She conceives (Tazria)
(This is not according to the reading schedule. - I am on my own... 
)
Leviticus 12:1-13:59
The instruction regarding a woman who conceives and gives birth to a child. The Scriptures say that the woman is unclean for certain days. I didn't know what to think of this. She becomes a mom and is 'unclean'. But the "Walk! Leviticus" commentary says something interesting. It gave me a different point of view.
(The word "tam'ah" means defiled.)
)Leviticus 12:1-13:59
The instruction regarding a woman who conceives and gives birth to a child. The Scriptures say that the woman is unclean for certain days. I didn't know what to think of this. She becomes a mom and is 'unclean'. But the "Walk! Leviticus" commentary says something interesting. It gave me a different point of view.
"Women do not sin by giving birth to children (Gen. 1:28). Nor do their subsequent rites of purification require laying on of hands, confession, an asham, or a different offering for the birth of a boy or a girl. But the loss of blood diminishes a mother's wholeness, rendering her incomplete and thus tam'ah (cf. Lev. 12:4, 5, 7). Only the passage of time restores her wholeness."
(Walk! Leviticus)(The word "tam'ah" means defiled.)
Scapegoat
Azazel is the Hebrew word for a scapegoat. Some translations makes me think that it is the name of a place, including my Japanese Bible. Just like Negev, which is translated as a name of the area ( and I think it is the name of the area), but the name means 'south.' In some translations it is translated as 'south'. This was confusing because Negev was where Abraham went from Egypt, which means he went up towards north, but if your Bible says south, then, it doesn't make sense and that causes people to say "See, the Bible doesn't make sense." There are more deep meanings one can study regarding the scapegoat, but I don't have the ability to write and explain it. I dig as much as I can, and I have to come back to it later...
The word "lots" in "casting lots" is pebbles. This changes the picture we have in our own heads as we read the Bible, too. I would think of sticks or something. In Japan, we "draw" instead of "cast."
When you know the original meanings, it helps to understand the Bible more clearly, and different translations won't threaten you and makes you happy that the God of the Bible is still active and alive.
I am happy.
Here is a youtube of very comforting words regarding Happiness. My dear friend told me about this gentleman.
The word "lots" in "casting lots" is pebbles. This changes the picture we have in our own heads as we read the Bible, too. I would think of sticks or something. In Japan, we "draw" instead of "cast."
When you know the original meanings, it helps to understand the Bible more clearly, and different translations won't threaten you and makes you happy that the God of the Bible is still active and alive.
I am happy.Here is a youtube of very comforting words regarding Happiness. My dear friend told me about this gentleman.
Tazria, haftarah (prophets & writing), and NT
Haftarah ( prophets & writing) for the Tazria portion is from 2Kings 4:42-5:19.
Chapter 4:42 to the end is fascinating. I didn't know a story like this was in the OT. There is a story like this in the New Testament. I am too lazy to look up but I believe the Jewish people can tell what season of the year this happened. I am terrible with this kind of things so I don't know.
Naaman's story
I have always admired the young girl's courage to tell Naaman about the prophet in Samaria. She had been captured and taken to the foreign country, working as a maid. Her situation didn't look good, but she had faith, and that faith caused her to say “I wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy.” Would I have passionate enough faith to tell someone that God can heal him/her?
God sometimes uses foolish-looking things to deal with us. Are we willing to look unimportant? I see that God also performs miracles quietly. In Japan I heard a lot of people apologize for not having a dramatic and significant story before they gave their testimonies. I think they are the miracles to believe and follow like that. God loves you!
This portion stirred my heart many years ago when I was praying for my mother. When I knew her heart wanted to believe (though she was not open totally) but there were a lot of obligations she had to do, I used to ask God to forgive her and give her guidance regarding all those cultural things she needs to perform in the daily life in Japan.
New Testament portion covers both feeding the multitudes and healing the leprosy.
Chapter 4:42 to the end is fascinating. I didn't know a story like this was in the OT. There is a story like this in the New Testament. I am too lazy to look up but I believe the Jewish people can tell what season of the year this happened. I am terrible with this kind of things so I don't know.
Naaman's story
I have always admired the young girl's courage to tell Naaman about the prophet in Samaria. She had been captured and taken to the foreign country, working as a maid. Her situation didn't look good, but she had faith, and that faith caused her to say “I wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy.” Would I have passionate enough faith to tell someone that God can heal him/her?
God sometimes uses foolish-looking things to deal with us. Are we willing to look unimportant? I see that God also performs miracles quietly. In Japan I heard a lot of people apologize for not having a dramatic and significant story before they gave their testimonies. I think they are the miracles to believe and follow like that. God loves you!
This portion stirred my heart many years ago when I was praying for my mother. When I knew her heart wanted to believe (though she was not open totally) but there were a lot of obligations she had to do, I used to ask God to forgive her and give her guidance regarding all those cultural things she needs to perform in the daily life in Japan.
New Testament portion covers both feeding the multitudes and healing the leprosy.
She conceives (Tazria) #2
Chapter 13 is about skin infection.
Dr. Feinberg in Walk Leviticus! says the infection is different from Hansen's Disease or contagious leprosy.
The title at the beginning of chapter 13 in English Standard Version says "Laws About Leprosy "and the second verse says "and it turns into a case of leprous disease." New American Standard Bible calls it leprosy also.
It is confusing...is it because of the nature of the Hebrew language?
I use New American Standard Bible for study, and New Living Translations when I try to capture the big picture instead of studying words. I have also been using King James version because I can check the corresponding Hebrew words.
In King James Version, it says "and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy." It says 'like the plague of leprosy.' So I see that it is not leprosy in the original language.
Dr. Feinberg in Walk Leviticus! says the infection is different from Hansen's Disease or contagious leprosy.
The title at the beginning of chapter 13 in English Standard Version says "Laws About Leprosy "and the second verse says "and it turns into a case of leprous disease." New American Standard Bible calls it leprosy also.
It is confusing...is it because of the nature of the Hebrew language? I use New American Standard Bible for study, and New Living Translations when I try to capture the big picture instead of studying words. I have also been using King James version because I can check the corresponding Hebrew words.
In King James Version, it says "and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy." It says 'like the plague of leprosy.' So I see that it is not leprosy in the original language.
She conceives (Tazria)
Leviticus 12:1-13:59
This portion is about the law for a woman who gives birth or bears seed (chapter 12) and the law concerning skin infection (sometimes translated 'leprosy' from the Greek word lepra).
It bothered me a bit to know that the woman is unclean when she gives birth. Just a little. Reading the explanation in "Walk! Leviticus" gave me a little more understanding from a different point of view. It says,
(Tam'ah means defiled.)
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This portion is about the law for a woman who gives birth or bears seed (chapter 12) and the law concerning skin infection (sometimes translated 'leprosy' from the Greek word lepra).
It bothered me a bit to know that the woman is unclean when she gives birth. Just a little. Reading the explanation in "Walk! Leviticus" gave me a little more understanding from a different point of view. It says,
"Women do not sin by giving birth to children (Gen. 1:28). Nor do their subsequent rites of purification require laying on of hands, confession, an asham, or a different offering for the birth of a boy or girl. But the loss of blood diminishes a mother's wholeness, rendering her incomplete and thus tam'ah (cf. Lev. 12:4,5,7). Only the passage of time restores her wholeness."
(Tam'ah means defiled.)
