On the Way to Timnah

Genesis 38:12-15 - After a long time Judah's wife, the daughter of Shua, died. When Judah had recovered from his grief, he went up to Timnah, to the men who were shearing his sheep, and his friend Hirah the Adullamite went with him.

When Tamar was told, "Your father-in-law is on his way to Timnah to shear his sheep," she took off her widow's clothes, covered herself with a veil to disguise herself, and then sat down at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. For she saw that, though Shelah had now grown up, she had not been given to him as his wife.

When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face.

I wonder how Tamar got to Enaim before Judah and Hirah, since it looks like they started out before she did. Did she have a faster camel, donkey, or horse?

Did Tamar travel alone? (That could account for more speed too.) I would have thought that would be a very dangerous thing to do for a young woman.

The Wickedness of Er

Genesis 38:6-7 - Judah got a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 7 But Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the LORD's sight; so the LORD put him to death.

By nature, I am wicked in God's sight. But through faith in Jesus and what he did to save me from the consequences of that wickedness, I am holy in God's sight.

So Er could not have been what today we'd call a Christian. He didn't believe in the promised Savior, the Messiah.

But a lot of people didn't believe in the Messiah, and God didn't put all of them to death. So I wonder if this was some particularly heinous wickedness that Er was guilty of.

How did the people know that "the LORD put him to death"? That seems to be a more pointed statement than simply saying that he died. Did he die in some unusual way that made this obvious? Did God reveal to the people that he had put Er to death specifically because of this wickedness?

I wonder if the particular wicked act(s) or lifestyle are not mentioned so that no one today can copy that form of wickedness on purpose -- just to see if the result would be the same; that is, to tempt God and put him to the test. There are plenty of other ways people have found to do that. They don't need additional suggestions.

Judah's Travels

Genesis 38:1-2 - At that time, Judah left his brothers and went down to stay with a man of Adullam named Hirah. There Judah met the daughter of a Canaanite man named Shua.

I wonder why Judah left his family -- his father and brothers. Did he already know Hirah before he went? How much, in terms of flocks and other goods and possessions, did he take with him? Did anyone travel with him?

I wonder why Judah's first wife isn't named, but her father is.

Daddy's Boy

Genesis 37:3 - Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made a richly ornamented robe for him.

I wonder what else Israel did to show favoritism to Joseph. Surely there had to be more going on over the years than just the gift of the robe, or coat of many colors, as it has come to be known.

I wonder if Joseph didn't have to do as much work as the others. At 17, he was apparently old enough to help tend the flocks, but on at least one occasion he wasn't in the fields with his brothers until Israel sent him to check up on them.

I wonder if Joseph's brothers hid their hatred of Joseph from their father. If not, it's a bit surprising that (as far as we know) Israel never disciplined them for their behavior towards Joseph, nor did he alter his own behavior in hopes of calming the brothers' hateful attitude towards Joseph.

Esau's Men

Genesis 32:3-6 - Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. He instructed them: "This is what you are to say to my master Esau: 'Your servant Jacob says, I have been staying with Laban and have remained there till now. I have cattle and donkeys, sheep and goats, menservants and maidservants. Now I am sending this message to my lord, that I may find favor in your eyes.' "

When the messengers returned to Jacob, they said, "We went to your brother Esau, and now he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him."

Who were the 400 men who were with Esau? Were they his friends? His army? (It doesn't say they were armed.) His neighbors? Some of each?

Why were they all coming to meet Jacob? To frighten him? For protection along a dangerous route? To help Jacob on the rest of his journey? If they were an army, was the trip being used as some sort of training?

Did they achieve the purpose for which they set out with Esau?

Mahanaim

Genesis 32:1 - Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God met him. When Jacob saw them, he said, "This is the camp of God!" So he named that place Mahanaim.

I wonder how many angels there were. How many would Jacob have needed to see before he would have considered it a camp-full?

Could the rest of his family and servants see them too?

Why did they come to meet Jacob? Did any of them talk to him? Did he talk to them?

Angels are God's servants, his messengers. Did they deliver a message to Jacob? As God's servants, it seems a large portion of their duties, in addition to the messenger function, involves protecting man. Were they there to protect Jacob's camp? Was their very presence simply meant to comfort and reassure Jacob of God's presence and protection?

How did Jacob know they were angels? Was their form not exactly human? Were they winged? Did God reveal to him that they were angels?

Sister Act Revisited

Genesis 20 - Now Abraham moved on from there into the region of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while he stayed in Gerar, and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." Then Abimelech king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her.

But God came to Abimelech in a dream one night and said to him, "You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman."

Now Abimelech had not gone near her, so he said, "Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? Did he not say to me, 'She is my sister,' and didn't she also say, 'He is my brother'? I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands."

Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her. Now return the man's wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, you may be sure that you and all yours will die."

Early the next morning Abimelech summoned all his officials, and when he told them all that had happened, they were very much afraid. Then Abimelech called Abraham in and said, "What have you done to us? How have I wronged you that you have brought such great guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done." And Abimelech asked Abraham, "What was your reason for doing this?"

Abraham replied, "I said to myself, 'There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.' Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife. And when God had me wander from my father's household, I said to her, 'This is how you can show your love to me: Everywhere we go, say of me, "He is my brother." ' "

Then Abimelech brought sheep and cattle and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham, and he returned Sarah his wife to him. And Abimelech said, "My land is before you; live wherever you like."

To Sarah he said, "I am giving your brother a thousand shekels of silver. This is to cover the offense against you before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated."

Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife and his slave girls so they could have children again, for the LORD had closed up every womb in Abimelech's household because of Abraham's wife Sarah.

I wonder how long this charade went on before God put a stop to it. It must have continued long enough that Abimelech's people noticed that no one was having babies like they used to. If so, that would probably mean several months at least. And if that is so, that means Abraham was without his wife for several months (at least) as well. I wonder how long he planned to keep this up. It's not like he had a harem as some men did.

I wonder how God kept Abimelech from going near Sarah. Did it seem to them like coincidences always kept them apart?

Interesting to note that God spoke to someone (in a dream) whom Abraham didn't consider a God-fearing person.

Not Far from the Tree

Genesis 19:30-38 - Lot and his two daughters left Zoar and settled in the mountains, for he was afraid to stay in Zoar. He and his two daughters lived in a cave. One day the older daughter said to the younger, "Our father is old, and there is no man around here to lie with us, as is the custom all over the earth. Let's get our father to drink wine and then lie with him and preserve our family line through our father."

That night they got their father to drink wine, and the older daughter went in and lay with him. He was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up.

The next day the older daughter said to the younger, "Last night I lay with my father. Let's get him to drink wine again tonight, and you go in and lie with him so we can preserve our family line through our father." So they got their father to drink wine that night also, and the younger daughter went and lay with him. Again he was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up.

So both of Lot's daughters became pregnant by their father. The older daughter had a son, and she named him Moab; he is the father of the Moabites of today. The younger daughter also had a son, and she named him Ben-Ammi; he is the father of the Ammonites of today.

I speculated a few days ago that Lot was not very wise. I wonder (only a little) whether the same could be said of his daughters.

So they were living in a cave. Could they not travel to the nearest city or town or oasis or tent to see if there were any eligible bachelors (or at least non-immediate relatives) in the area? Could Lot not arrange something for them? Was he now too poor to do so? Had they no patience? Why did everything have to be accomplished in 2 nights all of a sudden?

This sad account is largely given so that we know the origins of the Moabites and the Ammonites who will later have encounters with the Israelites.

Not Even Ten

Genesis 19:27-30 - Early the next morning Abraham got up and returned to the place where he had stood before the LORD. He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, toward all the land of the plain, and he saw dense smoke rising from the land, like smoke from a furnace.

So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, he remembered Abraham, and he brought Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived.

Lot and his two daughters left Zoar and settled in the mountains, for he was afraid to stay in Zoar. He and his two daughters lived in a cave.

I'm sure when Abraham saw the smoke indicating the destruction of the cities his heart sank. He must have said to himself, "Good Lord, not even ten!"

I wonder how long it was before he found out that Lot and his daughters were safe. Remember, God hadn't promised Abraham that he would spare them. Perhaps Abraham didn't even consider looking for them. I wonder why they didn't go looking for him but ended up in a cave instead. Maybe they were too ashamed to face Abraham.

Lot's Wife Remembered

Genesis 19:26 - But Lot's wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.

I wonder why "a pillar of salt." Obviously her looking back (after being told not to) was a sign that she wanted to be back in Sodom or that she loved all the stuff she left behind more than what God had in mind for her on the road ahead. She paid for this choice with her life. But why did she turn into a pillar of salt as opposed to "simply" falling down dead due to heart failure or something more ordinary?

Perhaps this was so that we would talk (and write and read) about her as a warning not to have similar thoughts and feelings about the evil things in our past and as a reminder to keep looking forward to the good that God has in store for us in the future either here on earth or later in heaven or both.

Lot Hesitates

Genesis 19:16-22 - When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the LORD was merciful to them. As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, "Flee for your lives! Don't look back, and don't stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!"

But Lot said to them, "No, my lords, please! Your servant has found favor in your eyes, and you have shown great kindness to me in sparing my life. But I can't flee to the mountains; this disaster will overtake me, and I'll die. Look, here is a town near enough to run to, and it is small. Let me flee to it—it is very small, isn't it? Then my life will be spared."

He said to him, "Very well, I will grant this request too; I will not overthrow the town you speak of. But flee there quickly, because I cannot do anything until you reach it." (That is why the town was called Zoar.)

Was Lot just not very bright or was he just not very wise?

1. He chose to settle in the land near Sodom and Gomorrah because it was good for his animals. But it was near Sodom and Gomorrah.
2. He lived in Sodom even though he knew how bad the place was. He could have pulled up stakes and moved elsewhere.
3. He offered his daughters to the men of the city to spare the visiting angels (in human form) on the night before the cities and surrounding areas were destroyed. Points for protecting the visitors. But lose the game for offering your daughters!
4. He understood the area was going to be demolished. He even warned his sons-in-law. But he hesitated just before it was about to happen and had to be physically yanked out of town. Did he have that nice of a house?
5. He complains he can't make it to the mountains. How does he know that?! So he asks to go to a place closer to ground zero! What?!

The people of Zoar owed him big time, but I wonder if either side ever realized it.

Blind as a Bat?

Genesis 19:10-11 - But the men inside reached out and pulled Lot back into the house and shut the door. Then they struck the men who were at the door of the house, young and old, with blindness so that they could not find the door.

I wonder if the blindness only affected their ability to find the door. Or was it a complete and "normal" blindness? Was it permanent or temporary? Actually, that doesn't matter much because they died the next day anyway.

Tourism in Sodom

Genesis 19:1-5 - The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When he saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. "My lords," he said, "please turn aside to your servant's house. You can wash your feet and spend the night and then go on your way early in the morning."

"No," they answered, "we will spend the night in the square."

But he insisted so strongly that they did go with him and entered his house. He prepared a meal for them, baking bread without yeast, and they ate. Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom—both young and old—surrounded the house. They called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them."

I wonder if many people visited Sodom. Did the men of Sodom treat all their visitors this way? Why didn't they accost them when they first arrived? Was that because (and why) Lot hurried them to his house and insisted that they stay with him?

Countdown

Genesis 18:20-33 - Then the LORD said, "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know."

The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD. Then Abraham approached him and said: "Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?"

The LORD said, "If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake."

Then Abraham spoke up again: "Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city because of five people?"
"If I find forty-five there," he said, "I will not destroy it."

Once again he spoke to him, "What if only forty are found there?"
He said, "For the sake of forty, I will not do it."

Then he said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?"
He answered, "I will not do it if I find thirty there."

Abraham said, "Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?"
He said, "For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it."

Then he said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?"
He answered, "For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it."

When the LORD had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home.

I wonder if Abraham kept asking for fewer and fewer righteous people because the Lord "gave in" so quickly -- too quickly for Abraham's liking.

I wonder how long each of them paused before responding to the other. That is, how long did Abraham have to ponder from one point to the next? I could imagine the conversation taking only a minute or taking 10 minutes. Maybe more.

Cut them in half

Genesis 15:9-10 - So the LORD said to him, "Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon."

Abram brought all these to him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other; the birds, however, he did not cut in half.

I wonder if Abram did this all by himself. It seems like he did. I wonder what tools he used because it is no small task to cut an animal in half -- no matter which way you slice it.

318 trained men

Genesis 14:14 - When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan.

I wonder if these were all the men trained for battle that Abram had or if he had more and just hand picked 318 of them for this fight. In any case, if these were (as it does say) all born in his household, imagine how large his household must have been!

318 people is more than a lot of churches have on their rosters.

These men had parents who were presumably part of the household too. It's maybe not likely, but what if each man had a unique set of parents? That's almost 1000 people right there! And those men were just the military division of his household. Sure, they may have done double (or more) duty since Abram wasn't often at war, but still there were probably many other (young) people in Abram's service.

Even using minimal numbers to guess at the size of his household, God had indeed made Abram an extremely wealthy man.

Abram and Sarai in Egypt

Genesis 12:10-20 - Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe. As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, "I know what a beautiful woman you are. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, 'This is his wife.' Then they will kill me but will let you live. Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you."

When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that she was a very beautiful woman. And when Pharaoh's officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace. He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, menservants and maidservants, and camels.

But the LORD inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram's wife Sarai. So Pharaoh summoned Abram. "What have you done to me?" he said. "Why didn't you tell me she was your wife? Why did you say, 'She is my sister,' so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!" Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had.

How did the Pharaoh know that his problems were caused by what Abram had done regarding Sarai? Did God tell him? Did the Pharaoh's wise men figure it out? Did someone spill the beans about Sarai and they just guessed (correctly) that she was the source of the problem? Were they able to deduce anything from the fact that only the Pharaoh and his household were affected?

What were the diseases? Were they life-threatening? Were there any fatalities? Who was included in "his household"? All of his servants and close government workers? Only his immediate family (which could have been quite large)?

It seems like it took some time for all of this to happen -- the diseases to develop and the determination of whose fault it was. (It's interesting that they even considered pinning the blame for the diseases on a specific person instead of something purely medical.) I think it took time because it says Abram was able to increase his wealth while living there. If all this happened over a few days or weeks, how could Abram have had time to become profitable?

The great tree of Moreh

Genesis 12:6 - Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem.

I wonder how big the great tree of Moreh was. It was obviously a well-known landmark. How old was it? Did anyone back then have any idea? If it started growing right after the Flood, it could have been about 400 years old by Abram's time.

What kind of tree was it? Cedar? Oak?

Where did the name Moreh come from? A place? A person?

I'm curious. Could you please tell me what brought you to this page by mentioning it in a comment? I won't publish the comment, if you ask me not to.