BetterMost Community Blogs > The Twist Family Bible Study
Cowboy Cosmology
Wayne:
They considered the sun and the moon to be "planets" along with Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. That's the source of the "sacredness" of the number seven, and the reason the week has 7 days.
In Babylonian they were the equivalent of Sunday, Moonday, Marsday, Mercuryday, Jupiterday, Venusday, and Saturnday.
Also note the names that don't correspond well in English (Tuesday to Friday) still do correspond in French: mardi, mercredi, jeudi ("jove" is the short form of "jupiter"), vendredi.
They're different in English just because we substituted Norse gods' names: Tiw, Woden, Thor, and Frigg.
Wayne:
So anyway getting back to Sodom ;)
This site provides a quote from the Jewish historian Josephus (AD37-100)
At this time, when the Assyrians had the dominion over Asia, the people of Sodom were in a flourishing condition, both as to riches and the number of their youth. There were five kings that managed the affairs of this county: Ballas, Barsas, Senabar, and Sumobor, with the king of Bela; and each king led on his own troops: and the Assyrians made war upon them; and, dividing their army into four parts, fought against them. Now every part of the army had its own commander; and when the battle was joined, the Assyrians were conquerors, and imposed a tribute on the kings of the Sodomites, who submitted to this slavery twelve years; and so long they continued to pay their tribute: but on the thirteenth year they rebelled, and then the army of the Assyrians came upon them, under their commanders Amraphel, Arioch, Chodorlaomer, and Tidal. These kings had laid waste all Syria, and overthrown the offspring of the giants. And when they were come over against Sodom, they pitched their camp at the vale called the Slime Pits, for at that time there were pits in that place; but now, upon the destruction of the city of Sodom, that vale became the Lake Asphaltites, as it is called. However, concerning this lake we shall speak more presently. Now when the Sodomites joined battle with the Assyrians, and the fight was very obstinate, many of them were killed, and the rest were carried captive; among which captives was Lot, who had come to assist the Sodomites.
CellarDweller:
--- Quote from: injest on November 20, 2008, 08:17:09 pm ---I think that they misunderstood the story...remember back in the old days? one of the very very worst things you could do was violate the custom of "guest friendship"!! If you let someone stay under your roof then you took on his protection, and you offered no harm to him....
now the people of Sodom violated that rule by wanting to harm the two angels...so that is why they were destroyed.
--- End quote ---
Jess, you are not far off.
I had a book a while ago (i've since misplaced it) and in it, it explained the story of Sodom.
In the time of the story, it was customary to offer housing and food to travelers, even if they were enemies, because with the harsh climate, to be outside in the elements meant death.
When the angels appeared in Sodom, the only one to offer them safety was Lot. The other citizens of Sodom refused to help anyone but themselves.
When Jesus talks about Sodom (Ezekiel 16:49), He states "This was the sin of your sister Sodom: pride, a full measure of food, and the comforts of wealth in peace, were seen in her and her daughters, and she gave no help to the poor or to those in need."
Jesus never said anything about homosexuality when talking about Sodom.
Homosexuality comes into play because when the villagers try to get the angels, they say they want to "know" them. In the bible, the expression "to know" someone occasionally means in a sexual way.
Wayne:
Yeah I had always thought it was repulsive that Lot offered them his daughters "to do whatever they wanted to them."
But the historical version of the story, outside the Bible, makes it clear that Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed in war. It even gives the names of the generals.
The word translated as "angels" is blatantly misrepresented. The word actually just means "messengers." Just some guys who were sent to warn Lot to leave.
Wayne:
And here's the part that I love. Love love love love love. :-* :-* :-*
When they were come over against Sodom, they pitched their camp at the vale called the Slime Pits, for at that time there were pits in that place; but now, upon the destruction of the city of Sodom, that vale became the Lake Asphaltites
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