Good and Bad

Most Bible readers understand that ‘good and evil’ as opposites, but the Hebrew rarely uses evil when using good. Evil is moral or ethical perversity. Bad (in the Bible) is neither moral nor immoral, ethical nor unethical. When translations have good and evil, the Hebrew reads good and bad. A child would understand this.

Good in the Bible shows something beneficial. It can refer to appearance, utility, working or behaving right, tasting good, being on the side of the good guys and Yehovah, or justice. Bad shows something harmful, destructive, disgusting, poisonous, being on the side of violent folks and against Yehovah, or injustice.

Yehovah early introduced a tree:

Genesis 2:9 And Yehovah Elohim made spring up from the soil every tree pleasant to appearance and good for food, and a tree of the lives in the midst of the garden, and a tree of the knowledge of good and bad.

Genesis 2:17 “And from the tree of the knowledge of good and bad—thou shalt not eat from him, because in the day of thine eating from him, death—thou shalt die!”

Readers thinking that bad means evil misunderstand the following text:

Isaiah 45:7, King James Version: “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.”

The literal text (starting with the last part of verse 6) states, “I am Yehovah, and there isn’t more, Former of light and Creator of darkness, Maker of peace and Creator of bad—I am Yehovah Doer of all these.”

Consider the following literally translated text to understand “Creator of bad”:

Amos 3:6 If he will blast a shofar [ram’s horn] in a city, and a people will not be terrified? If bad will be in a city, and Yehovah did not do?

Bad refers to the city’s capture or destruction. Yehovah takes responsibility if an entire city is snared and destroyed.

Children naturally understand good and bad in the same way the Biblical uses them. So must every fearer of God.

Look at the following texts with bad placed where it should be:

Genesis 13:13 But the men of Sodom were bad and sinners before Yehovah exceedingly.

Genesis 19:19 Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast showed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some bad take me, and I die.

Genesis 26:29 That thou wilt do us no bad, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace: thou art now the blessed of Yehovah.

Genesis 31:29 “It is in the power of my hand to do you bad, but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, ‘Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad!’”

Genesis 39:9 “There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this big bad, and sin against God?”

Genesis 48:16 “The Angel Who redeemed me from all bad bless the lads.”

Children see experiences in life as good or bad, the same way the Bible is written. Bad is used more than 623 times in the ‘Old Testament’ alone.

Jeremiah 2:3 “Israel is holiness to Yehovah, and the firstfruits of His increase. All who devour him shall offend. Bad shall come upon them,” saith Yehovah.

If Hebrew seems almost childish when rendered literally, your observation matches mine. Yehovah designed Hebrew for children.

The Bible uses ‘good’ and ‘bad’ to describe folks.

Psalms 10:15 Break thou the arm of the wicked and the bad man. Seek out his wickedness till Thou find none!

This text shows that a wicked (culpable) person is also a bad person (though bad and wicked are not the same).

Proverbs 2:20 …that thou mayest walk in the way of good ones and keep the paths of the righteous.

Way is singular, referring to good ones. Paths is plural, referring to the righteous. Good and righteous are not the same. Do good! Do righteousness! Be listed among the good. Be a true friend to the Good Shepherd and to His People, Israel.

Do not do bad to Israel by ignoring the spiritually lost state of the Jews. Prepare to constructively and wisely give the Truth to them, should Yehovah supply opportunity! If you are given opportunity to physically help Jews during a time of their persecution, will you protect yourself and your family by ignoring this, or will you risk your own life and the lives of your family members to help?

February 9, 2009March 29, 2018

The Arm

While a child becomes familiar with an involved adult’s hand (for good or bad), the arm is also a vital part of that relationship.

Continue reading “The Arm”

February 9, 2009October 7, 2016

Genesis 22 – The Test QA Supplied

Genesis 22: The Test

Questions and Proposed Answers Supplied

Background and Text: Genesis 22:1-19

Genesis 22:1 And he was after these things. And the Elohim (the Gods) tested [singular] Father-Of-A-Crowd (Avraham). And He said unto him, “Avraham!” And he said, “Behold, I am!” ²And He said, “Take, na, thy son, thine only that thou loved, He-Will-Laugh (Isaac). And walk. Walk unto Land of the Bitterness-of-Yehovah (Moriah). And ascend him there for an ascension upon one of the mountains that I will say unto thee.”

³And Avraham early-rose in the morning. And he bound his ass. And he took two of his youths with him, and Isaac his son. And he cleaved trees of ascension. And he stood. And he walked unto the place that the Gods said [singular] to him.

⁴In the third day, and Avraham lifted his eyes. And he saw the place from a distance. ⁵And Avraham said unto his youths, “Sit to you here with the ass. And the youth and I will walk unto so. And we have worshipped. And we have returned unto you.” ⁶And Avraham took trees of the ascension. And he put upon Isaac his son. And he took the fire and the meat-cleaver in his hand. And both of them walked together.

⁷And Isaac said unto Avraham his papa, and he said, “My Papa!” And he said, “Behold, I am, my son.” And he said, “Behold the fire and the trees! And where is the lamb for ascension?” ⁸And Avraham said, “Elohim will see to Himself the lamb for ascension, my son.” And both of them walked together.

⁹And they came unto the place that the Gods said to him. And Avraham built the altar there. And he ordered the trees. And he bound Isaac his son. And he put him upon the altar from above to the trees. ¹⁰And Avraham sent his hand. And he took the meat-cleaver to slaughter his son.

¹¹And Messenger Yehovah called unto him from the heavens. And He said, “Avraham! Avraham!” And he said, “Behold, I am.” ¹²And He said, “Do not send thy hand unto the youth! And do not do to him a blemish! For now I knew that thou art a fearer of Elohim! And thou did not spare thy son thine only from me.”

¹³And Avraham lifted his eyes. And he saw. And behold, another ram is caught in a thicket via his horns. And Avraham walked. And he took the ram. And he ascended him for an ascension under his son.

¹⁴And Avraham called the name of that place ‘Yehovah-Will-See,’ which he will say today, “Yehovah will see in the mountain!”

¹⁵And Messenger Yehovah called unto Avraham a second-time from the heavens. ¹⁶And He said, “Via me I swore,” Yehovah declared, “that because thou did this saying, and thou did not spare thy son thine only, ¹⁷that blessing I will bless thee and multiplying I will multiply thy seed as stars of the heavens and as sand that is upon the lip of the sea! And thy Seed will inherit the gate of His enemies! ¹⁸And all races of the land will bless-themselves via thy Seed [on the] heel-that thou hearkened into my voice!”

¹⁹And Avraham returned unto his youths. And they stood. And they walked together unto Well-Of-Oath. And Avraham dwelt in Well-Of-Oath.

²⁰And he was after these things. And He told to Avraham to say, “Behold, Queen childed—also he—sons to Snorer thy brother, ²¹Counsel his firstborn and Contempt his brother and They-Stood-A-Mighty-One the father of I-Will-Elevate ²²and As-Violence/Devil and His-Vision and Distinction-Of-Fertility and He-Will-Drip and They-Wasted-A-Mighty-One. ²³And They-Wasted-A-Mighty-One childed Multiplied-Decanting. Queen childed these eight to Snorer brother of Avraham, ²⁴and his concubine—and her name is They-Saw-What? And she childed—also he—He-Slaughtered and He-Burned and Thou-Wilt-Hush and Thy-Belly.

I. The Startling Command (verses 1-2)

The Bible declares that the Elohim (the Gods) tested Avraham. It does not give the purpose for the test in this section, but it does show that He does such things.

Avraham finally had a son of the promise. He loved his son, as Elohim attested (Elohim was a witness to this and said so). He now told him to take his son whom he loved, and go to the land of Moriah.

Elohim referred to Isaac as “thy son, thine only” as if Ishmael did not exist.

He told him to walk, then to ‘ascend’ his son for ascension in the same way that one would do an animal. Elohim would tell him upon which mountain to do this.

Questions

1. Does God test everyone? No, He doesn’t, and certainly not in this way! This was a special case.

2. Why did Elohim test him in this way? You must ask this question after you have read the entire section!

3. Why does the Hebrew Bible use Elohim (meaning Gods instead of God)? This constantly tells the reader that Elohim is all the Gods there are! He is the God of the land, God of the sea; He is the God of the heavens, God of creation; He is the God of requests, the God Who can do anything anywhere, as long as it isn’t against Who He is.

4. Why does the Hebrew Bible use ‘the Elohim’? That means the Gods, as if that is only His identity. Others may speak of their gods, but only this One can be called the Gods, and the speaker will be right.

5. What does the Hebrew word na mean (verse 2)?It is a word that indicates that the speaker isn’t angry or demanding, but is speaking in a soft manner.

6. Why does Elohim refer to Isaac as Avraham’s only son when Avraham also had Ishmael? He is the only son of the promise, the son through whom the races of the world will be blessed. Ishmael is the son of the slavewoman; Isaac is the son of Avraham and the son of the promise.

7. What does “thy son, thine only that thou loved” mean? It doesn’t mean that Avraham didn’t love Ishmael. It means that Isaac is Avraham’s son, his only son, and he loved that son.

8. Why is loved in the past tense? It is as if Elohim is in the future, and is looking back into the past at Avraham. Then He could say, “Avraham loved that son.”

This pictures what will happen with Yehovah (the Father) and Yeshua (the Son of Yehovah) in the future. Yehovah will take His Son, His Only whom He loved, and He will do this very thing.

9. Why must Avraham walk? Couldn’t he ride animals? Even if he did, the animals still walked. This was not something done at a run. It was a slow, deliberate action.

10. What was the name of the mountain where this event would take place? The Bible doesn’t say. It is in a range of mountains located in the Land of the Bitterness-of-Yehovah (Moriah).

Mountains in the Bible often indicate what we would call hills. They don’t have to be so tall, though some are very tall.

11. What does “ascend him there” mean? (This is Hebrew wording. You will not find this wording in English.) It means to slaughter, to then separate the pieces of the slaughtered animal, to arrange them on an altar under which a fire is lit, then to slow-cook the animal and its pieces while the fragrance and smoke ascends to the heavens. It pictures a person or a group that has been slaughtered, and who then ascend into the heavens. Folks did these ascension sacrifices before those who died ever went into the heavens! Until Yeshua’s death, Saints and non-saints went to Sheol (located in the core of earth).

12. Did Elohim command Avraham to kill his son? Yes, that is what the command means!

13. Did Elohim do right by commanding this? Everything that is right or wrong always goes back to a god or God (a false god or a real God). There cannot be right or wrong if there is no god/God. Without a god or God, there are only opinions, not right and wrong actions. The very words right and wrong used in this way assume a god or God!

Since Elohim is the Gods, if He says to do something, it is right. If He says to not do something, doing it would be wrong. He told Avraham to do this; it was right. Now, readers must think why it was right, since the Bible prohibits murder! (Intentionally killing a person without the person being guilty of a crime, or without it being an act of war or heroism, is murder.)

II. Avraham’s Quick Response (verse 3)

Avraham rose early in the morning. He loaded the ass with the saddle and with provisions. Two youths and Isaac accompanied him.

Avraham split the wood for the sacrifice. He then stood up and went with the three unto the place Elohim told him.

Questions

1. Why did Avraham rise early in the morning? It was as if Avraham desired to do this, or it was as if he desired to ‘get this over with.’ Another text will give us the information we need to figure this out:

Hebrews 11:17 By faith Avraham offered up Isaac when he was tested. And he who had received the promises (Avraham) offered up his only begotten son ¹⁸of whom it was said that, “thy seed shall be called in Isaac,” ¹⁹accounting that God was able to raise up even from the dead.

Therefore, Avraham knew that Elohim would keep His promises through Isaac, and this included Isaac being alive even if that included raising him from the dead!

2. Why didn’t Avraham ask another slave (perhaps a much younger man) to split the logs for him? This was a very personal ascension sacrifice. Avraham did not desire to include anyone else in this act, though he did take two youths to accompany Isaac and him.

3. Why did Avraham take the other two youths? See if you can figure this out as the event unfolds. (I will ask this again later.)

4. How did Avraham know the right place to go? Elohim gave him the directions: “He walked unto the place that the Elohim said to him.”

5. Did Isaac wonder where they were going, and why? If he did, he didn’t speak yet.

III. The Fire and the Meat Cleaver (verses 4-6)

The journey took several days. Avraham saw the destination on the third day, still a distance away.

He told the two youths to stay with the ass while Isaac and he would go the rest of the way.

Avraham gave the reason for the journey: Isaac and he were going to worship, and both would return to the youths.

He loaded the trees for the ascension upon Isaac. Avraham took burning wood to light the fire, and a meat cleaver. They both walked together.

Questions

1. Did Avraham lie when he said, “I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you”? No. He knew that Yehovah would have to raise Isaac from the dead in order to complete His promises through Isaac.

2. Could the youths see Avraham and Isaac while they finished their journey? Yes, they could. The area did not have many trees; one could see for quite a distance.

3. Why didn’t the youths ask him where he was going? The text doesn’t give the reason. The youths did what they were told.

4. What does so mean in “The youth and I will walk unto so”? It means there.

5. Why did Avraham say, “We have worshipped” rather than “We will worship”? In Hebrew, a future followed by a past tense verb shows cause and effect. In this case, the future verb is in the sentence: “And the youth and I will walk unto so.” The past tense verbs that follow are in these two statements: “And we have worshipped. And we have returned unto you.” Thus, Avraham is quite certain what will follow his walking with Isaac.

6. What does worship mean? It means to lie prostrate (flat, face down) before another.

7. What are trees of the ascension? They are pieces of firewood.

8. Why did Avraham place the wood on Isaac instead of carrying it himself? This is a type: a picture that is real in itself, and pictures something else that is real, and far more important. Isaac carried the trees; Yeshua will also carry the trees. (Those trees are not large, whole trees, but cut pieces of trees.)

9. In what form was the fire that Avraham took? I was probably in the form of embers, which would be a firebrand, rather than a fully flaming torch (which would burn too fast).

10. What was the purpose of the meat cleaver? It was to cut the sacrifice into pieces. The sacrifice, in this case, was Isaac!

11. Isn’t this a gruesome scene? Yes, it is! It is supposed to be!

IV. The Question (verses 7-8)

Isaac became curious at this point. Sacrifices require sacrificial animals. They had brought none with them. Isaac said, “My Papa!” Avraham replied, “Behold, I am, my son.” Isaac observed, “Behold the fire and the trees! And where is the lamb for ascension?” Avraham told him, “Elohim will see to Himself the lamb for ascension, my son.” That must have satisfied Isaac; they both walked onward together.

Questions

1. What did Avraham mean by the reply, “Elohim will see to Himself the lamb for ascension”? Avraham was a prophet. He was prophesying about what Yehovah and Yeshua would do in the far future. He spoke of a lamb. That is the Lamb of God.

2. Why didn’t Avraham tell Isaac what he was about to do to him? That would have been very frightening! It seems that Isaac suspected nothing. He fully trusted his papa.

3. Did Avraham love Isaac? Yes, he did very much!

V. The Grim Task (verses 9-10)

They finally arrived. Avraham built the altar. He ordered the trees—he set them in order so that they would burn just right. Then he tied up Isaac! He placed him upon the altar—upon the firewood trees!

Avraham then sent his hand… He took the meat cleaver to slaughter his son!

Questions

1. Why did Isaac submit to being tied? Isaac trusted Avraham. He had no reason to not trust him.

2. Did Avraham gag his son? The text doesn’t indicate that he did, and I don’t think that he did; but I have no proof either way.

3. Why did he tie him in the first place? Avraham was about to slaughter him. If his first strike didn’t kill him, Isaac would suffer great pain. Therefore, he needed to be still while Avraham slaughtered him. (This is a very frightening event!)

4. Had Avraham slaughtered his son in this way, would not this have been a heinous (enormously and shockingly evil) crime? Would it not have been wrong and sinful? If Yehovah had not commanded it, it would have been! Yehovah is the Gods. If He commands, it is not wrong to obey, and it is wrong to disobey, since He created man. Still, this event in the Bible is very surprising until the reader knows the reasons for it.

5. How would you feel about someone coming at you with a meat cleaver when you are tied up? (Each student needs to answer this.)

VI. The Results of the Test (verses 11-12)

Messenger Yehovah (also known as the Angel Yehovah) called Avraham’s name twice: “Avraham! Avraham!” Avraham responded, “Behold, I am!” This Messenger Yehovah commanded him to not send his hand unto the youth. He also commanded him to not do to him a blemish!

This Messenger said, “For now I knew that thou art a fearer of Elohim! And thou did not spare thy son thine only from me.”

Questions

1. Why did Messenger Yehovah call Avraham’s name twice? He needed to quickly stop him from going through with the slaughter!

2. Why did the messenger tell him to stop after Elohim had told him to do this? This whole action was a test and a type. Elohim had no desire for Avraham to slaughter Isaac. The picture of this was designed for readers to understand what Yehovah did with Yeshua.

3. Didn’t Messenger Yehovah already know that Avraham was a fearer of Elohim? Yes, since Messenger Yehovah is Yeshua, and He knows almost all things (except what He intends to not know). He had to prove it to readers, however. Besides this, what Elohim knows and what He proves to Himself are two different things. While He knows the end from the beginning, He still does not judge until a person (or an angel) has done what the person intended.

4. Who is Messenger Yehovah, and how could a reader know this? By identifying Himself as me in “thou did not spare thy son thine only from me,” this Messenger identified Himself as Elohim.

5. Would Avraham have killed Isaac? Avraham would have carried out Elohim’s orders had He not stopped him. He feared God.

VII. The Exchange (verse 13)

Avraham lifted his eyes. A ram was caught in a thicket by his horns. He was not damaged, but was stuck. Avraham walked to the ram, took it, and exchanged the animal and his son. He then ascended the animal on the altar.

Questions

1. Why did Avraham offer the caught ram (instead of letting it go, or instead of eating it)? He had prepared to do a sacrifice, and he had gained his son in the meantime.

2. Why did Yehovah provide a ram instead of a lamb? Careful readers would realize that this was not the prophecy that Avraham made. Therefore, they would look for the exact fulfillment of the prophecy, realizing that this isn’t that fulfillment!

3. Explain under his son in “he ascended him for an ascension under his son”: This Hebrew expression means in the place of his son.

4. The text stated, “And behold, another ram is caught in a thicket via his horns.” Explain why the text states, “another”: It is as if Isaac were a ram, and the animal were the second ram! (Biblical Hebrew does refer to persons as rams when they have the strength qualities or the rank (among their peers) of rams.

VIII. The Naming of the Place (verse 14)

It was Avraham who had said before that Yehovah will see to Himself the lamb for ascension. The animal caught was a ram, not a lamb.

Avraham now called that location Yehovah-Will-See. Yehovah will see in the mountain.

Questions

1. What was significant about the animal being a ram rather than a lamb? The lamb refers to the Lamb of God, Messiah Yeshua, Whom Yehovah will sacrifice for sin (and for other reasons).

2. This verse states, “Yehovah will see.” What will He see? He will see to Himself the lamb for ascension. In other words, Yehovah will see Himself in the form of Yeshua, and Yeshua as the Lamb that Avraham prophesied.

3. In what mountain will Yehovah see this Lamb? I propose that He will see that Lamb in Mount Zion, the most important mountain on the planet. That is when the Lamb of God will reign as King.

IX. The Results of Obedience (verses 15-18)

Messenger Yehovah called a second time to Avraham from the heavens. He swore (vowed) via Himself.

Avraham had done two noble acts: He had

done the saying of Messenger Yehovah
not spared his son, his only.

Yehovah vowed to do the following:

He will bless Avraham.
He will multiply his seed as stars of the heavens and as sand that is upon the lip of the sea.

He also stated two results of these things:

His Seed will inherit the gate of His enemies.
All races of the land will bless themselves via His Seed.

All this was because Avraham had hearkened into His voice.

Questions

1. Why did Messenger Yehovah vow? He vowed because of the importance of what He was about to say. He could have promised, but a vow is much more important than a promise (in many cases).

2. Why did Messenger Yehovah vow via Himself? When one vows, one uses the name or identity of someone or something greater than himself. There was no one greater than Yehovah, so He vowed via Himself. A text mentions this:

Hebrews 6:13 When God made promise to Avraham, He swore by Himself (because He couldn’t swear by anyone greater) ¹⁴saying, “Blessing, I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee!” ¹⁵And so he [Avraham] obtained the promise after he had patiently endured—¹⁶(For men indeed swear by the greater. And an oath for confirmation is an end of all strife to them.)—¹⁷in which God confirmed it by an oath, far more willing to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability [unchangeability] of His counsel.

3. Do the stars of the heavens multiply? They don’t at this time, but they will many centuries from now during a time called the Millennium (meaning the thousand years). Messiah Yeshua will reign at that time over the whole planet. He will put many stars into the heavens, and they will multiply during that thousand years that He will rule.

4. Does the sand of the sea multiply? It does, even today! With every crashing wave, sand particles, which are made of silicon, and are tiny pieces of rounded glass, break into smaller pieces. Window glass is made of silicon; it is made of sand! The front window of automobiles is also made of silicon, but has a very thin piece of plastic between two pieces of glass so that it won’t easily shatter if broken. Glass that is broken is very sharp. Sand isn’t sharp, because the waves hit the sand particles together, rounding off any sharp edges. In this way, however, the sand particles multiply in number!

5. Verse 17 states, “thy Seed will inherit the gate of His enemies.” Identify this Seed: This Seed is Messiah Yeshua.

The word seed, like deer and fish, is a word that can refer to one, or it can refer to more than one (it can be singular or plural). When farmers and gardeners speak about seed, they normally mean a large group of individual seeds. Yet, they can also refer to one seed, like an avocado seed.

The seed in this text refers to One: to Messiah Yeshua. A verse explains this:

Galatians 3:16 Now, the promises were made to Avraham and his seed. He doesn’t say “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one: “And to thy seed,” which is Messiah.

5. When will this Seed inherit the gate of His enemies, and why would the Seed want a gate? This Seed is Messiah Yeshua. He will inherit this gate at the end of a time period called the Tribulation, the worst time the world will ever see, and He will hold that gate for the entire Millenniuim (thousand years) during which time He will rule over all the earth.

If He holds the gate of the enemies, He holds the location of justice—like the courthouse of our cities. In some cultures, judges judge matters of law at the gate of the city or village so that there is plenty of room for folks to watch. This used to be where trials were held, and it will again be where they will be held in the far future. If Messiah Yeshua holds the gate of the enemies, He will hold the court system and the judges, and will make sure that all judgments are done right, according to His standards.

6. Identify “all races of the land”: Those are all races that are on the planet. A race is a very large group of individuals who all come from a common ancestor.

7. What does “will bless themselves via thy Seed” mean? Since this Seed is Messiah Yeshua, and since a blessing is normally something very good that has been given to another in order for that person to benefit (do good for) others, this means that all races will benefit other races by means of Messiah and what He gives to them. That means that races won’t waste time hating and trying to destroy each other, but will instead do great business with other races and do them much good.

8. Why will such good things occur, according to this text? The text states, “[on the] heel-that thou hearkened into my voice!” The expression, “on the heel that” means that this follows the other. If something is on your heel, it is right behind you! Put that into the text, and you will see that all races of the land will bless themselves right behind (on the heel of) the fact that Avraham hearkened to [both listened and obeyed] Messenger Yehovah’s voice!

X. The Return (verse 19)

Avraham and Isaac returned back to the waiting youths. They all walked together unto Well-Of-Oath, Beersheba. Avraham dwelt there.

Questions

1. Perhaps now you can answer the question why Avraham took the youths with Isaac and him: He took them so that they would be with Isaac after Isaac was slaughtered and raised from the dead! He took them, because they were Isaac’s companions, and they would benefit Isaac after this traumatic event.

2. The text states that “they stood.” Who stood? The youths stood. They were sitting there, waiting for Avraham and Isaac to return.

3. What was the topic of conversation as they walked to Beersheba? The Bible doesn’t say what it was. The Bible only includes information that is directly pertinent [on the same subject] and important to the plan of God. It never includes unimportant details.

4. Did Avraham like Beersheba? Yes! He lived there for quite a while.

XI. Names (verses 20-24)

Avraham had a brother named Nahor (which means snorer). His wife was Milcah, meaning Queen. Someone (identified only as he) told Avraham that Milcah had birthed sons, so that Nahor and Milcah now had children.

I have provided meanings for the names of the children. I can be certain of the meanings of some of the names, and I am less certain of the meanings of other names because I have very little information upon which to determine their meanings. Please know this as you read the meanings that I have proposed.

English Name	Proposed Meaning
Huz	Counsel
Buz	Contempt
Kemuel	They-Stood-A-Mighty-One
Aram	I-Will-elevate
Chesed	As-Violence/Devil
Hazo	His-Vision
Pildash	Distinction-Of-Fertility
Jidlaph	He-Will-Drip
Bethuel	They-Wasted-A-Mighty-One
Rebekah	Multiplied-Decanting
Reumah	They-Saw-What?
Tebah	He-Slaughtered
Gaham	He-Burned
Thahash	Thou-Wilt-Hush
Maacah	Thy-Belly

Questions

1. Why did folks name their children with such weird names? Those names serve two functions: they explain what the parents were seeing or experiencing when the children were born, and they give prophetic information about events yet to come! (If you carefully string the names together, you will see sentences that give information about events to come.) That means that Yehovah participated by making certain that parents named their children in these ways (usually without the parents knowing anything much about Yehovah, and not knowing that He was participating).

2. Why would a parent name a baby Snorer? I suspect that the child snored from the time it was born! But I don’t know.

3. What does decant mean? It means to pour liquid from one container into another.

4. What is a concubine? A concubine is a wife, but she will not receive any inheritance left by the husband. It is the same thing that a man and a woman might agree to do today as part of a prenuptual agreement (a pre-marriage agreement).

5. How is Rebekah’s name prophetic? Her name is Multiplied-Decanting. She decanted water from buckets into watering troughs for camels. That was how Avraham’s slave knew that Yehovah chose her. See Genesis 24 for the whole story!

February 9, 2009October 7, 2016

Genesis 22 – The Test

Genesis 22: The Test

Background and Text: Genesis 22:1-19

¹⁴And Avraham called the name of that place ‘Yehovah-Will-See,’ which he will say today, “Yehovah will see in the mountain!”

¹⁹And Avraham returned unto his youths. And they stood. And they walked together unto Well-Of-Oath. And Avraham dwelt in Well-Of-Oath.

I. The Startling Command (verses 1-2)

The Bible declares that the Elohim (the Gods) tested Avraham. It does not give the purpose for the test in this section, but it does show that He does such things.

Elohim referred to Isaac as “thy son, thine only” as if Ishmael did not exist.

He told him to walk, then to ‘ascend’ his son for ascension in the same way that one would do an animal. Elohim would tell him upon which mountain to do this.

Questions

1. Does God test everyone?

2. Why did Elohim test him in this way?

3. Why does the Hebrew Bible use Elohim (meaning Gods instead of God)?

4. Why does the Hebrew Bible use ‘the Elohim’?

5. What does the Hebrew word na mean (verse 2)?

6. Why does Elohim refer to Isaac as Avraham’s only son when Avraham also had Ishmael?

7. What does “thy son, thine only that thou loved” mean?

8. Why is loved in the past tense?

9. Why must Avraham walk? Couldn’t he ride animals?

10. What was the name of the mountain where this event would take place?

11. What does “ascend him there” mean?

12. Did Elohim command Avraham to kill his son?

13. Did Elohim do right by commanding this?

II. Avraham’s Quick Response (verse 3)

Avraham rose early in the morning. He loaded the ass with the saddle and with provisions. Two youths and Isaac accompanied him.

Avraham split the wood for the sacrifice. He then stood up and went with the three unto the place Elohim told him.

Questions

1. Why did Avraham rise early in the morning?

2. Why didn’t Avraham ask another slave (perhaps a much younger man) to split the logs for him?

3. Why did Avraham take the other two youths?

4. How did Avraham know the right place to go?

5. Did Isaac wonder where they were going, and why?

III. The Fire and the Meat Cleaver (verses 4-6)

The journey took several days. Avraham saw the destination on the third day, still a distance away.

He told the two youths to stay with the ass while Isaac and he would go the rest of the way.

Avraham gave the reason for the journey: Isaac and he were going to worship, and both would return to the youths.

He loaded the trees for the ascension upon Isaac. Avraham took burning wood to light the fire, and a meat cleaver. They both walked together.

Questions

1. Did Avraham lie when he said, “I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you”?

2. Could the youths see Avraham and Isaac while they finished their journey?

3. Why didn’t the youths ask him where he was going?

4. What does so mean in “The youth and I will walk unto so”?

5. Why did Avraham say, “We have worshipped” rather than “We will worship”?

6. What does worship mean?

7. What are trees of the ascension?

8. Why did Avraham place the wood on Isaac instead of carrying it himself?

9. In what form was the fire that Avraham took?

10. What was the purpose of the meat cleaver?

11. Isn’t this a gruesome scene?

IV. The Question (verses 7-8)

Questions

1. What did Avraham mean by the reply, “Elohim will see to Himself the lamb for ascension”?

2. Why didn’t Avraham tell Isaac what he was about to do to him?

3. Did Avraham love Isaac?

V. The Grim Task (verses 9-10)

Avraham then sent his hand… He took the meat cleaver to slaughter his son!

Questions

1. Why did Isaac submit to being tied?

2. Did Avraham gag his son?

3. Why did he tie him in the first place?

4. Had Avraham slaughtered his son in this way, would not this have been a heinous (enormously and shockingly evil) crime? Would it not have been wrong and sinful?

5. How would you feel about someone coming at you with a meat cleaver when you are tied up?

VI. The Results of the Test (verses 11-12)

This Messenger said, “For now I knew that thou art a fearer of Elohim! And thou did not spare thy son thine only from me.”

Questions

1. Why did Messenger Yehovah call Avraham’s name twice?

2. Why did the messenger tell him to stop after Elohim had told him to do this?

3. Didn’t Messenger Yehovah already know that Avraham was a fearer of Elohim?

4. Who is Messenger Yehovah, and how could a reader know this?

5. Would Avraham have killed Isaac?

VII. The Exchange (verse 13)

Questions

1. Why did Avraham offer the caught ram (instead of letting it go, or instead of eating it)?

2. Why did Yehovah provide a ram instead of a lamb?

3. Explain under his son in “he ascended him for an ascension under his son”:

4. The text stated, “And behold, another ram is caught in a thicket via his horns.” Explain why the text states, “another”:

VIII. The Naming of the Place (verse 14)

It was Avraham who had said before that Yehovah will see to Himself the lamb for ascension. The animal caught was a ram, not a lamb.

Avraham now called that location Yehovah-Will-See. Yehovah will see in the mountain.

Questions

1. What was significant about the animal being a ram rather than a lamb?

2. This verse states, “Yehovah will see.” What will He see?

3. In what mountain will Yehovah see this Lamb?

IX. The Results of Obedience (verses 15-18)

Messenger Yehovah called a second time to Avraham from the heavens. He swore (vowed) via Himself.

Avraham had done two noble acts: He had

done the saying of Messenger Yehovah
not spared his son, his only.

Yehovah vowed to do the following:

He will bless Avraham.
He will multiply his seed as stars of the heavens and as sand that is upon the lip of the sea.

He also stated two results of these things:

His Seed will inherit the gate of His enemies.
All races of the land will bless themselves via His Seed.

All this was because Avraham had hearkened into His voice.

Questions

1. Why did Messenger Yehovah vow?

2. Why did Messenger Yehovah vow via Himself?

3. Do the stars of the heavens multiply?

4. Does the sand of the sea multiply?

5. Verse 17 states, “thy Seed will inherit the gate of His enemies.” Identify this Seed:

5. When will this Seed inherit the gate of His enemies, and why would the Seed want a gate?

6. Identify “all races of the land”:

7. What does “will bless themselves via thy Seed” mean?

8. Why will such good things occur, according to this text?

X. The Return (verse 19)

Avraham and Isaac returned back to the waiting youths. They all walked together unto Well-Of-Oath, Beersheba. Avraham dwelt there.

Questions

1. Perhaps now you can answer the question why Avraham took the youths with Isaac and him:

2. The text states that “they stood.” Who stood?

3. What was the topic of conversation as they walked to Beersheba?

4. Did Avraham like Beersheba?

XI. Names (verses 20-24)

English Name	Proposed Meaning
Huz	Counsel
Buz	Contempt
Kemuel	They-Stood-A-Mighty-One
Aram	I-Will-elevate
Chesed	As-Violence/Devil
Hazo	His-Vision
Pildash	Distinction-Of-Fertility
Jidlaph	He-Will-Drip
Bethuel	They-Wasted-A-Mighty-One
Rebekah	Multiplied-Decanting
Reumah	They-Saw-What?
Tebah	He-Slaughtered
Gaham	He-Burned
Thahash	Thou-Wilt-Hush
Maacah	Thy-Belly

Questions

1. Why did folks name their children with such weird names?

2. Why would a parent name a baby Snorer?

3. What does decant mean?

4. What is a concubine?

5. How is Rebekah’s name prophetic?

February 9, 2009August 26, 2016

Why Folks Hate the Jews

Jews:

Why So Many Folks Hate the Jews

And

Who are the Jews in John?

Introduction

Why are the Jews hated? The Bible invests the entire plan of God in them, and the Bible holds them responsible for their being no peace on earth until they do right.

Yehovah has dispersed them among the races, warning that they will only be able to stay in any place for a short time, and then they must go elsewhere. Thus, the races see them as a scourge in their midst, as driven from other places, and transient, and as potential competition.

Common Ideas about the Jews

Many folks who hate the Jews don’t know why they hate them. They have been taught that the Jews are evil, and affect the world for self-centered interests that destroy countries and cultures. Those who have investment in Islam have a different for hating the Jews (if they hate them at all). There is no consensus regarding the Jews. There are always folks in all countries who don’t hate them, and would appreciate doing business with them.

A Quick History of the Jews

The Bible explains how the Jews came about. The God of the Bible produced this people specially using miracles and using non-Jewish groups to bring about the Jews. They came out of Egypt and from slavery with great wealth. They soon were embroiled with the Palestinians (Philistines). Their history is one of violence and of great peace. Their kingdom became very strong and very great, then very weak and finally gone. They were given a land in the most central and most important part of the planet: the Middle East, between three of the most active continents in the world. They were also given a Torah, a Teaching that was assigned specifically to them that had promises of good if they complied, and guarantees of the most terrible destructions to them if they didn’t comply. They were also given another guarantee: that they would continue to exist to the end of the planet, and that this land would be theirs once they did right according to the Torah (the first six books of the Bible).

This Torah was another reason for great jealousy, since there is no evidence that the God of the Bible gave a Covenant of this nature to any other group. The Jews were given the assignment and responsibility to carry, teach and live out the ‘oracles’ of God, those things that God gave to the world through prophets or directly.

Romans 3:1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? 2Much every way! Chiefly, because the oracles of God were committed unto them.

The Talmud

The Jews developed their own set of teachings from rabbis called the Talmud. This compendium of opinions of the rabbis was viewed by large groups of Jews as being equal with the Scriptures in previous centuries. Jews who studied these writings became very good at law and at memorization. Thus, they excelled in scholarship and in medicine, in law and in politics, as well as in the arts. Their numbers were small compared to the surrounding races, but their influence and discoveries were proportionately very large. This also made for jealousy.

The Jews under Islam

The Jews used to prosper under Islam, and they did far better under Islam when Spain was occupied by the Sultans than they did at any other time for centuries. Islam treated the Jews very well, and they achieved high positions. This also made the Europeans very angry at the Jews and very jealous. When Islamic rulers were driven from Spain, the Jews who stayed behind were hated and were mistreated.

Restrictions on Jewish Professions

During previous centuries, Jews were not allowed to be in certain professions held by religious groups among the Gentiles, but they could lend money. Kings borrowed. Kings owed. Kings wanted to cancel their debts to the Jews; they found the easiest way was to accuse them and kill them, and drive them out. This practice occurred many times.

Jewish Integration

Jewish folks have had to stick together because of history and anti-Semitism. Thus, even when they integrate into societies, that integration doesn’t usually last. They become ousted after so much time. Thus, Jewish integration is only temporary, and again the Jews stand out when they are forced out.

Any group that appears different from other groups will be targeted. This is one reason.

Jewish Monetary Success

Another reason is that the Jews appear to be very monetarily successful, and to control the means of production and exchange. This doesn’t have to be true to appear to be true. Jewish folks reside all over the world, and Jews do tend to trade with Jews—but not exclusively. Yet, this isn’t what others see; they think that the Jews have connections and can escape from trouble in the markets by using these connections. Gentiles who feel that they don’t have the same connections resent Jews for having them (even if they don’t).

This idea of the International Jew goes into the area of patriotism. Jews are views as not having any true allegiance to any country, and will leave a country if that country falters. Thus, others who are invested in the country see the Jews as quick traitors if everything goes down. This is not the case, but again, truth isn’t the issue; perception is.

All this doesn’t really explain why the Jews are hated. It goes beyond this, and it goes beyond literature that has been around for centuries accusing the Jews of an international plot to strip the Gentiles of wealth.

It goes to the Bible.

Why Some of Western Civilizations Hate the Jews

The Jews are a minority. Their presence in cultures is usually very obvious. Some Jews mix, while other Jews remain detached from cultures. They tend to group among themselves, and they have traditions that don’t match the surrounding cultures. This alone tends to present a problem among many who value conforming to a ‘norm’.

Every culture tends to hold certain values, and also tends to not value other things. Jews themselves are not a consistent culture. Yet, they appear to be to most onlookers. There are the very Orthodox Jews with strange clothing and patterns of behavior, and there are liberal Jews who do what the surrounding Gentiles do. Yet, even the liberal Jews tend to be different, and have different connections. This presents the problem of jealousy.

Why Many of Middle Eastern Groups Hate the Jews: Holy Sites

Modern Islam has its focus on the holy sites, not on Islamic history. Thus, the Jews must be driven into the sea in order to redeem Jerusalem from ‘the Crusaders.’ Many in the Middle East see the Crusades as continuing to this day.

As long as any other group outside of Islam dominates over any Islamic holy site, followers of Islam are taught that the deity of Islam is angry because of the liberalism found among followers of Islam. Thus, such domination is a sign from ‘God’ to turn to fundamental Islam; then the deity will give success to throw infidels out of the holy cities.

Modern Christian Churches

Modern Christian churches of every variety have the same difficulty when viewing the Jews. There is this recognition of the importance of Israel and the Jews, and there is the same jealousy. Some churches are for Israel; some will not discuss Israel. Some separate ‘Israel’ from ‘Jews’, stating that Israel is good, the Jews are accursed. Some hate the Jews and Israel, and desire Israel’s annihilation. All these groups claim to be fervent followers of Christianity.

Messianic Jews

There is another set of groups called Messianic Jews. They consist of mainly Jewish persons who claim to believe in Jesus or Yeshua as the Messiah. They do the same practices found among Christian groups by replacing Biblical Israel with themselves as if they are the focus of the promises of God in the Bible, and the apple of God’s eye. They usually are very fervent for Israel and for the Jews, yet they theologically distance themselves from the Jews by celebrating their own supposed salvations even while Israel is always in jeopardy. They also twist Scriptures to show themselves as important.

The Nazis

The Nazis viewed themselves as a continuance of Arians, and the Arians are supposedly from Atlantis. Arianism necessarily hates the Jews and must destroy them. All this has to do with the occult and the view that ‘God is with us’ (placed on the belts of the Nazi SS troupers). If ‘God is with us,’ God can’t be with them.

Jew-Hating Demons

Humans are not the only readers and hearers of the Bible, and they are not the only ones who misread it. The Bible speaks of demons, angels who rebelled. They, according to the Bible, also will be locked up and tormented once the Jews are righteous. If the Jews are expunged from the earth, the demons won’t be. Thus, a good portion of the hatred of Jews is supernatural. (The Jews can only be expunged from the earth if the Bible isn’t true.)

Centrality of the Jews in the Bible

Many groups in this world see the Bible as the central book of their faiths. They read about the Jews in the Bible if they read the Bible at all. (Few read the Bible.) The Bible speaks of the Jews in very negative terms in some texts. It also speaks of the Jews in very positive terms in other texts. Both present a problem to readers. If the Jews are as bad as the Bible portrays them, they are a scourge. Some therefore believe that they do God a favor by diminishing the Jews in society and even by getting rid of them. If the Jews are as important as the Bible portrays them, some readers are very jealous; they desire to be the center of God’s plan, and the Jews are in the way. Therefore, they cling to a theology that replaces the Jews with themselves (i.e., The Church). The problem is that the Jews are still around. Their being around tends to ruin the replacement theology. Thus, they speak out against the Jews to convince themselves and others that God is truly through with them, and has chosen the faithful and Godly Gentiles in their groups to replace the Jews.

The Bible Follows the Jews

Wherever the Jews go, regardless of how liberal the Jews are, the Bible goes with them—the very book that both accuses them and shows how important they are in the plan of the God of the Bible. While the Jews do not tend to carry the ‘New Testament’ with them, but only the ‘Old Testament’ (the Tenach), the ‘New Testament’ follows them wherever they go. This volume seems even more accusatory when read by those who have not known the ‘Old Testament’. Anti-Semitism is propagated more from the book of John in the ‘New Testament’ than from any other source because it refers to ‘the Jews’ as a violent and evil group and as killers of Christ. A reader who knows the ‘Old Testament’ and who reads the book of John carefully can see that Jesus was dealing with the Jews all of the time, and that the group called ‘the Jews’ in John (and in other books) must be a subgroup. Such careful readers are rare.

The ‘New Testament’

The ‘New Testament’ is the strongest in confirming the centrality of the Jews in the plan of God, in the resurrection of the dead, and in the return of Jesus (Yeshua) to reign. It states that He will return to the Jews and reign among them and over the world.

The Middle Eastern Groups are predominantly Moslem in faith or in perspective. Islam has several holy places, the second most holy place being Jerusalem. In Islamic teaching, any holy place like that must be controlled by Islamic followers. If it isn’t, it is because the deity of Islam is angry with the Islamic peoples for being too liberal. Thus, they must do everything in life or death to reclaim those holy sites. Since the Jews are occupying Jerusalem, the Jews must be hated and expunged in order to bring the faithful back to Islam, and all Islamic countries must turn from liberalism and westernism.

Peace on Earth

Since the Bible places peace of earth with the Jews such that there will be no lasting peace until the Jews are entirely righteous, this also makes for jealousy. The Jews appear so important in the Bible, that it is as if God views them much higher than the other races. (While this isn’t the case, misreading the Bible easily derives this conclusion.)

A Misunderstanding about the Jews in the Book of John

Many readers misunderstand the term Jews in the New Testament. They think that the term always refers to all the Jewish folks when it does not. Consider the following texts with me. I will explain things about each text:

John 2:13 And the Jews’ Passover was at hand.

This sounds general. Yet, who else had a Passover? If it were for all the Israelis, why mention it since the entire scene is about the Israelis/Jews?

John 2:18 Then the Jews answered and said unto Him, “What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?”

Did all the Jews answer Him, or did a group answer Him?

John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

Was he a ruler over all the Jews (like Herod), or was he a ruler of a group of Jews?

John 3:25 Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying.

Weren’t John’s disciples Jewish? Were they Latvian or Chinese? Were they Hungarian or Australian?

John 5:16 And therefore the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.

Did all the Jews want to kill Him? Most appreciated what He did and said, even if they didn’t understand what He said.

John 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

I learned from these texts that ‘the Jews’ were a sect, a small group of the entire Jewish population. Thus, I began calling them by their Hebrew name: the Yehudeem to distinguish them from the rest of the Israelis/Jews in these texts.

The following are what I discerned by carefully reading Matthew through John, and other places in the ‘New Testament.’ You may certainly challenge them, but at least consider them.

The Yehudeem:

Were a sect of the general Jewish population
Were very strict, hoping that the God of Israel would give Israel freedom from occupying pagans (like the Romans) if the Israelis would strictly adhere to the Torah (the first five books of the Bible)
Made rules to help keep the Israelis within the Torah, but by doing so violated the Torah (by adding to it)
Felt their rules to be from God
Consisted of two types of persons: one type that greatly desired to do right according to the Tenach (the entire Old Testament), and another type that desired to have power in the Jewish communities, not caring about personally doing right, but being the ‘morality police’ over others
Had the power to excommunicate other Israelis from the synagogues, thus making it impossible for them to do business with other persons under the influence of the Yehudeem within Israel; this power could be used for benefit to Israel or for personal vengeance
Had little or no sway over the Israelis who were not part of the Yehudeem (and who didn’t care about excommunication)
Were of two types: one type was very protective of their own positions, and didn’t like outsiders who didn’t come up through the ranks having influences over their followers; the other type wasn’t protective of anything but the Truth, and was glad to hear of anyone who worked to bring righteousness to Israel
Were from any of the twelve tribes (or were proselytes of the Gentiles who turned to Judaism), and therefore were not strictly of the tribe of Judah
Could also be Pharisees, another group that consisted of some who most definitely believed in real righteousness in Israel and in personal righteousness, and worked for that, and of some who sought power over others, wanting to ‘boss folks around’ and to be viewed well by those in high positions in the religious community
Consisted of a very few who definitely wanted to kill Yeshua and of others who very much delighted in His teachings, recognizing Him to be one truly sent directly from God and who had the words of life. The Yehudeem also consisted of some in lower-ranking positions who didn’t know what to believe regarding Yeshua, and who were torn.

The above descriptions of the Yehudeem may seem very ‘black and white’ in the descriptions, but there were folks who were in between, also, as I mentioned in the last bullet.

Modern Christianity does not teach that the Yehudeem (‘the Jews’) formed a small sect of the Israelis. Instead, many are taught to read the book of John as the first book of the Bible they will ever read. They will see many bad things regarding ‘the Jews,’ and will either reaffirm their feelings against the Jews or will form new feelings of them being enemies as if it refers to all Jews.

If they were to start with Genesis, they would probably figure some things out (if they cared for Truth). They would learn that the Jews are very central to Yehovah’s plan for all the ages, etc. Starting in John, however, will give ignorant readers a terrible impression of the Jews. Even if they figure out that ‘the Jews’ are a sect, they may still think that this sect was all bad. That was not the case. There were a few powerful ‘bad apples.’ There were some powerful good guys. There were followers of both types who were very loyal to their leaders, right or wrong. This is the same with groups today.

February 8, 2009July 5, 2017

The Hand

Several body parts are descriptively used in the Scriptures, including the hand. I will portray several of its usages, each being a ‘childism’ (some phrase or term easily understood by a child).

1. The Hand that Won’t Reach

In Leviticus 5:7 and 5:11, Young’s Literal Translation has:

Leviticus 5:7 And if his hand reach not to the sufficiency of a lamb, then he hath brought in his guilt-offering—he who hath sinned—two turtle-doves or two young pigeons to Jehovah, one for a sin-offering, and one for a burnt-offering . . .

Leviticus 5:11 And if his hand reach not to two turtle-doves, or to two young pigeons, then he hath brought in his offering—he who hath sinned—a tenth of an ephah of flour for a sin-offering . . .

We would say either “He can’t afford it” or “He is unable to acquire or get it.” The viewpoint of a young child is that he can’t reach it.

2. The Hand that is Strong

The hand represents power to a child. Whatever she can do is often measured and done by her hand. The hand of a ‘grown-up’ seems very strong. Consider these texts:

Exodus 13:3 And Moshe saith unto the people, “Remember this day which ye have gone out from Egypt, from the house of slaves. For by strength of hand hath Yehovah brought you out from this…”

Exodus 13:14 “And it hath been, when thy son asketh thee hereafter, saying, ‘What is this?’ that thou hast said unto him, ‘By strength of hand hath Yehovah brought us out from Egypt, from a house of slaves.’”

Exodus 13:16 “…and it hath been for a token on thy hand and for frontlets between thine eyes. For by strength of hand hath Jehovah brought us out of Egypt.”

The Bible has many similar texts and other uses of hand. Anything given into the hand of someone is placed in his power and for his use, as a child would assume. The English language has absorbed some of these expressions:

Genesis 9:2 And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth [upon] the earth and upon all the fishes of the sea. Into your hand are they delivered.

Children are physical, and they usually express toughness with their hands, as does Hebrew:

Genesis 16:12 And he is a wild-ass man. His hand is against every man, and every man’s hand against him. And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.

The hand is so important that it is used 1,710 times in the King James translation. If it were counted in the Hebrew, the number of times would be increased to more than 1,825 times.

Yehovah desires that one have clean hands. Even some unbelievers do:

Psalm 24:3 Who shall ascend into the hill of Yehovah? Or who shall stand in His holy place? 4He that hath clean hands and a pure heart, who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity nor sworn deceitfully. 5He shall receive the blessing from Yehovah and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

Israel is clay in the hands of Yehovah the Potter:

Jeremiah 18:6 “House of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter?” saith Yehovah. “Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

Children often love working with clay. While they might not understand the importance of clean hands, they can learn about this quickly. They also understand how the hands of a more powerful child or adult can overcome or frustrate them.

Yehovah’s use of these ‘Childisms’ makes the Bible understandable to children of all cultures in the world, as long as these expressions are not hidden by translators. For example,

2 Kings 19:26 Therefore their inhabitants were of small power…

should be rendered,

2 Kings 19:26 And their inhabitants were short-ones of hand…

describing that they were shorthanded and could not reach their goal.

Were someone to produce a truly literal rendering of the Bible, children would be better equipped than adults to understand it! May your understanding of the texts increase to the perspectives of a child!

Jeremiah 18:6 “House of Israel, can’t I do with you as this potter?” saith Yehovah. “Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, House of Israel!”

Yehovah will perfect this pottery. Since Israel is in His hand, should Christians ignore Israel? Modern Christianity in nearly all circumstances either ignores Israel or accuses Israel, becoming participant with the Accuser of the Brethren! Does your church (congregation) care about this unfinished pottery, or does it concentrate on its own navel? If Salvation is of the Jews, should the Jews be ignored? Many religions are in this world. The ‘hand’ of every pastor and congregation is either for Israel or is against the Jews. Ignoring Israel’s importance is untrue to the Word of God, and is a stand against Israel. Listen carefully to sermons to see how important (or unimportant) Israel is, and see if the hand of your congregation is for or against Israel.