2007-03-06 14:02:26 · 12 answers · asked by the pink baker 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Thanks Jan for the advice.
2007-03-06 14:17:55 · update #1
Numbers is mostly about Laws. It deals with crimes and judgements. It also includes a rudimentary constitution for the early Jewish State. It is called Numbers because it starts off by giving a census of the tribes and the numbers of people.
Leviticus is mostly the rules for the priests and the offerings. It sets up a power structure and financial rules for funding the priesthood. In a way it is a taxation schedule. It includes the administration of the legal system. The priests were the Judges.
I hope this answer helps.
Oh the ones I have a problem getting. None but I look at them differently than you likely do. The ones called the apocrypha are different, They read more like fairy tales because they were. They are quite a bit different than the other books that were chosen.
The Song of Solomon is a love song. It is in two parts male and female and meant to be recited by a couple. some of the praises sound a bit weird but they lived in a different time. Where he is talking about her teeth being like sheep in line he is telling how perfectly white they are. When the women talk of the little sister and what they should do for her on her wedding day they are discussing dowry arrangements. A very beautiful poem, in its time.
Try not to fit very many extra meanings into any of it. Knowing some of the history of the Bible helps. When it was written and why. What were the Empires around them.
When you are reading political passages like the Rivers Of Babylon it is important to understand why tribe Judah wanted to destroy tribe Edom and kill even their children.
Abbygirl says it right. these two are lists. Lists of the ruling tribes(a whos who) and lists of laws and penalties. nothing to us now but important then. It is like reading your criminal and civil codes. lawbooks.
2007-03-06 14:17:04 · answer #1 · answered by U-98 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Some of the minor prophets like Micah and Nahum are hard to understand. When I have trouble with understanding what is being said I look in a Bible commentary. This helps give me with clarity.
I always pray for God's wisdom before I start any BIble study.
2007-03-06 22:10:15 · answer #2 · answered by zoril 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I agree the book of Leviticus and Numbers are the two hardest ones for me to understand. That is why I listen to them instead of trying to understand them since all they are to me is a list. I'm not quit sure what there is to understand or what God wants us to understand about these two books. But God put them in there for a purpose and a reaon. He makes no mistakes.
2007-03-06 22:30:18 · answer #3 · answered by jrealitytv 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I used to say the same thing until I did a Bible study on them. Now they make perfect sense. If you go to www.ttb.org it is the website of a radio minister that teaches the Bible in 5 yrs. If you go to this site click on to the daily archives and you can go back to Numbers and listen to his teachings online. Right now he is in the book of John.
2007-03-06 22:24:10 · answer #4 · answered by angel 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I too have trouble with Leviticus & Numbers but I recently learned something from Leviticus that I'd like to share with you.
In Leviticus there is a provision for the lepers and when they are cleansed what they need to do. Only one leper was cleansed in the old testament and the others were healed by Jesus. God loved them enough to make a provision for them long before it was ever needed. For me it showed me how God loves us enough that He makes provisions for us long before they are needed.
2007-03-06 22:09:38 · answer #5 · answered by Jan P 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Song of Solomon-- Why, oh, why did the compilers include that one??!?
Isaiah is pretty deep, agreed! The thing I've found helpful is to remember that stylistically, Isaiah is an Eastern writer- he's trying to get as many meanings as possible into each word and line... Us Americans are Western readers- we are used to having only one meaning trying to get across.... think Hemmingway...
So when you read Isaiah, think of as many meanings as possible, and you're probably getting close to what he meant.
2007-03-06 22:19:54 · answer #6 · answered by Yoda's Duck 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hebrews... I'm MOSTLY OK IF I rely on someone else's translations, but the language is SO different from the rest of the New Testament as to be almost unrecognizable.
2007-03-06 22:06:13 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Songs of Solomon. For a faith thats so caustic and strict in rules of chastity, adultery and "sex is only for pro-creation" ideology, Solomon the Wisest of Men, he sure stood outside of those Laws with Bathsheeba.
If no one is above the Law of God, then this Particular "Chosen of God" sure made it clear, if you have connections to "high places" you can do anything... reminds me of Modern Preachers who castigate "weak" parishioners, but they themselves are caught doing ALL sorts of questionable acts from drugs to married individuals to pay-per-hour activities.
2007-03-06 22:11:38 · answer #8 · answered by Tiara 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
this site may help you understand these 2 books. www.salvationhistory.com
go to the study/course section and do the first course,it is free,easy to read and understand and can be done at your own pace.
2007-03-06 22:12:00 · answer #9 · answered by fenian1916 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The Old testament is a type and shadow if you will of the new testament.
A picture of things to come.
2007-03-06 22:11:09 · answer #10 · answered by wisdom 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋