Dear Rabbi Davis,
Being Christian and having no Jewish background, my curiosities have grown when reading the Bible (King James Version) and I have often found myself wondering whether the translation (or the translation of certain words) in the book are the same as it was written in Hebrew. I’ve a good Concordance that has brought me closer to understanding the original words of the Bible, but there are still some things that have puzzled me. For instance, the creation of Eve–the KJV translates as such: “And the LORD G-d caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;”. I looked up the word rib pertaining to this context in the Concordance book I have, and it gives a translation of side, or chamber, rather than being that of an actual rib bone. This I could understand to an extent– the place where I stumble is: What was taken out from his side? It was very much a surgical procedure, it seems, as the LORD had to put Adam into a deep sleep and close up the flesh from within (the “within” part I obtained from my father’s book which contains original Hebrew text and an English translation).
There are two accounts of Elohim creating humankind in Genesis. This has stumped many Christian commentators. In the first it states “in His image.” In Hebrew G-d’s name YHVH is made up of both feminine and masculine gender syllables. That is unique. Hebrew indicates when someone or something is female or male. Therefore, we see revealed in G-d’s personal name that His essence is both male/female. That is he has attributes of both feminine and masculine qualities. The first man was both male and female combined, created in His image. G-d removed the feminine part from Adam and made a woman. Strong’s definition is better understood when we realize that the feminine part of Adam was removed from within. Also remember it is a metaphor. That is why the Bible states a man and woman must come together to be One (echad) or a whole person. Judaism believes a man and woman must be married to fulfill G-d’s will. That it is unnatural not to be married, for we will never realize our full potential until we unite our souls becoming one in direction and focus. Another interesting aspect is that Elohim associated with the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) is a feminine gender word. This may be shocking for you since you have had no Hebrew or Jewish training but it is supported by Scripture and the language. If you think of the qualities or attributes of the Holy Spirit you will see that they are feminine in nature, comforting, nurturing, and standing alongside helping, guiding like a mother.
Another question I had pertains to the sin of Ham. Gen 9:22-24 tells the events of what occurred, but vaguely. What was Ham’s terrible sin? That he saw his father naked and told his brothers about what he had seen? Then I am thrown a bit off when 9:24 speaks that Noah “knew what his younger son had done unto him.” Something was done unto Noah, and this makes me wonder as to whether Ham’s sin was the first homosexual act mentioned in the Bible. If so, this is truly a horrifying sin that Ham had committed. Was that the sin, or am I running off on some dark tangeant?
No you are not. I believe Ham was guilty of “uncovering” his father. That is a euphemism in Scripture to mean fornication or sexual intimacy. There is another version from the old rabbis, but I think you already have understanding so I want go into it.
Here’s yet another question: Genesis 32:24-32, when Jacob “wrestled a man” until the breaking of the day– I was taught that the man Jacob wrestled with was the LORD, for it was Him that told Jacob that his name was to be Israel, and Jacob goes on to name the place they wrestled Peniel because he had “seen God face to face” and survived. My questions about this are:
1) why isn’t (according to the KJV) “he” or “him” written as “He” or “Him” when pertaining to the LORD?
2) why did [H]e say to Jacob, “Let me go, for the day breaketh”?
and 3) why did they wrestle?This question requires a long answer and I am pressed for time right now, with Passover coming tomorrow. I will answer it after Erev Service Monday night. I need to give you aspects or perspectives for you to fully understand.
Two final questions, if I may, pertaining to holidays:
Should Christians also observe the Passover (even if we should observe as foreigners)?Yahshua observed Passover and not Easter. Easter is a pagan holiday instituted by Constantine to replace Passover when he dejudaized the “church.” Look in your concordance where you find Easter and you will see the Greek word is paschal (Passover). Look the word up in your English dictionary if it is an order one and you will see that Easter is another word for Ishtar, a goddess of fertility. Look on the web site on the index page and go to “Festivals” and read “Yahshua (Jesus) Revealed in the Passover.” It will give you an understanding of this festival. To conduct a Passover seder you would need a Passover Haggadah. Let me know if you want one and I’ll send it to you. If you are a true believer you must be a partaker of the covenants of Israel (grafted in-Romans), and therefore you should celebrate Passover and all the other festivals as well. In the Millennium we will for certain be celebrating the “Feast of Tabernacles” as the Bible says.
And should Christians be celebrating the birth of Christ on Dec. 25th (as this was most likely not the date of his birth, though we are still unsure exactly when he was born), and should we be careful in celebrating Easter? I ask these questions specifically, as I know that their roots are tied directly to pagan Babylon.
We should not celebrate Easter or Christmas as they are pagan holidays instituted into the church by Constantine a sun god worshipper who dejudaized the “church.” and solidified his political power as emperor of Rome with that of Papa of the Church. He replaced G-d’s law with church law. I have a lot of papers I’ve written in detail with citations that can be checked on the subjects you mentioned but so not know if they are on the site. I’ll look around and send them if you want them. Let me know. I’ll be a little remiss until after Passover. Apparently, G-d is calling you out as you already seem to realize what is wrong with religion in general. Look on the site, first page and just below the Ark select and read: “Are you a True Believer?”