The idea that Christians “can't” answer these questions is not my claim, it has been my experience. There is a cognitive dissonance in Christian Scriptural Interpretation, and these questions aim to expose that.

If Christianity is the true religion then these questions should have easy answers. I will not judge them for you, in fact I only seek their answer.

The incongruence you will most often encounter is that the Christian makes a claim that scripture outright denies.

There will be very little wiggle room; the passages and their immediate context will show the error in the Christian's interpretation directly, and sharply. It will be found stated outright in scripture.

When Christians deny clear scripture, the 'proof' is invariably based on a lengthy and convoluted argument, such as an unrelated series of passages that when strung together appears to create a new narrative. If given enough time, the Christian will continue to recite passage after passage in the New Testament, and will slowly shift away from the topic at hand. They will eventually begin to reiterate the entirety of Christian theology. It should be clear that at this point they have lost the argument. So why engage in this behavior? They only wish to make you question their beliefs and reconsider theirs. They have absolutely no interest in the truth, the subject of your question, or questioning their own beliefs. If you encounter a person like this, there is nothing you can do. They're not listening.

I call this the Missionary Problem.

As seen in “Unfulfilled messianic prophecies” and the first question in “Christian Steamroller”.

For example; since the ingathering of the exiles must occur prior to the messianic age, we are categorically not in the messianic age; and therefore the messiah has not come yet. To wit, when the messianic age comes, a messiah will also come to herald in and to rule in the messianic age. Since this hasn't happened yet, Jesus couldn't have been the messiah.

Other major prophecies would be;

• The third temple hasn't been built
  • Note: We get this information from Ezekiel, and the sole prophecy in Ezekiel has not been fulfilled. There is no way to get around this, there is no “typology” of a third temple; exact prophecies were given and remain unfulfilled.
• Worldwide knowledge of God
• World peace (“the lion shall rest with the lamb, the wolf and the lion shall graze as the ox, etc.”)

Well no, he didn't. That's the point.

All of the ways in which Christians use to state that Jesus fulfilled the ingathering of the exiles, for example, are negated by examples or analogies given by the prophets. For example, the idea of the lost 10 tribes, the destruction of the first (or second) temple, are all explained fully and stated not to break continuity by the prophets. The overarching theme is presented in Deuteronomy 28 (rewards and punishments) and Leviticus 26 (also on the topic of rewards and punishments). These are your go-to passages to counter the Christian's false claims, and then you may go to the prophets, the canonizatoins of the davidic covenant, etc. for a more specific, topic-based approach. In combination it will be seen to cover all bases.

Then when he was here he did not act in the capacity of messiah, neither have we entered the messianic age; and thus none of this can be used to show Jesus was the messiah; How then shall we know he was the messiah if he did not fulfil messianic prophecy?

Unfortunately for the claimant, “God will accomplish all his purpose.” It is not admissable for the Christian to claim (for example) that God can say on one hand the ingathering of the exiles and then not do it. The reason he gave us the sign is so we would recognize the event. He is not trying to trick us in that sense.

Paul makes a number of difficult statements about the law, many of which can be directly countered by a reading of the hebrew scriptures. Ex. Romans 7:7-8

• 7 What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”

8 But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead.

This is not just self-evidently false, it is diametrically opposed to multiple (easy to remember) statements from the Hebrew – so we won't get into them. Instead let's examine one in particular as an example.

Paul makes several statements that amount to the claim “The law is too difficult to keep”. As aforementioned, because it is a central doctrine of paul that the Law leads to sin (Romans 7:7-12, ex)

• 8 But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead.
• 9 I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died.
• 10 The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me.
• 11 For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.

Here Paul cannot be more clear. It does not matter if he says next “13 Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! …” because his point is that the Law itself does not lead people to righteousness but to sin. His fundamental worldview is that people who are not taught the law are essentially alive – i.e sinless – from not being paid the wages of sin – death.

14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. 15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.Romans 7:14-25 (ESV)

In short then, Paul is unable to save himself because it is too difficult for a fleshly being to do so – due to being sold into sin, from evil being too close at hand, etc.

This is not a debatable point; Peter agrees (Acts 15:10)

• 10 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? (Acts 15:10)

and Paul also repeats this point in different ways throughout his letters. Example the following:

The law is NOT too difficult to keep. We know this from Deuteronomy 30 and multiple other places:

• 11 “For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off.
• 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’
• 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’

14 But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.

• Deuteronomy 30:11-14

Here are some more, showing God wants us to keep the law:

• Deuteronomy 4:40
• 40 Therefore you shall keep his statutes and his commandments, which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land that the Lord your God is giving you for all time.

• Deuteronomy 5:29
• 29 Oh that they had such a heart as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever!

• Deuteronomy 6:17-18
• 17 You shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and his testimonies and his statutes, which he has commanded you.
• 18 And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, that it may go well with you, and that you may go in and take possession of the good land that the Lord swore to give to your fathers

• Deuteronomy 6:24
• 24 And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as we are this day.

• Deuteronomy 10:12-13
• 12 And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,

13 and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good?

Unquestionably, it is God's intent that we keep the law, and his statement that it is easy for us to do so.

Even the Christian scriptures agree!

• 1 John 2:3-5
• 3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.
• 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him

• 1 John 5:3
• 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

• I did not speak in secret, in a land of darkness; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, ‘Seek me in vain.’ I the Lord speak the truth; I declare what is right. (Isaiah 45:19)

• “O My people, what have I done to you? And how have I wearied you? Testify against Me” (Micah 6:3)

• Assemble to me all the elders of your tribes and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears and call heaven and earth to witness against them. (Deuteronomy 31:28)

• I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you this day that you will quickly perish from the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess. You will not live long upon it, but will be utterly destroyed. (Deuteronomy 4:26)

• I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. So choose life, so that you and your descendants may live, (Deuteronomy 30:19)

• “Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. (Deuteronomy 32:1)

• The heavens will expose his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him. (Job 20:27)

• He summons the heavens above, and the earth, that He may judge His people: (Psalm 50:4)

If we claim that God has provided a yoke or a schoolmaster of some sort, we are immediately faced with the diametric opposition of this position by the word of God.

If Paul is correct, in the face of all that has been said on the matter, then he must be able to illustrate which laws are difficult to keep and why. This plays into the Christian's general lack of (or non-existing) knowledge of what the laws are.

Here are some laws. What do YOU think?

1. Believe in God from the argument of divine revelation (ex. Exo 20:2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.)

2. Exodus 20:3-5 Not to engage in any form of idolatry

• No idolatry in principle (v. 3 “You shall have no other gods before[a] me …”)
• No idolatry in physical world (v.4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.)
• No idolatry in practice (v.5 “You shall not bow down to them or serve them, …”)

3. Exodus 20:7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, …“

4. Exodus 20:8-11 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, … 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, … Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”

5. 12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

6. Exodus 20:13 “You shall not murder.[c]

7. Exodus 20:14 “You shall not commit adultery.

8. Exodus 20:15 “You shall not steal.

9. Exodus 20:16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

10. Exodus 20:17 “You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.”

Well if it's not the ten commandments, which one is too hard?

• Fundamental Laws
  • To know there is a God Ex. 20:2
  • Not to entertain thoughts of other gods besides Him

Ex. 20:3 To know that He is one Deut. 6:4 To love Him Deut. 6:5 To fear Him Deut. 10:20 To sanctify His Name Lev. 22:32 Not to profane His Name Lev. 22:32 Not to destroy objects associated with His Name Deut. 12:4 To listen to the prophet speaking in His Name Deut. 18:15 Not to test the prophet unduly Deut. 6:16

• Laws of Character
  • To emulate His ways Deut. 28:9
  • To cleave to those who know Him Deut. 10:20
  • To love Jews Lev. 19:18
  • To love converts Deut. 10:19
  • Not to hate fellow Jews Lev. 19:17
  • To reprove Lev. 19:17
  • Not to embarrass others Lev. 19:17
  • Not to oppress the weak Ex. 21:22
  • Not to speak derogatorily of others Lev. 19:16
  • Not to take revenge Lev. 19:18
  • Not to bear a grudge Lev. 19:18

Laws of Torah Study To learn Torah Deut. 6:7 To honor those who teach and know Torah Lev. 19:32

Laws of Idolatry and Paganism Not to inquire into idolatry Lev. 19:4 Not to follow the whims of your heart or what your eyes see Num. 15:39 Not to blaspheme Ex. 22:27 Not to worship idols in the manner they are worshiped Ex. 20:5 Not to worship idols in the four ways we worship God Ex. 20:5 Not to make an idol for yourself Ex. 20:4 Not to make an idol for others Lev. 19:4 Not to make human forms even for decorative purposes Ex. 20:20 Not to turn a city to idolatry Ex. 23:13 To burn a city that has turned to idol worship Deut. 13:17 Not to rebuild it as a city Deut. 13:17 Not to derive benefit from it Deut. 13:18 Not to missionize an individual to idol worship Deut. 13:12 Not to love the missionary Deut. 13:9 Not to cease hating the missionary Deut. 13:9 Not to save the missionary Deut. 13:9 Not to say anything in his defense Deut. 13:9 Not to refrain from incriminating him Deut. 13:9 Not to prophesize in the name of idolatry Deut. 13:14 Not to listen to a false prophet Deut. 13:4 Not to prophesize falsely in the name of God Deut. 18:20 Not to be afraid of killing the false prophet Deut. 18:22 Not to swear in the name of an idol Ex. 23:13 Not to perform ov (medium) Lev. 19:31 Not to perform yidoni (magical seer) Lev. 19:31 Not to pass your children through the fire to Molech Lev. 18:21 Not to erect a column in a public place of worship Deut. 16:22 Not to bow down on smooth stone Lev. 26:1 Not to plant a tree in the Temple courtyard Deut. 16:21 To destroy idols and their accessories Deut. 12:2 Not to derive benefit from idols and their accessories Deut. 7:26 Not to derive benefit from ornaments of idols Deut. 7:25 Not to make a covenant with idolaters Deut. 7:2 Not to show favor to them Deut. 7:2 Not to let them dwell in our land Ex. 23:33 Not to imitate them in customs and clothing Lev. 20:23 Not to be superstitious Lev. 19:26 Not to go into a trance to foresee events, etc. Deut. 18:10 Not to engage in astrology Lev. 19:26 Not to mutter incantations Deut. 18:11 Not to attempt to contact the dead Deut. 18:11 Not to consult the ov Deut. 18:11 Not to consult the yidoni Deut. 18:11 Not to perform acts of magic Deut. 18:10 Men must not shave the hair off the sides of their head Lev. 19:27 Men must not shave their beards with a razor Lev. 19:27 Men must not wear women's clothing Deut. 22:5 Women must not wear men's clothing Deut. 22:5 Not to tattoo the skin Lev. 19:28 Not to tear the skin in mourning Deut. 14:1 74. Not to make a bald spot in mourning Deut. 14:1

Laws of Repentance 75. To repent and confess wrongdoings Num. 5:7

BOOK TWO: THE BOOK OF LOVE OF GOD Laws of Reading the Shema To say the Shema twice daily Deut. 6:7

Laws of Prayer and Kohanic Blessings To serve the Almighty with prayer daily Ex. 23:25 The Kohanim must bless the Jewish nation daily Num. 6:23

Laws of Tefillin, Mezuza and Sefer Torah To wear tefillin on the head Deut. 6:8 To bind tefillin on the arm Deut. 6:8 To put a mezuzah on each door post Deut. 6:9 Each male must write a Sefer Torah Deut. 31:19 The king must have a separate Sefer Torah for himself Deut. 17:18

Laws of Tzitzit To have tzitzit on four-cornered garments Num. 15:38

Laws of Blessings To bless the Almighty after eating Deut. 8:10

Laws of Circumcision 86. To circumcise all males on the eighth day after their birth Lev. 12:3

BOOK THREE: THE BOOK OF SEASONS

Laws of the Sabbath To rest on the seventh day Ex. 23:12 Not to do prohibited labor on the seventh day Ex. 20:10 The court must not inflict punishment on Shabbat Ex. 35:3 Not to walk outside the city boundary on Shabbat Ex. 16:29 To sanctify the day with Kiddush and Havdallah Ex. 20:8

Laws of Eruvin (Rabbinical)

Laws of Yom Kippur Rest To rest from prohibited labor Lev. 23:32 Not to do prohibited labor on Yom Kippur Lev. 23:32 To afflict yourself on Yom Kippur Lev. 16:29 Not to eat or drink on Yom Kippur Lev. 23:29

Laws of Festival Rest 96. To rest on the first day of Passover Lev. 23:7 Not to do prohibited labor on the first day of Passover Lev. 23:8 To rest on the seventh day of Passover Lev. 23:8 Not to do prohibited labor on the seventh day of Passover Lev. 23:8 To rest on Shavuot Lev. 23:21 Not to do prohibited labor on Shavuot Lev. 23:21 To rest on Rosh Hashana Lev. 23:24 Not to do prohibited labor on Rosh Hashana Lev. 23:25 To rest on Sukkot Lev. 23:35 Not to do prohibited labor on Sukkot Lev. 23:35 To rest on Shmini Atzeret Lev. 23:36 Not to do prohibited labor on Shmini Atzeret Lev. 23:36

Laws of Chometz and Matzah 108. Not to eat chametz on the afternoon of the 14th day of Nissan Deut. 16:3 To destroy all chametz on 14th day of Nissan Ex. 12:15 Not to eat chametz all seven days of Passover Ex. 13:3 Not to eat mixtures containing chametz all seven days of Passover Ex. 12:20 Not to see chametz in your domain seven days Ex. 13:7 Not to find chametz in your domain seven days Ex. 12:19 To eat matzah on the first night of Passover Ex. 12:18 To relate the exodus from Egypt on that night Ex. 13:8

Laws of Shofar, Sukkah, Lulav 116. To hear the Shofar on the first day of Tishrei (Rosh Hashana) Num. 29:1 To dwell in a Sukkah for the seven days of Sukkot Lev. 23:42 To take up a Lulav and Etrog all seven days Lev. 23:40

Laws of Shekalim 119 Each man must give a half shekel annually Ex. 30:13 Laws of Sanctification of Months 120 Courts must calculate to determine when a new month begins Ex. 12:2 Laws of Fasts 121 To afflict and cry out before God in times of catastrophe Num. 10:9

Laws of Megillah and Chanukah (Rabbinical)

BOOK FOUR: THE BOOK OF WOMEN

Laws of Marriage 122. To marry a wife by means of ketubah and kiddushin Deut. 22:13 Not to have relations with women not thus married Deut. 23:18 Not to withhold food, clothing, and relations from your wife Ex. 21:10 To have children with one's wife Gen 1:28

Laws of Divorce 126. To issue a divorce by means of a “get” document Deut. 24:1 A man must not remarry his wife after she has married someone else Deut. 24:4

Laws of Yivum and Chalitzah (Levirate Marriage) 128. To do yibum (marry childless brother's widow) Deut. 25:5 To do chalitzah (freeing a widow from yibum) Deut. 25:9 The widow must not remarry until the ties with her brother-in-law are removed Deut. 25:5

Laws of Women 131. The court must fine one who seduces a maiden Ex. 22:15-16 The rapist must marry the maiden (if she chooses) Deut. 22:29 He is not allowed to divorce her Deut. 22:29 The slanderer must remain married to his wife Deut. 22:19 He must not divorce her Deut. 22:19 Laws of Sotah (Suspect Wife) 136 To fulfill the laws of the Sotah Num. 5:30 137 Not to put oil on her meal offering Num. 5:15 138 Not to put frankincense on her meal offering Num. 5:15

BOOK FIVE: THE BOOK OF HOLINESS Laws of Forbidden Relations 139 Not to have relations with your mother Lev. 18:7 140 Not to have relations with your father's wife Lev. 18:8 141 Not to have relations with your sister Lev. 18:9 142 Not to have relations with your father's wife's daughter Lev. 18:11 143 Not to have relations with your son's daughter Lev. 18:10 Not to have relations with your daughter Lev. 18:10 145 Not to have relations with your daughter's daughter Lev. 18:10 Not to have relations with a woman and her daughter Lev. 18:17 Not to have relations with a woman and her son's daughter Lev. 18:17 Not to have relations with a woman and her daughter's daughter Lev. 18:17 Not to have relations with your father's sister Lev. 18:12 Not to have relations with your mother's sister Lev. 18:13 Not to have relations with your father's brother's wife Lev. 18:14 Not to have relations with your son's wife Lev. 18:15 Not to have relations with your brother's wife Lev. 18:16 Not to have relations with your wife's sister Lev. 18:18 A man must not have relations with a beast Lev. 18:23 A woman must not have relations with a beast Lev. 18:23 Not to have homosexual relations Lev. 18:22 Not to have homosexual relations with your father Lev. 18:7 Not to have homosexual relations with your father's brother Lev. 18:14 Not to have relations with a married woman Lev. 18:20 Not to have relations with a menstrually impure woman Lev. 18:19 Not to marry non-Jews Deut. 7:3 Not to let Moabite and Ammonite males marry into the Jewish people Deut. 23:4 Don't keep a third generation Egyptian convert from marrying into the Jewish people Deut. 23:8-9 Not to refrain from marrying a third generation Edomite convert Deut. 23:8-9 Not to let a mamzer marry into the Jewish people Deut. 23:3 Not to let a eunuch marry into the Jewish people Deut. 23:2 Not to castrate any male (including animals) Lev. 22:24 The High Priest must not marry a widow Lev. 21:14 The High Priest must not have relations with a widow even outside of marriage Lev. 21:15 The High Priest must marry a virgin maiden Lev. 21:13 A Kohen must not marry a divorcee Lev. 21:7 A Kohen must not marry a zonah (a woman who had forbidden relations) Lev. 21:7 A priest must not marry a chalalah (party to or product of 169-172) Lev. 21:7 Not to make pleasurable contact with any forbidden woman Lev. 18:6

Laws of Forbidden Foods 176 To examine the signs of animals to distinguish between kosher and non-kosher Lev. 11:2 177 To examine the signs of fowl to distinguish between kosher and non-kosher Deut. 14:11 178 To examine the signs of fish to distinguish between kosher and non-kosher Lev. 11:9 179 To examine the signs of locusts to distinguish between kosher and non-kosher Lev. 11:21 180 Not to eat non-kosher animals Lev. 11:4 181 Not to eat non-kosher fowl Lev. 11:13 182 Not to eat non-kosher fish Lev. 11:11 183 Not to eat non-kosher flying insects Deut. 14:19 184 Not to eat non-kosher creatures that crawl on land Lev. 11:41 185 Not to eat non-kosher maggots Lev. 11:44 186 Not to eat worms found in fruit on the ground Lev. 11:42 187 Not to eat creatures that live in water other than fish Lev. 11:43 188 Not to eat the meat of an animal that died without ritual slaughter Deut. 14:21 189 Not to benefit from an ox condemned to be stoned Ex. 21:28 190 Not to eat meat of an animal that was mortally wounded Ex. 22:30 191 Not to eat a limb torn off a living creature Deut 12:23 192 Not to eat blood Lev. 3:17 193 Not to eat certain fats of clean animals Lev. 3:17 194 Not to eat the sinew of the thigh Gen. 32:33 195 Not to eat meat and milk cooked together Ex. 23:19 196 Not to cook meat and milk together Ex. 34:26 197 Not to eat bread from new grain before the Omer Lev. 23:14 198 Not to eat parched grains from new grain before the Omer Lev. 23:14 199 Not to eat ripened grains from new grain before the Omer Lev. 23:14 200 Not to eat fruit of a tree during its first three years Lev. 19:23 201 Not to eat diverse seeds planted in a vineyard Deut. 22:9 202 Not to eat untithed fruits Lev. 22:15 203 Not to drink wine poured in service to idols Deut. 32:38

Laws of Slaughtering 204 To ritually slaughter an animal before eating it Deut. 12:21 205 Not to slaughter an animal and its offspring on the same day Lev. 22:28 206 To cover the blood (of a slaughtered beast or fowl) with earth Lev. 17:13 207 Not to take the mother bird from her children Deut. 22:6 208 To release the mother bird if she was taken from the nest Deut. 22:7

BOOK SIX: THE BOOK OF OATHS

Laws of Oaths 209 Not to swear falsely in God's Name Lev. 19:12 210 Not to take God's Name in vain Ex. 20:7 211 Not to deny possession of something entrusted to you Lev. 19:11 212 Not to swear in denial of a monetary claim Lev. 19:11 213 To swear in God's Name to confirm the truth when deemed necessary by court Deut. 10:20 Laws of Vows 214 To fulfill what was uttered and to do what was avowed Deut. 23:24 215 Not to break oaths or vows Num. 30:3 216 For oaths and vows annulled, there are the laws of annulling vows explicit in the Torah Num. 30:3

Laws of The Nazir 217 The Nazir must let his hair grow Num. 6:5 218 He must not cut his hair Num. 6:5 219 He must not drink wine, wine mixtures, or wine vinegar Num. 6:3 220 He must not eat fresh grapes Num. 6:3 221 He must not eat raisins Num. 6:3 222 He must not eat grape seeds Num. 6:4 223 He must not eat grape skins Num. 6:4 224 He must not be under the same roof as a corpse Num. 6:6 225 He must not come into contact with the dead Num. 6:7 226 He must shave after bringing sacrifices upon completion of his Nazirite period Num. 6:9

Laws of Estimated Values and Vows 227 To estimate the value of people as determined by the Torah Lev. 27:2 228 To estimate the value of consecrated animals Lev. 27:12-13 229 To estimate the value of consecrated houses Lev. 27:14 230 To estimate the value of consecrated fields Lev. 27:16 231 Carry out the laws of interdicting possessions (cherem) Lev. 27:28 232 Not to sell the cherem Lev. 27:28 233 Not to redeem the cherem Lev. 27:28

BOOK SEVEN: THE BOOK OF SEEDS

Laws of Mixed Species 234 Not to plant diverse seeds together Lev. 19:19 235 Not to plant grains or greens in a vineyard Deut. 22:9 236 Not to crossbreed animals Lev. 19:19 237 Not to work different animals together Deut. 22:10 238 Not to wear sha'atnez, a cloth woven of wool and linen Deut. 22:11 Laws of Gifts to the Poor 239 To leave a corner of the field uncut for the poor Lev. 19:10 240 Not to reap that corner Lev. 19:9 241 To leave gleanings Lev. 19:9 242 Not to gather the gleanings Lev. 19:9 243 To leave the gleanings of a vineyard Lev. 19:10 244 Not to gather the gleanings of a vineyard Lev. 19:10 245 To leave the unformed clusters of grapes Lev. 19:10 246 Not to pick the unformed clusters of grapes Lev. 19:10 247 To leave the forgotten sheaves in the field Deut. 24:19 248 Not to retrieve them Deut. 24:19 249 To separate the tithe for the poor Deut. 14:28 250 To give charity Deut. 15:8 251 Not to withhold charity from the poor Deut. 15:7 252 To set aside Trumah Gedolah (tithe for the Kohen) Deut. 18:4 253 The Levite must set aside a tenth of his tithe Num. 18:26 254 Not to preface one tithe to the next, but separate them in their proper order Ex. 22:28 255 A non-Kohen must not eat Trumah Lev. 22:10 256 A hired worker or a Jewish bondsman of a Kohen must not eat Trumah Lev. 22:10 257 An uncircumcised Kohen must not eat Trumah Ex.12:48 258 An impure Kohen must not eat Trumah Lev. 22:4 259 A chalalah must not eat Trumah Lev. 22:12

Laws of Ma'aser 260 To set aside Ma'aser each planting year and give it to a Levite Num. 18:24

Laws of The Second Tithe and Fourth Year Produce 261 To set aside the second tithe (Ma'aser Sheni) Deut. 14:22 262 Not to spend its redemption money on anything but food, drink, or ointment Deut. 26:14 263 Not to eat Ma'aser Sheni while impure Deut. 26:14 264 A mourner on the first day after death must not eat Ma'aser Sheni Deut. 26:14 265 Not to eat Ma'aser Sheni grains outside Jerusalem Deut. 12:17 266 Not to eat Ma'aser Sheni wine products outside Jerusalem Deut. 12:17 267 Not to eat Ma'aser Sheni oil outside Jerusalem Deut. 12:17 268 The fourth year crops must be totally for holy purposes like Ma'aser Sheni Lev. 19:24 269 To read the confession of tithes every fourth and seventh year Deut. 26:13

Laws of First Fruits and other Kohanic Gifts 270 To set aside the first fruits and bring them to the Temple Ex. 23:19 271 The Kohanim must not eat the first fruits outside Jerusalem Deut. 12:17 272 To read the Torah portion pertaining to their presentation Deut. 26:5 273 To set aside a portion of dough for a Kohen Num. 15:20 274 To give the shoulder, two cheeks, and stomach of slaughtered animals to a Kohen Deut. 18:3 275 To give the first sheering of sheep to a Kohen Deut. 18:4 276 To redeem the firstborn sons and give the money to a Kohen Num. 18:15 277 To redeem the firstborn donkey by giving a lamb to a Kohen Ex. 13:13 278 To break the neck of the donkey if the owner does not intend to redeem it Ex. 13:13

Laws of The Sabbatical and Jubilee Years 279 To rest the land during the seventh year by not doing any work which enhances growth Ex. 34:21 280 Not to work the land during the seventh year Lev. 25:4 281 Not to work with trees to produce fruit during that year Lev. 25:4 282 Not to reap crops that grow wild that year in the normal manner Lev. 25:5 283 Not to gather grapes which grow wild that year in the normal way Lev. 25:5 284 To leave free all produce which grew in that year Ex. 23:11 285 To release all loans during the seventh year Deut. 15:2 286 Not to pressure or claim from the borrower Deut. 15:2 287 Not to refrain from lending immediately before the release of the loans for fear of monetary loss Deut. 15:9 288 The Sanhedrin must count seven groups of seven years Lev. 25:8 289 The Sanhedrin must sanctify the fiftieth year Lev. 25:10 290 To blow the Shofar on the tenth of Tishrei to free the slaves Lev. 25:9 291 Not to work the soil during the fiftieth year Lev. 25:11 292 Not to reap in the normal manner that which grows wild in the fiftieth year Lev. 25:11 293 Not to pick grapes which grew wild in the normal manner in the fiftieth year Lev. 25:11 294 Carry out the laws of sold family properties Lev. 25:24 295 Not to sell the land in Israel indefinitely Lev. 25:23 296 Carry out the laws of houses in walled cities Lev. 25:29 297 The Tribe of Levi must not be given a portion of the land in Israel, rather they are given cities to dwell in Deut. 18:1 298 The Levites must not take a share in the spoils of war Deut. 18:1 299 To give the Levites cities to inhabit and their surrounding fields Num. 35:2 300 Not to sell the fields but they shall remain the Levites' before and after the Jubilee year Lev. 25:34

BOOK EIGHT: THE BOOK OF SERVICE

Laws of The Temple 301 To build a Sanctuary Ex. 25:8 302 Not to build the altar with stones hewn by metal Ex. 20:22 303 Not to climb steps to the altar Ex. 20:23 304 To show reverence to the Temple Lev. 1930 305 To guard the Temple area Num. 18:2 306 Not to leave the Temple unguarded Num. 18:5

Laws of Temple Vessels and Employees 307 To prepare the anointing oil Ex. 30:31 308 Not to reproduce the anointing oil Ex. 30:32 309 Not to anoint with anointing oil Ex. 30:32 310 Not to reproduce the incense formula Ex. 30:37 311 Not to burn anything on the Golden Altar besides incense Ex. 30:9 312 The Levites must transport the ark on their shoulders Num. 7:9 313 Not to remove the staves from the ark Ex. 25:15 314 The Levites must work in the Temple Num. 18:23 315 No Levite must do another's work of either a Kohen or a Levite Num. 18:3 316 To dedicate the Kohen for service Lev. 21:8 317 The kohanic work shifts must be equal during holidays Deut. 18:6-8 318 The Kohanim must wear their priestly garments during service Ex. 28:2 319 Not to tear the priestly garments Ex. 28:32 320 The breastplate must not be loosened from the Efode Ex. 28:28

Laws of Entering the Temple 321 A Kohen must not enter the Temple intoxicated Lev. 10:9 322 A Kohen must not enter the Temple with long hair Lev. 10:6 323 A Kohen must not enter the Temple with torn clothes Lev. 10:6 324 A Kohen must not enter the Temple indiscriminately Lev. 16:2 325 A Kohen must not leave the Temple during service Lev. 10:7 326 To send the impure from the Temple Num. 5:2 327 Impure people must not enter the Temple Num. 5:3 328 Impure people must not enter the Temple Mount area Deut. 23:11 329 Impure Kohanim must not do service in the temple Lev. 22:2 330 An impure Kohen, following immersion, must wait until after sundown before returning to service Lev. 22:7 331 A Kohen must wash his hands and feet before service Ex. 30:19 332 A Kohen with a physical blemish must not enter the sanctuary or approach the altar Lev. 21:23 333 A Kohen with a physical blemish must not serve Lev.21:17 334 A Kohen with a temporary blemish must not serve Lev. 21:17 335 One who is not a Kohen must not serve Num. 18:4

Laws of Restrictions Concerning Sacrifices 336 To offer only unblemished animals Lev. 22:21 337 Not to dedicate a blemished animal for the altar Lev. 22:20 338 Not to slaughter it Lev. 22:22 339 Not to sprinkle its blood Lev. 22:24 340 Not to burn its fat Lev. 22:22 341 Not to offer a temporarily blemished animal Deut. 17:1 342 Not to sacrifice blemished animals even if offered by non-Jews Lev. 22:25 343 Not to inflict wounds upon dedicated animals Lev. 22:21 344 To redeem dedicated animals which have become disqualified Deut. 12:15 345 To offer only animals which are at least eight days old Lev. 22:27 346 Not to offer animals bought with the wages of a harlot or the animal exchanged for a dog Deut. 23:19 347 Not to burn honey or yeast on the altar Lev. 2:11 348 To salt all sacrifices Lev. 2:13 349 Not to omit the salt from sacrifices Lev. 2:13

Laws of Sacrificial Procedure 350 Carry out the procedure of the burnt offering as prescribed in the Torah Lev. 1:3 351 Not to eat its meat Deut. 12:17 352 Carry out the procedure of the sin offering Lev. 6:18 353 Not to eat the meat of the inner sin offering Lev. 6:23 354 Not to decapitate a fowl brought as a sin offering Lev. 5:8 355 Carry out the procedure of the guilt offering Lev. 7:1 356 The Kohanim must eat the sacrificial meat in the Temple Ex. 29:33 357 The Kohanim must not eat the meat outside the Temple courtyard Deut. 12:17 358 A non-Kohen must not eat sacrificial meat Ex. 29:33 359 To follow the procedure of the peace offering Lev. 7:11 360 Not to eat the meat of minor sacrifices before sprinkling the blood Deut. 12:17 361 To bring meal offerings as prescribed in the Torah Lev. 2:1 362 Not to put oil on the meal offerings of wrongdoers Lev. 5:11 363 Not to put frankincense on the meal offerings of wrongdoers Lev. 5:11 364 Not to eat the meal offering of the High Priest Lev. 6:16 365 Not to bake a meal offering as leavened bread Lev. 6:10 366 The Kohanim must eat the remains of the meal offerings Lev. 6:9 367 To bring all avowed and freewill offerings to the Temple on the first subsequent festival Deut. 12:5-6 368 Not to withhold payment incurred by any vow Deut. 23:22 369 To offer all sacrifices in the Temple Deut. 12:11 370 To bring all sacrifices from outside Israel to the Temple Deut. 12:26 371 Not to slaughter sacrifices outside the courtyard Lev. 17:4 372 Not to offer any sacrifices outside the courtyard Deut. 12:13

Laws of Constant and Additional Offerings 373 To offer two lambs every day Num. 28:3 374 To light a fire on the altar every day Lev. 6:6 375 Not to extinguish this fire Lev. 6:6 376 To remove the ashes from the altar every day Lev. 6:3 377 To burn incense every day Ex 30:7 378 To light the Menorah every day Ex. 27:21 379 The Kohen Gadol must bring a meal offering every day Lev. 6:13 380 To bring two additional lambs as burnt offerings on Shabbat Num 28:9 381 To make the show bread Ex. 25:30 382 To bring additional offerings on the New Month Num. 28:11 383 To bring additional offerings on Passover Num. 28:19 384 To offer the wave offering from the meal of the new wheat Lev. 23:10 385 Each man must count the Omer - seven weeks from the day the new wheat offering was brought Lev. 23:15 386 To bring additional offerings on Shavuot Num. 28:26 387 To bring two leaves to accompany the above sacrifice Lev. 23:17 388 To bring additional offerings on Rosh Hashana Num. 29:2 389 To bring additional offerings on Yom Kippur Num. 29:8 390 To bring additional offerings on Sukkot Num. 29:13 391 To bring additional offerings on Shmini Atzeret Num. 29:35

Laws of Disqualified Offerings 392 Not to eat sacrifices which have become unfit or blemished Deut. 14.3 393 Not to eat from sacrifices offered with improper intentions Lev. 7:18 394 Not to leave sacrifices past the time allowed for eating them Lev. 22:30 395 Not to eat from that which was left over Lev. 19:8 396 Not to eat from sacrifices which became impure Lev. 7:19 397 An impure person must not eat from sacrifices Lev. 7:20 398 To burn the leftover sacrifices Lev. 7:17 399 To burn all impure sacrifices Lev. 7:19

Laws of Yom Kippur Service 400 To follow the procedure of Yom Kippur in the sequence prescribed in Parshat Acharei Mot Lev. 16:3

Laws of Misusing Sanctified Property 401 One who profaned property must repay what he profaned plus a fifth and bring a sacrifice Lev. 5:16 402 Not to work consecrated animals Deut. 15:19 403 Not to shear the fleece of consecrated animals Deut. 15:19

BOOK NINE: THE BOOK OF SACRIFICES

Laws of Pascal Sacrifice 404 To slaughter the paschal sacrifice at the specified time Ex. 12:6 405 Not to slaughter it while in possession of leaven Ex. 23:18 406 Not to leave the fat overnight Ex. 23:18 407 To slaughter the second paschal lamb Num. 9:11 408 To eat the paschal lamb with matzah and Marror on the night of the 15th of Nissan Ex. 12:8 409 To eat the second paschal lamb on the night of the 15th of Iyar Num.9:11 410 Not to eat the paschal meat raw or boiled Ex. 12:9 411 Not to take the paschal meat from the confines of the group Ex. 12:46 412 An apostate must not eat from it Ex.12:43 413 A permanent or temporary hired worker must not eat from it Ex. 12:45 414 An uncircumcised male must not eat from it Ex. 12:48 415 Not to break any bones from the paschal offering Ex. 12:46 416 Not to break any bones from the second paschal offering Num. 9:12 417 Not to leave any meat from the paschal offering over until morning Ex. 12:10 418 Not to leave the second paschal meat over until morning Num. 9:12 419 Not to leave the meat of the holiday offering of the 14th until the 16th Deut. 16:4

Laws of Pilgrim Offerings 420 To be seen at the Temple on Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot Deut. 16:16 421 To celebrate on these three Festivals (bring a peace offering) Ex. 23:14 422 To rejoice on these three Festivals (bring a peace offering) Deut. 16:14 423 Not to appear at the Temple without offerings Deut. 16:16 424 Not to refrain from rejoicing with, and giving gifts to, the Levites Deut. 12:19 425 To assemble all the people on the Sukkot following the seventh year Deut. 31:12

Laws of First Born Animals 426 To set aside the firstborn animals Ex. 13:12 427 The Kohanim must not eat unblemished firstborn animals outside Jerusalem Deut. 12:17 428 Not to redeem the firstborn Num. 18:17 429 Separate the tithe from animals Lev. 27:32 430 Not to redeem the tithe Lev. 27:33

Laws of Offerings for Unintentional Transgressions 431 Every person must bring a sin offering for his transgression Lev. 4:27 432 Bring an asham talui when uncertain of guilt Lev. 5:17-18 433 Bring an asham vadai when guilt is ascertained Lev. 5:25 434 Bring an oleh v'yored offering (if the person is wealthy, an animal; if poor, a bird or meal offering) Lev. 5:7-11 435 The Sanhedrin must bring an offering when it rules in error Lev. 4:13

Laws of Lacking Atonement 436 A woman who had a running issue must bring an offering after she goes to the Mikveh Lev. 15:28-29 437 A woman who gave birth must bring an offering after she goes to the Mikveh Lev. 12:6 438 A man who had a running issue must bring an offering after he goes to the Mikveh Lev. 15:13-14 439 A metzora must bring an offering after going to the Mikveh Lev. 14:10

Laws of Substitution of Sacrifices 440 Not to substitute another beast for one set apart for sacrifice Lev. 27:10 441 The new animal, in addition to the substituted one, retains consecration Lev. 27:10 442 Not to change consecrated animals from one type of offering to another Lev. 27:26

BOOK TEN: THE BOOK OF PURITY

Laws of Impurity of Human Dead 443 Carry out the laws of impurity of the dead Num. 19:14

Laws of The Red Heifer 444 Carry out the procedure of the Red Heifer Num. 19:2 445 Carry out the laws of the sprinkling water Num. 19:21

Laws of Impurity through Tzara'at 446 Rule the laws of human tzara'at as prescribed in the Torah Lev. 13:12 447 The metzora must not remove his signs of impurity Deut. 24:8 448 The metzora must not shave signs of impurity in his hair Lev. 13:33 449 The metzora must publicize his condition by tearing his garments, allowing his hair to grow and covering his lips Lev. 13:45 450 Carry out the prescribed rules for purifying the metzora Lev. 14:2 451 The metzora must shave off all his hair prior to purification Lev. 14:9 452 Carry out the laws of tzara'at of clothing Lev. 13:47 453 Carry out the laws of tzara'at of houses Lev. 13:34

Laws of Impurity of Reclining and Sitting 454 Observe the laws of menstrual impurity Lev. 15:19 455 Observe the laws of impurity caused by childbirth Lev. 12:2 456 Observe the laws of impurity caused by a woman's running issue Lev. 15:25 457 Observe the laws of impurity caused by a man's running issue Lev. 15:3

Laws of Other Sources of Impurity 458 Observe the laws of impurity caused by a dead beast Lev. 11:39 459 Observe the laws of impurity caused by the eight shratzim Lev. 11:29 460 Observe the laws of impurity of a seminal emission Lev. 15:16

Laws of Impurity of Food 461 Observe the laws of impurity concerning liquid and solid foods Lev. 11:34

Laws of Vessels (Rabbinical)

Laws of Mikveh 462 Every impure person must immerse himself in a Mikveh to become pure Lev. 15:16

BOOK ELEVEN: THE BOOK OF DAMAGES

Laws of Property Damage 463 The court must judge the damages incurred by a goring ox Ex. 21:28 464 The court must judge the damages incurred by an animal eating Ex. 22:4 465 The court must judge the damages incurred by a pit Ex. 21:33 466 The court must judge the damages incurred by fire Ex. 22:5

Laws of Theft 467 Not to steal money stealthily Lev. 19:11 468 The court must implement punitive measures against the thief Ex. 21:37 469 Each individual must ensure that his scales and weights are accurate Lev. 19:36 470 Not to commit injustice with scales and weights Lev. 19:35 471 Not to possess inaccurate scales and weights even if they are not for use Deut. 25:13 472 Not to move a boundary marker to steal someone's property Deut. 19:14 473 Not to kidnap Ex. 20:13

Laws of Robbery and Lost Objects 474 Not to rob openly Lev. 19:13 475 Not to withhold wages or fail to repay a debt Lev. 19:13 476 Not to covet and scheme to acquire another's possession Ex. 20:14 477 Not to desire another's possession Deut. 5:18 478 Return the robbed object or its value Lev. 5:23 479 Not to ignore a lost object Deut. 22:3 480 Return the lost object Deut. 22:1 481 The court must implement laws against the one who assaults another or damages another's property Ex. 21:18

Laws of Murder and Preservation of Life 482 Not to murder Ex. 20:13 483 Not to accept monetary restitution to atone for the murderer Num. 35:31 484 The court must send the accidental murderer to a city of refuge Num. 35:25 485 Not to accept monetary restitution instead of being sent to a city of refuge Num. 35:32 486 Not to kill the murderer before he stands trial Num. 35:12 487 Save someone being pursued even by taking the life of the pursuer Deut. 25:12 488 Not to pity the pursuer Num. 35:12 489 Not to stand idly by if someone's life is in danger Lev. 19:16 490 Designate cities of refuge and prepare routes of access Deut. 19:3 491 Break the neck of a calf by the river valley following an unsolved murder Deut. 21:4 492 Not to work nor plant that river valley Deut. 21:4 493 Not to allow pitfalls and obstacles to remain on your property Deut. 22:8 494 Make a guard rail around flat roofs Deut. 22:8 495 Not to put a stumbling block before a blind man (nor give harmful advice) Lev. 19:14 496 Help another remove the load from a beast which can no longer carry it Ex. 23:5 497 Help others load their beast Deut. 22:4 498 Not to leave others distraught with their burdens (but to help either load or unload) Deut. 22:4

BOOK TWELVE: THE BOOK OF ACQUISITION

Laws of Sales 499 Buy and sell according to Torah law Lev. 25:14 500 Not to overcharge or underpay for an article Lev. 25:14 501 Not to insult or harm anybody with words Lev. 25:17 502 Not to cheat a sincere convert monetarily Ex. 22:20 503 Not to insult or harm a sincere convert with words Ex. 22:20

Laws of Acquisitions and Gifts (Rabbinical)

Laws of Neighbors (Rabbinical)

Laws of Agents and Partners (Rabbinical)

Laws of Slaves 504 Purchase a Hebrew slave in accordance with the prescribed laws Ex. 21:2 505 Not to sell him as a slave is sold Lev. 25:42 506 Not to work him oppressively Lev. 25:43 507 Not to allow a non-Jew to work him oppressively Lev. 25:53 508 Not to have him do menial slave labor Lev. 25;39 509 Give him gifts when he goes free Deut. 15:14 510 Not to send him away empty-handed Deut. 15:13 511 Redeem Jewish maidservants Ex. 21:8 512 Betroth the Jewish maidservant Ex. 21:8 513 The master must not sell his maidservant Ex. 21:8 514 Canaanite slaves must work forever unless injured in one of their limbs Lev. 25:46 515 Not to extradite a slave who fled to Israel Deut. 23:16 516 Not to wrong a slave who has come to Israel for refuge Deut. 23:16

BOOK THIRTEEN: THE BOOK OF JUDGEMENTS

Laws of Hiring 517 The courts must carry out the laws of a hired worker and hired guard Ex. 22:9 518 Pay wages on the day they were earned Deut. 24:15 519 Not to delay payment of wages past the agreed time Lev. 19:13 520 The hired worker may eat from the unharvested crops where he works Deut. 23:25 521 The worker must not eat while on hired time Deut. 23:26 522 The worker must not take more than he can eat Deut. 23:25 523 Not to muzzle an ox while plowing Deut. 25:4

Laws of Borrowing and Depositing 524 The courts must carry out the laws of a borrower Ex. 22:13 525 The courts must carry out the laws of an unpaid guard Ex. 22:6

Laws of Creditor and Debtor 526 Lend to the poor and destitute Ex. 22:24 527 Not to press them for payment if you know they don't have it Ex. 22:24 528 Press the idolater for payment Deut. 15:3 529 The creditor must not forcibly take collateral Deut. 24:10 530 Return the collateral to the debtor when needed Deut. 24:13 531 Not to delay its return when needed Deut. 24:12 532 Not to demand collateral from a widow Deut. 24:17 533 Not to demand as collateral utensils needed for preparing food Deut. 24:6 534 Not to lend with interest Lev.25:37 535 Not to borrow with interest Deut. 23:20 536 Not to intermediate in an interest loan, guarantee, witness, or write the promissory note Ex. 22:24 537 Lend to and borrow from idolaters with interest Deut. 23:21

Laws of Plaintiff and Defendant 538 The courts must carry out the laws of the plaintiff, admitter, or denier Ex. 22:8

Laws of Inheritance 539 Carry out the laws of the order of inheritance Num. 27:8

BOOK FOURTEEN: THE BOOK OF JUDGES

Laws of Sanhedrin and Punishments 540 Appoint judges Deut. 16:18 541 Not to appoint judges who are not familiar with judicial procedure Deut. 1:17 542 Decide by majority in case of disagreement Ex. 23:2 543 The court must not execute through a majority of one; at least a majority of two is required Ex. 23:2 544 A judge who presented an acquittal plea must not present an argument for conviction in capital cases Deut. 23:2 545 The courts must carry out the death penalty of stoning Deut. 22:24 546 The courts must carry out the death penalty of burning Lev. 20:14 547 The courts must carry out the death penalty of the sword Ex. 21:20 548 The courts must carry out the death penalty of strangulation Lev. 20:10 549 The courts must hang those stoned for blasphemy or idolatry Deut. 21:22 550 Bury the executed on the day they are killed Deut.21:23 551 Not to delay burial overnight Deut. 21:23 552 The court must not let the sorcerer live Ex. 22:17 553 The court must give lashes to the wrongdoer Ex. 25:2 554 The court must not exceed the prescribed number of lashes Deut. 25:3 555 The court must not kill anybody on circumstantial evidence Ex. 23:7 556 The court must not punish anybody who was forced to do a crime Deut. 22:26 557 A judge must not pity the murderer or assaulter at the trial Deut. 19:13 558 A judge must not have mercy on the poor man at the trial Lev. 19:15 559 A judge must not respect the great man at the trial Lev. 19:15 560 A judge must not decide unjustly the case of the habitual transgressor Ex. 23;6 561 A judge must not pervert justice Lev. 19:15 562 A judge must not pervert a case involving a convert or orphan Deut. 24:17 563 Judge righteously Lev. 19:15 564 The judge must not fear a violent man in judgment Deut. 1:17 565 Judges must not accept bribes Ex. 23:8 566 Judges must not accept testimony unless both parties are present Ex. 23:1 567 Not to curse judges Ex. 22:27 568 Not to curse the head of state or leader of the Sanhedrin Ex. 22:27 569 Not to curse any upstanding Jew Lev. 19:14

Laws of Evidence 570 Anybody who knows evidence must testify in court Lev. 5:1 571 Carefully interrogate the witness Deut. 13:15 572 A witness must not serve as a judge in capital crimes Deut. 19:17 573 Not to accept testimony from a lone witness Deut. 19:15 574 Transgressors must not testify Ex. 23:1 575 Relatives of the litigants must not testify Deut. 24:16 576 Not to testify falsely Ex. 20:13 577 Punish the false witnesses as they tried to punish the defendant Deut. 19:19

Laws of Insurgents 578 Act according to the ruling of the Sanhedrin Deut. 17:11 579 Not to deviate from the word of the Sanhedrin Deut. 17:11 580 Not to add to the Torah commandments or their oral explanations Deut. 13:1 581 Not to diminish from the Torah any commandments, in whole or in part Deut. 13:1 582 Not to curse your father and mother Ex. 21:17 583 Not to strike your father and mother Ex. 21:15 584 Respect your father or mother Ex. 20:12 585 Fear your father or mother Lev. 19:3 586 Not to be a rebellious son Deut. 21:18

Laws of Mourning 587 Mourn for relatives Lev. 10:19 588 The High Priest must not defile himself for any relative Lev. 21:11 589 The High Priest must not enter under the same roof as a corpse Lev. 21:11 590 A Kohen must not defile himself for anyone except relatives Lev. 21:1

Laws of Kings and their Wars 591 Appoint a king from Israel Deut. 17:15 592 Not to appoint a convert Deut. 17:15 593 The king must not have too many wives Deut. 17:17 594 The king must not have too many horses Deut. 17:16 595 The king must not have too much silver and gold Deut. 17:17 596 Destroy the seven Canaanite nations Deut. 20:17 597 Not to let any of them remain alive Deut. 20:16 598 Wipe out the descendants of Amalek Deut. 25:19 599 Remember what Amalek did to the Jewish people Deut. 25:17 600 Not to forget Amalek's atrocities and ambush on our journey from Egypt in the desert Deut. 25:19 601 Not to dwell permanently in Egypt Deut. 17:16 602 Offer peace terms to the inhabitants of a city while holding siege, and treat them according to the Torah if they accept the terms Deut. 20:10 603 Not to offer peace to Ammon and Moab while besieging them Deut. 23:7 604 Not to destroy fruit trees even during the siege Deut. 20:19 605 Prepare latrines outside the camps Deut. 23:13 606 Prepare a shovel for each soldier to dig with Deut. 23:14 607 Appoint a priest to speak with the soldiers during the war Deut. 20:2 608 He who has taken a wife, built a new home, or planted a vineyard is given a year to rejoice with his possessions Deut. 24:5 609 Not to demand from the above any involvement, communal or military Deut. 24:5 610 Not to panic and retreat during battle Deut. 20:3 611 Keep the laws of the captive woman Deut. 21:11 612 Not to sell her into slavery Deut. 21:14 613 Not to retain her for servitude after having relations with her Deut. 21:14

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The council of trent gives that it is a heresy to state the law is too difficult to keep.

romans 2: render to each man according to his works

why cant we keep the law? the schoolmaster verse? or other?

Paul disagrees? Romans 2:12-13

• 12 For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.

2 corinthians 3:4-6

• 4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God.
• 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

The doers of the law will indict the jews because they kept the law (as it was written on their hearts) but the jews did not DO the law even though they had the LETTER of the law, for the LETTER kills but the SPIRITUAL writing of the law (ex. doesn't bring the nearness of the sin) so the gentiles, when weighed against the jew, will cause the jew to be deemed unrighteous in comparison to the gentile.

So the pureness of Christ's blessing trumps the jewish law.

ex romans 5:5 “5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”

So you can't keep the law ON YOUR OWN because you need the grace from the holy spirit BECAUSE the letter of the law will condemn you – “those who sin under the law will be punished under the law”.

(needs rewrite)

“No they didn't!” “Oh yes they did!”

TL;DR the church attempted to edit the septuagint to conform to acts but they forgot to edit Deuteronomy 10:22

Verses in question: Jacob enters Egypt with 70 or 75 persons: Gen. 46:27; Ex 1:5; Deut 10:22; Acts 7:14

Did Jacob enter Egypt with 70 or 75 persons? When Christian looks up these four passages (Gen 46:27; Ex 1:5; Deut 10:22; Acts 7:14) in the top five modern English translations (NASB, KJV, NIV etc.) there appears to be a contradiction between the Old Testament where all passages read 70 persons and the New Testament where Stephen said the number was 75 persons who entered Egypt with Jacob in 1876 BC. Where does this error come from?

• I. Primary Bible witness: 70 vs. 75 persons:
  • 1. This is a complex issue because four places in the Bible the numbers 70 vs. 75 are referenced:
    • a. The Masoretic Text (MT) reads 70 persons in all three old Testament Texts: Gen. 46:17; Ex 1:5; Deut 10:22
    • b. The Septuagint (LXX) reads 70 persons in one text: Deut 10:22
    • c. The Septuagint (LXX) reads 75 persons in two texts: Gen. 46:27; Ex 1:5
    • d. The New Testament reads 75 persons in Acts 7:14
  • 2. Variant Bible verses: Exodus 1:5
    • a. “All the persons who came from the loins of Jacob were seventy in number, but Joseph was already in Egypt.” (Exodus 1:5, MT)
    • b. “Joseph was already in Egypt. And all the persons from Jacob were seventy-five.” (Exodus 1:5, LXX)
  • 3. Variant Bible verses: Genesis 46:27
    • a. “and the sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt were two; all the persons of the house of Jacob, who came to Egypt, were seventy.” (Genesis 46:27, MT)
    • b. “The sons of Joseph who were born to him in the land of Egypt were nine individuals. All the individuals of the house of Jacob who entered into Egypt were seventy-five.” (Genesis 46:27, LXX)
  • 4. The MT and LXX both read 70 persons in Deut 10:22
    • a. “Your fathers went down to Egypt seventy persons in all, and now the Lord your God has made you as numerous as the stars of heaven.” (Deut 10:22, MT)
    • b. “With seventy people your fathers went down into Egypt, but now the Lord your God made you as the stars of heaven in number.”” (Deut 10:22, LXX)
  • 5. Stephen in the New Testament reads 75 persons: Acts 7:14
    • a. “Then Joseph sent word and invited Jacob his father and all his relatives to come to him, seventy-five persons in all.” (Acts 7:14)
    • b. “Finally, we turn to Stephen’s speech before the Sanhedrin, one which is supposedly riddled with historical error. How could this be possible for this Jewish man who, according to Acts, was “full of faith and of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 6:5) and “full of God’s grace and power” (6:8) and of whom it is recorded that the Jews who opposed him “could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke” (6:10)? Their answer is quite simple: First, some of the contradictions are only apparent such as Acts 7:14, where Stephen says, “Joseph sent for his father Jacob and his whole family, seventy-five in all,” whereas “Genesis 46:27 (MT) sets the figure at seventy (i.e., sixty-six plus Jacob, Joseph, and the latter’s two sons).” This, however, presents no difficulty, and, as has often been pointed out, “Genesis 46:27 in the LXX, for example, does not include Jacob and Joseph but does include nine sons of Joseph in the reckoning, thereby arriving at ‘seventy-five souls’ all together who went down to Egypt. And with this number both Exodus 1:5 (LXX) and 4QExoda at 1:5 agree.” So then, a Hebrew, biblical scroll from Qumran along with the LXX both counted the number at seventy-five rather than seventy, so Stephen was in good company with his figures here. This is hardly an error!” (Answering Jewish objections to Jesus: New Testament objections, M. L. Brown, Vol. 4, 2007 AD)

• II. Archeological and Literary sources: 70 vs. 75 persons:
  • 1. Jubilees 44.33 has both computations of 70 then lists 75 as the grand total and says 5 died in Egypt:
    • a. “And all the souls of Jacob which went into Egypt were seventy souls. These are his children and his children’s children, in all seventy; but five died in Egypt before Joseph, and had no children.” (Jubilees 44.33, 150 BC)
  • 2. Ezekiel The Tragedian: 150 BC: “70 persons”
    • a. “Exagōgē” is a Jewish six-scene play in Greek based upon the Exodus.
    • b. “Ezekiel The Tragedian: An author of Jewish tragedies who wrote in Greek, likely in the second century BC. The surviving fragments of his tragic drama about the Exodus are often grouped together with the Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, since they are nonbiblical Jewish writing from the same period. Clement of Alexandria refers to Ezekiel as “the poet of Jewish tragedies” (Stromata 1.23.155.1, quoted in Robertson, “Ezekiel,” 803). However, we only know of one of his works, titled Exagoge, “Leading Out.” Moses is the main character of this tragedy, which covers material in Exodus 1–15, from Moses’ birth to the crossing of the Red Sea and the encampment of the Israelites at Elim. In the process of adapting the biblical material to the genre of Greek tragedy, Ezekiel adds extrabiblical material, including a dream by Moses and characters not mentioned in the Bible. Substantial fragments of Exagoge are preserved in Eusebius (Preparation for the Gospel 9.28–29), who cites them from the first century BC author Alexander Polyhistor, in Clement of Alexandria’s Stromata, and in Pseudo-Eustathius’ Commentary on the Hexameron.” (LBD, Ezekiel The Tragedian)
    • c. As far as we can reconstruct the play, the outline is as follows. In the first scene (vv 1–65) Moses summarizes in a long monologue the events recorded in Exodus 1–2. This is followed by the encounter with Jethro’s daughters (with several postbiblical developments, e.g., that Zipporah is identical to the Ethiopian wife of Moses in Num 12:1; see vv 60–62). The second scene (vv 66–89) contains, besides a short dialogue between Zipporah and a certain Chum, another nonbiblical scene, namely a report by Moses about a strange dream or vision he had in which he saw God enthroned on the summit of Mt. Sinai. God beckons him, hands over his regalia to Moses, descends from his throne, and orders Moses to sit upon it, whereupon all heavenly powers prostrate before him. Moses has been given all power in heaven and on earth (cf. Matt 28:18). The third scene (vv 90–174) describes how God commands Moses from the burning bush to lead his people out of Egypt (Exodus 3) and how he removes Moses’ doubts by performing the miracles with the rod and the leprous hand (Exodus 4). Subsequently, in a long monologue God enumerates the ten plagues that he will bring upon Egypt (Exodus 7–11; these plagues could, of course, not be put onstage) and gives the rules for the institution of Passover (Exod 12:1–20). In a fourth scene (vv 175–192) Moses repeats these rules before the elders of the people (Exod 12:21–28, with the significant omission of the obligatory circumcision of all participants; a concession to his pagan audience?). In the fifth scene (vv 193–242) an Egyptian messenger gives an eyewitness account of the complete destruction of the Egyptian army in the Red Sea (Exodus 14, with significant haggadic details, on which see Jacobson 1983: 136–52), which is a striking parallel to Aeschylus’ Persians where the crushing defeat of the Persian army is reported to the Persian queen, another well-known device for realizing dramatic scenes which were impossible to stage. In the sixth scene (vv 243–269) scouts report to Moses that they have found a paradisiacal place for the encampment (namely Elim, Exod 15:27) and describe at length a marvelous and gigantic bird that they have seen there. Undoubtedly the bird is a phoenix, whose appearance is always a symbol of the inauguration of a new era in history (or salvation history; see van der Horst 1982: 111–12; Jacobson 1983: 157–64). There must have been more acts in the play than the scenes enumerated, especially in view of the great time gap between vv 192 and 193 (scenes 4 and 5), but we do not know how many. This synthesis of biblical story, postbiblical haggadah, and Greek literary procedures makes the Exagōgē into one of the most typical products of Jewish Hellenism. (ABD, Ezekiel The Tragedian)

3. Philo, a non-Christian Jew was aware that the Hebrew and Greek texts before him used both 70 and 75 and goes into a lengthily discussion about it: * a. The fascinating thing is that Philo demonstrates the various ways of computing the number who went to Egypt. * b. This proves that Stephen, through inspiration was quoting the valid number of 75. * c. The truth is that there must have been two different textual traditions in these passages. * d. The problem is not that Stephen contradicted the Torah, but that the Torah “diverges considerably” with itself! * e. “Very appropriately, therefore, does the companion of knowledge think it right to leave the region of the outward sense, by name Charran; (198) and he leaves it when he is seventy-five years old; and this number is on the confines of the nature discernible by the outward senses, and that intelligible by the intellect, and of the older and younger, and also of perishable and imperishable nature; (199) for the elder, the imperishable ratio, that comprehensible by the intellect, exists in the seventy; the younger ratio, discernible by the outward senses, is equal in number to the five outward senses. In this latter also the practiser of virtue is seen exercising himself when he has not yet been able to carry off the perfect prize of victory;—for it is said, that all the souls which came out of Jacob were seventy and five;”—(200) for to him, while wrestling, and not shrinking at all from the truly sacred contest, for the acquisition of virtue, belong the souls which are the offspring of the body, and which have not yet acquired reason, but are still attracted by the multitude of the outward senses. For Jacob is the name of one who is wrestling and engaged in a contest and trying to trip up his antagonist, not of one who has gained the victory. (201) But when he appeared to have gained ability to behold God, his name was changed to Israel, and then he uses only the computation of seventy, having removed the number five, the number of the outward senses; for it is said, that “thy fathers went down to Egypt, being seventy souls.” This is the number which is familiar to Moses the wise man: for it happened that those who were selected as carefully picked men out of the whole multitude, were seventy in number; and those all elders, not only in point of age, but also in wisdom and counsel, and in prudence, and in ancient integrity of manners. (202) And this number is consecrated and dedicated to God when the perfect fruits of the soul are offered up. For, on the feast of tabernacles, besides all other sacrifices, it is ordered that the priest should offer up seventy heifers for a burnt offering. Again, it is in accordance with the computation of seventy that the phials of the princes are provided, for each of them is of the weight of seventy shekels; since whatever things are associated and confederate together in the soul, and dear to one another, have a power which is truly attractive, namely, the sacred computation of seventy, which Egypt, the nature which hates virtue, and loves to indulge the passions, is introduced as lamenting; for mourning among them is computed at seventy days. This number, therefore, as I have said before, is familiar to Moses, but the number of the five outward senses is familiar to him who embraces the body and external things, which it is customary to call Joseph; for he pays such attention to those things, that he presents his own uterine brother, the offspring of the outward sense, for he had no acquaintance at all with those who were only his brothers as sons of the same father, with five exceedingly beautiful garments, thinking the outward senses things of exceeding beauty, and worthy of being adorned and honoured by him. (204) Moreover, he also enacts laws for the whole of Egypt, that they should honour them, and pay taxes and tribute to them every year as to their kings; for he commands them to take a fifth part of the corn, that is to say, to store up in the treasury abundant materials and nourishment for the five outward senses, in order that each of them might rejoice while filling itself unrestrainedly with suitable food, and that it might weigh down and overwhelm the mind with the multitude of things which were thus brought upon it; for during the banquet of the outer senses; the mind is labouring under a famine, as, on the contrary, when the outward senses are fasting, the mind is feasting.” (Philo, Migration 197-204)

4. Josephus reads 70 in two places: Josephus Antiquities 2.176–183; 6.89 * a. Josephus does a manual calculation and it adds up to 70 but does not include Jacob himself. * b. “All the Greek copies of Josephus have the negative particle here, that Jacob himself was not reckoned one of the seventy souls that came into Egypt; but the old Latin copies want it, and directly assure us that he was one them. It is therefore hardly certain which of these was Josephus’s true reading, since the number seventy is made up without him, if we reckon Leah for one; but if she be not reckoned, Jacob must himself be one to complete the number.” (The works of Josephus, F. Josephus, W. Whiston, W., Antiquities 2.183, footnote, 1987 AD) * c. “It behooves you to remember, that our grandfather Jacob came down into Egypt, by reason of a famine, with seventy souls only of our family” (Josephus Antiquities 6.89) * d. “Jacob, encouraged by this dream, went on more cheerfully for Egypt with his sons, and all belonging to them. Now they were in all seventy. I once, indeed, thought it best not to set down the names of this family, especially because of their difficult pronunciation [by the Greeks]; (177) but, upon the whole, I think it necessary to mention those names, that I may disprove such as believe that we came not originally from Mesopotamia, but are Egyptians. Now Jacob had twelve sons; of these Joseph was come thither before. We will therefore set down the names of Jacob’s children and grandchildren. (178) Reuben had four sons—Anoch, Phallu, Assaron, Charmi; Simeon had six—Jamuel, Jamin, Avod, Jachin, Soar, Saul; Levi had three sons—Gersom, Caath, Merari; Judas had three sons—Sala, Phares, Zerah; and by Phares two grandchildren—Esrom and Amar; Issachar had four sons—Thola, Phua, Jasob, Samaron; (179) Zabulon had with him three sons—Sarad, Helon, Jalel. So far is the posterity of Lea; with whom went her daughter Dinah. These are thirty-three. (180) Rachel had two sons, the one of whom, Joseph, had two sons also, Manasses and Ephraim. The other, Benjamin, had ten sons—Bolau, Bacchar, Asabel, Geras, Naaman, Jes, Ros, Momphis, Opphis, Arad. These fourteen added to the thirty-three before enumerated, amount to the number forty-seven; (181) and this was the legitimate posterity of Jacob. He had besides, by Bilhah, the handmaid of Rachel, Dan and Nephthali; which last had four sons that followed him—Jesel, Guni, Issari, and Sellim. Dan had an only begotten son, Usi. (182) If these be added to those before mentioned, they complete the number fifty-four. Gad and Asher were the sons of Zilpha, who was the handmaid of Lea. These had with them, Gad seven—Saphoniah, Augis, Sunis, Azabon, Aerin, Eroed, Ariel. (183) Asher had a daughter, Sarah, and six male children, whose names were Jomne, Isus, Isoui, Baris, Abar and Melchiel. If we add these, which are sixteen, to the fifty-four, the forementioned number [70] is completed, Jacob not being himself included in that number.” (Josephus, Antiquities 2.176–183)

• III. Master summary of All Archeological evidences by date:
  • 1. 150 BC: Jubilees 44:33 reads “70 persons”
  • 2. 150 BC: Ezekiel the Tragedian 2:1 reads “70 persons” (A Greek play called “Exagōgē” based upon the Exodus)
  • 3. 100 BC: Dead Sea Scroll 4Q1, 4QGen-Exoda 17-18:2 reads “75 persons” (Qumran, cave 4) “Cross has shown that 4QExa [ie 4QGen-Exoda] reflects a Septuagintal type of text for Exodus.” (The Transmission-History of the Septuagint. W. W. Combs, Bibliotheca Sacra, 146, p257, 1989 AD)
  • 4. 100 BC: Dead Sea Scroll 4Q13, 4QExodb 1:5 reads “75 persons” (Qumran, cave 4)
  • 5. 30 AD: Philo, “75 persons”On the Migration of Abraham 199: “all the souls which came out of Jacob were seventy and five”
  • 6. 36 AD: Acts 7:14 reads “75 persons”.
  • 7. 70 AD: Josephus reads “70 persons” in two places: Josephus Antiquities 2.176-183; 6.89
  • 8. 325 AD [282 BC]: The LXX reads “75 persons” in two places: Gen. 46:17 and Ex. 1:5, (= 66 + 9 sons of Joseph)
  • 9. 325 AD [282 BC]: The LXX reads “70 persons” in Deut 10:22
  • 10. 1000 AD: The Masoretic text reads “70 persons” in all three places: Gen. 46:27; Ex 1:5; Deut 10:22

• IV. Solution: Both 70 and 75 are valid due to different ways of computing the number:
  • 1. Josephus calculates 70 but that doesn’t include Jacob himself!
  • 2. Philo calculates 75 but states that Moses used 70 which didn’t include 5 of the youth. Philo openly discusses a variety of calculation methods used by others. Philo was aware of the variance of 70 and 75 in both Hebrew manuscripts and the Greek Septuagint.
  • 3. There are a variety of ways of computing the number who went down to Egypt within the Torah itself: “The first number given to Jacob’s descendants is sixty-six (v. 26). This group is identified as those who migrated to Egypt with Jacob. Excluded from that caravan are Er and Onan, for they are already dead (v. 12; see 38:7, 10), as well as Joseph, Manasseh, and Ephraim, who are already in Egypt. Thus, eliminating those five names from the seventy listed brings the number to sixty-five, but sixty-six is obtained by the addition of Dinah. The second number computed for Jacob’s offspring is seventy (v. 27). The increase from sixty-six in v. 26 to seventy in v. 27 is arrived at by the inclusion of Jacob himself, Joseph, and Joseph’s two children. The LXX’s seventy-five comes about by the deletion of Jacob and Joseph and the addition of nine sons of Joseph instead of two. It is clear that seven (and multiples thereof) is prominent in this genealogy, whose total number of entries is 70. Rachel has fourteen descendants, and Bilhah has seven. Together they have twenty-one. Together Leah and Bilhah have forty-nine descendants. The seventh son of Jacob listed in this genealogy is Gad. Gen. 29–30 (see 30:11) is the only other Jacobite genealogy in which Gad is placed in the seventh position. Interestingly, the numerical value of the seventh-placed Gad is seven (g = 3; d = 4).” (NICOT, Victor Hamilton, Gen 46:27, 1995 AD)

• 1. We find direct evidence through the Dead Sea Scrolls (4Q1 and 4Q13) for two different Hebrew manuscripts in use at the same time long before the time of Christ that read 75 persons:
  • a. Christians therefore conclude the Greek Septuagint was translated in 282 BC 'with precision' from 'a Hebrew manuscript.'
  • b. Christians therefore conclude (based on analysis by Philo and Josephus) 'that both numbers 70 and 75 were considered authentic.'

• 2. The Greek Septuagint preserves the autograph numbers in all three places: Gen. 46:27; Ex 1:5; Deut 10:22
• a. Christians therefore conclude 'The quotation by Stephen in Acts 7:14 shows us that the original reading was 75 persons in at least two places in the Hebrew bible.'
• b. Christians therefore conclude 'The Masoretic text therefore shows that Jews changed the number from 75 to 70 in Gen. 46:27; Ex 1:5 in order to agree with Deut 10:22 which read 70.' and that 'This change was to correct an apparent contradiction in their Hebrew text, but in the end they simply were unaware that different computation methods were being used by Moses in the autograph.'

Scripture which can be verified as authoritative states seventy persons, and it is observed that the Greeks have attempted to justify a re-reading of 75 persons. The rationale for this is that the common and pervasive belief among the uneducated is that seventy-five persons went in, and that is due to a series of misreadings committed by non-bible scholars of the time, and a preponderance of poorly translated greek texts. Therefore the misunderstanding likely arose due to the Greeks not understanding the meticulous nature of verifying the scripture for use in teaching in the temple. Simply because a preponderance of differing manuscripts could be found, does not invalidate the verified and authoritatie scriptures that had been meticulously verified as accurate. Add to this the Greek's differing views on how important the scripture was in terms of a holy an unalterable representation of God's word, and then extend this a thousand years into the latin of the church; it is very clear that the Church felt that it had excessive room in translation in order to represent what they felt was the truth. Justifications (such as alma vs. betulah) were made everywhere in scripture, in defiance of protests from actual hebrew scholars. The “new scholars” based their academia on the faulty work of early non-scholars who had merely invented many translations, and thus, given justification and an air of authenticity to false scholarship, which has now apparently “stood the test of time”.

Well, has it, really? No amount of sophistry can change what is written in scripture. It can only change what people believe, and their opinion on the veracity of said scripture in the first place.

Ultimately, stating this as a Christian vs. Scriptural conclusion is appropriate; the Christians do not hold scripture to be primary, they hold their “revealed interpretation” as primary.

Okay, a short one now! Last one was too long!

In Genesis 31, we begin with an analogous narrative, that Laban was an unfair taskmaster to Jacob. However, in Genesis 31, Jacob 'deceives'(NIV, NASB, NET, CSB), 'tricks' (ESV) or 'outwits' (NLT, Sefaria) Laban and leaves suddenly with all his family and posessions in tow. What did Jacob do to 'deceive' Laban? The real question is shown in the topic, but this seemingly unrelated question may be an even superior way of approaching the analogy.

Laban separated himself from Jacob after he told Jacob his wages. Jacob merely took his wages and went to (some place), as commanded by God. It was Laban who had left Jacob and not Jacob who had left (or, tricked) Laban. Jacob had taken “only his wits” (heb. his heart) with him. The reason why Laban thought he had fled is because Laban was in the active act of stealing from Jacob; Jacob was not guilty of, or party to, this theft. So when Jacob left of his own accord, Laban felt that he had been disenfranchised (of the ability to steal). This is a very similar idea to the situation of “When Lot left Abraham, God spoke to Abraham” (ex. Rashi v.3). In this particular case, Laban had chosen to leave the presence of God as revealed through Jacob. He had made his choice, and judgement was passed against him as a direct result (i.e. in-kind punishment) for his actions.

Christians have no concept of this event, it's relation to similar events, or the continuance of the narrative of selection that it informs, leading to the davidic covenant, etc. In fact the Christian believes the exact opposite of this narrative, that man slowly begins to fall away from God over time. This narrative and the very existance of the Covenant Nation of Israel is a topic that Christians simply cannot comprehend, as it is the antithesis of what they have been taught in Church.

I have a theory that the Church intentionally went through Rashi and taught the antithesis of his understanding in order to separate the Christians from the Jews and make them hate each other. Ex. rashi v.17. How else can one get from the clear narrative of a gradual unification, to the preposterous notion of gradual separation from God, as if God's plan was ineffective or defective at it's outset (ex. Rashi v.15)?

The analogy has been made in scripture, the p'shat has been given here, by Rashi, and I can only hope to touch upon that and present it to you, but it is to the reader to accept it's meaning.

…or “top ten slam-dunk refutations of Christianity”.

This page grew out of Ten Hard Questions (for Christians) and will likely be supplanted by a tiered list of questions/answers/subjects at some point.

Jesus did not fulfill many of the messianic prophecies which were specifically given to the Jewish people (see Psa. 147:19-20 “19 He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and rules[c] to Israel. 20 He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his rules.”).

The Jewish people were the witness nation chosen by God to receive prophets and to recognize “the messiah” to them whom he was sent. Therefore, a person claiming to be the messiah, who did not fulfill these messianic prophecies could not have been the messiah.

This is the primary reason why Jewish people reject Jesus as the messiah; it is not logically sound that God would send the messiah in such a way as to deceive the Jewish people; for “Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7). The alternative is to assume God spoke capricously, falsely, or that he changed his mind – all of which are rejected on multiple grounds.

• The In-gathering of the Exiles (ex. Ezekiel 37:22-23)
• Building the third temple (ex. Ezekiel 37:24-28)
• A Light to the Nations fulfillment (ex. Zechariah 8:20-23, Isaiah 2:2-3, Micah 4:1-2)
• Universal Peace and Recognition of God (ex. Isaiah 2:4, Isaiah 11:9)
  • The Zechariah 9:9-10 prophecy, which was not fulfilled (The Romans destroyed the temple and scattered the Jewish people from Jerusalem)
  • Worldwide Knowledge of God; (ex. Jeremiah 31:34, Isaiah 11:9, Zechariah 14:9, Micah 4:5)

For an in-detail look at these and other prophecies please refer to Unfulfilled messianic prophecies.

The direct context of Isaiah 53:1 is Isaiah 52:10 in which the arm of the lord is said to be revealed to the nation of Israel, and is explained to be the way in which God revealed himself, to Israel, with a mighty and outstretched arm via the Exodus from Egypt:

• “But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go.”(Exodus 3:19-20)

• But the Lord said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.” (Exodus 6:1)

• “Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment.” (Exodus 6:6)

• “So the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror and with signs and wonders.” (Deuteronomy 26:8)

• 10 “The Lord will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God. …for the Lord will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard.” (Isaiah 52:10-12)

It is therefore clear from these passages (not exhaustive) related to Isaiah 53 that the people to whom the arm of the lord has been revealed is the nation of Israel; further that the arm of the lord is not a person or a people but the acts of God.

This is further illustrated by contrasting Isaiah 53:1 with John 12:38. In John 12:38 the message is presented as “who has believed the report (of Jesus) because their eyes have been blinded…” yet this is a corrupted presentation of isaiah 53. The direct context again is that the kings of the nations of the world say “who could have believed the report we have received” – “our report” meaning the one they had received, not the one they had given. This is made abundantly clear with the verse directly prior which states in full context:

13 Behold, my servant shall prosper, he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high.

14 As many were astonished at him[b]— his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the sons of men—

15 so shall he startle[c] many nations; kings shall shut their mouths because of him; for that which has not been told them they shall see, and that which they have not heard they shall understand.

53:1 Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? (RSV)

To further illustrate this we may bring three direct passages which state utterly and conclusively that God is not a man:

• “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should repent. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfil it?” Deuteronomy 23:19 (RSV)

• And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or repent; for he is not a man, that he should repent.” (1 Samuel 15:29)

Now the contention is made that these passages merely state that God is not a man to the extent he has the capacity to err and yet he still may be a man – merely a sinless, righteous man (such as Jesus). We see from Hosea there is an opportunity cost with taking this position:

• “I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I devastate Ephraim again. For I am God, and not a man; the Holy One among you. I will not come against their cities.” (Hosea 11:9)

It is abundantly clear that there is a problem with the idea that “God is a man” or a “person” in any capacity.

“Therefore watch yourselves very carefully. Since you saw no form on the day that the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, beware lest you act corruptly by making a carved image for yourselves, in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female…Deuteronomy 4:14-15 (ESV)

It is a corruption of God's word to state that he is a man (or that Jesus is God). The very concept of an intercessor, as well, was destroyed on multiple levels during the story of the golden calf and in the 10 commandments.

1. 1. Thou shall have no other gods before my face. (See NSV Exodus 20:3 for a complete exposition).

In Exodus 3:14 God's name is given to us:

14 And God said to Moses, “Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh.” He continued, “Thus shall you say to the Israelites, ’eh·yeh ’ă·šer ’eh·yeh' sent me to you.’”

This ’eh·yeh ’ă·šer ’eh·yeh is strong's 1961 and 834. It is pronounced “ha-yah asher ha-yah”.

hayah: to fall out, come to pass, become, be asher: who, which, that (particle of conjunction; relational particle)

Now, this seeminly has a non-intuitive meaning, when translated as “I am that I am,” but that is because there is a lot more going on in Hebrew than in English. This “hayah” is the exact same word as found in Genesis 1:3, God's first words spoken in the bible: “Let there be light” is “ha-yah or”. You can look this up for yourself in strongs. This is an extremely common word which means “that which has come to pass;” as seen in common and frequent use; it appears 25 times in Genesis 1 alone, and over 3,500 times in the rest of the hebrew scriptures. So we know what this word means; it doesn't mean “I am that I am,” it means “my name is I will be what I will be,” or in other words, I am your god for what I will do; my name is, “you shall know me through my actions”. This is why idolatry, for example, is always phrased as “a God your fathers did not know”. Because the nature of God's intended transmission is not progressive revelation, but ancestral transmission, which in some cases has a stronger value proposition for truth than empirical evidence.

In verse 15 God says further;

15 And God said further to Moses, “Thus shall you speak to the Israelites: The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you: This shall be My name forever, This My appellation for all eternity.

God tells us his name, and what it shall remain for eternity. It is thus set in the minds of an israelite what God's name is – for eternity – by the command of God. Any God who does not bear this name, the israelites would find trivial to reject.

• This is the meaning of “They knew me, but they did not know my name–”
• This is the meaning of the commandment to know God exists– “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt–”

The definition of God, i.e. his “name” therefore, is that he is the God who brought Israel out of Egypt. The covenant made between God and israel can never be broken – this is in fact the definition of God; it is our link to him; should Israel be broken, the nations could say with impunity “There is no God”. Yet it is repeated, no nation can say 'he brought them out to destroy them' (Exodus 32:12) because 'he shall remember his covenant forever' (Psalm 105:8).

• Exodus 32:12 Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With evil intent did he bring them out, to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against your people.

8 He remembers his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations, 9 the covenant that he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac, 10 which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, 11 saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan as your portion for an inheritance.”

12 When they were few in number, of little account, and sojourners in it, 13 wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people, 14 he allowed no one to oppress them; he rebuked kings on their account, 15 saying, “Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm!”Psalm 105:8-15 (ESV)

• The Lord answered Moses, “Is the Lord’s arm too short? Now you will see whether or not what I say will come true for you.” –Numbers 11:23

This is the same “arm of the Lord” from Isaiah 53; “To whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?”

59 Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:Isaiah 59:1

Christians will usually respond with the context after this verse, which is essentially the Romans 3:9 argument that all are under sin from the law. This is the authentic response; the conclusion of Isaiah 59:

15 Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.
The Lord saw it, and it displeased him[a] that there was no justice.

16 He saw that there was no man,
and wondered that there was no one to intercede; then his own arm brought him salvation,
and his righteousness upheld him.

17 He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.

18 According to their deeds, so will he repay, wrath to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies; to the coastlands he will render repayment.

19 So they shall fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come like a rushing stream,[b] which the wind of the Lord drives.

20 “And a Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the Lord.

21 “And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord: “My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children's offspring,” says the Lord, “from this time forth and forevermore.”Isaiah 59:15-21 (ESV)

When this response is given it is a very strong counter to Christianity. God's plan is to send a redeemer, to those who turn away from their sin. Further, the point is made that there is in fact a people who will never forget God's word, neither them nor their children for ever. This is unacceptable to Christianity because it calls once again (ala Ezekiel 18:21) to repentance for the forgiveness of sins. So the Christians alter this verse when constructing and justifying their original doctrine:

25 Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers:[d] a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written,

“The Deliverer will come from Zion,
he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”;

27 “and this will be my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.”

28 As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers.Romans 11:25-27

Paul encloses this severe misquote with warnings that the Jews are spiritually blind and the enemies of the Gospel, thus alerting Chrisitans to anyone who tries to point out the misuse hebrew scriptures to prove Christ.

a) The Jews don't understand their own scriptures, and
b) they are your spiritual enemies.

This sets up a Christian to instantly reject the proof that Paul has lied and twisted scripture.

Hard Sell: Now that the truth has been revealed you need to make a choice.

Who is right?

1. God, who says his arm is not too short to save, and that all you need to do is repent, or
2. Paul, who says you cannot be saved directly by repentance to God, and need Jesus to die for you?

Hint: Paul lied about what it says in the old testament.

It's an eternal covenant – no need for anything else (not exhaustive).

• “All the holy contributions that the people of Israel present to the Lord I give to you, and to your sons and daughters with you, as a perpetual due. It is a covenant of salt forever before the Lord for you and for your offspring with you.” (Numbers 18:19 NSV)

• “Do you not know that the Lord God of Israel, gave rule over Israel forever to David and to his sons by a covenant of salt?” (2 Chronicles 13:5 NSV)

11 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. 12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’” 2 Samuel 7:11-16 (ESV)

• Psalm 105:8-10
  • He remembers his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,
  • the covenant that he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac,
  • which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant,
• Psalms 119:160
  • The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.
• Ecclesiastes 12:13
  • Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
• Isaiah 40:8
  • The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand for ever.

• “You shall season all your grain offerings with salt. You shall not let the salt of the covenant with your God be missing from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt.” (Leviticus 2:13 NSV)

• Deuteronomy 4:2
  • 2 Do not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it; that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.

• Deuteronomy 11:22
  • “For if you keep the commandments which I command you, and do them, to love the Lord your God, and walk in all his ways, cleaving unto him,”

• Deuteronomy 12:32
  • 32 “Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it.

• Numbers 23:19
  • 19 God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?

• Ezekiel 24:14
  • 14 I am the Lord. I have spoken; it shall come to pass; I will do it. I will not go back; I will not spare; I will not relent; according to your ways and your deeds you will be judged, declares the Lord God.”

• Psalm 89:34-36
  • I will not violate My covenant or alter the utterance of My lips. . . .

• Exodus 3:15
  • 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The Lord,[a] the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.
• Exodus 12:14

“14 “This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast.”

• Exodus 12:17

“17 And you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this very day I brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day, throughout your generations, as a statute forever.”

• Exodus 12:23-24

“23 For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you. 24 You shall observe this rite as a statute for you and for your sons forever.”

• Exodus 19:9

“9 And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever.” […]”

• Exodus 27:21

“21 In the tent of meeting, outside the veil that is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall tend it from evening to morning before the Lord. It shall be a statute forever to be observed throughout their generations by the people of Israel.”

• Exodus 28:43

“43 and they shall be on Aaron and on his sons when they go into the tent of meeting or when they come near the altar to minister in the Holy Place, lest they bear guilt and die. This shall be a statute forever for him and for his offspring after him.”

• Exodus 29:9

“9 and you shall gird Aaron and his sons with sashes and bind caps on them. And the priesthood shall be theirs by a statute forever. Thus you shall ordain Aaron and his sons.”

• Exodus 30:21

“21 They shall wash their hands and their feet, so that they may not die. It shall be a statute forever to them, even to him and to his offspring throughout their generations.””

• Exodus 31:16

“16 Therefore the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever.”

• Exodus 31:17

“17 It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’””

• Exodus 32:13

“13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.’””

• Exodus 40:15

“15 and anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may serve me as priests. And their anointing shall admit them to a perpetual priesthood throughout their generations.””

• Leviticus 3:17

“17 It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, in all your dwelling places, that you eat neither fat nor blood.””

• Leviticus 3:36

“36 The Lord commanded this to be given them by the people of Israel, from the day that he anointed them. It is a perpetual due throughout their generations.””

• Leviticus 6:18

“18 Every male among the children of Aaron may eat of it, as decreed forever throughout your generations, from the Lord's food offerings. Whatever touches them shall become holy.””

• Leviticus 6:22
  • 22 The priest from among Aaron's sons, who is anointed to succeed him, shall offer it to the Lord as decreed forever. The whole of it shall be burned.
• Leviticus 10:9

“9 “Drink no wine or strong drink, you or your sons with you, when you go into the tent of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations.”

• Leviticus 10:15

“15 The heave shoulder and the wave breast shall they bring with the offerings made by fire of the fat, to wave it for a wave offering before the Lord; and it shall be thine, and thy sons' with thee, by a statute for ever; as the Lord hath commanded.”

• Leviticus 16:29

“29 “And it shall be a statute to you forever that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict yourselves and shall do no work, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you.”

• Leviticus 16:31

“31 It is a Sabbath of solemn rest to you, and you shall afflict yourselves; it is a statute forever.”

• Leviticus 24:9

“9 And it shall be Aaron's and his sons'; and they shall eat it in the holy place: for it is most holy unto him of the offerings of the Lord made by fire by a perpetual statute.”

• Leviticus 25:34

“34 But the fields of pastureland belonging to their cities may not be sold, for that is their possession forever.”

• Leviticus 26:14-46
  • “… 44 And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I am the Lord their God. 45 But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the heathen, that I might be their God: I am the Lord.”
• Numbers 10:8
  • 8 And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets. The trumpets shall be to you for a perpetual statute throughout your generations.
• Numbers 15:15
  • “15 For the assembly, there shall be one statute for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you, a statute forever throughout your generations. You and the sojourner shall be alike before the Lord.”
• Numbers 18:8

“8 Then the Lord spoke to Aaron, “Behold, I have given you charge of the contributions made to me, all the consecrated things of the people of Israel. I have given them to you as a portion and to your sons as a perpetual due.”

• Numbers 18:11

“11 This also is yours: the contribution of their gift, all the wave offerings of the people of Israel. I have given them to you, and to your sons and daughters with you, as a perpetual due. Everyone who is clean in your house may eat it.”

• Numbers 18:19

“19 All the holy contributions that the people of Israel present to the Lord I give to you, and to your sons and daughters with you, as a perpetual due. It is an eternal[a] covenant forever before the Lord for you and for your offspring with you.””

• Numbers 18:23

“23 But the Levites shall do the service of the tent of meeting, and they shall bear their iniquity. It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations, and among the people of Israel they shall have no inheritance.”

• Numbers 19:10

“10 And the one who gathers the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening. And this shall be a perpetual statute for the people of Israel, and for the stranger who sojourns among them.”

• Numbers 19:21

“21 And it shall be a statute forever for them. The one who sprinkles the water for impurity shall wash his clothes, and the one who touches the water for impurity shall be unclean until evening.”

• Numbers 25:13

“13 and it shall be to him and to his descendants after him the covenant of a perpetual priesthood, because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the people of Israel.’””

Summary: 33 sources; The covenant with Israel is forever (including the priesthood). Nation of Israel (Prophets, Writings)

• Jeremiah 32:40

“40 I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me.”

• 2 Samuel 23:5

“5 “For does not my house stand so with God? For he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure. For will he not cause to prosper all my help and my desire?”

• 1 Chronicles 16:15-17

“15 Remember his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations, 16 the covenant that he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac, 17 which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant,”

• Psalms 105:8-10

“8 He remembers his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations, 9 the covenant that he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac, 10 which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant,”

• Psalm 111:5-10
• “5 He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever.”
• Psalm 111:7-8

“7 The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy; 8 they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.”

• Psalm 111:9

“9 He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name!”

• Hosea 2:19
  • “19 And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy.”
• 1 Kings 9:3
  • “3 And the Lord said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.”
• 2 Chronicles 7:16
  • “16 For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that my name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time.”

In fact sacrifice is discouraged in the bible. Does God require a sacrifice? explains this matter in great depth. This is related to animal or blood sacrificed. The idea of a human sacrifice on the other hand is explicitly forbidden by the scriptures; to the point where we know God would never institute a human sacrifice because it would cause a violation of the laws and statements he's made in the holy scriptures.

• Deu 12:4
  • 4 You shall not worship the Lord your God in their way.
• Deu 12:29-31
  • 29 “When the Lord your God cuts off before you the nations whom you go in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, 30 take care that you be not ensnared to follow them, after they have been destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire about their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods?—that I also may do the same.’ 31 You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way, for every abominable thing that the Lord hates they have done for their gods, for they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods.
• Deu 18:9
  • 9 “When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations.
• Lev 18:26-30
  • 26 But you shall keep my statutes and my rules and do none of these abominations, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you 27 (for the people of the land, who were before you, did all of these abominations, so that the land became unclean), 28 lest the land vomit you out when you make it unclean, as it vomited out the nation that was before you. 29 For everyone who does any of these abominations, the persons who do them shall be cut off from among their people. 30 So keep my charge never to practice any of these abominable customs that were practiced before you, and never to make yourselves unclean by them: I am the Lord your God.”

J. has presented the following;

• https://blogs.ancientfaith.com/asd/2018/12/05/no-christmas-is-not-pagan-just-stop/
• http://www.dec25th.info/Textual%20Tradition%20of%20Hippolytus%20Commentary%20on%20Daniel.html

fixme

• Deuteronomy 13:1-3
  • 1 “If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder,
  • 2 and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’
  • 3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams
• Deuteronomy 13:6
  • 6 “If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son or your daughter or the wife you embrace[b] or your friend who is as your own soul entices you secretly, saying, ‘Let us go and serve other gods,’ which neither you nor your fathers have known,
• Deu 17:3
  • 3 and has gone and served other gods and worshiped them, or the sun or the moon or any of the host of heaven, which I have forbidden,

• Deuteronomy 28:36
  • 36 “The Lord will bring you and your king whom you set over you to a nation that neither you nor your fathers have known. And there you shall serve other gods of wood and stone.
• Deuteronomy 28:64
  • 64 “And the Lord will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you shall serve other gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your fathers have known.
• Jeremiah 44:3
  • 3 because of the evil that they committed, provoking me to anger, in that they went to make offerings and serve other gods that they knew not, neither they, nor you, nor your fathers.

In Leviticus 18:21, 20:3 and Deuteronomy 12:30–31, 18:10, the Torah contains a number of imprecations against and laws forbidding child sacrifice and human sacrifice in general. The Tanakh denounces human sacrifice as barbaric customs of Baal worshippers (e.g. Psalms 106:37). The mode of vicarious atonement via child sacrifice is both well known and prohibited:

• Leviticus 18:21
  • 21 You shall not give any of your children to offer them[b] to Molech, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord.
• Deuteronomy 12:29-31
  • 29 “When the Lord your God cuts off before you the nations whom you go in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, 30 take care that you be not ensnared to follow them, after they have been destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire about their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods?—that I also may do the same.’ 31 You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way, for every abominable thing that the Lord hates they have done for their gods, for they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods.
• Deuteronomy 18:10
  • 10 There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering,[a] anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer

• 1 Kings 11:5-7
  • 5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 6 So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and did not wholly follow the Lord, as David his father had done. 7 Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites, on the mountain east of Jerusalem.
• 2 Kings 17:
  • 30 The men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima,
  • 31 and the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.
• Judges 2:13
  • 13 They abandoned the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth.
• Judges 10:6
  • 6 The people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth, the gods of Syria, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites, and the gods of the Philistines. And they forsook the Lord and did not serve him.

• Psalm 106:34-39
  • 34 They did not destroy the peoples, as the Lord commanded them, 35 but they mixed with the nations and learned to do as they did. 36 They served their idols, which became a snare to them. 37 They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons; 38 they poured out innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood. 39 Thus they became unclean by their acts, and played the whore in their deeds.

• 2 Kings 3:26
  • 26 When the king of Moab saw that the battle was going against him, he took with him 700 swordsmen to break through, opposite the king of Edom, but they could not. 27 Then he took his oldest son who was to reign in his place and offered him for a burnt offering on the wall. And there came great wrath against Israel. And they withdrew from him and returned to their own land.

This is big, Christianity doesn't have ecumenical authority because the Jews were preserved and thus they still must have ecumenical authority (this will take a while to expand; probably in a separate article).

Could probably start with a rehash or overview of the continuity problem or ecumenical authority; see Kuzari Argument Analysis – At which point did God divorce the nation of Israel/Judah (Did God divorce the Jews?) also see Leviticus 26 and Exegesis, Exegesis II and so on – exegesis_exhibit_a, exegesis_exhibit_b, Ecumenical Authority, and so on.

There are several major issues which fall outside the purview of 3, 4 or 5. Specifically, issues such as the following:

The Nation of Israel was commanded not to believe in an original sin to the point that if someone is found to be fatherless he shall not be allowed to suffer because of it;

16 “Fathers shall not be put to death because of their children, nor shall children be put to death because of their fathers. Each one shall be put to death for his own sin.

17 “You shall not pervert the justice due to the sojourner or to the fatherless, or take a widow's garment in pledge, 18 but you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you from there; therefore I command you to do this.

19 “When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. 20 When you beat your olive trees, you shall not go over them again. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. 21 When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not strip it afterward. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. 22 You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I command you to do this.Deuteronomy 24:16-22 (ESV)

'original sin' would fall under the banner of unintentional sin (if it did in fact exist; it does not, see above); The Bible makes some strong statements on the issue;

• Leviticus 5:5,17
  • 5 “If anyone sins in that he hears a public adjuration to testify, and though he is a witness, whether he has seen or come to know the matter, yet does not speak, he shall bear his iniquity;
  • 17 “If anyone sins, doing any of the things that by the Lord's commandments ought not to be done, though he did not know it, then realizes his guilt, he shall bear his iniquity.

The allusion to an innocent sin such as in the garden should be clearly understood.

• Ezekiel 18:19-20
  • 19 “Yet you say, ‘Why should not the son suffer for the iniquity of the father?’ When the son has done what is just and right, and has been careful to observe all my statutes, he shall surely live. 20 The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.

Ezekiel 18 and Ezekiel 20 are rich chapters with many confirming quotes. But there are more examples even than just in Ezekiel;

• 2 Kings 14:6
  • But he did not put to death the children of the murderers, according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, where the Lord commanded, “Fathers shall not be put to death because of their children, nor shall children be put to death because of their fathers. But each one shall die for his own sin.”
• 2 Chronicles 25:4
  • But he did not put their children to death, according to what is written in the Law, in the Book of Moses, where the Lord commanded, “Fathers shall not die because of their children, nor children die because of their fathers, but each one shall die for his own sin.”
• Jeremiah 31:29-30
  • 29 In those days they shall no longer say: “‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge.’ 30 But everyone shall die for his own iniquity. Each man who eats sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge.
• Isaiah 3:10-11
  • 10 Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds. 11 Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for what his hands have dealt out shall be done to him.

It should be very clear that there is no concept of death by original sin in the bible.

5 This is what the Lord says:

<html>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Cursed is the one who trusts in man,<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;who draws strength from mere flesh<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and whose heart turns away from the Lord.<br> 6&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;That person will be like a bush in the wastelands;<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;they will not see prosperity when it comes.<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;They will dwell in the parched places of the desert,<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;in a salt land where no one lives.”</html>Jeremiah 17:5-6 (NIV)

3Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.Psalm 146:6 (ESV)

25 “Now Lord, the God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father the promises you made to him when you said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants are careful in all they do to walk before me faithfully as you have done.’ 26 And now, God of Israel, let your word that you promised your servant David my father come true.

27 “But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! 28 Yet give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy, Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day. 29 May your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, this place of which you said, ‘My Name shall be there,’ so that you will hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place.1 Kings 8:25-29 (NIV)

16 “Now, Lord, the God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father the promises you made to him when you said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants are careful in all they do to walk before me according to my law, as you have done.’ 17 And now, Lord, the God of Israel, let your word that you promised your servant David come true.

18 “But will God really dwell on earth with humans? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! 19 Yet, Lord my God, give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence. 20 May your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, this place of which you said you would put your Name there. May you hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. 21 Hear the supplications of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive.2 Chronicles 6:16-21 (RSV)

These passages not only state that God will never come to the earth as a man, in a literal sense, they also explain the method by which people are forgiven by repentance in prayer, thus discounting the Jesus narrative (even if we did not have a clear statement that God would not be a man).

50 (more) verses against Christianity, mostly in addition to the above

1) Exod 20:2-3 “…NO OTHER gods…“
2) Num 23:19 “G-d is NOT a man…“
3) Dt 4:12-16 ”…saw NO form, ONLY heard a voice…so that you would NOT create an image(man or woman)“
4) Dt 4:35 ”…there is NO OTHER besides Him”
5) Dt 4:39 ”…there is NO OTHER”
6) Dt 6:13-14 “…(do not swear by the name of jesus)…
7) Dt 32:39 ”…there is NO god with me…“
8) 1 Sam 2:2 ”…there is NONE besides You…“
9) 1 Sam 15:29 ”…He is NOT a MAN…“
10) 1 Ki 8:27 “Would G-d DWELL on the EARTH?…“
11) 1 Ki 8:60 ”…there IS no one else”
12) 2 Ki 19:19 ”…you are the L-rd G-d, You ONLY“
13) Isa 40:18 ”…(G-d will not allow Himself a human likeness)…“
14) Isa 40:25 ”…that I should be ANYones equal…“
15) Isa 42:8 ”…My Glory I will NOT share…“
16) Isa 43:10-11 ”…no one before OR AFTER Me…“
17) Isa 44:6 ”…I Am the First and Last, besides me there IS no other“
18) Isa 44:24 ”…(jesus was NOT in the beginning with G-d)…“
19) Isa 45:5-6 ”…no god besides Me…“
20) Isa 45:18 ”…I Am The L-rd and there IS no one else“
21) Isa 45:21-22 ”…(again, no room for jesus in the beginning)..“
22) Isa 46:5 ”…(jesus is not a human form of G-d)…“
23) Isa 46:9 ”…there IS NO-ONE like Me“
24) Isa 48:11 ”…I will NOT give my glory to another“
25) Isa 48:12 ”…(again, no mention of jesus)…“
26) Hos 13:4 ”…there IS no Savior besides Me“
27) Joel 2:27 ”…(only G-d, no partner)…“
28) Psa 73:25 ”…(King David declaring G-d is G-d ALONE)…“
29) Psa 146:3 “Do NOT put your trust in princes or the son of man…“
30) Neh 9:6 ”…(no mention of a helper)…“
31) 1 Chr 17:20 ”…NO other G-d…“
32) Ex 34:14 ”…(bow to NO-ONE but G-d!)…“
33) Deu 32:12 ”…(no way jesus was there!)…“
34) Deu 33:26 ”…(NO one like G-d)…“
35) Deu 5:7 ”…(put NO one OR MIGHTY one before G-d)…“
36) Deu 7:4 ”…(WARNING against others like jsus/demi-gods)…“
37) 2Sa 7:22 ”…(there is NO G-d but G-d ALONE)…“
38) Psa 18:31 ”…(G-d is the ONLY Rock)…“
39) Psa 83:18 ”…(ONLY G-d! No room for jesus here)…“
40) Psa 86:8 ”…(NO one like G-d)…“
41) Psa 89:6 ”…(G-d HAS no equal)…
42) Psa 89:8 ”…(NO one is MIGHTY like G-d)…“
43) Psa 100:3 ”…(ONLY G-d was from the beginning)…“
44) Isa 12:2 ”…(G-d alone is my deliverer. No other “savior”)…“
45) Isa 33:22 ”…(ONLY G-d can save us.)…“
46) Isa 37:20 ”…(ONLY G-d)…“
47) Isa 41:4 ”…(NO room for jesus)…“
48) Isa 43:15 ”…(no jesus)…“
49) Isa 44:8 ”…(NO Rock but G-d alone)…“
50) Isa 45:15 ”…(G-d ALONE)…“
51) Isa 63:16 ”…(G-d is our redeemer, not jesus)…“
52) Hos 1:7 ”…(Salvation is ONLY through G-d)…“
53) Mal 2:10 ”…(ONLY G-d is the creator)

1)…..EXOD 30:2-3 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

2)…..NUM 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

3)…..DT 4:12,15-16 And the Lord spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice.Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the Lord spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire: Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female

4)…..DT 4:35 Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the Lord he is God; there is none else beside him.

5)…..DT 4:39 Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the Lord he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.

6)…..DT 6:13-14 Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name. Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you;

7)…..DT 32:39 See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.

8)…..1 SAM 2:2 There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

9)…..1 SAM 15:29 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.

10)…..1 KI 8:27 But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?

11)…..1 KI 8:60 That all the people of the earth may know that the Lord is God, and that there is none else.

12)…..2 KI 19:19 Now therefore, O Lord our God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the Lord God, even thou only.

13)…..ISA 40:18 To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?

14)…..ISA 40:25 To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.

15)…..ISA 42:8 I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

16)…..ISA 43:10-11 Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour.

17)…..ISA 44:6 Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

18)…..ISA 44:24 Thus saith the Lord, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the Lord that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;

19)…..ISA 45:5-6 I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none else.

20)…..ISA 45:18 For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else.

21)…..ISA 45:21-22 Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the Lord? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

22)…..ISA 46:5 To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?

23)…..ISA 46:9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,

24)…..ISA 48:11 For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.

25)…..ISA 48:12 Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.

26)…..HOS 13:4 Yet I am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me.

27)…..JOEL 2:27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.

28)…..PSA 73:25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.

29)…..PSA 146:3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.

30)…..NEH 9:6 Thou, even thou, art Lord alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.

31)…..1 CHR 17:20 O Lord, there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

32)…..Exo 34:14 for you do not bow yourselves to another mighty one, for יהוה, whose Name is jealous, is a jealous Ěl –

33)…..Deu 32:12 “יהוה alone led him, And there was no strange mighty one with him.”

34)….. Deu 33:26 “O Yeshurun, there is no one like Ěl, riding the heavens to help you, and on the clouds, in His excellency.

35)…..Deu 5:7 ‘You have no other mighty ones against My face.

36)…..Deu 7:4 for he turns your sons away from following Me, to serve other mighty ones

37)…..2Sa 7:22 “You are great indeed, O Master יהוה. For there is none like You, and there is no Elohim but You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

38)…..Psa 18:31 For who is Eloah, besides יהוה? And who is a rock, except our Elohim?

39)…..Psa 83:18 And let them know that You, Whose Name is יהוה, You alone are the Most High over all the earth.“

40)…..Psa 86:8 There is none like You among the mighty ones, O יהוה; And like Your works there are none.

41)….Psa 89:6 For who in the heavens is comparable to יהוה? Who among the sons of the mighty is like יהוה?

42)…..Psa 89:8 O יהוה Elohim of hosts, Who is mighty like You, O Yah? And Your trustworthiness is all around You.

43)…..Psa 100:3 Know that יהוה, He is Elohim; He has made us,

44)…..Isa 12:2 “See, Ěl is my deliverance, I trust and am not afraid. For Yah, יהוה, is my strength and my song; and He has become my deliverance.”

45)…..Isa 33:22 for יהוה is our Judge, יהוה is our Lawgiver, יהוה is our Sovereign, He saves us –

46)…..Isa 37:20 “And now, O יהוה our Elohim, save us from his hand, so that all the reigns of the earth know that You are יהוה, You alone.”

47)…..Isa 41:4 “Who has performed and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? ‘I, יהוה, am the first, and with the last I am He.’ ”

48)…..Isa 43:15 “I am יהוה, your Set-apart One, Creator of Yisra’ĕl, your Sovereign.”

49)…..Isa 44:8 ‘Do not fear, nor be afraid. Have I not since made you hear, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there an Eloah besides Me? There is no other Rock, I know not one.’ ”

50)…..Isa 45:15 Truly You are Ěl, who hide Yourself, O Elohim of Yisra’ĕl, Saviour!

51)…..Isa 63:16 For You are our Father, though Aḇraham does not know us, and Yisra’ĕl does not recognise us. You, O יהוה, are our Father, our Redeemer – Your Name is from of old.

52)…..Hos 1:7 “But I shall have compassion on the house of Yehuḏah and SAVE THEM by יהוה their Elohim, and not save them by bow or by sword or battle, by horses or horsemen.”

53)…..Mal 2:10 Have we not all one Father? Did NOT ONE Ěl create us?

Here's a big one. Jesus broke the law. Don't think so? Well, do you even know what the law is in the first place? Can you name three laws? out of 613? The ten commandments don't count.

• Did Jesus Lie
• Did Jesus Fulfill the Law

Here are a few I've kept on the page so you can just continue reading:

On at least four separate occasions, Jesus told fortunes by predicting the date and time of his death, an act which is forbidden under the covenant:

• in Mark 8:31 (Matthew 16:21, Luke 9:22)
• Mark 9:30–32 (and also in Matthew 17:22–23)
• Matthew 20:17
• and a fourth time in Matthew 26:1-2

The issue over claiming this is prophecy is that it cannot be prophecy because it was not given by a prophet who passed the tests of prophecy given in the hebrew scriptures. Claiming that “Since Jesus is God he can do whatever he wants” is just an admission that he would have had to break the covenant to do so, and the excuse – not the proof– is that he is God. We are still then missing a proof, since Jesus would have, by self-admission, not kept the covenant.

What's more (if the above is somehow not enough), on several other occasions, Jesus predicts other people's future, such as…

…in Mark 14:13 (Luke 22:10) he predicts the future of what will happen when Petr and John enter Jerusalem and gave them specific instructons (future knowledge) of how to act in order to accomplish Jesus' purpose.

He also predicted Judas and Peter would betray him (Mat. 26:21, Mark 14:18, John 13:21 and then in Mark 14:30, etc). In multiple other occasions Jesus interpreted omens or advised his disciples to observe and interpret omens, ex. in reference to the end of days. This is a violation of Deuteronomy 18:10, the prohibition against fortune telling and interpreting omens. It is important to differentiate this from prophecy, which is a sign given in order to bring people to God; however, for example, in each case where Jesus predicted his own demise his apostles failed to understand his message. Neither would there be any point (and neither was there given in the narrative) for Jesus ousting Judas or Peter as betrayers; Neither did his other predictions come true (the fall of every stone in the temple, “this generation shall not pass,” etc.)

The incarnation problem: Who God is changes in mainstream Christian doctrine (A rather weak argument compared to the others, but still strong on it's own).

The incarnation:

• in the god head, the son takes on human flesh
• he becomes fully man and fully god

• pre incarnation: the father, the son{fully god} and the spirit form the trinity
• post incarnation: the father, the son{fully god and fully man} and the spirit form the trinity

Who God is changed:

• after the incarnation, the godhead, the son changed to include “inseparable divine and human”
• Jesus will exist in heaven as a glorified man and god at the same time
• if the trinity is an unchanging part of god then who god is has never changed according to Christianity
• that would contradict the biblical text in multiple ways

Some verses:

• Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
• Malachi 3:6 “For I the Lord do not change”
• James 1:17 “Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change.”
• Numbers 23:19 “God is not man”

It is demonstrable that not only are the gospels historically inaccurate on technical grounds, such as they have a vested interest in the affairs they describe (they are not impartial)_ but it is demonstrable that the gospels have changed their stories in order to support a theology they were trying to convey. A few examples:

• Events which are unlikely to have happened or which we know did not happen
  • Herodian massacre of infants
  • The rising of the dead in Jerusalem in the book of Mark

• Events which are qualitatively different and which present a differing theology
  • John changing the date, order of events, dialogue, and actions people took in those events to show that Jesus was a sort of 'passover lamb'

• Demonstration of a lack of knowledge or lack of connection to God and the Hebrew scriptures; arguments out of ignorance
  • One animal or Two animals (did Jesus enter jerusalem on one animal or two, and the events surrounding it

• The possibility of lost or rejected documents of the early church (ex. didache)
  • Which would then act to change our understanding in the same manner as each gospel agrees or disagrees with each other and brings new understanding and theology to the table

• As Matthew does, why do Christians lie about Jesus in the Old Testament?