Judges 6: Midianites; Gideon Tests a Deity?

Captivity #5: the Midianites

After doing evil again, Jehovah delivered the Israelites to the Midianites as a punishment for 7 years. The Israelites, to hide from the Midianites, lived in caves and dens in the mountains. When it was time to harvest, the Midianites, Amalekites, and the children of the east destroyed all sustenance the Israelites had. The Israelites cried to Jehovah

Judge #5: Gideon, son of Joash the Abi-zerite

An angel appeared to Gideon to appoint him as judge for this round of captivity. Gideon obviously doesn’t believe his eyes, so he asks the angel to stay so that he can provide him with a gift of food, as a sign that he indeed meet with him.

The angel instructs Gideon to place the gift offering on a rock, and the angel touches the offering with the end of his staff, consuming the offering in fire. The angel leaves and THAT’S when Gideon realized it was an angel/messenger from Jehovah.

Jehovah reaches out to Gideon to calm his fears, but also instructed him to break down the altar of Baal and the asherah his father had and replace it with an altar for Jehovah, including a burnt offering. The men of the city found out what happened and called for the death of Gideon.

Judges 6:31 – And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar.

Joash is calling into question the veracity of Baal being a real god, by calling Baal out to “plead for himself”. Then we are told that he (or Gideon, not clear from the author) was henceforth known as Jerubbaal “Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar.” Of course, we don’t know if Baal actually did plead for himself, or even what the reactions were of the men calling for Gideon’s life.

Gideon tests ha*elohim, Not Jehovah?

Gideon STILL doesn’t believe in his powers as judge. As the enemy armies gathered, Gideon called his armies from the nations of Asher, Manasseh, Zebulun, and Naphtali. He then attempts to test the validity of what ha*elohim has promised him by asking for a miracle: He is going to place wool on the floor, and has asked ha*elohim to make the wool wet, but the floor dry. In the morning he wrings out a bowl full of water with a dry ground.

6:39 – And Gideon said unto ha*elohim, Let not thine anger be hot against me and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.

So here we have an example of man putting a deity to the test. Doesn’t this go against the commandment in Deuteronomy 6:16: Ye shall not tempt Jehovah your god, as ye tempted him in Massah.

We have Jesus repeating this verse to the Devil in the New Testament in Mathew 4:5 as well.

Of course, notice the word choice for “god” in Gideon 6:39: it’s not Jehovah/Yahweh, it’s ha*elohim. Is the author differentiating Jehovah from the deity that is being tested by Gideon? So, technically, the argument can be made that Gideon is not testing Jehovah, thus breaking this rule, because the author uses ha*elohim to describe the god being tested. Thus, Gideon has done nothing wrong and not broken any commandments. If he did, and this was Jehovah being tested, wouldn’t Jehovah be angry with him?

I’ve made the argument in previous posts that I believe ha*elohim and Jehovah are not the same, in fact we have multiple deities in existence but, over time, in the interest in maintaining the foundation of monotheism in modern Abrahamic religions, any/all deities were given the brush stroke of being “the one God.” My argument is: the hints remain, in the Bible, that this wasn’t always the case. Not a popular position to take but I’m calling what I see.

No one can tempt Jehovah…. Gideon tempted a deity and lived…thus either Jehovah is bending his own rules and truly is this deity being tested, or Gideon is tempting another deity thus not being subject to Jehovah’s commandment.

Deuteronomy 33 – The 12 Tribes & Blessings

Moses begins a tale of prose about Jehovah, who:

• Came from Sinai
• Rose up from Seir to the people
• Shone forth from mount Paran
• Came with ten thousands of saints

This has a lot of “solar sun” imagery. The sun rose from Seir and once up it shone forth from mount Paran, and it comes with ten thousand saints (stars?)

The word for “saint” is only used twice in the Old Testament (Strong’s Interlinear 6918) and can also mean “holy ones”. A little bit of research into the Brown-Driver-Briggs shows it also can mean “separate from human infirmity, impurity, and sin.” If this is the case, then the tens of thousands of saints Jehovah appeared with is NOT referring to the people of Israel (who are infirm, impure, and sinful.)

Deuteronomy 33:4 – Moses commanded us a law, even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob. And he was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel were gathered together.

Once again we see the use of “inheritance” as opposed to “chosen.” We also see the congregation of Jacob is not referred to as “saints” so just who are the saints? Then, each tribe receives a “blessing” or a horoscope:

• Reuben: Let Reuben live, and not die; and let not his men be few
• Judah: Bring Judah unto his people, let his hands be sufficient for him, and (to Jehovah) be thou an help to him from his enemies
• Levi: Let the Thummim and Urim be with the holy one (Jehovah?) whom thou didst prove at Massah, and with whom thou didst strive at the maters of Meribah. They will teach Jacob/Isreal judgements and the law and burn incense and offer sacrifice to Jehovah. Moses asks Jehovah to bless Levi, to accept their works, and to cut through the loins of those who rise against Levi, and destroy those who hate Levi.
• Benjamin: The beloved of Jehovah shall dwell safety by him; and Jehovah shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders
• Joseph: Compared to a bull, with horns like “horns of unicorns (KJV)” which is comprised of the half trips of Ephraim and Manasseh. Moses asks Jehovah to bless land, and for “precious fruits of the sun” and “precious things put forth by the moon” and “the chief things of the ancient mountains” and “precious things of the lasting hills.”
• Zebulun: Rejoice in going out, they will call the people unto the mountain, where they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness: for they shall suck the abundance of the seas, and of treasures hid in the sand.
• Issachar: Rejoice in thy tents, they will call the people unto the mountain, where they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness: for they shall suck the abundance of the seas, and of the treasures hid in the sand.
• Gad: Enlarge Gad, he dwelleth as a lion and “teareth the arm with the crown of the head” executing the justice of Jehovah and his judgements with Israel.
• Dan: Dan is a lion’s whelp, he shall leap from Bashan.
• Naphtali: Satisfied with favour, full with the blessing of Jehovah will possess the west and the south
• Asher: Let Asher be blessed with children; let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil. His “shoes will be like iron and brass.” Iron and brass at the feet. Noted for future reference.

The symbolism, imagery, and cultural specific references tells me, once again, the author had a specific audience intended when the text was written, an audience well in the past. 3,000 years later we sit scratching our heads at what the significance of “dip his foot in oil” is when the people of 3,000 years ago probably knew exactly what it meant.

Moses finishes off this blessing by heaping immense praise on Jehovah to, again, convince the Israelites to follow this deity. Jehovah is:

• Called the god of Jeshurun, who is the refuge of the Israelites
• Riding upon the heaven in help, and excellency in the sky
• Eternal and will thrust out the enemy from before the Israelites and tell the Israelites to destroy them

Moses tells the Isrealites that they should be happy, they were saved by Jehovah, their shield of help, their sword of excellency, and the Israelites will tread upon their high places (conquer them.)

Will all this come true?

Deuteronomy 32: Jehovah, “I” Part 2: Bloody Threats; Moses Sentenced to Death

Jehovah has laid out a prophecy of events to occur: his people, his *inheritance* have turned on him, or in his own words, they slip up aka “their foot shall slide in due time.” Now he explains what will happen next.

Jehovah refers to the people worshiping other gods aka *elohim*. He then begins to speak of himself in 3rd person (Note: this communication is still being relayed by Moses to the Israelites.)

Deuteronomy 32:36 – For Jehovah shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left.

Jehovah is going to repent?

32:37 – And he shall say, Where are their gods (*elohim*), their rock in whom they trusted, Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? let them rise up and help you, and be your protection.

So, is Jehovah saying that all the time they were making animal sacrifices and drink offerings, they were thinking they were worshiping multiple gods? After all, at least in KJV, the word used is “gods.” A quick look at other modern bible versions shows the use of “gods” as well.

32:39 – See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god (KJV, Hebrew interlinear uses *elohim*) with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.

We’ve already been introduced to one other god given a proper name, Chemosh. Is Jehovah saying here he is the only god? Or is he saying he acts alone despite there being other deities? Jehovah’s boasts can be summed up as “I can do anything” but will future verse prove this? (hint: “chariots of iron”.)

32:40 – For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever.

An interesting boast, but why would he, as the supposed creator of the universe, need to say this? To frighten the Israelites that even time won’t keep him from punishing them?

32:41 – If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgement; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me. I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh; and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives, from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy.

What kind of all powerful deity speaks like this? “glittering sword”…. “arrows drunk with blood”…. “my sword shall devour flesh”… the blood of the slain and the captives”? These are not the words of a righteous and forgiving god! Compare these words to the teachings of Christ… and I’m supposed to think this is the god of the New Testament? God the Father that Jesus speaks of?

Why the captives? Are we talking about those captured in war? Or the unfortunate captives of his enemies? After all we know Jehovah has no problem killing the innocent in his quest to mete out his judgements.

The song ends by telling the people that he will “render vengeance to his adversaries” and thus, the people should rejoice.

Moses then receives his death sentence from the “righteous and FORGIVING god” that he’s served all these years:

32:49 – Get thee up into this mountain Abarim, unto mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over against Jericho; and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession: And die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor…”

No “Thank you for your service”? No “Job well done Moses”? just go up and die in the mountain the way your brother did. Recall that Aaron was “stripped” of his garments in what sounded like a humiliating scene.

We are reminded that the reason he will not move forward is because he trespassed against Jehovah way back during the time of the waters of Meribah.

This is probably the most POWERFUL chapter in the bible that I’ve read so far. Not so much in how it would lead someone to follow this god, but just how much insight we get into his character and how it contradicts with how the people boast about him when speaking about him.

Again, the words heaped upon this deity by this people reminds me of frightened servants who shiver at the presence of a bloodthirsty king who requires constant worship, praise, and attention. A king that would have no problem killing his own people for even the smallest mishaps, like picking up sticks on the Sabbath, or complaining about being thirsty or hungry, or who don’t act properly in his presence. Frankly, it’s quite appalling.

Deuteronomy 32: the lord’s Portion; Prophecy?

After describing the notion that Jehovah received the Israelites as an inheritance, the author/poet goes on to describe the beginnings of this new relationship between what I now consider a tribal god and his people.

The author poetically describes how Jehovah found “Jacob” in a desert land/wilderness, and led and instructed him. (Yet we know that the people were actually in Egypt when the whole thing started and THEN the people were led to the desert.)

Deuteronomy 32:10 – He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness, he led (compassed) him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.

This is an interesting verse because it is often repeated that a certain group of people are considered “the apple of god’s eye”. Well we know there so such part of an eye called apple, so surely it’s figurative, but the context is not there. Until we look at other bible versions: (link to biblehub.com)

“The pupil of his eye” seems to be more appropriate. After all, we encompass the sensitive pupil of our eyes with our eyelids for protection. The apple of his eye? More like “the sensitive part of his eye that requires protection”.

Rather than intricately analyze each verse, I’m going to list some of the more interesting ones:

• 32:17 – there was no “strange” god with the people
• 32:13 – the people rode on the high places of the earth, and sucked honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock
• 32:14 – they drank the pure blood of the grape

Prophecy?

Here’s where 32 becomes interesting. As far as we know the people haven’t worshiped any other gods (since the golden calf) yet we get the following verses:

• 32:15 – “but Jeshurun waxed fat and kicked”
  • Who is Jeshurun? There are only 2 instances of this name being used in the bible: Deut 32 and 33.
  • The verse starts with “but” after listing a few positive achievements, so this “waxed fat and kicked” seems to be a negative.
• 32:15 – Jeshurun then forsook “his god” *elowha*, the god that made him, and “lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation”
  • Again, the use of “rock”
  • “lightly esteemed”
• 32:16 – They provoked the rock by worshiping other gods, aka “devils” that they did not know, new gods, and Jehovah abhorred them
• 32:19 – Jehovah calls the people his “sons and his daughters”
  • I made the argument back when Sarah was miraculously impregnated when Jehovah “visited” her that this sounds a lot like a race of people created when a divine being mated with a human female, which is also given context in Genesis 6:4.
  • In this verse, the people are considered sons and daughters of this deity.
• 32:19 – Jehovah abhors the people

None of this has happened yet. Anyone with previous bible knowledge knows that, as the story unfolds, this is exactly what happens in the future. Seems like Jehovah is telling us the future. If so, the timeline of this narrative has broken, the author is no longer writing events as they happen. The author is saying these events have already happened. If it was a prophecy, we should see phrases like “they will” or “they are going to”. Instead, we get a past tense for what will eventually happen in the bible story.

To me, this tells me the author wrote this story down LONG after the events occurred. I know many people say that Moses wrote this book, but I’d have to say the author lived long after Moses was around, because the are now writing this particular chapter from the point of view of someone reflecting on the past.

So now we know what is going to happen. So what is Jehovah going to do? Well he does not fail in telling us exactly what is going to happen, in a very poetic manner of course.

Deuteronomy 31: Moses writes the Law, says Goodbye; Joshua “Charges”

Moses is 120 years old, and speaking to the Israelites, he reminds them that Jehovah will, despite decades of service, WILL NOT let him cross the Jordan. He gives them a hint of their future:

• Jehovah will destroy the nations they are about to encounter
• Joshua will be their leader
• They are to be strong and of good courage, with no fear
• Joshua is told to be strong and of good courage, with no fear
• Jehovah will not fail or forsake them

Moses passes on “the book of the law”, which we can rightly assume is all the laws mentioned in Deuteronomy since Moses began his speech to the Israelites, to the Levites.

• Every 7 years the people are to gather, in the “Year of Release”, and to have this book of the law read to the people
• Everyone is to hear the law, men, women, and most importantly children

Deuteronomy 31:14 – And Jehovah said unto Moses, Behold, thy days approach that thou must die: call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of the congregation, that I may give him a charge. And Moses and Joshua went, and presented themselves in the tabernacle of the congregation.

What’s interesting is the use of the word “charge”. There are multiple ways this word is used, we charge someone with a crime, we charge money for transactions, we charge an obstacle to face it, we charge batteries/phones/storage devices.

Is it possible Jehovah, with his Ark of the Covenant still in the possession of the Levites, actually going to physically charge Joshua with some sort of physical, supernatural power?

After all, Moses had his staff that had to be pointed in a certain direction to work (Aaron and Joshua holding up his tired arms to make it happen), and people who touch or went near the ark died as if they were electrocuted, burnt. There was something going on with these items that made them into weapons.

Jehovah then appears as a pillar of smoke, (yet weren’t we created in his image?) and speaks to Moses, giving him a prophecy:

31:16 – And Jehovah said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them.

So even Jehovah is admitting he won’t be able to keep this people from being disobedient, for whatever reason they will be turning to other gods. Just what is this mystery reason?!?

Because both Jehovah and Moses now know the people are going to disobey in the future, Jehovah gives Moses a “song” to teach to the people. He then has the people put the Book of the Law “in the side” of the Ark of the Covenant. He then tells them their future:

31:29 – For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of Jehovah, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands.

If Jehovah and Moses know that, in the future, the people are going to turn from them, it almost seems as if both Jehovah and Moses are helpless to keep it from happening.

The self-proclaimed most powerful god of the universe, who claims he created the heavens, the earth, the stars, all life on earth, unable to keep his people loyal?! Does this add up?

Who controls destiny? Is it not God? Or is destiny in the hands of THE PEOPLE? Is this what eventually turns the people in the future? They realize they don’t need this Jehovah god, when they can turn to other gods for what they need? This is a mystery I’m looking forward to see if it will be solved in future verse.

The next chapter is the “Song” that Jehovah gave to Moses to give to the Israelites so that they don’t turn. As if every other threat of cannibalism, scorched earth, plagues, sores, captivity and death aren’t enough?! Even Jehovah the supposed god of the universe is not convinced himself. He is unsure. God is unsure?! Something is not adding up.

Deuteronomy 18: Levites, the Frustration of Prophets

Another repeat of the status of Levites and their inheritance is laid out, nothing new to analyze here.

Deuteronomy 18:9 – When thou art come into the land which Jehovah thy god giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.

But having kings like they do is ok?!

18:10 – There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination*, or an observer of times**, or an enchanter, or a witch.

*Divination: looking for a prediction or sign of the future. What did Jacob do in Genesis 15 and Balaak do in Numbers 23? But it’s no longer ok now?

**Observer of Times: In Genesis 1:14, Elohim gives the “lights of the firmament” to the people to use for “signs, seasons, and for days, and years” yet Jehovah does not want this peoples to observe times? See yet another difference between Elohim and Jehovah?

18:14 – For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times and unto diviners: but as for thee, Jehovah thy god has not suffered thee so to do.

So it looks like the other nations were listening to the Elohim of the first creation in Genesis 1.

The Institution of Prophets

Jehovah tells Moses that he will continue to raise up prophets (of which Moses was one), to communicate between the Israelites and Jehovah. So once again Jehovah reiterates he will not speak to the people directly. How fishy and odd.

18:20 – But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.

So let’s get this straight: This deity DOES NOT SPEAK to the people directly (for whatever reason). Thus, he will be communicating through a select prophet. HOWEVER, we are told there will be other prophets possibly speaking on behalf of Jehovah (without his command) or on behalf of other gods. HOW IN THE WORLD ARE THE PEOPLE TO KNOW WHICH PROPHET IS TELLING THE TRUTH? WHY DOESN’T JEHOVAH ELIMINATE THIS ISSUE AND JUST SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE?! To be honest, this is absolutely frustrating to read, because you know what’s going to happen: some people will initially listen to the right prophet (and really, how would they know?) and others are initially going to listen to the wrong prophets (and really, how would they know?) I’m going to be a prophet and predict the future events in this book: Many will die because they unknowingly listened to the wrong prophet. To be honest, this makes me not want to read any further. What a logic snag to implement.

To further feed this prophet confusion idea:

18:22 – When a prophet speaketh in the name of Jehovah, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which Jehovah hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuosly: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

In other words, if a prophet speaks something and it doesn’t come true, the people have nothing to worry about. But again, how are the people to know which prophet is right or wrong at the inception of the prophecy? By the outcome of their prophecy? By the time the outcome (or lack thereof, imaging waiting!) occurs it’s too late for the people to act on the prophecy because, again, they have no idea which prophet was correct in the early stages. What a discombobulated concept to institute as a means of communication between a people and a supposedly almighty, omniscient, and omnipotent deity. WOW!

Deuteronomy 15: Debt Release and Slave Ownership

Every 7 years is a release of debt for the Israelites, in a sense.

• If you lend to an Israelite you can release the debt
• If you lend to a foreigner you can keep the debt in place (exact it again)

The are allowed to lend to other nations, but not borrow (and likewise they will reign over other nations, but not be reigned over.)

Any of the people (the verbiage says brother, can we assume this includes women also or is it specifically saying men only?) need to be helped if they are poor. The Israelites are to give to him as is needed and be happy about it.

Hebrew Slavery

If the are sold other Hebrews as slaves, they are to not only release them after the 7 year release, they are also to give him things of which they own, so they do not leave empty handed. It also up to the slave to decide whether they stay or not, if they like their situation they can declare as such.

15:17 – Then thou shalt take an awl, and thrust it through his ear unto the door, and he shall be thy servant for ever. And also unto thy maidservant thou shalt do likewise.

So if it’s any recompense, the Hebrew has a choice. What if the person is a stranger/outsider? Note the symbolic gesture of basically pinning down the servant to the house by running an awl through the ear and into the door post/door.

Moses reiterates that the firstlings of the flocks belong to Jehovah, and they are to be sacrificed and eaten at the appropriate time and place. Why does Jehovah not specify the place? Does he not know because the events of the land of Canaan have yet to play out?

Also, any flock with blemish are not to be sacrificed to Jehovah, he demands perfection. Blemished, lame, or blind animals get a pass.

Modern Times

Obviously animal sacrifice isn’t practiced (as far as I know, I do know there are some in modern day Israel trying to bring back the Levitical priesthood complete with animal sacrifices and without the ark or “Jehovah’s name” as directed by Jehovah.) today but I have to wonder about debt. Why is there no debt forgiveness among the Abrahamic religions today? Debt forgiveness is in the hands of the government, and even then it’s not as cut and dry as having it happen every 7 years.

It does look like Jehovah is trying to set up a society that takes care of it’s own by setting up structures to help the poor and possibly over extended debtors. The moral hazard of lending to someone only to have it washed away as the 7th year nears, and done with glee probably wasn’t too popular with those constantly lending out only to have the debt not be fully repaid.

In modern times we see the disparity between rich and poor and how it can divide the country among political and ideological lines. There are those that demand a Jehovah like structure where debt (like student debt) is forgiven, where living wages (free money without working) get passed on to those who are poor, and high tax rates to force the rich to pay for these systems. Problem is, in the Old Testament, Jehovah tries to encourage this behavior by promising the people that he will bless them materially. Today, we don’t have a deity telling us to go ahead and help the poor because more wealth is headed our way. We know the economic system can end up on shaky ground and make someone poor real quick. The mathematics of giving away money and not having it return can mean disaster for personal and corporate wealth.

Again, another giant disparity between the realities of modern world economics and economics and equality as portrayed in the Old Testament.

Deuteronomy 13: Serving other gods

So, let’s say they do not heed Moses’ command to serve the elohim of the Canaanites, what then? Moses already has it laid out:

IF: A prophet or a dreamer gives a sign of wonder to turn the people to worship other gods: THEN: They should not listen to the prophet or dreamer. The prophet or dreamer shall be put to death. WHY: Because they are to walk after and fear Jehovah their god, keep his commandments, obey his voice, serve him, and cleave to him. Because he brought them out of Egypt. (Verses 13:1 – 5)

IF: Friend of family entices them secretly to go worship other gods, gods they have not known previously, the gods of the original people of the land or any other gods on earth. THEN: They should not listen to them, and they are the first to lay hands on their friend/family to kill them, and they and everyone else should stone these people. WHY: Because Jehovah brought them out of Egypt, the house of bondage.

IF: Men of a CITY within the boundaries of the new land, have told the people in their city to go and serve other gods. THEN: The people are to investigate, search to find the truth. If true, then that city and it’s people will have to be destroyed, everything and everyone, including cattle. The spoils of the city will be set in a pile and burnt, and the city never rebuilt.

13:17 – And there shall cleave nought of the cursed thing to thine hand: that Jehovah may turn from the fierceness of his anger, and shew thee mercy, and have compassion upon thee, and multiply thee, as he hat sworn unto thy fathers.

So, by turning a city against Jehovah, everything within that city is considered cursed, and the people are not to take or hold anything from it. Not even cattle.

Which begs the bigger philosophical question: Why does this god need to be worshiped? Why does he not have the power to simply remove these other gods from existence? If he hardened the heart of the Pharaoh to influence his actions, why can’t he harden the heart of his people to influence theirs?

It’s as if he’s setting them up to be punished in the future.

On that note, why would the Israelites even consider worshiping other gods? Is it because Jehovah knows that he might not be completely or truly loved by these people? Especially knowing what he put them through in the desert, killing people instead of forgiving them (or even placing them in a sort of penal system)? Why is he so insecure? If he was a truly capable god, he would provide what is needed to keep his people secure, safe, and happy and not need to go out and find other gods.

Let’s take a normal human relationship. Both parties work to please each other in some sense to keep the relationship viable and healthy. When one party is stubborn, a liar, or has bad intentions, or is incapable of a healthy relationship or providing, it eventually shows and either the other party leaves, or the relationship suffers and metastasizes into something very ugly and costly.

Just what is going on here with this relationship between a deity and his people? Which party is incapable of a healthy long term relationship that pre-nuptial contract type punishments need to be laid out?

Deuteronomy 12: Instructions for the New Land

Repeating what has been discussed before, Moses once again lays out a list of things that need to be done to stay on Jehovah’s good side:

• Destroy all the places/locations where the original people worshiped their *elohim* (could this be “The elohim”?)
• Not do what they are doing at the time of the speech 12:8: “… every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes.”
  • Is there no law or order in this society at this time? There obviously was because the people have been punished for previous transgressions.
  • My take: Moses is telling the people that they will NOT THINK FOR THEMSELVES once they enter the land
• Not offer burnt offerings in every place they see (12:13) only in the location selected by Jehovah

Previous food laws can now be broken. Very odd that this takes place, early Jehovah was adamant about the people not eating unclean animals. Now, he has changed his mind? Is it because the people complained about it during their travels?

12:15 – Notwithstanding thou mayest kill and eat flesh in all thy gates, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, according to the blessing of Jehovah thy god which he hath given thee: the unclean and the clean may eat thereof, as of the roebuck, and as of the hart.

Is this a bargaining chip Jehovah is using, i.e. do what your told and in the end you can eat anything you want to your hearts content aka “whatever thy soul lusteth after” even if it goes against previous food laws laid out in one (of the two) stories of Noah as the people were let out of the ark.

12:21 – If the place which Jehovah thy god hath chosen to put his name there be too far from thee, then thou shalt kill of thy herd and of thy flock, which Jehovah hath given thee, as I have commanded thee, and thou shalt eat in thy gates whatsoever thy soul lusteth after.

“The place which Jehovah has chosen to put his name” is an interesting phrase. Is there going to be a physical name/sign placed? The word for name derives from “shem” and can also (according to Strong’s Concordance) can also relate to “place of worship” so he may be referring to a central location or altar. Let’s see if more about this “name” is discussed in the future.

12:30 – When Jehovah thy god shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land. Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their *elohim*, saying, How did these nations serve their *elohiim*? even so will I do likewise. Thou shalt not do so unto Jehovah your god: for every abomination to Jehovah, which he hateth, have they done unto their *elohim*; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods/elohim.”

Are these elohim gods real? Why are they not called “fake” gods, or other terms to indicate they are not real? Devils? Demons? Even Moses is understanding the issue that these people are capable of not being entirely devoted to Jehovah and is warning them as such.

I also find it odd that Jehovah finds burning children with fire an abomination, especially after what he did to Aaron’s sons.

Moses lays down the law simply:

12:32 – What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

After seeing Jehovah bend on the food laws regarding clean and unclean animals while in the new land, I’m curious to see if anything else will be added or diminished to the protocols laid out in the earlier prophecy.

Deuteronomy 10 – Moses Reviews the Past

This chapter is a basic review of the time when Moses built an ark to hold the two tablets to the time they are about to enter the land they were promised.

In a way, this has fulfilled part of the prophecy put forth to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. However, as noted in previous blog posts, the land was not free, and there were requirements.

Moses explains what the people need to do now that this part of the prophecy was fulfilled.

Deuteronomy 10:12 – And now Israel, what doth Jehovah thy god require of thee, but to fear  Jehovah thy god, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve  Jehovah thy god with all they heart and with all thy soul. To keep the commandments of Jehovah, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?

And the justification for why they should serve Jehovah:

10:14 – Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is Jehovah’s your god, the earth also, with all that therein is. Only Jehovah had delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day.

So why did Jehovah show delight in the “fathers”? It was not for their righteousness, as even Jacob admitted he lived a wicked life. It was for their belief in Jehovah only? We know that as Jacob made his way to Egypt he had his children hide their idols. I stand by my conclusion that these people were descended of Sarah after she was visited by Jehovah, in other words, the lineage of the earthly children of Jehovah.

Not a popular or even accepted viewpoint, just my own conclusion. But again, he is not supposed to be thought of as a completely loving father.

10:17 – For Jehovah your god is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great god, a mighty and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward.

Jumping to the Hebrew interlinear translates this verse as such:

10:17 – For Yahweh is your elohekem, is elohe of elohim, adone of haadonim, the el….

So we have a multitude of names Moses is calling this deity: Yahweh, elohe, adonay, and el. A strong argument can be made, looking today at past Canaannite and Phoenician religions, that these names point to different deities, but in the case of this text, we are told they are one in the same.

Lastly, another part of the prophecy is fulfilled. So what happens when the entire prophecy is complete? We shall see.

10:22 – Thy fathers went down into Egypt with threescore and ten persons; and now Jehovah thy god hath made thee as the stars of heaven for multitude.

So the land is theirs to enter, and they have been numbered as the stars of heaven. Let’s see how the rest of the prophecy plays out because as can be seen here, it is nearing completion.