Finally, in Numbers 24 Balaam offers his oracles regarding Israel but they are not what Balak has in mind. Balaam recognizes that God's hand is at work in Israel , he recognizes that God is blessing Israel and joins in that blessing. At the end of his oracle Balaam proclaims "Blessed is everyone who blesses you and cursed is everyone who curses you." Not only does he not curse Israel as Balak wants, but he makes it implicit that if Balak does find one to curse Israel, then Balak himself will be cursed. Not exactly what Balak was interested in when he sought Balaam.
The final oracle provides some interesting conversation tidbits. First, the oracle that precedes it in chapter 24 and the oracle itself contain poetry that is more likely to have been found during the early monarchy period of Israel, think under David. Second, both of these last two oracles reference times of Saul and David. Saul is victorious militarily against King Agag of the Amalekites and David defeats Edom as well as other powers in the Transjordanian regions. Furthermore, the Kenites are considered descendents of Kain or Cain as in Cain and Abel.(Just an interesting tidbit for your thoughts.)
So what we might have is a little editorial privilege taking place and new materials found in the Davidic times finding its way into older materials of Israel. It is very possible that the original material of Balaam is accurate but that the end of chapter 24 was added to the older stories.
Unfortunately, Israel has a difficult time being faithful. No sooner has Balaam utters these blessings upon Israel but Israel falls away from God. They not only fall away from God but they worship others gods. Did I mention that was frowned upon? As God sees the Israelite men taking Midian women into their beds and worshiping their god, Baal, God anger is kindled and a plague occurs.
The plague however is averted when a young man of priestly heritage, Phinehas, kills a head of the tribe of Simeon who has bedded a Midian. Phinehas is blessed by God for this actions and God turns away from the plague after it has taken 24,000.
It is because of this that the Midianites and Israelites will have a contentious history over the next several generations.
Acts 21
Having left Ephesus, Paul and his companions set out towards Jerusalem. Along the journey back, he stops and meets with other believers and many attempt to dissuade Paul from going to Jerusalem, including the prophet Agabus who previously appeared in chapter 11. It would seem that something is afoot. Paul, however, is not dissuaded and after proclaiming his willingness to die for the Gospel heads to Jerusalem.
At Jerusalem, he meets up with James, the leader of the church in Jerusalem and we begin to understand the issues facing Paul. It would seem that the Jewish believers in Christ are concerned that Paul is teaching Jews to leave behind their traditions and follow Jesus. They have misunderstood Paul's ministry to the Gentiles and beleive that Paul is encouraging Jews and Gentiles to turn from old laws,which Paul has not done. As a matter of fact, Paul and the Jerusalem church have held that Gentiles need not follow old legal devices, but nothing was to change for Jewish adherents to this new faith.
The early church devises a way for Paul to make amends for this misperception in that he will undergo rites of purification. However, at the temple, other Jews, non-believers of Christ, accuse Paul of leading Jews away from traditions as well as defiling the temple by bringing Gentiles into it. It is possible that these charges are brought by some of the Jewish community that Paul ran into during his journeys through Asia Minor and Greece.
We have now entered into a drama that will play out for the rest of the Book of Acts, how does Paul answer these charges?
No comments:
Post a Comment