Numbers 32 - Deuteronomy 6:25

We finally made it to Deuteronomy! I've never read Deuteronomy. Up until just now, in fact, I didn't even know how to spell it.

I've read the rest of the Torah - but this will be totally new for me. I'm excited! Sooo, let's get to it!

The skinny:

Chapter 32: The Reubenites and the Gadites take notice of the land to the east of the promised land (I thought that might have been the land they just plundered, but I'm not sure). They decide that they'd rather not venture into the promised land, but that this is close enough, right? At first Moses is super peeved and he reminds them of all that has brought them here - but then they suggest that they will build their cities and fortify them so that their women and children will be protected and then go and help the rest of the tribes fight off promise land's current inhabitants. This satisfies Moses and so they, along with a half tribe of Manasseh, do just that. Chapter 33: Moses records all the places that they lived during the 40 years - 40 in all plus one more - the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho - and it is this last spot that God instructs Moses to tell the Israelites that it is time to enter into the promised land. He tells Moses about the importance of killing off it's current inhabitants - that if they fail to do this, God will do to the Israelites what he plans to do with them. Chapter 34: God tells Moses where the Israelites need to set up boundaries in the land. He names the guys that will lead in the divying out - one man from each tribe. Chapter 35: The Levites don't get their own land. They get 48 towns in the midst of all the other tribes - pasturelands so that they might be shepherds in more than one way. 6 of these towns are "cities of refuge". If someone kills another person accidentally, they can flee to one of these cities and not be put to death by the guy whose job title is "Avenger of Blood". You might be able to guess what his job description entails. The last paragraph of the chapter warns the Israelites not to pollute the land with bloodshed - because the only thing that make atonement for bloodshed is the blood of the person who shed it. Chapter 36: Another question about Zelophehad's Daughters - what if they marry someone outside their clan - would the land be transferred to that tribe? God instructs them to solve the problem by marrying within their tribe and they do. DEUTERONOMY Chapter 1: Moses begins a recap as they prepare to enter the promised land. He starts at the appointment of the leaders/helpers to Moses. He talks about the spies being sent out and then Israel's rebellion and how that was a total bust. Chapter 2: More recapping. Life after the rebellion - the consequences and how the Israelites were instructed not to mess with Esau's and Lot's descendants. And also Heshbon (I'm not sure if they are Esau or Lot's descendants - I couldn't figure it out) but how Sihon, King of Heshbon was stubborn and wouldn't let the Israelites pass through - so then they had to destroy them - taking everything - including their women and children. Chapter 3: Moses recaps how they destroyed Og, King of Bashan, how they divided out the land and finally, reveals that he blames the Israelites for God not letting him into the promised land and that he begged God to let him in, but God wasn't having it - but Moses was allowed to look at it. Chapter 4: A sermon from Moses - warnings and blessings and mystery and worship. Then Moses sets aside 3 Cities of Refuge for the tribes that are going to live east of the promised land. Chapter 5: The reiteration of the 10 commandments and a final recap - ending with the Lord expressing his deep desire that his people would love and respect him so that they might prosper. Chapter 6: More sermonizing from Moses - Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. And when your children ask why we must follow these decrees explain to them that we were once slaves in Egypt and the Lord saved us and brought us to this place flowing with milk and honey.

A couple of things, notable or otherwise:

Just had this thought: This whole idea of women and children as spoils, it bothers me, of course. But, I was thinking, keeping Israel pure seemed to be kind of a big deal - you know, that's why you didn't marry outside of the community - or in some cases - even outside of your tribe. If the women and children of other nations were taken as plunder, well, how did that work, exactly? Did the women and girls become Israelites because they would eventually marry an Israelite man? But, then, what about the little boys? Are plundered people grafted into society or made to become slaves?

Next up, Chapter 6 - I really love the wording. We are our ancestors - we were brought out of slavery, God brought us into the promised land. It's beautiful. It makes me think of my own history and America's history and how truly interconnected it is.

On an entirely different note, Sadie, Jermaine and I looked up the history of cheesecake the other day and it turns out that the dish is ANCIENT. It was invented before Jesus walked on earth . . . so we got to thinking, how would ancient people make cheesecake? The answer? Milk and honey!!! Proof that God loves cheesecake.

Reading for next time: Deuteronomy 7-22.

And that is all. :)

Numbers 21:1-31:54

Oh goodness. I'm straight forcing myself to write this. I don't want my next entry to be 7 months from now.

But, what's making it even more difficult: Jermaine is editing my resume. Out loud. And I can't concentrate on my blog. But I can't tell him to pipe down because he's being so AWESOME and I'm incredibly grateful.

But, SIGH. I'm not so good with distractions. Especially when they're amazingly helpful husbands.

Oops. He just figured me out. It's quiet now, but I feel bad. :P Good thing he's the easygoing sort!

Okay, let's get down to business.

Skinny vanilla scripture, double whip:

Chapter 21: the Israelites are wandering in the desert still (it does seem like it's been 40 years, doesn't it?). They try to cross Negev, but king Arad is not having it. So, they speak to God and God commands them to shut the place down, and they do. That's the first paragraph. Second paragraph, they're back to their old complaining ways and, as you may have guessed, people start dying (venomous snakes this time). Moses has pity on them and pleads with God, who has him concoct this bronze snake that they can look at and then they will live. Next there's a scene about a well - which God provides before they ask. And, then, the whole rest of the chapter is similar to the first paragraph. Only this time they defeat Sihon and Og. Chapter 22: Balak and Balaam - one of my favorite! It includes a talking donkey! If you haven't read it, you should. The ass is awesome. Chapters 23-24: Balak wants Balaam to curse Israel (he's evidently a prophet). Balaam talks to God and realizes that Israel is blessed - so he blesses them some more - 4 oracles all together. Chapter 25: the men of Israel are being "seduced" by the women of Moab and in the process they end up worshiping Baal of Peor (a Moabite God?). And THEN, this Israelite guy brings a Midianite woman - and they start doing it right in front of the Tent of Meeting! Aaron's grandson freaks out and drives a spear through them both. God is thankful, saying basically that if Phinehas had not done that, their deaths would have been worse (the wrath of God worse). Randomly, at the end, the author's like, bytheway, the names of those two, that did that horrible thing, are Zimri son of Salu and Cozbi, the daughter of a Midianite leader. Not sure if that was out of respect for them or to out their families. Chapter 26: The Lord commands Moses to take a second census - because all the doubters are dead. Chapter 27: A man named Zelophehad dies and all that remains in his family are his daughters. Women didn't own property back in the day so they go up to Moses and ask if they can keep their father's land in their name. Moses talks to God and God replies that what they are saying is right. God decrees what to do in other random circumstances such as these. Also, Moses suggests to God that he find a successor to replace Moses. God appoints Joshua. Chapters 28-29: All about offerings, Sabbath and days of feasting, I suppose it's a reminder for once they get to the promised land. Chapter 30: A random excerpt about women's vows to God that I believe was very progressive for the time. Chapter 31: Vengeance on the Midianites - and it is not pretty. There is dividing of the spoils - and the spoils include women who are virgins (which raises the question, how did they know?). Also, they kill Balaam. And that's messed up because he totally blessed them!

Yeah, man. That was intense. Okay. Away we go!

Chapters 21 and 31: The whole destroying other peoples and taking plunder bothers me (of course). I think it's supposed to. It's unsettling, to say the least. I could look it up and probably find a very good reason - as I'm sure I have at some point in the past - something about God working in such a time as that (in their culture and still managing to be way progressive). But, I'm trying to not do the scholarly thing - plus - whatever reason I found in the past has faded so much from my memory that it doesn't help right now - so who's to say it'll help later? Bottom line, this is hard stuff.

Chapter 22: I love talking animals! And I totally think it could be a real live possibility. Also, my friend, Nate, wrote a great song entitled, "Balaam's Ass". It's quite good.

Chapter 31 (again): At first, I was really bothered by the fact that the Israelites killed Balaam. I realized, though, how unique this story is. In chapter 22, we're introduced to this random non-Israelite prophet. And this guy, at God's prompting, saves Israel from being cursed. And then, a couple chapters later - they destroy him and the rest of the Midianites. It's all messed up! The Israelites messed up! But, it's another example of the fact that God didn't pick the them for the piety. And it begs the question, if how did the narrator find out about this guy, Balaam, in the first place? Because, generations later, when this story was being retold, there's definitely room for regret. All these stories of the Israelites acting badly - it's pretty cool that they made it in Bible, no?

That's it, me'thinks. Thanks for reading!