Book of Haggai, Be strong, all ye people of the land

Haggai 1-2

I was a little confused by the first part of chapter 1.  It seemed that God was pleased with 'the people', but then he wasn't.  He didn't seem to like the house they built?  And he blew them down?  Hmmm.

Haggai/God does revisit some rather obscure laws;

2:11 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying,

2:12 If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said, No. And; 2:13 Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean. He seems to use them as metaphors.  Nice work. Still the LORD doesn't quite get it. 2:17 I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labours of your hands; yet ye turned not to me, saith the LORD

Deuteronomy 4-6

Deuteronomy 4-6

Deuteronomy 4-6 Skeptics Annotated Bible

I'm probably wrong but 4:36 says;
"Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct thee: and upon earth he shewed thee his great fire; and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire."
seems to be the first instance of God being in Heaven.  I'm sure someone can set me the straight on this.

This seems to be a rewriting of history.  5:5 says;
I stood between the LORD and you at that time, to shew you the word of the LORD: for ye were afraid by reason of the fire, and went not up into the mount
But weren't the Israelites warned that if they got near the mountain, they would be consumed in fire?

Lucky us!  We get another rewording of the ten commandments at 5:11

God endorses graffiti at 6:9;
And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.


We end with another command to OBEY and FEAR the LORD.  Why is fear still necessary?

Leviticus 19-23 Thou Shalt Not Eat Leftovers

Leviticus 19-23

Chapter 19-23  brings us a rehash of some old laws (Leviticus is the best evidence for multiple authors yet) and a mish-mash of new laws dealing with farming, clothing, sex and priestly duties.