So, just out of curiosity, how are the appointed times celebrated today? Leviticus describes most of them with offerings and sacrifices being central to them, but since most folks today aren't in an agrarian society, how are they celebrated? Are they mostly seen as special occasions for believers to come together in celebration and worship? Thank you in advance to any answers.
I live with a room mate and we share the bathroom, including toilet paper. Do Torah Observant Christians have to follow the no tear law for toilet paper? Or is that specifically for orthodox Jews?
Professing Christians believe the Sabbath has been replaced by Sunday, but you will find none of the apostles of the Early Church teaching any such thing. As a matter of fact, Paul followed the example of Jesus Christ in keeping the Sabbath. Luke 4:16 says, “… and as his (Jesus) custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read.” Did Paul also follow Christ in keeping the Sabbath? Notice Acts 17:2: “And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto then, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures.” So, here we see it was the CUSTOM of both Jesus Christ and Paul to keep the Sabbath; Paul imitated or followed the example of Christ in keeping the sabbath – because Christ first set the example for us to follow in his steps.
But did Paul also tell us to do the SAME? Notice what Pual says to the GENTILE converts at Corinth: “Be ye follower of me, even as I am also of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1).
And to those Gentiles born at Philippi, he wrote: “Brethren, be followers together of me … so as ye have us for an example” (Philippians 3:17).
Also writing to those Christians who were once pagans, he wrote: “For ye brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus …” 1 Thess. 2:14). The Church in Judea was composed of Jews which kept the Sabbath and here was Paul reminding GENTILE Christians to follow the example of the Churches of God in Judea – Proving Gentiles are also to keep the Sabbath.
Also, if you read Acts 13: 42, it says: “… the gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them next sabbath.” If the Sabbath had been done away and changed to Sunday, this would have been a great opportunity for Paul to tell the Gentiles to meet with him on Sunday, but Paul did NO SUCH thing, but waited for the Sabbath day to have this official meeting with the Gentiles – showing Gentiles were aware of the Sabbath and probably understood it was God’s HOLY DAY. Therefore, let no one deceive YOU into believing the Sabbath is for the Jews only or that God abolished his HOLY Sabbath – as it is right there in the Bible that Paul kept the Sabbath and NEVER taught it was changed to Sunday.
Did Jesus Expect the Sabbath to be continued to be Kept right on up till He comes?
Did you know Jesus expect the Sabbath to exist and continue until He returned to earth?
Matthew 24 records Jesus speaking of time when things are going to get so bad in this world – just prior to his second coming - that He warned that those people living in Judea at that time must “… flee into the mountains” (Verse 16). But notice what He went on to say: “But pray that your flight be not in winter, neither on the sabbath day. For then shall be great tribulation …” (verse 19,20).
We know the great tribulation has not yet happened but will happen just prior to the second coming of Christ, and here is Christ telling us the SABBTH would still be in existence or that there would still be God’s people keeping the Sabbath. Can you see that?
Also notice Isiah 66: 23: “And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord.” This is speaking of the millennium or the time of the one thousand years rule of Christ on the earth, and here it is shown people are going to be keeping the Sabbath on a worldwide level – meaning humanity is going to learn to OBEY God and keep his Sabbath.
Can you see God expect the Sabbath to continue -as God has not changed or abolished his HOLY Sabbath Day; He just has NOT done so – for if He abolished the Sabbath, Paul and the apostles would have told us so, but Paul kept the Sabbath and instructed the Church – which includes Gentiles to keep the Sabbath; Paul set the example by keeping the Sabbath and has told the true servants of God to also follow his example – even as he also followed the example of Christ.
People just do not realize or take it SERIOUSLY that Sabbath breaking is SIN -as they do not realize that no matter how religious and good they think they are, they are actually worshipping God in VAIN because they do not keep his Sabbath HOLY. Most may not realize that ancient Israel often fell out of favor with God and was punished because of Sabbath breaking and idolatry, and so will this world because humanity is sinning against God – breaking his law – for “… sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3;4). Sin is breaking God’s law, and in that LAW is the command to keep the Sabbath HOLY, but people just do not want to do that -as they would rather fight against God’s truth and settle for a day of their own choosing; they just want to believe that changing the Sabbath to Sunday is so good because it honors the resurrection of Christ, but did you know Satan can make the WRONG things look right to people – while making it seem that God’s RIGHT WAY is wrong?
Most may not realize Satan counterfeit God’s truth with lies or the OPPOSITE of the truth. For example, God Eve would die if she disobeyed, and Satan told her the OPPOSITE of that truth by telling her she would not die. In the same way, Satan has counterfeited God’s Sabbath with Sunday – which is the opposite of the Sabbath; Satan has cunningly deceived unsuspecting humans in having them believe the Sabbath has been abolished – because Satan HATES the fact that the Sabbath reminds us God is supreme creator who we must OBEY.
I've posted before but just for some context: Born Jewish, raised half heartedly with some holidays and no bacon, became Christian in the Pentecostal movement over a decade ago and was struggling, HARD. felt empty and apathetic for years. Have a great testimony - wholeheartedly believe I have seen Abba move miracles in my life but always felt so far away.
"Obedience" was my word of the season that started two or so months ago and I have found myself here, yearning to observe the Torah. Hallelujah! He has put the desire in my heart like I have prayed for and now we're just figuring it out. We started (trying) to observe Shabbat and next naturally came clean eating (still figuring this one out).
I just want to get stuck in. The more I explore this, the more I feel like life is beginning to have some meaning and it's both wonderful and terrifying. My husband is drawn to it too, and my lovely sister in faith. She and I have spoken about starting a Torah Parashah study group together, which will include my mother - who was the whole reason we became Christian in the first place! How wonderful!
We live in small town New Zealand and the closest congregation is 1.5hrs away over a big hill that is definitely not very restful to travel on Shabbat, especially with three young children haha.. definitely keen to meet them for festivals but in the meantime, how do you fellowship when you're possibly the only one in town?! I have asked on my community groups and mum pages (country-wide too) if anyone else is practicing any kind of Torah Observance as a follower of Yeshua and... Crickets. Welp.
Chapter 20 of Deuteronomy speaks of the laws concerning war. A common defense of this passage is that these practices were common back in the day. However, it doesn't address the criticisms that it supports both genocide and slavery. How do you respond to those claims?
NET version starting at the beginning. It does have something cool where soldiers are able to go home for several reasons which doesn't get talked about much such as going home due to fear
> When you go to war against your enemies and see chariotry and troops who outnumber you, do not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, is with you. 2 As you move forward for battle, the priest will approach and say to the soldiers, 3 “Listen, Israel! Today you are moving forward to do battle with your enemies. Do not be fainthearted. Do not fear and tremble or be terrified because of them, 4 for the Lord your God goes with you to fight on your behalf against your enemies to give you victory.” 5 Moreover, the officers are to say to the troops, “Who among you has built a new house and not dedicated it? He may go home, lest he die in battle and someone else dedicate it. 6 Or who among you has planted a vineyard and not benefited from it? He may go home, lest he die in battle and someone else benefit from it. 7 Or who among you has become engaged to a woman but has not married her? He may go home, lest he die in battle and someone else marry her.” 8 In addition, the officers are to say to the troops, “Who among you is afraid and fainthearted? He may go home so that he will not make his fellow soldier’s heart as fearful as his own.” 9 Then, when the officers have finished speaking, they must appoint unit commanders to lead the troops.
Waging war against a city that is not in the Levant
> 10 When you approach a city to wage war against it, offer it terms of peace. 11 If it accepts your terms and submits to you, all the people found in it will become your slaves. 12 If it does not accept terms of peace but makes war with you, then you are to lay siege to it. 13 The Lord your God will deliver it over to you, and you must kill every single male by the sword. 14 However, the women, little children, cattle, and anything else in the city—all its plunder—you may take for yourselves as spoil. You may take from your enemies the plunder that the Lord your God has given you. 15 This is how you are to deal with all those cities located far from you, those that do not belong to these nearby nations.
Waging war against the Levantine nations
>16 As for the cities of these peoples that the Lord your God is going to give you as an inheritance, you must not allow a single living thing to survive. 17 Instead you must utterly annihilate them—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—just as the Lord your God has commanded you, 18 so that they cannot teach you all the abhorrent ways they worship their gods, causing you to sin against the Lord your God. 19 If you besiege a city for a long time while attempting to capture it, you must not chop down its trees, for you may eat fruit from them and should not cut them down. A tree in the field is not human that you should besiege it! 20 However, you may chop down any tree you know is not suitable for food, and you may use it to build siege works against the city that is making war with you until that city falls.
If you're new in the faith, please don't read this because it may cause you to doubt as well. You've been warned so continue at your own discretion.
The past couple years have been like I imagine job might have felt. It's caused me to question why Yah has turned his face from me and challenged my earlier held beliefs. The only answers I've received from people in my life were "God has a plan" and "God works in mysterious ways" which are hollow and don't really answer the question.
Last month, things came to a head when I received objective proof that what I had thought was the voice of Yah during my prayers was really just a hallucination of my own mind likely brought on by the stress I've been undergoing. This utterly destroyed my faith because it meant my entire salvation story for the past 7 years was built on a lie. This caused me to question the authenticity of the Torah/writings/prophets. Surprisingly, the answers I found made sense and it's possible that they were simply stories that were made up during the Babylonian exile to teach people morals. Not even the gospels were safe and there was an equally as good explanation for those too that I hadn't considered before.
So here I am at my wits end, considering abandoning the faith all together. I'm really at loss here and not sure else can be done. All I can really think of is this and wonder why he has decided to harden me
Romans 9:18 NET
> So then, God has mercy on whom he choses to have mercy, and he hardens whom he choses to harden
I still believe most of the Torah to be a good moral framework, but some passages I can't explain like Deuteronomy 20:10-15
> When you approach a city to wage war against it, offer it terms of peace. 11 If it accepts your terms and submits to you, all the people found in it will become your slaves. 12 If it does not accept terms of peace but makes war with you, then you are to lay siege to it. 13 The Lord your God will deliver it over to you, and you must kill every single male by the sword. 14 However, the women, little children, cattle, and anything else in the city—all its plunder—you may take for yourselves as spoil. You may take from your enemies the plunder that the Lord your God has given you. 15 This is how you are to deal with all those cities located far from you, those that do not belong to these nearby nations.
I thought annihilation was reserved only for the Canaanite nations due to their wickedness, but here's a carte blanche commandment to do it to anyone. How can this be justified? It seems paradoxical.
I hope this gives you enough context to address some of these points of unbelief. As a final closing note I'd like to say thank you to all of you in this sub who've helped answer Torah questions throughout the years. It was essential in my journey the past 3 years before our robot overlords decided to give me a vacation ;)
Let me preface, I have no argument against the 10 commandments which are written by the finger of God in stone. (Exodus 20:1-17).
Now my question is this:
If Gentiles are ultimately required to obey Torah to attain salvation, can anyone explain this scripture passage to me?
It seems counterintuitive.
Why are the Jews (who keep Torah) fighting and opposing Paul (who also keeps Torah)?
How does this make sense?
Aren't they on the same team? Do they not both obey Torah?
>44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.
>45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul.
>46 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.
>47 For so the Lord has commanded us:
>‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles,
>That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”
>48 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.
>49 And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region.
>50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.
>51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium.
>52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
>Acts 13:44-52 (NKJV)
I've read a lot of posts here in this subreddit, and a lot of replies to those posts, therefore I get the impression that keeping of Torah has to do with our salvation (at least to some degree).
Also, can you explain this scripture? This is all very confusing to me.
>1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,
>2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,
>3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
>4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving;
>5 for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
>1 Timothy 4:1-5 (NKJV)
If the Jews follow Torah, why is Christ crucified a stumbling block to them? It doesn't make sense.. and if Gentiles are to follow Torah like the Jews, why doesn't this verse list Gentiles here too?
>but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness
>1 Corinthians 1:23 (NKJV)
Also, it's my understanding that Isaiah 66 is symbolic, not necessarily literal.
Not to say that God won't implement and keep 'new moons' and 'sabbaths' during His reign (while we're in our SPIRITUAL BODIES)..
But aren't those things which are 'unclean' (foods) merely a symbolic foreshadowing and typology of various sins (and spiritual influence) that are listed in the New Covenant such as heresies/factions (Galatians 5:19-21, Hebrews 5:14, 1 Corinthians 10:3-4)?
Why would God only bring retribution on those who physically eat 'unclean foods' on the day of His return?
>6 since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you,
>7 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,
>8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
>9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
>10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.
>2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 (KJV)
Does this make sense with Isaiah 66 now?
Will God not judge every one of us for everything we've done, and not just people who eat pork and mice on that particular day? (Ecclesiastes 12:14)
>Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
>Hebrews 3:13 (KJV)
Honestly I avoid eating pork and mice anyway (it's gross and unhealthy).. and no man ever hated his own (physical) flesh - Ephesians 5:29..
But this belief that everyone must put their faith into the Law for justification.. why exactly did Christ come, if we are all still to be justified by the Old Covenant Law (Torah)?
I'm curious how you all make sense of this.
If we weren't born ~2000 years ago, aren't every one of us alive today Gentiles (strictly by lineage definition)?
>1 O foolish Galatians, WHO HATH BEWITCHED YOU, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
>2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
>3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
>Galatians 3:1-3 (KJV)
Yes, you may have read Galatians, but you remained blinded to the truth.
So, this is the Word of the Lord unto you.
>22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
>23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
>Matthew 6:22-23 (KJV)
>^(28) Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
>^(29) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
>^(30) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light
>Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV)
Are there specific laws pertaining to handling death in the family, such as the body having to be buried vs. cremated?
Are their specific funeral and mourning rites that have to be observed or avoided?
Shabbat shalom (here in NZ).
I am a Jew by birth, had a very non-committal upbringing where most of my Jewish customs were experienced through my grandparents and then met Christ over a decade ago… fast forward to 6 months ago, I finally released my life to him and I’ve been flipped upside down!
Anyway - Sabbath has been on my heart for many years and now especially as I realise that yes, the commandments are still SO relevant! This will be a bit of a word vomit sorry!
I’m really struggling on how to interpret and implement the restrictions and rules - being very aware that Jesus himself “broke” the laws the Pharisees had set themselves (picking grain, asking a man to carry his mat in public) and I don’t want to get caught up in the logistic practice of Sabbath, but I want to honour and observe it in the best way I can - even if I have to sacrifice some of my own expectations and understanding.
I have three young kids, two still in nappies. Sabbath law states that I can’t rip their nappy pants if I have to change it (anyone with kids should understand, lol), nor can we rip toilet paper. I’ve seen so many videos on “hacks” people use to live a normal life while observing the rules… it just doesn’t sit well with me? If our day is longer and more arduous trying to keep a long set of rules so we can do basic tasks during Sabbath day, then doesn’t that defeat the point?
I am finding it hard to find wise counsel to discuss this with - my church do believe that Sabbath is a choice rather than a commandment we are still required to keep, and I don’t know anyone else who practices Sabbath.
practically, I’m having a very hard time figuring out how to navigate everything especially with cooking and getting kids ready. Sundown is around 4:30pm at the moment as we are in the middle of winter here and my husband is still working at that time and travels an hour and a half home so is usually back just before 7 o’clock.. should he be coming home earlier on Sabbath? I don’t know that I could convince him of that and sometimes he’s required to work late as he‘s the manager and if he has no staff, he simply can’t leave. Dinner is usually 3 hours after the kids eat and so keeping a crock pot on warm isn’t food safe.
Then we have Saturday - hubby sleeps until 9/10am because he’s desperately in need of sleep after travelling 3hrs a day to work and back during the week, and I’m up from between 5am/6am with three kids who are very easily bored, VERY noisy and slowly learning about Sabbath with me but I still don’t know what to implement. Do I pack away all their toys (magnet tiles, duplo, cars)? Do I pack away all the books in our house that aren’t bible-related? This morning I’ve had them watching kids Sabbath day teachings and various bible stories on telly while I make them brekkie but we haven’t figured out how to actually navigate the day, we’ve been “practicing” for about two months and each Sabbath has been very stressful and boring, lol. I do wonder if I’m the only one really on board and therefore it’s not something i can enforce in our home as dramatically as I’d like to - so not sure how I try teach and encourage the Sabbath to the children while practicing it myself but also allowing for the non-observance of it if my husband isn’t wanting to go “as far” as me yet.
I do think that genuinely observing the Sabbath calls for a sacrifice to the way we do things- I just don’t want to get caught up in the Talmud and living a Pharisaical life and missing the true rest in Christ on that day.
First let me say that God had Peter to clearly warn us about some of Paul’s writing. (2Peter:3:15-16) (v.15) And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; (v.16) As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Now let us take heed to this warning, we can’t ignore all the bible and just concentrate on a hand full of verses out of the writings of Paul. Because some of Paul’s writing is hard to be understood.
Most of our present day Christian preachers teach against the Law, Prophets and most important Jesus Himself. By making statements such as, "we don't have to keep that old law its been nailed to the cross." These preachers use the books of Paul to make that statement. If that were true, that would mean no one would be able to sin. Why? Paul says in Romans 5:13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. In other words if there is no law there is no sin. Sin is not imputed or no blame can be accredited to any person when there is no law. So if the law was nailed to the cross that would mean its okay to use the Lords name in vain, put other gods before HIM, make graven images and bow before them, pollute the Sabbath day, steal, commit murder, commit adultery and bear false witness. If all these things are okay to commit, then we might as well throw the Bible out the back door and do what ever feels good to us. Today we will find out what law was nailed to the cross. We will see that Paul was in fact a law keeper and how he preached out of the Law and the Prophets.
Now let's begin by taking a look at both of the laws and how they worked together. We will see there were two laws given to Moses, they were the commandments and the sacrificial law. Watch how they worked together.
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them: (Leviticus 4:1-2) The law in the scriptures above is the commandments.
Notice something else very important in these two scriptures. It states, "if a soul shall sin through ignorance." Notice that the scripture did not says on purpose. Why? There is no sacrifice for a sin that is committed willfully. Let's find out what was to be done if a person committed a sin against the Lord unintentionally. Let's skip down to the 27th verse and take a look at the second law (which is the sacrificial law).
And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty; Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned. And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay the sin offering in the place of the burnt offering. And the priest shall take of the blood thereof with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar. (Leviticus 4:27-30)
When the common people sinned through ignorance and it came to their knowledge, what did they have to do? They brought an offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for their sin which they had committed, then the priest would offer the animal to the Lord. Think about this for a moment. If an animal was killed for a person that committed sin, what will happen to us today if we a trespass against the Lord?
We will find that out later. Now we see how the sacrificial law was used when a person broke a commandment unintentionally.
Let's go into Paul's writings and take another look at both of these laws. We will go into the Book of Galatians chapter 3. This is one of the chapters that the majority of Christian preachers use to do away with the Lord's commandments. Now, let's read carefully!
Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. (Galatians 3:19)
Take heed to what Paul's says above, "Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions." What is transgression? Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. (I John 3:4) Transgression is braking of the commandments. What law was added because of the braking of the law? The sacrificial law! Paul is simply asking these Gentiles, "why perform the sacrificial law? It was added because of sin until the seed should come. Who is the seed?
Let's back up in this chapter and find out.
Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, and to seeds, as of many; but as of one, and to thy seed, which is Christ. (Galatians 3:16) Who is the SEED? CHRIST! So, this law was added (which is the sacrificial law) until Christ came. What was the sacrificial law used for until Christ came? Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. (Galatians 3:24)
The sacrificial law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. Before we continue, we must clear one thing up. Are we justified by faith alone? Let's see. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. (Romans 3:31) What law is established? Certainly not the sacrificial law, we have seen above that it was added because of transgression until the Seed came (which was Christ). The Royal law to be established forever which are the Ten Lords commandments!
Now, let's back up in this chapter to the third verses and point out the two sets of laws.
Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? (Galatians 3:3)
The spirit in this case is the word of God, but pay close attention to what Paul says at the end of the verse. "Are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" Can we be made perfect by the flesh? What flesh is Paul talking about? Let's go to the book of Hebrews and find out.
For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. (Hebrews 10:1)
The flesh Paul spoke of was the animal sacrifices. Notice what the verse says, "never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect." That's pretty clear don't you think?
⚠️Hypothetical Scenario⚠️
You open your eyes and find yourself sitting among seats arranged in a semicircle, wearing the formal linen robes of a judge.
You are a member of the local council of elders of your village during the height of Ancient Israel.
Right now, a woman stands in the center of the court. The cross-examinations of the witnesses are finished. Multiple flawless matching testimonies have stepped forward, and by the strict scriptural laws of evidence, she has been found undeniably guilty of a triple threat of capital crimes: adultery, idolatry, and murder.
The sentence is absolute: execution.
But as you look down from your seat, you notice a prominent bulge at her tunic. She is with child!
The other council members sit in silence, looking along the semicircle. Suddenly, the heavy gaze of the Head Elder snaps right to you. He demands to know your counsel before the final vote is cast. The eyes of all the elders fall directly on you.
Do you rule with the strict precedent of the law to execute her immediately to purge the evil from the land, or do you attempt to find a scriptural measure to delay the sentence and save this unborn infant? Use scripture to back up your choice.
(This may be a case of me looking for 'unnecessary problems' in scripture. Anyways, it came to mind during a recent drive. I hope you can have fun with this.)
I ask because traditional Judaism teaches that life begins at one's first breath at birth (based on Genesis 2:7), but conservative Christians hold life begins at conception. So I'm genuinely curious as to what everyone's view here is and what scripture reasoning you arrive to get there.
So I've been going over some notes on the Torah portion that pertains to the Red Heifer, and so far what stood out to me is the fact that using a cow as a sacrifice was rare during the Tabernacle and Temple times. This kind of sacrifice was really only used for two things: for the Red Heifer ashes, and for an unsolved murder. Which to me, I'm like, "ok cool".
But the other day I was watching The House of David, the part where Samuel goes to anoint David, and i noticed that he had a cow! I originally thought the show must have gotten this wrong. So I open my Bible, and sure enough, Samuel has a cow with him!
Now what I got here is not concrete, and I don't really know how this would help with someone's daily walk. But I think this just emphasizes the importance of reading between the lines to get a better picture of the situation. Could it be that Samuel went to anoint David under the guise of an unsolved murder? Again, nothing concrete, just thought it was pretty neat.
Let's look at how the verses actually connect these dots.
In 1 Samuel 16:2, God tells the prophet Samuel to go to Bethlehem to find and anoint the next king because King Saul had been rejected. Samuel is completely terrified. He says:
"How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me."
To protect him, God gives him a cover story in the very next breath:
"Take a heifer with you and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.'"
On the surface, it looks like a standard peace offering just to give Samuel a safe reason to travel. But when you look closer at The Torah, it gets way more interesting.
A dead giveaway is: why were the Elders terrified?
When Samuel actually arrives in Bethlehem with this young cow, the town leaders don't react like he's there for a normal celebration.
1 Samuel 16:4 “Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, ‘Do you come in peace?'"
If a famous prophet shows up for a routine blessing, you don't tremble. You only tremble if something is wrong.
This is where that connection to an unsolved murder comes in. In Deuteronomy 21:1–9, the Torah outlines a specific law called the Egla Arufa (the Beheaded Heifer).
Under this law, if a dead body was found out in a field and nobody knew who the killer was, the elders of the closest town had to take a young heifer that had never been worked, break its neck in a valley, and wash their hands over ( this washing of hands reminds me of Pontius Pilate) it to declare the town innocent of the murder. It was a serious, somber judicial cleanup for a cold case.
Classical Jewish commentator, and scholar Ralbag (Gersonides), suggest that this is exactly the legal cover Samuel was using.
By showing up to Bethlehem with a heifer, the local elders immediately assumed a dead body had been found nearby and that they were under investigation. For Samuel, it was the ultimate alibi.
King Saul’s spies would see a prophet traveling to handle a mandatory religious judicial ritual for a murder case. They wouldn't suspect a political coup for a second.
The mandatory meeting required the town elders and local families (like Jesse and his sons) to gather together, giving Samuel the perfect, unsuspected window to line up the brothers and secretly anoint young David.
I do admit, while it's not a direct doctrine you'd base a sermon on, digging into these details completely changes how you view the scene. Samuel wasn't just walking into Bethlehem with a cow; he was executing a high-stakes, covert operation under the guise of an unsolved murder mystery just to keep a future king safe.