We are at Hebrews 9:6. After mentioning all the temple accoutrements that he can't discuss yet, the author says the priests entered the outer room of the tabernacle regularly to carry out their duties, but only the high priest entered the inner room. He only entered that room once a year, and with blood to offer for the sins of the people and his own sins. However, the sacrifices couldn't actually clear the conscience of the worshipper. They are just external physical things based on ceremonial, external regulations.
"When Jesus came as high priest... he went through a greater, more perfect tabernacle that was not manmade, that is to say, not part of this creation." Hmmm. Where would it be then? In another dimension? Jesus didn't enter that mystical, invisible holy place by the blood of animals, but by his own blood! When the blood of animals was ceremonially sprinkled on people, it made them outwardly clean. (Really? It sounds messy to me.) But the blood of Christ, having much greater power, can cleanse consciences! When consciences are clean, people don't die (Really? People die every day.). Then they can serve god! Huzzah!
That makes christ the mediator of the new covenant. If you say so. Those who are called get to inherit eternal life! What does it mean to be called, and how do you know when you've been called? That doesn't matter, Jesus died to set people free from the sins they committed under the first covenant. What if they were born too late to commit sins under the first covenant? I'm a little confused.
Now the author moves into a metaphor of a will. A will only takes effect after a person has died, never when they are alive. This is why the first covenant need blood to make it effective. What?! That doesn't make sense to me. The author goes on to talk about the covenant, Moses, and blood. Moses sprinkled blood on everything, the scroll of the covenant, the tabernacle, and all the ceremonial stuff. That cleansed it. Blood cleanses everything, according to the author. That's sick. Seriously. Visualize blood literally being spattered and sprinkled everywhere, to "cleanse" things and people. Does that make any sense at all? Whose twisted idea was that any way?
The author tries to explain this earthly nonsense away by saying it is just a copy of the real heavenly stuff, with better sacrifices. Christ (as high priest with the blood) didn't enter the manmade sanctuary, but the true heavenly one. He appears in god's presence for the Hebrews (as "us" is meant by the author). He doesn't have to go in over and over again as the earthly high priests do with the blood of animals. That would be silly. Then he would have to suffer over and over again, since it's his own blood that he sacrificed. Nope. He only had to Sacrifice himself once to do away with sin. One wonders if the author is referring to a literal physical sacrifice with literal physical blood of a literal physical christ. Or did that also happen in another dimension? Is it spiritual blood from the spiritual sacrifice of a spiritual christ?
The author goes on to say people die once and then face judgment. So christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people. Is that bible logic again? There's more! He's going to appear a second time! (When was the first?) Next time he won't be bearing any sins, but saving "those who are waiting for him." So, it appears Jesus died for the dead. He will come back for the living. Maybe the author of Hebrews thinks he will be among the living.
That ends chapter nine.
Showing posts with label tabernacle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tabernacle. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 30, 2019
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
Deuteronomy 31
After reading chapter 31:
*Moses says that he is now 120 years old and Yahweh told him he would not cross the Jordan. Yahweh will cross over the Jordon along with Joshua. Wait a minute, why does Yahweh need to cross the Jordan? Isn't Yahweh an omnipresent god, ruling over the entire earth? Apparently Moses and the authors of Deuteronomy didn't know that. So, the Israelite's God would deliver the people and the land into the hands of the Israelites and it would be their inheritance. They are not to be afraid, yet.
*Moses wrote down the laws and gave them to the Levite priests,to be read at the end of every seven years, during the feast of tabernacles. Everyone, men, women, and children, must hear and learn the law and learn to fear Yahweh as long as they live in the promised land.
*Then Yahweh told Moses his death was imminent. So, Joshua was commissioned at the tabernacle to be the replacement leader. Yahweh appeared over the tent as the pillar of cloud and told Moses it wouldn't be long before the people broke the covenant. Then Yahweh would be angry and the consequences would be bad. (Why was he angry if he already knew this would happen? Of what benefit are emotions in an eternal deity? How does he feel anger without a brain, body, cortisol, and adrenaline?) Moses wrote a song about the coming events of their destruction and taught it to the Israelites. The song appears in the next chapter.
*Again, we are told Moses wrote down the law and gave it to the Levites. They were to put the book of the law beside the Ark of the covenant where it would be a witness against the Israelites because they are so rebellious and provoking. The elders and officials were to be assembled so Moses could tell them how they would deserve what they had coming to them when they broke the covenant. Heaven and earth would also be witnesses. After all two or more witnesses are required in a legal proceeding. Before the Israelites even got to the promised land they were heaped with the guilt of their descendants.
*Moses says that he is now 120 years old and Yahweh told him he would not cross the Jordan. Yahweh will cross over the Jordon along with Joshua. Wait a minute, why does Yahweh need to cross the Jordan? Isn't Yahweh an omnipresent god, ruling over the entire earth? Apparently Moses and the authors of Deuteronomy didn't know that. So, the Israelite's God would deliver the people and the land into the hands of the Israelites and it would be their inheritance. They are not to be afraid, yet.
*Moses wrote down the laws and gave them to the Levite priests,to be read at the end of every seven years, during the feast of tabernacles. Everyone, men, women, and children, must hear and learn the law and learn to fear Yahweh as long as they live in the promised land.
*Then Yahweh told Moses his death was imminent. So, Joshua was commissioned at the tabernacle to be the replacement leader. Yahweh appeared over the tent as the pillar of cloud and told Moses it wouldn't be long before the people broke the covenant. Then Yahweh would be angry and the consequences would be bad. (Why was he angry if he already knew this would happen? Of what benefit are emotions in an eternal deity? How does he feel anger without a brain, body, cortisol, and adrenaline?) Moses wrote a song about the coming events of their destruction and taught it to the Israelites. The song appears in the next chapter.
*Again, we are told Moses wrote down the law and gave it to the Levites. They were to put the book of the law beside the Ark of the covenant where it would be a witness against the Israelites because they are so rebellious and provoking. The elders and officials were to be assembled so Moses could tell them how they would deserve what they had coming to them when they broke the covenant. Heaven and earth would also be witnesses. After all two or more witnesses are required in a legal proceeding. Before the Israelites even got to the promised land they were heaped with the guilt of their descendants.
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Numbers chapter 18
After reading chapter 18:
*Now Yahweh tells Aaron that he and his sons, and their descendants, will be the only ones responsible for the altar, the sanctuary, and the duties inside the tabernacle. This service is given to them as a priesthood. If anyone else comes near the sanctuary, they will die. The other Levites are given to the priests to be helpers with all the stuff and activities outside the tent.
* All the wave offerings, first fruit offerings, grain offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings that the Israelites give to Yahweh, become the priests'. This is Yahweh's gift to them and an everlasting covenant, or at least Aaron said it was. They must take his word for it, or rather the word of the person who wrote about it, who was probably a priest. They may share it with others in their household who are ceremonially clean, of course. However, they will get none of the promised land as an inheritance. Who needs land when they have a guaranteed steady supply of food and money?
*For their service, the rest of the Levites get all the tithes that the Israelites bring to Yahweh. They will also have no inherited land. Of the tithes that the Levites get from the Israelites, they must take the best and holiest tenth and give it to Aaron and his sons. That is their tithe to the lord, so they won't be guilty and die. How nice for the priests that the lord is so generous and gives them all his stuff, which he has no use for anyway.
*Now Yahweh tells Aaron that he and his sons, and their descendants, will be the only ones responsible for the altar, the sanctuary, and the duties inside the tabernacle. This service is given to them as a priesthood. If anyone else comes near the sanctuary, they will die. The other Levites are given to the priests to be helpers with all the stuff and activities outside the tent.
* All the wave offerings, first fruit offerings, grain offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings that the Israelites give to Yahweh, become the priests'. This is Yahweh's gift to them and an everlasting covenant, or at least Aaron said it was. They must take his word for it, or rather the word of the person who wrote about it, who was probably a priest. They may share it with others in their household who are ceremonially clean, of course. However, they will get none of the promised land as an inheritance. Who needs land when they have a guaranteed steady supply of food and money?
*For their service, the rest of the Levites get all the tithes that the Israelites bring to Yahweh. They will also have no inherited land. Of the tithes that the Levites get from the Israelites, they must take the best and holiest tenth and give it to Aaron and his sons. That is their tithe to the lord, so they won't be guilty and die. How nice for the priests that the lord is so generous and gives them all his stuff, which he has no use for anyway.
Thursday, November 5, 2015
Numbers chapter 10
After reading chapter 10:
*The first part of this chapter is about the creation of two silver trumpets to be used by Aaron and his sons.
-Both trumpets blown at the same time signal a community assembly at the entrance to the tabernacle. Though how you get a million or so people to hear two trumpets, plus gather together and assemble in one spot, is a mystery.
-One trumpet means only the heads of the clans are to assemble.
-One trumpet blast, of a different signal, means the eastern camps start moving. A second blast after that and the southern camps start moving. The text doesn't mention the western and northern camps
-A trumpet blast before a battle will ensure they are remembered by God and are rescued from their enemies. God needs reminding.
-The trumpets will also be sounded at feasts, festivals, and over burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. So, I'm guessing the trumpets would have been sounded fairly often. This reminds me of a scene in the Sound of Music.
*On the twentieth day of the second month, of the second year, the cloud over the tabernacle lifted. The Israelites broke camp and followed the cloud from the desert of Sinai to the desert of Paran.
The divisions of clans set out in a particular order, Judah's camp divisions left first. Again, the tribe of Judah is being given priority, even though Reuben was the oldest of Israel's sons. I wonder if this is another case of the younger brother symbolism found so often throughout the bible narrative. It looks ahead to a time when the of tribe of Judah becomes the leading tribe in the kingdom of Judah. If so, that clearly means this narrative was not written till after that time, which was not till at least the 9th century B.C.E., a few hundred years after these events would have taken place.
*The Gershonites and Merarites were to leave with the first Israelite clans so they could set up the tabernacle in the new spot before the Kohathites arrived with the holy accoutrements.
*Moses invited his brother-in-law Hobab to come with them. He declined and said he was going back to his own people. Moses begged him to stay and help them out. He promised Hobab a share of the spoils. So they travelled for three days. (A standard journey for those times.) Every day they set out, and every time they camped, Moses repeated some magical words to get Yahweh to stay with them.
*The first part of this chapter is about the creation of two silver trumpets to be used by Aaron and his sons.
-Both trumpets blown at the same time signal a community assembly at the entrance to the tabernacle. Though how you get a million or so people to hear two trumpets, plus gather together and assemble in one spot, is a mystery.
-One trumpet means only the heads of the clans are to assemble.
-One trumpet blast, of a different signal, means the eastern camps start moving. A second blast after that and the southern camps start moving. The text doesn't mention the western and northern camps
-A trumpet blast before a battle will ensure they are remembered by God and are rescued from their enemies. God needs reminding.
-The trumpets will also be sounded at feasts, festivals, and over burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. So, I'm guessing the trumpets would have been sounded fairly often. This reminds me of a scene in the Sound of Music.
*On the twentieth day of the second month, of the second year, the cloud over the tabernacle lifted. The Israelites broke camp and followed the cloud from the desert of Sinai to the desert of Paran.
The divisions of clans set out in a particular order, Judah's camp divisions left first. Again, the tribe of Judah is being given priority, even though Reuben was the oldest of Israel's sons. I wonder if this is another case of the younger brother symbolism found so often throughout the bible narrative. It looks ahead to a time when the of tribe of Judah becomes the leading tribe in the kingdom of Judah. If so, that clearly means this narrative was not written till after that time, which was not till at least the 9th century B.C.E., a few hundred years after these events would have taken place.
*The Gershonites and Merarites were to leave with the first Israelite clans so they could set up the tabernacle in the new spot before the Kohathites arrived with the holy accoutrements.
*Moses invited his brother-in-law Hobab to come with them. He declined and said he was going back to his own people. Moses begged him to stay and help them out. He promised Hobab a share of the spoils. So they travelled for three days. (A standard journey for those times.) Every day they set out, and every time they camped, Moses repeated some magical words to get Yahweh to stay with them.
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Numbers chapter 9
After reading chapter 9:
*The book of Numbers began at the second month of the second year. Chapter 9 takes us back to the first month of that year to tell us that the Israelites celebrated the passover like they were supposed to, on the 14th day at twilight. However, it seems that some people were not able to celebrate because they were made unclean by a dead body. Moses consulted Yahweh, who said anyone who hadn't been able to observe it the first month must do so on the 14th day of the second month, in the same way they would have observed it in the first month. I find it interesting that the 14 th day of a lunar month is usually a full moon. Any one who failed to celebrate the passover was excommunicated.
*This chapter also refers back to the day the tabernacle was set up, which, according to Exodus, was the first day of the first month of the second year. We are again told about the cloud that came to rest over the tabernacle and how the Israelites moved when it moved, no matter how long or short the time was.
*The book of Numbers began at the second month of the second year. Chapter 9 takes us back to the first month of that year to tell us that the Israelites celebrated the passover like they were supposed to, on the 14th day at twilight. However, it seems that some people were not able to celebrate because they were made unclean by a dead body. Moses consulted Yahweh, who said anyone who hadn't been able to observe it the first month must do so on the 14th day of the second month, in the same way they would have observed it in the first month. I find it interesting that the 14 th day of a lunar month is usually a full moon. Any one who failed to celebrate the passover was excommunicated.
*This chapter also refers back to the day the tabernacle was set up, which, according to Exodus, was the first day of the first month of the second year. We are again told about the cloud that came to rest over the tabernacle and how the Israelites moved when it moved, no matter how long or short the time was.
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
Numbers chapter 7
After reading chapter 7:
*Now, we read about the gifts that each of the twelve tribes gave to the service of the tabernacle, after it was consecrated and anointed.
- First, the tribal leaders donated a total of six covered carts and twelve oxen. These were given to the Levite clans to transport the tabernacle equipment. The Gershonites got 2 carts and 4 oxen, the Merarites got four carts and eight oxen. The Kohanites didn't get any. They had to carry all the most holy stuff themselves, on their shoulders.
-Then, for the dedication of the altar, the twelve tribal leaders each brought offerings, one tribe a day for twelve days. The tribe of Judah was first. I'm guessing that is significant, since we will find that tribe taking a lead role later in the bible narrative. Each tribe brought the exact same offering and we are given 11 word for word, repetitious descriptions of it. It amounted to a quantity of silver and gold dishes, a grain offering, and a number of sacrificial animals. I still wonder why they needed manna if they had that many animals and the means to feed them, not to mention the grain offerings.
*Not only are we told the exact offering of each tribe, but we are also given the total amount of all the offerings at the end of the chapter. This really is a book of numbers.
*The last verses tell us that Moses entered the tabernacle to speak to Yahweh and he heard a voice come from between the cherubim above the cover of the ark. At least that is what we are told, there were no actual witnesses. We don't get to hear what Yaweh said til chapter 8.
Edited.
*Now, we read about the gifts that each of the twelve tribes gave to the service of the tabernacle, after it was consecrated and anointed.
- First, the tribal leaders donated a total of six covered carts and twelve oxen. These were given to the Levite clans to transport the tabernacle equipment. The Gershonites got 2 carts and 4 oxen, the Merarites got four carts and eight oxen. The Kohanites didn't get any. They had to carry all the most holy stuff themselves, on their shoulders.
-Then, for the dedication of the altar, the twelve tribal leaders each brought offerings, one tribe a day for twelve days. The tribe of Judah was first. I'm guessing that is significant, since we will find that tribe taking a lead role later in the bible narrative. Each tribe brought the exact same offering and we are given 11 word for word, repetitious descriptions of it. It amounted to a quantity of silver and gold dishes, a grain offering, and a number of sacrificial animals. I still wonder why they needed manna if they had that many animals and the means to feed them, not to mention the grain offerings.
*Not only are we told the exact offering of each tribe, but we are also given the total amount of all the offerings at the end of the chapter. This really is a book of numbers.
*The last verses tell us that Moses entered the tabernacle to speak to Yahweh and he heard a voice come from between the cherubim above the cover of the ark. At least that is what we are told, there were no actual witnesses. We don't get to hear what Yaweh said til chapter 8.
Edited.
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Numbers chapter 4
After reading chapter 4:
*This chapter gives various duties of different clans of Levites when dismantling the tabernacle and moving camp.
-First Aaron and his sons go in the tabernacle and privately wrap the ark of the covenant with cloths and put a durable leather cover over it and attach carrying poles. They do the same with the Table of the Presence and the tabernacle accessories, putting them on carrying frames or attaching poles. They prepare the golden altar (for incense) and the bronze altar (for burnt offerings) in the same way. Every thing is well wrapped, waterproofed and made ready to carry. Eleazar was in charge of the oil, incense, and grain offerings.
-After that, members of the Kohathite branch of the Levites had the privilege of carrying everything. But they must not touch any of the holy things or they will die. It occurs to me that if this is true, the chance that any Israelite ever actually saw the ark of the covenant is slim to non-existent. All they would have seen was a bulky shape covered with leather and carried with poles.
-The Gershonite branch of the Levites were to carry the tabernacle curtains and related equipment. They were under the direction of Aaron's son Ithamar.
-The Merarite branch of the Levites were to carry the tent frames, poles, tent pegs, and ropes. They were also under the direction of Ithamar.
-Then we have the counting of all the men 30-50 years old in the Kohathite, Gershonite, and Merarite clans. These men would do the serving and tent carrying for the tabernacle. There was a total of 8,580.
Edited.
*This chapter gives various duties of different clans of Levites when dismantling the tabernacle and moving camp.
-First Aaron and his sons go in the tabernacle and privately wrap the ark of the covenant with cloths and put a durable leather cover over it and attach carrying poles. They do the same with the Table of the Presence and the tabernacle accessories, putting them on carrying frames or attaching poles. They prepare the golden altar (for incense) and the bronze altar (for burnt offerings) in the same way. Every thing is well wrapped, waterproofed and made ready to carry. Eleazar was in charge of the oil, incense, and grain offerings.
-After that, members of the Kohathite branch of the Levites had the privilege of carrying everything. But they must not touch any of the holy things or they will die. It occurs to me that if this is true, the chance that any Israelite ever actually saw the ark of the covenant is slim to non-existent. All they would have seen was a bulky shape covered with leather and carried with poles.
-The Gershonite branch of the Levites were to carry the tabernacle curtains and related equipment. They were under the direction of Aaron's son Ithamar.
-The Merarite branch of the Levites were to carry the tent frames, poles, tent pegs, and ropes. They were also under the direction of Ithamar.
-Then we have the counting of all the men 30-50 years old in the Kohathite, Gershonite, and Merarite clans. These men would do the serving and tent carrying for the tabernacle. There was a total of 8,580.
Edited.
Monday, October 26, 2015
Numbers chapter 1
After reading chapter 1:
*Back in Exodus 40, the tabernacle was finished and set up on the frst day of the first month, of the second year in the desert. Now, in Numbers, it is the first day of the second month of the same year. Moses has a private conversation with Yahweh in the tent of meeting, which we will assume is the tabernacle. So, apparently, Leviticus took place in between these times. God tells Moses that he and Aaron are to take a census of all the male Israelites twenty years and older who are able to serve in the army. The heads of the clans were to help them.
*Each person counted registered his ancestry by clan and family. Every single name was supposedly written down, one by one. Twelve clans of Israel were counted, those of Reuben, Simeon, Gad, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Ephraim and Manasseh (sons of Joseph), Benjamin, Dan, Asher, and Naphtali. The Levites, the clan of priests, were exempt from service in the Army because they had the special privilege of taking care of all the tabernacle stuff. Nice work, if you can get it.
*The numbers of fighting men in each clan are almost miraculous, they all end with zeroes. All but one end with two zeroes. No odd numbers. Each clan has between 32,000 and 75,000 men. Together they total 603,550. My study bible suggests that the total population, including women and children should have been in excess of 2 million persons, twice the population of Austin, Texas. They all travelled and camped in the desert together for many years and left no trace of their existance. Amazing feat.
*Whenever the Israelites camped, they were to set up their tents in divisions according to their clans. The Levites were to set up their tents around the tabernacle. Only Levites could participate in the setting up and dismantling of the tabernacle. If anyone else came near during this process, they wiould die. They were to literally keep it all in the family.
*Back in Exodus 40, the tabernacle was finished and set up on the frst day of the first month, of the second year in the desert. Now, in Numbers, it is the first day of the second month of the same year. Moses has a private conversation with Yahweh in the tent of meeting, which we will assume is the tabernacle. So, apparently, Leviticus took place in between these times. God tells Moses that he and Aaron are to take a census of all the male Israelites twenty years and older who are able to serve in the army. The heads of the clans were to help them.
*Each person counted registered his ancestry by clan and family. Every single name was supposedly written down, one by one. Twelve clans of Israel were counted, those of Reuben, Simeon, Gad, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Ephraim and Manasseh (sons of Joseph), Benjamin, Dan, Asher, and Naphtali. The Levites, the clan of priests, were exempt from service in the Army because they had the special privilege of taking care of all the tabernacle stuff. Nice work, if you can get it.
*The numbers of fighting men in each clan are almost miraculous, they all end with zeroes. All but one end with two zeroes. No odd numbers. Each clan has between 32,000 and 75,000 men. Together they total 603,550. My study bible suggests that the total population, including women and children should have been in excess of 2 million persons, twice the population of Austin, Texas. They all travelled and camped in the desert together for many years and left no trace of their existance. Amazing feat.
*Whenever the Israelites camped, they were to set up their tents in divisions according to their clans. The Levites were to set up their tents around the tabernacle. Only Levites could participate in the setting up and dismantling of the tabernacle. If anyone else came near during this process, they wiould die. They were to literally keep it all in the family.
Friday, October 16, 2015
Leviticus 21
After reading Leviticus 21:
*Here we have rules for all the priests, the sons of Aaron:
-A priest may not make himself ceremoniously unclean for anyone except a close blood relative: father, mother, unmarried sister, son, daughter, or brother. He must not make himself unclean for anyone just related by marriage, which seems to include his wife. That would defile him. (Defilement is another one of those abstract concepts that has an ambiguous meaning. But we know one thing, it is BAD. )
-He must not shave his head, or cut the edges of his beard or his body. The study bible says this is what other religious groups did at the time.
-He must not marry a divorced woman or a prostitute. Why? Because priests are holy. Why? Because they offer food to a God who doesn't eat it. That's all.
-If his daughter becomes a prostitute, she must be burnt to death. When we think about reasons why a daughter might become a prostitute, maybe it's the father who should be burnt to death for not taking better care of his daughter.
*Rules for the high priest:
-He must not have messy hair or tear his clothes.
-He must not enter a place that has a dead body.
-He must not make himself unclean for anybody, even a blood relative.
-He must not leave the tabernacle area. (Will he keep his sanity? )
-He cannot marry anyone but a virgin, or he will defile his offspring. Lovely. "I'm sorry dear, you are defiled because your mother was not a virgin when we married, that's just the way it is. Yahweh said so."
In the future, only physically perfect specimens of manhood, who are descendents of Aaron. may offer food to God. (The God who doesn't eat food.) They must be not be blind, lame, dwarfed, or disfigured in any way. Why? Because God is holy. Why? Because he said so! There is some compensation, they are still allowed to eat any food left over when God is done with it. Hey, free food without working for it, just because they are descendents of Aaron? We should all be so defective. Someone else can be holy.
*Here we have rules for all the priests, the sons of Aaron:
-A priest may not make himself ceremoniously unclean for anyone except a close blood relative: father, mother, unmarried sister, son, daughter, or brother. He must not make himself unclean for anyone just related by marriage, which seems to include his wife. That would defile him. (Defilement is another one of those abstract concepts that has an ambiguous meaning. But we know one thing, it is BAD. )
-He must not shave his head, or cut the edges of his beard or his body. The study bible says this is what other religious groups did at the time.
-He must not marry a divorced woman or a prostitute. Why? Because priests are holy. Why? Because they offer food to a God who doesn't eat it. That's all.
-If his daughter becomes a prostitute, she must be burnt to death. When we think about reasons why a daughter might become a prostitute, maybe it's the father who should be burnt to death for not taking better care of his daughter.
*Rules for the high priest:
-He must not have messy hair or tear his clothes.
-He must not enter a place that has a dead body.
-He must not make himself unclean for anybody, even a blood relative.
-He must not leave the tabernacle area. (Will he keep his sanity? )
-He cannot marry anyone but a virgin, or he will defile his offspring. Lovely. "I'm sorry dear, you are defiled because your mother was not a virgin when we married, that's just the way it is. Yahweh said so."
In the future, only physically perfect specimens of manhood, who are descendents of Aaron. may offer food to God. (The God who doesn't eat food.) They must be not be blind, lame, dwarfed, or disfigured in any way. Why? Because God is holy. Why? Because he said so! There is some compensation, they are still allowed to eat any food left over when God is done with it. Hey, free food without working for it, just because they are descendents of Aaron? We should all be so defective. Someone else can be holy.
Saturday, October 3, 2015
Leviticus chapter 10
After reading chapter 10:
*Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, slipped up. They seem to have put the wrong kind of incense on the fire. This was forbidden in Exodus 30:9, but God had not said the penalty was death. Even so, fire came out of the presence of the lord and consumed them. Moses had no sympathy for them or Aaron and basically said, "I could have told you this would happen." Aaron was speechless. Two of Aaron's cousins were called to carry the bodies outside the camp. Aaron and his sons were not allowed to mourn their loss. They must stay at the entrance to the tabernacle or they would die too. Lovely. With friends like God, who needs enemies? No grace, no mercy, no empathy. Pure obedience was all that mattered. They did what they were told.
*Interesting tidbit: In verse 3, Moses gives a direct quote from Yahweh as justification for Nadab's and Abihu's deaths. However, that quote is nowhere else in previous scriptures! Not only that, it doesn't say anything about God killing people, unless there is a subtle implied threat.
*Then, like nothing happened, God proceded to tell Aaron that he and his sons were not to drink fermented beverages of any kind. They were also required to teach the Iraelites all the decrees given through Moses. Moses told Aaron and his sons to eat the grain offering that was leftover from the offerings to the lord. They and their family members were also to eat the priest's portions of the meat offerings. Moses got mad when he found out they hadn't eaten the meat from the goat of the sin offering. Aaron seems to have felt that it would have been inappropriate for him to eat it after what had happened that day. That satisfied Moses.
*Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, slipped up. They seem to have put the wrong kind of incense on the fire. This was forbidden in Exodus 30:9, but God had not said the penalty was death. Even so, fire came out of the presence of the lord and consumed them. Moses had no sympathy for them or Aaron and basically said, "I could have told you this would happen." Aaron was speechless. Two of Aaron's cousins were called to carry the bodies outside the camp. Aaron and his sons were not allowed to mourn their loss. They must stay at the entrance to the tabernacle or they would die too. Lovely. With friends like God, who needs enemies? No grace, no mercy, no empathy. Pure obedience was all that mattered. They did what they were told.
*Interesting tidbit: In verse 3, Moses gives a direct quote from Yahweh as justification for Nadab's and Abihu's deaths. However, that quote is nowhere else in previous scriptures! Not only that, it doesn't say anything about God killing people, unless there is a subtle implied threat.
*Then, like nothing happened, God proceded to tell Aaron that he and his sons were not to drink fermented beverages of any kind. They were also required to teach the Iraelites all the decrees given through Moses. Moses told Aaron and his sons to eat the grain offering that was leftover from the offerings to the lord. They and their family members were also to eat the priest's portions of the meat offerings. Moses got mad when he found out they hadn't eaten the meat from the goat of the sin offering. Aaron seems to have felt that it would have been inappropriate for him to eat it after what had happened that day. That satisfied Moses.
Leviticus chapter 9
After reading Leviticus chapter 9:
*On the eighth day after the ordination of Aaron and his sons, Moses summoned them and the elders of Israel. He told them to make a sin offering with a goat, a burnt offering with a calf and a lamb, a fellowship offering with a ram and an ox, and a grain offering. They gathered up the things for the offerings and met at the front of the tabernacle. Verse 5 says the entire assembly came near and stood before the lord. Does that mean all million plus people? That must have been some crowd in front of the tabernacle. Moses told Aaron to make the offerings. They were done according to previous instructions. Then Aaron lifted his hands and blessed the people. How much power do you think that blessing had over those people's lives? After that, Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle, presumably to consult with God. When they came out, they blessed the people again, and the (indescribable) glory of God appeared to all the people. Fire came out from the presence of the lord and consumed the burnt offering, which had already been burnt in verses 12-14, and again in verse 16. I'm confused. Anyway, when the people saw it, they cheered and fell facedown. Did the people in the back of the crowd even know what was happening?
*On the eighth day after the ordination of Aaron and his sons, Moses summoned them and the elders of Israel. He told them to make a sin offering with a goat, a burnt offering with a calf and a lamb, a fellowship offering with a ram and an ox, and a grain offering. They gathered up the things for the offerings and met at the front of the tabernacle. Verse 5 says the entire assembly came near and stood before the lord. Does that mean all million plus people? That must have been some crowd in front of the tabernacle. Moses told Aaron to make the offerings. They were done according to previous instructions. Then Aaron lifted his hands and blessed the people. How much power do you think that blessing had over those people's lives? After that, Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle, presumably to consult with God. When they came out, they blessed the people again, and the (indescribable) glory of God appeared to all the people. Fire came out from the presence of the lord and consumed the burnt offering, which had already been burnt in verses 12-14, and again in verse 16. I'm confused. Anyway, when the people saw it, they cheered and fell facedown. Did the people in the back of the crowd even know what was happening?
Friday, October 2, 2015
Leviticus chapter 8
After reading Leviticus 8:
*This chapter is about the ordination of Aaron and his sons as priests, which I thought had already happened back in Exodus chapter 40. Here it goes into much more detail and is pretty much an acting out of god's instructions delivered in Exodus chapter 29. After the ordination ceremony, Moses told Aaron to cook the meat from the sacrifice and eat it at the entrance to the tabernacle. They were not to leave the entrance for seven days and nights so they would not die. They did everything Yahweh had commanded.
* I am going to ask the same question Ramona Quimby asked her kindergarten teacher about Mike Mulligan. "When did they go to the bathroom?" I will add "Where did they go?" as well. Ramona recognized that was a very important question, even if her teacher didn't. Seven days is a long time for five men to spend in the entrance of a tent without proper facilities and means of waste disposal.
*Also, what did they eat and where did they sleep during that time? Their priestly garments had blood and oil sprinkled on them, wouldn't that have attracted critters while they slept? Those fine clothes would have been mighty smelly, dirty, and wrinkled by the end of seven days.
*This chapter is about the ordination of Aaron and his sons as priests, which I thought had already happened back in Exodus chapter 40. Here it goes into much more detail and is pretty much an acting out of god's instructions delivered in Exodus chapter 29. After the ordination ceremony, Moses told Aaron to cook the meat from the sacrifice and eat it at the entrance to the tabernacle. They were not to leave the entrance for seven days and nights so they would not die. They did everything Yahweh had commanded.
* I am going to ask the same question Ramona Quimby asked her kindergarten teacher about Mike Mulligan. "When did they go to the bathroom?" I will add "Where did they go?" as well. Ramona recognized that was a very important question, even if her teacher didn't. Seven days is a long time for five men to spend in the entrance of a tent without proper facilities and means of waste disposal.
*Also, what did they eat and where did they sleep during that time? Their priestly garments had blood and oil sprinkled on them, wouldn't that have attracted critters while they slept? Those fine clothes would have been mighty smelly, dirty, and wrinkled by the end of seven days.
Monday, September 28, 2015
Exodus chapter 40:
After reading chapter 40:
*Yahweh told Moses how to set up the tabernacle and all its paraphernalia on the first day of the month. Then, Aaron and his sons were to be washed, anointed, and clothed in the priestly garments. All that was done on the first day of the first month of the second year from the time the Israelites left Egypt. The tablets of the covenant were placed in the ark. When everything was finished being set up, the cloud settled on the tabernacle and the glory of the lord filled it. Because of this, Moses could not enter the tabernacle.
*From then on, whenever the cloud rose off the tabernacle, it was time for the Israelites to pack up and move on. Otherwise, they stayed put.
That marks the end of the book of Exodus.
*Yahweh told Moses how to set up the tabernacle and all its paraphernalia on the first day of the month. Then, Aaron and his sons were to be washed, anointed, and clothed in the priestly garments. All that was done on the first day of the first month of the second year from the time the Israelites left Egypt. The tablets of the covenant were placed in the ark. When everything was finished being set up, the cloud settled on the tabernacle and the glory of the lord filled it. Because of this, Moses could not enter the tabernacle.
*From then on, whenever the cloud rose off the tabernacle, it was time for the Israelites to pack up and move on. Otherwise, they stayed put.
That marks the end of the book of Exodus.
Sunday, September 27, 2015
Exodus chapter 38
After reading chapter 38:
*Next they made the altar for burnt offerings. They also made a bronze basin out of donated mirrors, from women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting. How they served there is not explained.
*Then they made the courtyard, repeating previous instructions. We are told the amounts of gold, silver and bronze donated as wave offerings, and told what it was used for. The census revealed exactly 603,550 men over the age of twenty. Was that before or after the slaughter of the 3,000 by the Levites?
*Next they made the altar for burnt offerings. They also made a bronze basin out of donated mirrors, from women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting. How they served there is not explained.
*Then they made the courtyard, repeating previous instructions. We are told the amounts of gold, silver and bronze donated as wave offerings, and told what it was used for. The census revealed exactly 603,550 men over the age of twenty. Was that before or after the slaughter of the 3,000 by the Levites?
Exodus chapter 37
After reading chapter 37:
*The work progresses on the ark, the table, dishes, tools, lamp stand, lamps, altar of incense, anointing oil, and incense. It is basically a repetition of previous instructions.
*The work progresses on the ark, the table, dishes, tools, lamp stand, lamps, altar of incense, anointing oil, and incense. It is basically a repetition of previous instructions.
Exodus chapter 36
After reading chapter 36:
*Again, we are told Bezalel and Oholiab are overseeing the work and the Israelites are making donations. The repetition in the first few verses is tiresome. Then we are told that more than enough stuff was donated, so Moses informed the people they could stop bringing new materials.
*All the parts of the tabernacle were constructed and we are again given specific details that are basically a repetition of the previous instructions.
*Again, we are told Bezalel and Oholiab are overseeing the work and the Israelites are making donations. The repetition in the first few verses is tiresome. Then we are told that more than enough stuff was donated, so Moses informed the people they could stop bringing new materials.
*All the parts of the tabernacle were constructed and we are again given specific details that are basically a repetition of the previous instructions.
Saturday, September 26, 2015
Exodus chapter 34 part 2, and chapter 35.
Somehow I missed that verses 29-35 were part of chapter 34.
*When Moses came down from the mountain with the second set of tablets, he didn't realize his face was glowing because he had talked to Yahweh. That's not surprising, considering that it hadn't glowed all the other times he talked to God. The glow understandably scared Aaron and the Israelites. After Moses told the Israelites what God had commanded, he covered his face with a veil. Whenever he spoke to God he took the veil off. Whenever he wasn't speaking to God, he wore the veil.
After reading chapter 35:
*Moses assembled the Israelites to tell them about Sabbath regulations. They can't work or light fires, or they will be put to death. We've seen a lot of this info before, but that was God telling Moses. Now we have Moses telling the people. I wonder how easy it was to communicate while speaking from under a veil.
*Moses also explained about the construction of the priestly garments and tabernacle. After that, the people brought offerings and began work on the tabernacle and sacred garments. Many people presented gifts of gold and jewelry as "wave offerings." That means they waved it in front of God. Skilled artisans, men and women, worked on all the required objects. The Israelites were also told about Bazalel and Oholiab being the leaders and teachers of the skilled workers.
Edited.
*When Moses came down from the mountain with the second set of tablets, he didn't realize his face was glowing because he had talked to Yahweh. That's not surprising, considering that it hadn't glowed all the other times he talked to God. The glow understandably scared Aaron and the Israelites. After Moses told the Israelites what God had commanded, he covered his face with a veil. Whenever he spoke to God he took the veil off. Whenever he wasn't speaking to God, he wore the veil.
After reading chapter 35:
*Moses assembled the Israelites to tell them about Sabbath regulations. They can't work or light fires, or they will be put to death. We've seen a lot of this info before, but that was God telling Moses. Now we have Moses telling the people. I wonder how easy it was to communicate while speaking from under a veil.
*Moses also explained about the construction of the priestly garments and tabernacle. After that, the people brought offerings and began work on the tabernacle and sacred garments. Many people presented gifts of gold and jewelry as "wave offerings." That means they waved it in front of God. Skilled artisans, men and women, worked on all the required objects. The Israelites were also told about Bazalel and Oholiab being the leaders and teachers of the skilled workers.
Edited.
Friday, September 25, 2015
Exodus chapter 31
After reading chapter 31:
*Yahweh assigns Bezalel, Oholiab and other craftsmen to work on all the articles for the priests and tabernacle. Their ability to make these things was supposedly a gift from God, not because of their own personal hard work, talent, and skill.
*Next are instructions about observing the Sabbath. Anyone who desecrates it is to be executed. Any one who works on that day is to be cut off from the rest of the Israelites. Harsh. I wonder how many Jews have actually been executed or excommunicated for working on a Sabbath. I wonder how many secretly did what was considered work. The Sabbath is to take place every seventh day. This is another everlasting covenant.
*Then, Yahweh gives Moses the two tablets of the testimony, which he had inscribed using his finger. Here I notice that the text does not say exactly what is written on those tablets. Is it all the ordinances God has recently given Moses? It does not say they are the Ten Commandments. So far, we haven't even come across the phrase "Ten Commandments." We are also not told what the tablets are made of. God can write with his finger! How cool is that?!
*Yahweh assigns Bezalel, Oholiab and other craftsmen to work on all the articles for the priests and tabernacle. Their ability to make these things was supposedly a gift from God, not because of their own personal hard work, talent, and skill.
*Next are instructions about observing the Sabbath. Anyone who desecrates it is to be executed. Any one who works on that day is to be cut off from the rest of the Israelites. Harsh. I wonder how many Jews have actually been executed or excommunicated for working on a Sabbath. I wonder how many secretly did what was considered work. The Sabbath is to take place every seventh day. This is another everlasting covenant.
*Then, Yahweh gives Moses the two tablets of the testimony, which he had inscribed using his finger. Here I notice that the text does not say exactly what is written on those tablets. Is it all the ordinances God has recently given Moses? It does not say they are the Ten Commandments. So far, we haven't even come across the phrase "Ten Commandments." We are also not told what the tablets are made of. God can write with his finger! How cool is that?!
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Exodus chapter 30
After reading chapter 30:
*Next we have instructions for constructing an altar for burning incense and where to put it. Aaron must burn incense every morning and evening. Once a year he dabbles blood on the altar it to keep it holy.
*Then we have instructions for a kind of poll tax whenever a census is taken. Every one who is older than twenty years is to give half a shekel to the lord, to atone for their lives. The money is to be used in service of the tabernacle. In other words, the priests will get it. 600,000 men left Egypt. That's 300,000 shekels, a nice tidy sum.
*There is also to be a bronze basin for the priests to wash their hands and feet before they enter the tabernacle, or else they will die. This is another lasting ordinance. Because God is a germaphobe.
*Then we have instructions for the mixing of a special anointing oil. It will be used on the tabernacle, the ark, the table and its accessories, and the basin. This will make them holy. Aaron and his sons are also to be anointed. That special formula of anointing oil is just for the priests, no other Israelites. Any one who makes similar oil and puts it on will be cut off from the rest of the Israelites.
*Last, we have instructions for how to make holy incense. This formula is also reserved for the priesthood. Anyone who makes similar incense and uses it will be cut off from the rest of the Israelites. This shows what kinds of things are most important to Yahweh, and keeps the priesthood an elite institution.
Edited.
*Next we have instructions for constructing an altar for burning incense and where to put it. Aaron must burn incense every morning and evening. Once a year he dabbles blood on the altar it to keep it holy.
*Then we have instructions for a kind of poll tax whenever a census is taken. Every one who is older than twenty years is to give half a shekel to the lord, to atone for their lives. The money is to be used in service of the tabernacle. In other words, the priests will get it. 600,000 men left Egypt. That's 300,000 shekels, a nice tidy sum.
*There is also to be a bronze basin for the priests to wash their hands and feet before they enter the tabernacle, or else they will die. This is another lasting ordinance. Because God is a germaphobe.
*Then we have instructions for the mixing of a special anointing oil. It will be used on the tabernacle, the ark, the table and its accessories, and the basin. This will make them holy. Aaron and his sons are also to be anointed. That special formula of anointing oil is just for the priests, no other Israelites. Any one who makes similar oil and puts it on will be cut off from the rest of the Israelites.
*Last, we have instructions for how to make holy incense. This formula is also reserved for the priesthood. Anyone who makes similar incense and uses it will be cut off from the rest of the Israelites. This shows what kinds of things are most important to Yahweh, and keeps the priesthood an elite institution.
Edited.
Exodus chapter 29
After reading chapter 29:
*This chapter is about the consecration of particular people and things. Consecration means dedicating that thing to God and making it holy. Holyness is an abstract idea that basically means uber special, so special that it is only for particular, people, places, or times. The specialness seems to exist just because God said so.
*The first things to be consecrated were Aaron and his sons, and their garments. First, instructions are given about washing and dressing them. Then there are instructions about sacrificing a bull as a sin offering. Only the fat is to be burnt on the altar. The rest is to be burnt outside the camp. Next are instructions for the sacrifice of a ram. The whole thing is to be burnt on the altar because God likes the smell of burnt ram. Next, another ram is to be slaughtered. This time, some of its blood is to be put on the right ears, right thumbs, and right big toes of Aaron and his sons. Then blood and oil are to be sprinkled on the beautiful priestly garments of Aaron and his sons. Tada! Now they are consecrated.
*From the last ram, they are to take the fat and the right thigh. They are also to take a loaf of unleavened bread, a cake made with oil, and a wafer. Aaron and his sons are to wave them all in front of Yahweh, who is hovering over the ark, as a "wave offering." Then, they will burn those things on the altar because God likes the smell. (Hey, I'm not making this stuff up.) They will also wave the breast of the ram before the lord, then they get to eat it. From now on, Aaron and his sons get to keep the breast of a sacrificed ram. It is their holy share of the fellowship offerings the Israelites will make to God, a perk of the priesthood.
*Aaron's sacred garments will be handed down to his descendants. The priesthood is an inherited office. No one else may eat any sacrificed meat associated with a priest's ordination, because it is holy. The altar is to be made holy by sacrificing a bull on it every day for seven days. After that, anything that touches the altar will be holy. Every day two lambs will be sacrificed on the altar, one in the morning and one at twilight, along with offerings of flour, oil, and wine. God will enjoy the smell of these things burning. This is to be done regularly so that the tabernacle, the altar, and the priests will be holy. Yahweh will speak to them and live with them and be their God. Plus, the priests will have a daily supply of the best meat available.
*That's an awful lot of meat from a people who have nothing to eat but manna. Just for the consecration a and ordinations eight Bulls and two Rams were killed. The daily sacrifice would make over 700 lambs a year.
*This chapter is about the consecration of particular people and things. Consecration means dedicating that thing to God and making it holy. Holyness is an abstract idea that basically means uber special, so special that it is only for particular, people, places, or times. The specialness seems to exist just because God said so.
*The first things to be consecrated were Aaron and his sons, and their garments. First, instructions are given about washing and dressing them. Then there are instructions about sacrificing a bull as a sin offering. Only the fat is to be burnt on the altar. The rest is to be burnt outside the camp. Next are instructions for the sacrifice of a ram. The whole thing is to be burnt on the altar because God likes the smell of burnt ram. Next, another ram is to be slaughtered. This time, some of its blood is to be put on the right ears, right thumbs, and right big toes of Aaron and his sons. Then blood and oil are to be sprinkled on the beautiful priestly garments of Aaron and his sons. Tada! Now they are consecrated.
*From the last ram, they are to take the fat and the right thigh. They are also to take a loaf of unleavened bread, a cake made with oil, and a wafer. Aaron and his sons are to wave them all in front of Yahweh, who is hovering over the ark, as a "wave offering." Then, they will burn those things on the altar because God likes the smell. (Hey, I'm not making this stuff up.) They will also wave the breast of the ram before the lord, then they get to eat it. From now on, Aaron and his sons get to keep the breast of a sacrificed ram. It is their holy share of the fellowship offerings the Israelites will make to God, a perk of the priesthood.
*Aaron's sacred garments will be handed down to his descendants. The priesthood is an inherited office. No one else may eat any sacrificed meat associated with a priest's ordination, because it is holy. The altar is to be made holy by sacrificing a bull on it every day for seven days. After that, anything that touches the altar will be holy. Every day two lambs will be sacrificed on the altar, one in the morning and one at twilight, along with offerings of flour, oil, and wine. God will enjoy the smell of these things burning. This is to be done regularly so that the tabernacle, the altar, and the priests will be holy. Yahweh will speak to them and live with them and be their God. Plus, the priests will have a daily supply of the best meat available.
*That's an awful lot of meat from a people who have nothing to eat but manna. Just for the consecration a and ordinations eight Bulls and two Rams were killed. The daily sacrifice would make over 700 lambs a year.
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