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Old 03-17-2013, 06:08 AM   #191
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Originally Posted by Sheshbazzar View Post
I wonder how many participants in this thread are discussing hypothetical practice, and how many are speaking from experience.
The membership of my home congregation has now been formally observing these Sabbaths and Feast days for almost 90 years.
I can hardly express to you the anticipation that precedes each years Paska observance, literally counting down the hours, and relating all of the various verses of the Scriptures in their appropriate times.
All the arguments in the world cannot substitute for this experience, and what is only to be learned through practice.
Baking the unleavened bread from scratch in anticipation is an experience. To get down on your knees and humbly wash the feet of someone you have a disagreement with, is an experience.
Remaining awake, and alert on ha'leyl shemorim 'The Night of Watchings' awaiting the coming of the dawn, is an experience.

Matters that are often never even considered unless one is personally engaged. Matters like when is the first day of the Scriptural year, and of the month of Abib, by what means is it located, and at what exact hour and minute does the day count of the new year begin, -if one is not simply blindly submitting to decrees made by Jewish authorities. Learning what one personally believes about these matters is an eye opening experience.
There are years when the Elders in various of our congregations disagree on the date, then arise the very personal decisions as to which dates to observe, and further how to still maintain peaceful co-existence and unity when opinions, often even between ones loved family members are sharply divided. We work our way through these situations and are forced to learn many things about the Bible and about ourselves in the process. It is an experience, One that conclusions reached in hypothetical discussions or arguments can never approach.
Hi Sheshbazzar, your experience is very similar to what I went through. Actually participating in the observance of New Moons, Feast Days, and Sabbaths teach much more than what can be gleaned from a book. I recall at one point back in the late 70s, early 80's we realized how hypocritical it was to buy and sell on the Sabbath, making others labor as you profess a cessation from work. That experience taught us a lot, and hopefully we will continue to learn. KB
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Old 03-17-2013, 06:23 AM   #192
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Originally Posted by Ken Brown View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sheshbazzar View Post
I wonder how many participants in this thread are discussing hypothetical practice, and how many are speaking from experience.
The membership of my home congregation has now been formally observing these Sabbaths and Feast days for almost 90 years.
I can hardly express to you the anticipation that precedes each years Paska observance, literally counting down the hours, and relating all of the various verses of the Scriptures in their appropriate times.
All the arguments in the world cannot substitute for this experience, and what is only to be learned through practice.
Baking the unleavened bread from scratch in anticipation is an experience. To get down on your knees and humbly wash the feet of someone you have a disagreement with, is an experience.
Remaining awake, and alert on ha'leyl shemorim 'The Night of Watchings' awaiting the coming of the dawn, is an experience.

Matters that are often never even considered unless one is personally engaged. Matters like when is the first day of the Scriptural year, and of the month of Abib, by what means is it located, and at what exact hour and minute does the day count of the new year begin, -if one is not simply blindly submitting to decrees made by Jewish authorities. Learning what one personally believes about these matters is an eye opening experience.
There are years when the Elders in various of our congregations disagree on the date, then arise the very personal decisions as to which dates to observe, and further how to still maintain peaceful co-existence and unity when opinions, often even between ones loved family members are sharply divided. We work our way through these situations and are forced to learn many things about the Bible and about ourselves in the process. It is an experience, One that conclusions reached in hypothetical discussions or arguments can never approach.
Hi Sheshbazzar, your experience is very similar to what I went through. Actually participating in the observance of New Moons, Feast Days, and Sabbaths teach much more than what can be gleaned from a book. I recall at one point back in the late 70s, early 80's we realized how hypocritical it was to buy and sell on the Sabbath, making others labor as you profess a cessation from work. That experience taught us a lot, and hopefully we will continue to learn. KB
If you can't learn to stick to BC&H, you should stop posting until you can. The topic is biblical criticism and the related history. That hasn't got one fuck to do with the 70s and the 80s or what you personally recall. So please stop. You can always send Shesh a private message if you want to hook up and share your religious experiences.
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Old 03-17-2013, 08:42 AM   #193
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And that includes your consistent reference to Jesus under a host of insulting references, that the gospel is feces and the like. It took 90 years to come up with that?
You lack comprehension of my position. The Gospel story and 'New Testament' writings are not a historical accounting. They are contrived religious political propaganda documents.
There was no Jesus of Nazareth, the character and the 'events' of his life are all entirely the figment of religious propaganda writers creative imaginations.
The mythology in itself is a pack of lies -if taken literally- (as Christianity has long tended to do, and some here also so do, building up their own fairy tale 'historical' reconstructions out of their pick-and-choose snippets of these propaganda mythology texts)

But that view does not entail that I find nothing of value in these texts, far from it, they are like so much brightly colored wrapping paper, but the box and its precious contents are what is concealed underneath.
Without the eye catching wrappings, (the fantastic stories and false history written on the wrapping, 'The Bible') what is wrapped up in that printed paper would have long since disappeared from human memory or access.

So the clever writers wrapped up their most precious concepts in texts of highly figurative language, and in fabulous and intriguing ethical tales, knowing that these were what appealed to shallow men, and would be preserved even by those thieves, liars, murderers, and tyrants that would continue to arise one after another to work their day of gainsaying dominion over the affairs of man. The texts simply aren't what you think they are, but the clues to what they really are are hidden in plain sight.

The measurement from the first day of the year of The Passion, to the hour of The Resurrection is exactly twenty-five atzebaoth on the qaneh ha'middah of shesh ammoth batzar, The 'measuring reed' and the chebel middah 'the measuring line' which is in the hand of Sheshbazzar.
I was marking my measuring reed off by atzebaoth long before you were even born.

But you do not at all perceive these things, nor their towtsa'ah'oth goings fourth, nor the maqtsowa'oth of their turnings.
How much of these Scriptures and texts you read, but yet have no understanding, no depth perception. You do not at all fathom the matter of the fathoms.

שש בצר העברי


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Old 03-17-2013, 09:56 PM   #194
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This thread can be closed if it doesn't shape up.

Please confine your discussion to Biblical Criticism and/or History.
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Old 03-18-2013, 06:54 AM   #195
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This thread can be closed if it doesn't shape up.

Please confine your discussion to Biblical Criticism and/or History.
Hi Toto, maybe if there was another forum added to the Religion Forums called "Anything Goes," and state that this is where debate, teaching, telling stories of past experiences, or just about anything a poster would want to express would be allowed, then it might help to keep the other forums in line. Just a thought? KB
Ever thought of looking at the various forums here for a better suited place to deal with those things?

You wouldn't post a car ad in a marriage announcements column, unless you were perverse.
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Old 03-18-2013, 11:01 AM   #196
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I expect that if the relationship between the Gospel, the Scriptures, and the fine details of when, where, or how Paska was observed, or intense discussion of the textual details and the sequence and timing of these various events, that any such extended discussion would quickly be sent to BC&H as being the appropriate forum for the discussion of such subjects.
There is a lot of information on this subject that is not readily apparent to people who have never actually engaged in the practices. Just for one example;
Quote:
ליל שמרים הוא ליהוה להוציאם מארץ מצרים הוא־הלילה הזה ליהוה שמרים לכל־בני ישראל לדרתם׃

"It [is] a night to be much observed unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this [is] that night of the LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations." (Exodus 12:42 KJV)
How many English readers following the KJV text will understand from reading this, that this was to be an all night 'vigil' ?

The NIV does a bit better with;
Quote:
Because the LORD kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt, on this night all the Israelites are to keep vigil to honor the LORD for the generations to come.
The ESV does it even better;
Quote:
It was a night of watching by the LORD, to bring them out of the land of Egypt; so this same night is a night of watching kept to the LORD by all the people of Israel throughout their generations.
Understanding this verse is fundamental to comprehending what various Gospel sayings and situations are relating to;

Quote:
35. “Be dressed and ready for service and keep your lamps burning, [See Ex 12:11]

36. like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.

37. Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them.

38. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants!
...........

40. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

41. Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?”

42. The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their portion of meat at the proper time? (Luke 12:36-42)
and
Quote:
35. “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. [all night time references]

36. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping.

37. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘WATCH”.
Which very much has a bearing upon what is being presented and what is being done by faithful managers at -the appointed time-, then, and throughout all generations.

Then again we have the story of Matthew 26:17-
Quote:
17. On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat The Passover?”

18. He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate The Passover with my disciples at your house.’ ”

19. So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared The Passover.

20. When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve.
................

38. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
.................

40. Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter “Couldn't’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?”.

41. Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.

42. He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

43. And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.

44. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

45. Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? ......(Matt 26:17-45)

The word of significance in all of this is שמרים 'shemorim' (she'mo'reem) meaning to "Keep WATCH" to diligently 'observe' The NIGHT of Watching.
The actual word שמרים occurs only ONE time within Scripture, that being in Exodus 12:42
in the expression ליל שמרים הוא 'Layil Shemorim hua' = 'This is that Night of Watchings'.
As such it particularly designates ONE special night to be ALERT to, and upon from year to year.
Even most believers sleep right through it unawares.

The word 'Shemorim' derives from the Hebrew root 'שָׁמַר used some 468 times in The Tanaka, always with the meaning of being alert and watchful.

!שמר !
WATCH!



.
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Old 03-19-2013, 11:34 PM   #197
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Back at post #84 of this thread I introduced the idea that the Jewish day in much of the bible begins at dawn, while later Jewish tradition advocates that it begins at sunset. I asked:

[t2]When did the Jews start the day at evening instead of morning? When you consider Gen 1, the structure of the day is rather plain. God works during the day performing the creation. When the work of the day is over there is evening (ערב ereb = sunset) and there is morning (בקר boqer = end of night) and that completed the day. The day in Gen 1 was morning to morning.[/t2]

I introduced Ex 16:23 as an indication of the day starting in the morning:

[t2]'Tomorrow is to be a day of sabbath rest, a holy sabbath to the Lord. So bake what you want to bake [of the mana] and boil what you want to boil [of the quail]. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.'"[/t2]

Dave Hindley couldn't see how tomorrow and morning worked together to indicate that the day started in the morning.

Perhaps I should provide a few more indicators for a day starting in the morning:

[t2]Gen 19:33-34
That night they got their father to drink wine, and the older daughter went in and slept with him. He was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up. On the next day the older daughter said to the younger, "Last night I slept with my father. Let us get him to drink wine again tonight, and you go in and sleep with him so we can preserve our family line through our father."

Lev 7:15 (Cf. 22:30)
And the meat of their thanksgiving offering of well-being must be eaten on the day it is offered; they must leave none of it till morning.

Jdg 19:9
Then when the man, with his concubine and his servant, got up to leave, his father-in-law, the woman's father, said, "Now look, it’s almost evening. Spend the night here; the day is nearly over. Stay and enjoy yourself. Early tomorrow morning you can get up and be on your way home."

1 Sam 5:3
When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord!

1 Sam 19:11
Saul sent men to David’s house to watch it and to kill him in the morning. But Michal, David's wife, warned him, "If you don’t run for your life tonight, tomorrow you'll be killed."[/t2]
In each of these examples it is difficult not to see the day beginning in the morning. The daughters of Lot talk in the morning of the next day about last night. The father-in-law says in the evening that the man can stay until tomorrow morning. Thanksgiving offerings are to be eaten on the same day and not left until the morning. The people of Ashdod rose early the next day. Michal tells David that he will be killed tomorrow, if he doesn't leave tonight and Saul had ordered to kill David in the morning. One would have to be rather perverse to make these somehow indicate that the day began in the evening.
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Old 03-20-2013, 12:20 AM   #198
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καὶ σάββατον ἐπέφωσκεν (Luke 23:54). Our old friend Joan Taylor says the Therapeutae had the day begin at sunrise http://books.google.com/books?id=m2n...jewish&f=false

Also this:

But Jews sometimes employed the sunrise-to-sunrise delimitation of days (see Bacchiocchi, Time, 65–89), and there are ancient examples of them doing so precisely in relation to Passover (see Philo, Special Laws 2.149; Josephus, Ant. 3.248; m Pes 5:1). http://books.google.com/books?id=WPl...ise%22&f=false
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Old 03-20-2013, 12:22 AM   #199
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Quote:
Originally Posted by spin View Post
Back at post #84 of this thread I introduced the idea that the Jewish day in much of the bible begins at dawn, while later Jewish tradition advocates that it begins at sunset. I asked:

[t2]When did the Jews start the day at evening instead of morning? When you consider Gen 1, the structure of the day is rather plain. God works during the day performing the creation. When the work of the day is over there is evening (ערב ereb = sunset) and there is morning (בקר boqer = end of night) and that completed the day. The day in Gen 1 was morning to morning.[/t2]

I introduced Ex 16:23 as an indication of the day starting in the morning:

[t2]'Tomorrow is to be a day of sabbath rest, a holy sabbath to the Lord. So bake what you want to bake [of the mana] and boil what you want to boil [of the quail]. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.'"[/t2]

Dave Hindley couldn't see how tomorrow and morning worked together to indicate that the day started in the morning.

Perhaps I should provide a few more indicators for a day starting in the morning:

[t2]Gen 19:33-34
That night they got their father to drink wine, and the older daughter went in and slept with him. He was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up. On the next day the older daughter said to the younger, "Last night I slept with my father. Let us get him to drink wine again tonight, and you go in and sleep with him so we can preserve our family line through our father."

Lev 7:15 (Cf. 22:30)
And the meat of their thanksgiving offering of well-being must be eaten on the day it is offered; they must leave none of it till morning.

Jdg 19:9
Then when the man, with his concubine and his servant, got up to leave, his father-in-law, the woman's father, said, "Now look, it’s almost evening. Spend the night here; the day is nearly over. Stay and enjoy yourself. Early tomorrow morning you can get up and be on your way home."

1 Sam 5:3
When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord!

1 Sam 19:11
Saul sent men to David’s house to watch it and to kill him in the morning. But Michal, David's wife, warned him, "If you don’t run for your life tonight, tomorrow you'll be killed."[/t2]
In each of these examples it is difficult not to see the day beginning in the morning. The daughters of Lot talk in the morning of the next day about last night. The father-in-law says in the evening that the man can stay until tomorrow morning. Thanksgiving offerings are to be eaten on the same day and not left until the morning. The people of Ashdod rose early the next day. Michal tells David that he will be killed tomorrow, if he doesn't leave tonight and Saul had ordered to kill David in the morning. One would have to be rather perverse to make these somehow indicate that the day began in the evening.
This is so scary. Spin does NOT know when a Jewish day begins and ends?? Is this a joke??
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Old 03-20-2013, 03:35 AM   #200
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aa,

It's not that simple. It's like saying 'everyone knows that the Jewish year begins in September/October.' Not that simple.
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