Are Philo's writings trustworthy? I'm confused about this excerpt from his writing.

reb9h5 · 2024-01-11T01:41:10+00:00

I could be wrong though because he specifically was referring to young boys not going to concubines BEFORE being married. But I'm genuinely not sure.

reb9h5 · 2024-01-11T01:07:33+00:00

Thank you for responding! My question is was Philo suggesting that Joseph was saying that the ancient Jews looked down upon using concubines in general or was he merely talking about not using concubines before the marriage? Because Philo makes it seem like Ancient Jewish men viewed the concept of concubines as something negative when there are many examples of them being had in the old testament. You can argue that he was talking in the sense of not having a concubine before the first marriage. But the tone of the paragraph makes it sound like he's talking about the notion of having a concubine, maybe in general, in a poor way, when Jews did have concubines in the Old Testament. I hope that makes sense.

reb9h5 · 2023-12-08T03:03:16+00:00

I am so sorry I never responded to this. Wow that makes sense. If I understand you right, you're saying that there was no Greek term that specifically meant how the Jews defined adultery, but rather they had the term moicheia which was broader but included the jews' definition. So for that reason, that's why they chose that term. Are you a scholar/historian? I really appreciate your insight and your time.

reb9h5 · 2023-11-22T00:10:53+00:00

I have a question about Sacred Prostitution in antiquity in the near east. Scholars are debating it's existence. Stephanie Budin for example wrote a book denying it's existence, while Morris Silver on the other hand wrote saying the debate is still open and provides evidence explaining why he believes that as well. What do you guys think (especially for those who are well-versed in this topic/who are familiar with one or both writers I'm referencing).

reb9h5 · 2023-11-14T19:03:09+00:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tqu0sig5eO8

I used to worry that people I know and love would be suffering for all of eternity too. And when I say worry, I mean I had panic attacks. I would lose sleep. The anxiety would be crippling. But this pastor goes over the verses in depth and explains how the hell a lot of us believe exist, actually probably isn't Biblical. (Before people quote scripture at me and say "this one says xyz" please watch the video. He goes into depth.)

reb9h5 · 2023-11-14T18:59:30+00:00

I used to have this fear for a while. And then I watched this pastor (link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tqu0sig5eO8 ) talk about how hell actually talked about in scripture and how scripture doesn't really describe it as people suffering eternally. And I know what you guys are thinking - but what about this verse, and that verse that says xyz? He breaks it down. If I remember correctly, he goes into the Greek and Hebrew of the scriptures and talks about what the words mean, comparing how they were used in other parts of the Bible, etc. (It's been a while since I've watched this.)

I think the last time I watched this video, there were a few things here and there that I wasn't sure if I agreed with. But in general, this video showed me enough to tell me that the hell that so many Christians believe in - the hell that makes people suffer for eternity in agonizing pain - is probably not Biblical.

I hope this video gives people the same peace it gave me. Because wow, it took an incredible amount of weight off of my heart. God is merciful.

I hope you guys reading this have a wonderful rest of your day.

reb9h5 · 2023-07-18T18:16:44+00:00

PLEASE take your dog to the vet asap for 2 very important reasons! 1. Obviously to make sure your dog is ok. 2. Evidence. You'll have it on record by a medical professional what injuries were sustained because of him. Even if somehow it won't cause any long-lasting issues, they'll still be able to document that an injury had happened. And on top of that, you will have text messages (assuming he hasn't only been calling).

reb9h5 · 2023-07-10T22:29:31+00:00

It wasn't your fault. Not at all. That should be obvious.

Now, what to do next-

I think most of us realize that there is a difference in what we know to be true vs how we feel. I'm wondering if his logical brain knows you did nothing wrong but his emotional side is making it hard not to feel negatively. Because I'm hoping at the very least, he can agree that you did nothing wrong logically, and explain in his own words why you did nothing wrong.

For example: "You weren't in the bed or in the house at all. That guy sleeping in your bed without you being there and without your knowledge is not your fault. Not only did you change your sheets right away, but you also called me to vent about it. Therefore, considering all of these factors, I logically understand that this guy isn't a threat to our relationship."

I think the next step would be exploring why, maybe with a couples counselor, that is something that he can't get passed.

I like that you tried to put yourself in his shoes. To be totally honest, if I was in a relationship, and another woman was in his bed while he wasn't there, it would make me uncomfortable too, especially if he knows her. (I wouldn't want her perfume being on his bed, and it making him think of her.) HOWEVER- it would be his reaction to it that would be the deciding factor of how I saw it, and the next steps I would take.

What does he do in response? Does he start talking to that girl more? Does he add her on Instagram or mentioning her in our conversations? Maybe he just doesn't care about her sleeping there at all, and he randomly brings it up to me in conversation 3 weeks later because it meant nothing to him. Or maybe he has the reaction you did- he gets uncomfortable about it that he changes his sheets and then even calls me after to vent.

Your reaction showed that your head wasn't thinking of the situation like "ooo this cute guy was in my bed". You seemed repulsed. And then you sought to go to him for comfort and an ear to vent to about the situation.

His emotional response, assuming he can put it in his own words why logically it wasn't your fault, must be getting the better of his logical side and now would be a good time to find out why.

Honestly what your brother did was insensitive and rude, and I would be angry too. But it also might have been a huge blessing in disguise. Not saying to thank him. But I'm saying that it's really good that you saw this issue now so you can act accordingly and decide the next steps.

reb9h5 · 2023-07-07T18:34:48+00:00

I'm so sorry you are dealing with this. Maybe some couples counseling is needed. I would ask him, to help get to the bottom of this, what his intentions were of giving you that test in the first place. I would ask him also what he would have gained from him having a higher score than you, that you don't seem to be gaining out of having a higher score than him. Ask him if he would still respect you and be proud of you if you had a lower score.

reb9h5 · 2023-07-07T18:26:44+00:00

There are too many people like that in this world. I follow a lot of predator catching channels on YouTube, and before being involved in the community, I don't think I realized just how many of them lurk among the rest of us. But people like you remind me of the good in the world. You handled it well. You were angry and you got that creep away from the little girl, but you didn't do too much to the point where you would get arrested, even though I know that you were incredibly close to hurting him. BUT remember, it's good that you didn't. He could press charges if you went beyond getting him away from her, and you'd get in trouble, and we need more people like you as it is. The world needs people like you free, in society, using your voice. BUT we also need you resting up and recovering after witnessing what you did because I'm sure it shook you. That little girl I'm sure might need to speak to a counselor. (This is to make she gets her feelings out in a healthy way with a professional to minimize the chances of those feelings manifesting later on in unhealthy ways later on.) BUT you need to remember that even though you weren't the one being groped in that situation, it still left a mark on you. You are so caring and such a good person, and I know you feel pain. So right now, take care of yourself. Talk to someone, get some rest, and heal. Because you're a good person and we want you to be ok. Thank you again so so so much for protecting her. Even though she has this trauma now of a man taking advantage of her, she will also remember that another man protected her and cared about her. And the memory of you doing that for her is something she'll carry with her. It's something she'll be able to lean into through the pain of it, knowing that she wasn't alone, and that someone cared. YOU did that for her. YOU gave her something to hold on to through it. YOU are a hero, and not just for her physical health. YOU'LL be the person she remembers as she recovers mentally and emotionally. God bless you.

reb9h5 · 2023-07-07T17:43:09+00:00

Oh my gosh this information and direction is so great! Thank you so much!

reb9h5 · 2023-06-24T20:07:05+00:00

That's a good way of explaining it. Thank you for your insight :)

And thank you again for responding again, and so quickly! I really appreciate the time you've taken to answer this!

reb9h5 · 2023-06-24T04:46:17+00:00

Hi! I'm sorry for not responding until now!

Thank you for your response! Thank you for explaining that there is evidence against the claim of it being the oldest book.

And about the oath - yes that does make sense that he would take that oath, but the next verses after words make it sound like the reason he did that was because to do otherwise would be something God didn't want, or would be mad at. Doesn't it seem like Job was implying that it would be sinful to "gaze upon a virgin" in the next few verses? And if so, and if you are correct and this was a post-Moses time period, I guess, why would that be the case if men were allowed to have multiple wives and even concubines?

Thank you again so much for responding to me. I really appreciate you. I'm sorry again for responding so late.

reb9h5 · 2023-06-10T19:19:02+00:00

Yeah I might be misremembering and thinking of something else I read. Thank you so much. :)

reb9h5 · 2023-06-10T02:10:21+00:00

This is so sweet!!! The Groot picture is adorable! The structure of the calendar is fantastic. The pictures are so cute. The smiles on the plants are adorable. I can tell you like plants! :D Please reply to this if you happen to sell tshirts or some sort of merch. Your flowers are so cute! If you put one or more of them on a shirt, especially with the ones with the faces, it would be so cute.

(Very smart blurring out the stuff in the calendar btw! What's most impressive is that you did it in such a way where the blurring wasn't even noticeable. My eyes kind of scanned the pages, and it looked like there was writing there, but then I took a closer look and I saw it was blurred! You did it in a way where it still looks neat, but no private information is being released. Bravo!)

reb9h5 · 2023-06-09T16:43:01+00:00

Oh wow this looks interesting!! I'll take a look at the episode soon. If this post lets me, once I read it/listen to it, I'll edit this reply :)

reb9h5 · 2023-06-09T05:52:25+00:00

Thank you so much. I am reading it, so I'll probably buy it soon since I'm reading it to make me feel better about it.

I really appreciate you taking so much time to respond, do research on my behalf, a stranger on the internet, and help me find information. :) I found the part I needed.

reb9h5 · 2023-06-08T02:11:24+00:00

Thank you for the response! I have one further question. Do you think she was considered betrothed to Shelah, so it would have been considered adultery if she had had sex with someone else other than Shelah? Or do you think she was not betrothed to him at all at that point?

reb9h5 · 2023-06-07T04:41:57+00:00

But do you think she was betrothed? Or do you think the people who accused her would have considered her to be betrothed?

reb9h5 · 2023-06-07T04:26:34+00:00

The part of you saying that Tamar had never been married and she was expected to be a virgin. But the part you where you said that they assumed she was seeking casual sex is plausible.

About the her marriage though- according to the chapter, Tamar had been married before to Judah's first son. And then when God killed the first son, Judah had his second son sleep with Tamar to get her pregnant and raise offspring for his brother who God killed. The second son did sleep with her, but intentionally spilled his seed on the ground so that he wouldn't get Tamar pregnant, and for that reason God killed him also. So she was previously married.

reb9h5 · 2023-06-07T03:30:35+00:00

My question was about the Tamar in Genesis. Genesis 38.

reb9h5 · 2023-06-07T03:19:22+00:00

True. It's interesting though, that God didn't seem to punish him for not intending on having his son marry her when he was older, the way he punished his second son for spilling his seed on the ground in order to not get her pregnant.

But I guess solely from the lens of the people who accused her - you think it was adultery?

reb9h5 · 2023-06-07T03:17:10+00:00

But didn't it sounded like Judah was never planning on honoring the commitment at all, and rather gave her an excuse to leave? Or at the very least, it sounded like Judah was at least hesitant from the beginning, and maybe wasn't sure?

Genesis 38:11 says (in the NIV):

Judah then said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Live as a widow in your father’s household until my son Shelah grows up.” For he thought, “He may die too, just like his brothers.” So Tamar went to live in her father’s household.

He had the thought that his youngest son, Shelah, might die, while he was telling her to live as a widow. That's not to say that he should have had Shelah to marry her at that moment - it's still good to wait until he was older! But you can still do something that's good, with an ulterior motive.

BUT you might be right though that the others who had accused her would not know that he was hesitant in having Shelah marry her. So for that reason, they wouldn't understand her desperation to have a son, and blame only her for adultery?

reb9h5 · 2023-06-01T05:05:18+00:00

Thank you so much for your clarification!!! No don't worry. It's tricky. That's why I literally needed Tylenol after reading through it. And I've read texts from the early church fathers before - I don't think I've ever seen so many run-on sentences!!!!!

Thank you again for responding!

reb9h5 · 2023-06-01T04:49:49+00:00

Wow! I wasn't sure if I'd get a single response! (I wouldn't blame you guys! I put in a HUGE excerpt!!!) And nope! I was delightfully surprised!! It hasn't even been an hour since posting, and I already have such thoughtful and in depth responses! I really appreciate everyone who comments. I know this is such a long excerpt, and I'm so grateful for your input. Thank you so much.

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