Acts 9: 3-8
As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the LORD said, “I am Jesus [Yeshua], whom you are persecuting.” So he, trembling and astonished, said, LORD, what do You want me to do?” Then the LORD said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and led him into Damascus.
Acts 22: 6-11
“Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone about me. “And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ “So I answered, ‘Who are You,
Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus [Yeshua] of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me. “So I said, ‘What shall I do, LORD?’ And the LORD said to me, ‘Arise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told al the things which are appointed for you to do.’ “And since I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.”
Acts 22: 17-19, 21-22
“Now it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the Temple, that I was in a trance and saw Him [Yeshua] saying to me, “Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.’ “So I said, ‘LORD, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believe on You. “Then He said to me, ‘Depart, for I will send you far away from here to the Gentiles.’ ” And they listened to him until this word [Gentiles], and they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth for he is not fit to live!”
Acts 24: 10-12, 17-18
Then Paul, after the Governor [Felix] had nodded for him to speak, answered: “Inasmuch as I know that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I do the more cheerily answer for myself, ‘Because you may ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. “And they neither found me in the Temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city. “Now after many years I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation, “in the midst of which some Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with a mob nor with tumult.”
Acts 21: 26-30
Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having been purified with them, entered the temple to announce the expiration of the days of purification, at which time an offering should be made for each of them. Now when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, crying out, “Men of Israel help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the [Jewish] people, the Law [Torah], and this place [Temple]; and furthermore he also brought Greeks [Gentiles] into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” (For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed Paul had brought into the temple.) And all the city was disturbed; and the people ran together, seized Paul, and dragged him out of the Temple; and immediately the doors were shut.
NOTE: This was the pivotal event leading up to Paul’s speech before the crowd about his conversion, after they had settled down somewhat; which they were accepting up until he said that the LORD was sending him to the “Gentiles.” (Cp. Acts 22: 22)
Acts 26: 1-3, 9-19
Then King Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself. “I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answer for myself before you concerning all these things of which I am accused by the Jews, especially because you are an expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently. “Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. “This I also did in Jerusalem and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests, and when they [the saints] were put to death, I cast my vote against them. “And I punished them in every synagogue and compelled to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged [a madman] against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities. “While thus occupied [obsessed], as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, “at midday, O King, along the road I saw a light from heaven shining round me and those who journeyed with me. “And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? “So I said, Who are You, Lord?” And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. ‘But rise and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will reveal to you. ‘I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, “to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive the forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ “Therefore King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.
COMMENTARY: This last explanation of Paul’s conversion has some details that the earlier versions lack or the information is not consistent in the narrative. Paul mentions that he and the rest of his companions fell to the ground and Jesus [Yeshua] only spoke to him in the Hebrew language. Paul essentially receives his commission directly from the LORD Jesus on the road where he had fallen down before he was commanded to stand up on his feet and go into the city of Damascus where he would receive further instructions. In point-of-fact, it is the LORD Jesus [Yeshua] who tells Ananias in Acts 9: 15
But the LORD said to him [Ananias], “Go, for he [Saul/Paul] is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.” Ananias was mentioned once again by the Apostle Paul, according to Acts 22: 12-15 as the one who told him what work the LORD Jesus [Yeshua] had for him to perform instead of the LORD telling him directly on the road outside Damascus. Paul does not mention to King Agrippa about being in a trace at the Temple and the LORD Jesus appearing to him and mentioning that He was sending him far away to the Gentiles (Cp. Acts 22: 17, 21).
Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
November 30, 2010
Robertrandle51@yahoo.com
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Was Jesus Christ crucified on “the Cross” or on a Tree?
In just about every depiction in Christian religious iconography our LORD and Savior is portrayed as having metal spikes through His hands and feet, arms secured by ropes and laid upright on a vertically-raised wooden stake whose beams are longer than the extremities of the legs and somewhat shorter in length under the arms. And this being the case as is passed down through Church tradition, then why do the Scriptures use two alternating terms for this particular item?
Acts 5: 30
The God of our ancestors raised Jesus [Yeshua] though you had Him killed by hanging Him on “the tree” [Heb. haEtz].
Acts 10: 39b
They put Him to death by hanging Him on “the tree” [Heb. haEtz].
Acts 13: 29
And when they had accomplished all that was written about Him [Yeshua], they took Him down from “the tree” [Heb. haEtz] and laid Him in a tomb.
1 Peter 2: 24a
Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on “the tree” [Heb. haEtz].
Matthew 27: 39, 42
And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads, and saying, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him come down from “the cross” [Heb. haEtz], and we will believe Him.”
Mark 15: 29-30
And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who destroy the temple, and build it in three days, “save Yourself, and come down from “the cross” [Heb. haEtz].”
COMMENTARY: It could be that each term has a specific theological and deeply spiritual meaning so utilizing the Hebrew language is most helpful into gaining a little bit more insight into this matter, as in Matthew 10: 38, which reads:
The one who does not take up “his cross” [Heb. etz shel mesiros nefesh=tree of self-sacrifice] and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. Now, looking at the use of “tree” connotes the seriousness of Jesus as a substitutionary sacrifice and becoming essentially accursed by God for our sakes, as found in Galatians 3: 13, in the following:
Christ ransomed us from the curse of the Law [“Torah”] by becoming a curse for us, for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who hangs on a tree” (Cp. Deuteronomy 21: 23b). In the Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB) Galatians 3: 13b reads: KILELAT HASHEM is on NIVLATO TALUI AL HAETZ (the curse of God is on the NEVELAH {body, corpse}) being hanged on the tree. So, in effect, both of the terms [tree, cross] are appropriate in its usage in the Scriptures because of the context and what meaning is being emphasized in the narrative.
Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
November 30, 2010
Robertrandle51@yahoo.com
Acts 5: 30
The God of our ancestors raised Jesus [Yeshua] though you had Him killed by hanging Him on “the tree” [Heb. haEtz].
Acts 10: 39b
They put Him to death by hanging Him on “the tree” [Heb. haEtz].
Acts 13: 29
And when they had accomplished all that was written about Him [Yeshua], they took Him down from “the tree” [Heb. haEtz] and laid Him in a tomb.
1 Peter 2: 24a
Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on “the tree” [Heb. haEtz].
Matthew 27: 39, 42
And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads, and saying, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him come down from “the cross” [Heb. haEtz], and we will believe Him.”
Mark 15: 29-30
And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who destroy the temple, and build it in three days, “save Yourself, and come down from “the cross” [Heb. haEtz].”
COMMENTARY: It could be that each term has a specific theological and deeply spiritual meaning so utilizing the Hebrew language is most helpful into gaining a little bit more insight into this matter, as in Matthew 10: 38, which reads:
The one who does not take up “his cross” [Heb. etz shel mesiros nefesh=tree of self-sacrifice] and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. Now, looking at the use of “tree” connotes the seriousness of Jesus as a substitutionary sacrifice and becoming essentially accursed by God for our sakes, as found in Galatians 3: 13, in the following:
Christ ransomed us from the curse of the Law [“Torah”] by becoming a curse for us, for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who hangs on a tree” (Cp. Deuteronomy 21: 23b). In the Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB) Galatians 3: 13b reads: KILELAT HASHEM is on NIVLATO TALUI AL HAETZ (the curse of God is on the NEVELAH {body, corpse}) being hanged on the tree. So, in effect, both of the terms [tree, cross] are appropriate in its usage in the Scriptures because of the context and what meaning is being emphasized in the narrative.
Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
November 30, 2010
Robertrandle51@yahoo.com
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Just who are the ministers of Satan?
In Native-American or First Nations cosmology, the “coyote” is usually the cosmic ‘trickster’ and storyteller who tries to complicate man’s search for understanding the Creator’s Plan and his purpose in it. In the Judeo-Christian Bible however, Satan is no mere impish troublemaker, but rather a supernatural being depicted as a Serpent or Dragon, who is deadly serious in his mission to cause as many humans as he possibly can to lose their souls in eternal damnation. One of the more effective ways to accomplish his monstrous plan is through, believe-it-or-not, religious devotion. As the LORD God desires worship, so does Satan, as mentioned in Matthew 4: 8-9, below:
Again, the devil took Him [Jesus] up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.
But it is even more insidious than that because Satan does not approach anyone directly but rather, through his religious proxies or pseudo clergy.
2 Corinthians 11: 13-15
For such are false prophets, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
NOTE: The Hebrew word “nachash” which is translated as ‘Serpent’ in Genesis 3: 1 has an interesting metaphysical interpretation, which is, “shining one.”
Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary
Deceive/Mislead/Delude/Beguile
syn- Deceive implies imposing a false idea or belief [practice??] that causes ignorance or bewilderment, etc. Mislead implies a leading astray that may not be intentional. Delude implies deceiving so thoroughly as to obscure the truth. Beguile stresses the use of charm or persuasion [charismatic oratory??] in deceiving.
2 Timothy 3: 13
But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
COMMENTARY: So how can a believer or unbeliever know for sure if a person is sent from God and has the Holy Spirit [Ha Ruach Kodesh], and performing miraculous works, especially when claiming to heal someone? The Apostle Paul [Rav Shaul] wrote in 1 Corinthians 4: 19-20:
But I will come to you shortly, if the LORD wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is “NOT” in word but in [the] POWER.
2 Timothy 3: 5b
Having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away.
Oftentimes, when an appeal to come down to the altar for some application of olive [“holy”] oil, laying on of hands and prayer does not result in an immediate manifestation of restoration of health, either it is ignored altogether or explained away as a ‘lack’ of faith on the petitioner’s part. Even when it comes to invoking the power of the Holy Spirit to perform a miracle, requests made in the “Name of Jesus” are spoken over and over and over again; as if God will respond based solely upon the sheer number of times that this sort of spiritual mantra or formula is invoked. Actually, it is a lot simpler than that as attested by the Apostles Peter and Paul (Cp. Acts 3: 1-7; 16: 16-18). Also, consider the words of Jesus [Yeshua] in Matthew 6: 7-8a:
And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them.
The thing is, this aspect of the ministry is still authenticated by the presence of the Holy Spirit, according to 1 Corinthians 12: 1, 4, 7, 9, and 11 in the following:
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant. There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all; to another faith in the same Spirit, to another, gifts of healings by the same Spirit. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He [Ha Ruach Kodesh] chooses.
This also means that the Bishop, Pastor, Apostle, Minister or Evangelist may not necessarily be the one to who is empowered with the ‘gifts of healings’ but it could be given to some unnoticed or unrecognized brother or sister who rarely, if ever, stand out among the congregation.
Micah 3: 11a
Her priests teach for pay, and her prophets divine for money.
The admonition of John is quite appropriate in this instance, as found in 1 John 4: 1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Robert Randle
776 Commerce ST. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
November 28, 2010
Robertrandle51@yahoo.com
Again, the devil took Him [Jesus] up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.
But it is even more insidious than that because Satan does not approach anyone directly but rather, through his religious proxies or pseudo clergy.
2 Corinthians 11: 13-15
For such are false prophets, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
NOTE: The Hebrew word “nachash” which is translated as ‘Serpent’ in Genesis 3: 1 has an interesting metaphysical interpretation, which is, “shining one.”
Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary
Deceive/Mislead/Delude/Beguile
syn- Deceive implies imposing a false idea or belief [practice??] that causes ignorance or bewilderment, etc. Mislead implies a leading astray that may not be intentional. Delude implies deceiving so thoroughly as to obscure the truth. Beguile stresses the use of charm or persuasion [charismatic oratory??] in deceiving.
2 Timothy 3: 13
But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
COMMENTARY: So how can a believer or unbeliever know for sure if a person is sent from God and has the Holy Spirit [Ha Ruach Kodesh], and performing miraculous works, especially when claiming to heal someone? The Apostle Paul [Rav Shaul] wrote in 1 Corinthians 4: 19-20:
But I will come to you shortly, if the LORD wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is “NOT” in word but in [the] POWER.
2 Timothy 3: 5b
Having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away.
Oftentimes, when an appeal to come down to the altar for some application of olive [“holy”] oil, laying on of hands and prayer does not result in an immediate manifestation of restoration of health, either it is ignored altogether or explained away as a ‘lack’ of faith on the petitioner’s part. Even when it comes to invoking the power of the Holy Spirit to perform a miracle, requests made in the “Name of Jesus” are spoken over and over and over again; as if God will respond based solely upon the sheer number of times that this sort of spiritual mantra or formula is invoked. Actually, it is a lot simpler than that as attested by the Apostles Peter and Paul (Cp. Acts 3: 1-7; 16: 16-18). Also, consider the words of Jesus [Yeshua] in Matthew 6: 7-8a:
And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them.
The thing is, this aspect of the ministry is still authenticated by the presence of the Holy Spirit, according to 1 Corinthians 12: 1, 4, 7, 9, and 11 in the following:
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant. There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all; to another faith in the same Spirit, to another, gifts of healings by the same Spirit. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He [Ha Ruach Kodesh] chooses.
This also means that the Bishop, Pastor, Apostle, Minister or Evangelist may not necessarily be the one to who is empowered with the ‘gifts of healings’ but it could be given to some unnoticed or unrecognized brother or sister who rarely, if ever, stand out among the congregation.
Micah 3: 11a
Her priests teach for pay, and her prophets divine for money.
The admonition of John is quite appropriate in this instance, as found in 1 John 4: 1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Robert Randle
776 Commerce ST. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
November 28, 2010
Robertrandle51@yahoo.com
Monday, November 8, 2010
Explaining the ancient origin of paganism
Although it is true that most of the primitive theistic religions had their mythological and historical beginnings much earlier than Judaism, and certainly predated Christianity, yet, the TANACH (Jewish Bible) contains a passage in the book of DEUTERONOMY that may be an explanation for the origin of worshipping a deity or deities other than the True and Living God. This article is taken from an earlier work written many years ago by the late Dr. Ernest L. Martin, entitled: Idolatry of the Sons of God.
Deuteronomy 32: 7a, 8
Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations [ago] when the Most High (Ha Elyon) divided their inheritance to the nations [Gentiles??], when He (1) separated the sons of Adam (mankind); He (2) set the boundaries of the people according to the number of the children of Israel (??). For the LORD’S
(3) portion is His people; Jacob [Israel] is the place of His inheritance.
NOTE: In order to better understand the passage it is critical to correctly translate the phrase “children of Israel.” The Massoretic Text has it to mean ‘angels of God,’ but the Symmachus Text Latin version seems to render it more correctly as, “sons of God.” Now, these enigmatic divine beings are mentioned in just a few places, as in the following below:
Job 1: 6
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among [with??] them (Cp. 1: 7; 2: 1-2; 38: 4-7).
Psalms 82: 1, 6
God arises in the divine assembly; He judges in the midst of the gods (Elohim). I said, “You are gods [elim/Elohim??], all of you are sons of the Most High [bnei Ha Elyon].” NAB
89: 6-7
The heavens declare your wonders, O LORD, and your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones. For who in the skies can rank with the LORD? Who is like the LORD among the sons of God [bnei elim/Elohim]? NAB
Now, leaving that point for the moment it is time to return to Deuteronomy for further study. The text mentions about God separating (scattering) mankind and determining or fixing their boundaries, so when or under what circumstances did this happen?
Genesis 11: 1
Now [at this period in prehistory] the whole Earth had one language and one speech.
Genesis 11: 6a, 8a, 9
And the LORD said, “Indeed, the people are one and they all have one language. So the LORD scattered them from there over the face of the entire earth and they ceased from building the city. Therefore its name is called Babel [‘bālall’ not Babylon], because there the LORD confused the speech [language] of the entire earth; and from there the LORD scattered them over the face of the entire earth.
Genesis 10: 5
From these [sons of Japheth-Cp. 10: 2] the coastlands peoples of the Gentiles were separated into their lands, everyone according to his language, according to their families, into their nations.
Genesis 10: 18b
Afterward the families of the Canaanites were dispersed.
Genesis 10: 20
These were the sons of Ham, according to their families, according to their languages, in their lands, and in their nations.
Genesis 10: 31-32
These were the sons of Shem according to their families, according to their languages, into their lands, according to their nations. These were the families of the sons of Noah, according to their generations, in their nations, and from these the nations were divided on the earth after the flood.
Genesis 11: 10-19
This is the genealogy of Shem: Shem was one hundred years old, and begot Arphaxad two years after the flood. After he begot Arphaxad, Shem lived five hundred years, and begot sons and daughters. Arphaxad lived thirty-five years, and begot Salah. After he begot Salah, Arphaxad lived four hundred and three years, and begot sons and daughters. Salah lived thirty years, and begot Eber. After he begot Eber, Salah lived four hundred and three years, and begot sons and daughters. Eber lived thirty-four years, and begot Peleg. After he begot Peleg, Eber lived four hundred and thirty years, and begot sons and daughters. Peleg lived thirty years, and he begot Reu. After he begot Reu, Peleg lived two hundred and nine years, and begot sons and daughters.
NOTE: Somewhere between 137 and 346 years after the “Flood,” in the time of Peleg, the Earth became divided [the separating and establishing of national boundaries and languages, etc.], due to the LORD confounding the speech of mankind and scattering them over the face of the Earth (??).
CONCLUSION: In studying the genealogies of the Noahic ancestry there are 70 nations descended from his sons [Cp. Genesis chapter 10]. So, tying this back into Deuteronomy 32: 8-9, it would seem to be not so much of a coincidence or stretch of the imagination to conclude that the number (70) of the “sons of God” were assigned or apportioned to those nations of antiquity; and in a later period, the LORD YHVH had predestined Jacob [Israel] as His chosen people. Also, it must be remembered that seven or seventy is the sacred number of completion and perhaps the Elohim mentioned in Genesis 1: 1, and usually translated as God, could be these same ‘sons of God’ with the LORD as the chief El (God) of the narrative. For whatever reasons, maybe these Elohim (“sons of God”) did not teach or maintain the truth about the nature of God and allowed the primitive people to descend into a worship of these beings themselves, animals, heavenly luminaries, or whatever vain imaginations they could conjure up instead of honoring the Creator.
Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
November 8, 2010
Robertrandle51@yahoo.com
Deuteronomy 32: 7a, 8
Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations [ago] when the Most High (Ha Elyon) divided their inheritance to the nations [Gentiles??], when He (1) separated the sons of Adam (mankind); He (2) set the boundaries of the people according to the number of the children of Israel (??). For the LORD’S
(3) portion is His people; Jacob [Israel] is the place of His inheritance.
NOTE: In order to better understand the passage it is critical to correctly translate the phrase “children of Israel.” The Massoretic Text has it to mean ‘angels of God,’ but the Symmachus Text Latin version seems to render it more correctly as, “sons of God.” Now, these enigmatic divine beings are mentioned in just a few places, as in the following below:
Job 1: 6
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among [with??] them (Cp. 1: 7; 2: 1-2; 38: 4-7).
Psalms 82: 1, 6
God arises in the divine assembly; He judges in the midst of the gods (Elohim). I said, “You are gods [elim/Elohim??], all of you are sons of the Most High [bnei Ha Elyon].” NAB
89: 6-7
The heavens declare your wonders, O LORD, and your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones. For who in the skies can rank with the LORD? Who is like the LORD among the sons of God [bnei elim/Elohim]? NAB
Now, leaving that point for the moment it is time to return to Deuteronomy for further study. The text mentions about God separating (scattering) mankind and determining or fixing their boundaries, so when or under what circumstances did this happen?
Genesis 11: 1
Now [at this period in prehistory] the whole Earth had one language and one speech.
Genesis 11: 6a, 8a, 9
And the LORD said, “Indeed, the people are one and they all have one language. So the LORD scattered them from there over the face of the entire earth and they ceased from building the city. Therefore its name is called Babel [‘bālall’ not Babylon], because there the LORD confused the speech [language] of the entire earth; and from there the LORD scattered them over the face of the entire earth.
Genesis 10: 5
From these [sons of Japheth-Cp. 10: 2] the coastlands peoples of the Gentiles were separated into their lands, everyone according to his language, according to their families, into their nations.
Genesis 10: 18b
Afterward the families of the Canaanites were dispersed.
Genesis 10: 20
These were the sons of Ham, according to their families, according to their languages, in their lands, and in their nations.
Genesis 10: 31-32
These were the sons of Shem according to their families, according to their languages, into their lands, according to their nations. These were the families of the sons of Noah, according to their generations, in their nations, and from these the nations were divided on the earth after the flood.
Genesis 11: 10-19
This is the genealogy of Shem: Shem was one hundred years old, and begot Arphaxad two years after the flood. After he begot Arphaxad, Shem lived five hundred years, and begot sons and daughters. Arphaxad lived thirty-five years, and begot Salah. After he begot Salah, Arphaxad lived four hundred and three years, and begot sons and daughters. Salah lived thirty years, and begot Eber. After he begot Eber, Salah lived four hundred and three years, and begot sons and daughters. Eber lived thirty-four years, and begot Peleg. After he begot Peleg, Eber lived four hundred and thirty years, and begot sons and daughters. Peleg lived thirty years, and he begot Reu. After he begot Reu, Peleg lived two hundred and nine years, and begot sons and daughters.
NOTE: Somewhere between 137 and 346 years after the “Flood,” in the time of Peleg, the Earth became divided [the separating and establishing of national boundaries and languages, etc.], due to the LORD confounding the speech of mankind and scattering them over the face of the Earth (??).
CONCLUSION: In studying the genealogies of the Noahic ancestry there are 70 nations descended from his sons [Cp. Genesis chapter 10]. So, tying this back into Deuteronomy 32: 8-9, it would seem to be not so much of a coincidence or stretch of the imagination to conclude that the number (70) of the “sons of God” were assigned or apportioned to those nations of antiquity; and in a later period, the LORD YHVH had predestined Jacob [Israel] as His chosen people. Also, it must be remembered that seven or seventy is the sacred number of completion and perhaps the Elohim mentioned in Genesis 1: 1, and usually translated as God, could be these same ‘sons of God’ with the LORD as the chief El (God) of the narrative. For whatever reasons, maybe these Elohim (“sons of God”) did not teach or maintain the truth about the nature of God and allowed the primitive people to descend into a worship of these beings themselves, animals, heavenly luminaries, or whatever vain imaginations they could conjure up instead of honoring the Creator.
Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
November 8, 2010
Robertrandle51@yahoo.com
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