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.
Showing posts with label idols. Show all posts
Showing posts with label idols. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Deuteronomy 13
After reading chapter 13:
*This chapter is a stern repetition of the command not to follow other gods, no matter what. No one is to be trusted who would lure them into the worship of other gods. Not prophets or dreamers, even if they can work miracles and accurately forecast events. They must be put to death. Not brothers, sons or daughters, wives or close friends. They must be stoned to death without pity. In fact, the person they tried to entice away from Yahweh must cast the first stone. Then the rest of the Israelites will hear and be afraid. No kidding.
* If they hear about a town that has turned away from Yahweh to other gods, they must investigate. If it is true, they must slaughter the whole town and the livestock.They must gather all the plunder in the center of town and burn it as a sacrifice to the lord. Then it is to remain a ruin forever. This is to be done to turn away the fierce anger of the lord, so he doesn't take his wrath out on them. Then he will show them mercy and compassion. Though after reading this, what his mercy and compassion would look like is a mystery to me.
*Why doesn't Yahweh just tell them those other gods don't even exist? Why does an omnipotent, omniscient God even need to threaten and cajole? Doesn't he already know what will happen and the reasons for it? To what purpose is his anger? Not to mention that anger is an obviously human emotion.
*This chapter is a stern repetition of the command not to follow other gods, no matter what. No one is to be trusted who would lure them into the worship of other gods. Not prophets or dreamers, even if they can work miracles and accurately forecast events. They must be put to death. Not brothers, sons or daughters, wives or close friends. They must be stoned to death without pity. In fact, the person they tried to entice away from Yahweh must cast the first stone. Then the rest of the Israelites will hear and be afraid. No kidding.
* If they hear about a town that has turned away from Yahweh to other gods, they must investigate. If it is true, they must slaughter the whole town and the livestock.They must gather all the plunder in the center of town and burn it as a sacrifice to the lord. Then it is to remain a ruin forever. This is to be done to turn away the fierce anger of the lord, so he doesn't take his wrath out on them. Then he will show them mercy and compassion. Though after reading this, what his mercy and compassion would look like is a mystery to me.
*Why doesn't Yahweh just tell them those other gods don't even exist? Why does an omnipotent, omniscient God even need to threaten and cajole? Doesn't he already know what will happen and the reasons for it? To what purpose is his anger? Not to mention that anger is an obviously human emotion.
Deuteronomy chapter 12
After reading chapter 12:
* Again, the Israelites are told to destroy all signs of the worship of other gods in the promised land, including alters, idols, sacred stones, Asherah poles, high places, and under spreading trees. (Hmm. Abraham worshipped under "great trees" numerous times.) The Israelites can only worship in the places and manner in which they are told, not like the surrounding nations, and not like they see fit, as they are doing now, verse 8, since they haven't achieved the promised land yet. When they get there they won't be able to make offerings any where they please.
*They can slaughter animals for anyone in their towns to eat, but they must not eat the blood. However, free will offerings and gifts to God must be eaten in the place Yahweh (the Levites) chooses. If they want to eat meat and the center of sacrificial worship is too far away, they are free to kill and eat, again except for the blood. But sacred vows must be presented at the altar of the lord, always obeying regulations so it will go well with them.
*Again, they are told not to be curious about other religious practices and attempt to follow them. According to this, the others do detestable things the lord hates, including child sacrifice. However, we have seen that the Yahweh himself has nothing against wholesale slaughter of humans, if he orders it.
* Again, the Israelites are told to destroy all signs of the worship of other gods in the promised land, including alters, idols, sacred stones, Asherah poles, high places, and under spreading trees. (Hmm. Abraham worshipped under "great trees" numerous times.) The Israelites can only worship in the places and manner in which they are told, not like the surrounding nations, and not like they see fit, as they are doing now, verse 8, since they haven't achieved the promised land yet. When they get there they won't be able to make offerings any where they please.
*They can slaughter animals for anyone in their towns to eat, but they must not eat the blood. However, free will offerings and gifts to God must be eaten in the place Yahweh (the Levites) chooses. If they want to eat meat and the center of sacrificial worship is too far away, they are free to kill and eat, again except for the blood. But sacred vows must be presented at the altar of the lord, always obeying regulations so it will go well with them.
*Again, they are told not to be curious about other religious practices and attempt to follow them. According to this, the others do detestable things the lord hates, including child sacrifice. However, we have seen that the Yahweh himself has nothing against wholesale slaughter of humans, if he orders it.
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Deuteronomy chapter 9
After reading chapter 9:
*Moses tells the Israelites that the people and cities in the land they will take are bigger and stronger than they are. Nevertheless, God will go before them and subdue those people so the Israelites can annhilate them. After that, the Israelites better not claim it was because of their righteousness, it was because of the other people's wickedness...still the best religious excuse for destroying other people.
*Then Moses reminds the Israelites of the time he was on the mountain waiting to receive the tablets of stone, for forty days and forty nights, without bread and water. A person can only live up to a week without water and three weeks without food. That's a little short of 40 days. But maybe Moses had meat and wine.
*After he got the stone tablets, he went down off the mountain and saw that the Israelites had made an idol for themselves. God was angry. Moses was angry. Moses broke the tablets. Then Moses had no bread and water for another 40 days! Incredible!
*After that incident, Moses pleaded to Yahweh on behalf of Aaron and the Israelies, and God listened to Moses. Then Moses took the golden calf, ground it to a powder and threw the gold dust into a stream that flowed down the mountain. It doesn't sound nearly as horrific as the story in Exodus 32:20 where Moses put the gold dust in the Israelites water and made them drink it. Gold thrown into a stream would just be washed down stream or sink to the bottom. Besides, people can consume gold without harm, though it seems a waste of gold to me.
*Starting at verse 22, Moses tells the Israelites about all the times they made God angry, and how the only reason they are still alive is because Moses interceded on their behalf, laying prostrate before the lord for another forty days and nights. Moses persuaded God to keep the Israelites as his people so Yahweh's reputation would not be tarnished in the eyes of the Israelite enemies.
*Moses tells the Israelites that the people and cities in the land they will take are bigger and stronger than they are. Nevertheless, God will go before them and subdue those people so the Israelites can annhilate them. After that, the Israelites better not claim it was because of their righteousness, it was because of the other people's wickedness...still the best religious excuse for destroying other people.
*Then Moses reminds the Israelites of the time he was on the mountain waiting to receive the tablets of stone, for forty days and forty nights, without bread and water. A person can only live up to a week without water and three weeks without food. That's a little short of 40 days. But maybe Moses had meat and wine.
*After he got the stone tablets, he went down off the mountain and saw that the Israelites had made an idol for themselves. God was angry. Moses was angry. Moses broke the tablets. Then Moses had no bread and water for another 40 days! Incredible!
*After that incident, Moses pleaded to Yahweh on behalf of Aaron and the Israelies, and God listened to Moses. Then Moses took the golden calf, ground it to a powder and threw the gold dust into a stream that flowed down the mountain. It doesn't sound nearly as horrific as the story in Exodus 32:20 where Moses put the gold dust in the Israelites water and made them drink it. Gold thrown into a stream would just be washed down stream or sink to the bottom. Besides, people can consume gold without harm, though it seems a waste of gold to me.
*Starting at verse 22, Moses tells the Israelites about all the times they made God angry, and how the only reason they are still alive is because Moses interceded on their behalf, laying prostrate before the lord for another forty days and nights. Moses persuaded God to keep the Israelites as his people so Yahweh's reputation would not be tarnished in the eyes of the Israelite enemies.
Monday, January 11, 2016
Deuteronomy chapter 7
After reading chapter 7:
*We shall call this the "sanctioned genocide" chapter. Here, Moses tells the Israelites that God will deliver 7 nations stronger than they are into the Israelite's hands. When that happens, they are to show no mercy and take no prisoners alive. Total destruction is the name of the game. All symbols of the worship of other Gods are also to be destroyed.
*God picked the Israelites as his special people because he loved them best. Why? Who knows. There is a caveat: they better keep his commands if they want to stay in his good graces. If they do, they will be blessed with an increase of population and material goods. No couple, animal or human, will be childless. As for the people who hate the Israelites, they will come down with horrible diseases, if they aren't slaughtered first.
*Moses tells the Israelites to remember what happened 40 years ago when they left Egypt. He tells them they saw it with their own eyes. However, we must remember that everyone who was over twenty at that time is now dead, except Joshua, Caleb and Moses. Plus, surely half of the Israelites alive at this time were not even born yet.
*Anyway, they are told not to be afraid, God will deal with the people they will drive out, the same way he dealt with the Egyptians. He will even send " the hornet" to find any survivors who may be hiding. This passage is a reiteration of what Yahweh told the Israelites in Exodus 23:23-30. The hornet appears there also and seems to be an agent of Yahweh's that is not very pleasant. As in Exodus, they are told it will take some time to drive all the people out. That is so the land won't become overrun with wild animals. In the meantime, everything will be in confusion, until the destruction is complete.
*Also, they are not to take any silver or gold from the people they conquer. It must be "set apart for destruction." The cynic in me wonders if that means it was supposed to be given to the priests.
*We shall call this the "sanctioned genocide" chapter. Here, Moses tells the Israelites that God will deliver 7 nations stronger than they are into the Israelite's hands. When that happens, they are to show no mercy and take no prisoners alive. Total destruction is the name of the game. All symbols of the worship of other Gods are also to be destroyed.
*God picked the Israelites as his special people because he loved them best. Why? Who knows. There is a caveat: they better keep his commands if they want to stay in his good graces. If they do, they will be blessed with an increase of population and material goods. No couple, animal or human, will be childless. As for the people who hate the Israelites, they will come down with horrible diseases, if they aren't slaughtered first.
*Moses tells the Israelites to remember what happened 40 years ago when they left Egypt. He tells them they saw it with their own eyes. However, we must remember that everyone who was over twenty at that time is now dead, except Joshua, Caleb and Moses. Plus, surely half of the Israelites alive at this time were not even born yet.
*Anyway, they are told not to be afraid, God will deal with the people they will drive out, the same way he dealt with the Egyptians. He will even send " the hornet" to find any survivors who may be hiding. This passage is a reiteration of what Yahweh told the Israelites in Exodus 23:23-30. The hornet appears there also and seems to be an agent of Yahweh's that is not very pleasant. As in Exodus, they are told it will take some time to drive all the people out. That is so the land won't become overrun with wild animals. In the meantime, everything will be in confusion, until the destruction is complete.
*Also, they are not to take any silver or gold from the people they conquer. It must be "set apart for destruction." The cynic in me wonders if that means it was supposed to be given to the priests.
Friday, September 25, 2015
Exodus chapter 32
After reading chapter 32:
*Moses was up on the mountain for a long time. Understandably, the Israelites began to wonder what had happened to him. Aaron took things in his own hands and fashioned a golden calf idol out of donations of gold from the Israelites. It was announced that this was the God that brought them out of Egypt. Aaron built an altar in front of the calf and announced a festival. The next day they made animal sacrifices and had a big barbecue, and possibly an orgy, though that is not clear.
*Yahweh told Moses it was time he went back and saw what the Israelites were doing. God was so angry that he wanted to destroy the Israelites and make Moses into a great nation. ( Didn't God know that would happen? ) Moses had to calm God down by reminding him that the Israelites were his special people and he had already done so much for them that he couldn't give up on them now. God cooled off and Moses went down the mountain.
*So, Moses went down the mountain with the tablets that had been engraved by God. Joshua, who had gone with Moses, but apparently was not privy to the conversation between God and Moses, heard the noise from the camp and thought it was the sounds of war. Moses knew it was a party. Still, like a parent coming home and finding out the children had taken over, he got angry. He smashed the tablets of testimony on the ground. Then, he took the idol, burned it, ground the ashes into powder, sprinkled the powder on the water, and made the Israelites drink it.
*Then Moses berated Aaron, who practiced a little blame shifting and verbal gymnastics. Things were out of control, so Moses stood at the entrance of the camp and said that anyone on Yahweh's side was to stand by him. The Levites ( read priests) all rallied around Moses. Who can blame them, the priests were the favored group. I'm sure they didn't want to lose their benefits.
*What happens next is extraordinarily disturbing. Moses told the Levites that Yahweh was ordering them to take swords and make their way through the camp indiscriminately slaughtering people. How is this not murder, which God is supposedly against? Three thousand people were killed. Even more extraordinary, the Levites were praised for killing their own family members in service to God!
*The next day, Moses went back to Yahweh and offered to have himself blotted out of god's book. We are not told what that means. God said he would blot out whoever sinned against him. Moses was to continue to lead the people to the promised land. Then God struck the Israelites with a plague because of their behavior with the golden calf.
*It was fascinating for me to find out that the original tablets Moses was given were not the Ten Commandments at all. My study bible says they were probably two copies of the agreement between God and the Israelites, one for God, one for the people, if everything happened the way the bible says.
*Moses was up on the mountain for a long time. Understandably, the Israelites began to wonder what had happened to him. Aaron took things in his own hands and fashioned a golden calf idol out of donations of gold from the Israelites. It was announced that this was the God that brought them out of Egypt. Aaron built an altar in front of the calf and announced a festival. The next day they made animal sacrifices and had a big barbecue, and possibly an orgy, though that is not clear.
*Yahweh told Moses it was time he went back and saw what the Israelites were doing. God was so angry that he wanted to destroy the Israelites and make Moses into a great nation. ( Didn't God know that would happen? ) Moses had to calm God down by reminding him that the Israelites were his special people and he had already done so much for them that he couldn't give up on them now. God cooled off and Moses went down the mountain.
*So, Moses went down the mountain with the tablets that had been engraved by God. Joshua, who had gone with Moses, but apparently was not privy to the conversation between God and Moses, heard the noise from the camp and thought it was the sounds of war. Moses knew it was a party. Still, like a parent coming home and finding out the children had taken over, he got angry. He smashed the tablets of testimony on the ground. Then, he took the idol, burned it, ground the ashes into powder, sprinkled the powder on the water, and made the Israelites drink it.
*Then Moses berated Aaron, who practiced a little blame shifting and verbal gymnastics. Things were out of control, so Moses stood at the entrance of the camp and said that anyone on Yahweh's side was to stand by him. The Levites ( read priests) all rallied around Moses. Who can blame them, the priests were the favored group. I'm sure they didn't want to lose their benefits.
*What happens next is extraordinarily disturbing. Moses told the Levites that Yahweh was ordering them to take swords and make their way through the camp indiscriminately slaughtering people. How is this not murder, which God is supposedly against? Three thousand people were killed. Even more extraordinary, the Levites were praised for killing their own family members in service to God!
*The next day, Moses went back to Yahweh and offered to have himself blotted out of god's book. We are not told what that means. God said he would blot out whoever sinned against him. Moses was to continue to lead the people to the promised land. Then God struck the Israelites with a plague because of their behavior with the golden calf.
*It was fascinating for me to find out that the original tablets Moses was given were not the Ten Commandments at all. My study bible says they were probably two copies of the agreement between God and the Israelites, one for God, one for the people, if everything happened the way the bible says.
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