27 May 05
Originally posted by kirksey957Kirk: "What about that passage did you want to debate in a serious way? "
What about that passage did you want to debate in a serious way?
What I said may seem callous to you , but I can assure you that God's wolfpack tendencies are nothing to be cavelier about. I simply said that perhaps God has some wolfpack tendencies. Why are you focusing on me instead of #1 who has clearly articulated this more vehemently than me?
-Do you have any serious ideas about how to interprete the "Elisha and the Bears" story ?
-How do you interprete the fact that the story tells us about she-bears and not just about bears ?
27 May 05
Originally posted by ivanhoeWhy 42 children, dammit! There has to be a reason!
Kirk: "What about that passage did you want to debate in a serious way? "
-Do you have any serious ideas about how to interprete the "Elisha and the Bears" story ?
-How do you interprete the fact that the story tells us about she-bears and not just about bears ?
27 May 05
Originally posted by bbarrLook, Mista Logic, there ain't a reason fo a lotta stuff goin down in the name of God. Ax Mr. Job.
Why 42 children, dammit! There has to be a reason!
OK, you want an answer. Tha numba 7 is the biblical numba fo perfection. Take the numba 42 and add yo integers (4+2) and I do believe that that would equal 6, one short of perfection. So maybe the Almighty is sayin "OK< I'm givin you all fundamentalists out there a hidden sign that I am a litta less than perfect. Have a nice day."
How will that do fo ya?
27 May 05
Originally posted by ivanhoeI do not know the answer, however there is an interesting book out there by Jonathon Kirsch ( a Jewsih author) who has written a book enittled The Harlot by the Sid eof the Road" and he takes on very difficult passages from a scholarly and historic basis. I have only read parts of it, but I have participated in an x-rated bible study at a near by Episcopal church and this book was used.
Kirk: "What about that passage did you want to debate in a serious way? "
-Do you have any serious ideas about how to interprete the "Elisha and the Bears" story ?
-How do you interprete the fact that the story tells us about she-bears and not just about bears ?
27 May 05
Originally posted by bbarr
Why 42 children rather than some other number? Normally the numbers used in the OT have metaphorical significance.
(Exo 26:2 HCSB)
The length of each curtain should be 42 feet, and the width of each curtain six feet; all the curtains are to have the same measurements.
(Exo 36:9 HCSB)
The length of each curtain was 42 feet, and the width of each curtain six feet; all the curtains had the same measurements.
(Num 35:6 HCSB)
"The cities you give the Levites will include six cities of refuge, which you must provide so that the one who kills someone may flee there; in addition to these, give 42 other cities.
(Jdg 12:6 HCSB)
they told him, "Please say Shibboleth." If he said, "Sibboleth," because he could not pronounce it correctly, they seized him and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. At that time, 42,000 from Ephraim died.
(1Sa 13:1 HCSB)
Saul was 30 years old when he became king, and he reigned 42 years over Israel.
(2Ki 2:24 HCSB)
He turned around, looked at them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. Then two female bears came out of the woods and mauled 42 of the youths.
(2Ki 10:14 HCSB)
Then Jehu ordered, "Take them alive." So they took them alive and then slaughtered them at the pit of Beth-eked--42 men. He didn't spare any of them.
(Ezr 2:24 HCSB)
Azmaveth's people 42
(Neh 7:28 HCSB)
Beth-azmaveth's men 42
(Rev 11:2 HCSB)
But exclude the courtyard outside the sanctuary. Don't measure it, because it is given to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for 42 months.
(Rev 13:5 HCSB)
A mouth was given to him to speak boasts and blasphemies. He was also given authority to act for 42 months.
27 May 05
Originally posted by ColettiI like my answer better. 🙂(Exo 26:2 HCSB)
The length of each curtain should be 42 feet, and the width of each curtain six feet; all the curtains are to have the same measurements.
(Exo 36:9 HCSB)
The length of each curtain was 42 feet, and the width of each curtain six feet; all the curtains had the same measurements.
(Num 35:6 HCSB)
"The cities you give the Levites ...[text shortened]... o him to speak boasts and blasphemies. He was also given authority to act for 42 months.
27 May 05
Originally posted by ivanhoeI did find other references to bears - in particular - a female bears robbed of her cubs is used to describe fury.
-Why she-bears and not just bears ?
Maybe this aspect points us in the direction of a correct interpretation.
(Hos 13:8 ESV)
I will fall upon them like a bear robbed of her cubs; I will tear open their breast, and there I will devour them like a lion, as a wild beast would rip them open.
and another very interesting verse:
(Pro 17:12 ESV)
Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly.
27 May 05
Originally posted by ivanhoeWouldn't any rational explaination about mother bears being far more likely to attack people if their cubs were around than male bears would, lead to a possible conclusion that , if indeed the event happened, Elisha misread the bears "intent" and attributed if to God's intervening on his behalf. Doesn't help the "inerrancy of the bible" or the "revealed word" point of views.
-Why she-bears and not just bears ?
Maybe this aspect points us in the direction of a correct interpretation.
It's not no1 or me that says God had bears or Joshua army kill children, it's the bible that says that, all we are doing is pointing out how ungodly the bible shows the god of the isrealites is.
If how the bible portrays god conflicts with your concept of God, well , welcome to the club.