Chapter 17 - The Book of Numbers

I enjoyed this chapter. I love a good epic tale. I like how history can be combined with legend, myth, and lore to prove a point and explain history.

Complaining, angry, revolting people and Moses is always pleading a case for them to YHWH. ...and YHWH gives in.

YHWH leads the people as they march and when they camp YHWH can be found in the middle of the camp.

So many versions of the stroies... so many conflicts in the versions... Wish we could find the original versions and better understand why we have what we have and what the intentions were of those who compliled what we have today.

Chapter 16 - Concluding Exodus

"...is so confused it is practically impossible to understand." and then
"...are also described in a way incapable of being understood."

After the Exile... it seems like much of what we have read so far was written (or edited) after the Exile in the attempt to re-establish a national identity.

God "comes down" and engages in the actrocities of humankind. (hmmm...)

In the patriarchal period the covenant was made with individuals; with Moses the covenant is finally given to Israel as a whole people. (Ah....)

God overcomes human evil and transforms it.

(I am almost caught up now)

First post from France

Now that I have internet in my room I will be able to update this thing.

My responsibility here is knowledge transfer. The technicians here who work for the French bank will soon be responsible for supporting our software that is used by the bank (Citibank-Germany) that was recently purchased. I am here as the Systematics expert. There is another person here from the Citibank technology subsidiary to explain the modifications that have been done to the Systematics software. Nelvin, the other technician, and I have a wonderful tag-team thing going where I explain how the software works or used to work coming from Little Rock and he explains how it is used today in the Citibank-Germany environment. Anyway, all this to explain how I have, every now and then, time to do other things.

This morning I have been reading Lowell's blog. Wow! If you have not read the last three or four I highly recommend them. He is on a roll. Having worked through the Genesis stories and being familiar with the New Testament, I can really appreciate Lowell's observations. Brilliant!

Look for more to come now that I am online.

Chapter 15 - Law in the Old Testament

Clean/Unclean is related to holiness - holiness because everything belongs to YHWH

Law developed between 1250 BCE - 538 BCE all attributed to Moses (from God through Moses)

Apodictic - You shall/shall not
Casuistic - When... if... then... (cases)

Let the punishment fit the crime

Love you neighbor - love is to be loyal to (not emotional and regardless of emotions)

The Decalogue

You shall not steal... another person! ...to be sold into slavery! Wow...

Even as the Israelites take over feasts drawn from Canaanite agricultural rites...
As so the Christians took feasts (or traditions) from Pagans over the years.
I find this behavior enchanting, wonderful, and positive.

Jesus is the fulfillment of the law. This is a good chapter. Good history and explanations.

(my current approach is to provide those words, term, ideas that caught my attention and made me think or wonder)

Chapter 14 - From Egypt to Sinai

The Passover
Reflections on the Passover
Deliverance through the sea
The journey to Mount Sinai

Chapter 13 - Moses and the Pharaoh

Moses in Midian
The Flight
The Call of Moses
Moses returns to Egypt
The contest between Moses and Pharaoh
The first meeting
The plagues

Chapter 12 - The Exodus and the settlement of Canaan

This chapter gives a brief and high-level overview of the Moses stories. This runs from the beginning of Exodus through Deuteronomy. The second part of this chapter is very interesting. Historical evidence related to what really happened in that part of the world at that time is presented. It's wonderful to read how what may have really happened has been merged with the story of God and God's people.

This is a first attempt at sharing a reading assignment through my blog. I need to work on this process. It is not coming naturally yet.