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Post by kungfuzu on Aug 15, 2024 12:42:46 GMT -8
Having reached the half-way point of 1 Kings, I will say that, so far, there is nothing subtle about the LORD. He is very clear in his orders and can be very harsh in his punishments. He certainly does not give off a "touchy-feely" vibe.
While reading the Book, I have wondered why the LORD puts up with the behavior of mankind. They have constantly disobeyed every one of his laws. In effect, they are mocking him continuously. An idea did arise that the LORD is letting this go on so long in order to send a message. The message is that no matter how much time and trouble the LORD gives them, mankind cannot help but be corrupt. They will never be able to save themselves. They need to see this. This idea leads to the need for Christ's sacrifice as atonement for all of the sins of mankind. Maybe there is more love there than immediately meets the eye in the Old Testament.
I started 1 Kings chapter 2 and after a few verses, I was struck by the similarity of mood in David's instructions to Solomon to those of Don Vito's instructions to Michael.
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Post by kungfuzu on Aug 15, 2024 12:47:04 GMT -8
Sounds like me and my semester book report on "Moby Dick." I put off reading the book until two days before the test and had to read the whole thing (about 600 pages) over two nights. For a thirteen year old, that was torture. We didn't have videos in those days so I couldn't rent one and watch the movie.  |
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Post by Brad Nelson on Aug 15, 2024 19:43:09 GMT -8
Makes sense. Look how corrupt people are today. I mean, maybe not all of it is a yuge, showy type of corruption a la the Bidens. But a great ship-of-the-line can be laid to waste by a million termites. Our individual corruption may not by yuge but it is capable in total of laying waste to entire nations.
We see that just the concept of integrity is all but gone from out public officials. People do what they can get away with. There is very little or no thought to doing the right thing. And doing the political thing is not the same thing as doing the right thing. Plenty of people do the wrong thing while thinking they are doing the right thing. Prager has a wonder introduction about this in his The Rational Bible series. I won't repeat it here because you know the drill. "Good intentions" running amok, etc.
However, he has some good stuff in his essay titled "A Good Society Is Unattainable Without Wisdom" which is in The Rational Bible: Deuteronomy.
His second example is about Communism. But same dynamic. He could have used a more modern example: the "homeless."
Ha ha! I'll have to read that.
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Post by kungfuzu on Aug 17, 2024 18:20:09 GMT -8
The quote is from 1 Kings chapter 8 verses 15-16. Solomon is speaking for himself and quoting the LORD. "Blessed be the LORD the God of Israel who spoke directly to my father David and has himself fulfilled his promise. For he said, "From the day when I brought my people Israel out of Egypt,I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel where I should build a house for my name to be, but I chose Jerusalem where my name should be, and David to be over my people Israel." This is the first explicit statement by the LORD that Jerusalem was chosen as the place his temple was to be built. They are still Israelites, not Jews.
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I decided to take a little break from the blood and gore of the Bible, so Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights, before going to bed, I switched to reading about the blood and gore of The Encircling Sea, the second in Goldsworthy's Vindolanda series.
Many of the characters are the same, with the centurion Flavius Ferox again as the main character. The story deals with the interactions of the Romans with Hibernians as well as the constant troubles made by the various Scots tribes.
The main plot revolves around a mysterious group of murderous black warriors who come out of the night to rape, kill and pillage and then disappear with plunder and slaves. They are particularly vicious in the way they treat everyone. Many locals believe they are not human thus even more fear spreads across the area.
Ferox finally figures out what is happening and he, as well as some surprising partners, pursue these phantoms to unknown places.
Like its predecessor, I can recommend "The Encircling Sea." It is an easy read with a good and logical story. Very entertaining.
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Brad Nelson
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Post by Brad Nelson on Aug 17, 2024 19:11:35 GMT -8
Sounds like a plan. Let me know how that book goes. Right now I'm reading An Old Betrayal. Yes, I broke down and bought the only book in the Charles Lenox detective series that I couldn't get free at the library. So far, so good.
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Post by kungfuzu on Aug 18, 2024 19:15:59 GMT -8
It is in 1 Kings that one begins to see the origins of the Jews, separate from the Israelites.
Solomon follows his father David as King of Israel, but for all his wisdom, he turns out to be a complete libertine and fails to follow the LORD's rules. He takes wives from all over and allows each to worship their own gods in Israel. As would be expected, this irritates the LORD and he tells Solomon that his house will lose the kingship of Israel, but will be left to rule one other tribe. The other ten, specifically called Israel, will be ruled by others. Out of consideration for David, the LORD will wait until Solomon's death to implement this punishment.
From that time onward, various kings rule Israel, each of whom is worse than the other. They cast golden idols, sacrificed to and generally followed various gods and forgot the LORD. The worst would appear to be Ahab, the husband of Jezebel, who worshiped Baal.
Things were only slightly better under the kings of Judah and Benjamin.
This is the time of the prophet Elijah, who consistently delivered God's messages and warnings to both kingdoms All I can say is that the rulers of these kingdoms were none too bright and were constantly getting into trouble with the LORD. Nevertheless, it would seem the LORD favored the people of the Kingdom of Judah because of his love for David and the fact that they were somewhat more obedient than those of Israel.
It was king Omri of Israel who "bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver, and built a city on it which he named Samaria after Shemer the owner of the hill." 1 Kings 17:24 Such are the antecedents of the age old hatred between the Jews and Samaritans.
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Post by Brad Nelson on Aug 19, 2024 7:05:21 GMT -8
Every generation has a Liz Cheney.  I didn't know that. It would appear that God had/has a difficult time getting the message and the messenger to harmonize. Still true today, for sure, among Christians as well. Funny that he had a special place for David. David was quite a sinner himself. And it's an interesting reversal because Christians, from my experience, consider sexual sins as far more serious than sins of violence. That is, Christians will generally allow their children to play, for instance, quite violent video games. But one look at a naked titty gives them conniptions fits. That's a generalization. But it usually holds true from what I've seen. |
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Post by kungfuzu on Aug 19, 2024 13:42:15 GMT -8
I also found God's soft spot for David curious. That said, David is constantly praised by God and held up to later kings as an example. In one such episode, God says (maybe through a prophet) that David followed all of God's laws and statutes and his only big mistake was with Bathsheba. While David had her husband basically bumped of, it was sex which was behind David's sins surrounding Bathsheba.
At a basic level I understand that. Sex is extremely powerful. Creating life is powerful. It is something which historically was not to be taken lightly. As Paul said, it would be better to remain celibate. I think this is not only because of the belief that one should learn to control one's desires, but also because by creating life, one is bringing an innocent into the world where he will suffer pain, which he otherwise wouldn't.
As per the biblical view, sexual sins basically occur outside marriage. The sin is not only one of sex, but one of misuse of another, even if both parties do not believe this to be the case.
As to the difference between sex and violence on TV or video games. I have to admit I do not play video games so can't comment from experience. As to TV/movies, I find it very uncomfortable to come across a sex scene in a movie or TV. Naked bodies are naked bodies and the sex act is something that clicks in the mind the way that violence in a movie doesn't. Sex scenes can look very realistic.
Violence on TV is different. I know someone is not actually being murdered. I have no experience with murder so seeing a "murder" on TV does not effect me to the degree that seeing sex on TV does. Most people don't have the urge to kill someone, but virtually everyone past puberty has the urge for sex. This is very powerful. Interestingly, this urge often leads to violence. Sex, greed and revenge. The fundamental roots of violence.
I find the insanity which has arisen in the West, particularly transgenderism, is more threatening to humanity than the murder rate. Yes people are badly effected by murder, but organized society's basic function is to give its citizens a modicum of security. Thus institutions are set up for the protection of citizens and punishment of criminals. How to protect society from mass insanity involving sex?
Not all killers are insane. All transgenders are and a society cannot allow such insanity to spread.
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Post by Brad Nelson on Aug 20, 2024 15:09:58 GMT -8
I take your point about all people being subject to sexual desire and not necessarily (in a serious way) to violence or murder.
But rather than hair-splitting about this, I think the question to ask is: What comes next after transgender? And you know there will be something, some new "right" that is trumpeted as so vital, the past transgressions against some alleged victim group so atrocious, that we will be asked to reorganize society (yet again) to accommodate.
I hate to even think about what that might be, even if for fun, even if only in jest. You almost hate to give these Vandals any ideas.
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Post by kungfuzu on Aug 21, 2024 19:03:50 GMT -8
Things continue to go from bad to worse, in both the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and Southern Kingdom (Judah), but they go more rapidly, and further, in the Northern Kingdom. Finally, in the reign of Hoshea, the LORD had enough and the Assyrian King Shalmaneser: "overran the whole country and , reaching Samaria, besieged it for three years. In the ninth year of Hoshea he captured Samaria and deported its people to Assyria, and settled them in Halah and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the towns of Media.2 Kings 17:5-6Just to be clear, a few verses down it is written why this happened.
"Forsaking every commandment of the LORD their God, they made themselves images, two calves of cast metal, and also a sacred pole. They prostrated themselves to all the host of heaven and worshipped Baal: they made their sons and daughters pass through the fire. They practiced augury and divination; they sold themselves to do what was wrong in the eyes of the LORD and so provoked his anger.
Thus it was that the LORD was incensed against Israel and banished them from his presence; only the tribe of Judah was left. 2 Kings 17: 16-18Then the King of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim, and settled them in the towns of Samaria in place of the Israelites.
2 Kings 17: 24Thus were the Israelites driven from Israel and foreigners were sent in their place to populate the Northern Kingdom. Only the Southern King, Judah, was left.
Still no mention of Jews.
Note that Baal requires the sacrifice of children by fire, so he is likely the god we call Moloch. I suspect the sacred pole is something like a May Pole, but have not looked into it, so this is only a guess. |
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Post by Brad Nelson on Aug 21, 2024 19:19:17 GMT -8
So they were basically Democrat voters. It's sobering to suppose that these are not just stories. What kind of plague will the kooks and weirdos bring down on us? What will God's vengeance be?
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Post by kungfuzu on Aug 22, 2024 11:08:30 GMT -8
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Post by kungfuzu on Aug 22, 2024 13:16:05 GMT -8
With the northern tribes swept out of the land, the spotlight turned on to Judah. As expected, the Southern Kingdom continued on its downward path and finally reached an all-time low with King Manasseh.
"...Manasseh led them astray into wickedness far worse than that of the nations which the LORD had exterminated in favour of the Israelites."
The LORD spoke through his servants the prophets: Because King Manasseh of Judah has done these abominable things, outdoing the Amorites before him in wickedness, and because he has led Judah into sin with his idols, this is the word of the LORD the God of Israel: I am about to bring such disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that it will ring in the ears of all who hear it. I shall use against Jerusalem the measuring line used against Samaria and the plummet used against the house of Ahab. I shall wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a plate and turns it upside down. I shall cast off what is left of my people, my own possession, and hand them over to their enemies,. They will be plundered, a prey to all their enemies, for they have done what is wrong in my eyes and have provoked my anger from the day their forefathers left Egypt up to the present day.
2 Kings 21: 9-15
The next King of Judah was Josiah, who followed the LORD. Yet the LORD was still furious with Judah and during the next reign, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon attacked Judah. In the end, Nebuchadnezzar killed the sons of King Zedekiah and blinded the King. The Chaldeans razed the walls of Jerusalem.
Nebuchadnezzar "..took into exile the people of Jerusalem, the officers and all the fighting men, ten thousand in number, together with all the craftsmen and smiths; only the poorest class of the people was left. He deported Jehoiachin to Babylon; he also took into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon the king's mother and his wives, his eunuchs, and the foremost men of the land. He took also all the people of substance, seven thousand in number, and a thousand craftsmen and smiths, all of them able-bodied men and skilled armourers."
2 Kings 24: 14-16.
Thus ended the Kingdom of Judah. The diaspora of the Israelites was well under way.
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Post by Brad Nelson on Aug 22, 2024 18:38:05 GMT -8
Pretty much.
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Post by kungfuzu on Aug 22, 2024 19:11:39 GMT -8
I would characterize Chronicles as a rehash of much that went before. The writer paid particular attention to genealogies, the reading of which becomes very tiresome. At least it was for me.
One interesting snippet which seemed out of place to me, at least as far as chronology would go, can be found in chapter 9 verses 1-3
All Israel were registered and recorded in the book of the kings of Israel; but Judah for their sins were carried away to exile in Babylon. The first to occupy their ancestral land in their towns were lay Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servitors. Jerusalem was occupied partly by Judahites, partly by Benjamites, and partly by men of Ephraim and Manasseh.
I saw no other verses around this to clarify the meaning of these lines. I find them somewhat confusing as Israel i.e. the Northern Kingdom was run out of its land long before the Southern Kingdom, i.e. Judah was exiled to Babylon, yet there is no mention of this here. And after chapter nine, the story in chapter ten reverts back to the time of King Saul and David. Perhaps the beginning of chapter nine deals with the slow return to Jerusalem because the Benjamites, whose genealogy was detailed in chapter eight, were some of the first to return.
To my mind, the most important part of Chronicles to my mind is:
In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, the LORD, to fulfil his word spoken through Jeremiah, inspired the king to issue throughout his kingdom the following proclamation, which he also in in writing:
The decree of King Cyrus of Persia: The LORD the God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he himself has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem in Judah. Whoever among you belongs to his people may the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up.
2 Chronicles 36: 22-23
Thus ends Chronicles.
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Post by kungfuzu on Aug 22, 2024 19:36:38 GMT -8
Following Chronicles is the book of Ezra. It opens with the following:
In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia the LORD, to fulfil his word spoken through Jeremiah, inspired the king to issue throughout his kingdom the following proclamation, which he also put in writing.
The decree of King Cyrus of Persia. The LORD the God of the heavens has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he himself has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem in Judah. Whoever among you belongs to his people, may his God be with him; and let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah, and build the house of the LORD the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem.
Ezra 1:1-3
I hate to repeat myself, but the Bible can be quite repetitive. But the next verse is very important, in my view.
Let every Jew left among us, wherever he is settled throughout the country, be helped by his neighbors with silver and gold, goods and livestock, in addition to the voluntary offerings for the house of God in Jerusalem.
Ezra 1:4
I originally thought that this was the first time the word Jew was used in the Bible, but I double checked and see that it was used earlier in 2 Kings 25: 25
But in the seventh month Ishmael son of Nethaniah, son of Elishama, who was a member of the royal house, came with ten men and assassinated Gedaliah and the Jews and Chaldeans who were with him and Mizpah.
I am no closer to understanding why the word Jew has not been used before this time and why it is used all of a sudden without any indication why.
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Post by Brad Nelson on Aug 23, 2024 7:05:44 GMT -8
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Post by kungfuzu on Aug 27, 2024 20:31:25 GMT -8
I have continued reading and have finished Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, part of the Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and The Song of Songs (also known as the Song of Solomon.) I will comment later on each, except Job, which I have already commented on earlier in the string. Proverbs is the epitome of what I call "The Wisdom of the Ages." There is a huge amount of good advice spread throughout its 31 chapters. Here are just a few of such gems. Do not pick a quarrel with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm. Do not emulate a violent person or choose to follow his example.
Proverbs 3:30-31Guard you heart more than anything you treasure, for it is the source of all life. Keep you mouth from crooked speech and banish deceitful talk from your lipsProverbs 4:23-24Go to the ant, you sluggard, observe her ways and gain wisdom. She has no prince, no governor or ruler; but in summer she gathers in her store of food and lays in her supplies at harvest. How long, you sluggard, will you be abed? When will you rouse yourself from sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands in rest-and poverty will come on you like a footpad.
Proverbs 6:6-11 This and other verses are obviously the source of Franklin's "Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise." Do not reprove the insolent person or he will hate you; reprove a wise one, and he will be your friend.
Proverbs 9: 8Hate is always picking a quarrel, but love overlooks every offense.
Proverbs 10:12The possessor of understanding has wisdom on his lips; a rod is in store for the back of the fool.
Proverbs 10:13When there is too much talk, offense is never far away; the prudent hold their tongues.
Proverbs 10:19 I need to remember this.
When pride comes in, in comes contempt, but wisdom goes hind in hand with modesty.
Proverbs 11: 2A fool betrays his annoyance at once; a clever person who is slighted conceals his feelings.
Proverbs 12:16 Sounds like it was written by an East Asian. A simpleton believes every word he hears; a clever person watches ech step. One who is wise is cautious and avoids trouble, but one who is stupid is reckless and falls headlong. Impatience runs into folley; advancement comes by careful thought.
Proverbs 14: 15-17A mild answer turns away anger, but a sharp word makes tempers rise.
Proverbs 15: 1 I always heard this as "A soft answer turns away wrath." Pride goes before disaster, and arrogance before a fall.
Proverbs 16:18
A friend shows his friendship at all times, and a brother is born to share troubles.
Proverbs 17:17Even a fool, if he keeps his mouth shut, will seem wise; if he holds his tongue, he will seem intelligent.
Proverbs 17:28A good beating purges the mind of evil, and blows chasten the inmost being.
Proverbs 20:30 Sounds like my saying that one has to beat civilization into a child. So does: Do not withhold discipline from a boy; take the stick to him, and save him from death.
Proverbs 23:13 A constant dripping on a rainy day--that is what a woman's nagging is like. As well try to control the wind as to control her! As well try to pick up oil in one's fingers!
Proverbs 27:15-16It is clear that the wisdom of Proverbs has been passed down for over two-and-half millennia and has had a major effect on our civilization. Apart from the religious admonitions, I would require every high school student study the book for the excellent advice it gives regarding many of life's situations. |
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Post by Brad Nelson on Aug 28, 2024 6:50:23 GMT -8
I suppose that's the basis of the fable, The Ant and the Grasshopper.
Many people could use at least a little caning.
They guy who wrote that was definitely married.
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Post by Brad Nelson on Sept 6, 2024 8:11:55 GMT -8
I'm listening to a little Mantovani right now. In particular, his "Exodus and Other Great Themes" album
This is one from my childhood. In fact, I'm playing the very record my parents had in the 60's. Wiki notes:
Every time I play this album I can hear some of the words in my head. But this track on Mantovani's album is just an instrumental. Where could I have ever heard the lyrics and remembers them, if only vaguely?
Pat Boone's name comes up in regards to the song. But his rendition rings absolutely no bells, but it seems likely this is what I heard at least once way back when. But here are the lyrics. They are a refutation of the genocidal "from the river to the sea" which I just read that the fucktard, Zuckerberg, declares is not genocidal.
We'll leave it to another day in terms of who the Jews displaced and if this was a good thing or a bad thing. But here are those lyrics:
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