Comments on: Need Help Reconciling Two Passages http://www.theologicalmusingsblog.com/2007/11/02/need-help-reconciling-two-passages/ Random discussions about various topics, with an emphasis on simple church and other out-of-the-box thoughts. Sun, 21 Aug 2011 06:17:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Steve Sensenig http://www.theologicalmusingsblog.com/2007/11/02/need-help-reconciling-two-passages/comment-page-1/#comment-11879 Steve Sensenig Sun, 11 Nov 2007 03:56:18 +0000 http://www.theologicalmusingsblog.com/2007/11/02/need-help-reconciling-two-passages/#comment-11879 I appreciate the comments in response here. Some of the answers were, in my opinion, rather predictable ones. I'm not sure what I think of it all, but am thankful for the opinions represented here. I appreciate the comments in response here. Some of the answers were, in my opinion, rather predictable ones. I’m not sure what I think of it all, but am thankful for the opinions represented here.

]]> By: Alan Knox http://www.theologicalmusingsblog.com/2007/11/02/need-help-reconciling-two-passages/comment-page-1/#comment-11553 Alan Knox Mon, 05 Nov 2007 15:26:30 +0000 http://www.theologicalmusingsblog.com/2007/11/02/need-help-reconciling-two-passages/#comment-11553 Steve, I didn't have time to look this up earlier, so I'm adding it now. I think the passages in 1 Chron 30 and 35 are comparing those two Passover sacrifices to the sacrifices that Solomon made when he dedicated the temple, which is reported in 2 Chron 7:5 - "King Solomon offered as a sacrifice 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God." The later sacrifices are not even close to Solomon's sacrifice. This is why the sacrifices in 1 Chron 30 and 35 would be compared to Solomon's earlier sacrifice but not compared to one another. Solomon set the standard. -Alan Steve,

I didn’t have time to look this up earlier, so I’m adding it now.

I think the passages in 1 Chron 30 and 35 are comparing those two Passover sacrifices to the sacrifices that Solomon made when he dedicated the temple, which is reported in 2 Chron 7:5 – “King Solomon offered as a sacrifice 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.” The later sacrifices are not even close to Solomon’s sacrifice. This is why the sacrifices in 1 Chron 30 and 35 would be compared to Solomon’s earlier sacrifice but not compared to one another. Solomon set the standard.

-Alan

]]> By: Aussiejohn http://www.theologicalmusingsblog.com/2007/11/02/need-help-reconciling-two-passages/comment-page-1/#comment-11477 Aussiejohn Sat, 03 Nov 2007 21:18:47 +0000 http://www.theologicalmusingsblog.com/2007/11/02/need-help-reconciling-two-passages/#comment-11477 Steve, I would agree with Alan's thoughts, and add a little of Sonja's regarding hyperole. In Down-Under we would label it as a bit of "one-up-manship". Steve,

I would agree with Alan’s thoughts, and add a little of Sonja’s regarding hyperole. In Down-Under we would label it as a bit of “one-up-manship”.

]]> By: Iris http://www.theologicalmusingsblog.com/2007/11/02/need-help-reconciling-two-passages/comment-page-1/#comment-11467 Iris Sat, 03 Nov 2007 16:26:50 +0000 http://www.theologicalmusingsblog.com/2007/11/02/need-help-reconciling-two-passages/#comment-11467 Speaking as a Bible Teacher I think the answer may be in the tendency of the human writers to use hyperbole's to describe the greatness of what was happening for their time. Are these statements intended to be literal in the sense that no such event had been as great, or were they intended to simply state the internal attitudes of those involved in the celebrations. We often make similar type of statements and although we do not intend for them to be taken literally, we do intend to be understood, and we are not lying, for the statement is true in the moment. Just some thoughts. Hopefully a scholar of the language will read and help. Glad you are posting again. I enjoy and read most of the time. Blessings. Speaking as a Bible Teacher I think the answer may be in the tendency of the human writers to use hyperbole’s to describe the greatness of what was happening for their time. Are these statements intended to be literal in the sense that no such event had been as great, or were they intended to simply state the internal attitudes of those involved in the celebrations. We often make similar type of statements and although we do not intend for them to be taken literally, we do intend to be understood, and we are not lying, for the statement is true in the moment.
Just some thoughts. Hopefully a scholar of the language will read and help.
Glad you are posting again. I enjoy and read most of the time.
Blessings.

]]> By: Terry http://www.theologicalmusingsblog.com/2007/11/02/need-help-reconciling-two-passages/comment-page-1/#comment-11465 Terry Sat, 03 Nov 2007 15:25:37 +0000 http://www.theologicalmusingsblog.com/2007/11/02/need-help-reconciling-two-passages/#comment-11465 I don’t know that I have an answer, but Let me add these thoughts. Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. (2 Kings 18:5) Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the LORD as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses. (2 Kings 23:25) The other kings of Judah either did not follow the Lord or they didn’t follow completely. For example, look at what 2 Kings says about Amaziah. He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not as his father David had done. In everything he followed the example of his father Joash. The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there. (2 Kings 14:3-4) And also about Amaziah, He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not wholeheartedly. (2 Chronicles 25:3) Maybe the passages you cited, and the ones in 2 Kings, were more of an accolade for Hezekiah and Josiah because they followed the Lord wholeheartedly. I don’t know that I have an answer, but Let me add these thoughts.

Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. (2 Kings 18:5)

Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the LORD as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses. (2 Kings 23:25)

The other kings of Judah either did not follow the Lord or they didn’t follow completely. For example, look at what 2 Kings says about Amaziah.

He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not as his father David had done. In everything he followed the example of his father Joash. The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there. (2 Kings 14:3-4)

And also about Amaziah,

He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not wholeheartedly. (2 Chronicles 25:3)

Maybe the passages you cited, and the ones in 2 Kings, were more of an accolade for Hezekiah and Josiah because they followed the Lord wholeheartedly.

]]> By: Alan Knox http://www.theologicalmusingsblog.com/2007/11/02/need-help-reconciling-two-passages/comment-page-1/#comment-11445 Alan Knox Sat, 03 Nov 2007 03:25:25 +0000 http://www.theologicalmusingsblog.com/2007/11/02/need-help-reconciling-two-passages/#comment-11445 Steve, When I read through those passages, the difference (besides the dates, which Sonja mentioned) seems to be simply an order of magnitude. In 2 Chron 30, the Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread included 17,000 sheep and 2,000 bulls. In 2 Chron 35, the Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread included 37,600 sheep/goats and 3,800 bulls. Thus, at the time, the celebration in 2 Chron 30 was the greatest celebration of Passover since Solomon. But, as you pointed out, three generations later an even larger celebration was held, which then became the greatest celebration since Solomon. -Alan Steve,

When I read through those passages, the difference (besides the dates, which Sonja mentioned) seems to be simply an order of magnitude. In 2 Chron 30, the Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread included 17,000 sheep and 2,000 bulls. In 2 Chron 35, the Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread included 37,600 sheep/goats and 3,800 bulls.

Thus, at the time, the celebration in 2 Chron 30 was the greatest celebration of Passover since Solomon. But, as you pointed out, three generations later an even larger celebration was held, which then became the greatest celebration since Solomon.

-Alan

]]> By: sonja http://www.theologicalmusingsblog.com/2007/11/02/need-help-reconciling-two-passages/comment-page-1/#comment-11442 sonja Sat, 03 Nov 2007 02:25:45 +0000 http://www.theologicalmusingsblog.com/2007/11/02/need-help-reconciling-two-passages/#comment-11442 I'm no scholar or anything. But from what I can see in the text, it looks as though the first celebration was conducted at an unorthodox time. That is not the prescribed date. This would explain why Hezekiah had to send out special notices throughout the land about the celebration. Passover is always celebrated on the 14th day of the first month <a href="http://www.myjewishlearning.com/holidays/Passover/TO_Pesach_History.htm" rel="nofollow">Nisan</a>. But it's recorded in 2Chron 30:2-4 that they weren't able to celebrate Passover at the regular time because enough priests had not been able to consecrate themselves. So the king came up with a new plan to move the celebration to the second month. In any case, I wonder if that is the difference that causes the discrepancy? It is an interesting twist ... I’m no scholar or anything. But from what I can see in the text, it looks as though the first celebration was conducted at an unorthodox time. That is not the prescribed date. This would explain why Hezekiah had to send out special notices throughout the land about the celebration. Passover is always celebrated on the 14th day of the first month Nisan. But it’s recorded in 2Chron 30:2-4 that they weren’t able to celebrate Passover at the regular time because enough priests had not been able to consecrate themselves. So the king came up with a new plan to move the celebration to the second month. In any case, I wonder if that is the difference that causes the discrepancy? It is an interesting twist …

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