Turns out this question was already asked on StraightDope.com. It also includes the one I mentioned above, but there are a few more examples here.

The question itself, while asked in earnest, also provokes a chuckle.

I find the book of Genesis [and the people who believe it] uproariously funny. It's right up there with Mein Kampf for side-splitting humour.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Kachana:
[B]Is there not one single joke in the Bible?

What about where Jesus gives the worlds first spelling lesson, when he looks in the basket and says "There's only one Effin Fish"

... Or when a leper hoping for a handout from Jesus receives only spiritual advice. He says "Can't you at least give me a few shekels for a bath?"

"OK" says Jesus, "Bring it round tommorrow and I''ll take a look at it".

Maybe it's just me, but one of the strangest contradictions I've found in the bible (at least in the NIV) is in John. It's kind of trivial but at the same time blatant and I found it funny at the time.

John chapters 13 to 17 (inclusive) would have to be the most mind bending stuff I, at least, have ever read. Jesus is understandably a little bit concerned about his predicament. But he's been mouthing off for a couple of years and has too much pride (hmm) to split.

To keep it brief, read'em and you might get a feel for what I'm getting at.

Anyway, John 13:36 - Simon Peter asked him, "Lord, where are you going?"

And then then in John 16:05 Jesus says - ... none of you asks me, "Where are you going?"



[This message has been edited by Rod (edited December 28, 2000).]

Offa, "Thanks Grumpy, this is so funny!"

In Judges 14:14, Samson bets his bride's relatives they
can't answer this riddle: Out of the eater came something to
eat. Out of the strong came something sweet. The relations are
stumped, mainly because the riddle makes no sense unless you know
Samson recently had seen honey deposited by bees in the carcass of a
lion, which he had--urk--scraped out and eaten. The relatives pester
the bride for the answer, and she pesters Samson, who finally breaks
down and tells her. The newly-clued relatives say to Samson,
What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?
If you had not plowed with my heifer, Samson ungallantly
ripostes, you would not have found out my riddle,
whereupon he massacres 30 unlucky locals to raise enough swag to pay
off the bet. Hilarious, eh?

Offa, "I read in pesher. My take on Genesis and, for that matter,
Jubilees, is that Abel the shepherd raised a bunch of cute little
sheep (fine young maidens and pleasing to the eye and God enjoyed).
Cain, on the other hand wasn't too particular and he plowed the
ground (wasn't too particular). Whereas Abel planted his seed with
great care old Cain just forced in his seed. Now, since my take is
'cattle were women' and a heifer would be a young lady, well, Sampson's
fiance must have got humped!"

Now, there is actually more to the story, that is, a female
priestess would become "the mistress to All" without having sexual
intercourse, but, instead, she would be performing on a platform
much in the same way that a whore or prostitute would perform
in bed. Now, Sampson's maiden simply had conversation with her
cohorts, playing on words, they plowed with a heifer. I mean,
it's sidesplitting humor!!!!


Also, the bee and honey represents the sweetest part of a
woman. You get a little honey, then you get a little ... A woman
is a honeycomb. The proper procedure is meet a lassie and do not
get any honey until she menstruates then, after she is through
with this natural function you eat some honey and when she no
longer menstruates then you are not guilty of 'eating blood.

In know this a rehash of an older post but the answer is a definite yes. Most biblical humor is centered around making fun of pagan deities and those who worship them.

Balaam (Numbers 22), a pagan prophet who can't hear straight from God, whose donkey can see angel's when he can't, and one who can't even put a curse on a people the way he is paid to do.

Isaiah 25: Mot, the pagan god of death is pictured as the great swallower who lives in a swamp. In Isaiah, God swallows death in victory.

Other parts of Isaiah mock idols by detailing the origin of the wood that is used to carve it, the care people must take to protect their protector, the idol is dumb and mute, and it eventually breaks.

The book of Job is considered a dark comedy because the readers are let in on the secret well before the characters discover it. The arguments of the three friends become more and more absurd and heated, while the reader looks on and laughs at their foolishness.

As most humor that is explained is not funny so is the case now, but if anyone is really interested in any more, I'll look some up.