Reading the Bible Through

Deuteronomy 23 - 25   Why was all this emasculation going on? So weird from today's cultural world.  23:7 says not to despise an Egyptian because the Israelites had resided as foreigners in Egypt. Yet, the Egyptians had made them slaves and order their sons be killed. To my human way of thinking, despising the Egyptians would be a given.  Here we see the protection of an slave seeking refuge from their master.  I love the leaving of various foods for the fatherless, the foreigner and the widow. Sounds like a social program with responsibilities The duty of the brother-in-law. Yuck! in my opinion. Very different culturally.  If somebody was attacking my man, I might think it worth it to have my hand cut off in order to stop the fight. Probably my modern day cultural thinking. 

Deuteronomy 20 - 22   Now as we talk about going to war, here it says to make an offer of peace to the cities that are at some distance not those in Canaan who must be destroyed. I was confused about that. I also notice here that if someone is executed, the body must not be left on the pole overnight. It must be buried. This was carried out when Jesus was crucified.  Having to prove virginity really bothers me. As I understand it, this depended on blood on the marital bedding. How did the parents get this if the man declared his wife to not be a virgin. Also, the hymen can tear for so many other reasons prior to intercourse. 

Leviticus 17 - 19   Here it says not to have sexual relations with your sister, either your mother's daughter or your father's daughter. Yet, Abraham married Sarah who was his half sister. What changed?  "Do not take your wife’s sister  as a rival wife and have sexual relations" Yet, Jacob married both Leah and Rachel, 2 sisters within weeks of each other. Also, here we have the word "rival." I have heard them called "sister wives." Is there a difference? 

Exodus 20 - 24   I'm getting a late start today. I usually try to stay a day ahead in the blog of reading the Bible through. However, that's not what happened today. Still, better late than never. Or maybe right on time on the correct day. This does tell me that I would benefit from being more than 1 day ahead for those times when life happens. As I sit typing this, it also underscores for me that reading the Bible through in 1 year is not an easy task! Ah, the 10 commandments! Good rules to live by. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord. I was taught that this was saying "Oh, god" or such in a casual way. Today, I find myself thinking that it more likely refers the unspellable, unpronounceable NAME of God.  The Sabbath. Why, oh why, do we constantly think we need to be doing something? Even God rested.  You shall not covet. As far as I can tell, the basis of American culture is based on coveting. Keeping up with the Joneses. Advertisements tell us that we've ...