the first census. It does not include women, children, and Levites. The tribe of Rueben was down by 2,770. The tribe of Simeon was down by 27,100! The tribe of Gad was down by 5,150. The tribe of Judah was increased by 1,900. The tribe of Issachar increased by 9,900. The tribe of Zebulon increased by3,100. The tribe of Manasseh increased by 20,500! The tribe of Ephraim decreased by 12,000. The tribe of Benjamin increased by 10,200. The tribe of Dan increased by 1,700. The tribe of Asher increased by 11,900. The tribe of Naphtali decreased by 8,000.
*According to verse 51, there was a net loss of 1,820 fighting men. Not bad for 40 years in the wilderness. The above numbers were nice and even again. They were also very suggestive. The large number lost to the tribe of Simeon might be accounted for by the various punishments Yahweh meted out to those that were disobedient.
*Yahweh tells Moses that the promised land is to be portioned out according to the size of the tribe. The bigger the tribe, the more land. Within the tribes, the land was to be distributed by lot, essentially drawing straws. The largest tribe was Judah, of course.
*The Levites, males a month old or more, were counted last. They had increased by exactly 1,000. Amazing. Supposedly, not one of the current population of Israelites was of the group counted by Moses and Aaron, except Caleb and Joshua. (And Moses) Which would have to mean there were no men over the age of 60 at this time.
Saturday, December 5, 2015
Numbers chapter 25
After reading chapter 25:
*So, Israel was staying in Shittim (Please, let's not get all junior high here.) Some of the men got invited to BBQs (sacrifices to other gods) by the Moabite women, and they went. Not only that, they also had a very good time with those Moabite women. They ate the BBQ and bowed down to Baal of Peor, who may have been the egyptian sun god Horus. Boy was Yahweh mad! He told Moses to kill all the people who had done this.
*Then an Israelite man had the effrontery to bring home a Midianite woman in front of everyone!
Phineas, the son of Eleazar the high priest, took a spear and drove it through both of them while they were together in the tent. This stopped a plague which had apparently been happening at the time, but not before 24,0000 people died. (A nice round number. )God told Moses that Phineas had appeased his anger, so he made an everlasting covenant with him that his descendants would be an everlasting priesthood, even though he had already been covered under the same promise made to Aaron.
*Is anyone else wondering how we got from Moabites to Midianites one setting? As far as I know they are not the same thing. Now Yahweh tells Moses to treat the Midianites as enemies because their deceit caused the Israelites to worship Peor, which brought the plague.
*So, Israel was staying in Shittim (Please, let's not get all junior high here.) Some of the men got invited to BBQs (sacrifices to other gods) by the Moabite women, and they went. Not only that, they also had a very good time with those Moabite women. They ate the BBQ and bowed down to Baal of Peor, who may have been the egyptian sun god Horus. Boy was Yahweh mad! He told Moses to kill all the people who had done this.
*Then an Israelite man had the effrontery to bring home a Midianite woman in front of everyone!
Phineas, the son of Eleazar the high priest, took a spear and drove it through both of them while they were together in the tent. This stopped a plague which had apparently been happening at the time, but not before 24,0000 people died. (A nice round number. )God told Moses that Phineas had appeased his anger, so he made an everlasting covenant with him that his descendants would be an everlasting priesthood, even though he had already been covered under the same promise made to Aaron.
*Is anyone else wondering how we got from Moabites to Midianites one setting? As far as I know they are not the same thing. Now Yahweh tells Moses to treat the Midianites as enemies because their deceit caused the Israelites to worship Peor, which brought the plague.
Friday, December 4, 2015
Numbers chapters 23 and 24
After reading chapters 23 and 24:
*Next, Balaam has Balak build seven altars and they sacrifice seven Bulls and seven Rams. Then Balaam excuses himself to go talk to Yahweh. When he comes back, he gave a poetic speech called an oracle, which basically says he can't curse the Israelites because God hasn't cursed them.
*Then, Balak takes Balaam to some higher ground where they can see some of the Israelite horde. He again asks Balaam to curse them. They build seven more altars and sacrifice seven more Bulls and Rams. Balaam excuses himself again to talk with Yahweh. When he comes back, he gives another poetic speech saying he was commanded to bless the Israelites, and no divination or sorcery would work against them. Balak says Balaam may not be able to curse the Israelites, but he doesn't have to bless them, gee.
*Now Balak takes Balaam to a different vantage point hoping there will be a different answer this time. The altars are built again, the Bulls and Rams sacrificed, and Balaam goes off to talk to Yahweh. Balaam then gives another pretty speech about the Israelites and ends with " whoever curses them will be cursed and whoever blesses them will be blessed." Balak was very angry and sent Balaam home without pay for his services. Then Balaam prophesies about Israel crushing the Moabites and other surrounding people, plus the rise of a great ruler. After that he goes home.
Edited because my grammar skills are always better the next day.
*Next, Balaam has Balak build seven altars and they sacrifice seven Bulls and seven Rams. Then Balaam excuses himself to go talk to Yahweh. When he comes back, he gave a poetic speech called an oracle, which basically says he can't curse the Israelites because God hasn't cursed them.
*Then, Balak takes Balaam to some higher ground where they can see some of the Israelite horde. He again asks Balaam to curse them. They build seven more altars and sacrifice seven more Bulls and Rams. Balaam excuses himself again to talk with Yahweh. When he comes back, he gives another poetic speech saying he was commanded to bless the Israelites, and no divination or sorcery would work against them. Balak says Balaam may not be able to curse the Israelites, but he doesn't have to bless them, gee.
*Now Balak takes Balaam to a different vantage point hoping there will be a different answer this time. The altars are built again, the Bulls and Rams sacrificed, and Balaam goes off to talk to Yahweh. Balaam then gives another pretty speech about the Israelites and ends with " whoever curses them will be cursed and whoever blesses them will be blessed." Balak was very angry and sent Balaam home without pay for his services. Then Balaam prophesies about Israel crushing the Moabites and other surrounding people, plus the rise of a great ruler. After that he goes home.
Edited because my grammar skills are always better the next day.
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Numbers chapter 22
After reading chapter 22:
*Even though chapter 21 tells us the Israelites took possession of and settled in the land of the Amorites, plus made war with Bashan to the north, this chapter tells us they were still on the move. Now they are camping along the Jordan, across the river from Jericho.
*I became confused about many of the places mentioned in these chapters. The Israelites should have gone through or around the land of the Moabites to get to the land of the Amorites, but now we seem to be backtracking . If you look at the maps of the land of Canaan,(There are a number of different maps to flip through) you can see where the different tribal kingdoms are supposed to have been. Anyway, now Balaak, the son of the King of Moab, listened to his fellow Moabites , who were terrified that the Israelite hordes would decimate their land. So, some Moabite princes went to visit Balaam, who was apparently a practitioner of the long lost fake art of divination, plus had the power to bless and curse people. They wanted Balaam to put a curse on the Israelites. He promised to give them a message from Yahweh.
*God told Balaam not to put a curse on the Israelites and not to go with the princes of Moab. Balaam told the princes this, and the King's son offered him anything he wanted if Balaam would put a curse on the Israelites. Balaam talked to God again and was told to go with the Moabites now.
*So, in the morning, Balaam saddled his donkey to go with the princes of Moab, just like God told him to. But now God is mad, for who knows what reason. His angel stood in the road with a drawn sword, blocking the way. The donkey saw the Angel and refused to go down the road. Balaam beat her. The angel made a game of block the donkey as Balaam went along. Each time, Balaam beat her. Finally, she just lay down and asked why Balaam has beaten her. Balaam took his talking donkey as a matter of course and said it's because she made him look foolish. Then they had a little chat, and Balaam realized something was up when he personally saw the Angel with the sword. So, Balaam apologized to the Angel, not the donkey, and offered to turn back. But no, God still wanted him to go on. Huh?
*Balaam got to Balak and told him he could only speak the words God put in his mouth. Then Balak and the other princes had a bbq (sacrifice) and shared it with Balaam.
And if you believe in talking donkeys, I have a bridge to sell you.
Edited for grammar and spelling.
*I became confused about many of the places mentioned in these chapters. The Israelites should have gone through or around the land of the Moabites to get to the land of the Amorites, but now we seem to be backtracking . If you look at the maps of the land of Canaan,(There are a number of different maps to flip through) you can see where the different tribal kingdoms are supposed to have been. Anyway, now Balaak, the son of the King of Moab, listened to his fellow Moabites , who were terrified that the Israelite hordes would decimate their land. So, some Moabite princes went to visit Balaam, who was apparently a practitioner of the long lost fake art of divination, plus had the power to bless and curse people. They wanted Balaam to put a curse on the Israelites. He promised to give them a message from Yahweh.
*God told Balaam not to put a curse on the Israelites and not to go with the princes of Moab. Balaam told the princes this, and the King's son offered him anything he wanted if Balaam would put a curse on the Israelites. Balaam talked to God again and was told to go with the Moabites now.
*So, in the morning, Balaam saddled his donkey to go with the princes of Moab, just like God told him to. But now God is mad, for who knows what reason. His angel stood in the road with a drawn sword, blocking the way. The donkey saw the Angel and refused to go down the road. Balaam beat her. The angel made a game of block the donkey as Balaam went along. Each time, Balaam beat her. Finally, she just lay down and asked why Balaam has beaten her. Balaam took his talking donkey as a matter of course and said it's because she made him look foolish. Then they had a little chat, and Balaam realized something was up when he personally saw the Angel with the sword. So, Balaam apologized to the Angel, not the donkey, and offered to turn back. But no, God still wanted him to go on. Huh?
*Balaam got to Balak and told him he could only speak the words God put in his mouth. Then Balak and the other princes had a bbq (sacrifice) and shared it with Balaam.
And if you believe in talking donkeys, I have a bridge to sell you.
Edited for grammar and spelling.
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Numbers chapter 21
After reading chapter 21:
*Now the Canaanite King of Arad, in the Negev, heard that the Israelites were coming, so he attacked and captured some of them. The Israelites asked God to let them destroy the cities in that area, and of course he obliged since they had asked nicely. So, they completely destroyed the people and their towns and called the place Hormah, which was also the name of two other places in the Bible,(Numbers 14, Judges 1) in spite of the fact that there is no extra biblical reference to any place of that name. This is in contrast to the Arad site which shows that it was an early Israelite site with a possible temple to Yahweh on its high point.
*After slaughtering the inhabitants of that area the Israelites move on, complaining of the lack of food and water. So, Yahweh, who had let them destroy whole towns, decided to send poisonous snakes to pester them. They were seriously alarmed and asked Moses to pray for them, because prayer is the most effective way to deal with snakes. He did, and Yahweh told him to set up a pole with a bronze snake for the people to look at when they got bit, that would keep them from dying. Because it would have been too much trouble to just get rid of the snakes. I wonder if it looked anything like the rod of Asclepius or Ningishzida, among the many uses of serpent symbology.
*The Israelites moved on camping in Oboth, lye Abarim, the Zered valley, and beside the Arnon River which is now called the wadi Mujib. Apparently, there was a Book of the Wars of Yahweh that told about this. It has vanished from existence. And they kept moving from place to place til they came to the valley of Moab overlooked by Pisgah.
*Then they sent messengers to the king of the Amorites to ask if they could pass through his territory. He said no. Verse 23. The irony of the text saying that this land belongs to the Amorites and not the Israelites is almost amusing. So, the king got an army together and met the Israelites, but this time they killed the king, took over the land of the Amorites, and occupied all its cities. You can guess what happened to the inhabitants. However they could only go so far because the Ammonite border was fortified. So the Israelites settled in the land of the Amorites, presumably east of the Jordan at this time.
*Then they had more battles, captured more settlements, took posession of more land, and killed more people, all with the help of Yahweh, of course.
Edited.
*Now the Canaanite King of Arad, in the Negev, heard that the Israelites were coming, so he attacked and captured some of them. The Israelites asked God to let them destroy the cities in that area, and of course he obliged since they had asked nicely. So, they completely destroyed the people and their towns and called the place Hormah, which was also the name of two other places in the Bible,(Numbers 14, Judges 1) in spite of the fact that there is no extra biblical reference to any place of that name. This is in contrast to the Arad site which shows that it was an early Israelite site with a possible temple to Yahweh on its high point.
*After slaughtering the inhabitants of that area the Israelites move on, complaining of the lack of food and water. So, Yahweh, who had let them destroy whole towns, decided to send poisonous snakes to pester them. They were seriously alarmed and asked Moses to pray for them, because prayer is the most effective way to deal with snakes. He did, and Yahweh told him to set up a pole with a bronze snake for the people to look at when they got bit, that would keep them from dying. Because it would have been too much trouble to just get rid of the snakes. I wonder if it looked anything like the rod of Asclepius or Ningishzida, among the many uses of serpent symbology.
*The Israelites moved on camping in Oboth, lye Abarim, the Zered valley, and beside the Arnon River which is now called the wadi Mujib. Apparently, there was a Book of the Wars of Yahweh that told about this. It has vanished from existence. And they kept moving from place to place til they came to the valley of Moab overlooked by Pisgah.
*Then they sent messengers to the king of the Amorites to ask if they could pass through his territory. He said no. Verse 23. The irony of the text saying that this land belongs to the Amorites and not the Israelites is almost amusing. So, the king got an army together and met the Israelites, but this time they killed the king, took over the land of the Amorites, and occupied all its cities. You can guess what happened to the inhabitants. However they could only go so far because the Ammonite border was fortified. So the Israelites settled in the land of the Amorites, presumably east of the Jordan at this time.
*Then they had more battles, captured more settlements, took posession of more land, and killed more people, all with the help of Yahweh, of course.
Edited.
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Numbers chapter 20
After reading chapter 20:
*This chapter starts on the first month of an unknown year. My study bible says it must have been the end of the forty years the Israelites were condemned to wander in the desert, back in chapter 14. If this is true, it appears that nothing noteworthy happened during the intervening years. They are back in Kadesh, where they started forty years ago. Miriam dies and is buried there. Echoing Exodus 17, the Israelites complain of no water. Moses and Aaron go to the tabernacle, where Yahweh tells Moses ( not Aaron) to take the magical staff that has apparently lasted all this time and speak to a rock, which would pour out water. This is the same staff that Moses turned into snakes, used to part the Nile, and which became Aaron's staff which blossomed. So, they gather the Israelites for a show of god's power. Moses struck the rock just like before, and just like before, water gushed out. All million plus Israelites and their livestock now had water. The text says these were called the waters of Meribah, just like the waters struck from a rock over forty years ago in Horeb. God takes this opportunity to remind Moses that he will not be going into the promised land.
*Then Moses sent messengers to the king of Edom asking permission for the Israelites to pass through his land, with promises not to disturb anything. The king denied them passage. The Israelites said they were coming through any way. The king of Edom said, "No, you are not." He sent a large army against the Israelites and they backed off.
*On the border of Edom, at Mount Hor, Yahweh told Moses it was time for Aaron to die. Moses, Aaron, and his son Eleazar, went up the mountain. Moses removed the high priest garments from Aaron and put them on Eleazar. Aaron died. Then, Moses and Eleazar came down the mountain. Sounds mighty fishy to me.
*If we continue to follow the bible chronology, placing the creation at 4004 B.C.E, this would have taken place around the year 1296 B.C.E.
*This chapter starts on the first month of an unknown year. My study bible says it must have been the end of the forty years the Israelites were condemned to wander in the desert, back in chapter 14. If this is true, it appears that nothing noteworthy happened during the intervening years. They are back in Kadesh, where they started forty years ago. Miriam dies and is buried there. Echoing Exodus 17, the Israelites complain of no water. Moses and Aaron go to the tabernacle, where Yahweh tells Moses ( not Aaron) to take the magical staff that has apparently lasted all this time and speak to a rock, which would pour out water. This is the same staff that Moses turned into snakes, used to part the Nile, and which became Aaron's staff which blossomed. So, they gather the Israelites for a show of god's power. Moses struck the rock just like before, and just like before, water gushed out. All million plus Israelites and their livestock now had water. The text says these were called the waters of Meribah, just like the waters struck from a rock over forty years ago in Horeb. God takes this opportunity to remind Moses that he will not be going into the promised land.
*Then Moses sent messengers to the king of Edom asking permission for the Israelites to pass through his land, with promises not to disturb anything. The king denied them passage. The Israelites said they were coming through any way. The king of Edom said, "No, you are not." He sent a large army against the Israelites and they backed off.
*On the border of Edom, at Mount Hor, Yahweh told Moses it was time for Aaron to die. Moses, Aaron, and his son Eleazar, went up the mountain. Moses removed the high priest garments from Aaron and put them on Eleazar. Aaron died. Then, Moses and Eleazar came down the mountain. Sounds mighty fishy to me.
*If we continue to follow the bible chronology, placing the creation at 4004 B.C.E, this would have taken place around the year 1296 B.C.E.
Monday, November 23, 2015
Numbers chapter 19
After reading chapter 19:
*In this chapter Moses and Aaron get a new everlasting ordinance from Yahweh. This time they are told how to slaughter and burn an unblemished red heifer in great detail. Its ashes were to be gathered and kept in a ceremonially clean place outside of the camp. They were to be used in water when a ritual cleansing was to be done, for purification of sin. The water with heifer ashes in it is the "water of cleansing." The water was to be used to purify a person who has touched a dead human body, even old bones.
*The person who touched the dead body was unclean. He had to put some of the heifer ashes in a jar with water and a clean person had to sprinkle the water on him and on everyone and everything else associated with the body, on the third and seventh days of their uncleanness. Then they had to wash themselves and thier clothes. If they don't do this they will remain unclean and will be excommunicated. The weird part, if this isn't wierd enough, is that the clean sprinkler becomes temporarily unclean and anyone else who touches the water of cleansing becomes unclean til evening!
*Here you have it: Magic heifer ashes make unclean people clean and clean people unclean.
*In this chapter Moses and Aaron get a new everlasting ordinance from Yahweh. This time they are told how to slaughter and burn an unblemished red heifer in great detail. Its ashes were to be gathered and kept in a ceremonially clean place outside of the camp. They were to be used in water when a ritual cleansing was to be done, for purification of sin. The water with heifer ashes in it is the "water of cleansing." The water was to be used to purify a person who has touched a dead human body, even old bones.
*The person who touched the dead body was unclean. He had to put some of the heifer ashes in a jar with water and a clean person had to sprinkle the water on him and on everyone and everything else associated with the body, on the third and seventh days of their uncleanness. Then they had to wash themselves and thier clothes. If they don't do this they will remain unclean and will be excommunicated. The weird part, if this isn't wierd enough, is that the clean sprinkler becomes temporarily unclean and anyone else who touches the water of cleansing becomes unclean til evening!
*Here you have it: Magic heifer ashes make unclean people clean and clean people unclean.
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