13
votes
How to reconcile Matthew 5:19 and Matthew 5:34 and Numbers 30:2 on the issue of swearing oaths?
Consider:
Father says: “If you borrow money, make sure you repay it as soon as you can.”
Mother says: “Don't borrow money.”
The second advice doesn't set aside the first, negate it, or even imply ...
- 5,605
12
votes
Accepted
How did they keep warm on the Sabbath day?
It says "Don't kindle a fire," not "don't allow a fire to be burning."
The prohibition is on the act of lighting a fire, not of having a fire be lit.
Having a fire burning to ...
- 425
9
votes
Did God command the making of graven images, in Exodus and Numbers?
No, God did not contradict Himself, since He never forbade all kinds of images to begin with, that, going on to command images to be made, He could be said to contradict Himself.
Something is always ...
- 9,444
9
votes
Why was prohibition against consuming grapes and raisins included in the Nazirite vow?
I found an interesting suggestion in the IVP Bible Background Commentary (Num. 6:3) which may explain why grapes and raisins were included in the vow,
Alternatively, one must notice that the grape ...
- 7,142
9
votes
Are we sure the Sabbath was/is always on a Saturday, and why are there not names of days in the Bible?
You appear to have several questions wrapped into one. Let's consider them one at a time.
Regarding the Bible Sabbath
The Bible follows the Hebrew tradition and focus of the weekly Sabbath, the ...
- 4,707
8
votes
Accepted
In the account in Numbers 31, how would the Israelite soldiers have known which women had had sex and which women did not?
The words describing the women are וְכָל־אִשָּׁ֗ה יֹדַ֥עַת אִ֛ישׁ. The word יֹדַעַת is a participle, so a more literal translation might be every woman knowing a man. This doesn't imply that the woman ...
- 3,738
8
votes
Accepted
If the Exodus and conquest of Canaan took place around 1446 BC, why are there so many references to iron in that period's writing?
The iron age does not refer to the invention of iron smelting. As Wikipedia says:
It is defined by archaeological convention, and the mere presence of cast or wrought iron is not sufficient to ...
- 2,939
8
votes
Does Numbers 18:15-16 permit child sacrifice?
In short, the verses are not talking about sacrificing (putting to death in offering) human children, but passing over of the firstborn to the service of God.
The Keil and Delitzsch Biblical ...
- 426
8
votes
Accepted
Why did God choose healing instead of taking away the serpents in Numbers 21:6?
This is a very large topic and gets right to the heart of the gospel.
Bronze is a figure denoting judgement, both God's judgement (the brazen altar for offerings and sacrifice) and self-judgement (the ...
- 3,615
7
votes
Why does Moses change Hosea's name to Joshua?
While there is nothing explicit given regarding the change, the significance appears to lie in the meanings themselves. However, this topic is possibly the most important onomastic study of all time. ...
7
votes
Accepted
Did Moses disband the initial group of leaders which he had appointed in Exodus 18?
These were two separate groups. The first group were officers (שָׂרִים) whose job was to judge the nation (Exodus 18:22). In the retelling in Deuteronomy (1:16), they are also referred to as judges (...
- 3,738
7
votes
Accepted
How to understand John 4 in light of Exodus 17 and Numbers 20?
The question makes a leap of logic that is unwarranted.
In all the cases cited, Ex 17:17, Num 20:2, literal (as distinct from spiritual or figurative) water is in view.
This leaves us with 1 Cor 10:3 ...
- 91.9k
6
votes
Accepted
Why is Caleb said to be from the tribe of Judah in Numbers 13:6?
No Certain Answer
Commentators have tended to phrase the question differently than here, in that they tend to acknowledge no doubt on the fact that Caleb is considered of the tribe of Judah (Num 13:6;...
- 20k
6
votes
Did Jesus become unclean in Matthew 9:25?
Did Jesus become unclean in Matthew 9:25?
Questions From Readers in the Watchtower July 15, 1972 issue has a very similar question and addresses it:
So, if Jesus touched her corpse, would that make ...
- 4,189
6
votes
Apparently a DOUBLE contradiction: Can this be explained?
Deuteronomy says you are not to cut yourself or your hair "for the dead". Deuteronomy is talking about acts indicating a state of mourning. It is the mourning that God doesn't like in his ...
- 4,845
6
votes
What Is the Difference Between 'Man' And 'Son of Man' in Num 23:19?
This would be an example of what scholars refer to as "synonymous parallelism."
It is a literary device, sometimes used in Hebrew poetry, where the same idea is repeated in two different ...
- 141
5
votes
What exactly did Moses do wrong at Meribah?
Restating the problem
The traditional interpretation is well-known that Moses struck the rock rather than speaking to it. The OP himself is well aware of this tradition but is hesitant to accept, ...
- 7,142
5
votes
What exactly did Moses do wrong at Meribah?
Numbers 20:7-13 (DRB)
7 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 8 Take the rod, and assemble the people together, thou and Aaron thy brother, and speak to the rock before them, and it shall yield waters. ...
- 9,444
5
votes
Accepted
How can we reconcile Numbers 25:9 & 1 Corinthians 10:8?
The 23,000 refers to the worship of the gods of Moab and the sexual immorality between some Israelite men and the the daughters of Moab. This is known as the rebellion of Baal of Peor at which 24,000 ...
- 15.1k
5
votes
Accepted
In Numbers 25, were the Midianites the same people as the Moabites?
Moab and Ammon were born to Lot and Lot's elder and younger daughters, respectively, in the aftermath of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
The Moabites and Ammonites were referred to Biblically ...
- 623
5
votes
Baal~Peor worship at Shittim
This is a great question.
Numbers 25:4 (KJV)
And the LORD said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may ...
- 1,273
5
votes
Accepted
In Numbers 5 what happened to the woman who refused to take the test of the bitter waters?
The ritual prescribed for the woman suspected of adultery is found in Numbers 5:11-31.
OP's question is answered by continuing the initial passage quoted, beyond verse 13:
... 14 and if feelings ...
- 24.7k
5
votes
In Numbers 22:28 did Balaam's donkey actually talk?
Curious, I went looking for an answer, and I found an article (link given below) which drew this conclusion:
There is no doubt that Balaam’s donkey spoke to him. The question that arises is whether ...
- 8,632
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