Friday, May 29, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
The story of Jacob and Isaac
If you've read Genesis 25-36, here's your chance to comment on it. Many questions came to my mind as I read it, and here's some of them. Curious as to your thoughts.
First and probably foremost, what is the deal with the constant polygamy, adultery, and general lewdness of these Bible characters? We see more women sleeping with their fathers or brother in laws than I care to count. Wives suggest that their husbands should sleep with the slave girl. Women pose as prostitutes to seduce their father in law, and men fear they will be butchered if their favorite wife is attractive. I especially liked the part where Rachel lets Leah sleep with Jacob that night in exchange for some mandrakes. Strange stuff, huh?
When I read all this, I have to constantly keep in mind that this is a really old text, giving us a view of an ancient world very, very different from ours. In that world, everything rose and fell on the birth of children. A woman with no children was considered cursed by the gods, the scum of the earth. And if you had children but no sons, as a woman you couldn't work to provide for yourself, so you would literally starve to death. In that case, you'd have desperate women sleeping with their father in law, their brother, anyone to provide children for them. When we keep this in mind, I think many of these details make a bit more sense.
Maybe even more importantly, what about the part where Jacob wrestles with God? Why does God physically wrestle with him? Why must He leave before the sun comes up? Why will he not tell Jacob his name? What's the significance of Jacob walking with a limp from then on? I'm throwing that out to you to get your thoughts- I don't know if I have an answer.
First and probably foremost, what is the deal with the constant polygamy, adultery, and general lewdness of these Bible characters? We see more women sleeping with their fathers or brother in laws than I care to count. Wives suggest that their husbands should sleep with the slave girl. Women pose as prostitutes to seduce their father in law, and men fear they will be butchered if their favorite wife is attractive. I especially liked the part where Rachel lets Leah sleep with Jacob that night in exchange for some mandrakes. Strange stuff, huh?
When I read all this, I have to constantly keep in mind that this is a really old text, giving us a view of an ancient world very, very different from ours. In that world, everything rose and fell on the birth of children. A woman with no children was considered cursed by the gods, the scum of the earth. And if you had children but no sons, as a woman you couldn't work to provide for yourself, so you would literally starve to death. In that case, you'd have desperate women sleeping with their father in law, their brother, anyone to provide children for them. When we keep this in mind, I think many of these details make a bit more sense.
Maybe even more importantly, what about the part where Jacob wrestles with God? Why does God physically wrestle with him? Why must He leave before the sun comes up? Why will he not tell Jacob his name? What's the significance of Jacob walking with a limp from then on? I'm throwing that out to you to get your thoughts- I don't know if I have an answer.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Food for Sat 5/9
Hi Everyone~
I was thinking of ordering Chinese for Saturday, and we can all chip in? Sound good?
I was thinking of ordering Chinese for Saturday, and we can all chip in? Sound good?
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