abraham destroyed idols bible verse

45 And forget the Lord God who made heaven and earth, and who created you in the earth, and thereby bring a great evil upon your souls in this matter by serving stone and wood? Will you really sweep it away and not spare[c] the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? New American Standard Bible (NASB). (AA) What if only ten can be found there?, He answered, For the sake of ten,(AB) I will not destroy it., 33When the Lord had finished speaking(AC) with Abraham, he left,(AD) and Abraham returned home.(AE). Note: This essay was translated and adapted by Rabbi Dr. Zev Farber, with the approval of Rabbi Dr. Kula, from the introduction to his book, Existential or Non-Essential. 31Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah, (A)broke the memorial stones in pieces, cut down the [a]Asherim and pulled down the high places and the altars throughout Judah and Benjamin, as well as in Ephraim and Manasseh, until [b]they had destroyed them all. (For instance, not to say that God uses rational and beneficent thinking. In essence, we exchange a conversation about God for an encounter with God. 635-637 [Hebrew]). [17] Is it surprising that Gods narrative is the story of humanity writ large? [16] Only from the time of its inclusion in the Sinai covenant could a given law become the Archimedean point for the spiritual makeup of a person. Whether our actions motivate us to work for labor and the downtrodden or peace in Israel, we activate a certain "Abraham" within to destroy the idols of prior perspectives and belief systems, and . On its own, the sentence can be understood as conveying the opposite meaning, as a call for those involved in studying the exodus from Egypt to remove themselves from the present, to transport themselves through time and view the event the way it would have been viewed by Moses and Aaron, Datan and Abiram. [28] Although they believed that the great and majestic body of God was not comparable to their small and weak bodies, nevertheless, they could not let go of a God with some sort of a physical body. Nimrod is a descendant of Noah and is considered to be a "mighty one on the earth. 31 And in the evening of that day in that house Abram was clothed with the spirit of God. [21] Did the elephant really need the ant in order to make dust-clouds in the desert? 32 And he called out and said, Wo unto my father and this wicked generation, whose hearts are all inclined to vanity, who serve these idols of wood and stone which can neither eat, smell, hear nor speak, who have mouths without speech, eyes without sight, ears without hearing, hands without feeling, and legs which cannot move; like them are those that made them and that trust in them. When Terah returned, he asked Abraham what happened to all the idols. 11, p. 68. Burn their Asherah poles and cut down their carved idols. Discourse by President John Taylor, Duties of the SaintsThe Atonement, etc. It would always have been possible to claim that one author, Moses for instance, wrote it on his own. Finally, Abraham is not punished . 1, p. 164: Tamar Ross makes great use of this principle, primarily in dealing with the feminist critique of Torah. These were the feelings of Abraham, and he taught his father's house, and all around him, as far as he had the privilege. Recounting the Census: A Military Force of 5,500 (not 603,550) Men, Reconstructionism Reconciles Rationalism and Revelation, Rabbi Chiyya said: Terah was an idol worshiper. Idols Are Destroyed 31 Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah, broke the memorial stones in pieces, cut down the [ a]Asherim and pulled down the high places and the altars throughout Judah and Benjamin, as well as in Ephraim and Manasseh, until [ b]they had destroyed them all. An ahistorical Torah is not subject to being disproven by archaeology or academic historical reconstructions. Child sacrifice. Psalms 135:15 - 127:17 - The idols of the . In verse 7 God said the covenant He established with Abraham was to be everlasting and that He alone was to be God to Abraham and his offspring. 21. I cannot thank them enough for the happy homelife they created for me and my siblings. Abraham is known to have done something similar. [18]It must be admitted that the long genealogical lists, which specify the origins of the entire human species (see, for instance, Gen. 4:18-5:32), stand in some tension with the above-offered claim. [Abraham] understood that there was a God in heaven, a living and true God, and that no man should worship any other God but Him. Writing, especially in the above examples, allows people who were not witnesses to the events to meet the reality of the event in a mediated encounter. 5As soon as the [c]order spread, the sons of Israel abundantly provided the first fruits of grain, new wine, oil, honey, and of all the produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly (H)the tithe of everything. 2 Chronicles 31:1 Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. I expected my father to punish me, but he never said a word. 1. In many ways, the challenge faced by such a person is similar to the one faced by Rambam when he tried and demonstrate to the world that God has no body. If not, I will know., 22The men(N) turned away and went toward Sodom,(O) but Abraham remained standing before the Lord. Kula was formerly the Rosh haYeshiva of Yeshivat HaKibbutz HaDati in Ein Tzurim. In order to answer this question let us investigate the basis for this phenomenon: what is the point of writing? Terah responded by saying that they are only statues and have no knowledge. [20] Moreover, even if the Torah had been written from one perspective only, in one clear and flowing style, that would not have proven that it came from God. [13] The sacred written Torah is the teaching of God and it is forbidden to learn it indifferently. Launched Shavuot 5773 / 2013 | Copyright Project TABS, All Rights Reserved, script type="text/javascript"> So he got a club, or some other weapon, and knocked off the heads of some, the arms and legs of others, and made a general wreck among the idols, but left the biggest untouched. Take the flood story, for example. The only similarity that one finds here is Abraham advising his father about the futility of idol worship. 46 Did not our fathers in days of old sin in this matter, and the Lord God of the universe brought the waters of the flood upon them and destroyed the whole earth? My Jewish Learning is a not-for-profit and relies on your help. This is true even for a person who can digest the nuances of the ahistorical approach to the Torah. Its meaning is not dependent on external evidence; its narrative descriptions should not be characterized as reconstructions or preservation of past events. Therefore, we should be careful not to miss even a single hint or implication that may be imbedded in the direct speech of God to us. Abraham had three wives: Sarah, Hagar, and Keturah (by date when See,Iggrot Raayahvol. SeeIggrot Raayahvol. , was an idol-maker and merchant in Ur.1 Terah. [22], Getting accustomed to this kind of thinking about the Torah is required, in my opinion, if a person wishes to acquire the ability to raise his or her faith in Torah from a peripheral attachment to an essential attachment to its contents. [10]In my opinion, which is based on multiple encounters with a number of different groups, this critique can be found at the heart of many peoples objections to ahistorical reading of the Torah, and feeds their intuitive rejection of this paradigm. Abraham). This story is taken from The Book of Jasher 11:21-49, Terah, in response to Abrahams question to him about who the God was that had created heaven and earth and the children of men, took him to the hall wherein stood twelve great idols and a large number of little idols, and pointing to them he said, Here are they who have made all thou seest on earth, they who have created also me and thee and all men on the earth, and he bowed down before his gods, and left the hall with his son. If the religious value of events comes from their being included in the word of God, let us allow God to speak to us in Gods own language, and to tell us the divine story with its entire force. Are they not wood and stone? 1 Kings 15:13 And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron. 25 And his mother did so, and she fetched a kid, and made savory meat thereof, and brought it to Abram, and Abram took the savory meat from his mother and brought it before his fathers gods, and he drew nigh to them that they might eat; and Terah his father, did not know of it. The Torah tells the story in a certain way, and other traditions tell it in different ways. Hence the verse in Genesis 11:28, And Haran died in the presence of his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees.[6], The Midrash is not the only mention of this storythe Quran discusses the story in great detail as well. [14]M.Pesachim10:5. Therefore, by necessity we would need to distill from his historical persona what parts of his life were his own choice, (i.e. Bruce Feiler (Abraham) says that probably less than one per cent of the stories told about Abraham appear in the Bible, with an explosion of detail beginning to appear in Jewish tradition from the third century BCE onwards. 29 And Abram took the savory meat from his mother, and brought it before his fathers gods into the chamber; and he came nigh unto them that they might eat, and he placed it before them, and Abram sat before them all day, thinking perhaps they might eat. What if only ten can be found there?" He answered, "For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it." Nevertheless, juxtaposed to this more moderate phrasing, we placed a more radical one. A woman came carrying a plate of fine flour and she told me to offer it before them. What does the Bible say about idolatry? Delivered at Provo, Sunday Afternoon, August 28th, 1881, Reported by Geo. From whence sprang the suggestion to interpret the Torah against the way it has been read? [28]Rambam himself understood that this was the way his opponents conceptualized the issue. 7In the third month they began to [e]make the heaps, and they finished them by the seventh month. She said to [Abraham]: Here, offer this before them. [Abraham] picked up a staff and broke [the idols] and placed the staff in the hands of the largest of them. (C) 18Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation,(D) and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. Although the book focuses on a period of time later than that discussed herethe period of David and Solomonnevertheless, the rhetorical force of the essays that express reservations similar to that expressed aboveessays that come from very different scholarsdemonstrates the tangible reality of the emotional power that stands behind the truth problem. I must admit that I could not personally identify with any of the (admittedly thoughtful) analyses in that collection, and this is probably due to my own alternative way of thinking about this problem, as described in this essay. Idolatry, in this sense, means abandoning the way of God for another aim. A different approach (cutting edge and more realistic) assumes that reconstruction of the past, with a point-by-point accurate portrayal, is impossible. 13Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah were overseers [g]under the authority of Conaniah and his brother Shimei by the appointment of King Hezekiah, and (O)Azariah was the chief officer of the house of God. Which is the most important river in Congo? NASB 1995 Now Rachel had taken the household idols and put them in the camel's saddle, and she sat on them. A woman enters to offer food to the idols. Commentating on this verse, Mufti Muhammad Shafi, the late Grand Mufti of Pakistan, writes, "According to Imam Qurtubi, this verse shows that to destroy the idols and other icons of paganism is Waajib (mandatory). what makes muscle tissue different from other tissues? New Living Translation Break down their altars and smash their sacred pillars. The image of Abraham smashing idols in his fathers store and blaming it on the god is likely to bring a smile to the lips of any person who is familiar with the story from his or her childhood. The text designates Terah, Abraham's father, as a "manufacturer of idols." One day, while Terah is away from his workshop, he entrusts it to young Abraham. Abraham went thence to his mother, and he spoke to her, saying: Behold, my father has shown those unto me who made heaven and earth and all the sons of men. My thanks to Hillel ben-Sasson for sharpening this point. Intuitive attachment to our inherited traditions is common to all people, regardless of education. 12They faithfully brought in the contributions, the tithes, and the consecrated things; and Conaniah the Levite was the officer in charge (N)of them, and his brother Shimei was second. In their understanding, the written text is not there to convey an event; it is the event itself. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites and the Jebusites.". Conversely, if the Torah is only telling stories, it would appear, at first glance, more difficult to account for the similarities between its stories and those of the surrounding cultures. Although the Bible says Terah "worshiped other gods" At this point, Terah took Abraham to Nimrod. window.location.replace(""); ! [Terah] took him and brought him before Nimrod (. 3He also appointed (D)the kings portion of his property for the burnt offerings, namely, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths and for the new moons and for the appointed festivals, (E)as it is written in the Law of the Lord. 3 And all these joined forces in the Valley of . Can they hear thy prayers when thou callest upon them?, After having spoken these and similar words, admonishing his father to mend his ways and refrain from worshipping idols, he leapt up before Terah, took the hatchet from the big idol, broke it therewith, and ran away. One of the questions that occupies philosophers of history as a discipline has been, to what extent can a historian really reconstruct the past and to what extent is he or she actually reshaping it? The Torah describes various events from its own unique perspective. The second approach, however, is rather surprising. his father put him in charge of caring for the idols, and Abraham tried to discourage people from bringing them offerings. 22 And Terah bowed down to his gods, and he then went away from them, and Abram, his son, went away with him. How can virtual classrooms help students become more independent and self-motivated learners? Enter code SPRINGSTUDY15 and have answers to your Bible questions at your fingertips. Is there a truer story than this? Bible verses about False Idols. King James Bible But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves: New King James Version But you shall destroy their altars, break their sacred pillars, and cut down their wooden images 40 And the large one saw their works that they did before him, and his anger was violently kindled against them, and he went and took the hatchet that was in the house and came to them and broke them all, and behold the hatchet is yet in his hand as thou seest. Abraham's brother Haran sees what happened and says that he believes in the God of Abraham. Abraham took a stick and shattered all the idols in the store, and then he placed the stick in the hand of the largest idol. Abraham responds that people withstand wind. 19Also for the sons of Aaron, the priests, who were in (U)the pasture lands of their cities, or in each and every city, (V)there were men who were designated by name to distribute portions to every male among the priests and to everyone genealogically enrolled among the Levites. (X), 27Then Abraham spoke up again: Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes,(Y) 28what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Does the story become less powerful, less complete, less true? 38 And he found Abram his son still sitting in the house; and he said to him, What is this work thou hast done to my gods? Abraham mocked them, and said, Surely, the savory meat that I prepared doth not please you, or perhaps it is too little for you! [7]Doubtless, this claim reveals an important educational principle whose significance is beyond reproach. 26 And Abram saw on the day when he was sitting amongst them, that they had no voice, no hearing, no motion, and not one of them could stretch forth his hand to eat. Will Gods story be diminished if we do not connect it with the actions of specific people, as great as they may have been? This second approach, in my opinion, works well with what seems to be occurring in the biblical narratives. It is this difference, which lies at the heart of the distinction between the two interpretive methods described above. Abraham is to be killed for his righteousness, and is saved by God Inasmuch as Abrahams fight against idolatry is a common theme in the Bible, so is the prophet of God, in the face of adversity, being persecuted for his beliefs. It is the Torah of God, turning its face to Torah students in every generation. 58 Dost thou not know, or hast thou not heard, that this evil which thou doest, our ancestors sinned therein in days of old, and the eternal God brought the waters of the flood upon them and destroyed them all, and also destroyed the whole earth on their account? Ge 22:12, 18; 26:5; 2Sa 8:15; Ps 17:2; 99:4; Jer 23:5, Ex 23:7; Lev 4:3, 22, 27; Nu 16:22; Dt 27:25; 2Sa 24:17; Ps 11:4-7; 94:21; Eze 18:4; 2Pe 2:9, Jdg 11:27; Job 9:15; Ps 7:11; 94:2; Heb 12:23, Ge 20:4; Dt 32:4; 2Ch 19:7; Ezr 9:15; Ne 9:33; Job 8:3, 20; 34:10; 36:23; Ps 58:11; 75:7; 94:2; 119:137; Isa 3:10-11; Eze 18:25; Da 4:37; 9:14; Mal 2:17; Ro 3:6, NIV, Lucado Encouraging Word Bible, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV, Story of Jesus: Experience the Life of Jesus as One Seamless Story, NIV, The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People, NIV, Beautiful Word Bible Journal, Galatians, Paperback, Comfort Print, NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, Red Letter Edition: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture, NIV, Beautiful Word Bible Journal, Revelation, Paperback, Comfort Print. A divinely originated narrative has no need for real historical events in order to grow sinews and flesh and become something substantial. I am not surprised, therefore, at the literary prowessvery much like human literary prowessdemonstrated in Torah by its author. Lets imagine that Gods message is cloaked with descriptions of events that modern day historians believe cannot be accepted as factso what? Lord. Genesis 11:26 After Terah had lived 70 years, he became the what is the supplement of an angle measuring 54 degrees? "You shall not delay the offering from your harvest and your vintage. One reason why they did so was, that he had gone into those places which his father considered sacred, and among the wooden gods which were there, and, being filled with anger that his father should bow down and worship gods of wood and stone, he broke them. [2] Terah also made and sold idols, as the Midrash Genesis Rabbah 38 explains. See, for example, the Gerrer Rebbe, R. Yehudah Aryeh Leib Alter (Sefat Emeton Leviticus, Pesach 5631): In every generation there is an exodus from Egypt, but one relevant to that generation. There is much more to say about this, but here is not the place. Many in Maimonides generation believed that the existence of God was coterminous with Gods physical existence. 20 And Abram said to his father, My lord, shew them to me I pray thee; and Terah brought Abram into the chamber of the inner court, and Abram saw, and behold the whole room was full of gods of wood and stone, twelve great images and others less than they without number. This is the meaning of the phrase, In every generation a person must look upon himself as if he left Egypt.[14], This perspective is reflected in the world of halacha as well. I discuss this halacha in greater detail in the book. The Midrash is also used by James Kugel, the chair of the Institute for the History of the Jewish Bible at Bar Ilan University in Israel, in his book The Bible As It Was, published in 1997 by Harvard University, to look at how stories from the Bible have been changed to how they are taught in the modern day. This Midrash can be interpreted as an example of persecution against those of monotheistic beliefs during a time when polytheism dominated.[8]. See also Ravads commentad loc. 6The sons of Israel and Judah who lived in the cities of Judah also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and (I)the tithe of [d]sacred gifts which were consecrated to the Lord their God, and placed them in heaps. [12]In this case, it isnt about writing per se, as it makes little difference whether it is reported by radio, TV, or newspaper. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! 71C11132 Haran, Abraham's brother, having witnessed the miracle, decides to undergo the test of fire as well, but is immediately consumed. And when he had broken down the altars and the groves, and had beaten the graven images into powder, and cut down all the idols throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem. Of course, great challenges to Abram's faith lay ahead on his life's journey. Philip Munoa notes that 'the Testament of Abraham studi- ously avoids physical description of God when describing Abraham's heavenly ascent and tours of heaven explicitly identifying God with Does the Torahs Abraham really need the historical Abraham in order to claim an important role in Jewish religious consciousness? Are they not wood and stone, and have I not myself made them, and canst thou speak such lies, saying that the large god that was with them smote them? The consequence was, his father and the idolatrous priests of that day sought to take his life. 51 And he said, I beseech thee my lord, to hear meNow fifty years back a child was born to me, and thus has he done to my gods and thus has he spoken; and now therefore, my lord and king, send for him that he may come before thee, and judge him according to the law, that we may be delivered from his evil. The question the rabbis are trying to answer with the Midrash is why and how did Haran die in the presence of his father. [27]See Rambam,Mishneh Torah, Laws of Repentence, 3:7.

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