Deuteronomy 21:18-21 - If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and will not listen to them when they discipline him, his father and mother shall take hold of him and bring him to the elders at the gate of his town. They shall say to the elders, "This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey us. He is a profligate and a drunkard." Then all the men of his town shall stone him to death. You must purge the evil from among you. All Israel will hear of it and be afraid.
I wonder if any parents ever went this far in carrying out punishments on their children. How old would a son have to be before you'd consider calling him a profligate and a drunkard?
It's interesting to note that, even though such a son is likely a young man able to take care of himself, etc., he is still expected to obey his parents, and they are still expected to discipline him.
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.
12/25/2008
Tithes and Firstborn Animals
Deuteronomy 14:22-29 and 15:19-20 - Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the LORD your God always. But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the LORD your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the LORD will choose to put his Name is so far away), then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the LORD your God will choose. Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice. And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own.
At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year's produce and store it in your towns, so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
Set apart for the LORD your God every firstborn male of your herds and flocks. Do not put the firstborn of your oxen to work, and do not shear the firstborn of your sheep. Each year you and your family are to eat them in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose.
Sometimes I think people get the impression that the Israelites had to give up or "lose" their tithes of grain, wine, and oil and their firstborn sheep and cattle. Actually they just had to set them aside and eat them in Jerusalem at the Temple. The one exception to this is that, every third year, the tithes were given to the Levites, aliens, fatherless, and widows.
I wonder how soon it was before someone failed to do this as God required. Did anyone mess up in Year 1 already?
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.
At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year's produce and store it in your towns, so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
Set apart for the LORD your God every firstborn male of your herds and flocks. Do not put the firstborn of your oxen to work, and do not shear the firstborn of your sheep. Each year you and your family are to eat them in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose.
Sometimes I think people get the impression that the Israelites had to give up or "lose" their tithes of grain, wine, and oil and their firstborn sheep and cattle. Actually they just had to set them aside and eat them in Jerusalem at the Temple. The one exception to this is that, every third year, the tithes were given to the Levites, aliens, fatherless, and widows.
I wonder how soon it was before someone failed to do this as God required. Did anyone mess up in Year 1 already?
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.
12/15/2008
Shaving for the Dead
Deuteronomy 14:1-2 - You are the children of the LORD your God. Do not cut yourselves or shave the front of your heads for the dead, for you are a people holy to the LORD your God. Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the LORD has chosen you to be his treasured possession.
I'm guessing that some culture, some people from nearby the Israelites (or perhaps the Egyptians), had the practice of shaving the front of the head for the dead. I wonder whose practice it was, who thought of the idea in the first place, and why they thought it was a good thing to do for the dead. What purpose did they think it would serve for the dead? Or was it a sign of mourning -- perhaps with something else added to it that displeased God?
Did a barber think of it first?
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.
I'm guessing that some culture, some people from nearby the Israelites (or perhaps the Egyptians), had the practice of shaving the front of the head for the dead. I wonder whose practice it was, who thought of the idea in the first place, and why they thought it was a good thing to do for the dead. What purpose did they think it would serve for the dead? Or was it a sign of mourning -- perhaps with something else added to it that displeased God?
Did a barber think of it first?
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.
Everyone As He Sees Fit
Deuteronomy 12: 4-9 - You must not worship the LORD your God in their way. But you are to seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling. To that place you must go; there bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, what you have vowed to give and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks. There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the LORD your God has blessed you.
You are not to do as we do here today, everyone as he sees fit, since you have not yet reached the resting place and the inheritance the LORD your God is giving you.
I wonder how many different ways the Israelites had found to worship God. Were all of them pleasing to God? Did some of them imitate any of the practices of the neighboring peoples -- the practices Moses was warning against?
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.
You are not to do as we do here today, everyone as he sees fit, since you have not yet reached the resting place and the inheritance the LORD your God is giving you.
I wonder how many different ways the Israelites had found to worship God. Were all of them pleasing to God? Did some of them imitate any of the practices of the neighboring peoples -- the practices Moses was warning against?
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.
12/04/2008
Two Stone Tablets
Deuteronomy 4:13 - He declared to you his covenant, the Ten Commandments, which he commanded you to follow and then wrote them on two stone tablets.
Why did God write the Ten Commandments on two stone tablets instead of putting them all on one? We sometimes divide them into 2 groups -- the ones that speak about our relationship to God and the ones that speak about our relationships with other people -- but I don't think the Bible anywhere specifies which commandments were on each tablet.
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.
Why did God write the Ten Commandments on two stone tablets instead of putting them all on one? We sometimes divide them into 2 groups -- the ones that speak about our relationship to God and the ones that speak about our relationships with other people -- but I don't think the Bible anywhere specifies which commandments were on each tablet.
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.
Og's Bed
Deuteronomy 3:11 - (Only Og king of Bashan was left of the remnant of the Rephaites. His bed was made of iron and was more than thirteen feet long and six feet wide. It is still in Rabbah of the Ammonites.)
I wonder if Og was so large that he needed a bed this big (probably) or if he just had one made this size to make people talk about it. If he really needed one 13 feet long, that probably means he was about 12 feet tall. Imagine what the doorways of his house or palace would look like -- or how big a tent he'd need.
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.
I wonder if Og was so large that he needed a bed this big (probably) or if he just had one made this size to make people talk about it. If he really needed one 13 feet long, that probably means he was about 12 feet tall. Imagine what the doorways of his house or palace would look like -- or how big a tent he'd need.
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.
11/28/2008
Fortifying the Trans-Jordan
Numbers 32:34-36 - The Gadites built up Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer, Atroth Shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah, Beth Nimrah and Beth Haran as fortified cities, and built pens for their flocks.
I wonder how long it took to fortify those cities to the point where the soldiers felt comfortable with leaving their families behind inside of them. Did the other tribes help at all in order to speed up the process? If not, did they do anything other than the routine tasks needed to stay alive while waiting for the fortifications to be finished?
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.
I wonder how long it took to fortify those cities to the point where the soldiers felt comfortable with leaving their families behind inside of them. Did the other tribes help at all in order to speed up the process? If not, did they do anything other than the routine tasks needed to stay alive while waiting for the fortifications to be finished?
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.
Balaam's Advice
Numbers 31:15-16 - "Have you allowed all the women to live?" he asked them. "They were the ones who followed Balaam's advice and were the means of turning the Israelites away from the LORD in what happened at Peor, so that a plague struck the LORD's people.
I wonder why this piece of the Balaam story wasn't mentioned earlier. So it was Balaam who started the problems at Peor, and yet it was also he who ended up blessing the very people he got into trouble. Ironic.
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.
I wonder why this piece of the Balaam story wasn't mentioned earlier. So it was Balaam who started the problems at Peor, and yet it was also he who ended up blessing the very people he got into trouble. Ironic.
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.
Feast of Tabernacles
Numbers 29:12-34 - " 'On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. Celebrate a festival to the LORD for seven days. Present an offering made by fire as an aroma pleasing to the LORD, a burnt offering of thirteen young bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. With each of the thirteen bulls prepare a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil; with each of the two rams, two-tenths; and with each of the fourteen lambs, one-tenth. Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.
" 'On the second day prepare twelve young bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. With the bulls, rams and lambs, prepare their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering, and their drink offerings.
" 'On the third day prepare eleven bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. With the bulls, rams and lambs, prepare their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.
" 'On the fourth day prepare ten bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. With the bulls, rams and lambs, prepare their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.
" 'On the fifth day prepare nine bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. With the bulls, rams and lambs, prepare their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.
" 'On the sixth day prepare eight bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. With the bulls, rams and lambs, prepare their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.
" 'On the seventh day prepare seven bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. With the bulls, rams and lambs, prepare their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.' "
I wonder what the significance was, if any, of counting down the number of bulls offered each day of the feast from 13 down to 7.
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.
" 'On the second day prepare twelve young bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. With the bulls, rams and lambs, prepare their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering, and their drink offerings.
" 'On the third day prepare eleven bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. With the bulls, rams and lambs, prepare their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.
" 'On the fourth day prepare ten bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. With the bulls, rams and lambs, prepare their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.
" 'On the fifth day prepare nine bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. With the bulls, rams and lambs, prepare their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.
" 'On the sixth day prepare eight bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. With the bulls, rams and lambs, prepare their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.
" 'On the seventh day prepare seven bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. With the bulls, rams and lambs, prepare their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.' "
I wonder what the significance was, if any, of counting down the number of bulls offered each day of the feast from 13 down to 7.
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.
11/23/2008
Baal of Peor
Numbers 25 - While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate and bowed down before these gods. So Israel joined in worshiping the Baal of Peor. And the LORD's anger burned against them.
The LORD said to Moses, "Take all the leaders of these people, kill them and expose them in broad daylight before the LORD, so that the LORD's fierce anger may turn away from Israel."
So Moses said to Israel's judges, "Each of you must put to death those of your men who have joined in worshiping the Baal of Peor."
Then an Israelite man brought to his family a Midianite woman right before the eyes of Moses and the whole assembly of Israel while they were weeping at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. When Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, saw this, he left the assembly, took a spear in his hand and followed the Israelite into the tent. He drove the spear through both of them—through the Israelite and into the woman's body. Then the plague against the Israelites was stopped; but those who died in the plague numbered 24,000.
The LORD said to Moses, "Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, has turned my anger away from the Israelites; for he was as zealous as I am for my honor among them, so that in my zeal I did not put an end to them. Therefore tell him I am making my covenant of peace with him. He and his descendants will have a covenant of a lasting priesthood, because he was zealous for the honor of his God and made atonement for the Israelites."
The name of the Israelite who was killed with the Midianite woman was Zimri son of Salu, the leader of a Simeonite family. And the name of the Midianite woman who was put to death was Cozbi daughter of Zur, a tribal chief of a Midianite family.
The LORD said to Moses, "Treat the Midianites as enemies and kill them, because they treated you as enemies when they deceived you in the affair of Peor and their sister Cozbi, the daughter of a Midianite leader, the woman who was killed when the plague came as a result of Peor."
A number of things seem to come "out of left field" in the account of the Israelites' sin concerning the Baal (god) of Peor. I think many of the details are left out because it was disgusting to the God of Israel and to his faithful. Yet I know that it is referred to in many other portions of Scripture, so it is considered a very important "event" even if it's only briefly described here.
The men (soldiers, army) of Moab were afraid to encounter the Israelites, but apparently some of the more daring women weren't. I wonder if some of the men (leaders?) put them up to this seduction.
I wonder how long Baal of Peor had been around; that is, how long had people been worshipping this false god. Is this the same Baal mentioned elsewhere in the Bible? (I seem to recall that the word "Baal" simply means "god".)
I wonder if Zimri and Cozbi were flaunting themselves in front of Moses or if they just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. I'd like to give them the benefit of the doubt, but that's difficult to do especially since it was right in font of the Tent of Meeting as well.
"Then the plague against the Israelites was stopped...." Plague? What plague? Why isn't it even mentioned until 24,000 were known dead?
Cozbi was a Midianite. How did the Midianites get involved? I thought it was the Moabites who were causing the problems.
How did the Midianites deceive the Israelites? It sounded earlier like it was the Moabites who were seducing the Israelites, but even with them, no outright deception is mentioned.
Again, due to lack of details, much of this account remains a mystery. I'm sure all the pieces would fit together if we had the full story. Fortunately, we don't need the whole thing to understand that it was a very bad, sad day in the history of Israel.
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.
The LORD said to Moses, "Take all the leaders of these people, kill them and expose them in broad daylight before the LORD, so that the LORD's fierce anger may turn away from Israel."
So Moses said to Israel's judges, "Each of you must put to death those of your men who have joined in worshiping the Baal of Peor."
Then an Israelite man brought to his family a Midianite woman right before the eyes of Moses and the whole assembly of Israel while they were weeping at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. When Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, saw this, he left the assembly, took a spear in his hand and followed the Israelite into the tent. He drove the spear through both of them—through the Israelite and into the woman's body. Then the plague against the Israelites was stopped; but those who died in the plague numbered 24,000.
The LORD said to Moses, "Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, has turned my anger away from the Israelites; for he was as zealous as I am for my honor among them, so that in my zeal I did not put an end to them. Therefore tell him I am making my covenant of peace with him. He and his descendants will have a covenant of a lasting priesthood, because he was zealous for the honor of his God and made atonement for the Israelites."
The name of the Israelite who was killed with the Midianite woman was Zimri son of Salu, the leader of a Simeonite family. And the name of the Midianite woman who was put to death was Cozbi daughter of Zur, a tribal chief of a Midianite family.
The LORD said to Moses, "Treat the Midianites as enemies and kill them, because they treated you as enemies when they deceived you in the affair of Peor and their sister Cozbi, the daughter of a Midianite leader, the woman who was killed when the plague came as a result of Peor."
A number of things seem to come "out of left field" in the account of the Israelites' sin concerning the Baal (god) of Peor. I think many of the details are left out because it was disgusting to the God of Israel and to his faithful. Yet I know that it is referred to in many other portions of Scripture, so it is considered a very important "event" even if it's only briefly described here.
The men (soldiers, army) of Moab were afraid to encounter the Israelites, but apparently some of the more daring women weren't. I wonder if some of the men (leaders?) put them up to this seduction.
I wonder how long Baal of Peor had been around; that is, how long had people been worshipping this false god. Is this the same Baal mentioned elsewhere in the Bible? (I seem to recall that the word "Baal" simply means "god".)
I wonder if Zimri and Cozbi were flaunting themselves in front of Moses or if they just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. I'd like to give them the benefit of the doubt, but that's difficult to do especially since it was right in font of the Tent of Meeting as well.
"Then the plague against the Israelites was stopped...." Plague? What plague? Why isn't it even mentioned until 24,000 were known dead?
Cozbi was a Midianite. How did the Midianites get involved? I thought it was the Moabites who were causing the problems.
How did the Midianites deceive the Israelites? It sounded earlier like it was the Moabites who were seducing the Israelites, but even with them, no outright deception is mentioned.
Again, due to lack of details, much of this account remains a mystery. I'm sure all the pieces would fit together if we had the full story. Fortunately, we don't need the whole thing to understand that it was a very bad, sad day in the history of Israel.
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.
11/20/2008
Balaam Goes Home
Numbers 24:25 - Then Balaam got up and returned home and Balak went his own way.
I wonder if Moses ever met Balaam in person. That would have been one way that Moses could have learned about what Balaam and Balak did, so he could write the account here in the book of Numbers. There is no suggestion that the two of them ever met though.
Even if they didn't, there are plenty of other ways Moses could have come to know what Balaam did concerning Israel. Others who were there could have told Moses (or some other Israelite). Someone else could have written about it, and Moses could have read it. God could "simply" have told Moses about it in one of their conversations or in a vision.
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.
I wonder if Moses ever met Balaam in person. That would have been one way that Moses could have learned about what Balaam and Balak did, so he could write the account here in the book of Numbers. There is no suggestion that the two of them ever met though.
Even if they didn't, there are plenty of other ways Moses could have come to know what Balaam did concerning Israel. Others who were there could have told Moses (or some other Israelite). Someone else could have written about it, and Moses could have read it. God could "simply" have told Moses about it in one of their conversations or in a vision.
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.
Balaam's 3rd
Numbers 24:1 - Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not resort to sorcery as at other times, but turned his face toward the desert.
Did Balaam somehow use sorcery when receiving from God the first two blessings to pronounce upon Israel? If so, why did he think he needed to? Is that what he was up to when he went off by himself the first two times? How did the realization that the LORD was pleased make Balaam change his practices?
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.
Did Balaam somehow use sorcery when receiving from God the first two blessings to pronounce upon Israel? If so, why did he think he needed to? Is that what he was up to when he went off by himself the first two times? How did the realization that the LORD was pleased make Balaam change his practices?
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.
11/17/2008
The LORD and Balaam
Numbers 22:7-12 - The elders of Moab and Midian left, taking with them the fee for divination. When they came to Balaam, they told him what Balak had said.
"Spend the night here," Balaam said to them, "and I will bring you back the answer the LORD gives me." So the Moabite princes stayed with him.
God came to Balaam and asked, "Who are these men with you?"
Balaam said to God, "Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message: 'A people that has come out of Egypt covers the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps then I will be able to fight them and drive them away.' "
But God said to Balaam, "Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed."
There was a set fee for divination. I wonder how much it was. So this is how Balaam made a living? Was it his main occupation or did he have another vocation too?
I wonder if God appeared to him in human form as he did to Abraham, for example. I wonder if the LORD had spoken to him like this in the past or if this was the first time. He seems to know the LORD, the one and only God, and expects to get an answer for those who hired him. He doesn't seem especially surprised or afraid when God speaks to him.
I wonder how Balaam had come to know about the LORD in the first place.
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.
"Spend the night here," Balaam said to them, "and I will bring you back the answer the LORD gives me." So the Moabite princes stayed with him.
God came to Balaam and asked, "Who are these men with you?"
Balaam said to God, "Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message: 'A people that has come out of Egypt covers the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps then I will be able to fight them and drive them away.' "
But God said to Balaam, "Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed."
There was a set fee for divination. I wonder how much it was. So this is how Balaam made a living? Was it his main occupation or did he have another vocation too?
I wonder if God appeared to him in human form as he did to Abraham, for example. I wonder if the LORD had spoken to him like this in the past or if this was the first time. He seems to know the LORD, the one and only God, and expects to get an answer for those who hired him. He doesn't seem especially surprised or afraid when God speaks to him.
I wonder how Balaam had come to know about the LORD in the first place.
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.
Balak Calls for Balaam
Numbers 22:1-5 - Then the Israelites traveled to the plains of Moab and camped along the Jordan across from Jericho.
Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites, and Moab was terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab was filled with dread because of the Israelites.
The Moabites said to the elders of Midian, "This horde is going to lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field."
So Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor, who was at Pethor, near the River, in his native land.
I wonder how Balak knew about Balaam. How had Balaam become so famous? Who had he blessed and cursed before this? He wasn't one of God's chosen people, the Israelites, yet God used him to bless others. I wonder who Balaam's ancestors were.
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.
Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites, and Moab was terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab was filled with dread because of the Israelites.
The Moabites said to the elders of Midian, "This horde is going to lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field."
So Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor, who was at Pethor, near the River, in his native land.
I wonder how Balak knew about Balaam. How had Balaam become so famous? Who had he blessed and cursed before this? He wasn't one of God's chosen people, the Israelites, yet God used him to bless others. I wonder who Balaam's ancestors were.
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.
11/15/2008
Fortified Borders
Numbers 21:21-24 - Israel sent messengers to say to Sihon king of the Amorites:
"Let us pass through your country. We will not turn aside into any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the king's highway until we have passed through your territory."
But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory. He mustered his entire army and marched out into the desert against Israel. When he reached Jahaz, he fought with Israel. Israel, however, put him to the sword and took over his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, but only as far as the Ammonites, because their border was fortified.
You don't hear about fortified borders much back in Old Testament times. Fortified, walled cities, yes, but not so much with the borders. I wonder how the borders were fortified. Were there walls there too? Were there towers? Guard stations? Were the borders fortified around the entire region? If so, what happened when you conquered more land?
The fortifications must have been fairly significant to deter the Israelites from attempting an attack. Then again, that's not really the direction they were heading.
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.
"Let us pass through your country. We will not turn aside into any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the king's highway until we have passed through your territory."
But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory. He mustered his entire army and marched out into the desert against Israel. When he reached Jahaz, he fought with Israel. Israel, however, put him to the sword and took over his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, but only as far as the Ammonites, because their border was fortified.
You don't hear about fortified borders much back in Old Testament times. Fortified, walled cities, yes, but not so much with the borders. I wonder how the borders were fortified. Were there walls there too? Were there towers? Guard stations? Were the borders fortified around the entire region? If so, what happened when you conquered more land?
The fortifications must have been fairly significant to deter the Israelites from attempting an attack. Then again, that's not really the direction they were heading.
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.
11/12/2008
The Snake on a Pole
Numbers 21:4-9 - They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!"
Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, "We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us." So Moses prayed for the people.
The LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live." So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.
I wonder how tall the pole was. Was it also made of bronze? Did people actually have to see the snake to survive or was it enough to look in the right direction? Ultimately it was faith in God's promise that saved them from death.
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.
Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, "We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us." So Moses prayed for the people.
The LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live." So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.
I wonder how tall the pole was. Was it also made of bronze? Did people actually have to see the snake to survive or was it enough to look in the right direction? Ultimately it was faith in God's promise that saved them from death.
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.
Arad
Numbers 21:1-3 - When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming along the road to Atharim, he attacked the Israelites and captured some of them. Then Israel made this vow to the LORD : "If you will deliver these people into our hands, we will totally destroy their cities." The LORD listened to Israel's plea and gave the Canaanites over to them. They completely destroyed them and their towns; so the place was named Hormah.
I wonder what the king of Arad's name was.
I wonder how large Arad's army was. Did their king really expect to defeat Israel, or did he only want to make his presence known -- as he did?
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.
I wonder what the king of Arad's name was.
I wonder how large Arad's army was. Did their king really expect to defeat Israel, or did he only want to make his presence known -- as he did?
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.
11/10/2008
Aaron Dies
Numbers 20:22-29 - The whole Israelite community set out from Kadesh and came to Mount Hor. At Mount Hor, near the border of Edom, the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Aaron will be gathered to his people. He will not enter the land I give the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah. Get Aaron and his son Eleazar and take them up Mount Hor. Remove Aaron's garments and put them on his son Eleazar, for Aaron will be gathered to his people; he will die there."
Moses did as the LORD commanded: They went up Mount Hor in the sight of the whole community. Moses removed Aaron's garments and put them on his son Eleazar. And Aaron died there on top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain, and when the whole community learned that Aaron had died, the entire house of Israel mourned for him thirty days.
I wonder if Moses and Aaron told Eleazar ahead of time what was going to happen when they climbed Mount Hor. If not, I wonder if Eleazar asked about the unusual journey -- something like Isaac asking Abraham.
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.
Moses did as the LORD commanded: They went up Mount Hor in the sight of the whole community. Moses removed Aaron's garments and put them on his son Eleazar. And Aaron died there on top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain, and when the whole community learned that Aaron had died, the entire house of Israel mourned for him thirty days.
I wonder if Moses and Aaron told Eleazar ahead of time what was going to happen when they climbed Mount Hor. If not, I wonder if Eleazar asked about the unusual journey -- something like Isaac asking Abraham.
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.
Moses and Aaron Denied Passage
Numbers 20:1-13 - In the first month the whole Israelite community arrived at the Desert of Zin, and they stayed at Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried.
Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. They quarreled with Moses and said, "If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the LORD! Why did you bring the LORD's community into this desert, that we and our livestock should die here? Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!"
Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them. The LORD said to Moses, "Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink."
So Moses took the staff from the LORD's presence, just as he commanded him. He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, "Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?" Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.
But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them."
These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the LORD and where he showed himself holy among them.
I wonder if Moses and Aaron had assumed, before this time, that they would enter Canaan with the rest of the Israelites. Earlier God had said that those 20 years old or more who had grumbled against him would not enter the land. Moses and Aaron surely wouldn't have fit into that category. (What about Miriam?) But only Joshua and Caleb were specifically mentioned as being exempt. I wonder if that made Moses and Aaron (and Miriam?) nervous.
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.
Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. They quarreled with Moses and said, "If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the LORD! Why did you bring the LORD's community into this desert, that we and our livestock should die here? Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!"
Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them. The LORD said to Moses, "Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink."
So Moses took the staff from the LORD's presence, just as he commanded him. He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, "Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?" Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.
But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them."
These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the LORD and where he showed himself holy among them.
I wonder if Moses and Aaron had assumed, before this time, that they would enter Canaan with the rest of the Israelites. Earlier God had said that those 20 years old or more who had grumbled against him would not enter the land. Moses and Aaron surely wouldn't have fit into that category. (What about Miriam?) But only Joshua and Caleb were specifically mentioned as being exempt. I wonder if that made Moses and Aaron (and Miriam?) nervous.
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.
11/04/2008
The Gift of Service
Numbers 18:7 - I am giving you the service of the priesthood as a gift.
In the New Testament, God calls Christians a royal priesthood. I wonder if we can apply this sentence to Christians then. I think it's safe to say we can. So we say that the Lord says, "I am giving you (Christians) the service of the priesthood as a gift."
I wonder how many Christians view their service to God as a gift. Think about it, Christians, it really is a gift. Value it highly.
Priceless.
In the New Testament, God calls Christians a royal priesthood. I wonder if we can apply this sentence to Christians then. I think it's safe to say we can. So we say that the Lord says, "I am giving you (Christians) the service of the priesthood as a gift."
I wonder how many Christians view their service to God as a gift. Think about it, Christians, it really is a gift. Value it highly.
Priceless.
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