This guy Jedi is trying to discredit the entire Bible by citing 1Kings 7:23:
23 He made the Sea of cast metal, circular in shape, measuring ten cubits from rim to rim and five cubits high. It took a line of thirty cubits to measure around it. (NIV)
Hiram's next project was to make the Sea—an immense round basin of cast metal fifteen feet in diameter, seven and a half feet tall, and forty-five feet in circumference. (The Message)
An NIV footnote says the measurements are "about 15 feet (about 4.5 meters)" and "about 45 feet (about 13.5 meters)"--"about", not "exactly".
Mathematically, however, Jedi has a point. Using a computer calculator, when I multiply 15 by a form of 3.1415926535897932384626433832... , I come up with a number starting with 47, such as 47.1225 or 47.123889803835. Ideally, the Bible should have said 47 feet, or 31 cubits. (Ten times 3.1415..., of course, would be 31.415..., the same numbers with the decimal point moved one space.)
What say you?
2007-04-29 13:52:43 · 6 answers · asked by MNL_1221 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
When I saw Jedi in your question I thought you meant lightsabers and the force. What a let-down.
2007-04-29 13:56:30 · answer #1 · answered by Fool on the Hill 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's probably an oversite by the original writer, but the amount would be noticible. Besides, if the Bible is the infallible, correct word of God, you would think the Bible would have the correct amounts in it.
You can't go by the footnote measurements; they're not part of the text. The text has "ten cubits from brim to brim, and five cubits high. A line of the thirty cubits would encircle it completely." (NRSV). The NIV is apparently changing the measurements to feet. 30/10 = 3.
2007-04-29 20:58:38 · answer #2 · answered by The Doctor 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think I looked at it. But is this the difference with inside measure, and wall thickness. I believe this may be the case.
Also, is the exact measurement of the cubit known?
2007-04-29 20:59:07 · answer #3 · answered by RB 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the jedi should stick that computer calculator up his *** and listen to the facts that the bible wasn't a primary source written by God or our creator its been written and translated how many times? only in the 15th century was it put into vernacular languages for anyone who read another language than latin. and I bet he thinks he's a real cool guy for trying to prove the entire bible wrong. too bad he's just a jedi.
2007-04-29 21:00:24 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Interesting point.. do you think they were really concerned with that kind of accuracy back then?...
How about the speed of light in Numbers?
2007-04-29 20:59:06 · answer #5 · answered by ♥Tom♥ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
DITTO!
2007-04-29 20:58:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋