{"id":6296,"date":"2015-12-02T06:49:59","date_gmt":"2015-12-02T00:49:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/intelligent-torvalds.74-208-171-134.plesk.page\/?p=6296"},"modified":"2024-01-19T11:25:33","modified_gmt":"2024-01-19T17:25:33","slug":"romans-part-66","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/?p=6296","title":{"rendered":"Romans, Part 66"},"content":{"rendered":"

I am still considering, by a very long way around, Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer<\/em>[1]<\/sup><\/a> as a description of love rather than as rules to obey.\u00a0 In this particular essay I\u2019m attempting to add some detail if not some clarity to the questions asked at the end of the previous essay: Were the Benjaminites<\/em> wholehearted supporters of the children of Belial\u2019s<\/em> right to know<\/em> any strange man who wandered into town or to gang-rape young women?\u00a0 Or did they decide that it was better to die fighting than to acknowledge the children of Belial<\/em> among them and give their brothers legal cause to slaughter the inhabitants of that city with the sword<\/em>; annihilate with the sword everyone in it<\/em>[2]<\/sup><\/a>?<\/p>\n

<\/a>I assumed since the story of the Levite and his concubine came late in the book of Judges that it happened late in the time period that the Judges led Israel.\u00a0 But the high priest at the time was none other than Phinehas son of Eleazar, son of Aaron<\/em>.[3]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

The Priest Lists<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

1 Chronicles 6:3b-15 (NET)<\/td>\n1 Chronicles 6:50-53 (NET)<\/td>\nEzra 7:1-5 (NET)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Aaron<\/td>\nAaron<\/td>\nAaron<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Eleazar<\/td>\nEleazar<\/td>\nEleazar<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Phinehas<\/td>\nPhinehas<\/td>\nPhinehas<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Abishua<\/td>\nAbishua<\/td>\nAbishua<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bukki<\/td>\nBukki<\/td>\nBukki<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Uzzi<\/td>\nUzzi<\/td>\nUzzi<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Zerahiah<\/td>\nZerahiah<\/td>\nZerahiah<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Meraioth<\/td>\nMeraioth<\/td>\nMeraioth<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Amariah<\/td>\nAmariah<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ahitub<\/td>\nAhitub<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Zadok<\/td>\nZadok<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ahimaaz<\/td>\nAhimaaz<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Azariah<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Johanan<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Azariah[4]<\/sup><\/a><\/td>\n<\/td>\nAzariah<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Amariah<\/td>\n<\/td>\nAmariah<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ahitub<\/td>\n<\/td>\nAhitub<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Zadok<\/td>\n<\/td>\nZadok<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Shallum<\/td>\n<\/td>\nShallum<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hilkiah<\/td>\n<\/td>\nHilkiah<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Azariah<\/td>\n<\/td>\nAzariah<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Seraiah[5]<\/sup><\/a><\/td>\n<\/td>\nSeraiah<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jehozadak[6]<\/sup><\/a><\/td>\n<\/td>\nEzra<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Phinehas was introduced apparently as a boy who took a javelin in his hand<\/em>.[7]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 And now I see what I never saw before in these events (Numbers 25:1-5 NET).<\/p>\n

When Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to commit sexual immorality (<\/em>z\u00e2n\u00e2h<\/a>, \u05dc\u05d6\u05e0\u05d5\u05ea; Septuagint<\/a>: \u1f10\u03ba\u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u1fe6\u03c3\u03b1\u03b9, a form of \u1f10\u03ba\u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u03cd\u03c9<\/a>)<\/em> with the daughters of Moab. \u00a0These women invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods (<\/em>\u02bc\u0115l\u00f4h\u0131\u0302ym<\/a>, \u05d0\u05dc\u05d4\u05d9\u05d4\u05df)<\/em>; then the people ate and bowed down to their gods (<\/em>\u02bc\u0115l\u00f4h\u0131\u0302ym, \u05dc\u05d0\u05dc\u05d4\u05d9\u05d4\u05df). \u00a0<\/em>When Israel joined themselves to Baal-peor (<\/em>ba\u02bdal pe<\/sup>\u02bd\u00f4r<\/a>, \u05e4\u05e2\u05d5\u05e8)<\/em>, the anger of the Lord (<\/em>ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/a>, \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4)<\/em> flared up against Israel.\u00a0 The Lord (<\/em>ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h, \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4) <\/em>said to Moses, \u201cArrest all the leaders (<\/em>r\u00f4\u02bcsh<\/a>, \u05e8\u05d0\u05e9\u05d9)<\/em> of the people, and hang them up before the Lord (<\/em>ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h, \u05dc\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4)<\/em> in broad daylight, so that the fierce anger of the Lord (<\/em>ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h, \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4)<\/em> may be turned away from Israel.\u201d \u00a0So Moses said to the judges (<\/em>sh\u00e2pha\u1e6d<\/a>, \u05e9\u05e4\u05d8\u05d9)<\/em> of Israel, \u201cEach of you must execute (<\/em>h\u00e2rag<\/a>, \u05d4\u05e8\u05d2\u05d5)<\/em> those of his men who were joined to Baal-peor (<\/em>ba\u02bdal pe<\/sup>\u02bd\u00f4r, \u05e4\u05e2\u05d5\u05e8)<\/em>.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Moses and the whole community of the Israelites<\/em>, were weeping at the entrance of the tent of meeting<\/em>.[8]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 I don\u2019t know if they wept because of the sorrow believers feel when those who profess faith are found in sin or because their leaders[9]<\/sup><\/a> were about to be executed or because of an unspecified[10]<\/sup><\/a> plague that ravaged them.\u00a0\u00a0 But as the people wept Zimri,[11]<\/sup><\/a> a man of Israel, paraded Cozbi,[12]<\/sup><\/a> a Midianite woman, before them.<\/p>\n

When Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he got up from among the assembly, took a javelin in his hand, and went after the Israelite man into the tent and thrust through the Israelite man and into the woman\u2019s abdomen<\/em>.[13]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 Every other time I\u2019ve read this I assumed that Phinehas was also a priest, acting with ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h\u2019s<\/em> authority, prompted by his Holy Spirit.\u00a0 But suspecting now that he was an upstart boy as liable to judgment and condemnation for his action as not, I hear ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h\u2019s<\/em> words differently (Numbers 25:10-13 NET):\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

The Lord (<\/em>ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h, \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4)<\/em> spoke to Moses: \u201cPhinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned my anger away from the Israelites, when he manifested such zeal for my sake among them, so that I did not consume the Israelites in my zeal. \u00a0Therefore, announce: \u2018I am going to give to him my covenant of peace. \u00a0So it will be to him and his descendants after him a covenant of a permanent priesthood, because he has been zealous for his God (<\/em>\u02bc\u0115l\u00f4h\u0131\u0302ym, \u05dc\u05d0\u05dc\u05d4\u05d9\u05d5)<\/em>, and has made atonement for the Israelites.\u2019\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So the plague was stopped from the Israelites. \u00a0Those that died in the plague were 24,000<\/em>.[14]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 And Phinehas lived to become the high priest advising the brotherhood<\/a> assembled\u00a0 at Gibeah demanding the lives of the children of Belial<\/a><\/em>.\u00a0 Unless he lived three hundred[15]<\/sup><\/a> or more years (and that remarkable feat wasn\u2019t mentioned) this was not at the end of the rule of the Judges.\u00a0 So I consider again the preamble of the book of Judges (Judges 2:18, 19 NET):<\/p>\n

When the Lord (<\/em>ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h, \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4)<\/em> raised up leaders (<\/em>sh\u00e2pha\u1e6d, \u05e9\u05e4\u05d8\u05d9\u05dd)<\/em> for them, the Lord (<\/em>ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h, \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4)<\/em> was with each leader (<\/em>sh\u00e2pha\u1e6d, \u05d4\u05e9\u05e4\u05d8)<\/em> and delivered the people from their enemies while the leader (<\/em>sh\u00e2pha\u1e6d, \u05d4\u05e9\u05d5\u05e4\u05d8)<\/em> remained alive.\u00a0 The Lord (<\/em>ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h, \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4)<\/em> felt sorry for them when they cried out in agony because of what their harsh oppressors did to them. \u00a0When a leader (<\/em>sh\u00e2pha\u1e6d, \u05d4\u05e9\u05d5\u05e4\u05d8)<\/em> died, the next generation would again act more wickedly than the previous one.\u00a0 They would follow after other gods, worshiping them and bowing down to them.\u00a0 They did not give up their practices or their stubborn ways [Table<\/a>]<\/em>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It is disheartening and a bit disconcerting (though not entirely implausible) to place the events at Gibeah at or near the top of this downward spiral rather than at its bottom.\u00a0 But dating it nearer Israel\u2019s conquest of annihilation against the prior inhabitants of Canaan may go a long way toward explaining the vindictiveness of the brotherhood toward their brothers.\u00a0 Consider Phinehas\u2019 formative education (Numbers 31:1-3 NET).<\/p>\n

The Lord (<\/em>ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h, \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4)<\/em> spoke to Moses: \u00a0\u201cExact (<\/em>n\u00e2qam<\/a>, \u05e0\u05e7\u05dd; Septuagint<\/a>: \u1f10\u03ba\u03b4\u03af\u03ba\u03b5\u03b9, a form of \u1f10\u03ba\u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03ad\u03c9<\/a>)<\/em> vengeance (<\/em>ne<\/sup>q\u00e2m\u00e2h<\/a>, \u05e0\u05e7\u05de\u05ea; Septuagint<\/a>: \u1f10\u03ba\u03b4\u03af\u03ba\u03b7\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd, a form of \u1f10\u03ba\u03b4\u03af\u03ba\u03b7\u03c3\u03b9\u03c2<\/a>)<\/em> for the Israelites on the Midianites \u2013 after that you will be gathered to your people.\u201d<\/p>\n

So Moses spoke to the people: \u201cArm men from among you for the war, to attack the Midianites and to execute the Lord\u2019s (<\/em>ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h, \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4)<\/em> vengeance (<\/em>ne<\/sup>q\u00e2m\u00e2h, \u05e0\u05e7\u05de\u05ea; Septuagint<\/a>: \u1f10\u03ba\u03b4\u03af\u03ba\u03b7\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd, a form of \u1f10\u03ba\u03b4\u03af\u03ba\u03b7\u03c3\u03b9\u03c2)<\/em> on Midian.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So Moses sent them to the war, one thousand from every tribe, with Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest, who was in charge of the holy articles and the signal trumpets<\/em>.[16]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 They killed all the men, including Balaam son of Beor.[17]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 But Moses was furious<\/em>[18]<\/sup><\/a> (Numbers 31:15-18 NET):<\/p>\n

Moses said to them, \u201cHave you allowed all the women to live? \u00a0Look, these people through the counsel of Balaam caused the Israelites to act treacherously against the Lord (<\/em>ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h, \u05d1\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4)<\/em> in the matter of Peor \u2013 which resulted in the plague among the community of the Lord (<\/em>ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h, \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4)<\/em>! \u00a0Now therefore kill every boy, and kill every woman who has had sexual intercourse (<\/em>mishk\u00e2b<\/a>, \u05dc\u05de\u05e9\u05db\u05d1)<\/em> with a man. \u00a0But all the young women who have not had sexual intercourse (<\/em>mishk\u00e2b, \u05de\u05e9\u05db\u05d1)<\/em> with a man will be yours.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I want to pause a moment to consider Balaam, to challenge and enlighten my own parochialism.\u00a0 The Israelites killed Balaam son of Beor, the omen <\/em>(q\u00e2sam<\/a><\/em>, \u05d4\u05e7\u05d5\u05e1\u05dd) reader, along with the others<\/em>.[19]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 When you enter the land the Lord<\/em> (ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/em>, <\/em>\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4) your God<\/em> (\u02bc\u0115l\u00f4h\u0131\u0302ym<\/em>, \u05d0\u05dc\u05d4\u05d9\u05da) is giving you, <\/em>Moses said to Israel, you must not learn the abhorrent practices of those nations. \u00a0There must never be found among you anyone who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, anyone who practices divination<\/em> (qesem<\/a><\/em>, \u05e7\u05e1\u05dd), an omen<\/em> (q\u00e2sam<\/em>, \u05e7\u05e1\u05de\u05d9\u05dd) reader, a soothsayer <\/em>(n\u00e2chash<\/a><\/em>, \u05d5\u05de\u05e0\u05d7\u05e9), a sorcerer, one who casts spells, one who conjures up spirits, a practitioner of the occult, or a necromancer. \u00a0Whoever does these things is abhorrent to the Lord<\/em> (ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/em>, <\/em>\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4) and because of these detestable things the Lord<\/em> (ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/em>, <\/em>\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4) your God<\/em> (\u02bc\u0115l\u00f4h\u0131\u0302ym<\/em>, \u05d0\u05dc\u05d4\u05d9\u05da) is about to drive them out from before you<\/em>.[20]<\/sup><\/a> \u00a0Balaam was not a son of Israel but was of Pethor in Aram Naharaim<\/em>.[21]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 He was certainly no follower of Jesus.<\/p>\n

Yet while not denying the truth of any of this I must accept that ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/em> used Balaam as his prophet to Balak.\u00a0 <\/em>But the angel of the Lord<\/em> (ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/em>, <\/em>\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4) said to Balaam, \u201cGo with the men, but you may only speak the word that I will speak to you.\u201d\u00a0 So Balaam went with the princes of Balak<\/em>.[22]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 <\/em>Then the Lord<\/em> (ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/em>, <\/em>\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4) put a message in Balaam\u2019s mouth and said, \u201cReturn to Balak, and speak what I tell you.\u201d<\/em>[23]<\/sup><\/a> Then the Lord<\/em> (ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/em>, <\/em>\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4) met Balaam and put a message in his mouth and said, \u201cReturn to Balak, and speak what I tell you.\u201d<\/em>[24]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

Balaam was affected by his association with ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/em>.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em>He uttered his oracle<\/em>[25]<\/sup><\/a> (m\u00e2sh\u00e2l<\/a><\/em>, \u05de\u05e9\u05dc\u05d5; also translated discourse<\/a><\/em> and speech<\/a><\/em>).\u00a0 How can I curse one whom God<\/em> (\u02bc\u00eal<\/a><\/em>, \u05d0\u05dc) has not cursed, or how can I denounce one whom the Lord<\/em> (ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/em>, <\/em>\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4) has not denounced?<\/em>[26]<\/sup><\/a> Must I not be careful to speak what the Lord<\/em> (ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/em>, <\/em>\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4) has put in my mouth?<\/em>[27]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 Did I not tell you, \u2018All that the Lord <\/em>(ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/em>, <\/em>\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4) speaks, I must do\u2019?<\/em>[28]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 When Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord<\/em> (ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/em>, <\/em>\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4) to bless Israel, he did not go as at the other times to seek for omens<\/em> (nachash<\/a><\/em>, \u05e0\u05d7\u05e9\u05d9\u05dd), but he set his face toward the wilderness<\/em>.[29]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

This is not to say that Israel was wrong to kill Balaam when they found him in Midian.\u00a0 If ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/em> wanted to spare him, He could have warned Moses or Balaam himself. \u00a0If Balaam was warned but refused or was too fearful to flee, that is another story I won\u2019t know for the time being.\u00a0 And Balaam was not made perfect.\u00a0 He still tried to accommodate his employers\u2019 desire to destroy Israel by counseling them [in the name of Baal-peor(?)] how to use women to trip them up.\u00a0 The Children of God<\/a> called it \u201cFlirty Fishing<\/a>.\u201d \u00a0<\/em>Balaam was not fit to be a prophet of Israel (Deuteronomy 18:13-15 NET):\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

You must be blameless before the Lord (<\/em>ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h, \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4)<\/em> your God (<\/em>\u02bc\u0115l\u00f4h\u0131\u0302ym, \u05d0\u05dc\u05d4\u05d9\u05da)<\/em>, Moses continued. \u00a0Those nations that you are about to dispossess listen to omen (<\/em>q\u00e2sam, \u05e7\u05e1\u05de\u05d9\u05dd)<\/em> readers and diviners, but the Lord (<\/em>ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h, \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4)<\/em> your God (<\/em>\u02bc\u0115l\u00f4h\u0131\u0302ym, \u05d0\u05dc\u05d4\u05d9\u05da)<\/em> has not given you permission to do such things. The Lord (<\/em>ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h, \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4)<\/em> your God (<\/em>\u02bc\u0115l\u00f4h\u0131\u0302ym, \u05d0\u05dc\u05d4\u05d9\u05da)<\/em> will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you \u2013 from your fellow Israelites; you must listen to him [Table<\/a>]<\/em>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

To pick up again with Phinehas\u2019 formative education: The Israelites sent Phinehas, son of Eleazar, the priest, to the land of Gilead to the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh<\/em>[30]<\/sup><\/a> to investigate why they had built an impressive altar<\/em>[31]<\/sup><\/a> near the west bank of the Jordan River.\u00a0 Tensions were running high, as high if not higher, then when the descendants of Reuben and Gad petitioned[32]<\/sup><\/a> Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the leaders of the community<\/em>[33]<\/sup><\/a> for possession of the conquered land east of the Jordan. \u00a0Moses, forbidden<\/a> to enter the promised land and near death<\/a>, assumed that the descendants of Reuben and Gad plotted to discourage Israel from entering that land.\u00a0 He said (Numbers 32:14, 15 NET):<\/p>\n

Now look, you are standing in your fathers\u2019 place, a brood of sinners, to increase still further the fierce wrath of the Lord (<\/em>ye<\/sup>h\u00f4vih<\/a>, \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4)<\/em> against the Israelites. \u00a0For if you turn away from following him, he will once again abandon them in the wilderness, and you will be the reason for their destruction.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This is the end of a fearful diatribe that twice mentions ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h\u2019s<\/em> anger: <\/em>So the anger of the Lord<\/em> (ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/em>, <\/em>\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4) was kindled that day<\/em>,[34]<\/sup><\/a> and, So the Lord\u2019s<\/em> (ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/em>, <\/em>\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4) anger was kindled against the Israelites<\/em>.[35]<\/sup><\/a> \u00a0Whatever the fear of the Lord<\/a><\/em> meant to ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/em>, to Moses at that moment it meant fearing what <\/em>ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/em> could do to the whole of Israel if any disobeyed Him.<\/em><\/p>\n

The descendants of Reuben and Gad joined their brothers in the conquest of Canaan west of the Jordan, but after they were blessed by Joshua and released<\/a> to return home they built a strange altar.\u00a0 When the Israelites heard this, the entire Israelite community assembled at Shiloh to launch an attack against them<\/em>.[36]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 They sent Phinehas and ten leaders with this message instead: \u201cThe entire community of the Lord <\/em>(ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/em>, <\/em>\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4) says, \u2018Why have you disobeyed the God <\/em>(\u02bc\u0115l\u00f4h\u0131\u0302ym<\/em>, \u05d1\u05d0\u05dc\u05d4\u05d9) of Israel by turning back today from following the Lord <\/em>(ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/em>, <\/em>\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4)?\u00a0 You built an altar for yourselves and have rebelled today against the Lord <\/em>(ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/em>).\u2019\u201d<\/em>[37]<\/sup><\/a> The same fear, what ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/em> might do to the whole community, is evident (Joshua 22:17, 18, 22a NET):<\/p>\n

The sin we committed at Peor was bad enough. \u00a0To this very day we have not purified[38]<\/sup><\/a><\/em> ourselves; it even brought a plague on the community of the Lord (<\/em>ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h, \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4)<\/em>. \u00a0Now today you dare to turn back from following the Lord (<\/em>ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h, \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4)<\/em>! \u00a0You are rebelling today against the Lord (<\/em>ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h, \u05d1\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4)<\/em>; tomorrow he may break out in anger against the entire community of Israel\u2026.When Achan son of Zerah disobeyed the command about the city\u2019s riches, the entire Israelite community was judged\u2026<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The descendants of Reuben and Gad replied (Joshua 22:24-27 NET):<\/p>\n

We swear we have done this because we were worried that in the future your descendants would say to our descendants, \u2018What relationship do you have with the Lord (<\/em>ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h, \u05d5\u05dc\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4)<\/em> God (<\/em>\u02bc\u0115l\u00f4h\u0131\u0302ym, \u05d0\u05dc\u05d4\u05d9)<\/em> of Israel? \u00a0The Lord (<\/em>ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h, \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4)<\/em> made the Jordan a boundary between us and you Reubenites and Gadites. \u00a0You have no right to worship the Lord (<\/em>ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h, \u05d1\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4)<\/em>.\u2019 \u00a0In this way your descendants might cause our descendants to stop obeying (<\/em>y\u00e2r\u00ea\u02bc<\/a>, \u05d9\u05e8\u05d0)<\/em> the Lord (<\/em>ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h, \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4)<\/em>. \u00a0So we decided to build this altar, not for burnt offerings and sacrifices, but as a reminder to us and you, and to our descendants who follow us, that we will honor the Lord (<\/em>ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h, \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4) <\/em>in his very presence with burnt offerings, sacrifices, and tokens of peace. \u00a0Then in the future your descendants will not be able to say to our descendants, \u2018You have no right to worship the Lord (<\/em>ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h, \u05d1\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4)<\/em>.\u2019<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It is remarkable that soldiers on their way home to wives and families would even consider such a thing.\u00a0 But in such tense times the descendants of Reuben and Gad had faced heightened suspicion from Moses and apparently the rest of Israel ever since they expressed a desire for land east of the Jordan that was ideal for cattle<\/em>: Now the Reubenites and the Gadites possessed a very large number of cattle<\/em>.[39]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 Phinehas had even insinuated that there might be something wrong with the land: But if your own land is impure, cross over to the Lord\u2019s <\/em>(ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/em>, <\/em>\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4) own land, where the Lord <\/em>(ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/em>, <\/em>\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4) himself lives, and settle down among us<\/em>.[40]<\/sup><\/a> \u00a0(Gibeah, by the way, was west of the Jordan in the Lord\u2019s own land, where the Lord himself lives<\/em>.)<\/p>\n

<\/a>I will sharpen my lightning-like sword, and my hand will grasp hold of the weapon of judgment <\/em>(Septuagint<\/a>: \u03ba\u03c1\u03af\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2, a form of \u03ba\u03c1\u03af\u03bc\u03b1<\/a>); yeh\u00f4v\u00e2h <\/em>said,\u00a0I will execute vengeance<\/em> (Septuagint<\/a>: \u03b4\u03af\u03ba\u03b7\u03bd, a form of \u03b4\u03af\u03ba\u03b7<\/a>) on my foes, and repay those who hate me!<\/em>[41]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 He chose the soldiers of Israel as his weapon against the inhabitants of Canaan.\u00a0 But his work is perfect<\/em> (Septuagint<\/a>: \u1f00\u03bb\u03b7\u03b8\u03b9\u03bd\u1f70, a form of \u1f00\u03bb\u03b7\u03b8\u03b9\u03bd\u03cc\u03c2<\/a>), for all his ways are just<\/em> (Septuagint: \u03ba\u03c1\u03af\u03c3\u03b5\u03b9\u03c2, a form of \u03ba\u03c1\u03af\u03c3\u03b9\u03c2<\/a>).\u00a0 He is a reliable<\/em> (Septuagint: \u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03cc\u03c2<\/a>) God <\/em>(\u02bc\u00eal<\/em>, \u05d0\u05dc) who is never unjust<\/em> (Septuagint: \u1f00\u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03af\u03b1<\/a>), he is fair<\/em> (Septuagint: \u03b4\u03af\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03bf\u03c2<\/a>) and upright<\/em>.[42]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

To be that weapon those soldiers and all Israel must be that perfect in his sight.\u00a0 Jesus knew what He was talking about when He taught: Do not judge<\/em> (\u03ba\u03c1\u03af\u03bd\u03b5\u03c4\u03b5, a form of \u03ba\u03c1\u03af\u03bd\u03c9<\/a>) so that you will not be judged<\/em> (\u03ba\u03c1\u03b9\u03b8\u1fc6\u03c4\u03b5, another form of \u03ba\u03c1\u03af\u03bd\u03c9). \u00a0For by the standard<\/em> (\u03ba\u03c1\u03af\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03b9, another form of \u03ba\u03c1\u03af\u03bc\u03b1) you judge<\/em> (\u03ba\u03c1\u03af\u03bd\u03b5\u03c4\u03b5, another form of \u03ba\u03c1\u03af\u03bd\u03c9) you will be judged<\/em> (\u03ba\u03c1\u03b9\u03b8\u03ae\u03c3\u03b5\u03c3\u03b8\u03b5, another form of \u03ba\u03c1\u03af\u03bd\u03c9), and the measure you use will be the measure<\/a> you receive<\/em>.[43]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>To achieve that perfection through a kind of \u201cnatural selection\u201d (e.g., the death of those who did not achieve it) and the fear of that death, or the fear of whatever else ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h\u2019s<\/em> anger might do to the living, puts the flesh<\/em>, the Belial<\/a><\/em> if you will, under tremendous pressure.\u00a0 Perfection achieved in this manner exists only as long as the pressure that created it.\u00a0 Relax that pressure ever so slightly and the flesh<\/em>, the Belial<\/em>, erupts as it did among the sons of Belial<\/a><\/em> at Gibeah.\u00a0 And so we find Phinehas, who lived his entire life under that kind of pressure, attempting to put the toothpaste back in the tube by the only means he knows.<\/p>\n

Granted, the descendents of Benjamin didn\u2019t respond to the situation like innocent men.\u00a0 As a case in point hear the response of the descendents of Reuben and Gad (Joshua 22:22, 23 NET):\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

El (\u05d0\u05dc)<\/em>, God (<\/em>\u02bc\u0115l\u00f4h\u0131\u0302ym, \u05d0\u05dc\u05d4\u05d9\u05dd)<\/em>, the Lord (<\/em>ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h, \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4)<\/em>! \u00a0El (\u05d0\u05dc)<\/em>, God (<\/em>\u02bc\u0115l\u00f4h\u0131\u0302ym, \u05d0\u05dc\u05d4\u05d9\u05dd)<\/em>, the Lord (<\/em>ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h, \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4)<\/em>! \u00a0He knows the truth! \u00a0Israel must also know! \u00a0If we have rebelled or disobeyed the Lord (<\/em>ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h, \u05d1\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4)<\/em>, don\u2019t spare us today! \u00a0If we have built an altar for ourselves to turn back from following the Lord (<\/em>ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h, \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4) <\/em>by making burnt sacrifices and grain offerings on it, or by offering tokens of peace on it, the Lord (<\/em>ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h, \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4) <\/em>himself will punish (<\/em>b\u00e2qash<\/a>, \u05d9\u05d1\u05e7\u05e9; Septuagint<\/a>: \u1f10\u03ba\u03b6\u03b7\u03c4\u03ae\u03c3\u03b5\u03b9, a form of \u1f10\u03ba\u03b6\u03b7\u03c4\u03ad\u03c9<\/a>)<\/em> us.\u00a0<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Reach agreement quickly with your accuser while on the way to court<\/em>, Jesus taught, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the warden, and you will be thrown into prison<\/em>.[44]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 When Phinehas the priest and the community leaders and clan leaders who accompanied him heard the defense of the Reubenites, Gadites, and the Manassehites, they were satisfied. \u00a0Phinehas, son of Eleazar, the priest, said to the Reubenites, Gadites, and the Manassehites, \u201cToday we know that the Lord<\/em> (ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/em>, <\/em>\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4) is among us, because you have not disobeyed the Lord<\/em> (ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/em>, <\/em>\u05d1\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4) in this. \u00a0Now you have rescued the Israelites from the Lord\u2019s <\/em>(ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/em>, <\/em>\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4) judgment <\/em>(y\u00e2d<\/a><\/em>, \u05de\u05d9\u05d3; Septuagint<\/a>: \u03c7\u03b5\u03b9\u03c1\u1f78\u03c2, a form of \u03c7\u03b5\u03af\u03c1<\/a>).\u201d[45]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

I\u2019ll pick this up in the next essay.<\/p>\n

Romans, Part 67<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Back to Romans, Part 68<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Back to Romans, Part 72<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Back to Paul’s Religious Mind Revisited, Part 3<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[1]<\/sup> Romans 12:12 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[2]<\/sup> Deuteronomy 13:15 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[3]<\/sup> Judges 20:28a (NET)<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[4]<\/sup> Johanan was the father of Azariah, who served as a priest in the temple Solomon built in Jerusalem<\/em>. (1 Chronicles 6:10 NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[5]<\/sup> 2 Kings 25:18<\/a>, Jeremiah 52:24 (NET)<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[6]<\/sup> Jehozadak went into exile when the Lord sent the people of Judah and Jerusalem into exile by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar<\/em>. (1 Chronicles 6:15 NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[7]<\/sup> Numbers 25:7 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[8]<\/sup> Numbers 25:6b (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[9]<\/sup> The leaders<\/em> of the people were r\u00f4\u02bcsh<\/em>, not \u00a0ba\u02bdal<\/a><\/em>, and not be<\/sup>l\u0131\u0302ya\u02bdal<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n

<\/a>[10]<\/sup> Frankly, I don\u2019t know if this plague<\/em> was a deadly disease, the execution of the leaders of the people<\/em>, the rampant \u1f10\u03ba\u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u1fe6\u03c3\u03b1\u03b9 (Hebrew: z\u00e2n\u00e2h<\/a><\/em>, \u05dc\u05d6\u05e0\u05d5\u05ea) of the people (and the word is people<\/em> not men<\/em>) with the daughters of Moab<\/em>, or both of the latter.<\/p>\n

<\/a>[11]<\/sup> Numbers 25:14 (NET)<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[12]<\/sup> Numbers 25:15 (NET)<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[13]<\/sup> Numbers 25:7, 8a (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[14]<\/sup> Numbers 25:8b, 9 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[15]<\/sup> Judges 11:26 (NET)<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[16]<\/sup> Numbers 31:6 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[17]<\/sup> Numbers 31:7, 8 (NET)<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[18]<\/sup> Numbers 31:14a (NET)<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[19]<\/sup> Joshua 13:22 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[20]<\/sup> Deuteronomy 18:9-12 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[21]<\/sup> Deuteronomy 23:4b (NET)<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[22]<\/sup> Numbers 22:35 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[23]<\/sup> Numbers 23:5 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[24]<\/sup> Numbers 23:16 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[25]<\/sup> Numbers 23:7a (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[26]<\/sup> Numbers 23:8 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[27]<\/sup> Numbers 23:12 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[28]<\/sup> Numbers 23:26b (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[29]<\/sup> Numbers 24:1 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[30]<\/sup> Joshua 22:13 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[31]<\/sup> Joshua 22:10 (NET)<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[32]<\/sup> Numbers 32:5 (NET)<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[33]<\/sup> Numbers 32:2 (NET)<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[34]<\/sup> Numbers 32:10 (NET)<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[35]<\/sup> Numbers 32:13 (NET)<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[36]<\/sup> Joshua 22:12 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[37]<\/sup> Joshua 22:16 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[38]<\/sup> Did Phinehas\u2019 zeal<\/em> bring a \u201cpremature\u201d halt to the execution of those who were joined to Baal-peor<\/em>?\u00a0 The Lord spoke to Moses: \u201cPhinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned my anger away from the Israelites, when he manifested such zeal for my sake among them<\/em>\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/a>[39]<\/sup> Numbers 32:1 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[40]<\/sup> Joshua 22:19a (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[41]<\/sup> Deuteronomy 32:41 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[42]<\/sup> Deuteronomy 32:4 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[43]<\/sup> Matthew 7:1, 2 (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[44]<\/sup> Matthew 5:25 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[45]<\/sup> Joshua 22:30, 31 (NET)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I am still considering, by a very long way around, Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer[1] as a description of love rather than as rules to obey.\u00a0 In this particular essay I\u2019m attempting to add some detail … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1736,3116,3118,20,2719],"tags":[3031,3051,3042,3061,3015,3041,3054,3052,3055,3056,3060,3057,3062,3058,3064,3037,3063,301,3043,3048,3045,3049,3044,3046,3047,3050,3032,3035,3033,3034,3036,3038,3040,3039,3059,3053,2914],"class_list":["post-6296","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chapter-12","category-love","category-rejoice-in-hope","category-romans","category-section-three","tag-deuteronomy-1315","tag-deuteronomy-1813-15","tag-deuteronomy-189-12","tag-deuteronomy-324","tag-deuteronomy-3241","tag-joshua-1322","tag-joshua-2212","tag-joshua-2213","tag-joshua-2216","tag-joshua-2217-18","tag-joshua-2219","tag-joshua-2220","tag-joshua-2222-23","tag-joshua-2224-27","tag-joshua-2230-31","tag-judges-218-19","tag-matthew-525","tag-matthew-71-2","tag-numbers-2235","tag-numbers-2312","tag-numbers-2316","tag-numbers-2326","tag-numbers-235","tag-numbers-237","tag-numbers-238","tag-numbers-241","tag-numbers-251-5","tag-numbers-2510-13","tag-numbers-256","tag-numbers-257-8","tag-numbers-258-9","tag-numbers-311-3","tag-numbers-3115-18","tag-numbers-316","tag-numbers-321","tag-numbers-3214-15","tag-romans-1212"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6296","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6296"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6296\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22531,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6296\/revisions\/22531"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6296"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6296"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6296"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}