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As testified to by a recent thread on its kick-ass nature, I've started re-reading the OT.
I had previously created a thread similar to this, but I can't be arsed to look it up, and it's too old to be relevant anyway, so I'm creating a new one.
This is simply meant to discuss interesting passages from the OT as I come across them.
Till now, I've read till the story of David, 2 Samuel.
A general note about context: throughout my childhood, I had been taught by my teachers that that all the world's religious texts are all love and devotion and piety and faith. Judging them intolerably boring, therefore, I never read them. Now that I'm reading stuff with an open mind, however, I realise that they're not the insipid trash which I was told they were, they're actually interesting. So I approach them with eyes which are probably fresher than those of most here.
Also, the OT kicks ass. Hard.
Note: I'm using the NIV.
One thing I didn't understand when I read this part:
Link
What did that whore Israel do that provoked YHWH this time around? Normally, it's her cavorting with other gods, or not following the commandments of her LORD, or something. But here, there seems to be zilch context for YHWH's anger. Seemed totally random to me. Nothing in the preceding passage suggested any deviation or anything of the sort.
In fact, the last four passages were, in order:
1) Wars against the Philistines (YHWH generally heartily approves when Israek kicks Philistine ass. They seem to be put there generally for that purpose - to keep Israel's life interesting.)
2) David's Song of Praise (Unless David was a horrible singer, I fail to see the problem here)
3) The Last Words of David (they're pretty good)
4) David's Mighty Men (nothing here either to suggest anything which may piss off YHWH).
Any insights?
I had previously created a thread similar to this, but I can't be arsed to look it up, and it's too old to be relevant anyway, so I'm creating a new one.
This is simply meant to discuss interesting passages from the OT as I come across them.
Till now, I've read till the story of David, 2 Samuel.
A general note about context: throughout my childhood, I had been taught by my teachers that that all the world's religious texts are all love and devotion and piety and faith. Judging them intolerably boring, therefore, I never read them. Now that I'm reading stuff with an open mind, however, I realise that they're not the insipid trash which I was told they were, they're actually interesting. So I approach them with eyes which are probably fresher than those of most here.
Also, the OT kicks ass. Hard.
Note: I'm using the NIV.
One thing I didn't understand when I read this part:
Link
Originally posted by YHWH
David Counts the Fighting Men
1 Again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, "Go and take a census of Israel and Judah."
2 So the king said to Joab and the army commanders [a] with him, "Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and enroll the fighting men, so that I may know how many there are."
3 But Joab replied to the king, "May the LORD your God multiply the troops a hundred times over, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king want to do such a thing?"
David Counts the Fighting Men
1 Again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, "Go and take a census of Israel and Judah."
2 So the king said to Joab and the army commanders [a] with him, "Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and enroll the fighting men, so that I may know how many there are."
3 But Joab replied to the king, "May the LORD your God multiply the troops a hundred times over, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king want to do such a thing?"
In fact, the last four passages were, in order:
1) Wars against the Philistines (YHWH generally heartily approves when Israek kicks Philistine ass. They seem to be put there generally for that purpose - to keep Israel's life interesting.)
2) David's Song of Praise (Unless David was a horrible singer, I fail to see the problem here)
3) The Last Words of David (they're pretty good)
4) David's Mighty Men (nothing here either to suggest anything which may piss off YHWH).
Any insights?
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