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Family Values
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19.1 According to the Bible's genealogy, Jesus came from a fine old family.
- Abraham married his sister and seduced her handmaid.
- Jacob seduced two housemaids after committing bigamy.
- Judah committed incest with his daughter-in-law.
- David committed polygamy, adultery, robbery, and murder.
- Solomon was a polygamist and adulterer.
- Rehoboam, Abijam, Joram, Ahaziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Manasseh, Amon and Jehoiachin were monsters of iniquity.
- Tamar seduced her father-in-law.
- Rahab was a prostitute.
- Ruth slept with a cousin instead of marrying another.
- Bathsheba committed adultery.
19.2 Jesus said family affection and fidelity interfered with discipleship.
"And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead." Mt 8:21,22
"And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life." Mt 19:29
"If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple." Lk 14:26
"And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him." Lk 5:11
"So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple." Lk 14:33
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19.3 The only biblical passage which specifically referred to punishment for the injury or death of an unborn child clearly meant accidental miscarriage due to fighting by men, not due to abortion by medical procedure. If the husband agreed to an abortion, the Bible said there should be no punishment. If the woman was killed, then a life-for-a-life and an eye-for-an-eye came into play. Punishment and liability were applicable for the injury to the woman, not to the fetus.
"If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman’s husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the Judge determine. And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life." Ex 21:22,23
However, God slaughtered unborn children.
"Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up." Hos 13:16
It is clear that the Bible had no fundamental problem with killing unborn babies.
"…Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt." Gen 38:24
There was also a passage which could be interpreted as pro-abortion, under certain circumstances.
"…woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born." Mk 14:21
19.4 Other favorite anti-abortionist passages said that killing innocent people was a crime, but they didn’t say the unborn were really people or when they become people. The concept of innocence is difficult to apply to a fetus. It’s clear that the question depends heavily on when an egg, a sperm, an embryo, or a fetus becomes a human being. Unfortunately the Bible did not say. None of these passages seem to apply to the unborn.
"…and the innocent and righteous slay thou not…" Ex 23:7
"Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person." Deut 27:25
"And also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the Lord would not pardon." 2Kgs 24:4
19.5 Prohibitions against killing human beings generally applied, but legitimate medical procedures sometimes violated this general prohibition. Therefore, the question is not whether the Bible prohibited abortion, but at what time during gestation and under what circumstances does abortion cease to be a legitimate medical procedure and become homicide? In the United States, homicide is generally a State crime, not a federal one.
"Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed…" Gen 9:6
"Thou shalt not kill." Ex 20:13 & Deut 5:17
"He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death." Ex 21:12
Biblical law allowed a king to burn a whore and her unborn child.
"…Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt." Gen 38:24
19.6 What did the Bible say about when a fertilized egg became a human being? The point of humanity could be established as the sixth month, but there’s nothing firm.
"And, behold, thy cousin, Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her…when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb…" Lk 1:36,41
The Bible said a fetus became a person sometime in the womb, but these passages didn’t say anything firm either.
"And Leah conceived, and bare a son…" Gen 29:32
"And [Rachel] conceived, and bare a son…" Gen 30:22,23
"…The Lord hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name…the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his servant…" Isa 49:1,5
"As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child…" Ecc 11:5
"So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bare a son." Ruth 4:13
"For…thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb…for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them." Ps 139:13-16
The following passage referred to Jeremiah personally, not to humanity in general. "Before I formed thee" was ambiguous, and it didn’t help nail down the time either.
"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee…" Jer 1:5
19.7 If the doctrine of damnation without knowledge of Christ was valid, then abortion meant damnation
"Even from birth the wicked go astray; from the womb they are wayward and speak lies." Ps 58:3
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19.8 The Bible said God forbade human sacrifice, but there are many passages which contradicted this.
"Thou shalt not do so unto the Lord thy for every abomination to the Lord, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods." Deut 12:31
19.9 God told Isaac to sacrifice his only son.
"And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of." Gen 22:2
19.10 Jephthah sacrificed his only daughter in exchange for God’s support in battle. She was a virgin, of course.
"Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return…I will offer it up for a burnt offering…and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him…And…her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she knew no man. And it was a custom in Israel," Judg 11:31,34,39
19.11 Innocent men were sacrificed to stop a famine.
"Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David inquired of the Lord. And the Lord answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites…Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the Lord?…the king took the two sons of Rizpah…and the five sons of Michal…And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill before the Lord: and they fell all seven together, and were put to death…and they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God was entreated for the land." 2Sam 21:1,3,8,9,14
19.12 God told Moses to hang out his victim’s heads to appease his anger.
"And the Lord said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the Lord against the sun, that the fierce anger of the Lord may be turned away from Israel." Num 25:4
19.13 The Bible sanctioned human sacrifice merely to shore up God’s power over people.
"And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the Lord." Ezek 20:26
"Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the first born of thy sons shalt thou give unto me. Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep:" Ex 22:29,30
19.14 The Hebrews clearly performed human sacrifices to Jehovah up to the time of Jeremiah, against God’s orders.
"For the children of Judah have done evil in my sight, saith the Lord: they have set their abominations in the house which is called by my name…And they have built the high places of Tophet…to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart." Jer 7:30,31
"Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?" Mic 6:7
19.15 Human sacrifice calmed a storm.
"And [Jonah] said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you…Wherefore they cried unto the Lord, and said, We beseech thee, O Lord, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O Lord, hast done as it pleased thee. So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging." Jon 1:12,14,15
19.16 God included humans in a list of things to be devoted for deadly sacrifice.
"…no devoted thing, that a man shall devote unto the Lord…both of man and beast…shall be sold or redeemed: every devoted thing is most holy unto the Lord. None devoted, which shall be devoted of men, shall be redeemed; but shall surely be put to death." Lev 27:28,29
19.17 I won’t list all of the references to Christ being sacrificed to God on the cross. The whole Christian religion is founded on human sacrifice.
"…the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1Jn 1:7
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19.18 God clearly condoned cannibalism. The sacrament of the Eucharist, eating the flesh and drinking the blood of Christ during communion, is cannibalistic
"And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat." Lev 26:29
"And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the Lord thy God hath given thee…So that the man that is tender among you and very delicate, his eye shall be evil toward his brother and toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the remnant of his children which he shall leave:" Deut 28:53-57
"And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine;" Isa 49:26
"And I will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and they shall eat every one the flesh of his friend in the siege and straitness…" Jer 19:9
"Therefore the fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of thee, and the sons shall eat their fathers;" Ezek 5:10
"…Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him." Jn 6:53-56
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19.19 The Bible endorsed gambling for important matters but not for fun.
"And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Unto these the land shall be divided for an inheritance according to the number of names…the land shall be divided by lot…According to the lot shall the possession thereof be divided between many and few." Num 26:52,53,55,56
"By lot was their inheritance, as the Lord commanded…" Josh 14:2
"Therefore Saul said unto the Lord God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped. And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken." 1Sam 14:41,42
"The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord." Prov 16:33
"…let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah." Jon 1:7
"And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles." Acts 1:26
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19.20 Drinking and drunkenness were portrayed favorably in a few instances in the Bible. Even God got a cheerful buzz from wine.
"And [Noah] drank of the wine, and was drunken…" Gen 9:21
"…wine, which cheereth God and man…" Judg 9:13
"And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after…for wine, or for strong drink…" Deut 14:26
"And wine that maketh glad the heart of man…" Ps 104:15
"Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more." Prov 31:6
"Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Drink ye, and be drunken, and spue, and fall, and rise no more…" Jer 25:27
"Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities." 1Tim 5:23
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19.21 The God of the Bible was highly biased towards the Hebrews, Jews, and Israelis. This was frequently at the expense of other peoples solely due to their ethnic identity.
"Moreover of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you which they begat in your land: and they shall be your possession. And ye shall take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit them for a possession; they shall be your bondmen for ever: but over your brethren the children of Israel, ye shall not rule one over another with rigour." Lev 25:45,46
"And if thy brother, an Hebrew…, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee." Deut 15:12
19.22 Foreign wives and their children were dismissed to rekindle Israel’s piety.
"…We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land…Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them…And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel. Now therefore…separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives." Ezra 10:2,3,10,11
"In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews’ language, but according to the language of each people. And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves…Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?…Thus cleansed I them from all strangers…" Neh 13:23-25,27,30
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19.23 Lot offered his two virgin daughters to gang rape in order to kiss-up to angels.
"[Lot said] Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof." Gen 19:8
19.24 God was deterred by a child’s painful, dirty mutilation.
"…the Lord met him, and sought to kill him. Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me. So he let him go…" Ex 4:24-26
19.25 God punished people by slaughtering and threatening their children.
"…if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn." Ex 4:23
"I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children…" Lev 26:22
"And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat." Lev 26:29
"And we took all his cities at that time, and utterly destroyed the…little ones, of every city, we left none to remain:" Deut 2:34
"And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters…" Deut 28:53
"The sword without, and terror within, shall destroy both the young man and the virgin…" Deut 32:25
"Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes…" Isa 13:16
"Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up." Hos 13:16
19.26 A young virgin was brought in to sleep with old king David to warm him up.
"[David’s] servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before the king, and let her cherish him, and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get heat." 1Kgs 1:2
19.27 The Bible’s curses were none too kind to children.
"Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow. Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg: let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places." Ps 109:9,10
"Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones." Ps 137:9
19.28 Young virgins were gathered for Ahasuerus’ pleasure.
"…Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king: And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace…Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king’s house." Est 2:2,3,13
19.29 The Bible said that children should be stoned to death for stubbornness and disobedience.
"If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them…And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die…" Deut 21:18,21
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19.30 The Bible clearly said that the perverted practice of homosexuality was an abomination. Gay political activists (including a number of priests) cannot possibly believe the Bible is true.
"And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them…And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly." Gen 19:5,7
"Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination." Lev 18:22
"If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death" Lev 20:13
"For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly…" Rom 1:26
"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither…nor effeminate…" 1Cor 6:9
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19.31 Cain and Abel were the product of incest. Eve was created (cloned) from Adam’s rib, so they were even closer than brother and sister.
"And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man." Gen 2:22
19.32 Cain’s wife must have been very closely related to him since all females at that time must have been either his mother, his sisters, or his nieces.
"And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch." Gen 4:17
19.33 Lot’s daughters seduced their besotted father and got pregnant.
"And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father…And they made their father drink wine that [second] night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him…Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father." Gen 19:33,35,36
19.34 Abraham married his half-sister, Sarai (Sarah), had children by her, and God blessed her.
"And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her." Gen 17:15,16
"And yet indeed she [Sarai] is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife." Gen 20:12
19.35 Ammon raped his virgin sister, then threw her out.
"And Amnon…fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin…being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her…And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone." 2Sam 13:2,14,15
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19.36 The Bible was confused in its view of the permanence of matrimony. On one hand, divorce was forbidden, period.
"Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." Mt 19:6
But the Israelites got God’s okay to get rid of foreign wives.
"Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord…and let it be done according to the law…Now therefore make confession unto the Lord God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives." Ezra 10:3,11
The Bible also said divorce was allowed in case of fornication. Divorce for other than fornication caused the woman to commit a sin.
"But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery…" Mt 5:32
Then again, divorce was allowed for uncleanness; and the divorcee could remarry.
"When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement…she may go and be another man’s wife." Deut 24:1
But a man committed adultery if he married a woman after her divorce.
"…whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery." Mt 5:32
"…Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her." Mk 10:11
19.37 Paul said you should not divorce, but if you did…
"And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife." 1Cor 7:10
"Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife." 1Cor 7:27
Moses reluctantly okayed divorce.
"…Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so." Mt 19:7
"And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away." Mk 10:4
19.38 Some dowries were more interesting than others. David sure put one over on Saul. He collected twice as many foreskins as asked.
"And Saul said…The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king’s enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king’s son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife." 1Sam 18:25,27
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19.39 Polygamy was not encouraged, but it was not dwelled upon either.
"Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away…" Deut 17:17
On the other hand, some Old Testament men had multiple wives.
"And Lamech took unto him two wives…" Gen 4:19
"Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had…" Gen 28:9
"Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels;" Gen 31:17
"Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan…" Gen 36:2
"…with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives…" Gen 37:2
"If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated…" Deut 21:15
"And Gideon…had many wives." Judg 8:30
"…Elkanah…had two wives…." 1Sam 1:1,2
"David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they were also both of them his wives." 1Sam 25:43
"And David took more wives…" 1Cr 14:3
"And [Solomon] had seven hundred wives…and three hundred concubines…" 1Kgs 11:3
"And Ashur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah." 1Cr 4:5
"And Shahara…Hushim and Baara were his wives." 1Cr 8:8
"And Rehoboam…took eighteen wives, and threescore concubines…" 2Cr 11:21
"But Abijah…married fourteen wives…" 2Cr 13:21
"And Jehoiada took for him two wife…" 2Cr 24:3
"Belshazzar…the king…his wives, and his concubines…" Dan 5:2
19.40 Newlywed men were exempt from military service and business; and could sit at home for a year.
"When a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year…" Deut 24:5
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19.41 The Bible doesn't seem to have any significant problem with what we would call "living in sin."
" [Abraham’s] concubine…Reumah, she bare also Tebah, and Gaham, and Thahash, and Maachah." Gen 22:24
"…the concubines, which Abraham had…" Gen 25:6
- …Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine…" Gen 35:22
"And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau’s son…" Gen 36:12
"And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son…" Judg 8:31
"…there was a certain Levite…who took to him a concubine…" Judg 19-20
"And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah…and Ishbosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father’s concubine?" 2Sam 3:7
"And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem…and there were yet sons and daughters born to David." 2Sam 5:13
"…[David] left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house." 2Sam 15:16
"…Go in unto thy father’s concubines…and Absalom went in unto his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel." 2Sam 16:21,22
"…Thou hast shamed…the lives of thy concubines;" 2Sam 19:5
"And David…took the ten women his concubines…" 2Sam 20:3
"And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done." 2Sam 21:11
" [Solomon] had…three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart." 1Kgs 11:3
"Now the sons of Keturah, Abraham’s concubine…" 1Cr 1:32
"And Ephah, Caleb’s concubine, bare Haran…" 1Cr 2:46
"Maachah, Caleb’s concubine, bare Sheber…"1Cr 2:48
"…beside the sons of [David’s] concubines…" 1Cr 3:9
"…[Manasseh’s] concubine the Aramitess bare Machir the father of Gilead:" 1Cr 7:14
"And Rehoboam loved Maachah…above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took…threescore concubines…" 2Cr 11:21
"…the king’s chamberlain, which kept the concubines…" Est 2:14
"There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number." Song 6:8
"Belshazzar…his wives, and his concubines…" Dan 5:2
"…thy wives, and thy concubines…" Dan 5:23
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19.42 The Bible was none too keen to see the peasantry improve their minds or their situation. They were asked not to investigate the ideas of others, lest their faith be shaken. Questions just caused trouble.
"For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." 1Cor 1:19
"And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words…Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." Col 2:4,8
"O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:" 1Tim 6:20
"But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes." 2Tim 2:23
"But avoid foolish questions…about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain." Titus 3:9
19.43 The Bible said that one shouldn’t even think about asking, testing, or criticizing what the Bible taught.
"Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." Mt 4:7
"Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things." Mk 11:33
"Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?" Rom 9:20
19.44 Believers were told to beware of those who had different viewpoints.
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." Mt 7:15
"And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many." Mt 24:11
"For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." Mt 24:24
"If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to…the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings," 1Tim 6:3
"But there were false prophets…even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of." 2Pet 2:1,2
19.45 Knowledge and wisdom were gained by faith, not by reading or instruction, not by experience, and not by science or reason.
"But wisdom is justified of all her children." Lk 7:35
"…ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him." 1Jn 2:27
"…hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." 1Cor 1:20,21
"But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise…" 1Cor 1:27
"…If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain." 1Cor 3:18-20
"We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ…" 1Cor 4:10
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." Jas 1:5
19.46 The Bible said that we cannot understand wisdom. It is mysterious, secret, and hidden from us.
"Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: but we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:" 1Cor 2:6,7
"Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1Cor 2:13,14
19.47 The search for knowledge was the root cause of original sin whereby all mankind was damned when Adam and Eve ate fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. We were evidently not meant to know good and evil.
"And when the woman saw that the tree [of the knowledge of good and evil] was good for food…and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened…" Gen 3:6
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There are a number of issues which, if we use the Bible as a standard of behavior, we should be teaching kids.
19.48 Petty theft and trespassing were okay in the Bible.
"When thou comest into thy neighbour’s vineyard, then thou mayest eat grapes thy fill at thine own pleasure; but thou shalt not put any in thy vessel. When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbour, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbour’s standing corn." Deut 23:24,25
19.49 What happened to "God helps those who help themselves?"
"…Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on…" Mt 6:25
Women and Children First
19.50 The Bible recognizes the special care that society takes with its precious women and their unborn babies. Here’s a viscious form of abortion, sanctioned by the Bible.
"Then Menahem…smote it; and all the women therein that were with child he ripped up." 2Kgs 15:16
19.51 It seems that, over the centuries, the heathen artists’ and taxidermists’ guilds have led us away from the true meaning of the Bible.
"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:" Ex 20:4 & Deut 5:8
"Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female, the likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air, the likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth:" Deut 4:16-18
"Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the Lord your God…and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the Lord thy God hath forbidden thee." Deut 4:23
19.52 Here’s a set of laws which clearly affect mankind’s relationship with God.
"…neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woolen come upon thee." Lev 19:19
"Thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts, as of woolen and linen together. Thou shalt make thee fringes upon the four quarters of thy vesture, wherewith thou coverest thyself." Deut 22:11,12
"And thou shalt make holy garments for…glory and for beauty." Ex 28:2
"And for Aaron’s sons thou shalt make coats, and thou shalt make for them girdles, and bonnets shalt thou make for them, for glory and for beauty." Ex 28:40
"And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach:" Ex 28:42
"And as for the perfume which thou shalt make, ye shall not make to yourselves according to the composition thereof: it shall be unto thee holy for the Lord." Ex 30:37
19.53 Parents should be glad if their kids get merely tatoos and nipple piercings.
"But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell." Mt 5:28
"For there are…eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it." Mt 19:12
19.54 Holy handrails! Here’s a Holy Law which deserves a place right up front in the word of God.
"When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon thine house, if any man fall from thence." Deut 22:8
19.55 God clearly favored sheep ranching over farming. God, himself, like a good barbeque.
"…Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect." Gen 4:3-5
"And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the Lord smelled a sweet savour…" Gen 8:20,21
"And the Lord appeared unto him…and, lo, three men stood by him…And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it. And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat." Gen 18:1,2,7,8
19.56 Protection of visitors was a higher priority than the protection of one’s family, including one’s virgin daughters.
"And [the Sodomites] called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may [sodomize] them…[And Lot said] Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof." Gen 19:5-8
"…the men of the city…beset the house round about, and beat at the door…Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him. And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them…do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this folly. Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do not so vile a thing" Judg 19:22-24
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