favourite character and story from the Bible?

[cacian]

and why?

If I have to pick one it will have to be Noah and his Ark.
The character is portrayed as charismatic and a documentary I watched lately revealed thatthey might have discovered the Ark.

[ShadowsCool]

I'd have to say the story of Job. I just like the way Job won't give in even after losing almost everything. And in the end, he gets rewarded with even more.

[MANICHAEAN]

Judas every time.

And the scene?

The most infamous kiss of one man to another. The act of betrayal.

"This is the one. Take him and crucify Him."

[cacian]

I'd have to say the story of Job. I just like the way Job won't give in even after losing almost everything. And in the end, he gets rewarded with even more.

Thank you ShadowsCool for posting about Job, I have never heard of him, apart fromt the word 'job'which means something else.
I must look it up.

[cacian]

Judas every time.

And the scene?

The most infamous kiss of one man to another. The act of betrayal.

"This is the one. Take him and crucify Him."

MANICHAEAN what can I say is that chilling or what.
And thank you for bringing it up.
Who said 'a kiss is a just a kiss'?

Judas is that another word for Jew?

[YesNo]

My favorites are Sarah, Abraham's wife, and Bathsheba, Solomon's mother.

The scenes with Sarah are when she and Abraham go to Egypt because of a famine and she has an affair with Pharaoh which ultimately brings wealth to her family as well as the scene where she lets Abraham have a child with Hagar and then fights with Hagar over the infidelity.

The scenes with Bathsheba are those that tried to show that Solomon was David's son in Kings 1 and Samuel 2.

The reason why I find these interesting is the idea that I first got from Harold Bloom that the J version of Genesis which contained the stories of Sarah was written by a woman in Solomon's court, likely his mother, Bathsheba. The reason Bathsheba is interesting is the idea I first received from Baruch Halpern that Solomon was not David's son.

[cacian]

My favorites are Sarah, Abraham's wife, and Bathsheba, Solomon's mother.

The scenes with Sarah are when she and Abraham go to Egypt because of a famine and she has an affair with Pharaoh which ultimately brings wealth to her family as well as the scene where she lets Abraham have a child with Hagar and then fights with Hagar over the infidelity.

The scenes with Bathsheba are those that tried to show that Solomon was David's son in Kings 1 and Samuel 2.

The reason why I find these interesting is the idea that I first got from Harold Bloom that the J version of Genesis which contained the stories of Sarah was written by a woman in Solomon's court, likely his mother, Bathsheba. The reason Bathsheba is interesting is the idea I first received from Baruch Halpern that Solomon was not David's son.

Hi YesNo
So who is Solomon then if he is not David's son?

[juvetiko]

I like it

[RicMisc]

This is a story told by Jesus about The Prodigal Son

The story is about a wealthy farmer and his two sons who both worked for him on his farm. Both the sons knew that when their father died, the farm would be divided up between them. The youngest son thought about this, and asked his father if he could have his share, then soon after left to explore life away from the farm.The youngest son had a great time and wasted his money on 'living it up' as we might say now, until his money was all gone. At the same time as his money was all used up, there was a famine and he had to go and work for another farmer to support himself.

He had to go work for another farmer who sent him into the fields to look after his pigs. At one point he was so hungry he wanted to eat the food he was giving the pigs, but he was told it was forbidden. Suddenly he stoppped in his tracks and began to think: "What on earth am I doing here? Back home, my father's servants have plenty to eat and there are leftovers. I'll go back home and tell my father that I'm sorry and see if he'll give me work as a servant, at least I'll have something to eat!"

So he travelled back towards his father's farm. When he was quite a long way away, his father saw him coming and recognized him; his father was so excited he ran to him and hugged and kissed him.
"Father," his son interrupted, "I have sinned against God and against you, I'm not good enough to be counted as your son any more."

But his father didn't listen. He called out to his servants,
"Bring me the best clothes we have and dress him in them, and put a ring on his finger, and shoes on his feet.
Kill a fat calf and make a feast; we'll all have a great time! My son here was dead and now he is alive again, he was lost and now he's found."

And they were all so happy - all except the other son.
He was out in the field too, but as he came in towards the house he heard music and dancing, and he was puzzled.
"What's all this about?" he asked one of the servants.

"Your brother has come home! Your father has ordered a big feast because he has come home safely!"
The older brother got in a mood at that, and he sulked, angry, outside. His father came out and pleaded with him to join in. But no.
"Father, I've worked hard for you for many years. I've always done as you wanted. But not once have you
ever let me have a feast with MY friends. All the money you gave my brother he has wasted on parties and having a good time, yet you've made a feast for HIM."

"Son," his father said, "Everything else I've got will be yours. But the important thing is that he has realized that he has done wrong, and has come home again safely."

Job was my first choice but since that was taken decided to with this one.

[MANICHAEAN]

Cacian

You must remember this,
A kiss is just a kiss,
A smile is just a smile.
The world will always welcome lovers,
As time goes by.

Film "Casablanca."

Original meaning of the word "Judas."
Not sure, but there are those on this forum who can.

Regards

M.

[MarkBastable]

Judas every time.

And the scene?

The most infamous kiss of one man to another. The act of betrayal.

"This is the one. Take him and crucify Him."


In which Gospel does Judas say that?

[cacian]

Cacian

You must remember this,
A kiss is just a kiss,
A smile is just a smile.
The world will always welcome lovers,
As time goes by.

Film "Casablanca."

Original meaning of the word "Judas."
Not sure, but there are those on this forum who can.

Regards

M.

Hehe...thank you MANICHEAN it is indeed 'Casablanca' as we know it:p

[MANICHAEAN]

Not in any Gospel Mark.

Just my interpretation. Excuse my unauthorised license with Holy Scripture!

Regards

M.

[MarkBastable]

Not in any Gospel Mark.

Just my interpretation. Excuse my unauthorised license with Holy Scripture!

Regards

M.


It's quite a free interpretation. The whole point of the kiss was that he didn't have to speak or point Jesus out. And, given he was betraying him to the local religiosos, he would have had no idea that Jesus was going to wind up being crucified by the Romans.


Then again, the entire Bible was written with exactly that kind of license, so you're in good company.

[Jair]

The story of Jephthahthe Gileadite; and not just the part about the daughter. I think he is the first antihero in literature. A real rogue.

[YesNo]

Hi YesNo
So who is Solomon then if he is not David's son?
His father, according to this version of the story, would have been Uriah the Hittite, Bathsheba's first husband: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uriah_the_Hittite

What I liked about Baruch Halpern's David's Secret Demons was his argument based on the detailed nature of the texts that the people mentioned in the texts must have actually lived. That is, the stories were not myths as one could claim about the stories in Genesis. That does not mean, however, that they were truthful stories. They were mainly created to prove to the Israelites that Solomon was David's son so the military coup he staged would be accepted.

[YesNo]

The story of Jephthahthe Gileadite; and not just the part about the daughter. I think he is the first antihero in literature. A real rogue.
I was not familiar with Jephthah, but after reading the Wikipedia article, I'm glad you mentioned him: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jephthah

Why do you consider him an antihero and a rogue?

[Jair]

I was not familiar with Jephthah, but after reading the Wikipedia article, I'm glad you mentioned him: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jephthah

Why do you consider him an antihero and a rogue?

If you read thru the story, you will see that the general sense we get of his character is that he is an outlaw, living with a pretty rough gang on the outskirts of Gilead. ("Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, and dwelt in the land of Tob: and there were gathered worthless men to Jephthah, and went out with him.") Yet he rescues his entire nature from the Ammonites threat using his rather unsavory capabilities. After this, he and his gang brutally slaughter thousands of Ephraimites for threatening him. Not a particularly cuddly fellow.

[MANICHAEAN]

Mark

Is it not strange that it was an act of friendship in the Garden of Gethsemane that was used to indicate who Jesus was. There were many alternatives of a more formal nature that I could think of. Incidentally it was not to "the local religiosos," but to the soldiers. The arrest by the police force of the Sanhedrin came later.

Of more interest is the bit from Matthew where Jesus responded by saying, "Friend do what you are here to do." Following on closely from the Last Supper & the scenario of the dipping of the hands into the food, is it a "free interpretation" to suggest the possibility that Jesus & Judas were so close, or so predetermined in their respective destinies that they were actually in agreement with each other, and as such there was no real betrayal?

Regards
M.

[Dark Muse]

Though I am not a Christian, and did not grow up in a Christian (or otherwise religious) household, as a kid I always liked the story of Noah's Ark, because of the animals. I have always been an animal lover, so I could relate the most to that story, though for me it was always just a fun fantasy tale.

I also really liked the story of Samson and Delilah, mostly because of the hair. I myself have always had really long hair and was always adamantly against allowing it to ever be cut, and so I enjoyed the story about someone who strength came through their hair, in the same way that Rapunzel was always one of my favorite fairy tales.

And my favorite characters have always been the "bad" girls.

I find Salome to be fascinating and I have something of a morbid fixation with beheading so I find that among the more intriguing and interesting stories.

Also I love Jezebel because even if she is considered to be evil, I am always drawn to strong, rebellious women who reject the status quo and stand up for themselves and what they believe in. And I do often like the villains best.

Last but not least I have always had a soft spot for Marry Magdalene, and always found her to be an interesting character, and yes she is another who was on the fringes of being an outcast of society which attracts me do her.

[MarkBastable]

Mark

Is it not strange that it was an act of friendship in the Garden of Gethsemane that was used to indicate who Jesus was. There were many alternatives of a more formal nature that I could think of. Incidentally it was not to "the local religiosos," but to the soldiers. The arrest by the police force of the Sanhedrin came later.

Of more interest is the bit from Matthew where Jesus responded by saying, "Friend do what you are here to do." Following on closely from the Last Supper & the scenario of the dipping of the hands into the food, is it a "free interpretation" to suggest the possibility that Jesus & Judas were so close, or so predetermined in their respective destinies that they were actually in agreement with each other, and as such there was no real betrayal?

Regards
M.

Good point. And neither you nor I would be the first to speculate - in theory or in fiction - about all this. I remember that, even as a kid, I thought that Judas got a a raw deal, because his actions were as necessary to Jesus' destiny as Mary's. Also, I figured that if Jesus knew it was coming, then the case against Judas wasn't clear cut at all, and you'd have to apportion some of the blame for the outcome to Jesus himself.

There's a short story to be written, that explores the possibility of Judas changing his mind at the last minute. Oh, hang on. And kissing Peter instead. Now that'd be an interesting twist.

[MANICHAEAN]

Mark

Speculate in theory? No.

Speculate in fiction? God forbid!

So, who is picking the ball up? You or me?

Come on. You have not given us anything for a long time.

Peter becomes the patsy / Judas for services rendered, becomes the Rock upon which the Church is founded / No Passion / No Resurrection / No salvation for Mankind / Jesus settles down with a nice Jewish girl / Happy ending!

Best wishes
M.

[YesNo]

If you read thru the story, you will see that the general sense we get of his character is that he is an outlaw, living with a pretty rough gang on the outskirts of Gilead. ("Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, and dwelt in the land of Tob: and there were gathered worthless men to Jephthah, and went out with him.") Yet he rescues his entire nature from the Ammonites threat using his rather unsavory capabilities. After this, he and his gang brutally slaughter thousands of Ephraimites for threatening him. Not a particularly cuddly fellow.
The guy sounds more like Robin Hood except for the slaughter of those 42,000 Ephraimites trying to escape after they started a war with him. I didn't know there were 42,000 people living in the entire area, but who knows?

In searching for the Judges 11 and 12 passages I found the following site which contains many translations. I don't know if this is a good place to go for these texts or not. If anyone knows of a better place, let me know.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges%2012&version=NIV

It was interesting that he was described as having a mother who was a prostitute. That vow he made to kill the first thing that came out of his house did seem pretty stupid. Since he only had one daughter the odds are good that she would be the first thing coming out of the house, unless he had a dog. I think there is a relationship in the story between Judges 11:1 where the mother is described as a prostitute and Judges 11:39 where the daughter is described as a virgin.

[Jason Cardona]

St. Peter. He was imperfect and humble, but God chose him as an Apostle nonetheless.


And Jesus saw two boats by the lake; but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had ceased speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and as their nets were breaking, they beckoned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zeb'edee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men." And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

--Luke 5:2-11

[Jair]

I think there is a relationship in the story between Judges 11:1 where the mother is described as a prostitute and Judges 11:39 where the daughter is described as a virgin.

The description of the girl as a virgin is just a way of evoking her youth. It's a pretty typical biblical method. A virgin is always very young in these stories, since the age of marriage typically could have been as early as twelve.

Now, the mother is not described as a prostitute in the same sense as a prostitute today; she is not a horrible sinner. It is actually a pretty tragic story in context, and, again, quite cliche.