Judges

Weekly updates to the main apps happened Friday evening as usual. Much of this update involves changes in Judges. Details follow.

Aaron

Think about the time from the commissioning of Aaron through to the fall of Eli. If you're from a Christian background you're likely to make a series of mistakes in this story.

The first problem involves Aaron's status as Moses' brother. Unlike Moses, Aaron never left Egypt. Moses spent 40 years in the wilderness, learning the texts from Reuel his father-in-law. Moses was out of Mizraim, for a long time. He was no longer a slave. In that time Moses shed most of his Egyptian ways.

Not so Aaron his brother. Aaron does not leave until everyone else does at the Exodus itself. Coming out of Egypt, in terms of thinking, is very hard, and it takes time. Later editors want Aaron painted in a good light, similar to his famous brother Moses.

When asked to make an idol because Moses had been missing, Aaron had no trouble, he knew right away what to do. He had no instincts that would have said this was trouble.

Editors attempt to recover Aaron's reputation. The problem is he's given a priesthood. Just like what he would have had in Mizraim, except for the trappings of the Commandments and the early parts of the written Testimony.

Joshua son of Nun speaks of faith to the community near the end of his life, the famous, 'As for me and my house, we will serve Joshua.' The center of a life of faith is the household. It cannot be delegated to others. Priesthoods are Egyptian.

Aaron has no similar witness.

The proper walk of faith is as Joshua son of Nun stated. Houses serve Joshua god. That service cannot be delegated to a priest. It is functionally impossible.

Eli and Samuel

Aaron's family starts low and goes down from there. Across Judges to the time of Eli it gets to the point were Eli's sons are in so much trouble with Joshua god they loose their lives over it.

Over what trouble, exactly?

The story is not explicit. It may be too disgraceful to actually write about in clear text. It appears Samuel's family is in debt to Eli and his sons. Big time. The young Samuel is how that debt is paid. Sold into slavery at age 3. Today that is called child trafficking.

There is much more that can be inferred. Think about Samuel going to Eli when he thinks Eli is calling. Might that be normal for him?

In any case, something is going on so severe in Eli's family that Joshua god has had enough. The ark will be taken, Eli's sons will die.

This week's editing pass leaves Judges raw. The Egyptian nature of the sons of Jacob screams out. They never wanted Joshua as god. They never called to him. Most of the time they called to men. Only the vilest of men would answer such a call, because anyone of faith would know the problem and stay far from it.

This is just like what we see in politics today, when the crowds demand people in power solve their problems. Those men and women who would step up to the call will normally break nearly every commandment in the book.

The story of Judges, and Samuel's outline before moving on to the kings, is that the nature of the problem of the crowds calling out creates the vilest of political families.

This has been a stunning week for us because we see modern politics all over the resulting story.

It looks like this editing pass finally solves long standing problems in the Book Map and it makes sense of the stories penned by Samuel himself. As always, subject to future revision.

Live Stream

Ryan is doing Sabbath Reads this week. The time for the stream is 10:00 AM, Pacific. Check out the front of the app, cr.paleo.in, for the exact time in your area.

More Later,

Phil