JOSHUA: Chapter 5

Chapter 5
Summary:	When the kings of the Amorites, who lived west of the Jordan River, and the kings of the Canaanites, who lived by the sea, heard that God had dried up the waters of the Jordan River to allow the people of Israel to pass through, their courage melted and their spirits were flushed. At that time God instructed Joshua to make sharp knives and to circumcise the men of Israel for a second time, to which Joshua did at the "hill of the foreskins". God had instructed Joshua to circumcise the Israelites again because all of the Israelites who had been circumcised prior had died out during the forty year journey through the wilderness, and that the men who had been born out in the wilderness had yet to be circumcised. The Israelites had been made to walk for forty years out in the wilderness, until all of the men who had came from Egypt and had been old enough to serve as soldiers had died out, punished so because they didn't obey the word of God; and to whom God had sworn that they would not see the "promised land" which he had sworn to their forefathers - a land that "flowed with milk and honey". The next generation of men who had been raised to replace them were those who Joshua circumcised, for they hadn't yet been circumcised. After all of the men were circumcised they stayed in their camps until they had healed. God then spoke to Joshua saying, "Today I have rolled away the shame of Egypt from off you. Therefore the name of this place shall be called Gilgal*." The Israelites camped at Gilgal and celebrated "passover" on the fourteenth day of the month in the plains of Jericho. The following day they began to eat the crops of the land along with unleavened bread, and the day afterward no manna had appeared that morning and was never eaten again by the Israelites as they began to eat the crops of Canaan. As Joshua was in Jericho, he lifted his eyes and saw that a man stood over and against him with a drawn sword. Joshua approached him and asked, "Are you for us, or for our adversaries?" The man replied, "No, I have come as the captain of the Lord's army." Joshua "fell on his face" and worshiped. Joshua then asked "What does the Lord command?" The captain of God's army said to Joshua, "Take off your shoes, for the place that you are standing on is holy ground." Joshua did as he was commanded.
Notes:	1.) Meaning "to roll away" in Hebrew.
Thoughts:	The chapter begins by stating that the kings of the Amorites and the kings of the Canaanites lost their courage after hearing about God parting the Jordan River for the soon to be invading Israelites to cross. Interesting to me is how it the emphasis is placed up God drying up the river above the more pressing issue that an invading army was approaching their land. Next God commands Joshua to circumcise the Israelites (a "second time") as apparently the practice had been discontinued since leaving Egypt forty years prior, and that no one born out in the wilderness had yet been circumcised. In implying that the practice of circumcision had apparently been followed during the 400 years that the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt, keeping in mind that the first "passover" occurred there and God places strict rules concerning the feast that include no man - including slaves and foreigners - being permitted to eat of the passover lamb unless he is circumcised, in addition to the story in which Moses had failed to circumcise his own son and was almost killed by God for having failed to do so, it sheds an interesting light upon the character of Moses. While we can posit that perhaps Moses's failure to circumcise his own son may have been due to Moses not being raised amongst the Hebrew culture, why would a traditional practice dating back well over 400 years suddenly stop being followed? The simplest reason would be that they were told not to. While Moses has been presented as righteous enough to lead the Israelites and became the mouthpiece of God, in addition to being described as the "meekest man on the earth", my personal opinion is that it appears to be necessary to diminish his character slightly in order to justify the death sentence that God placed upon him. By having Moses appear "rebellious" against God's law of circumcision - not only with his own son, but toward an entire generation of Israelites - there appears to be a stronger justification for God's execution of Moses upon Mount Nebo, and for forbidding him from entering the "promised land" in contrast for merely not listening carefully enough to God's instructions about how to get water out of rock. After Joshua gathed the Israeli men and circumcised them, the men remained in their camps to heal. It's interesting to note that during this healing period they were probably vulnerable "sitting ducks" - just as King Hamor and his kingdom were after Simeon and Levi tricked the kingdom into circumcision, ruthlessly slaughtered the males of the city, enslaved the women and children, and plundered the city. God then tells Joshua that the mass circumcision has "rolled away the shame of Egypt", and subsequently insists that their campsite be named "Gilgal" (meaning "to roll away" in Hebrew) to reflect that. After celebrating "passover" in Gilgal, the mysterious "manna" stopped appearing and was never eaten again, as the Israelites began eating the native crops of Canaan. The chapter closes out with a figure identifying himself as the "captain of the Lord's army" with a drawn sword standing over Joshua. When Joshua asks the "captain" what is God's command, the "captain" merely tells Joshua to remove his shoes as Joshua is standing on "holy ground", to which Joshua complied.

DEUTERONOMY: Chapter 16

Chapter 16
Summary:	Moses' speech continues: "Observe the month of Abib* and keep the passover unto the Lord your God, for it was in the month of Abib that the Lord your God brought you out of Egypt by night. You shall therefore sacrifice a lamb or an ox to the Lord at the sanctuary in the place where the Lord has chosen to place his name. You shall eat no leavened bread with it; for seven* days shall you eat unleavened bread with the animal sacrifice. You are to eat unleavened bread as a reminder of the bread you ate as you left Egypt in haste. You are to remember that day for all the rest of your life. There shall be no trace of leavened bread to be found with you for these seven* days, neither shall any of the passover lamb be left until the following morning. "You are not to sacrifice the passover lamb within your homes, which the Lord has given you, but only at the sanctuary which the Lord shall choose to put his name upon shall you sacrifice the passover lamb at evening, at sundown, in the season that you left Egypt. You shall roast and eat the sacrifice in the sanctuary that the Lord your God shall choose, and you are then to return to your homes in the morning. Six days are you to eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there is to be a solemn assembly to the Lord your God. You are to do no work that day. "Seven* weeks after the harvest begins you shall observe the 'Festival of Weeks' with a tribute of a freewill offering to the Lord your God, in proportion to the amount of crops he has blessed you with. You shall rejoice before the Lord your God with your children, your slaves, the Levites in your community, the strangers amongst you, the orphaned, and the widowed amongst you at the sanctuary of the lord your God. You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and you shall observe and obey these statutes. "You shall observe the 'Festival of Tabernacles' for seven* days at the end of the harvest season after you have gathered your corn and grapes. You shall rejoice in this feast along with your children, your slaves, the Levites in your community, the strangers amongst you, the orphaned, and the widowed amongst you. For seven* days you are to keep a solemn feast unto the Lord your God in the sanctuary that the Lord has chosen. Because the Lord your God shall bless you with a good harvest and in your works, you shall surely rejoice. "Three times each year every male must appear before the Lord your God at the sanctuary he has chosen; for the 'Feast of Unleavened Bread', the 'Feast of Weeks', and the 'Feast of Tabernacles', and they shall not appear before the Lord empty handed. Every man is to give what he is able to, in proportion to the blessing that the Lord your God has given them. "Judges and officers are to be appointed from amongst each tribe for all of the cities which the Lord you God is giving you. They are to administer their judgments justly. They are not to twist judgment to benefit a rich man, nor are they to take bribes, as such gifts blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous. That which is altogether just must be followed, that you may live and inherit the land which the Lord your God is giving to you. "You are not to plant a grove of any trees near the altar of the Lord your God, which you are to build. Nor shall you construct any image, which the Lord your God hates."
Notes:	1.) Abib is the first month of the Hebrew calendar corresponding with mid April in our current calendar. 2.) Yet more references to the mystical significance of the number seven in the bible.
Thoughts:	Moses lays out a series of three festivals that the Israelites have to celebrate. Beginning with passover, he reiterates that no one is to eat bread made with yeast products for seven days (there's that number again) afterward. Moses says that they are to eat unleavened bread as a reminder that they had left Egypt in a hurry. Some interpret this as meaning that they simply didn't have time to wait for the bread to rise, however, God clearly demanded the consumption of unleavened bread in Exodus 12:8 rather than it being a necessity due to a lack of time. Regardless, Moses punctuates this demand stating that not even a trace of yeast should be found during this week, nor shall any of the lamb be left overnight for the following morning. Moses adds that the lamb is not to be sacrificed or eaten at home, but at the sanctuary and is to be sacrificed at sundown. For the next six days unleavened bread is to be eaten, and on the seventh day a sabbath is to be observed and no work is to be done. The next feast Moses describes is the "Festival of Weeks" which is to begin seven weeks (again with that number) after the first harvest begins. Moses demands a "freewill offering" (despite there being nothing remotely "freewill" about a demand) consisting of a percentage of the first crops to be offered to the sanctuary. This offering is to be eaten at the sanctuary along with the person's entire household, slaves, neighboring Levites, foreign visitors, orphans, and widows. Moses once again reminds the Israelites that they were once slaves in the land of Egypt, and therefore by that reasoning they are to observe and obey God's laws. The final festival Moses describes is the "Festival of Tabernacles", which is to be observed for seven (again with that number) days at the end of the harvest season after all the grain and grapes have been harvested. Again, the people are to feast at the sanctuary along with the person's entire household, slaves, neighboring Levites, foreign visitors, orphans, and widows. This feast is to be repeated for the next six days so that God will bless the Israelites with a plentiful harvest. Every male amongst the Israelites is to appear before God at the sanctuary during these three festivals and they are not to show up empty handed - God wants them to fork over a percentage of their crops. Moses then changes topics to state that judges and officials are to be appointed from amongst each tribe for each city in the "promised land". Moses demands that judges are to rule justly and are not to twist their judgment to benefit the rich, nor are they to take bribes. These requirements must be followed so that the Israelites may live in and inherit the "promised land". Moses closes out the chapter by demanding that the Israelites are not to plant any trees near God's altar, nor are they to construct an image which God hates.

NUMBERS: Chapter 33

Chapter 33
Summary:	The journey of the Israelites had been written down and recorded by Moses under commandment from God. These are the events that Moses had recorded: The people of Israel departed the city of Rameses on the fifteenth day of the first month (roughly the first of April by our modern calendar), the day after "passover". The Egyptians had buried all their firstborn, which had been killed by God. Also, upon the Egyptian gods, God also executed judgments. The people of Israel left Rameses and camped in Succoth. After leaving Succoth they camped in Etham, which is on the edge of the wilderness. After leaving Etham, they turned towards Pihahiroth (near Baalzephon) and camped at the foot of Mount Migdol. They left Pihahiroth, passed through the middle of the Red Sea, spending three days in the wilderness of Etham before camping at Marah. After leaving Marah, they camped in Elim. In Elim there were twelve fountains of water and seventy palm trees. After leaving Elim, they camped by the Red Sea. After leaving the Red Sea, they camped in the wilderness of Sihn (humorously spelled "Sin" in the KJV). After leaving the wilderness of Sihn, they camped in Dophkah. After leaving Dophkah they camped in Alush. After leaving Alush, they camped in Rephidim - where there was no water for the people to drink. After leaving Rephidim, they camped in the wilderness of Sinai. After leaving the desert of Sinai, they camped at Kibrothhattaavah. After leaving Kibrothhattaavah, they camped at Hazeroth. After leaving Hazeroth, they camped in Rithmah. After leaving Rithmah, they camped in Rimmonparez. After leaving Rimmonparez, they camped in Libnah. After leaving Libnah, they camped in Rissah. After leaving Rissah, they camped in Kehelathah. After leaving Kehelathah, they camped at Mount Shapher. After leaving Mount Shapher, they camped in Haradah. After leaving Haradah, they camped in Makheloth. After leaving Makheloth, they camped at Tahath. After leaving Tehath, they camped at Tarah. After leaving Tarah, they camped in Mithcah. After leaving Mithcah, they camped in Hashmonah. After leaving Hashmonah, they camped at Moseroth. After leaving Moseroth, they camped in Benejaakan. After leaving Benejaakan, they camped at Horhagidgad. After leaving Horhagidgad, they camped in Jotbathah. After leaving Jotbathah, they camped at Ebronah. After leaving Ebronah, they camped at Eziongaber. After leaving Eziongaber, they camped in Kadesh, located in the wilderness of Zin. After leaving Kadesh, they camped in Mount Hor, located on the edge of the land of Edom. Here, Aaron climbed Mount Hor at God's command, and God killed him. This occurred in the fortieth year after the people of Israel left Egypt, and on the first day of the fifth month (approximately July 15th by our current calendar). Aaron was one hundred and twenty three years old when God killed him on Mount Hor. King Arad the Canaanite (who lived to the south of Mount Hor in the land of Canaan) heard at this time of the Israelites approach to his land. After leaving Mount Hor, the Israelites camped in Zalmonah. After leaving Zalmonah, they camped in Punon. After leaving Punon, they camped in Oboth. After leaving Oboth, they camped in Ijeabarim, located on the border of Moab. After leaving Iim*, they camped in Dibongad. After leaving Dibongad, they camped in Almondiblathaim. After leaving Almondiblathaim, they camped in the mountains of Abarim, near Nebo. After leaving the mountains of Abarim, they camped in the plain of Moab by the Jordan River, near the city of Jericho. They camped by the Jordan River, from Bethesimoth all the way to Abelshittim in the plains of Moab. God spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab, by the Jordan River near Jericho and told him to speak to the Israelites. He tells Moses that when the Israelites cross the Jordan River and enter the land of Canaan, they are to drive out the inhabitants of the land, and are to destroy all their pictures, molten images, and to tear down their altars. The inhabitants are to be driven out, God says, because the land has been "given" to the Israelites to possess it. The land of Canaan is to be "divided by lot" for inheritance among the families of the Israelites. Bigger families are to draw for bigger pieces of land, and smaller families are to draw for smaller pieces of land. God adds however, that if the Israelites don't fully drive out the inhabitants of Canaan, then those Canaanites that remain will be "pricks in your eyes" and "thorns in your sides", and shall vex the people of Israel in the land wherein they dwell. Moreover, it shall come to pass that God will do unto the Israelites what he "thought to do" unto the Canaanites.
Notes:	1.) It is unclear why the name "Ijeabarim" has been changed in the verse that follows to "Iim". It's possible that "Iim" may be another name for "Ijeabarim", or it may be possible that these are two different locales.
Thoughts:	This chapter is mainly an outline describing the locations of the various Israeli campsites over the forty year journey from Egypt to Canaan. Apparently God had commanded Moses to keep a written record of their journey, and it is detailed here in Numbers 33. What is interesting about this list, is that we see that the story of the Israelites takes place in the desert of Sinai beginning in Exodus: Chapter 19, and continues throughout the entire book of Leviticus, and up until Numbers: Chapter 11. Over the next nine chapters in the book of Numbers, the Israelites travel to over 22 different locations before God kills Aaron atop Mount Hor, and another 9 locations up to the end of this chapter. While the Israelites were camped in the plains of Moab, God tells Moses that the Israelites are to drive out every last Canaanite out of the "promised land", and that they are to also destroy every last picture, idol, statue, and altars they may have built in the land. God rationalized this by stating that the land has been "given" (actually it would be more accurate to state that God had simply permitted the Israelites to forcibly steal the land away from its inhabitants) to the Israelites. God repeats his declaration that the land of Canaan is to be divided up and drawn by method of a lottery for the families among the various tribes of Israel. Larger pieces of land are to be drawn up for larger families, and smaller pieces of land are to be drawn up for smaller families. God finishes up his earlier threat by stating that if the Israelites fail to fully drive out every last Canaanite, then those remaining Canaanites will be "pricks in [their] eyes" and "thorns in [their] sides" and will vex the Israelites in the land. Moreover, God threatens that he will do to the Israelites what he has thought of doing to the Canaanites...which it's probably safe to assume that it's nothing too pretty.

NUMBERS: Chapter 28

Chapter 28
Summary:	God speaks to Moses, telling him to command the people of Israel that animal and grain sacrifices made by fire (for a "sweet savor") shall be observed in their due season. God tells Moses to instruct the people to offer a continuous animal sacrifice of two yearling lambs ("without spot"), one to be sacrificed in the morning, and the other to be sacrificed in the evening. Along with each lamb, a tenth part of an ephah (approximately three quarts) of flour mixed with a fourth part of a hin (approx. 3 pints) of beaten olive oil is to be offered, as well as a "drink offering" consisting of a fourth part of a hin (approx. 3 pints) of "strong wine". All of this is to be a continual "burnt offering", which God claims was ordained in Mount Sinai for a "sweet savor" made by fire for him. On the sabbath day, an additional two yearling lambs are to be sacrificed along with two tenth deals (approx. six quarts) of flour mixed with oil and a drink offering. This "burnt offering" of the sabbath is to be offered in addition to the "continual burnt offering" and "drink offering". On the first day of each month, the people will have to sacrifice two young bulls, a ram, and seven* yearling lambs without defect. Along with each animal, a "grain offering" and a "drink offering" is to be offered: three tenth deals (approx. nine quarts) of flour mixed with oil and half a hin (approx. six pints) of wine for each bull two tenth deals (approx. six quarts) of flour mixed with oil and the third part of a hin (approx. four pints) of wine for the ram and "several tenth deal" of flour mixed with oil along with the fourth part of a hin (approx. three pints) of wine for each lamb All of which God states will be a "sweet savor" to him when sacrificed by fire. In addition to all of those animals and the regular daily sacrifices, a male goat is to be slaughtered for a "sin offering" on the first day of each month as well. God then repeats that the celebration of Passover is to celebrated on the fourteenth day of the first month, and that on the fifteenth day of the month is a seven day feast of unleavened bread. On the first day of the feast a sabbath is to be observed, and no manner of servile work is to be done therein - except for sacrificing two young bulls, a ram, and seven yearling lambs (without defects). Along with each animal, a "grain offering" is to be offered: three tenth deals (approx. nine quarts) of flour mixed with oil for each bull two tenth deals (approx. six quarts) of flour mixed with oil for the ram and "several tenth deal" of flour mixed with oil for each lamb. In addition to all of these animals, a male goat is to be slaughtered for a "sin offering" as well to make an "atonement" for the people of Israel. These additional sacrifices are to be made on each of the seven days of the feast, and are to be offered in the morning at the same time of the "continual burnt offering" - it will be a "sweet savor" unto God. Again, no servile work is to be done on the seventh day. On the Day of the Firstfruits* when the people are to bring newly harvested crops to God, the people should also have a "holy convocation" and no servile work is to be done - except for sacrificing two young bulls, a ram, and seven yearling lambs. Along with each animal, a "grain offering" is to be offered: three tenth deals (approx. nine quarts) of flour mixed with oil for each bull two tenth deals (approx. six quarts) of flour mixed with oil for the ram and "several tenth deal" of flour mixed with oil for each lamb. In addition to all of these animals, a male goat is to be slaughtered for a "sin offering" as well to make an "atonement" for the people of Israel. These animal sacrifices are to be made in the morning beside the "continual burnt offering", "grain offering", and "drink offering".
Notes:	1.) Yet another occurrence of the mystical number seven in the bible. 2.) Also called the "Festival of Weeks" or "Pentecost".
Thoughts:	This chapter returns us to God's laws on animal sacrifices (which he states no less than eleven time alone in this chapter as being a "sweet savor") and sets up a new "continual burnt offering" sacrifice. Each day, two yearling lambs are to be sacrificed (one in the morning, and one in the evening) alongside a "grain offering" consisting of three quarts of flour mixed with three pints of beaten olive oil. God tacks on two more yearling lambs that have to be sacrificed each week on the sabbath (in addition to the regular pair) along with six quarts of flour and a "drink offering". Now on the first day of each month, God requires you to sacrifice two young bulls, a ram, and seven (again with that number) yearling lambs along with a "grain offering" and "drink offering" for each animal. 9 quarts of flour and six pints of wine for each bull; six quarts of flour and four pints of wine with the ram; and and unspecified amount of flour and three pints of wine for each lamb. All of this has to be sacrificed in addition to the two other yearling lambs sacrificed for the "continual burnt offering". So, once a month the priests get to dine on nine lambs, two bulls, a ram, 13 and a half quarts of wine, and well over 24 quarts of flour(!) - that's a lot of food and wine! God then repeats his annual "Passover" animal sacrifice demands, that during the "Feast of Unleavened Bread" the people will have to sacrifice two young bulls, a ram, and seven yearling lambs on each of the seven days of the feast. Along with each animal a "grain offering" is to accompany it - the same amounts corresponding to the first day of the month sacrifice. On top of that, a male goat also has to be sacrificed for a "sin offering". These sacrifices again are in addition to, and not replacing, the daily "continuous burnt offerings". On the "Day of the Firstfruits" when the people sacrifice the first of their crops to God, the people will also have to sacrifice two young bulls, a ram, seven yearling lambs, and a goat (for a "sin offering") along with a corresponding amount of flour for each animal. So, pulling out our calculator we come to the count that God demands the sacrifice of 967 yearling lambs - without defects(!), 40 bulls, 20 rams, and 8 male goats each year as a minimum. This is not including the animals that need to be sacrificed for various "sins" throughout God's laws.

NUMBERS: Chapter 9

Chapter 9
Summary:	God speaks to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month* of the second year after leaving Egypt, and commands that the people of Israel prepare to celebrate "Passover". God states that on the fourteenth day of the month* at evening, "Passover" is to be celebrated according to all of the rules and regulations God had previously stated. Moses conveyed this message to the people of Israel, and they celebrated "Passover" as they were commanded on the fourteenth day of the month. However, there were certain men who were "defiled" by the dead body of another man, that they could not celebrate "Passover" on that day, so they came before Moses and Aaron. The men told Moses about their situation, and Moses replied to the men to "stand still" and he would consult with God about what to do. God's response was that anyone who had "defiled" themselves from contact with a dead body, or if they were away on a journey, then they will be expected to celebrate "Passover" on the first day of the second month*, and are to eat the lamb meat with unleavened bread that evening. None of the lamb is to be left until the next morning, nor must any of the bones of the lamb be broken, and all of the usual laws of celebrating "Passover" must be observed. However, anyone that isn't deemed "unclean" by God, or "off on a journey", and does not participate in the "Passover" celebration on the fourteenth day of the first month*, the person will be excommunicated from their people as a consequence of their "sin". If a foreigner is living amongst the people of Israel and opts to observe "Passover", then they must do so according the same rules and regulations as those who are born in the land - as God claims that only a single law will apply. On the day that the tabernacle was set up, it was covered by a cloud - more specifically, directly over the area where the ark of the covenant was contained. In the evening the cloud changed to the appearance of fire, and remained that way until the morning. This would continue throughout the people of Israel's journey - a cloud hovering over the tabernacle by day, and the appearance of fire at night. When the cloud lifted, the people of Israel followed it to wherever it came to rest and camped there. In this way God, lead the people of Israel through their journey. If the cloud came to rest for many days, the people of Israel remained camped where they were until the cloud moved again. If the cloud stayed for a long time, so did the Israelis; if the cloud stayed only briefly, the people left when it did. Day or night, whenever the cloud moved, so did the people of Israel. Whether the cloud stayed for several days, a month, or a year, the people only moved ahead when the cloud did.
Notes:	1.) Approximately mid-March by our current calendar. 2.) Approximately the first of April by our current calendar. 3.) Approximately the first of May by our current calendar.
Thoughts:	This chapter begins once again with God chatting away with Moses in the wilderness of Sinai. It's the two year anniversary of God leading the people of Israel out of Egypt, and God tells Moses to prepare the people for the celebration of "Passover", and that all of the rules laid out in Exodus: Chapter 12 are to be followed on the 14th day of the first month. However, there were a couple of men who realized that they had "defiled" themselves by being near a dead body and were therefore weren't sure what they should do. They plead their case to Moses and Aaron, and Moses told them to hang tight while he asks God what to do. God's response is that anyone who has "defiled" themselves by being in contact with a dead body - or anyone who might be "in a journey of afar" - has to celebrate "Passover" a month later on the fourteenth day of the second month. I guess the first thing that comes as a surprise is that God is even okay with a person going out on a journey anywhere near the time of "Passover" in the first place. God generally doesn't appear to concern himself with whether his laws are an inconveniece upon people's lives, so I suppose we could chalk this up to one of God's better laws. If you miss "Passover" due to having to go out and travel somewhere important, no worries, you can make it up next month. However, this raises some questions that God didn't have the foresight to address. What if you miss "Passover" due to being off on a journey in the first month, and then "defile" yourself by having someone drop dead around you before you can celebrate "Passover" in the second month? Do you get another month, or is that it? God does however, let us know what happens if you're not "off on a journey", haven't gotten off on a technicality by "defiling" yourself with a dead body, and forget to, or opt not to, celebrate "Passover" in the first month - the person is to be excommunicated for their "sin". I suppose one found guilty of this "sin" should be grateful God doesn't dole out his usual punishment of demanding your death by stoning or immolation. God adds that foreigners living in the land are welcome to come celebrate "Passover" as well if they wish, but that they must follow the same rules (most likely refering to that they'll have to be circumcised). The chapter closes out explaining that once the tabernacle was erected, God appeared as a cloud above it, which became a giant fireball at night. God basically leads the people by having them follow the cloud/fireball whenever he moves it, but also only when he moves it. If God parks the cloud/fireball for a few days, a month, or a year, the people of Israel are to stay where they are until the cloud starts moving again. If fireball starts moving in the middle of the night, then everyone has to be woken up to move after it once it starts on its way. Basically, a game of "follow that cloud!"

LEVITICUS: Chapter 23

Chapter 23
Summary:	God speaks to Moses, with laws for the people of Israel concerning his "holy feasts". God begins by restating the sabbath again - that six days of work are to be done, and that the seventh is a day of rest in which no work is to be done. He follows this up with listing some "holy feasts" that are to be observed each year. Passover - Celebrated on the evening of the fourteenth day of the first month*. Festival of Unleavened Bread - Celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month (the following day after "Passover"). For the following seven days unleavened bread must be eaten. The first day will be a day of "holy convocation" and no servile work shall be done. For the following days the people must make sacrifices by fire. The seventh day will be another day of "holy convocation" and again no servile work shall be done. Festival of First Fruits - When the people of Israel arrive in the "promised land", they will have to bring the first sheaf of fruit that they harvest to a priest at the tabernacle on the first day after the sabbath. The priest will wave it in the air and it will be accepted by God as a gift. The same day the person will have to sacrifice a yearling lamb (without blemish) for a "burnt offering" as well. A "grain offering" will also have to accompany the animal sacrifice, consisting of two tenth deals (a fifth of a bushel) of finely ground flour mixed with olive oil, to be offered by fire to God - this will be a "sweet savor" to God. Also, God needs some wine to go with his burnt lamb and flour, so bring a fourth of a hin (approximately three pints) of wine along with the lamb and flour. The people of Israel are not to eat any bread, corn, or green ears until they have made this sacrifice to God. This is a permanent statute wherever the people may live. Festival of Pentecost - 50 days after the "Festival of First Fruits" (after seven sabbaths have passed) the people of Israel will have to bring a sample of their newly harvested grains for another "grain sacrifice". This shall consist of two loaves of bread, made from fine flour and made with yeast. Along with the bread, God wants you to sacrifice seven* yearling lambs (without blemish), one young bull, and two rams, for a massive "burnt offering" - along with the bread and some more wine. God notes that this sacrifice by fire is a "sweet savor" to him. In addition to the ten animals you need to sacrifice for the "festival", you'll also need to offer a male goat - for a "sin offering" - and two male yearling lambs for a "peace offering". The priest will have to wave these offerings around in the air, along with the bread. They are considered "holy" to God and therefore the priests will get to eat these foods. The day will become a "holy convocation" for the person making theses sacrifices, and they shall do no servile work that day. This shall be a permanent statute for all further generations. God repeats his law from Chapter 19 - that when the people harvest their crops, they are not to reap the corners of their fields or pick up any stray crops; they are to be left for the poor and for travelers. Festival of Trumpets - On the first day of the seventh month* the people are to observe a "holy" memorial sabbath with the blowing of trumpets. No work is to be done on this day, but everyone will need to make a sacrifice by fire. Day of Atonement - The tenth day of the seventh month (9 days after the "Festival of Trumpets") shall be a day of atonement which the people will have to offer another sacrifice by fire. No work shall be done on this day for it is a day to make atonement to God. Whomever does not repent that day will be excommunicated for their people, and whomever does any work that day God will destroy them. No manner of work is to be done on this day, it is a statute binding forever throughout future generations. It is a sabbath of rest that begins on the evening of the ninth day of the month until the evening of the tenth day. Festival of Tabernacles - On the fifteenth day of the seventh month* (five days after the "Day of Atonement") is the seven day feast - "Festival of the Tabernacles". On the first day shall be a "holy convocation" and no servile work is to be done. On each of the seven days a sacrifice by fire is to be made. On the eighth day another "holy convocation" is to be observed, and another sacrifice by fire is to be made. It is to be a solemn assembly and no servile work is to be done. These are God's feasts which are to be observed as "holy convocations", and are required for the people of Israel to make sacrifices by fire, "burnt offerings", "grain offerings", animal sacrifices, and "drink offerings" upon these days - in addition to the regular observance of the sabbath, gifts of animal sacrifices, vows, and offerings made by freewill. Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month *, when the people are done harvesting the fruit of the land, the people must keep God's feast for seven days - on the first and eighth days, there shall be an observed sabbath. On the first day the people are to take boughs of fruit trees, branches of palm trees, the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook, and the people shall rejoice before God for seven days. This seven day annual event is a permanent statute to be followed forever through future generations in the seventh month (meaning September, in our modern calendar). All of the people who are native Israelis are to live in "booths" (tents, or simple shelters) for these seven days. God claims that this will serve as a reminder to the people of Israel of how God brought the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt and made them live in "booths". And so Moses announced these festivals - God's feasts - to the people of Israel.
Notes:	1.) Approximately late March in our current calendar. 2.) Another example of the mystical significance of the number 7 in the bible. 3.) Approximately mid-September in our current calendar. 4.) Approximately September 30th in our current calendar.
Thoughts:	God now gives Moses a list of mandatory "festivals" for the people of Israel to "celebrate" - and if you guessed correctly, God's definition of "celebrate" in this sense calls for yet even more animal sacrificing. Before God begins his list, he makes sure to restate yet again that the normal sabbaths are to be upheld weekly, and that absolutely no work is to be done on the seventh day - it is a day of rest. He then begins to list his annual "festivals", beginning with restating the celebration of Passover, which he outlined in Exodus: Chapter 12. He follows this up with restating the "Festival of Unleavened Bread", celebrated the day after Passover, in which the people have to eat bread made without yeast for the following seven days. The first and last days in this festival are sabbaths in which no work is to be done. Next up is the "Festival of First Fruits" in which the people of Israel, after reaching the "promised land" must bring the first of the crops from their fruit trees and bring them to the tabernacle. The priests will wave the fruit in the air, thereby symbolically "giving them to God" as a gift. However, your first fruit crop is not enough, you must also bring God a yearling lamb for a "burnt offering", a tenth of a bushel of finely ground flour mixed with olive oil, and three pints of wine(!) Setting all of this stuff on fire on the altar is a "sweet savor" to God. The people of Israel are not to eat any of their crops (apparently of any kind) until they've offered up this sacrifice to God. This is a permanent law to be followed by the people forever, and wherever they may reside. Fifty days later the real fun begins with the "Festival of Pentecost". Not only will you have to bring a sample of your newly harvested grains and crops for God, you'll have to tack on two loaves of bread - made from fine flour and made with yeast, a total of ten sacrificial animals (including seven lambs, two rams, and a bull) for ten "burnt offerings", and another three pints of wine for God to wash everything down with. This sacrifice of ten animals, samples of your finest crops, two loaves of bread, and three pints of wine seems a bit suspect for God's appetite - but we're not done yet. In addition to all this food that God wants, he also wants you tack on a goat and two more lambs for mandatory "sin offerings" and "peace offerings". Not surprisingly the priests get to keep all these foods for themselves, making one wonder if at least these parts (if not all) of the book of Leviticus were written by some greedy priests. Obviously, I don't believe the bible is the work of a supernatural being, and as it is obviously placing a lot of power and perks into the pockets of priests, it is reasonable to suspect that people seeking to govern a tribe of people - as priests - certainly have a strong motive to command these "permanent" festivals of massive amounts of animal meats, bread, crops, and wine going into the coffers of the priests working in the tabernacle. Even if we can get past the lack of evidence supporting the assertion that a magical diety wrote or inspired the bible and assume that it is a plausible assertation, what is to say that priests might not have tacked on some of their own additions to these "laws" to benefit themselves? Continuing on with the "Festival of Pentecost", God tacks on that this "feast" (for the priest) will also be observed as another sabbath day - where no work is to be done. This is yet another permanent law to followed by all future generations. God also tacks on one of his "good laws" from Leviticus: Chapter 19 about leaving behind some of your crops for the poor and for those traveling through. Next up is God's "Festival of Trumpets" in which the people are to observe a memorial day of sabbath - by means of blowing trumpets - in the middle of September. Again, no one is to do any work on this day, and they have to make another "sacrifice by fire". Nine days later (in the evening and until the following evening), the next "festival" is the "Day of Atonement" calling for yet another "sacrifice by fire". Again, this is a sabbath, so no working for the people of Israel. This is backed by the threat of excommunication if someone doesn't atone themselves with a sacrifice, and the threat of death if they're caught working on this day. It is another permanent law. Finally, five days after the "Day of Atonement", we have the "Festival of Tabernacles" where God makes the people of Israel live in tents for the next week - to remind them of their Exodus in the desert (which currently we're still reading about in the book of Leviticus - we have yet to reach the "promised land"). The first day and the eighth(?) day are again sabbath days, and during each of the seven days (as well as the mysterious eighth day) yet more sacrifices by fire are to be made. All of these festivals are to be observed in addition to the regular sabbaths and animal sacrifices made either by freewill or by God's insistence for "sinning". God interjects another rule about the first day of the "Festival of Tabernacles", that the people are to gather the boughs of their fruit trees, palm tree branches, boughs of thick trees, and willows, and rejoice before God for the following seven days. Again, this is another permanent law to be followed for all future generations.

EXODUS: Chapters 11 & 12

Chapter 11
Summary:	God now tells Moses that he has one final disaster in store for the land of Egypt, stating that the Pharaoh will not only let the people go after this was done, but will practically throw them out of Egypt. He continues, telling Moses to have the women of Israel prepare to ask their Egyptian neighbors for costly gold and silver jewelry. (God had apparently made the Egyptian people become favorable towards the people of Israel. Moses was revered by the Pharaoh's officials and Egyptian people alike.) Moses now announced to the Pharaoh* that God will pass through the land at midnight, killing the first born sons of everyone - from the oldest child of the Pharaoh, to the oldest child of the lowliest of slaves; even including the first born animals. He adds that God will not kill any of the Israelis nor their animals, adding that God is again making a distinction between the Egyptians and Israelis. Moses, red-faced with anger, stomps out of the palace upon finishing his proclamation.
Notes:	1.) Despite Moses' assertion that the Pharaoh would "never see him again" at the end of Chapter 10, he apparently breaks his promise. The Pharaoh also fails to execute him as he had sworn to do also.
Thoughts:	God has apparently saved his best "miracle" for last. He has Moses explain to the Pharaoh - despite the fact that Moses and the Pharaoh both said they were done talking with each other in the last chapter - that God will pass through the land at midnight killing off every first born male, from royalty to the lowliest of slaves, to even the first born male animals. Moses delivers his angry speech and storms off. Despite all this massive death and destruction to the Egyptian people, God has forced and coerced the Egyptian people to favor the Israelis and prepares the Israeli women to demand all sorts of wealth, in the form of gold and silver jewelry, from the Egyptian people. To me this seems almost is if God is condoning and conspiring theft against the citizens of Egypt. God once again wants to show distinction of his superior race of people over the "evil" Egyptians by sparing the Israelis from his "miracle" first born death curse.
Chapter 12
Summary:	God tells Moses and Aaron that from here on out, this month will be the first and most important month to the people of Israel. God tells them that annually on the tenth day of this month that each family will get a lamb (and that if a family is too small, to share a lamb with their neighbors) - which has to be one year old, male, and free of defects. On the fifteenth day of the month, God explains to them that the lambs shall be slaughtered and that their blood shall be splattered on the door frames of each and every home. Each family shall then eat roast lamb that night, along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. God continues to command that the meat must be roasted, and not eaten raw or boiled, adding also that they may only eat it this night, and that anything left over shall be burned the next day. God further instructs that this meal is to be eaten while wearing traveling clothes, walking shoes, with walking sticks in hand, and that the meal should be eaten hurriedly. This observance, he explains will be called the Lord's Passover, symbolizing that God will "pass over" the houses of the Israelis as he slaughters the first born in Egypt. God explains that the blood smeared on the doorways will be proof to God that his people obey him, and that when he sees the blood, he will "pass over" that house and not kill their first born. God commands that this event shall be celebrated annually and is a permanent law to remind the people of Israel of this fatal night. He further explains that the celebration will last seven days, and for that period the people are to only eat bread made without yeast; and that anyone who disobeys this rule will be excommunicated from Israel. God further explains that there will be no work to be done on either the first or last day of the celebration, with the exception of food preparation. God also points out that no trace of yeast should be found in any homes during that time, and that these rules also apply to any foreigners who are living amongst them. Moses then gathers the elders and instructs them to fetch lambs for this gruesome task, and commands that no-one shall be allowed outside this night for any reason. That night at midnight, God killed all the first born sons in the land of Egypt. There was bitter crying throughout the land as there was not a house where there was not one dead. The Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron during the night and begged them to leave the land, and to take their flocks and herds with them. He then asked them for a blessing, as he states that the people of Egypt are as good as dead now. The Israelis took their belongings, and the women as instructed, asked the Egyptian people for their gold, silver, jewelry and clothing. The Egyptian people, of whom God made favor the Israelis, were virtually stripped of everything they had owned. That night the people of Israel left Ramses and started for Succoth; they numbered six hundred thousand men, not including their wives and children. People of all sorts went with them along with vast herds of cattle and enormous flocks. When they had stopped to eat, they baked bread from a yeastless dough. The sons of Jacob and their descendants had lived in Egypt for 430 years, and it was on the last day of that 430th year that the people had left the land. This night was selected by God to lead his people out of the land of Egypt, so the people celebrated this date annually as the day of God's deliverance. God then explained to Moses and Aaron more rules concerning the observance of Passover: No foreigners may eat the lamb but if they are living with them and want to observe the ritual, the men must be circumcised. Any slave that has been purchased may eat the lamb if they have been circumcised. A hired servant, or foreigner, may not eat the lamb. Everyone who eats the lamb, must eat it together in their respective homes, and must not carry it outside, nor shall they break any of the lamb's bones. The entire congregation of Israel shall observe this celebration at the same time. On that day, God brought the people of Israel out of Egypt, wave after wave of them crossing the Egyptian border.
Thoughts:	God spends this chapter explaining to Moses, Aaron, and the people of Israel about their first mandatory annual holiday, Passover. God - who was able to discern the Israelis from Egyptians before in his previous plagues in which he spared the people of Israel - now requires a sign from the people so that he knows which houses to skip as he travels around at night murdering the first born of each household. He tells the people that they're all to find a bunch of lambs to slaughter and to smear the blood of them all over their doors so that God knows which people to skip on his killing spree across Egypt. He establishes a bunch of customs and traditions for what the people are to do with the lambs afterward: how to cook them, not to eat any bread made with yeast, and to wear their traveling clothes while eating. Anyone who doesn't follow these bizarre customs will be excommunicated from God's chosen people, even going so far as to specify that yeast should not even be present in their homes during this now annual holiday. God then comes during the night slaying all the first born people and animals of Egypt, and spares those houses with bloody door frames. The Egyptians wake up in the night and cries of despair are heard throughout the land, as apparently not one single home in Egypt was spared of death. The Pharaoh now basically insists to Moses and Aaron to get his people out of Egypt, but asks for a blessing as they leave considering that Egypt was now pretty much as good as dead. God, who pulls his voodoo doll magic upon the Egyptian people, makes them receptive to giving the Israeli women all the gold, silver, jewelry, and clothes that they ask for which basically strips them of all of their belongings. God somehow managed to time this whole excursion to fall on exactly the last day of the 430th year since Jacob's descendants moved to Egypt 430 years prior. This establishes another holiday as the date of God's deliverance. Remarkably, God manages to get all 600,000(!) men plus their wives and children out of the land of Egypt in one night, on foot. Over a half a million people, and probably closer to over a million once we add in the wives and children, out of Egypt on foot in one night. The possibility of 600,000+ people marching out of Egypt in an orderly fashion, on foot, with flocks and herds of animals, carrying all of their possessions (along with the gold and silver they "liberated" from the Egyptians), is ludicrous to consider, much less imagine. The chapter jumps back to God further explaining the rules of how he wants his new holiday of Passover to be celebrated. Basically stating that anybody who isn't circumcised, doesn't get to eat any lamb, that the people of Israel have to celebrate and eat at the same time, and that nobody's allowed to bring any lamb chops outside. Whatever doesn't get finished that night goes uneaten and is burned the following day. It's hard to see any significance in any of these strange and bizarre customs, and to me makes about as little sense as requiring that people have to wear silly hats and stand on one foot for an hour on their birthdays.