Deuteronomy 17:6 "On the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death, but no one shall be put to death on the testimony of only one witness."
More warnings against other religions. God did not want to see things like Asherah Poles or sacred stones erected in Israel. Probably even if these stones were in honor of Him. Also, there is a reiteration that a sacrifice for sin had to be perfect...without defect or deformity. Only perfection could remove imperfection.
So terrible an offense to God is leading others astray that people who do so must be put to death by stoning. Can you imagine? Who ever witnessed this blasphemy was the person who was to cast the first stone. I guess that's a good rule. This probably sought to reduce the number of people who would just go around accusing people of blasphemy so they could be stoned. What a horrific way to kill. You just throw rocks at someone until they die? Horrifying.
The judges were given charge over difficult cases, and my guess is that they were Levites, so God presumably spoke through them, and issued judgment through them. It was because of this divine word that the Israelites were commanded to do exactly as the judges say, without deviating to the right or to left. Straight up. Anyone going against the judges was to be put to death.
Verse 14 is the first mention I can recall of the possibility of Israel having a king over them. But it doesn't seem as though God is encouraging Israel to appoint a king, or to ask for one. Moses just went through a whole ceremony that set Joshua up to replace him as...leader...I guess. A king had several requirements:
1. Appointed by God
2. Must be an Israelite
3. Must not acquire wealth, or return to Egypt to get more horses
4. Most not take many wives, else he be led astray
5. Had to study and learn Gods laws and decrees
Kings were in the habit of compromise and making deals, and we have already seen what happens when Israel gets together with other nations. Idolatry and immorality. That seems to be the underlying reason why God did not want a king over Israel, and set these safeguards in place to ensure that a future king did not screw with Israel. If a king followed God's laws, as verse 20 says, then he and his descendants will reign a long time.
Showing posts with label Stoning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stoning. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Dt. 13: Other Gods
Deuteronomy 13:17 "None of those condemned things shall be found in your hands, so that the LORD will turn from his fierce anger; he will show you mercy, have compassion on you, and increase your numbers, as he promised on oath to your forefathers..."
If you had any doubt about the real power in the paranormal, toss it out the window. In verse 2 of Deuteronomy chapter 13, God reveals that what is dreamed or foretold by prophets can take place. How this power is acquired by those outside of God's covenant is yet a mystery at this point in my reading, though the only opposer with any real power appears to be the serpent this far. Perhaps these prophets belong to God, perhaps not. But if the prophet attempts to convince the nation of Israel to follow after strange and unknown gods, that is where God draws the line. Apparently, the issue is less about others having supernatural power, and more about God being the sole recipient of love and worship.
Further on, it is implied that the coming to pass of these prophecies is a result of God testing the nation of Israel to see if they truly love him with all their hearts and souls. Again, it is less about power, and more about love. Israel is being warned here not to be swayed by signs and prophecies that could deflect any glory from God Himself. Why is that? In fact, the dreamer or prophet must be stoned.
So...if Israel is given a choice, and they follow another (false) god, would this god have Israel's best interests (at a minimum) in mind? Would this other god be able to offer the love and provisions that God does?
So seriously does God take false prophecies, that he would have the immediate family kill the false prophet themselves, for trying to divert Israel to another religion. As if the person were mildew in a garment or a leper in the camp, they had to be stopped, cut out, in order to preserve the rest of the community.
A similar command is given regarding the cities God was giving to the Israelites in the promised land. If a rebellion arose, and was investigated and found to be accurate, the city's entire population had to be put to the sword. The plunder had to be burned in the town square, and the city itself destroyed never to be rebuilt.
In the ruins of sin, God builds compassion.
If you had any doubt about the real power in the paranormal, toss it out the window. In verse 2 of Deuteronomy chapter 13, God reveals that what is dreamed or foretold by prophets can take place. How this power is acquired by those outside of God's covenant is yet a mystery at this point in my reading, though the only opposer with any real power appears to be the serpent this far. Perhaps these prophets belong to God, perhaps not. But if the prophet attempts to convince the nation of Israel to follow after strange and unknown gods, that is where God draws the line. Apparently, the issue is less about others having supernatural power, and more about God being the sole recipient of love and worship.
Further on, it is implied that the coming to pass of these prophecies is a result of God testing the nation of Israel to see if they truly love him with all their hearts and souls. Again, it is less about power, and more about love. Israel is being warned here not to be swayed by signs and prophecies that could deflect any glory from God Himself. Why is that? In fact, the dreamer or prophet must be stoned.
So...if Israel is given a choice, and they follow another (false) god, would this god have Israel's best interests (at a minimum) in mind? Would this other god be able to offer the love and provisions that God does?
So seriously does God take false prophecies, that he would have the immediate family kill the false prophet themselves, for trying to divert Israel to another religion. As if the person were mildew in a garment or a leper in the camp, they had to be stopped, cut out, in order to preserve the rest of the community.
A similar command is given regarding the cities God was giving to the Israelites in the promised land. If a rebellion arose, and was investigated and found to be accurate, the city's entire population had to be put to the sword. The plunder had to be burned in the town square, and the city itself destroyed never to be rebuilt.
In the ruins of sin, God builds compassion.
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Nu. 15: Aliens. Tassels.
Man, in Numbers 15, we hear about offerings again. Its nothing I haven't already read back in the beginning of Leviticus, with hins and ephahs and bulls and pleasing aromas.
What I find most interesting here is that now these offerings emphasize how an alien, an outsider is subject to the same regulations and stipulations. They are not exempt from following these laws. Aliens and foreigners...non-Israelites are able to be brought in under the same system. The same goes for unintentional sins. See Leviticus 4. reading : blog
The Israelites were called to be a holy, separate people. So much emphasis was placed on the distinction Israel had from these other nations. With this inclusion of aliens and foreigners, it suggests to me that somehow God still had his eye on these other nations...God was still at work with these other people. I wonder though to what extent? There doesn't appear to be any sort of...missions work. Outreach...I guess. Did these other millions of people on earth live and die outside of God's grace? If God had put in place this method for aliens to make offerings, and be atoned for, that suggests that, yes, these other nations were basically screwed. At least at this point in my reading.
God's punishment for unintentional sins is nowhere near as severe as his punishment for the defiant sinner...the blasphemers, those who despise God's word and commands.
A Sabbath breaker is found gathering wood. He wasn't resting. He knew the commands. The assembly stoned him outside the camp. He was put to death for just gathering some wood. Harsh. Severe. Just. Consistent. Horrifying.
Then God posts a rule about putting tassels on the fringes of garments. I guess they serve the same purpose as tying a thread around your finger to remember something. In this case, to help remember God's commands. When those tassels are there, the people will always be reminded of the specter of God always being there, always watching, always looking out for them. They will see the tassels everytime they dress, and be reminded of who they are called to be.
What I find most interesting here is that now these offerings emphasize how an alien, an outsider is subject to the same regulations and stipulations. They are not exempt from following these laws. Aliens and foreigners...non-Israelites are able to be brought in under the same system. The same goes for unintentional sins. See Leviticus 4. reading : blog
The Israelites were called to be a holy, separate people. So much emphasis was placed on the distinction Israel had from these other nations. With this inclusion of aliens and foreigners, it suggests to me that somehow God still had his eye on these other nations...God was still at work with these other people. I wonder though to what extent? There doesn't appear to be any sort of...missions work. Outreach...I guess. Did these other millions of people on earth live and die outside of God's grace? If God had put in place this method for aliens to make offerings, and be atoned for, that suggests that, yes, these other nations were basically screwed. At least at this point in my reading.
God's punishment for unintentional sins is nowhere near as severe as his punishment for the defiant sinner...the blasphemers, those who despise God's word and commands.
A Sabbath breaker is found gathering wood. He wasn't resting. He knew the commands. The assembly stoned him outside the camp. He was put to death for just gathering some wood. Harsh. Severe. Just. Consistent. Horrifying.
Then God posts a rule about putting tassels on the fringes of garments. I guess they serve the same purpose as tying a thread around your finger to remember something. In this case, to help remember God's commands. When those tassels are there, the people will always be reminded of the specter of God always being there, always watching, always looking out for them. They will see the tassels everytime they dress, and be reminded of who they are called to be.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Lev. 24: Oh, Bread; Stone Him!
Well, I did not know that the oil from pressed olives was flammable. Apparently it is. The Israelites were commanded to bring this oil to Moses so that Aaron could keep the lamps burning continually through the night. Why? Who came to the Tent of Meeting at night? What was the significance of keeping these lamps lit? So if anyone came, they could see, or be seen? Aaron was working the third shift every night to keep these lamps lit. Had to be a lonely job. Were sacrifices being brought in the middle of the night?
Also, every sabbath, there were to be twelve loaves of bread set out on the table before the LORD. This must be the bread of the Presence spoken of in Exodus 35 in the context of the materials for the temple. They were to be made from the two-tenths of an ephah brought as offerings all the time. This is food for the priests.
Then, we have an abrupt change of pace.
Some dude with an Israelite mom (Shelomith the Danite) and an Egyptian dad got in a fight and blasphemed the Name with a curse (Ex. 22:28). The Name, referring to God. Presumably. Not only was blaspheming God an issue here, but what about when God told people not to marry outside of their nation? Anyway, everyone who heard this curse was to put their hands on the head of the blasphemer. Probably to purify themselves of the curse, in the way they put their hands on the head of the scapegoat. The assembly was to stone hime, as the blasphemer was held responsible.
Restitution is a part of justice in this passage. Here we find the famous "Eye for an eye, Tooth for a tooth" passage (Lev. 24:20). It is Biblical! This in essence means that if anyone injures his neighbor, whatever he has done must be done to him.
I wonder if there was any joy in this stoning. Whenever I envision stoning, I picture a bunch of zealots reveling in the chance to do another person in. He probably had close friends and family in the assembly. What a horrible undertaking to have to do this to someone. What does it take to prepare oneself emotionally and spiritually to take a life? And was this assembly a group of leaders, or was it just some Israelite citizens? I'll have to ponder that passage a little more.
Also, every sabbath, there were to be twelve loaves of bread set out on the table before the LORD. This must be the bread of the Presence spoken of in Exodus 35 in the context of the materials for the temple. They were to be made from the two-tenths of an ephah brought as offerings all the time. This is food for the priests.
Then, we have an abrupt change of pace.
Some dude with an Israelite mom (Shelomith the Danite) and an Egyptian dad got in a fight and blasphemed the Name with a curse (Ex. 22:28). The Name, referring to God. Presumably. Not only was blaspheming God an issue here, but what about when God told people not to marry outside of their nation? Anyway, everyone who heard this curse was to put their hands on the head of the blasphemer. Probably to purify themselves of the curse, in the way they put their hands on the head of the scapegoat. The assembly was to stone hime, as the blasphemer was held responsible.
Restitution is a part of justice in this passage. Here we find the famous "Eye for an eye, Tooth for a tooth" passage (Lev. 24:20). It is Biblical! This in essence means that if anyone injures his neighbor, whatever he has done must be done to him.
I wonder if there was any joy in this stoning. Whenever I envision stoning, I picture a bunch of zealots reveling in the chance to do another person in. He probably had close friends and family in the assembly. What a horrible undertaking to have to do this to someone. What does it take to prepare oneself emotionally and spiritually to take a life? And was this assembly a group of leaders, or was it just some Israelite citizens? I'll have to ponder that passage a little more.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)