Reading the Old Testament

[herushura]

The Egyptians did not worship animals or statues, nor think their gods were animals. The animals represented characteristics associated with the god.

[Harmonious]

Originally Posted by Jeremiah

I was reading the Old Testament and I had a few questions.

Is it all right to just skim through the begats and the pages on pages about the tabernacle? I mean I am not going to miss anything important am I?

It depends on your purpose for reading it.

There are people who would say that every line is very important. (I would be one of those.) But if you are just looking for the fun stories, I don't know that lots of the lists are that exciting.

The building of the Tabernacle can be used to see how much people were willing to give for the purpose, and to see the skill that went into the making of everything.

Also, learning about it can show you the importance of the placement of the items in Jewish tradition, and it can be helpful to know that certain things were miracles per force. For example, based on how the Ark of the Covenant was constructed, and the pure poundage of gold, carrying it by the poles through the rings at the angle it was built would be a physical impossibility. So, any time God told the Jews to carry it, God performed a miracle with their carrying of it.

If this type of thing doesn't do it for you... what can I tell you?

Learning it has merit. Whether you choose to learn it is up to you.

Was the golden calf of a known religion?

I'm defer to people who know more about idol worship than I do to know about how that worked.

Is the Torah and the Old Testament the same book?

The Torah usually refers to the Five Books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. And these books are indeed in the Old Testament.

However, the what people call the Old Testament is all the scriptures that Jews find holy, with no regard at all for what people call the New Testament.

But without the definite article, Torah refers to all kinds of things, including the five books mentioned previously, the entire Old Testament, all of Jewish law, and all things involving Jewish philosophy. And this is not the entire list of what counts as Torah.

Why did god confound the language and scatter the people?

That is a good question. The best I can come up with is that people were unified in their disobedience and rebellion against God. And so God confounded the people with different languages.

That may not be a satisfactory answer, but because of the fact that people were willing to work together, they were merely scattered, not killed.

Was the family line of Abraham akin to nobility?

In a sense. Abraham made quite a name for himself. Over the course of his travels, he became fabulously wealthy. Many people treated him like a king, or a prince.

But his wealth isn't what makes people interested in him today. It is the promises that he made to God, and that God made to him.

The case can be made that people following the teachings of Abraham (and then Isaac, and then Jacob, but you didn't ask about them) comport themselves like nobility, if not royalty.

[herushura]

I have done a bit on Bulls in Egytpian Mythology, Accordinly Bulls were a Sacred Animal in Egypt associated with Osiris and Ptah

[Harmonious]

Originally Posted by herushura

I have done a bit on Bulls in Egytpian Mythology, Accordinly Bulls were a Sacred Animal in Egypt

Okay.

[Jeremiah]

Originally Posted by Harmonious

It depends on your purpose for reading it.

There are people who would say that every line is very important. (I would be one of those.) But if you are just looking for the fun stories, I don't know that lots of the lists are that exciting.

The building of the Tabernacle can be used to see how much people were willing to give for the purpose, and to see the skill that went into the making of everything.

Also, learning about it can show you the importance of the placement of the items in Jewish tradition, and it can be helpful to know that certain things were miracles per force. For example, based on how the Ark of the Covenant was constructed, and the pure poundage of gold, carrying it by the poles through the rings at the angle it was built would be a physical impossibility. So, any time God told the Jews to carry it, God performed a miracle with their carrying of it.

If this type of thing doesn't do it for you... what can I tell you?

Learning it has merit. Whether you choose to learn it is up to you.

I'm defer to people who know more about idol worship than I do to know about how that worked.

The Torah usually refers to the Five Books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. And these books are indeed in the Old Testament.

However, the what people call the Old Testament is all the scriptures that Jews find holy, with no regard at all for what people call the New Testament.

But without the definite article, Torah refers to all kinds of things, including the five books mentioned previously, the entire Old Testament, all of Jewish law, and all things involving Jewish philosophy. And this is not the entire list of what counts as Torah.

That is a good question. The best I can come up with is that people were unified in their disobedience and rebellion against God. And so God confounded the people with different languages.

That may not be a satisfactory answer, but because of the fact that people were willing to work together, they were merely scattered, not killed.

In a sense. Abraham made quite a name for himself. Over the course of his travels, he became fabulously wealthy. Many people treated him like a king, or a prince.

But his wealth isn't what makes people interested in him today. It is the promises that he made to God, and that God made to him.

The case can be made that people following the teachings of Abraham (and then Isaac, and then Jacob, but you didn't ask about them) comport themselves like nobility, if not royalty.

Thanks for answers. I did decide against skimming so that I don't over look something of importance.


"It depends on your purpose for reading it."

It was important to my father to learn about different religions; so it is also important to me.

[Harmonious]

Originally Posted by Jeremiah

Thanks for answers.

You're welcome.

I did decide against skimming so that I don't over look something of importance.

Good for you!

"It depends on your purpose for reading it

."

It was important to my father to learn about different religions; so it is also important to me.

It sounds like a worthy reason. I'm glad to learn of it.