On Fri, 13 Dec 2002 16:26:51 +0000 "Charles Locke" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > Blaine, > > OBJECTIVE: > > I am not sure of the symbolism of the sticks to the ancient > Hebrews, but > I have read that certain tribes had sticks with the name of the > tribe on it, > and that ceremonially would unite two sticks from different tribes > when they > joined as a symbol of their unity. But if one reads further, > specifically v. > 21 and v. 22, the point is that the two kingdoms into which Isreal > was > divided would be united. That is, the Northern and the Southern > kingdoms.
Blainer) Since Mormons claim that Ezekiel's sticks, one for Joseph and one for Judah, are books of scripture, we need to examine the passages carefully. Beginning with Ezekiel 37: 15-the passage reads, "The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying: Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it for Judah, and for the children of Israel, his companions; then take another stick, and write upon it for Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the House of Israel his companions: And Join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand. " There is more, but this will suffice. First of all, the Hebrew word translated as "stick' is the word "etz." This is perhaps the most universally used word in the Bible. "Etz" usually refers not to "stick," but to "wood," and depends on the context in which it is used for meaning. If one plays music on it, it is a harp. If fruit grows on it, it is a fruit tree, or even a branch. If one plows with it, it is a plow. If a person worships it, it is an idol. As it is used in the context of this passage, it is clear that the wood or "etz" is being written on. Nibley writes, "In the earliest of all surviving commentaries, those of Eusebus and Jerome--both trained in Hebrew--the writers maintained the woods, or etz, were books--specifically, books of scripture." The passages that come later discuss the coming together of the two principle tribes into one, of course, but this coming together is to be facilitated by the two books of scripture--one for Judah (the Bible) and one for Joseph (the Book of Mormon). There is no need to take the above passage out of context, therefore, as the context itself explains the purpose of these two books. > SUBJECTIVE: > > I have heard LDS apologists that try to make this mean that the > supposed > Hebrews in ancient North America would be united with the Hebrews in > the > middle east, but in order for this to be so the verse must be > totally > removed from the context. Additionally, there would have to be some > archeological evidence of this great Hebrew civilization in ancient > North > America, of which there is none. Blainer) This does not mean there is not archeological evidence. There is a great deal in Central America that fits. One book I have, IN SEARCH OF CUMORAH," maintains that almost all of the BoM history covers people in Central America. After all, in the BoM, God promised > Jared > that the Jaredites would become a great people, greater than the > seed of > Abraham, and I humbly ask, how many Jaredites do you know? Blainer) I am afraid I am not familiar with this promise. Chapter and Verse??? > > John 10:16 is another verse that is used by LDS out of context to > imply > that the supposed Hebrews in ancient North America would be united > with the > Hebrews in the middle east, but in this context Christ is referring > to the > gentiles, to whom the gospel had not yet been delivered. We know > this > because we later see the gospel taken to the gentiles, which were > definitely > of "a different fold". > > Perry > > > > > > > > > > ----Original Message Follows---- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: [TruthTalk] Cowards > Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2002 22:21:04 -0700 > > > "I will take the stick of Joseph, > > and will put it with the stick of Judah, > > and make them one stick, > > and they shall be one in my hand." > > Ezekiel 37:19 > > > > Blainer) Perry, give us your objective opinon of the above passge. > ---------- > "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you > may know > how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) > http://www.InnGlory.org > > If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you > have a > friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed. > > > _________________________________________________________________ > MSN 8 helps eliminate e-mail viruses. Get 2 months FREE*. > http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus > > ---------- > "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you > may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) > http://www.InnGlory.org > > If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you > have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed. > ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
