Studies In Theology - 12/08/2006 (40 Years For An 11 Day Journey? & I'd Like A Little Feta And Olive Oil With That, If You Don't Mind?)

STUDIES IN THEOLOGY;

Popular Christianity 12/08/2006

Study Notes And Journal Entries,

An Observation

By

David A. Archer

02/15/1968

(r.f.p.p.s.h.)

12/08/2006

Beginning with Deuteronomy, the 5th book within the Bible. ~

It begins with Moses (still not dead!) addressing the community of Israel. ~

In essence, it is a recounting of the travels now admittedly stated as wandering of the Israelites through the wilderness. Punctuating this wandering aspect in even stating that normally the journey from Mt. Sinai is only 11 days. ~

It then continues with a sort of review pertaining to things that transpired in the wilderness - including divulging that the leaders having been chosen for each tribe, also fulfilled the duties of judge and officials over their respective tribes - being instructed to hear each case of rich and poor impartially. ~

Besides substantiating those beginnings of a judicial system as explored previously, this again alludes to the presence of commerce within the nomadic community of Israelites - being the existence of a differentiation between rich and poor. ~

I find this further curious in that wandering, marauder like - pirate aspect they apparently embodied within their travels. In the larger sense, they were quite notorious in considering many of those descriptions - but within the nomadic community, were quite structured and advanced enough to contain elements of economy (commerce), agricultural cultivation and social/political structuring. ~

This is further supported in 2:25 of Deuteronomy, stating that the Lord will make people throughout the Earth tremble with fear. ~

At the beginning of the second chapter of Deuteronomy, I find something else of incredible interest pertaining to political and social aspects in the area of which this work has taken place thus far.

In 2:04, it again mentions Essau in stating that the Israelites were to pass through the land of their relatives - the descendants of Essau - and further to do so carefully in paying for food and water. ~

this becomes intriguing in the respect firstly as mentioned - the association with another culture as if it were a relative body (individual) - then further, as is described in 2:05, the Lord will not give the Israelites even one square foot of their land because he (the Lord) has already given it to the descendants of Essau. ~

In deeper consideration this then gives insight into another possible progression in an even larger sense given that what is known of Essau (and Isaac's words to both Essau and Jacob) is that he was of the warring sort early on - more previously than the descendants of Jacob. Then in considering the described happenings under Moses, a similarity appears in a procession sort of manner - regardless of the subtle differences socially between the two related cultures.

This as well is suggested as being repeated with the descendants of Lot - pertaining to respect to land. ~

Most intriguing into this mix, then is the description of a people from Crete (Greece) having invaded and settled in villages in the area of Gaza (which survives to this day as Gaza, as with several other places named within the bible).

So as not to change the direction of thought in such directions - it is with the descendants of Jacob, Essau and Lot then, that a discerned pattern had taken place and seemingly in a procession which drove out those having occupied the areas previously - some even described as giants. ~

In regard to popular understanding of the Bible in Popular Christianity - such a relationship and procession is hardly, if at all ever addressed. ~

Personally, I can recall hearing of a relationship procession in regard to variations within that area pertaining to the idea of God, from early youth. Specifically in regard to Christianity, Catholicism and Muslim/Islam - though I cannot readily recall any affiliation with the names of Lot and Essau, directly.

The time frame here, seems a bit displaced as well in such a comparison between that which I can recall and the description within this work, just from immediate recollection. ~

Still interesting no less, if only in the aspect of motion socially, within such consistencies. ~

At any rate, this procession indicates (obviously) peripheral elements of the Jewish, and then Popular Christianity structures of religion, as well. Making the previously explored divergence within the community of Israel all the more interesting pertaining to further development considering those other variations as social influences. The Israelites having a pronounced influence within their version from previous years in Egypt perhaps - through Jacob, Joseph then Moses and Aaron. While Essau (and Lot) remained (presumably) within the general area - having those influences Eastward - from Asia, and then Westward as well. ~

Considering the movement over all of what is described in recent chapters - it smacks most definitely of a larger intention - designed as it were, to perhaps even conquer the area in stages? Especially in considering the description of the destruction and implied fear to be spread through out the world. 'Complete consecration of things to the Lord by destroying them or offering.' ~

A problem with carrying on that area (warring) regarding the idea of progress, is that eventually - everything is conquered. for such designs to be maximized - development and progress must then take place after the establishing of dominance in any given civilization. ~

As a note - perhaps part of the ease and spread of Popular Christianity as a brief look at history and development in comparison with the other, similar options of the same time period - was the liberation aspect permeating the work itself? Perhaps even the more liberal elements pertaining to the female as well?

Chapter 3 accounts another of the victories and even stating having killed them all. ~

In 3:12, I find more which supports the exploration in power division within the tribes of Israel - pertaining to the divergence and as well the potential importance of the tribe of Manasseh - having split to occupy both sides of the river.

This support is in the description of the land divided on the East side of the river - containing mentionable hill country which possesses innate fortification advantages - the 1/2 of Manasseh on that side was given a full 1/2 of that hill country now of the Israelites. ~

In 3:21, it then gives further insight to that divergence in stating that Joshua was given full charge - but in a manner that suggested he resided on the West side of the Jordan river, as Moses still resided on the East side and was still making decisions - further of course, that Moses was not to enter the promised land presumably being that, on the West side of the Jordan river. ~

Further at this point is the seed of encouraging the development of such a divergence with the pronounced singling out of Caleb (Judah tribe) as having been seen as special - being sent to the West side of the Jordan river as well, then presenting a perceivable (though perhaps not entirely official) hierarchy on the West side, of Jacob, then Caleb - this of course within the decision of the Levites having 3 cities on each side of the river as well. ~

It most definitely suggests not only a divergence, but further promoted use of such a divergence in presenting a dual social dynamic. With, of course, the Levites presiding in equal presence on either side, as now does the tribe of Manasseh as well - which of course then adds to different social effects in relation to social structure on both sides of the Jordan river. ~

I should state, that given the description of the land on the East side of the Jordan river - and further, the specific want of it having been voiced, that there may be a bit of the Greenland/Iceland ploy in play here pertaining to the West side of the Jordan as stated in description and emphasis in 3:25. ~

Either way, in regard to that speculation - at this point the stage is set as it were, for some interesting potentials to develop. ~