01/31/08: Exodus 32-34
Chapter 32:
Why would Aaron, God's chosen priest, form with a tool the idol? Why is he not punished for doing it and furthermore lying about it?
Ted: I'm not sure, but evidently he was the type of person who was easily swayed by peer pressure. The people figured that Moses wasn't coming back, so they asked Aaron for another god(s) to follow. Either Aaron also figured that Moses wasn't coming back, or else he just caved in to the people. It's also possible that he secretly had wanted to be their leader, and this was the opportunity for him to do it. In any case, in Deuteronomy 9:20, Moses says that "the LORD was angry enough with Aaron to destroy him, but at that time I prayed for Aaron...." So, evidently, Aaron would have been punished by death for the golden calf incident, had Moses not intervened.
Why would Aaron, God's chosen priest, form with a tool the idol? Why is he not punished for doing it and furthermore lying about it?
Ted: I'm not sure, but evidently he was the type of person who was easily swayed by peer pressure. The people figured that Moses wasn't coming back, so they asked Aaron for another god(s) to follow. Either Aaron also figured that Moses wasn't coming back, or else he just caved in to the people. It's also possible that he secretly had wanted to be their leader, and this was the opportunity for him to do it. In any case, in Deuteronomy 9:20, Moses says that "the LORD was angry enough with Aaron to destroy him, but at that time I prayed for Aaron...." So, evidently, Aaron would have been punished by death for the golden calf incident, had Moses not intervened.
01/30/08: Exodus 28-31
Chapter 28:
What's an ephod? A robe?
Ted: Actually, the ephod is worn over the robe (Exodus 28:6-14). It was made with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, with stands of gold woven in. A picture of the ephod over the blue robe can be seen here. These and other implements presently sit at the Temple Institute in Jerusalem, awaiting the building of the Third Temple so that they can be put to use.
What are the Urim and the Thummim?
Ted: Good question. For years, I have heard so many attempts at defining what the Urim and the Thummim were that I still am in the dark about it. I tend to think that they were objects of some type which were placed into the high priest's breastpiece (Exodus 28:30). The are seen to be used a few times throughout the Old Testament (Leviticus 8:8; Deuteronomy 33:8; 1 Samuel 28:6; Ezra 2:63; Nehemiah 7:65), but never does it explain, explicitly, what these objects were.
They evidently were used by the high priest, with God's direct aid, to determine the innocence or guilt of someone, or the rightness or wrongness of a choice. Perhaps the priest reached into his breastplate and selected one at random (which God would have caused him to select), or maybe he tossed either the Urim and/or the Thummim on the ground and determined the answer by the way it/they fell. In any case, it was a way for God to help the priest determine decisions to make, in certain cases.
Some believe that the Urim and Thummim were six-sided stones, with the names of six of the tribes of Israel on one stone and names of the remaining six tribes on the other stone. If so, perhaps present-day dice are variations of these.
What's an ephod? A robe?
Ted: Actually, the ephod is worn over the robe (Exodus 28:6-14). It was made with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, with stands of gold woven in. A picture of the ephod over the blue robe can be seen here. These and other implements presently sit at the Temple Institute in Jerusalem, awaiting the building of the Third Temple so that they can be put to use.
What are the Urim and the Thummim?
Ted: Good question. For years, I have heard so many attempts at defining what the Urim and the Thummim were that I still am in the dark about it. I tend to think that they were objects of some type which were placed into the high priest's breastpiece (Exodus 28:30). The are seen to be used a few times throughout the Old Testament (Leviticus 8:8; Deuteronomy 33:8; 1 Samuel 28:6; Ezra 2:63; Nehemiah 7:65), but never does it explain, explicitly, what these objects were.
They evidently were used by the high priest, with God's direct aid, to determine the innocence or guilt of someone, or the rightness or wrongness of a choice. Perhaps the priest reached into his breastplate and selected one at random (which God would have caused him to select), or maybe he tossed either the Urim and/or the Thummim on the ground and determined the answer by the way it/they fell. In any case, it was a way for God to help the priest determine decisions to make, in certain cases.
Some believe that the Urim and Thummim were six-sided stones, with the names of six of the tribes of Israel on one stone and names of the remaining six tribes on the other stone. If so, perhaps present-day dice are variations of these.
01/29/08: Exodus 25-27
Regarding the tabernacle:
What is the place like that they are to build? A giant tent? I read all of the chapters but cannot really grasp what the place would look like. Walls of cloth?
Ted: Unfortunately, I will have to plead ignorance about this. Here is a picture, but frankly I am not sure what to call the overall structure with curtain boundaries, nor the small building inside.
Click to view tabernacle
Why (or what) is God distinguishing with the gold, silver and bronze? Different parts/pieces of the place are made with the different metals-- are some for him and some for the people (or something like that)?
Ted: Again, I'm not sure. I believe that all of the implements could be handled by the priests, whereas the common person could not touch anything. My guess is that the things made of gold were the most important and had the most significance to God, since gold was the most valuable metal, followed in order by silver and bronze.
Interestingly, centuries later, King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream of a large statue with a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, and belly and thighs of bronze (Daniel 2:32). Daniel later interpreted this dream (2:37-45). The head of gold was the most important part of the statue, followed by the silver and bronze (and iron and clay) parts. That's why I'm thinking that God may have assigned importance and significance to the various metals used in the tabernacle ceremonies. But that is just a guess.
What is the place like that they are to build? A giant tent? I read all of the chapters but cannot really grasp what the place would look like. Walls of cloth?
Ted: Unfortunately, I will have to plead ignorance about this. Here is a picture, but frankly I am not sure what to call the overall structure with curtain boundaries, nor the small building inside.
Click to view tabernacle
Why (or what) is God distinguishing with the gold, silver and bronze? Different parts/pieces of the place are made with the different metals-- are some for him and some for the people (or something like that)?
Ted: Again, I'm not sure. I believe that all of the implements could be handled by the priests, whereas the common person could not touch anything. My guess is that the things made of gold were the most important and had the most significance to God, since gold was the most valuable metal, followed in order by silver and bronze.
Interestingly, centuries later, King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream of a large statue with a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, and belly and thighs of bronze (Daniel 2:32). Daniel later interpreted this dream (2:37-45). The head of gold was the most important part of the statue, followed by the silver and bronze (and iron and clay) parts. That's why I'm thinking that God may have assigned importance and significance to the various metals used in the tabernacle ceremonies. But that is just a guess.
01/27/08: Exodus 21-24
Chapter 21:
What is going on in lines 5 & 6?
Ted: Somehow, piercing the ear with an awl was an indication of permanent ownership. In this case, a servant chose to be a willing servant of his master.
As much of the Old Testament foreshadows later events, especially concerning Jesus, this also may be an example. Jesus allowed Himself to be pierced: head (crown of thorns), hands/feet (nails), and side (spear). This could have been an outward sign of His willingness to be a willing servant to the Father.
Furthermore, Jesus said that whoever wanted to be great must be a servant or slave first (Matthew 20:26-28). He, as the Son of Man, came to give His life as a ransom for those He served. We need to be willing to do the same for Him.
In line 8, what does redeemed mean?
Ted: I'm not sure, but I think it means that the master who is not pleased with the female slave he has purchased must sell her to someone else, other than a foreigner. He must do this rather than kill her or let her go. She is "redeemed" from having a master who does not like her with the money paid for her by another master.
Why does God not only not denounce slavery, but sets up laws regarding it, therefore allowing it?
Ted: Slavery has become a "bad" word in our culture, because we typically think of slaves or servants as being mistreated. But even in the South, in the 1800s, there were many slaves who were treated very well. When they were given their freedom, they chose to remain with the families they had served, because it would have been difficult for them to make it on their own, and these families provided well for them.
I certainly am not an advocate of slavery. However, we are expected to be willing servants of Jesus, just as He was a willing servant of the Father. Being a servant/slave to someone who is going to treat you well and eventually shower you with incomprehensible blessings has its advantages.
I would say the bible somewhat echoes the mentality of mistreatment: If a man beats his male or female slave with a rod and the slave dies as a direct result, he must be punished, but he is not to be punished if the slave gets up after a day or two, since the slave is his property. I agree that it probably was fairly common for slaves to be treated well, but it's not even required by God's law?
Ted: Actually, God does want slaves to be treated fairly: "Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven" (Colossians 4:1). However, I am assuming that the beating of the slave in the case you mentioned (Exodus 21:20,21) was because the slave had disobeyed or gotten out of line, not that the master was beating the slave just to be mean.
What is going on in lines 5 & 6?
Ted: Somehow, piercing the ear with an awl was an indication of permanent ownership. In this case, a servant chose to be a willing servant of his master.
As much of the Old Testament foreshadows later events, especially concerning Jesus, this also may be an example. Jesus allowed Himself to be pierced: head (crown of thorns), hands/feet (nails), and side (spear). This could have been an outward sign of His willingness to be a willing servant to the Father.
Furthermore, Jesus said that whoever wanted to be great must be a servant or slave first (Matthew 20:26-28). He, as the Son of Man, came to give His life as a ransom for those He served. We need to be willing to do the same for Him.
In line 8, what does redeemed mean?
Ted: I'm not sure, but I think it means that the master who is not pleased with the female slave he has purchased must sell her to someone else, other than a foreigner. He must do this rather than kill her or let her go. She is "redeemed" from having a master who does not like her with the money paid for her by another master.
Why does God not only not denounce slavery, but sets up laws regarding it, therefore allowing it?
Ted: Slavery has become a "bad" word in our culture, because we typically think of slaves or servants as being mistreated. But even in the South, in the 1800s, there were many slaves who were treated very well. When they were given their freedom, they chose to remain with the families they had served, because it would have been difficult for them to make it on their own, and these families provided well for them.
I certainly am not an advocate of slavery. However, we are expected to be willing servants of Jesus, just as He was a willing servant of the Father. Being a servant/slave to someone who is going to treat you well and eventually shower you with incomprehensible blessings has its advantages.
I would say the bible somewhat echoes the mentality of mistreatment: If a man beats his male or female slave with a rod and the slave dies as a direct result, he must be punished, but he is not to be punished if the slave gets up after a day or two, since the slave is his property. I agree that it probably was fairly common for slaves to be treated well, but it's not even required by God's law?
Ted: Actually, God does want slaves to be treated fairly: "Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven" (Colossians 4:1). However, I am assuming that the beating of the slave in the case you mentioned (Exodus 21:20,21) was because the slave had disobeyed or gotten out of line, not that the master was beating the slave just to be mean.
01/26/08: Exodus 18-20
Chapter 18:
Why is Moses arbitrating disputes?
Ted: Inevitably, all groups of people will have disputes, especially large groups. Moses was their leader, and he was chosen directly by God. So he was the logical one to settle their disputes. Of course, a population of any sizable amount cannot have just one judge; otherwise, he'd be working virtually all the time doing that.
About 15 years ago, when I was reading Exodus 18, a thought suddenly came to me. I don't know if God put it there or not, but it seemed like a very rational conclusion to me. Firstly, Moses was a "type" of Jesus, in several ways (which I will not go into now). Secondly, when Jesus returns and sits as King of the world in Jerusalem, one of the things He will do is settle disputes--lots and lots of them. So I suspect and suggest that, during the Millennium (Jesus' reign on earth), He will select glorified saints and appoint them "as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens" just as Moses did (Exodus 18:21). That is one of the ways that the believers (changed into glorified forms at the Rapture) will reign with Jesus (Revelation 20:10).
Why is Moses arbitrating disputes?
Ted: Inevitably, all groups of people will have disputes, especially large groups. Moses was their leader, and he was chosen directly by God. So he was the logical one to settle their disputes. Of course, a population of any sizable amount cannot have just one judge; otherwise, he'd be working virtually all the time doing that.
About 15 years ago, when I was reading Exodus 18, a thought suddenly came to me. I don't know if God put it there or not, but it seemed like a very rational conclusion to me. Firstly, Moses was a "type" of Jesus, in several ways (which I will not go into now). Secondly, when Jesus returns and sits as King of the world in Jerusalem, one of the things He will do is settle disputes--lots and lots of them. So I suspect and suggest that, during the Millennium (Jesus' reign on earth), He will select glorified saints and appoint them "as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens" just as Moses did (Exodus 18:21). That is one of the ways that the believers (changed into glorified forms at the Rapture) will reign with Jesus (Revelation 20:10).
01/25/08: Exodus 14-17
Chapter 14:
God is leading the Israelites in the form of a pillar. They arrive at their encampment, find the Egyptian army on their heels, and immediately accuse Moses of bringing them there to die. God led them there--why are they afraid?
Ted: Because the Israelites' faith always was lacking (even with God directly there with them), and they were petrified that the Egyptians were going to kill all of them there in the desert. Many also may have thought that the Egyptians would take them captive back into Egypt, and mistreat them even worse than before, for leaving.
God is leading the Israelites in the form of a pillar. They arrive at their encampment, find the Egyptian army on their heels, and immediately accuse Moses of bringing them there to die. God led them there--why are they afraid?
Ted: Because the Israelites' faith always was lacking (even with God directly there with them), and they were petrified that the Egyptians were going to kill all of them there in the desert. Many also may have thought that the Egyptians would take them captive back into Egypt, and mistreat them even worse than before, for leaving.
01/25/08: Exodus 13
God speaks about consecrating every firstborn, and says that they belong to Him. What exactly do they have to do to a firstborn, and what does God mean?
Ted: Basically, "consecrate" means to "set apart" or to "sanctify" something. There are cases in the Bible where a child (I think, typically, the firstborn) is set apart to serve God--to work in the temple and spend his life in God's service. I don't know if there necessarily was a ritual or a ceremony commemorating this, I think it was more like the mom and/or dad would say that they were giving their child to God.
One example is in Samuel 1:1-28. Hannah, whose womb was closed, prayed that the Lord would give her a son, promising that she would give him to the Lord. Indeed, she conceived, and Samuel was born. He became one of Israel's greatest prophets and served God all the days of his life.
Ted: Basically, "consecrate" means to "set apart" or to "sanctify" something. There are cases in the Bible where a child (I think, typically, the firstborn) is set apart to serve God--to work in the temple and spend his life in God's service. I don't know if there necessarily was a ritual or a ceremony commemorating this, I think it was more like the mom and/or dad would say that they were giving their child to God.
One example is in Samuel 1:1-28. Hannah, whose womb was closed, prayed that the Lord would give her a son, promising that she would give him to the Lord. Indeed, she conceived, and Samuel was born. He became one of Israel's greatest prophets and served God all the days of his life.
01/25/08: Exodus 12: Passover
Because this is such an important chapter in the Bible, I have decided to devote one entire post to it, and what Ted has to say about it. Knowing that it was important, I simply asked Ted to ensure that I understood everything that was important in the chapter:
Ted: God equated leaven (yeast) with sin (1 Corinthians 5:7,8; Galatians 5:9; Matthew 16:6,12), which is why they could not bake the Passover bread with leaven. 1 Corinthians 5:7 says, "Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed."
That says 2 things: that we are to rid ourselves of sin and be a new person for God, and that Jesus was our Passover Lamb (being sacrificed so that we can escape the slavery of sin, just as the Israelites escaped the slavery of Egypt). It was no coincidence that Jesus was crucified ON the very day of Passover, because He was our Passover Lamb, predestined from before the beginning of the world to be so.
Ted: God equated leaven (yeast) with sin (1 Corinthians 5:7,8; Galatians 5:9; Matthew 16:6,12), which is why they could not bake the Passover bread with leaven. 1 Corinthians 5:7 says, "Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed."
That says 2 things: that we are to rid ourselves of sin and be a new person for God, and that Jesus was our Passover Lamb (being sacrificed so that we can escape the slavery of sin, just as the Israelites escaped the slavery of Egypt). It was no coincidence that Jesus was crucified ON the very day of Passover, because He was our Passover Lamb, predestined from before the beginning of the world to be so.
01/24/08: Exodus 5-7
Chapter 6:
6: 13-27 goes through the family history of Moses...didn't we get most of that already, and why now, in the middle of the book?
Ted: It was at that juncture that Moses, for the nth time, told God that he was an incompetent speaker. So God declared Aaron to be Moses' official spokesperson. It also was just before God started doing miraculous things through them. So it might have been that this was the "official start" of their work; therefore, a genealogy was in order at that point, explaining who these guys really were. Interestingly, in Luke 3:21-38, a genealogy of Jesus is given just after His baptism and just before He begins his official work on earth, so maybe there is a parallel.
6: 13-27 goes through the family history of Moses...didn't we get most of that already, and why now, in the middle of the book?
Ted: It was at that juncture that Moses, for the nth time, told God that he was an incompetent speaker. So God declared Aaron to be Moses' official spokesperson. It also was just before God started doing miraculous things through them. So it might have been that this was the "official start" of their work; therefore, a genealogy was in order at that point, explaining who these guys really were. Interestingly, in Luke 3:21-38, a genealogy of Jesus is given just after His baptism and just before He begins his official work on earth, so maybe there is a parallel.
01/23/08: Exodus 1-4
Chapter 2:
Is Midian a city in Egypt, or a different country?
Ted: Wikipedia says this about the land of Midian: "Today, the former territory of Midian is located in what is now a small area of western Saudi Arabia, southern Jordan, southern Israel and the Sinai."
Is Midian a city in Egypt, or a different country?
Ted: Wikipedia says this about the land of Midian: "Today, the former territory of Midian is located in what is now a small area of western Saudi Arabia, southern Jordan, southern Israel and the Sinai."
