Reading the Bible Through

Numbers 16 - 18   So the ground splits open and swallows the rebellious Korah and his follows. The rest of the Israelites are afraid they will be swallowed up as well. Then, the next day, it says, the Israelites grumble that Moses and Aaron killed the Lord's people. What gives? What didn't the Israelites understand from the group swallowing up Korah and his followers?  Then the  Lord uses Aaron's staff to designate the Levites which convinces the Israelites seeming. Why this and not the ground swallowing people up? I wonder, what is the significance of "covenant of salt?"

Leviticus 20 - 22   I was wondering if there was any current religion of Molech. A quick google search reports debate about if Molech was a god or a specific form of sacrifice. I guess the answer to my question is no.  If a man marries his brother's wife, he has dishonored his brother. But in the time of Jacob, we read that his grandson's died because they did not fulfill the duty of to the brother-in-law to their brother's widow and produce children for him. I wonder if this practice was called something different than marriage? Still, in looking at that passage, a man couldn't marry a living brother's wife because then she would have 2 husbands. This culture had multiple wives, but not multiple husbands.  Sacrifices of the food of God. I find this an interesting idea. It had not crossed my mind.  No man, of Aaron's descendants, with a "defect" may present food offerings to the Lord. Definitely, different from today's stress on inclusion. Why coul...

Leviticus 8 - 10   Earlier today, I spoke with some friends about just how gross these passages are. Killing animals in very specified ways and then doing this and that with the blood. Eventually, the glory of Lord appears to all the people who shouted for joy and fell facedown.  I've always felt a bit sorry for  Nadab and Abihu. It has seemed to me that they were caught up in an exciting moment. However, when I reflect, the Israelites had just completed all these offerings/rituals in order to have the ordination, but 2 of the people being ordained were letting themselves get carried away and not doing as the Lord had instructed.  I don't understand what Moses and Aaron are discussing at the end of this passage. I do see that Aaron won the argument which seems a bit unusual. 

Leviticus 3 - 7   What are all these offerings? I guess I need to learn what they mean and/or symbolize. As I am listening to these chapters, I notice that one place says the person "must confess." It reminds me that confession can feel so shameful, but can be so empowering. I am reminded of the work of Brene Brown on shame. She reports that shame grows with secrecy, silence and judgement, but is mitigated with empathy.  I have been told that we, as Christians, no longer need to make animal sacrifices because Jesus fulfilled that requirement by dying on the cross for us. I do believe that, but still I don't understand the meanings and symbolisms behind all of these different kinds of offerings. Also, we may still give offerings and/or tithes of our money. Wasn't their animals entwined with money/financial status in the days this was written?