The Gospel According To Matthew

Introduction

The Gospel According to Matthew ( τὸ εὐαγγέλιον κατὰ Ματθαῖον, or to euangelion kata Matthaion ) is the first book of the New Testament of the Bible and is one of the four gospels.  This book, along with the other three gospels, details the life of Jesus Christ.  It begins with his genealogy and continues through his resurrection, but focuses most of its attention on his ministry and his miracles.  This book is seen as a bridge between the Old and New Testaments because Matthew emphasizes the ways in which Jesus fulfilled the prophecies in the Old Testament.  The traditional Christian viewpoint is that Matthew, one of the twelve disciples, wrote this book around the end of the first century.  However, some scholars believe that the book was originally written in Greek by a non-eyewitness. 

Ancestry and Birth (Chapters 1 and 2)

Summary
Matthew begins by asserting that the lineage of Joseph can be traced back to David and Abraham.  However, Matthew goes on to state that Jesus was immaculately conceived, so I have to wonder why it really matters that Joseph's genealogy leads back to Abraham.  After hearing that his wife was pregnant, Joseph obviously thought that Mary had cheated him, so he intended to get a divorce until he had a dream in which an angel told him that Mary was carrying God's son and that he should be named Jesus.  It is at this juncture that Matthew makes his first reference to the Old Testament when he quotes Isiah 7:14, which foretold the virgin birth.  Jesus is then born in Bethlehem and King Herod sends the Magi to find the child who is destined to become king of the Jews.  The Magi followed a star to Jesus and presented him with gold, incense and myrrh before using an alternate route to return home in order to avoid King Herod. King Herod later tried to find and kill Jesus, but an angel warned Joseph to take his family to Egypt in order to save Jesus' life.  The second chapter ends with Joseph taking his family to live in Nazareth after the death of King Herod.

Commentary
Why should we care about Joseph's genealogy if he wasn't Jesus' real father? (1:1-18)
Well it was obviously essential for Matthew to assert that Jesus was a descendant of David in order to fulfill Old Testament prophecy.  However, why would Joseph's lineage matter?  Apparently, in Jewish tradition even an adoptive father's lineage is more important than the mother's.  Since the Book of Matthew is written primarily from a Jewish perspective, it is not surprising to find Joseph's ancestors as the first part of the book.  Mary's lineage, which from a modern-day perspective seems much more important, will later be revealed in Luke.

I think it's fair to say I know a bit about space, and I've never heard of a star stopping in the sky. (2:9)
How exactly do Christians explain this story?  There are only so many things the Magi could have been following: a star, a planet, a comet or a meteor.  The only one of these that "stops" is a meteor, which only happens when it hits the ground or burns up in the atmosphere, but a meteor is only lit up for a very short period of time (when it is going through earth's atmosphere) and as such it would have been impossible to base an entire journey off of a meteor.  A star or planet would have obviously been the easiest to follow, but I'm pretty sure these don't "stop".  You could make the argument that God caused the light to stop in the sky, but surely this would have been noticed by other astrologers and no ancient star charts found to date suggest any kind of abnormality around this time period.



Massacre of the Innocents (2:16)
There is a lot of debate over whether this infanticide actually occurred and if it did, how many children were actually killed.  For starters, I don't know about anyone else, but I always got the idea that King Herod killed thousands of babies in his search for Jesus.  This was definitely not the case.  If the story in Matthew is assumed to be true, it is doubtful that more than 25 or 30 infants were killed because the population of Bethlehem at that time is thought to have only been around 2,000 people.  My second point is that the story of this massacre does not appear in any historical text other than Matthew until around the year 150.  The Romans kept pretty good records, so the idea that the massacre of innocent children would have gone unnoticed seems a little far-fetched.  

References to Old Testament
1:23 - Isiah 7:14
2:6 - Micah 5:2
2:15 - Hosea 11:1
2:18 - Jeremiah 31:15
2:23 - Unspecified

Early Ministry (Chapters 3 and 4)

Summary
Chapter 3 begins with John the Baptist preaching in Judea and baptizing people in the Jordan River.  John condemns the Pharisees and Sadducees and predicts the coming of Christ.  John then baptizes Jesus and it is said that "heaven was opened" (3:16) and that God spoke and said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." (3:17)  Jesus then goes to the desert to be tempted three times by the devil.  Jesus replies with scripture each time (each response is actually from Deuteronomy) before finally telling Satan to leave.  After the temptation, Jesus leaves Nazareth and travels to Capernaum to begin his ministry.  It is here that Jesus recruits the first four disciples (Peter, Andrew, James and John) and begins to preach his message to "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." (4:17)  It is at this time that Jesus also begins to heal the sick and gather a large following.

Commentary
Does John already know that Jesus is God's Son? (3:14) and (11:3)
I haven't read the Book of John yet, but in John 1:32-33 John the Baptist states that he did not know that Jesus was God's Son before baptizing him, but that God had told him that he would know who the man was because the Holy Spirit would descend upon him.  So if John didn't know that Jesus was God, why did he initially refuse to baptize him and claim that he was unworthy of doing the deed?  Also, in Matthew 11:3 John the Baptist is still unsure about Christ's divinity.  However, the Book of John claims that God specifically told him how to recognize His Son.  This seems to contradict the account in John.

Temptation of Christ (4:1-11)
I've read some interpretations that say the three temptations foreshadowed areas of Jesus' ministry or specific events in his life.  But I think the most reasonable idea is just that the devil tempted him with typical human desires.  Food was a pretty obvious place to start with a guy who had been fasting for 40 days.  The temptation to jump off of the temple would have been an ostentatious display of pride and a chance to "show off" how important he was because God chose to save him from his fall.  The devil's final try is of course power, which Jesus also rejects. 

Do people actually become possessed by demons? (4:24, and many other references throughout the book)

1. People have never been possessed by demons - Personally, I have a pretty tough time believing in demonic possession.  It seems like a completely ridiculous concept to me and to the best of my knowledge all symptoms of "demonic possessions" that can be validated can be linked back to some kind of psychological disorder.  There have obviously been stories of people doing superhuman things and I'll admit that if I actually saw someone levitate or spin their head around I might be a little more inclined to believe in this sort of thing, but until then I'm gonna have to go with ridiculous.
2. People used to be possessed by demons - There is a viewpoint that demonic possession did in fact used to exist around the time of Jesus, but that it has since faded away.  While this seems like the most obvious way to reconcile the Bible with our knowledge of psychology, I have to ask why would demons suddenly decide to stop possessing humans?
3. People were and still are possessed by demons - This is the typical conservative Christian viewpoint and to be honest I'm not sure how you can read verses like Matthew 8:28-32 and say that the Bible doesn't believe in demonic possession.  Then again, I also don't know how you can look at modern medicine and say that a priest would be more helpful for a schizophrenic than a psychiatrist. 

Quotes
3:16 - "... he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him."

4:19,20 - "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him.

References to Old Testament
3:3 - Isiah 40:3
4:4 - Deuteronomy 8:3
4:6 - Psalm 91:11,12
4:7 - Deuteronomy 6:16
4:10 - Deuteronomy 6:13
4:15,16 - Isiah 9:1,2

Sermon on the Mount (Chapters 5 - 7)

Summary
Jesus begins by teaching his disciples about the kingdom of heaven and then proceeds to talk to the masses.  Here is a summary of his teachings and claims.

• Jesus claims that he has come to fulfill the prophecies made in the Old Testament.  
• He advises that people resolve problems with their fellow man in order to avoid God's judgment.  
• He also claims that "anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery" (5:28) and that "anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery" (5:32).  
• A man should also not swear (5:34), should turn the other cheek (5:39), and should love his enemies (5:44).  
• Chapter 6 begins with Jesus telling people to do their good works in secret, because they should not be seeking the approval of man, but rather the approval of God.  
• He goes on to recite the Lord's Prayer, tell people they should forgive men if they want to be forgiven by God, and speak out against accumulating wealth on earth.  
• Men should not worry about their life on earth because God will provide for them.  
• Men should also not judge other human beings, because "in the same way you judge others, you will be judged" (7:2).  
• Jesus also preaches that entrance to the kingdom of heaven requires more than simply proclaiming Jesus as Lord.  A man must also put Jesus' teachings into practice in order to gain favor with God.  

It is said that the crowds were amazed by Jesus' teachings, "because he taught as one who had authority" (7:29).


Commentary
So who exactly gets into heaven?  (5:3-10,20; 7:21-27)
Christianity obviously seems to appeal to the weak, the poor, and the outcasts of society.  Basically it brings hope to those who have little hope on earth.  There are some interesting contradictions I see between the ideal form of Christianity presented in the Bible and the ideology perpetuated among many Christians today.  First and foremost, the Bible seems pretty explicit in stating that it takes more to get into heaven than simply going to church every Sunday and proclaiming that Jesus is God.  For this reason, I can't really understand Christians who use Christianity as a sort of "backup plan" in case the Bible is correct.  These are the people that are "Christians" for one hour a week.  To me it seems that the Bible says these people won't get into heaven anyway, so why waste an hour of your week?  Some other interesting examples are the Christians who support wars.  How do you reconcile that with Jesus' teachings?  And how about the rich?  While it does seem possible for wealthy men to go to heaven, it certainly appears to be a much more difficult process (have you ever tried to fit a camel through the eye of a needle?).  I guess I'm using this question as an excuse for a little bit of a rant, but I get tired of hearing Christians talk about how everyone is always attacking the Church.  In my opinion, a lot of these "attacks" could be avoided if the Church looked in the mirror and tried to fix a few of the hypocrisies in its teachings.    

Stricter Standards (5:21-48)
Jesus basically expounds on the Ten Commandments and other teachings in the Old Testament.  While many of the laws in the Old Testament focus specifically on actions, Jesus teaches that men are judged based upon their thoughts and intents.  So while you may have not actually cheated on your wife, if you wanted to, then that's bad enough.  It is certainly a stricter approach, but also a more sensible one.

Quotes
5:3 - "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

5:14 - "You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden."

5:39 - "If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also."

5:44 - "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you"

6:7 - "And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans"

6:24 - "You cannot serve both God and Money."

6:34 - "...do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself."

7:3 - "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?"

7:12 - "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you"

References to Old Testament
5:21 - Exodus 20:13
5:27 - Exodus 20:14
5:31 - Deuteronomy 24:1
5:38 - Exodus 21:24, Leviticus 24:20, Deuteronomy 19:21
5:43 - Leviticus 19:18

Miracles (Chapters 8 and 9)

Summary
A summary of the miracles performed in Chapters 8 and 9:

• Heals a leper (8:2-4)
• Heals the centurion's paralyzed servant without even touching him (8:5-13)
• Heals Peter's bedridden mother-in-law (8:14,15)
• Drives out numerous demons (8:16)
• Stops a storm at sea (8:23-27)
• Sends demons from men to a herd of pigs, who proceed to run down a bank and drown in a lake (8:28-32)
• Heals a paralytic despite the protests of the teachers of the law (9:2-7)
• Heals a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years when she touches his cloak (9:20-22)
• Brings a ruler's daughter back from the dead (9:18,19,23-25)
• Gives sight to two blind men (9:27-30)
• Drives a demon from a mute, who then speaks (9:32,33)

Jesus also recruits Matthew, the hated tax collector, as one of his disciples in Chapter 9.  He responds to the Pharisees' criticisms of his associates with a quote from Hosea 6:6, which states "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."  The Pharisees later claim that Jesus is able to do his miracles because he is "the prince of demons".
 
Commentary
What do the miracles mean?
Jesus' miracles can basically be broken down into 4 main groups: healing, exorcism, resurrection of the dead and control over nature.  But I found myself thinking "why these miracles?"  Jesus had the ability to do absolutely anything on earth, so there must be a reason he focused on these areas.  If the miracles are looked at symbolically (that's not to say they aren't necessarily real), there are many similarities between Jesus' teachings and the miracles he performed.  Healing obviously reflects Jesus' love for mankind, but the real reason he came to earth was cure people's minds, not their bodies.  Exorcism exemplifies the ongoing battle between God and Satan.  Resurrection represents the promise of eternal life and his control of nature is indicative of his control over the earth and serves as a reminder that God could bring an end to earth at anytime.   

An interesting side note on miracles: The story of Jesus feeding 5,000 with only five loaves and two fishes is the only miracle that appears in all four gospels.

Why does Jesus tell the people he heals to not tell anyone? (8:4 and 9:30)
This must have been a result of the ever-increasing pressure put on Jesus by the Jewish teachers.  He obviously recognized that widespread publicity would make him even more of a target.  This is still relatively early in his ministry, so I'm sure he is aware that he has many more things to accomplish before his time is over on earth.

"Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead." (8:22)
This sentence initially struck me as very strange, but upon further review is actually very clever.  This quote is Jesus' response to an unnamed disciple who asks to bury his dead father before leaving to follow Jesus.  The first word usage of "dead" refers to those who are dead to Christ, or who refused to follow his teachings, while the second usage of "dead" literally refers to dead people.  Jesus basically requires this man's full devotion, even in a time of great personal grief, if he wants to truly be a follower of Christ.


Why do the people of Gadarenes ask him to leave? (8:34)
This is more of logical question than anything.  If you actually just saw a man cast out two demons, why would you ask him to leave?

Quotes
9:6 - "Then he said to the paralytic, 'Get up, take your mat and go home.'"

9:12 - "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick."

References to Old Testament
8:17 - Isiah 53:4
9:13 - Hosea 6:6

The Twelve Disciples (Chapter 10)

Summary
The Twelve Disciples (in order of appearance)

1. Simon (Peter)
2. Andrew (Simon's brother)
3. James (Son of Zebedee)
4. John (James' brother)
5. Philip
6. Bartholomew
7. Thomas
8. Matthew (Tax collector)
9. James (Son of Alphaeus)
10. Thaddaeus
11. Simon the Zealot
12. Judas Iscariot

Jesus instructs these twelve men to preach his message to the "lost sheep of Israel" (10:6) and heal the sick and raise the dead.  He also tells them to not take any money for their work.  Jesus warns them to be on the lookout for men who will persecute them, but not to be afraid of "those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul" (10:28).  Jesus then states that people should love him more than anyone else, even their parents or children.

Commentary
Are the disciples symbolic? (10:2-4)
The number 12 has always been an important number in mathematics and a highly revered number among many religions.  The case was no different in Judaism, as seen by Jacob's 12 sons who subsequently went on to form the 12 tribes of Israel.  This number again manifests itself in Christianity with Jesus' 12 disciples.  For this reason, many early Gnostic Christians believed that the 12 disciples were symbolic, while the Pauline Christians believed in the literal account. 

What's the meaning of 10:23?
Verse 10:23 states, "I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes."  Sounds like an incorrect prediction does it not?  Well, as with many things in the Bible, there are numerous interpretations.  Here are a few of the more interesting ones:

• Jesus was wrong - This view is obviously rejected by Christians.
• The Preterist Theory - This is the idea that the apocalyptic theories in the Bible have already happened and that they referred to the destruction of Jerusalem rather than the entire world.  Jerusalem was sacked by the Roman Empire in 70 AD, which was within the lifetimes of Jesus' disciples and therefore fits in with the literal chronological description of events.
• The Resurrection - The idea that Christ's second coming actually referred to his resurrection, rather than the end of the world.  
• The Church - The coming of the Son of Man refers to the establishment of the church and his teachings rather than his actual second coming.
• Destruction of Jerusalem - The Son of Man refers to divine punishment rather than the end of the world.  As with the Preterist Theory, it is believed that this scripture was fulfilled in 70 AD, but unlike the Preterist Theory it is believed that the end of the world and the second coming are still ahead.

Quotes
10:9 - "Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts"

10:16 - "...be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."

10:34 - "I did not come to bring peace, but a sword."

References to Old Testament
10:35,36 - Micah 7:6

A Little Negativity (Chapters 11 and 12)

Summary
Chapter 11 opens with Jesus asserting (although not directly) to John the Baptist's disciples (I think?) that he is in fact the Son of God.  He also calls John the Baptist "God's messenger" and proclaims that there has never been anyone born from a woman who is greater than John the Baptist (wasn't Jesus born from a woman?).  Jesus goes on to denounce the cities that rejected his teachings and says that judgment day will be more bearable for Sodom than for these cities.  Chapter 12 finds Jesus in the midst of a theological debate with the Pharisees.  They claimed that it was unlawful for his disciples to pick grains to eat on the Sabbath, but Jesus counters by telling them that David had once eaten consecrated bread when he and his companions were hungry.  They also ask Jesus if it is lawful to heal on the Sabbath, to which Jesus responds by asking if a sheep falls into a pit on the Sabbath, would you lift it out?  Jesus then proceeds to heal a man with a shriveled hand.  When the Pharisees claim that Jesus uses Beelzebub to drive out demons, he says, "If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself.  How then can his kingdom stand?" (12:26) Jesus then proceeds to make some scary and interesting statements:

• 12:32 - "Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come."
• 12:36,37 - "But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.  For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."
• 12:39 - "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign!"
• 12:40 - Jesus makes his first prediction about being raised from the dead.

Commentary
Was John the Baptist really the best "among those born of women"? (11:11)
Wasn't Jesus born of a woman?  I guess I just find the language interesting.  Why not just say "among men".


Are there sins that cannot be forgiven? (12:32)
I'm gonna put this down in the questions section, but the wording of 12:32 certainly seems a little scary.  Most Christians believe that this verse refers to a lifelong rejection of Christ and not simply a few misplaced words or thoughts.

Meaning of 12:43-45?
Any thoughts?  Other than the obvious literal interpretation.


Quotes
12:25 - "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined"

12:32 - "...anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come."

12:39 - "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign!"

References to Old Testament
11:10 - Malachi 3:1
12:7 - Hosea 6:6
12:18-21 - Isiah 42:1-4

Parables (Chapter 13)

Summary
Jesus went to a lake to preach and it became so crowded that he climbed into a boat to speak to the people.  Matthew claims in 13:34 that "he did not say anything to them (the crowd of people) without using a parable." Here are the parables he taught (he also explains them to his disciples):

• 13:3-8 - A farmer spread his seed along a path, on rocky places, among thorns, and on good soil.  The seed on the path was eaten by birds.  The seed on the rocky places sprang up quickly, but was scorched by the sun because it did not have roots.  The seed among thorns was choked by the plants.  However, the seed on good soil produced a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
• 13:24-30 - A man sowed good seed in his field, but his enemy came at night and sowed weeds in the field.  The man decides to not pull the weeds because the wheat may be rooted up with the weeds.  So he instead decides to wait until harvest, at which time he will tell the harvesters to first collect the weeds and burn them, and then to gather the wheat and bring it in the barn.
• 13:31,32 - The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed because it is the smallest of all seeds, but later becomes a tree.  
• 13:33 - "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough."
• 13:44 - "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field.  When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field."
• 13:45,46 - "...the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.  When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it." 
• 13:47,48 - The kingdom of heaven is like a fisherman's net that caught all kings of fish.  When it was full, the fisherman put the good fish in baskets and threw the bad fish away.

Commentary
Why parables? (13:10)
It is said in the Bible that he spoke in parables to fulfill the prophecy of Isiah that the people will be able to hear his message but not understand its meaning.  But I have a bit of a problem with this.  Either the people in Jesus' age were morons (it really isn't too difficult to figure out how Jesus will explain the parables to his disciples before he does) or the hidden meaning in all of these is so complex that we also can't figure them out.  I have to assume that anyone with a basic level of intelligence can get the gist of these parables, so how were they confused by his teachings?  And if they are in fact so complex that we can't figure them out, then why are Biblical scholars always explaining them?  It's as if we inherently think that we are much more intelligent than the people in Jesus' day.

Quotes
13:45,46 - "...the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.  When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it."

13:54,55 - "'Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?' they asked.  'Isn't this the carpenter's son?'"

References to Old Testament
13:14,15 - Isiah 6:9,10
13:35 - Psalm 78:2

Feeding the Masses, Walking on Water and Transfiguration

(Chapters 14 - 17)

Summary
Chapter 14 begins by telling of the beheading of John the Baptist and his head subsequently being brought to the daughter of Herodias, who had asked for the head as a favor from Herod the tetrarch (Herod the Great's son).  Jesus attempted to withdraw to a solitary place to mourn the death of John the Baptist, but it is said that he had compassion on the large crowd of people who followed him.  Instead of sending the people away, he fed the crowd, which consisted of 5,000 men in addition to women and children, with only 5 loaves of bread and two fishes.  Jesus then sent his disciples out to sea while he prayed on a mountainside.  Jesus then walks out to his disciples on the water and Peter also walks on the water for a short time.  Jesus and his disciples then land the boat and Jesus proceeds to debate with the Pharisees, provide another parable, and drive out a demon.  Chapter 15 ends after Jesus spoke along the Sea of Galilee and fed 4,000 men with seven loaves of bread and a few small fish.  In Chapter 16, Jesus declares that he will use Peter to build his church and makes his second prediction that he will be killed and rise from the dead on the third day (16:21). Chapter 17 begins with Jesus' transfiguration in front of Peter, James and John.  It is said that he shone like the sun and that he spoke with Moses and Elijah.  Jesus later tells his disciples that Elijah has already come to earth in the form of John the Baptist and predicts that he will be raised from the dead for the third time.

Commentary
Symbolism of a head on a platter? (14:11)
Herod and his family were feeding off of the innocent?  A simple display of a disgusting and perverted lifestyle? 


Love? (15:16, 16:11, 17:17)
"Are you still so dull?"  "How is it you don't understand that I was not talking to you about bread?"  "How long shall I put up with you?"  These don't necessarily seem like comments filled with love.  I actually got the sense in these chapters that Jesus became very annoyed with his disciples.  Shouldn't God be able to understand that these men aren't going to be able to live up to his standards? 

16:28?
I originally thought this passage was similar in context to 10:23, but upon further review it is simply predicting Jesus' transfiguration in the following chapter.

Why the magic trick? (17:27)
So in this passage Jesus tells Peter to go fishing and that the first fish he catches will have a four-drachma coin in it to pay taxes.  I understand the symbolism that God will provide, but doesn't this seem like a magic trick compared to Jesus' other miracles.  I mean, he's raising people from the dead and casting out demons, so what is really the point of having a coin appear in a fish's mouth?

Quotes
15:9 - "They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men."

15:10 - "What goes into a man's mouth does not make him unclean, but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him unclean."

15:14 - "If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit."

References to Old Testament
15:4 - Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 5:16
15:4 - Exodus 21:17, Leviticus 20:9
15:9 - Isiah 29:13

Words of Wisdom (Chapter 18)

Summary
Chapter 18 provides some heavenly insight on earthly problems:

• Jesus begins by teaching that men should become like children
• 18:8 - "If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut if off and throw it away."
• If someone sins against you, first confront the man one-on-one.  If he doesn't listen, bring one or two others along.
• The Debt Parable - A master has pity on his servant and cancels the servant's debt, but that servant then leaves and demands that another servant repay him money (a much smaller amount than he had owed).  When the servant refuses the man has him thrown into prison.  The master then hears about this and is so angered that he puts the servant, who he had originally pardoned, into prison to repay his debt.

Commentary
Importance of Children (18:1-6,10,11; 19:13-15)
Jesus continually praises the faith and innocence of children.  He even goes so far as to claim that the only way to get into heaven is to become like children.  Jesus wants followers with humility and an open mind.

Quotes
18:4 - "...whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

18:12,13 - "If a man owns a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?  And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off."

References to Old Testament
18:16 - Deuteronomy 19:15

Travel to Jerusalem (Chapters 19 and 20)

Summary
Jesus leaves Galilee at the beginning of Chapter 19 and is subsequently questioned by the Pharisees on the topic of divorce.  Jesus responds in 19:6 by saying, "what God has joined together, let man not separate."  A man then tells Jesus that he has kept all of the commandments and asks him what else he must do to get to heaven.  Jesus tells him to give up his earthly wealth, but the man is unable to do this.  Jesus goes on to compare the kingdom of heaven to a vineyard before once again predicting his resurrection and finally restoring the sight of two blind men.


Commentary
Marriage and Divorce (19:3-12)
Jesus' feelings on marriage seem to be somewhat ambivalent.  He advises that those who are willing to forgo marriage and sex should in fact do this.  However, he also recognizes marriage is an essential aspect of human life and does not speak against it.  He has much more clearcut views on divorce.  He explicitly states in 19:9 that anyone who divorces and remarries has committed adultery.  So it would seem that at least half of the United States has committed adultery.

Wealth (19:16-27)
These verses have always intrigued me because it seems as though the church generally likes to ignore them as long as you give the church ten percent of your millions of dollars.  Granted, verse 27:57 does specifically state that a rich man became a disciple of Jesus.  But judging from these verses, that definitely seems to be a rare case.  I just find it interesting that issues that aren't specifically addressed by Jesus, such as abortion and homosexuality, have completely taken over the religious dogma, while issues that he does specifically condemn, such as divorce and extravagant wealth, are for the most part ignored. 

A religion for the masses (19:30)
"But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first."  This truly is a religion for the masses.  No matter how miserable life is on earth, there is always the hope of eternal paradise.  And while Christianity has come to be accepted by people in all levels of society, it definitely seems as though it was initially aimed at those with the most miserable lives on earth.

Sign of the Prophet Jonah (12:40, 16:4,21, 17:23, 20:19)
Jesus predicts his death and resurrection quite a few times in the Book of Matthew.  My question is in particular regard to sign of the prophet Jonah, who obviously spent three days and three nights in the belly of whale.  The sign of the prophet Jonah is generally seen as Christ's prediction that he will spend three days in the ground much like Jonah spent three days in the whale.  My question arises specifically in reference to Matthew 12:40, which states explicitly that Jesus will be in his tomb for three days and three nights.  Even if you count Friday night and Sunday morning as days, you are still only left with two nights.

Quotes
19:21 - "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven."

19:24 - "...it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

19:30 - "But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first."

References to Old Testament
19:4 - Genesis 1:27
19:5 - Genesis 2:24
19:19 - Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 5:16-20
19:19 - Leviticus 19:18

Jerusalem (Chapters 21 - 23)

Summary
Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey and it is said that the crowds spread their cloaks on the road, placed branches on the road (it didn't specify that they were palm branches) and shouted "Hosanna (although this word is generally used to praise, it is actually a Hebrew word meaning "save") in the highest!"  Jesus then goes into the temple and forces the traders to leave the temple area.  This is followed by stories of Jesus healing people and a strange story about him killing a fig tree because it didn't have any fruit.  When Jesus is asked what authority is allowing him to perform his miracles he does not answer, but rather provides a parable about a man with two sons and a parable about a vineyard.  Chapter 22 opens with Jesus speaking to the masses about the wedding banquet parable.  He then discusses scripture with the Pharisees, who were apparently trying to trick him into saying something so that they could arrest him.  Jesus is still speaking to the crowds in Chapter 23 and he spends a good portion of this sermon criticizing the Pharisees and other teachers who put a lot of emphasis on the law.

Commentary

Pharisees, Sadducees, priests, and teachers
There are generally four groups of people who butt heads with Jesus, so I thought I would provide a brief overview of these groups of people.  Priests and teachers seem pretty self-explanatory, so I'll leave those two out.  The Pharisees were a sect of Judaism that was obsessed with Jewish law.  Jesus obviously placed much more emphasis on God's love, so it was only natural that they disagreed on quite a few issues (not to mention that whole Messiah thing).  The Sadducees were also a sect of Judaism and were generally wealthier than the Pharisees (the Pharisees and the Sadducees didn't get along either).

Woe to you (23:13-39)
Jesus really sticks it to the Pharisees in these verses.  This obviously created even more contempt for Jesus amongst the Pharisees and contributed to the plot against him. 

Quotes
21:22 - "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

22:21 - "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."

22:32 - "He is not the God of the dead but of the living."

23:12 - "For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

23:23 - "You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cummin.  But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness."

References to Old Testament
21:5 - Zechariah 9:9
21:9 - Psalm 118:26
21:13 - Isiah 56:7
21:13 - Jeremiah 7:11
21:16 - Psalm 8:2
21:42 - Psalm 118:22,23
22:32 - Exodus 3:6
22:37 - Deuteronomy 6:5
22:39 - Leviticus 19:18
22:44 - Psalm 110:1
23:39 - Psalm 118:26

The Apocalypse and Judgment Day (Chapters 24 and 25)

Summary
Jesus claims that at the end of times many people will claim to be the second coming of Christ and that there will be wars, famines and earthquakes.  He also states that those days will be cut short because if they were not, no one would survive.  The sun will then darken, the moon will stop giving light (I had no idea the moon was a light source), and the stars will fall from the sky (how exactly is that going to happen?).  Jesus also says that even he does not know that exact time of the end of the world, but that "the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him" (24:44).  The kingdom of heaven is compared to ten virgins and to three servants who had been entrusted with their master's wealth.  Jesus also speaks about separating the wicked and the righteous.

Commentary
So when is the end?
May 21, 2011?  December 21, 2012?  Probably not.  When you hear a new prophecy about the end of the world every other year it kind of diminishes the effect.  But for anyone who thinks they actually know when the end of the world will come, please read 24:36.  "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."  So unless you think you're more important than Jesus, please stop with the insanity.

24:34?
Jesus claims that "this generation" will not pass away before the end of the world.  Taken in a literal sense, this has obviously turned out to be false.  This passage is generally thought to refer to the Jewish people as a generation and is taken to mean that the Jews will be around until the end of the world.

"Weeping and gnashing of teeth" (8:11,12; 13:41,42; 13:49,50; 22:12,13; 24:50,51; 25:29,30)
This phrase is used six times in Matthew, so I figured it deserved some recognition.  These words are generally used when a person is separated from God.  However, it should be noted that these people are not actually being tortured (as would be the case in hell).  It seems to be me that simply the separation from God creates an intense feeling of despair and remorse. 

Quotes
24:30 - "They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory."

References to Old Testament
24:15 - Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11
24:29 - Isiah 13:10; 34:4

The Last Supper and Arrest (Chapter 26)

Summary
Chapter 26 begins with a woman pouring perfume on Jesus' head.  We are told that Judas goes to the priests and agrees to hand over Jesus and that Jesus predicts that one of the disciples will betray him and even confronts Judas.  Jesus then initiates the communion practice and tells Peter that he will disown Jesus three times.  Jesus later appears to be very troubled by his upcoming task and even asks God to not put him through the torture.  When Judas finally arrives he kisses Jesus to signal that the man was in fact Jesus (they didn't know?) and a small altercation ensues between the guards and Jesus' disciples, but the disciples later flee.  The guards then took Jesus (Peter followed) to the Sanhedrin (23 judges), who found him guilty of blasphemy and proceeded to spit on him and hit him.  The chapter ends with Peter disowning Jesus three times as Jesus had predicted that he would.


Commentary
Jesus confronts Judas and he still turns him over? (26:21-25)
This is just another one of those things that logically I can't really wrap my head around.  Let me get this straight.  You've seen this man bring people back from the dead, walk on water, and now he already knows that you plan to disown him and you still go through with it?  Could it really just have been for greed?  I mean he surely could have held out for more money if that was his real goal.  I hope the other gospels investigate Judas in more depth because I would really like to know his motivation.

Why does Jesus ask to be relieved of his burden? (26:37-45)
Although Christians love to celebrate Christmas and Easter (and many generally consider Easter to be the most important date in the Christian religion), I would have to point to this event as quite possibly the most important event in the history of the Christian religion.  This is the only time we witness a conflict of will between the Son and the Father.  Even while Jesus was fasting for forty days and being tempted by the devil, he never lost heart.  But I really got the sense in this story that he was pretty close to a breakdown.  Of course, he eventually uses prayer as a "pep talk" and gets back to business.  I just get the impression that this is a very underrated story in Christianity. 

Were the Jews responsible for Jesus' death?
Well Mel Gibson certainly thinks so.  And I know that many church leaders have backed away from this claim in recent years, but I gotta say that after reading this it seems pretty clear the Jews were actually at fault.  The only way the case can really be made against that claim is to say that the Bible was altered in order to promote antisemitism.

References to Old Testament
26:31 - Zechariah 13:7

Trial and Crucifixion (Chapter 27)

Summary
The priests all found Jesus guilty of blasphemy, but they still needed the consent of Pilate to sentence him to death.  Prior to the trial, Judas was overcome with remorse and returned the 30 silver coins and hanged himself.  Pilate then asked Jesus if he was "king of the Jews", to which Jesus agreed, but said nothing else.  Pilate did not want to kill Jesus and he gave the crowd the option of freeing either Barabbas or Jesus.  The crowd of course chose Barabbas and Pilate then washed his hands in front of the crowd and proclaimed that he was innocent of Jesus' blood.  The torture of Jesus then ensued.  He was beaten and insulted and according to Matthew, both of the men who were crucified beside him also mocked him.  Jesus cried out to God in the ninth hour before finally giving "up his spirit" (27:50).  There was then a major earthquake and apparently many dead holy people came to life.  A rich man named Joseph then took Jesus' body and a stone tomb before rolling a rock in front of the entrance. 

Commentary
How much is Pilate to blame?
Pilate certainly seems pretty reluctant to crucify Jesus, does he not?  But let's take a look at some historical records of Pilate.  The two most well known accounts come from Jewish historians Philo and Josephus.  Granted, it must be taken into account that these two men were Jews, but both of them detail numerous instances in which Pilate specifically aggravates the Jews.  He was also known to beat them and was eventually removed from his post because of his harsh treatment of Jews.  So would this man, who had an army of 3,000 men at his disposal, really have been intimidated by the Jewish mob calling for Jesus' crucifixion?  

Roman crucifixion records
I've always been under the impression that the Roman's kept detailed records of their executions.  Turns out I was wrong.  I was not able to find any evidence to support the idea.  While it is true that historians have noted many crucifixions in their records, the idea that the Roman Empire actually kept these records seems false.  So I guess it isn't too surprising then to not find a record of Christ's crucifixion. 


Any truth in the record of events after Jesus' death? (27:51-53)
I have to admit that when I come across stories of earthquakes and other natural events in ancient literature I become a little skeptical to say the least.  For instance, I've been reading about the Silla Kingdom (an ancient Korean kingdom) and it is said that Buddhism was accepted after the martyrdom of a man named Ichadon because when he was killed the earth shook, the sun turned dark and his blood turned to milk.  That's a ridiculous story, right?  But does that really sound any different from the story that the earth shook and people were raised from the dead after Jesus died?  Obviously the fact that an event as miraculous as this was not recorded in any other historical document (even the other gospels) casts some doubt on its credibility. 


Is wealth okay now? 19:21 vs. 27:57
I'm a little confused by the discrepancy between these two verses.  It seems obvious that Jesus turns a man away in 19:21 because of his vast amount of wealth, but 27:57 specifically states that Jesus had a wealthy disciple (not one of the twelve though).  Any thoughts?

References to Old Testament
27:9,10 - Zechariah 11:12,13; Jeremiah 19:1-13; 32:6-9
27:46 - Psalm 22:1

Resurrection (Chapter 28)

Summary
Mary Magdalene and "the other Mary" went to visit Jesus' tomb on Sunday and found an angel at the tomb who told them that he had risen and that they should tell the disciples to meet Jesus in Galilee.  The women then meet Jesus and he tells them the same thing.  The guards who were at the tomb when the angel arrived went to tell the priests about the events and they decided to circulate the idea that Jesus' disciples had stolen his body during the night.  When Jesus finally met his disciples in Galilee they worshiped him and he instructed them to spread his word to all nations.

Commentary
What's the point of the encounter with the angel? (28:5-10)
Isn't it a little redundant?  The women first talk to an angel who tells them that Jesus has risen and that they should tell the disciples.  Then they meet Jesus who tells them that they should tell the disciples.  So did they really have to speak with angel first?


Some of his disciples doubted him? (28:17)
How could you still have doubts at this point?  I mean he told them he would rise from the dead and now he has done it.  What is there still to doubt?

Favorite Quotes

5:39 - "If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also."

5:44 - "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you"

6:34 - "...do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself."

7:3 - "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?"

7:12 - "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you"

9:6 - "Then he said to the paralytic, 'Get up, take your mat and go home.'"

9:12 - "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick."

15:14 - "If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit."

19:24 - "...it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

19:30 - "But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first."

Questions

Does Satan know about the Trinity?  If he does, why would he bother tempting Jesus?  I've never heard of (I could be wrong) Satan tempting God the Father, so why would he tempt the Son?  Does this in any way indicate that Jesus could be more prone to human temptation?

How does a Christian reconcile the Bible's belief in demonic possession with the findings of modern psychology?

Why do people die of hunger? Verses 6:25-34 state explicitly that God will provide basic necessities.

What's your interpretation of Matthew 10:23?

Are there sins that cannot be forgiven? (12:32)

How do you explain 12:40?

Must the Bible be taught to everyone before the end of days? (24:14)

Bereshit / Genesis

Well, I'm starting to jump around a little bit now.  I really don't like focusing too much on one topic and I'm now in the midst of reading three different books.  One of my goals for my time in Asia is to make my way through holy scriptures for Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Judaism.  I've already started in on Buddhism and since Christianity is the other predominant religion in Korea I figured I would start that up as well.

Let's start off by looking at Christianity in Korea.  As of 2005, Christianity was actually the most popular religion in South Korea with about 14 million followers, which corresponds to about 29% of the population.  However, Buddhism is more popular than either Protestantism or Catholicism.  Buddhism is followed by 22.8% of the population, Protestantism is followed by 18.3% of the population and Catholicism is followed by 10.9% of the population.  Christianity has only existed in Korea for a little over 200 years, with the first Catholic missionaries arriving in 1785 and the first Protestant missionaries arriving about 100 years later.  An interesting fact I found was that South Korea is second only to the United States in the number of missionaries working around the world.

So let's move on to the Bible.  As of now (I'll probably change this format along the way) I'm planning to provide a short introduction, followed by a summary of each chapter and some discussion about the more important and well known stories.  Then I'll throw in some verses that I thought were interesting and I'll finish off the post with some questions that I had on the material.  I would welcome any religious or non-religious person to provide thoughts and insights on these questions.

Introduction

The first book of the holy scriptures in Judaism and in Christianity is known as Bereshit (בְּרֵאשִׁית, which translates to "In the beginning") in Hebrew and as Genesis (Γένεσις, which translates to "Birth" or "Creation") in Greek.  Genesis (I'll refer to it by its more well known name from here on out) is one of the books in the Torah (תּוֹרָה, translates as "Teaching"), also known as the "Five Books of Moses", which consists of the first five books of the Tanakh ( תַּנַ"ךְ ), or Hebrew Bible.  Genesis is also the first book of the Old Testament in the Christian Bible.  The oldest version of Genesis known today was found in the Dead Sea Scrolls, which are believed to have been written between 150 BC and 70 AD.  Genesis was traditionally believed to have been composed by Moses (2 Kings 14:6) sometime between 1440 and 1400 BC, after Moses had led the Israelites out of Egypt.  However, historians generally agree that the book was written in the 1st millennium BC and many point to a date around 500 BC as the most likely time period in which it was written.  Historians also believe that the book was not written by one person, but rather by multiple authors (at least three). 

In the Beginning: Chapters 1 - 4

Ahhh, the story of creation.  Quite possibly the most discussed story (at least among non-Christians) in the entire Bible.  Should the creation story be taken literally or figuratively?  Should the Bible (or the Tanakh) be taken as a scientific document?  Was the story merely a reflection of the limited understanding of the people of that time period?  What about close similarities to other creation stories?  Do these similarities help to prove or disprove the credibility of the story?  There seem to be thousands of questions that could be discussed about these four chapters, but before I get into any discussion about specifics I am going to outline the four chapters.

Chapter 1 - Creation
The first chapter of Genesis tells the story about God creating the universe (specifically the earth) in six days.  He creates light on the first day, the sky (it seems implied that the oceans already existed at this time) on the second day, land and plants on the third day, the sun and the moon on the fourth day, fish and birds and on the fifth day, and finally land animals and humans on the sixth day.

Chapter 2 - Eden and Eve
The second chapter begins by providing a slightly different (or simply more in depth) account of creation in which man is created before God has sent rain and there are apparently streams (also translated as mist) that come up from the earth to water the ground.  We are also provided with the story of God creating man from dust and breathing life into his nostrils.  God then places the man (Adam) into the Garden of Eden, instructs him not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and goes about finding a helper for Adam.  Adam does not find a suitable helper amongst the animals (although he does give them all names), so God creates a woman from one of Adam's ribs.


Chapter 3 - The Fall of Man
This chapter documents the fall of man after the serpent succeeds in at first tricking Eve (although she didn't have a name until after this story) and then Adam into eating from the tree of knowledge.  God proceeds to force the serpent to exist on its belly (what did it look like before this incident?) for the rest of its existence.  He also increases Eve's, as well as all subsequent women, pain during childbirth and causes men to painfully work the ground in order to grow food.  God then provides Adam and Eve with clothes (which is the first documentation of an animal being killed) and forces them to leave the Garden of Eden.


Chapter 4 - Cain and Abel
After leaving the Garden of Eden, Eve gave birth to two sons.  The older brother, whose name was Cain, was a farmer and the younger brother, whose name was Abel, was a shepherd.  The two brothers each brought an offering to God.  It is recorded that Cain brought "some" of his crops as an offering, while Abel brought the best animals in his flock to God.  God of course looked more favorably upon Abel, which angered Cain and eventually caused Cain to kill Abel.  God banished Cain from the land and sentenced him to a life of wandering (Cain eventually founded a city in spite of this).  The chapter ends with Eve giving birth to Seth and the statement that it was at this time that men began to worship the Lord.


What do I have to say on the subject?

There seem to be four ways to interpret the stories found in these chapters, as well as many of the following chapters in Genesis.  They can be viewed as nothing more than myth or folklore, in the same way that we currently view the stories of the Greek gods or the founding myths for many religions or civilizations.  Some people see the stories as metaphorical or symbolic and believe that the Bible was not attempting to provide a scientific account of creation, but rather it was simply trying to provide teachings through the stories.  There is also the belief that creation happened as it is documented in the Bible, but that a "day" is actually representative of millions or billions of years because God's concept of time is much different than that of humans (any relation to the theory of relativity?).  Of course, the final interpretation is the acceptance of everything in these chapters as fact.


Is it a myth?
Christians inherently need to disapprove of this view because if the Bible was in fact written by God through men, then there can not be any falsifications or mistruths within the Bible.  The strongest evidence for this viewpoint is also the strongest evidence against it and lies in the Bible's similarity to other myths of ancient age.  Non-believers claim that similarities are proof that the creation myth, as well as many other myths in the Bible, were simply influenced by other civilizations and religions.  On the other hand, Christians point to this similarity as evidence that "myth" is in fact true because it was revealed to people all over the world and that the Bible was the only book that got the story completely right.


How about metaphor?
I think this is the most sensible stance for a Christian to take on the issue.  The Bible is made up of many different literary genres, some of which include poetry, biographies, letters and legal documents.  So while the Bible may be a brilliant literary work, that doesn't necessarily make it science textbook.  Some Christians are willing to accept that simply because they believe that God created the universe, this doesn't necessarily mean that he felt the obligation to tell us how he did it.  While I like this viewpoint, I have to ask how much of the Bible is metaphorical?  Did any of it actually happen?  When you start down the path of picking out stories and claiming that they're not actually true, where do you stop?

Maybe it's real, but the timescale is wrong
This idea gained popularity as Christians attempted to mesh their beliefs with the findings of modern science, but it simply can not be true.  The order of events makes it impossible.  For starters, the sun isn't created until the fourth day.  Hmmmmmm.  So the earth was just wandering through space for millions of years?  And how was there day and night before the sun?  Plants also arrive prior to the sun's creation.  Personally, I think the order of events is the strongest evidence supporting the idea that the writer did not intend for people to take the story literally.  While the order of formation of the sun and moon would have been unknown to people at that time, they surely knew that plants couldn't exist without the sun.  If the author was trying to establish a logical time line, it wouldn't have made any sense, even in that time period, to assert that plants came into existence before the sun.


Is it actually real?
At least from my perspective, this would seem to be extremely unlikely due to our understanding of modern science.  There simply isn't any way that a rational person could look at the massive amount of evidence supporting the age of our earth as billions, rather than thousands, of years old and not be convinced that it is at least much older than the timescale presented in the Bible.  Geology, physics, astronomy, biology and other sciences all agree on the age of the earth being about 4.54 billion years old, as opposed to the 6,015 year age that is indicated by the Bible.  Therefore, there are only two conclusions that a fundamentalist Christian could arrive at.  The first being that science is simply wrong.  Perhaps fundamentalists believe that scientists are deliberately falsifying data to disprove the Bible or they simply think that scientists are morons and that science does not produce facts (there are some problems with the carbon dating system, but it is still very reliable to time periods that are much older than the 6,000 year age assumed in the Bible).  The other conclusion would be that for some reason God placed geological evidence on the earth to make us believe that the earth was much older than it actually is.  This would seem to be the practice of a deliberately deceiving god and I would have to question why a benevolent and gracious god would do such a thing.  Of course, that question would be answered with the standard "His ways are higher than ours", so there isn't really any point in asking that question.

The Flood and Babel: Chapters 5 - 11

Chapter 5 - Lineage

This chapter simply lists Adam's descendants and their respective lifespans.  Many of the men in this chapter lived to be over 900 years old and this is obviously an aspect of the Bible that has come under scrutiny with respect to its historical reliability.  The chapter ends with the birth of Noah and his three sons.

Chapter 6 - Men Have Become Wicked

God sees that men have become wicked and decides to destroy humans along with the all living things on earth (except fish I guess).  However, God finds favor with Noah and decides to save him and his family and also put him in charge of saving the animals.  God commands Noah to build an ark in order to accomplish this task. 


Chapter 7 - The Great Flood

Noah complies with God's commands and the floodwaters arrive after the completion of the ark.  The rain (and apparently the "springs of the deep") continued to flood the earth for forty days until the entire earth was covered in water (even Mt. Everest?). This obviously led to the demise of all creatures on land.


Chapter 8 - Dry Land Reappears

This chapter documents the receding flood waters and Noah's attempts to find to dry land.  However, in verse 16 God definitively tells Noah when to come out of the ark, so I have to wonder why sending out the raven and doves to find dry land was necessary.  This obviously seems to indicate a metaphorical story rather than an actual account.  Chapter 8 ends with Noah sacrificing clean animals to the Lord and the Lord in turn promising to never again destroy life on earth.


Chapter 9 - The Covenant

God establishes his covenant with Noah and his sons and claims that a rainbow is the sign of this covenant (this just screams "mythology") because anytime he brings clouds over the earth he will see the rainbow and remember his covenant.  This chapter also claims that Noah became drunk one night and Ham (one of his sons) saw him lying naked in his tent.  Noah curses Ham for this and claims that the descendants of Ham (the Canaanites) will be the slaves of the descendants of Ham's brothers, Shem and Japheth.

Chapter 10 - The Three Sons

The descendants of Noah's three sons disperse over the entire earth (is this an attempt to explain the existence of the Mongoloid, Caucasoid and Negroid races?  As a side note, there is also the Australoid race, but this wouldn't have been known at this time).  The only particularly interesting thing I found in this chapter was that the Canaanites (Ham's descendants) founded the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, which of course were not looked upon very favorably in future years.

Chapter 11 - Tower of Babel

This chapter begins by stating that "the whole world had one language and a common speech" (11:1), but in Genesis 10:4, when talking about the sons of Javan (son of Japheth), the Bible claims that each clan had its own language.  This obviously brings up some questions about chronology and authorship.  But anyway, the story goes onto tell that men desired to build a tower up to heaven and it was for this reason that God dispersed the men throughout the world and gave them different languages.  The rest of the chapter is dedicated to the lineage of Shem, which eventually culminates with Abram.

What do I have to say on the subject?

Why did people live such long lives?
Biblical scholars have attempted to explain this through scientific explanations, such as the earth had ideal living conditions because of its recent formation or that the human genetic code had not developed defects at this point.  All of the "scientific" explanations that I have seen have obvious flaws and I would say that the most logical argument is that the age of men is representative of man's distance from God.  According to the Bible, men were initially created in the image of God and intended to live forever.  Therefore, as men became less and less God-like, their ages became closer to the life expectancy of modern man.  As was the case with the creation story, I don't think this is a story that can be taken literally unless the understanding of modern science is completely suspended. 

Did the flood actually happen?  And if it did, was it localized or worldwide?
Well, if the Bible is to be interpreted in a literal sense, then I think the only conclusion to be reached is that there was in fact a worldwide flood.  Of course, science does not support this conclusion, but I don't know how you can read "all the high mountains under the entire heavens were covered" (7:19) any differently.  It also wouldn't make sense for God to command that Noah build an ark when he could have just told him to move to another area.  This naturally leads to the conclusion that the Bible once again is not speaking literally.  While the account in the Bible is that of a worldwide flood, it is of course very possible that the story was inspired by localized flooding or a tsunami.  And while neither of these would have completely destroyed life, either of them could have had very devastating effects on the area.  Another interesting note is that flood myths are found throughout the world.  So does this mean that plagiarism was in play?  Or did all people really descend from Noah and therefore all have knowledge of this flood?  Hmmmmm.


Noah gets drunk and Ham gets blamed?
So I was a little confused by the Bible's morality on this one.  The text gives the impression that Ham was alerted to his father's inebriation, went to check in on the situation, saw him naked, and then proceeded to tell his brothers and possibly other people in the area.  Now granted, Ham should not have gone around publicizing the fact that his father had passed out naked, but I don't really see how Ham is at fault for the fact that Noah passed out naked to begin with.  Perhaps this story is intended to show Noah's imperfection (up until this point Noah seems to have lived an essentially perfect life) or maybe its meaning was to emphasize respect for parents.  Nonetheless, by today's standards it certainly seems as though Noah was much more in the wrong in this situation than was Ham.

Did they actually intend to build the tower of Babel up to heaven?
Again, I'm gonna have to go with metaphor on this one.  Not because this seems like a ridiculous concept in today's world, but because it would have seemed like a ridiculous concept in the ancient world as well.  Even if people held the belief that heaven was above the clouds, the idea that men could build a structure into the clouds would have been inconceivable in an age where the Great Pyramid of Giza was the tallest structure on earth at a height of 480 feet.  This story really deals more with man's desire to make a name for himself (by building cities and monuments) and God preventing the scenario from occurring.  It is generally believed today that the Etemenanki, which was a ziggurat built in Babylon during the 6th century BC, was the inspiration for this story.  This of course conflicts with the idea that Genesis was written in 1440 BC, but fits nicely with the belief that it was written around 500 BC.  This story ends what is traditionally referred to as the "primeval history" and the remaining chapters of Genesis are dedicated to the "patriarchal history".

Abram: Chapters 12 - 16

Chapter 12 - Abram's Time in Egypt

God commands Abram to leave Haran (believed to be in modern day Turkey), so Abram sets out with his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot.  They first stop in Canaan (an area that includes modern day Israel, Palestine, Lebanon and Syria), but are forced to move to Egypt during a famine.  Upon entering Egypt, Abram tells Sarai to say that she is his sister so that the Egyptians will not kill Abram out of jealousy (so lying is okay?).  Pharaoh takes Sarai into his palace, but God proceeds to send diseases upon Pharaoh's household because Sarai is Abram's wife.  Pharaoh eventually realizes the situation and forces Abram and Sarai to leave. 

Chapter 13 - Abram and Lot Split Ways

The Pharaoh had treated Abram very well because of Sarai (he thought he was her brother) and for this reason Abram left Egypt as a wealthy man.  Lot and Abram eventually part ways because their combined flocks were too large for the land to support.  Lot chooses to settle near Sodom and Abram returns to Canaan.  It is at this point that God promises to give Abram and his descendants all of the land that he can see.


Chapter 14 - Abram Rescues Lot

There is war involving nine kingdoms, one of which is Sodom, and Lot is taken prisoner after Sodom is defeated.  When Abram hears about this he takes 318 men to attack the armies (there were four of them) who had taken Lot prisoner.  The Bible claims that Abram routed the armies and returned to Sodom with Lot and all of the possessions that had been plundered from Sodom. 

Chapter 15 - God's Covenant With Abram

God makes his covenant with Abram in which he states "to your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates" (15:18).  God also warns Abram that his "descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years"(15:13).


Chapter 16 - The Birth of Ishmael

Sarai is still baron in this chapter, so she tells Abram to sleep with her maidservant, Hagar.  Hagar gives birth to Ishmael, whom the Bible describes as "a wild donkey of a man" and claims that "he will live in hostility toward all his brothers" (16:12).

What do I have to say on the subject?

The Importance of Abram and the Abrahamic Covenant
Abram is arguably the most important and most talked about figure in the Old Testament.  The story of his life spans the length of 15 chapters in Genesis and he is referenced numerous times in both the Old Testament and New Testament.  An interesting side note is that Abraham is actually considered to be the second-most important figure in Islam, preceded only by Muhammad.  The covenant is introduced in chapters 12 and 15 before it is finally solidified in chapter 17.  God promises land to Abram and his descendants, he promises to make Abram into a great nation, and he promises to make Abram a blessing to the world.  These are pretty amazing promises and a Christian or Jew believes them to be true.  But from a skeptic's point of view, I can't help but notice the convenience of having a "promised" land to return to following captivity.  It is believed that Genesis was written either after the Jews left Egypt or after the Babylonian captivity.  In both instances it would have been very nice for the Jews to have land to which they could return because it was promised to them by God.

Did Abram just pimp his wife?
So Abram goes to Egypt, allows the Pharaoh to take his wife, and in return leaves Egypt with sheep, cattle, donkeys, servants and camels given to him by the Pharaoh.  How is that not prostitution?  And while I am kind of joking around here, could someone please explain to me why it's okay for Abram to sleep with his servant and sell off his wife, but it's not okay to have sex before marriage?

Abraham: Chapters 17 - 20

Chapter 17 - God's Covenant With Abraham

God changes Abram's name to Abraham and Sarai's name to Sarah and creates the covenant of circumcision between himself and Abraham's descendants.  God also promises that Sarah will bear a son and that he will bless both of Abraham's sons.

Chapter 18 - Abraham Meets God

Abraham sees three men (trinity?) near his tent and he offers these men hospitality.  It then says that the Lord (it doesn't specify which of the three men) tells Abraham that he will return in one year and that Sarah will have a son at that time.  Sarah laughs in disbelief when she hears this, but the Lord assures her that it will happen.  God then tells Abraham about his plan to destroy Sodom, to which Abraham asks "Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?" (18:23).  God assures him that for the sake of only ten righteous people he would not destroy the city.

Chapter 19 - Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah

Two angels are sent to Sodom to destroy the city, but they allow Lot to leave with his wife and two daughters (he also wanted to bring his two sons-in-law, but they thought he was joking about God destroying the city).  The angels tell the four of them: "Flee for you lives!  Don't look back and don't stop anywhere in the plain!  Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!" (19:17).  "Then the Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah" (19:24).  And of course, Lot's wife wanted to know what was going on, so she "looked back, and she became a pillar of salt" (19:26).  The story then goes on to detail an incestuous relationship between Lot and his two daughters in which they get him drunk in order to preserve their family line. 


Chapter 20 - Abraham in Gerar

This chapter documents the second time that Abraham allows Sarah to be taken by a king and then proceeds to profit from the experience.  It is also revealed that Abraham is Sarah's half-brother.

What do I have to say on the subject?

What was so bad about Sodom and Gomorrah?
This story is certainly one of the more interesting ones in Genesis.  You get the sense that Lot was attempting to shield his visitors (he obviously wasn't aware that they were angels) from the sin and corruption in Sodom.  This ends up being a fruitless endeavor as the men in the city gather around Lot's house and demand that they be allowed to have sex with the men.  Homosexual rape is not looked upon very fondly in our society and I'm sure it was considered to be a horrible act in that time as well.  This seems to be a strange location for Lot to live.  Lot isn't exactly the holiest man in these scriptures, but he certainly doesn't share the same values (or lack there of) as the people in Sodom.  Even after the angels tell him about the fate of Sodom, he is still very reluctant to leave and the angels need to almost force him out of the city. 


What's the deal with all of the incest?
This just seems like one of the more disturbing themes in Genesis.  Abraham is Sarah's half brother, Lot's daughters seduce him, Isaac later marries his first cousin, etc.  This is really more of a question than a commentary because I don't really understand the point of publicizing incestuous relationships.  Was it because the Hebrews were "superior" to other races?  I could have understood the incest in the time of Adam or right after the flood, because there obviously wouldn't have been anyone else on earth.  But why is this still continuing in the time of Abraham and Lot?   

Isaac: Chapters 21 -27

Chapter 21 - The Birth of Isaac

Sarah finally gives birth to a son and she names him Isaac.  Sarah then forces Ishmael and Hagar, who is Ishmael's mother, to leave.  The two are about to die while they are wandering, but God saves them and promises to turn Ishmael into a great nation.

Chapter 22 - The Ultimate Test

God tests Abraham in this chapter by telling him to sacrifice Isaac as an offering to the Lord.  Abraham is willing to do this (Abraham would be placed in an insane asylum today) in order to appease God, but an angel stops him before he commits the sacrifice.  God then says to Abraham, "I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore." (22:17)

Chapter 23 - Sarah's Death

Sarah dies at the age of 127 and Abraham buys land from the Hittites in order to bury her.

Chapter 24 - Isaac Marries Rebekah

Abraham sends a servant to his homeland in Mesopotamia to find a suitable wife for Isaac.  The servant finds Rebekah, who is actually Isaac's second cousin, and requests that her parents allow her to be brought back from Isaac.  The chapter ends with the marriage between Isaac and Rebekah.

Chapter 25 - Abraham's Death and Jacob's Birth

Abraham marries a woman named Keturah (there is dispute about whether the text says "marries" or "had married", in other words it is unclear if this marriage occurred while Sarah was still alive or after she had died)  and has six children with her before he dies at the age of 175.  The chapter then provides a short lineage of Ishmael and claims that his descendants "lived in hostility toward all their brothers" (25:18).  Then Rebekah, who is Isaac's wife, gives birth to twin boys.  The first-born is named Esau, who becomes a skillful hunter, and the second-born is named Jacob, who is described as a quiet man who stayed among the tents.  Jacob succeeds in taking Esau's birthright in exchange for food at the end of the chapter.


Chapter 26 - Isaac in Gerar

Isaac lies to Abimelech (who was the same king that took Sarah from Abraham) and tells him that Rebekah is his sister.  However, Abimelech realizes that Rebekah is in fact his wife before any of his men had slept with Rebekah.  Abimelech then forces Isaac to leave because Isaac had become too wealthy and powerful. Abimelech later comes to Isaac to form a peace treaty with him.


Chapter 27 - Isaac's Blessing
Rebekah and Jacob trick Isaac into giving Jacob his blessing instead of Esau.  Isaac has gone blind in his old age, so Rebekah covers Jacob's skin with goatskin in order to mimic the rough and hairy appearance of Esau.  Therefore, when Isaac reaches out to touch Jacob, he thinks it is Esau and proceeds to give Jacob his blessing.  Rebekah then sends Jacob away in fear that Esau will try to kill him for first stealing his birthright (in chapter 25) and now stealing his blessing.


What do I have to say on the subject?


What if Abraham had actually gone through with sacrificing Isaac? 
This strikes me as one of the more bizarre teachings in Genesis.  Granted, I understand that Abraham showed complete devotion to God by being willing to sacrifice Isaac, but the fact still remains that God commanded Abraham to do something that was wrong.  How could a moral and just God command a person to do something that is wrong, even if he later prevents the person from going through with the act?  God tells Abraham to do something that is contradictory to the word of God.  So doesn't that kind of open the door for people to do anything as long as they think that God commanded them to do it?

Why is stealing your brother's blessing and birthright seen as a good thing?

Before I get into this subject, I have to say that I love the contrast between Esau and Jacob.  Esau is seen as the "macho" man and would probably be a typical high school jock in today's age, while Jacob is very quiet and very smart.  It's the classic clash of brawn vs. brains, and as is usually the case, brains wins out in the end.  But anyway, onto the subject at hand.  The story of Jacob taking Esau's birthright can be seen one of two ways.  Either Esau was in fact about to die of hunger when he begged Jacob for food, in which case Jacob's demand that Esau first give him his birthright seems completely inhumane, or Esau was exaggerating his hunger, which means that Esau simply didn't care very much about his birthright.  As for stealing Esau's blessing, Jacob uses nothing short of an outright lie to obtain this from his father.  Obviously there stands the excuse that Isaac was attempting to subvert God's will (God makes it clear that Jacob will rule over Esau in 25:23), but that still doesn't excuse Jacob's or Rebekah's actions.  The Bible doesn't necessarily present this as a "good thing", but rather more as a "necessary" thing.  Still, using sin to serve the greater good doesn't really seem like a message that you would want taught in the Bible.

Jacob: Chapters 28 - 36

Chapter 28 - Jacob Departs

Jacob sets out for Mesopotamia to flee from his brother's wrath and to find a wife.


Chapter 29 - Jacob and Rachel

Jacob meets Laban, who is Rebekah's brother, and Rachel, who is Laban's daughter, and agrees to work for Laban for seven years in exchange for Rachel's hand in marriage.   However, after seven years Laban gives Leah, his older daughter, to Jacob instead and claims that it is their custom to give the older daughter in marriage before the younger daughter.  Jacob then agrees to work for another seven years in exchange for Rachel.  Jacob finally gets Rachel after these seven years and the chapter ends with Leah giving birth to four boys.


Chapter 30 - Jacob's Children
Jacob fathers two sons by Rachel's servant Bilhah, two sons by Leah's servant Zilpah, two sons and a daughter by Leah, and one son by Rachel.  Jacob then tricks Laban into providing him with the strongest animals for his flock.

Chapter 31 - Jacob Heads Home

At this point, Jacob has succeeded in taking all of Laban's wealth and he decides to flee with his wives and go back to his homeland.  However, before they had left, Rachel stole her father's gods (I'm not sure what these are).  Laban catches up with the group and asks to search for his gods, but Rachel is successful in hiding them.  After seeing that no one has his gods, Laban asks to make an oath with Jacob and then departs in the morning.

Chapter 32 - Jacob Wrestles With an Angel

Jacob is left alone as he waits for his brother Esau to arrive.  In verse 24 it is recorded that "a man wrestled with him till daybreak."  The man could not overcome Jacob and for this reason he changed Jacob's name to Israel.  The man refused to tell Jacob his name, but Jacob later says "I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared" (32:30).

Chapter 33 - Jacob and Esau are Reunited
Jacob meets Esau, who does not try to kill him, but rather embraces him and is excited to see him.  Jacob then travels to Succoth to build a house for himself and make shelters for his livestock. 

Chapter 34 - Jacob's Sons Destroy a City
The prince in that area, Shechem, violated Jacob's daughter Dinah.  Hamor, Shechem's father, attempted to make a deal with Jacob and his sons so that Hamor can get Dinah's hand in marriage.  Jacob's sons replied that they would only give Dinah to Hamor if all of the men (specifically Hamor) in the city were circumcised.  The men in the city agreed to do this, but three days after the ritual, when the men were still in pain, Jacob's sons attacked the city and killed every male.  They're reason for doing this?  "Should he have treated our sister like a prostitute?" (34:31)

Chapter 35 - Rachel and Isaac Die
God instructs Jacob to build an altar to him at Bethel and he later appears to Jacob and changes his name to Israel (didn't this already happen?).  Rachel then has tremendous difficulty in giving birth to Benjamin and dies shortly after.  Israel buries her and then goes home to visit his father, who dies at the age of 180.


Chapter 36 - Esau's Descendants
This chapter claims that Esau moved away from his brother and then provides a lineage of Esau's descendants.

What do I have to say on the subject?

When does polygamy cease to be okay?
The answer to this is actually never.  The Bible actually never explicitly states that polygamy is immoral (I obviously researched this, because I have not yet read the entire Bible).  Of course, there are numerous instances in which the scripture states that the ideal plan is for one man and one woman (the first of which is Genesis 2:24).  The polygamy in ancient times is generally seen as "allowed" by God in order to help the growth of his people.

Jacob wrestles with an angel
So did Jacob wrestle with a man (as is stated in verse 24), an angel (as biblical scholars suggest), or God (verse 30).  The consensus seems to be that it was the Angel of Jehovah in human form.  Verse 25 states that "the man saw that he could not overpower him."  How could God (or an angel) not be able to overpower Jacob?   Well I guess the answer could lie in the translation.  Although my Bible says "could not", I believe that most translations are "did not", which of course would indicate that while God could have overpowered Jacob, he decided against it.  However, another strange verse follows when the angels tells Jacob, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome." (32:28)  Again, we're told that Jacob overcame God.  I think this is to indicate that Jacob (or Israel) will overcome any obstacle, but I'm still not completely sure about the being able to defeat God part.
As a side note, Jacob has undergone quite a transformation from the quiet and intelligent boy that grew up near the tents at his home. 

Why destroy an entire city because of one man?
Again, really more of a question here than a commentary.  I think that calling this an extreme overreaction would be an understatement.  Obviously I could understand why Dinah's brothers (or Jacob's sons as they are constantly referred to as) would want to kill Shechem.  But why the ill feelings toward the entire city?  And are there any repercussions from God that result from this massacre?

Joseph: Chapters 37 - 44

Chapter 37 - Joseph's Dream and His Brothers' Hatred
Joseph was Israel's favorite son (he even gave him a "richly ornamented" robe) and his brothers hated him for this.  Joseph later tells his brothers a dream in which he says "We (Joseph and his brothers) were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it." (37:7)  He also had another dream in which "the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me." (37:9)  His brothers hated him even more because of these dreams.  His brothers plot to kill him in a field, but Reuben, the firstborn, convinces them not to do this.  The brothers instead decide to strip him of his robe and capture him.  They later sell Joseph to Midianites while Reuben is away and convince their father that Joseph was killed by a wild animal.  The chapter ends with the Midianites selling Joseph to one of Pharaoh's officials in Egypt.


Chapter 38 - Story of Judah
Judah marries a Canaanite named Shua and she gives birth to three children.  The firstborn, Er, marries Tamar, but he is seen as wicked in the eyes of the Lord so he dies.  Judah tells his brother Onan to lie with Tamar to provide offspring, but Onan pulls out while having sex and this is seen as wicked in the eyes of the Lord, so he too is put to death.  Judah then unknowingly sleeps with Tamar because he thinks that she is a prostitute.  This union eventually results in the birth of twin boys (the first-born was named Perez, who is the ancestor of Jesus).


Chapter 39 - Joseph Goes to Jail
Joseph's Egyptian master entrusted him with everything in his house because the Lord gave him success in his endeavors.  However, his master's wife wanted to sleep with Joseph and one day she grabbed his cloak when he was trying to escape her advances.  She later used the cloak as evidence that he attempted to rape her and his master sent him to prison.  However, it is stated that the Lord granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.


Chapter 40 - Joseph Interprets Dreams
Two of the king's officials are sent to prison with Joseph and they both have dreams.  The cupbearer (apparently an official position in Egypt) tells Joseph his dream and Joseph informs him that he will be restored to his previous post in three days and asks him for help once he does in fact get out of prison.  The chief baker then reveals his dream to Joseph and Joseph tells him that he will be hanged in three days.  Both of these predictions come true, but the cupbearer does not help Joseph after he leaves prison.

Chapter 41 - Joseph Gains Control of Egypt
Pharaoh had a dream two years after the previous incident and the cupbearer suggested that he should go to Joseph for an interpretation of the dream.  Pharaoh told his dream to Joseph and Joseph claimed that there will be seven years of great abundance followed by seven years of famine.  Joseph then suggested a plan in which Egypt would store its food during the years of abundance and Pharaoh put him in charge of this plan.  It is said that Joseph rode in a chariot as Pharaoh's second-in-command and that Pharaoh said to him, "without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt." (41:44)  Joseph stored food in Egypt during the seven years of abundance and once the famine began it is said that countries from all over the world came to Egypt for food because the famine was so severe.

Chapter 42 - Joseph's Brothers Go to Egypt
Jacob tells ten of Joseph's brothers (all except Benjamin) to go to Egypt to buy grain.  Joseph immediately recognizes his brothers, but they do not know him.  Joseph accuses them of being spies and demands that they bring Benjamin to Egypt as proof that they are not spies.  When the brothers return home they attempt to convince Jacob to allow Benjamin to go to Egypt, but Jacob is reluctant.

Chapter 43 - Benjamin Goes to Egypt
As the famine continued to get worse, Israel eventually allowed Benjamin to go to Egypt so that the family could get more grain.  Joseph was deeply moved when he saw Benjamin and went to a private room to cry.


Chapter 44 - Joseph Demands That Benjamin Stay in Egypt
Joseph puts his silver cup in Benjamin's sack and then tells his steward to chase after the men and search them.  The steward obviously finds the cup in Benjamin's sack and Joseph demands that Benjamin remain in Egypt as his slave.  Judah then pleads with Joseph to allow him to stay in Benjamin's place because Jacob had demanded that Benjamin be brought back unharmed.

What do I have to say on the subject?
 
Wouldn't you hate Joseph too?
Granted, plotting to kill the guy or sell him into slavery seems like a bit much, but I would at the very least have become very annoyed with Joseph telling me dreams about how he would one day rule over me.  Perhaps Joseph could have been slightly more tactful in his approach?

Pulling out = Death penalty?
I read up on this story a little bit because it seemed like the punishment was slightly excessive in this situation.  The only other explanation for his death that I was able to find was that he was being disobedient to his father (who had told him to father children with Tamar) and that he was disrespecting his brother (although his brother was seen as evil in the eyes of the Lord, so I'm not sure why that would have mattered).  Nonetheless, this passage has been pointed to by religious zealots to support a ban on birth control, which the passage certainly seems to imply.  With that said, I'm not sure a person could view Genesis as a serious sexual guide when it seems to condone incest and polygamy. 


People from all over the WORLD came to Egypt?
"And all the countries came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe in all the world." (41:57)  This passage obviously demonstrates a lack of knowledge about the size of the world and in turn brings into doubt the story of a worldwide flood.  While a case could be made that God caused a famine throughout the entire world, it is completely inconceivable that people from all over the world were able to travel to Egypt.

The Family is Reunited: Chapters 45 - 50

Chapter 45 - Joseph Reveals Himself
Joseph finally reveals his true identity to his brothers and tells them to bring Jacob to Egypt.  Pharaoh agrees to give the family "the best land of Egypt".  So the brothers return home and tell their father, "Joseph is still alive!  In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt." (45:26)

Chapter 46 - Jacob Travels to Egypt
Jacob set out for Egypt with his family, which is said to have consisted of seventy people.  Jacob and Joseph are finally reunited in Egypt and Jacob says, "Now I am ready to die, since I have seen for myself that you are still alive." (46:30)  The family settles in the region of Goshen (northern Egypt), which is said to be the best land in all of Egypt.

Chapter 47 - Joseph Buys Egypt for Pharaoh
The famine continued throughout the world and no one had any money left to buy the grain that Joseph had stored.  So he first bought everyone's livestock in exchange for grain and then bought everyone's land in exchange for grain.  He bought all of this for Pharaoh, so Pharaoh now owned everything in Egypt.  The chapter ends with Joseph swearing that he will bury Jacob with his ancestors rather than in Egypt.

Chapter 48 - Jacob Blesses Joseph's Children
Joseph had two children in Egypt and the older child was named Manasseh and the younger child was named Ephraim.  Jacob puts his right hand on Ephraim's head, even though Manasseh is older, because he claims that the younger child will become greater.

Chapter 49 - Jacob Predicts His Sons' Futures
Jacob calls together all of his sons and predicts the future of their lineages.  These twelve brothers are destined to become the twelve tribes of Israel and Joseph's line is to be the most successful because he is a "prince among his brothers" (49:26).  Jacob asks to be buried alongside Abraham and Isaac and then dies.

Chapter 50 - Joseph's Death
It is said that Egyptians mourned Jacob's death for seventy days and then Pharaoh allowed Joseph to take his father out of Egypt and bury him in Canaan.  Joseph's brothers are scared that he will retaliate against them now that Jacob is dead, but he assures them that he holds no grudge against them.  Joseph tells his brothers that God promised to bring their people out of Egypt before he dies at the age of 110.

What do I have to say on the subject?

Why does the author keep switching between the names "Jacob" and "Israel"?
Jacob is given the name "Israel" after wrestling with the angel in chapter 32.  However, after this point the text seems to use the names interchangeably.  From what I could gather, Jacob is used when the man is being compliant or docile, as he was for the early part of his life.  Israel is used when he is being strong and forceful, which was the case when he wrestled the angel.  I could be wrong, but I believe that God always refers to him as Jacob (except to tell him that his named had been changed), which would concur with this analysis.  Some examples include 32:33 and 42:1.  A brilliant contrast arises in 42:38 and 43:11-14.  These are the two reactions of the character when he is asked to allow Benjamin to go to Egypt in order to get grain.  Jacob is scared for his son's safety and does not allow him to go, but Israel realizes what must be done and sends Benjamin to Egypt. 

Does the Bible promote ancestor worship?
I am obviously aware of the fact that both Judaism and Christianity are monotheistic religions (although Catholicism is a little questionable considering the amount of importance it places on saints and the virgin Mary), but I can't help but notice the significance of receiving a blessing from one's father.  The two main stories that come to mind are the stories of Isaac's blessing and Jacob's blessing.  The Bible really seems to imply that Jacob will become a more prosperous nation than his brother because of Isaac's blessing.  This seems to indicate that Isaac actually holds some kind of supernatural power over the future of his children.  Jacob follows suit when he blesses Joseph's children and claims that the younger child will be more successful than the younger.  The argument could be made that God was simply acting through these two individuals, but it just seemed to strange to find this in a religion with one and only one supreme being.

Conclusion

I have always found Genesis to be one of the most interesting books in the entire Bible.  It is loaded with teachings (not all of which are still accepted by modern religion), interesting characters, and even the story of creation.  While I find the stories about creation, the Garden of Eden, and the flood to be very interesting (and very fun to debate), I think the most important aspects of Genesis in regard to Christianity and Judaism are the details concerning the lives of the characters, particularly Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph.  These are imperfect men, but they set the standard by which future generations of Jews and Christians should be judged.  Their imperfections are what help to make Judaism and Christianity such appealing religions, because people understand that they don't have to be perfect in order to find favor with God.  I'm looking forward to investigating the Bible (as well as other scriptures) and hopefully I can bring a somewhat unique perspective on it because I will not be constantly looking to defend the teachings, as is the case with many Christians, nor will I be trying to debunk them, as is the case with many Atheists.  I simply want to learn more about the Bible to see how it stacks up against other religions and see what meaningful advice it provides.

Interesting Quotes

8:22 - "As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease."

11:6 - "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them."

18:26 - "If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake."

28:12 - "He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it."

29:20 - "So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her."

45:5 - "And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you."

49:14 - "Issachar is a rawboned donkey lying down between two saddlebags." - Not really any importance here, I just thought it was a bizarre sentence.

Questions

How can you explain the discrepancy between science and the Bible's creation myth?

How can a Christian believe in evolution?  If the Homo genus has been evolving for 2.3 million years, why did God decide that Homo sapiens were the chosen species?  My point is that if evolution is such a gradual process, where was the point in which humans were seen as "created in God's image" and therefore given a soul?

If Adam and Eve committed an evil act (disobeying God) before they had knowledge of good and evil, how did they do anything wrong?

Why does Moses (or whoever the author was) feel the need to repeat things multiple times?  For instance, "The girl was very beautiful, a virgin; no man had ever lain with her." (23:16)  Why tell us that she's a "virgin" if he's just going to define the word "virgin".  Is there some sort of poetic beauty in this that I'm missing or is it just repetitious?

I presented some other questions throughout my analysis, but these were really the main questions I've been pondering.  I admit that some of these questions don't have definitive answers (which is why I'm asking the question to begin with), but I am just interested in hearing some different theories on the subject.