jeremiah 33:22:
"As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me."
the bible has the usual pre-euclidean notion that one cannot count the stars, because there simply are not enough numbers in existence.
but this is untrue. we know that there are more natural integers than there are stars - infinitely more in fact.
many ancient peoples believed that the number line was finite (and christians still do). but since euclid enlightened people have known otherwise. the stars can be numbered (and so can the grains of the sea).
to suggest that the seed of david cannot be numbered is just silly. at the most generous estimate there can hardly have been as many as fourteen billion even by now.
but then believing silly things is like eating noodles: once you have started you can't stop.
2007-11-15 00:35:34 · 21 answers · asked by synopsis 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
dear jesussaves: yes, the kjv says 'numbered', not 'counted'. we might argue about whether the stars could be physically counted , but they can certainly be numbered (there are enough numbers).
it is good to see you agree that the kjv translation leaves something to be desired.
2007-11-15 01:55:33 · update #1
In your long diatribe, while it shows you passed what, hmm High School Math. Those classes should cover all this. You show very little literary understanding. Perhaps remedial english would help before you jump into literature.
Christians believe in a finite number line? Nope. You really don't know alot about several famous Mathmaticians do you? If you did you would know several were Christian, even ones many people claim to be Atheists were Diests.
SO I guess when YOU begin saying silly things, like eating noodles, once you have started you can't stop.
2007-11-15 00:58:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Where is the phrase "because there simply are not enough numbers in existence." in the Bible? You seem incapable to read the Bible in the sense in which it is written. He's simply making a comparison between the number of stars and the seed of David. Of course both are finite - but who can count them? It's not an issue of mathematically accuracy because he's not speaking in that sense. It's a matter of poetic truth.
Fools die for lack of wisdom.
2007-11-15 10:08:23 · answer #2 · answered by Steve Amato 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Can you give me a count of how many people have been the seed of David over the 3000 years since he lived? Realize that you not only have to distinquish between which Jews have David's blood and which do not, but also determine every person throughout history who has been a Christian, and who have not. The Bible considers all Christians to be spiritual seed to David.
If you have the number, please point us to a reference for it....
If it impossible to come up with that number, that the scripture that says you can't figure out the number is correct.
2007-11-15 08:50:59 · answer #3 · answered by dewcoons 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Can YOU (or any person) physically count the sand grains or the stars? How long would it take you if you started now--a lifetime or more?
No calculating, no estimating, no extrapolating, just plain old rote counting...
Take the Bible as literally as it is meant to be taken and there's no need for "remedial math". Or, take it figuratively as a descriptive phrase meaning "many, many", written in a time when as you said this number was beyond comprehension, and it makes perfect sense.
2007-11-15 08:44:28 · answer #4 · answered by arklatexrat 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no, when it means they can't be numbered that means that it's infinte- i.e. the seed of David is soooo large that it is an infinite number. Same thing with the stars. which scientist can tell you the exact number of stars? God knows, but HE doesn't have to tell us lowly humans that. So, don't take those verses literally, but symbolically.
2007-11-15 08:42:14 · answer #5 · answered by rainbowgirl07 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is possible that there are an infinite number of stars. Not within our event horizon, certainly, but the Universe as a whole could be infinite.
2007-11-15 08:47:54 · answer #6 · answered by cosmo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's a lot of poetry in Hebrew scripture, and the prophets often couched their words poetically. If you are going to attack the veracity of the prophets on this basis, you should at least learn a little more about the text first.
2007-11-15 08:50:56 · answer #7 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can't see a metaphor if it hit you smack dab in the face can you? How absurd a question, and I challenge you to spend the rest of your life counting the stars. I double dog dare you. How foolish of you to say such a stupid thing.
Oh and put it in the original Hebrew if you want to make such a dumb claim. A translation for this kind of arguement has many flaws of its own.
2007-11-15 08:40:13 · answer #8 · answered by Future Citizen of Forvik 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
So, what is the point of all this. If you reject the Word of God why do you waste your time reading it and worrying about why others accept it? I mean, there is no logical reason to concern yourself with what I choose to believe. It will have no impact on your life. Additionally, your views will not affect or cause me to change how and what I believe. I intend no disrespect to you, I just cannot understand your motivation.
2007-11-15 08:46:58 · answer #9 · answered by rico3151 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The point isn't that there aren't enough numbers, it's that there are so many that numbering them isn't practical or important. God wants to know if you need remedial "letting minor things go" lessons. No hard feelings though, pal.
2007-11-15 08:41:28 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋