On Mon, 8 Mar 2004 21:36:01 -0700 "Blaine Borrowman"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
> ... he is the God of all Israel, not just the
> God of the Jews in Jerusalem. His
> new covenant had to be given
> to ALL of the House of Israel.
Where do you get the idea that there were only Jews in the land of
Israel?
Before the tribes split into two kingdoms, the land which became the
Kingdom of Judah already held Jews, Benjamites, and Levites, who were
spread around throughout the other tribes.
The righteous members of all tribes moved to the Kingdom of Judah
after the tribes split into two kingdoms. (2Chron 11:13-16)
Later, more people from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon moved to the
Kingdom of Judah. (2Chron 15:9)
In 2 Chron 23:2, we see a reference to the heads of Israel's
families living in the Kingdom of Judah. It seems strange that Israel's
families would have members living in Judah, if there were only Jews in
Judah.
In Luke 2:36, we see that the prophetess Anna traces her roots to
the tribe of Asher. If Judah were occupied only by Jews during the time
Jesus walked the land in His mortal body, how can it be that she
considered herself of the tribe of Asher?
In Acts 26:7, Paul speaks of the twelve tribes hoping and
worshipping day and night. If ten tribes were lost, how is it he talks of
twelve tribes instead of only two tribes? How would he know what those
"lost" tribes were doing, if they were truly lost?
In James 1:1, he addresses his letter to the twelve tribes in the
dispersion. Did he intend that his letter would be sent to America to be
read by the aborigines? If yes, did the aborigines read Hebrew or Aramaic
or Greek?
Obviously, the bible, of which there are many copies in many ancient
manuscripts available to scholars for study and comparison, makes it
clear that all of the twelve tribes were represented in Judah and the
diaspora around the Mediterranean, Europe, etc. The only contradiction
comes for Joe's magic gold plates, which interestingly enough are
unavailable for scholars to study.
Are you familiar with the tv program Reading Rainbow, produced by
the program's host, Levar Burton? They feature children's books to
encourage kids to read. The titles of the books are meant to attract
kids' attention, and, for no particular reason, that's what I think of
when I see the words "Joe's magic gold plates." I guess empty, childish
minds are attracted to the magic and the mystery. On the other hand,
mature minds see that it's not real.
----------
"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
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