Genesis_Notes

 Just for Giggles - My (audhd) notes while reading Genesis. (This was largely a direct read from KJV, with little use of outside sources, apart from checking word etymology, and unit of measure conversion. presented just as I wrote them, no editing)

Genesis 1

• 1-5: 1st day
  • "God created the heaven and the earth"
    • #question Is he talking about this earth? Or is this the forming of order out of chaos (the "primordial sea")?
  • 3-5 light and darkness, day and night.
    • This occurs before the Sun, Moon and Stars were created. (4th day)
      • #question Does this mean light/dark, or order/chaos?
      • duality of meaning?
• 6-8 2nd day
  • Firmament (latin firmamentum - "That which strengthens or supports"
    • divides "... the waters from the waters" - waters above the firmament from the waters under.
      • The firmament serves as a (protective?) barrier
      • firmament=heaven (v8)
      • #question what are the waters above? (The primordial sea?)
      • #question what are the waters below? (Actual water?)
• 9-13 3rd day
  • 9-10 waters under heaven gathered, dry land appears - earth and seas
  • 11-13 vegetative life created
  • #question (before the sun, moon and stars? doesn't plant life need light? Was there another source of light before the sun/moon/stars?)
• 14-19 4th day
  • Sun
  • Moon
  • Stars
• 20-23 5th day
  • Fish (Sea creatures)
  • Fowl (winged creatures)
• 24-31 6th day
  • 24-25 Beasts of the earth/every creeping thing
  • 26-28 Man and Woman
    • given dominion over everything on the earth
  • 29-30 Every Herb and Fruit for food for Man and Beast - was everything vegetarian at first?
  • 31 "It was very good"

Genesis 2

• 1-3
  • Is Sunday the 1st day, or the 7th day?
    • varies by culture (even today. world is about 50/50)
    • Rome declared Sunday the 1st day in AD 321
• 4-7 All things created spiritually before the earth was formed
  • even plants
• 8-9 Garden of Eden
  • eastward in Eden
  • #question Every edible plant (fruit) and flowering plant("Pleasant to the sight")?
• 10-14 River, out of Eden, waters the garden, divides into four branches
  • 1st (11-12) - Pison
    • Encompasses Havilah
    • Gold, Bdellium, Onyx
  • 2nd (13) - Gihon
    • Encompases Ethiopia
  • 3rd (14) - Hiddekel
    • East of Assyria
  • 4th (14) - Euphrates
• 15-17 command to tend the Garden, but not eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil
  • #question is the tree of knowledge a literal tree with literal fruit, or was this symbolic of something else?
• 18-20 Animals created and brought to Adam to be given names
  • #question created? Again? non-literal/poetic? Or was prior creation spiritual?
• 21-25 Eve is created from Adams rib(/side)

Genesis 3

• 1 #question Why did they call Lucifer "The Serpent"? Moses 21:9 A brass serpent is a representation of Christ, so clearly the serpent is not exclusively a symbol of Satan.
• 4-5 Lucifer use a lie and a truth
  • "Ye shall not die" - Lie, eating the fruit introduced both physical and spiritual death
  • "Ye shall be as Gods, knowing good and evil" - True
    • This doesn't say they would become God's it says they would know good and evil as the Gods know good and evil.
• 14 #question This leaves the impression this is referring to snakes as we know them ("upon thy belly that shalt go..." i.e. no legs), but, is this literal or symbolic?
• 15 "Thou shalt bruise his heel..." - source of Achilles myth?
• 16 #question "He shall rule over thee..." Is this in the original text, or is this an alteration by "Kingmen"? If the former, what is the meaning/intent?
  • Scholars interpretations:
    • This is a prophecy, not a command - the power struggle between men and women is a consequence of a sinful world
    • Some translations rewrite as the husband shall be a place of refuge for the wife.
• 21 Coats of Skin - symbolic of the temple garment, or this was the first temple garment?
  • (The Garment is a symbol of Christ, and the atonement)
• 22 God confirms that Satan spoke Truth with respect to this (v5)
• 23-24 Adam and Eve driven from the Garden.
  • #question The world presumably became mortal at this point. Did the Garden remain un-corrupted, or did it also become mortal? If un-corrupted, where is it now?
  • #question The tree of life is a Symbol (Love of God, The savior, some speculation it also is a symbol of heavenly mother) Is it also a literal tree? (ref notes-Genesis 2:15-17)
  • #question who or what were the cherubim?
  • #question what is the flaming sword?

Genesis 4

• 7 #question "Thou shalt rule over him" Cain shall rule over Satan? Because he has a body?
  • 7d crossref Moses 5:23-24 - calls Cain "Perdition" Does that mean he is a son of perdition?
• 17 Cain's wife is suddenly mentioned.
  • #question was Cain married before or after he killed Abel?
    • I assume before, otherwise, how did he convince her to marry him?
    • #question What is her fate in all of this? Did she spiritually follow Cain?
  • Enoch, son of Cain, founds a city called Enoch - This is not the righteous Enoch, no the Righteous city.
• 24 Lamech - 24a crossref Moses 5:48-54 Lamech assumes the Title of Master Mahan - Master of the secret combination. v50- Cain slew for gain, Lamech slew for the Sake of the combination.

Genesis 5

• Bible Genealogy
• 32 #question Shem, Ham Japhath - Born in that order? Triplets?

Genesis 6

• 1-3 "sons of God", "daughters of men" - I assume this means the people had separated into those who were covenant keepers, and those who were not/non-believers. Or, priesthood holders were marrying out of the covenant.
• 4 #question - literal giants, or men of worldly power, prestige,...?
• 6 #question God repented? He is perfect, all knowing, why would he repent?
• 8 - #question were Noah and his family the only righteous people left?
• 14 - #question is there a significance to gopher wood? Was the pitch tree pitch, or bitumen?
• 15-16 - 300 x 50 × 30, 3 stories, 1 (small) window

Genesis 7

• 1-6 - 2 of each animal (male and female), but 7 of the "clean" animals, and the fowl. Were the extras for food(humans and/or carnivores )? Seven days to do this. #question what is meant by clean here? This predates Mosaic law. But it was written by Moses, so possibly contemporary context to a past event
• 11-12 - rain plus subterranean water for 40 days and nights, beginning in 600th year of Noah's life, 2nd month, 17th day.
• 24 - water remained 150 days (including or excluding the 40 days flooding?)

Genesis 8

• 1 #question a literal wind, or does this mean a priesthood command?
• 2-4 waters subsided sufficient for the Ark to go aground on mount Ararat on the 17th day of the 7th month (150 days)
• 5 - #question the tops of the mountains weren't seen until the 1st day of the 10th month? How did the ark run aground 2 1/2 months earlier?
• 6-7 - Noah opens the window after 40 days and releases a raven - from when? Assume 40 days after Month 10, day 1.
• 8 - also releases a dove - same day? Raven flies away, but dove returns
• 10-11 - #question sends the dove again 7 days later. Dove returns with an Olive branch. Where does it find an olive Branch? Did a tree survive under the flood?
• 12 - seven more days, sends the dove again. It doesn't return.
• 13 - 601st year, 1st month, 1st day, Noah opens the Ark, and he ground is dry.
• 14 - #question month 2 , day 27, Earth is dried. What is the difference between now and 2 months ago?
• 15-22 - Noah uploads the Ark per God's command, builds an altar, and offers sacrifice.

Genesis 9

• 3-5 - #question "every moving thing that liveth shall be meat" - no restrictions(except blood)? JST adds clarity, no killing animals for sport, only for food.
• 6 - penalty for murder is death.
• 13 - (JST makes significant changes to this chapter. V13 is moved

Genesis 10

• 2-5 Japheth is the source of the Gentiles (So, a genetic line, not a "nonmember")
• 6-20 Hams children include the Canaanites, Ninevites, Philistines, Amorites, Sidon, Soddom and Gomorrah
• 8-10 Nimrod, son of Ham,"Mighty Hunter before the lord", Founder of Babel.
• 21-25 Shem - Ancestor of Peleg "In whose days the Earth was divided" #question What event does this refer to?

Genesis 11

• 1 One language (Adamic?)
• 4 #question "Let us make us a name..." Is there some significance to this? What does it mean?
• 6 #question This seems to imply the united, wicked men would have been able to reach heaven, had God not confounded their language. This doesn't make sense to me.

Genesis 12

• 4 Abram was 75 years old!!! when he started this journey!
• 7 He was promised the Barren desert of the Canaanites (Moses 7:7-8) ( ??? #question Why would you want that? How is that a blessing???)
• 8 Beth-El = house of God. #question Was this a city initially, or a specific sacred place (Like the garden of Eden, i.e. a 'natural' temple)? What does Hai (Ai) mean? ("Life" or "Heap of Ruins"?) These locations were not Hebrew initially, they were in Canaanite lands.
• 11 Sarai was fair to look upon? Abram was 75+, how old was she?
• 12-20 Abram lied to the Egyptians fearing they would kill him to take his wife. In doing so, he cause a plague to come upon Pharoh's house. Abraham 2:22 indicates the Lord commanded this subterfuge. #question If this is true, Why? If this in incorrect, why did Abram not trust the Lord? Either way, this dishonesty seems out of place, but more so if instigated by God.

Genesis 13

• 7-9 Abram is the Patriarch, yet when there is contention between his herdsmen and Lot's herdsmen, and he proposes they divide up the land to settle the dispute, he gives Lot first choice of Land.

Genesis 14

• 1 Side 1...

King	City
Amraphel	Shinar
Arioch	Ellasar
Cherdorlaomer	Elam
Tidal	???Nations???

• 2 Side 2....

King	City
Bera	Sodom
Birsha	Gomorrah
Shindab	Admah
Shember	Zeboiim
Zoar	Bela

• 3 I assume Side 2 was in the Vale of Sidim
• 4 They were all Vassals of Cherdorlaomer, then Side 2 rebelled, so side 1 made war on them.
• 5-9 ??? #question We were talking about the above two groups, now we have this entire other set of groups? (Note- First three cross reference to versus referring to races of Giants.) Possibly this third group rebelled against Cherdorlaomer, and Side 2 allied with them?

tribe/race	region/city
Rephaims	Ashteroth Karnaim
Zuzim	Ham
Emims	Shaveh Kriathaim
Horites	Mount Seir, untier El-paran, by the wilderness
Amelekites & Amorites	Hazezon-tamar

• Ashteroth Karnaim

  • Karnaim = Radiant or Horned
  • Radiant Ashteroth?
  • Possibly a reference to two peaks, i.e. the mountains of Ashteroth?
  • Is this a legitimate reference to Ashteroth, or did they simply take her name for their city for prestige? Is the name already corrupted by this point?

• 10 #question "The Kings of Sodom and Gomorrah ... fell there...", but v 17 seems to indicate they (Sodom at least) survived?

• 14 Abram leads 318 Servants (plus allies (v13, 24)) and slaughters Cherdorlaomer and his forces, freeing Lot (and others) and their good taken as spoils of war.

• 18 Melchizedek was King of Salem (xref-Jerusalem tradition has this as the same city, but possibly distinct) AND high priest of God

  • He brought bread and wine (food and drink, or sacrament?)

• 20 Abram pays tithes to Melchizedek

• 21-24 Abram refuses to take any share of the spoils as reward for recovering the people and goods of Sodom.

• JST adds v25-40 (Were these removed by wicked men?)

  • Describes Priesthood and Priesthood power
  • Describes Melchizekek's righteousness - hes is call the "King of Heaven" or "King of Peace"
  • His people "Sought for the city of Enoch"
  • Melchizedek recieved tithes for the poor (Abram also paid tithes to him)

Genesis 15

• 3 Abram indicates one of his servants (born in his house) would be his heir
• 4-7 God promises Abram he will have a child, and his offspring will be uncountable in number. He also promises the Land of Canaan to him and his offspring.
• 8-11 Abram asks for confirmation of God's promise and is told to make a sacrifice.
• 12 A "horror of great darkness" comes upon Abram in his sleep. Similar to Joseph Smith''s experience?
• 12-21 God fortells the period of Captivity of Abrams seed in Egypt ( #question 400 Years? 4 generations?)
  • 16 "Iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full" Suggests the period of captivity was , in part to give the Canaanite people time to fully condemn themselves ( #question could things have worked out differently had they repented?)

Genesis 16

• 1-6 That Sarai offered Hagar as a polygamous wife indicates this was a common and established practice. #question Would the outcome have been different, had Abram dealt with the issue between Sarai and Hagar? Would the generations old emnity have been avoidable?
• 12 Seems to suggest the emnity was inevitable
• 16 Abram was 86 years old when his first son was born!

Genesis 17

• 1-7 #question Was this Abrams Endowment?
• 5 Abram -> Abraham (new name ceremony?)
• 10-14 Circumcision is introduced as an ordinance #question When did it cease to be an ordinance?
• 15 Sarai -> Sarah
• 25 Abraham was circumcised at the age of 99!!

Genesis 18

• 1-2 #question God (Jehovah) + 3 angels, or 3 Including God?
• 14 "Is anythng too hard for the lord?"
• 23-32 Abraham bargains with God for Sodom and Gomorrah (50,45,40,30,20,10 righteous)

Genesis 19

• 1-3 (JST two -> three) angels arrive in Sodom #question Does Lot know they are angels, or is he offering to protect random strangers? (Were they angels, or prophets?)
• 4 #question "All people from every quarter" - as in the whole whole city or a random cross-section?
• 8 #question ????? He offers his two virgin daughters to the mob???? What????
• 12-15 Lot warns his Marries Daughters and their Wives, but they don't believe him
• 16 Lot "lingered", he was compelled to leave by the angels.
• 17-23 The Lord directs Lot to flee to the mountains, Lot instead bargains for the option to go to the city Zoar instead (which also secures the protection of Zoar from the destruction)
• 24-25 brimstone and fire (Sulfur? Pitch? Meteor shower?)
• 26 Lot's wife "Looked back" - They had already arrived in Zoar, This was more than just looking over her shoulder.
• 30 Lot left Zoar and took to the Mountains (Where God told him to go in the first place) #question is this in any way related to what happened to his Wife? Was what happened to her in some way a consequence of not following God's original command (i.e. like the lost plates for Joseph Smith)?
• 31 JST clarifies that the firstborn's intentions were wicked.
• 31-38 Lot's daughters get him drunk and lay with him, each bearing a a son which became the fathers of the Moabite and Ammonite nations.

Genesis 20

• 2 Again??? This didn't work out last time, why would he try it again?
• 12 Abraham married his half-sister (eew!)
• "...the brother...", A bit passive-aggressive?
• 18 #question how long was Sarah with Abimelech? Long enough for them to notice the entire household had become barren.

Genesis 21

• 6 "laugh" - Hebrew - dual meaning "Laugh" and "Rejoice"
• 9 It would be interesting to know the details of Ishmael's "mocking", Was Sarah being a bit petty? If not, what was Ishmael saying or doing that was so vile as to warrant him and his mother being banished?
• 12 Implies Hagar was a contributor to the mocking. Also, It seems that Abraham went to God for counsel, and God found the proposed banishment Justified. On the other hand, was this the catalyst for an ages old grudge (Jews vs. "Muslims")?
• 22-34 It would appear that at this point in history, the Philistines - or at the very least their King - Were reasonably honorable.

Genesis 22

• 1-2 God tests Abraham by telling him to offer is son Isaac as a sacrifice
• 3 It wasn't just Abraham and Isaac on this journey, there were also two servants. Did they know? (v5 probably not)
• 4 "On the third day..." God seems to have a strong affinity for certain numbers. I am curious as to why.
• 8-9 Seems there is a significant gap here, specifically a conversation Abraham had to have had with Isaac, about him being the sacrifice.
• 12 Philosophical #question Did God no know Abraham would be faithful before testing him? Is this just a figure of speech, a way of pointing out to Abraham that he is faithful, or is the future not (perfectly) fixed? Is there some small degree of uncertainty for God?
• 12 "Thine only son" - a similitude of the Savior, but, unlike in Abraham's case, God did not intervene to stop sacrifice and save his own son's life.
• 13-18 God provides a ram, which Abraham sacrifices. The Lord then reiterates the promise to Abraham, that he will be the father of nations.
• 20-24 This seems oddly attached to this chapter - a small piece of Genealogy of Nahor, Abraham's brother. (Huz and Buz - did those name Rhyme like that in the original language?) It does identify Rebekkah, daughter of Bethuel, son of Nahor, who will become Isaac's wife. Perhaps that is its purpose?

Genesis 23

• 1 Sarah Dies at age 127
• 2-11 Abraham asks to buy the cave Machpelah from Ephron the Hittite, to use as a burial place. Ephron refuses the money and gives the cave to Abraham.
• 12-18 Abraham accepts the gift of the cave, but purchase the field where the cave was located for 400 Shekels of silver.

Genesis 24

• 1-9 Abraham's head servant is Eliezer of Damascus. Abraham had him swear an oath to find a non-canaanite wife for Isaac. The oath required that he try. It would no longer be in force if he could not find a woman willing to return with him.
• 10 Eliezer travels to the City Nahor in Mesopotamia.
• 12 #question Eliezer prays to "the God of Abraham" - Is he a convert? Agnostic but "giving it a shot"?
• 16 #question "...a virgin, neither had any man known her..." Is this a poetic duplication, or is there some distinction between the two?
• 29 "Laban", was Book of Mormon Laban named after him?
• 58 "I will go" Rebekah demonstrates incredible faith.

Genesis 25

• 1-4 The children of Keturah - Abraham's wife after Sarah - are listed.
• 5-6 Abraham gives gifts to all the children of his concubines and send them away - presumably to reduce friction/conflict with his son Isaac.
• 7-11 Abraham dies and is buried by Isaac and Ishmael - Ishmael returned? Was permitted to return? (Gen 21:10-14)
• 12-18 The descendants (12 princes) and death of Ishmael are recorded.
• 19-21 Rebekah was barren. Isaac prayed (and fasted?) and she became pregnant with twins.
• 22-26 #question The twins were already fighting in the womb?
• 23 #question "... the one people shall be stronger..." Is this referring to Easu (physical strength), or Jacob (the younger ruling over the elder)?
• 28 Parents showing favoritism...
• 29-34 Esau sells his birthright to Jacob #question So many questions. Did Jacob come up with this scheme on his own? Or did his mother prime him? What was the source of this emnity? Was Esau irresponsible (ADHD?) and therefore there were concerns of him mishandling the birthright, thus putting the family and servants of Isaac at risk in the future?
• 30 "Edom" - There is speculation this is the origin of "Odin", Are the viking cultures descended from Esau?

Genesis 26

• 2 "Go not down to Egypt..." Then a generation later God sends all of them to Egypt. What changed? Timing? Or did God not intend for Jacob and his Sons to move to Egypt, and that occurred as a result of poor choices?
• 7-11 Isaac introduces his wife as his sister - same fool thing his father did twice... #question Was there a trend during this time in history, of men killing other men to claim their wives? The Philistines (or at least their kings) seemed to view adultery as sinful, but perhaps murder was a 'workaround'?
• 12-22 The Lord prospers Isaac so greatly that the philistines begin to fear his wealth and might, so they kick him out. #question How does this fit with God's promise in v3 to give the land to Abraham and his seed?
• 23 He went to Bee-Sheba - It seems Beer-sheba was a holy place (i.e. a temple)
• 26-31 Abimelech - after chasing Issac out of the land, comes to him and seeks a peace treaty.
• 34-35 Esau was forty before he got married. He takes two wives of the Hittites (not of the covenant), causing his parents great sorrow. Were their feelings amplified by their study of scripture (Gen 6:1-3)?

Genesis 27

• 1-4 #question Why did Isaac wait until he was nearly dead to pronounce the birthright blessing?
• 5-27 Rebekah overhears the conversation and conspires with Jacob, but is this deception, or inspiration? It seems as though there was some level of prophecy regarding Jacob becoming the birthright son, and then there was the legal issue that Esau had sold the birthright to Jacob. It seems as though Isaac was ignoring or attempting to circumvent prophecy. Perhaps Rebekah's actions were - at least partly - inspired. But that does this suggest God condones dishonesty under certain circumstances (i.e. Gen 12:12-20, 20:2, 26:7-11)? Or would God have taken care of this another way, had Rebekah put greater trust in God?
• 28-29 Jacob receives the birthright blessing
• 30-38 Esau arrives and cries for a blessing. does he not remember or care that he willingly gave up the birthright? Now he wants it back? Integrity?
• 40 This sounds almost like a fairy tale blessing - a counter-curse
• 39-46 This seems like a fairly dysfunctional family. Mom and Dad have favorite children, Mom and Dad are engaged in subterfuge against one another. The kids hate each other (perhaps this was fomented by Mom and Dad's behavior?) It is crazy the psycho behavior God tolerates from his children. (if this was tolerable behavior, how bad was it that he decided to flood the earth and start over? Or are some key events 'scripted', and it is post-mortal outcomes that are affected by individual's responses to those scripted events, rather than those changes altering the script?)

Genesis 28

• 2 Jacob's father commands him to marry a cousin (eww!)
• 6-9 Esau observes (or learns) that Jacob is told not to marry a Canaanite (it makes it sound like he didn't know this was unfavorable. Typical teen ignoring what his parents said?), so he marries Mahalath, a daughter of Ishmael (he has (at least) three wives now).
• 12 origin of "Jacobs Ladder"
• 13-15 Jacob receives, in dream, the Abrahamic blessings from God.
• 16-19 Jacob awakens and concludes he is on holy ground (a temple?) He calls the place Beth-el (house of God), and builds an alter. It states there was already a city here, called Lu## Genesis 1
  - 1-5: 1st day
      - "God created the heaven  and the earth"
          - #question Is he talking about this earth? Or is this the forming of order out of chaos (the "primordial sea")?
      - 3-5 light and darkness, day and night. 
          - This occurs before the Sun, Moon and Stars were created. (4th day)
              - #question Does this mean light/dark, or order/chaos?
              - duality of meaning?
  - 6-8  2nd day
      - Firmament (latin firmamentum - "That which strengthens or supports"
          - divides "... the waters from the waters" - waters above the firmament from the waters under.
              - The firmament serves as a (protective?) barrier
              - firmament=heaven (v8) 
              - #question what are the waters above? (The primordial sea?)
              - #question what are the waters below? (Actual water?)
  - 9-13 3rd day
      - 9-10 waters under heaven gathered, dry land appears - earth and seas
      - 11-13 vegetative life created
      - #question (before the sun, moon and stars? doesn't plant life need light? Was there another source of light before the sun/moon/stars?)
  - 14-19 4th day
      - Sun
      - Moon
      - Stars
  - 20-23 5th day
      - Fish (Sea creatures)
      - Fowl (winged creatures)
  - 24-31 6th day
      - 24-25 Beasts of the earth/every creeping thing
      - 26-28 Man and Woman
          - given dominion over everything on the earth
      - 29-30 Every Herb and Fruit for food for Man and Beast - was everything vegetarian at first?
      - 31 "It was very good"
  
  ## Genesis 2
  - 1-3
      - Is Sunday the 1st day, or the 7th day?
          - varies by culture (even today. world is about 50/50)
          - Rome declared Sunday the 1st day in AD 321
  - 4-7 All things created spiritually before the earth was formed
      - even plants
  - 8-9 Garden of Eden
      - eastward in Eden
      - #question Every edible plant (fruit) and flowering plant("Pleasant to the sight")?
  - 10-14 River, out of Eden, waters the garden, divides into four branches
      - 1st (11-12) - Pison
          - Encompasses Havilah
          - Gold, Bdellium, Onyx
      - 2nd (13) - Gihon
          - Encompases Ethiopia
      - 3rd (14) - Hiddekel
          - East of Assyria
      - 4th (14) - Euphrates
  - 15-17 command to tend the Garden, but not eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil
      - #question is the tree of knowledge a literal tree with literal fruit, or was this symbolic of something else?
  - 18-20 Animals created and brought to Adam to be given names
      - #question created? Again? non-literal/poetic? Or was prior creation spiritual?
  - 21-25 Eve is created from Adams rib(/side)
  
  ## Genesis 3
  - 1 #question Why did they call Lucifer "The Serpent"? Moses 21:9 A brass serpent is a representation of Christ, so clearly the serpent is not exclusively a symbol of Satan.
  - 4-5 Lucifer use a lie and a truth
      - "Ye shall not die" - Lie, eating the fruit introduced both physical and spiritual death
      - "Ye shall be as Gods, knowing good and evil" - True
          - This doesn't say they would become God's it says they would know good and evil as the Gods know good and evil.
  - 14 #question This leaves the impression this is referring to snakes as we know them ("upon thy belly that shalt go..." i.e. no legs), but, is this literal or symbolic?
  - 15 "Thou shalt bruise his heel..." - source of Achilles myth?
  - 16 #question "He shall rule over thee..." Is this in the original text, or is this an alteration by "Kingmen"? If the former, what is the meaning/intent?
      - Scholars interpretations:
          - This is a prophecy, not a command - the power struggle between men and women is a consequence of a sinful world
          - Some translations rewrite as the husband shall be a place of refuge for the wife.
  - 21 Coats of Skin - symbolic of the temple garment, or this was the first temple garment?
      - (The Garment is a symbol of Christ, and the atonement)
  - 22 God confirms that Satan spoke Truth with respect to this (v5)
  - 23-24 Adam and Eve driven from the Garden.
      - #question The world presumably became mortal at this point. Did the Garden remain un-corrupted, or did it also become mortal? If un-corrupted, where is it now?
      - #question The tree of life is a Symbol (Love of God, The savior, some  speculation it also is a symbol of heavenly mother) Is it also a literal tree? (ref notes-Genesis 2:15-17)
      - #question who or what were the cherubim?
      - #question what is the flaming sword?
  ## Genesis 4
  - 7 #question "Thou shalt rule over him" Cain shall rule over Satan? Because he has a body?
      - 7d crossref Moses 5:23-24 - calls Cain  "Perdition" Does that mean he is a son of perdition?
  - 17 Cain's wife is suddenly mentioned.
      - #question was Cain married before or after he killed Abel?
          - I assume before, otherwise, how did he convince her to marry him?
          - #question What is her fate in all of this? Did she spiritually follow Cain?
      - Enoch, son of Cain, founds a city called Enoch - This is not the righteous Enoch, no the Righteous city.
  - 24 Lamech - 24a crossref Moses 5:48-54 Lamech assumes the Title of Master Mahan - Master of the secret combination. v50- Cain slew for gain, Lamech slew for the Sake of the combination.
  
  ## Genesis 5
  - [[Bible Genealogy.canvas|Bible Genealogy]]
  - 32 #question Shem, Ham Japhath - Born in that order? Triplets?
  
  ## Genesis 6
  - 1-3 "sons of God", "daughters of men" - I assume this means the people had separated into those who were covenant keepers,  and those who were not/non-believers. Or, priesthood holders were marrying out of the covenant. 
  - 4 #question - literal giants, or men of worldly power,  prestige,...?
  - 6 #question God repented? He is perfect,  all knowing, why would he repent?
  - 8 - #question  were Noah and his family the only righteous people left?
  - 14 - #question is there a significance to gopher wood? Was the pitch tree pitch, or bitumen?
  - 15-16 - 300 x 50 × 30, 3 stories, 1 (small) window
  ## Genesis 7
  - 1-6 - 2 of each animal (male and female), but 7 of the "clean" animals, and the fowl. Were the extras for food(humans and/or carnivores )? Seven days to do this. #question what is meant by clean here? This predates Mosaic law. But it was written by Moses, so possibly contemporary context to a past event
  - 11-12 - rain plus subterranean water for 40 days and nights, beginning in 600th year of Noah's life, 2nd month, 17th day.
  - 24 - water remained 150 days (including or excluding the 40 days flooding?)
  
  ## Genesis 8
  - 1 #question a literal wind, or does this mean a priesthood command?
  - 2-4 waters subsided sufficient for the Ark to go aground on mount Ararat on the 17th day of the 7th month (150 days)
  - 5 - #question the tops of the mountains weren't seen until the 1st day of the 10th month? How did the ark run aground 2 1/2 months earlier?
  - 6-7 - Noah opens the window after 40 days and releases a raven - from when? Assume 40 days after Month 10, day 1.
  - 8 - also releases a dove - same day? Raven flies away, but dove returns
  - 10-11 - #question sends the dove again 7 days later. Dove returns with an Olive branch. Where does it find an olive Branch? Did a tree survive under the flood? 
  - 12 - seven more days, sends the dove again.  It doesn't return.
  - 13 - 601st year, 1st month,  1st day, Noah opens the Ark, and he ground is dry.
  - 14 - #question month 2 , day 27, Earth is dried. What is the difference between now and 2 months ago?
  - 15-22 - Noah uploads the Ark per God's command,  builds an altar, and offers sacrifice. 
  ## Genesis 9
  - 3-5 - #question "every moving thing that liveth shall be meat" - no restrictions(except blood)? JST adds clarity,  no killing animals for sport, only for food.
  - 6 - penalty for murder is death. 
  - 13 - (JST makes significant changes to this chapter. V13 is moved 
  ## Genesis 10
  - 2-5 Japheth is the source of the Gentiles (So, a genetic line, not a "nonmember")
  - 6-20 Hams children include the Canaanites, Ninevites, Philistines, Amorites, Sidon, Soddom and Gomorrah
  - 8-10 Nimrod, son of Ham,"Mighty Hunter before the lord", Founder of Babel.
  - 21-25 Shem - Ancestor of Peleg "In whose days the Earth was divided" #question What event does this refer to?
  
  ## Genesis 11
  - 1 One language (Adamic?)
  - 4 #question "Let us make us a name..." Is there some significance to this? What does it mean?
  - 6 #question This seems to imply the united, wicked men would have been able to reach heaven, had God not confounded their language. This doesn't make sense to me.
  
  ## Genesis 12
  - 4 Abram was 75 years old!!! when he started this journey!
  - 7 He was promised the Barren desert of the Canaanites (Moses 7:7-8) ( ??? #question Why  would you want that? How is that a blessing???)
  - 8 Beth-El = house of God. #question Was this a city initially, or a specific sacred place (Like the garden of Eden, i.e. a 'natural' temple)? What does Hai (Ai) mean? ("Life" or "Heap of Ruins"?) These locations were not Hebrew initially, they were in Canaanite lands.
  - 11 Sarai was fair to look upon? Abram was 75+, how old was she?
  - 12-20 Abram lied to the Egyptians fearing they would kill him to take his wife. In doing so, he cause a plague to come upon Pharoh's house. Abraham 2:22 indicates the Lord commanded this subterfuge. #question If this is true, Why? If this in incorrect, why did Abram not trust the Lord? Either way, this dishonesty seems out of place, but more so if instigated by God.
  
  ## Genesis 13
  - 7-9 Abram is the Patriarch, yet when there is contention between his herdsmen and Lot's herdsmen, and he proposes they divide up the land to settle the dispute, he gives Lot first choice of Land.
  
  ## Genesis 14
  - 1 Side 1...
  
  | King          | City          |
  | ------------- | ------------- |
  | Amraphel      | Shinar        |
  | Arioch        | Ellasar       |
  | Cherdorlaomer | Elam          |
  | Tidal         | ???Nations??? |
  |               |               |
  - 2 Side 2....
  
  | King    | City     |
  | ------- | -------- |
  | Bera    | Sodom    |
  | Birsha  | Gomorrah |
  | Shindab | Admah    |
  | Shember | Zeboiim  |
  | Zoar    | Bela     |
  
  - 3 I assume Side 2 was in the Vale of Sidim
  - 4 They were all Vassals of Cherdorlaomer, then Side 2 rebelled, so side 1 made war on them.
  - 5-9 ??? #question We were talking about the above two groups, now we have this entire other set of groups? (Note- First three cross reference to versus referring to races of Giants.) Possibly this third group rebelled against Cherdorlaomer, and Side 2 allied with them?
  
  | tribe/race            | region/city                                    |
  | --------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
  | Rephaims              | Ashteroth Karnaim                              |
  | Zuzim                 | Ham                                            |
  | Emims                 | Shaveh Kriathaim                               |
  | Horites               | Mount Seir, untier El-paran, by the wilderness |
  | Amelekites & Amorites | Hazezon-tamar                                  |
  - Ashteroth Karnaim
      - Karnaim = Radiant or Horned
      - Radiant Ashteroth?
      - Possibly a reference to two peaks, i.e. the mountains of Ashteroth?
      - Is this a legitimate reference to Ashteroth, or did they simply take her name for their city for prestige? Is the name already corrupted by this point?
  
  
  - 10  #question "The Kings of Sodom and Gomorrah ... fell there...", but v 17 seems to indicate they (Sodom at least) survived?
  - 14 Abram leads 318 Servants (plus allies (v13, 24)) and slaughters Cherdorlaomer and his forces, freeing Lot (and others) and their good taken as spoils of war.
  - 18 Melchizedek was King of Salem (xref-Jerusalem tradition has this as the same city, but possibly distinct) AND high priest of God
      - He brought bread and wine (food and drink, or sacrament?)
  - 20 Abram pays tithes to Melchizedek
  - 21-24 Abram refuses to take any share of the spoils as reward for recovering the people and goods of Sodom.
  - JST adds v25-40 (Were these removed by wicked men?)
      - Describes Priesthood and Priesthood power
      - Describes Melchizekek's righteousness - hes is call the "King of Heaven" or "King of Peace"
      - His people "Sought for the city of Enoch"
      - Melchizedek recieved tithes for the poor (Abram also paid tithes to him)
  
  ## Genesis 15
  - 3 Abram indicates one of his servants (born in his house) would be his heir
  - 4-7 God promises Abram he will have a child, and his offspring will be uncountable in number. He also promises the Land of Canaan to him and his offspring.
  - 8-11 Abram asks for confirmation of God's promise and is told to make a sacrifice.
  - 12 A "horror of great darkness" comes upon Abram in his sleep. Similar to Joseph Smith''s experience?
  - 12-21 God fortells the period of Captivity of Abrams seed in Egypt ( #question 400 Years? 4 generations?)
      - 16 "Iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full" Suggests the period of captivity was , in part to give the Canaanite people time to fully condemn themselves ( #question could things have worked out differently had they repented?)
  
  ## Genesis 16
  - 1-6 That Sarai offered Hagar as a polygamous wife indicates this was a common and established practice. #question Would the outcome have been different, had Abram dealt with the issue between Sarai and Hagar? Would the generations old emnity have been avoidable?
  - 12 Seems to suggest the emnity was inevitable
  - 16 Abram was 86 years old when his first son was born!
  
  ## Genesis 17
  - 1-7 #question Was this Abrams Endowment?
  - 5 Abram -> Abraham (new name ceremony?)
  - 10-14 Circumcision is introduced as an ordinance #question When did it cease to be an ordinance?
  - 15 Sarai -> Sarah
  - 25 Abraham was circumcised at the age of 99!!
  
  ## Genesis 18
  -  1-2 #question God (Jehovah) + 3 angels, or 3 Including God?
  - 14 "Is anythng too hard for the lord?"
  - 23-32 Abraham bargains with God for Sodom and Gomorrah (50,45,40,30,20,10 righteous)
  
  ## Genesis 19
  - 1-3 (JST two -> three) angels arrive in Sodom #question Does Lot know they are angels, or is he offering to protect random strangers? (Were they angels, or prophets?)
  - 4 #question "All people from every quarter" - as in the whole whole city or a random cross-section?
  - 8 #question ????? He offers his two virgin daughters to the mob???? What????
  - 12-15 Lot warns his Marries Daughters and their Wives, but they don't believe him
  - 16 Lot "lingered", he was  compelled to leave by the angels. 
  - 17-23 The Lord directs Lot to flee to the mountains, Lot instead bargains for the option to go to the city Zoar instead (which also secures the protection of Zoar from the destruction)
  - 24-25 brimstone and fire (Sulfur? Pitch? Meteor shower?)
  - 26 Lot's wife "Looked back" - They had already arrived in Zoar, This was more than just looking over her shoulder.
  - 30 Lot left Zoar and took to the Mountains (Where God told him to go in the first place) #question is this in any way related to what happened to his Wife? Was what happened to her in some way a consequence of not following God's original command (i.e. like the lost plates for Joseph Smith)?
  - 31 JST clarifies that the firstborn's intentions were wicked.
  - 31-38 Lot's daughters get him drunk and lay with him, each bearing a a son which became the fathers of the Moabite and Ammonite nations.
  
  ## Genesis 20
  - 2 Again??? This didn't work out last time, why would he try it again?
  - 12 Abraham married his half-sister (eew!)
  - "...the brother...", A bit passive-aggressive?
  - 18 #question how long was Sarah with Abimelech? Long enough for them to notice the entire household had become barren.
  
  ## Genesis 21
  - 6 "laugh" - Hebrew  - dual meaning "Laugh" and "Rejoice" 
  -  9 It would be interesting to know the details of Ishmael's "mocking", Was Sarah being a bit petty? If not, what was Ishmael saying or doing that was so vile as to warrant him and his mother being banished?
  - 12 Implies Hagar was a contributor to the mocking. Also, It seems that Abraham went to God for counsel, and God found the proposed banishment Justified. On the other hand,  was this the catalyst for an ages old grudge (Jews vs. "Muslims")?
  - 22-34 It would appear that at this point in history, the Philistines - or at the very least their King - Were reasonably honorable.
  
  ## Genesis 22
  - 1-2 God tests Abraham by telling him to offer is son Isaac as a sacrifice
  - 3 It wasn't just Abraham and Isaac on this journey, there were also two servants. Did they know? (v5 probably not)
  - 4 "On the third day..." God seems to have a strong affinity for certain numbers. I am curious as to why.
  - 8-9 Seems there is a significant gap here, specifically a conversation Abraham had to have had with Isaac, about him being the sacrifice.
  - 12 Philosophical #question Did God no know Abraham would be faithful before testing him? Is this just a figure of speech, a way of pointing out to Abraham that he is faithful, or is the future not (perfectly) fixed? Is there some small degree of uncertainty for God?
  - 12 "Thine only son" - a similitude of the Savior, but, unlike in Abraham's case, God did not intervene to stop sacrifice and save his own son's life.
  - 13-18 God provides a ram, which Abraham sacrifices. The Lord then reiterates the promise to Abraham, that he will be the father of nations.
  - 20-24 This seems oddly attached to this chapter - a small piece of Genealogy of Nahor, Abraham's brother. (Huz and Buz - did those name Rhyme like that in the original language?) It does identify Rebekkah, daughter of Bethuel, son of Nahor, who will become Isaac's wife. Perhaps that is its purpose?
  
  ## Genesis 23
  - 1 Sarah Dies at age 127
  - 2-11 Abraham asks to buy the cave Machpelah from Ephron the Hittite, to use as a burial place. Ephron refuses the money and gives the cave to Abraham.
  - 12-18 Abraham accepts the gift of the cave, but purchase the field where  the cave was located for 400 Shekels of silver.
  
  ## Genesis 24
  - 1-9 Abraham's head servant is Eliezer of Damascus. Abraham had him swear an oath to find a non-canaanite wife for Isaac. The oath required that he try. It would no longer be in force if he could not find a  woman willing to return with him.
  - 10 Eliezer travels to the City Nahor in Mesopotamia.
  - 12 #question Eliezer prays to "the God of Abraham" - Is he a convert? Agnostic but "giving it a shot"?
  - 16 #question "...a virgin, neither had any man known her..." Is this a poetic duplication, or is there some distinction between the two?
  - 29 "Laban", was Book of Mormon Laban named after him?
  - 58 "I will go" Rebekah demonstrates incredible faith.
  
  ## Genesis 25
  - 1-4 The children of Keturah - Abraham's wife after Sarah - are listed.
  - 5-6 Abraham gives gifts to all the children of his concubines and send them away - presumably to reduce friction/conflict with his son Isaac.
  - 7-11 Abraham dies and is buried by Isaac and Ishmael - Ishmael returned? Was permitted to return? (Gen 21:10-14)
  - 12-18 The descendants (12 princes) and death of Ishmael are recorded.
  - 19-21 Rebekah was barren. Isaac prayed (and fasted?) and she became pregnant with twins.
  -  22-26 #question The twins were already fighting in the womb?
  - 23 #question "... the one people shall be stronger..." Is this referring to Easu (physical strength), or Jacob (the younger ruling over the elder)?
  - 28 Parents showing favoritism...
  - 29-34 Esau sells his birthright to Jacob #question So many questions. Did Jacob come up with this scheme on his own? Or did his mother prime him? What was the source of this emnity? Was Esau irresponsible (ADHD?) and therefore there were concerns of him mishandling the birthright, thus putting the family and servants of Isaac at risk in the future?
  - 30 "Edom" - There is speculation this is the origin of "Odin", Are the viking cultures descended from Esau?
  
  ## Genesis 26
  
  - 2 "Go not down to Egypt..." Then a generation later God sends all of them to Egypt. What changed? Timing? Or did God not intend for Jacob and  his Sons to move to Egypt, and that occurred as a result of poor choices?
  - 7-11 Isaac introduces his wife as his sister - same fool thing his father did twice... #question Was there a trend during this time in history, of men killing other men to claim their wives? The Philistines (or at least their kings) seemed to view adultery as sinful, but perhaps murder was a 'workaround'?
  - 12-22 The Lord prospers Isaac so greatly that the philistines begin to fear his wealth and might, so  they kick him out. #question How does this fit with God's promise in v3 to give the land to Abraham and his seed?
  - 23 He went to Bee-Sheba - It seems Beer-sheba was a holy place (i.e. a temple)
  - 26-31 Abimelech - after chasing Issac out of the land, comes to him and seeks a peace treaty.
  - 34-35 Esau was forty before he got married. He takes two wives of the Hittites (not of the covenant), causing his parents great sorrow. Were their feelings amplified by their study of scripture (Gen 6:1-3)?
  
  ## Genesis 27
  - 1-4 #question Why did Isaac wait until he was nearly dead to pronounce the birthright blessing?
  - 5-27 Rebekah overhears the conversation and conspires with Jacob, but is this deception, or inspiration? It seems as though there was some level of prophecy regarding Jacob becoming the birthright son, and then there was the legal issue that Esau had sold the birthright to Jacob. It seems as though Isaac was ignoring or attempting to circumvent prophecy. Perhaps Rebekah's actions were - at least partly - inspired. But that does this suggest God condones dishonesty under certain circumstances (i.e. Gen 12:12-20, 20:2, 26:7-11)? Or would God have taken care of this another way, had Rebekah put greater trust in God?
  - 28-29 Jacob receives the birthright blessing
  - 30-38 Esau arrives and cries for a blessing. does he not remember or care that he willingly gave up the birthright? Now he wants it back? Integrity?
  - 40 This sounds almost like a fairy tale blessing - a counter-curse
  - 39-46 This seems like a fairly dysfunctional family. Mom and Dad have favorite children, Mom and Dad are engaged in subterfuge against one another. The kids hate each other (perhaps this was fomented by Mom and Dad's behavior?) It is crazy the psycho behavior God tolerates from his children. (if this was tolerable behavior, how bad was it that he decided to flood the earth and start over? Or are some key events 'scripted', and it is post-mortal outcomes that are affected by individual's responses to those scripted events, rather than those changes altering the script?)
  
  ## Genesis 28
  - 2 Jacob's father commands him to marry a cousin (eww!)
  - 6-9 Esau observes (or learns) that Jacob is told not to marry a Canaanite (it makes it sound like he didn't know this was unfavorable. Typical teen ignoring what his parents said?), so he marries Mahalath, a daughter of Ishmael (he has (at least) three wives now).
  - 12 origin of "Jacobs Ladder"
  - 13-15 Jacob receives, in dream, the Abrahamic blessings from God.
  - 16-19 Jacob awakens and concludes he is on holy ground (a temple?) He calls the place Beth-el (house of God), and builds an alter. It states there was already a city here, called Luz. #question was he in a city? On the outskirts of a city?
  - 20-22 Jacob covenants to keep the law of Tithing.
  
  ## Genesis 29
  - 1-8 #question is the stone's purpose theft prevention, water retention, sanitation?
  - 9-10 Is Jacob breaking policy? Rolling the stone away prematurely? Or is this just fortuitous timing?
  - 17 "Leah was tender eyed, but Rachel was beautiful..." Are we suggesting Leah was sweet, but not very attractive?
  - 23-27 Laban is a self-serving narcissist, it would seem. Also, how did Jacob not know it was Leah? Was he drunk?
  - 30-35 #question Did the Lord actually "meddle" in this matter, or was this simply happenstance?
  
  ## Genesis 30
  - 1-13 Jacob's wives compete with each other through children, giving their maidservants when they are unable to bear themselves (what a weird competition)
  - 14-16 #question What's the deal with mandrakes?
      - luck, fortune, fertility
  - 22-24 Rachel finally gets a child of her own - Joseph - (who is the favored son)
  - 25 It seems the trigger for Jacob wanting to leave was the birth of Joseph, Given the number of son borne just be Leah, it had to have been more than seven years already. What about this prompted the desire to leave?
  - 27-34 Laban negotiates a deal with Jacob to keep him on - presumably Jacob brought great wealth to Laban
  - 37-43 Jacob leveraged a superstition to bias the livestock births in favor of his deal?
  
  ## Genesis 31
  - 1-13 Laban appears to be having unkind (murderous?) thoughts toward Jacob, so Jacob decides it is time to leave
      - This section tells a slightly different story  from Gen 30:37-43 - this indicates God said he would do it rather than Jacob did anything (It is still possible Gen 30 is also accurate - that Jacob 'did his part' to fulfill God's plan)
  - 14-16 Rachel and Leah seem to be saying their father stole from them (i.e. used their dowries).
  - 17-23 Jacob and family flee, Rachel steals the family idols. Laban learns of their flight on the __third__ day (coincidence?) and gives chase
  - 20 & 24 #question is there a reason we are specifically calling Laban "The Syrian" here?
  - 24 In spite of Laban having idols, and defrauding his own family, God appears to him in a dream.
      - Curious that God directs him to "speak not good or bad", which  were Laban's own words to Isaac's servant in the past (Gen 24:50)
  - 24-29 Laban acts the good father ("I didn't get to say goodbye and shower you with gifts"), yet throws out his 'right' to punish Jacob for leaving, and implies his sole reason for not doing so is that God forbade him. #question Isn't Laban part of 'the family'? The whole reason Isaac's servant came to there family to get Rebekkah was to ensure Isaac married in the faith. Yet here, Laban refers to God as 'your God', and is worshiping Idols. Did he abandon the faith? Was Abraham's concern about bloodline and not faith?
  - 30 Laban finally gets to his main complaint "you stole my Idols"
  - 31-32 Jacob declares he fled out of fear, and then allows Laban to search for his idols and execute whomever has them.
  - 33-35 Rachel hid the idols in the came furniture and claims to be on her period, thus unable to rise. Laban thus doesn't find the idols.
  - 36-42 Jacob rebukes Laban (a good verbal beat-down)
  - 43 Laban claims everything is his
  - 44-55 The two set up a pillar (marker?) make a covenant not to cross the border to cause the other harm (country/kingdom peace treaty?).
  
  ## Genesis 32
  - 1-8 Jacob returns home, he tries to pacify Esau by demonstrating his own wealth and assuring Esau  he wants nothing from  him. Esau comes in force to meet him, Jacob splits his camp in two, so that is Esau attack the one half, the other can escape.
  - 9-23 Jacob prays for God's intervention, then arranges waves of flocks as gifts for Esau to be sent ahead of his party.
  - 24-26 Jacob wrestles a man (angel?) Is this literal, or symbolic? Was this wrestling physical or spiritual?
  - 27-28 Jacob is given a new name (Israel), He is also given 'power' (priesthood endowment?)
  - 29 Jacob asks the angels name but isn't told the name (secret?)
  - 30-31 Jacob indicates he saw the face of God, was the angel in fact, Jesus?
  
  ## Genesis 33
  - 1-3 Jacob sends his family forward in the following order:
      - Handmaids + children
      - Leah + children
      - Rachel + Joseph (her only child)
      - (Least 'favorite' to 'favorite'? more time to escape if it goes wrong?)
  - 4-7 Esau embraces Jacob, welcoming  him. He meets the family
  - 8-11 Esau declines Jacob's gifts of flocks as he has sufficient of his own, Jacob insists he take them.
  - 12-16 Esau invites Jacob to come to his home, but Jacob declines claiming the need to rest his flocks. Esau returns home. The two seem to be diplomatically dancing around each other. Is this two brothers with long enmity trying to reconcile? Is there some element of diplomacy of the 'detente' sort? Two powerful Kingdoms in close proximity, recognizing the potential for a misstep to cause armageddon?
  - 17 Jacob travels to Succoth, and build a home and booths for his cattle -  perhaps more accurately, Jacob travels to an unclaimed region, builds a home and booths for cattle, and then names the place Succoth.
  - 18-19 Jacob Travels from Padan-aram ( #question relationship to Succoth?) to Shalem (city in the country/kingdom/region of Shechem, in the land Canaan), where he buys land from the brother(s) of Shechem ("...children of Hamor, Shechem's father" #question Is this the same Shechem for who the Kingdom is named, i.e. the King?), 'for an hundred pieces of money' #question What kind of money? Seems strange (childish) to say it this way.
  - 20 Jacob builds an altar to God (mini-temple?)
  
  ## Genesis 34
  - 1-2 Shechem (Son of Hamor, Prince of the Hivites) lays ( seduction or rape? see v19 - seems to suggest concensual? ) with Dinah (daughter of Leah)
  - 3-12 Shechem falls in love and asks his father to broker a marriage. Hamor goes to the Jacob and his sons and offers an open dowry and a request for general intermarriage between the two groups (an alliance?)
  - 14-24 Shechem and Hamor convince (/command) all the men inthe kingdom to be circumcised, per the direction of Jacob's sons (was Jacob aware of this?)
  - 25-29 While the HIvite men are recovering from their surgery, Simeon and Levi slaughter them and take their women, children and flocks as spoils of war.
  - 30 Evidently Jacob did not know his sons' plans (or at least the whole plan), he fears retaliation from the other Canaanite kingdoms.
  - 31 The brothers argue their sister's honor is more important. What were her feelings about this?
  
  ## Genesis 35
  - 1-3 An  apostasy was occurring in Jacob's family. Jacob was  told to go to Beth-El  (This means 'house of God', but seems to be a city, where Jacobs ancestors built an altar/temple), and put aside the false idols.
  - 4 #question what is the significance of 'earrings'?
  - 5 This verse seems to imply there were other reasons for leaving, possibly the potential for retribution from the other Canaanite kingdoms for the slaughter of the Hivites
  - 6-7 Beth-El still bears the alternate name Luz (almond tree?, though the word has other meanings). Jacobs builds an altar and calles the place 'El-Beth-El' (God house of God?)
  - 9-15 God reiterates Jacob's new name (Gen 32:27-28), and the Abrahamic covenant.
  - 16-20 Rachel dies in childbirth. She calls the baby Ben-oni (Son of my distress), Jacob instead names the boy Benjamin (Son at the right hand). This occurs at or near Beth-lehem (house of bread)
      - Jesus is the bread of Life, born in the house of bread
  - 22 Reuban (one of the sons from  Leah) sleeps with Bilhah (His Father's concubine, who was Rachel's handmaid).
  - 27-27 Jacob returns to his Father, Isaac, in the city Arbah (Hebron), in the kingdom/country Mamre. Isaac dies. Jacob and Esau bury him.
  
  ## Genesis 36
  - The descendants of Esau (also known as Edom) are listed
  
  ## Genesis 37
  - 1-2 Joseph brought to his father their (his brothers) "evil report". Suggest they were up to mischief and Joseph tattled
  - 3-4  Joseph receive a coat of many colors, or possibly a coat with long sleeves. It is in some way special though and sets Joseph apart as the favorite.
  - 5-11 Joseph has two dreams which indicated that is brothers (and parents) would bow to him. Given how poorly these were likely to be received, why did he share them with his brothers? And, given how poorly the first was received, why did he share the second? Seems a foolish choice.
  - 12-20 Jacob sends Joseph to search for his brethren, who are tending the flocks. When they see him approaching, they conspire to kill him.
  - 21-22 Reuben talks them out of Killing Joseph and instead putting him in a pit (Which Reuben intends to rescue him from later).
  - 23-24 The brothers strip Joseph of his coat and cast him into a pit. They then take their meal
  - 25-30 Judah hatches a plan to sell Joseph to passing merchants, rather than kill him or leave him to die, thus foiling Reuben's plan to free Joseph.
  - 31-35 The brothers dip the coat in blood, then take it to Jacob, claiming not to have known what happened to Joseph. Jacob believe Joseph was slain by a wild beast and mourns.
  - 36 Joseph is sold to Potiphar, Pharaoh's captain of the guard.
  
  ##  Genesis 38
  - 2 Judah "He took her..."  Does this indicate he married her (outside of the covenant)?
  - 3-5 Judah and Shuah (Canaanite woman) Have three sons (Er, Onan, Shelah)
  - 6 Judah selects a wife (Tamar) for his firstborn Son (Er)
  - 7 Er is wicked and "...the Lord slew him" #question Did the Lord actually slay him, or did his wickedness create the circumstances which led to his death?
  - 8-9 Judah directs Onan to take Tamar to wife, and to have children with her for Er (To carry on the firstborn lineage), Onan initiates the process but withdraws during copulation to prevent pregnancy from occuring ??? #question why not just say no? Why was he unwilling to bear children on behalf of Er? A grudge? Pride? Powerlust?  
  - 10 God kills Onan for this? #question is this really how it wet down? This seems an excessive punishment is there more to this story?
  - 11 Judah sends Tamar to live with her father until Shelah is grown.
  - 12-26 For some reason Judah does not send Shelah to Tamar once his is grown. Tamar dresses as a prostitute, and waits near a place Judah will be passing. He sees her and negotiates for time with her. She becomes pregnant by him.
  - 27-30 During the birthing process. one child's (Zarah - means "rising" or "shining") hand breaches the womb, and a thread is tied on his hand, to keep track of the firstborn. But then Zarah draws back into the womb, and the other child (Pharez - means "breach" or "to break through") is fully birthed first. (Pharez is the lineage of Jesus)
  
  ## Genesis 39
  - 1-6 Joseph is blessed as Potiphar's servant, which in turn blesses Potiphar. As a result, Potiphar gives Joseph greater responsibility and authority over his household.
  - 7-12 Potiphar's wife tries (repeatedly) to convince Joseph to have an affair with her. He refuses based on Loyalty to Potiphar, and Loyalty to God. Shoe ultimately tries to force the issue, but Joseph flees, losing his coat in the process.
  - 13-20 Potiphar's wife fabricates a story about Joseph assaulting her. With no witnesses to speak otherwise, Potiphar believes his wife and has Joseph cast into prison.
  - 21-23 Joseph is a model prisoner, and over time the Jailer put's Joseph effectively in charge of the prison. (Joseph has the "Midas touch")
  
  ## Genesis 40
  - 1-4 #question What did the butler and baker do that offended the King of Egypt sufficiently to warrant prison?
  - 8 Joseph offers to interpret their dreams - #question Does this mean he is a seer at this point? Has he already received the priesthood?
  - 13 Three days.... (significance of the number 3)
  - 19 #question  What was the baker's offense that he was executed, where the butler was restored to his position?
  - 23 Butler forgets about Joseph and his request to be mentioned to Pharaoh. Really? After the dream interpretation happens? He forgets?!
  
  ## Genesis 41
  - 1 Joseph was in prison for two years after the baker was freed.
  - 2-4 Pharaoh dreams of 7 fat and 7 lean cattle
  - 5-7 Pharaoh dreams of 7 good and 7 thin ears of corn
  - 8-13 Pharaoh's distress over the dreams triggers the butlers memory,  he repents and tells Pharaoh about Joseph.
  - 16 Joseph clarifies it is God, not him, that can understand the dream
  - 33-37 After Joseph interprets the dreams he proposes a course of action to the Pharaoh, to prepare for the coming years of famine.
  - 38-43 Pharaoh establishes Joseph as his equal (or second in command), and charges him to carry out the proposed plan
  - 45 Pharaoh gives Joseph an Egyptian name - Zaphnath-paaneah (paaneah=source of life (bread?), Zaphnath meaning is uncertain). Pharaoh gives Asenath, daughter of Potiphera, to be his wife. Potiphera is a priest of On, There is no Egyptian God named On. On appears to refer to heliopolis - which would indicate Potiphera was likely a priest of the sun God, Re. (Non-biblical text Joseph and Asenath suggests Asenath converted to Pre-Christianity before marrying Joseph.)
  - 50-52 During the seven prosperous years, Asenath bears two sons - Manasseh and Ephraim
  - 56-57 Because of Joseph's preparations, Egypt is well-prepared for the famine. They sold food to the Egyptian people and to surrounding countries - a very prosperous venture.
  
  ## Genesis 42
  - 1-20 Jacob send his sons (except Benjamin) to get grain from Egypt, Joseph recognizes them and disguises himself. He accuses them of being spies, and demand they bring their youngest brother (Benjamin) as proof they are not.
  - 22 Reuben: I told you so!
  - 24 Simeon is taken prisoner until Benjamin is brought as proof.
  - 25-28 Joseph has the brothers' sacks filled, and secretly returns their money, much to their distress
  - 29-38 The brothers related the story to Jacob, who refuses to allow Benjamin to go, for fear of losing him.
  
  ## Genesis 43
  - 1-10 When Jacob is still reluctant to let Benjamin go, after the food is gone, Judah commits to take responsibility for Benjamin's safety - is this driven in part by guilt? he was the one responsible for Joseph being sold.
  - 11-15 Jacob finally concedes, sending also the money which showed up in their sacks, and gifts.
  - 16-34 Joseph has the brothers brought to his house, including Simeon, who he releases from prison. He has to run to his room when he sees Benjamin, to keep his brothers from seeing him weep. He provides a feast for them, giving Benjamin special attention, presumably as a test, whether they would be Jealous of Benjamin as they were of Joseph.
  
  ## Genesis 44
  - 1-15 Joseph sets a test for his brothers, framing Benajmin for the theft of Joseph's silver cup, and requiring Benjamin become his servant as payment for the crime.
  - 16-34 Judah pleads with Joseph to be allowed to replace Benjamin.
  
  ## Genesis 45
  - 1-8 Joseph reveals himself to his brothers, and forgives them, saying that it was God's plan for them to sell him to Egypt, to save their family from the famine.
  - 9-28 Joseph (under Pharoah's command) invites his  whole family to come and live in Egypt (there are still five years of famine left), where they will be given lands and food.
  - 24 "See that you fall not out by the way" #question is there some significance to this charge?
  
  ## Genesis 46
  - 1-7 God instructs Jacob to go to Egypt. Jacob packs up everything and goes
  - 8-27 Genealogy of Jacob which went to Egypt (66 people - Joseph and Asenath, plus their two children makes 70 people total of the line of Jacob in Egypt. There were also others listed, which died in Canaan)
  - 34 "For every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians" #question why? Because they are Shepherds? Or because they are Hebrews (Gen 43:32)? Or is there some other reason not clearly stated in the text? Ch 47 references cattle (and other flocks/herds) throughout Egypt, which would suggest it isn't because they are shepherds, though this is not conclusive as the references could be to peoples round about Egypt, but not specifically Egyptians.
  
  ## Genesis 47
  - 1-12 The Israelites are given permission to live in the land (take possession of the land?) Goshen, which is claimed to be the best lands in Egypt it appears the city of Ramses is in Goshen, which is one of the treasure cities (where all the surplus grain, etc is hoarded. This would make sense, as Joseph was placed in charge managing the grain.) 
  - 13-17 The people purchased grain from Joseph (/Pharaoh) until they ran out of money. When they again need food. Joseph let them buy food with their flocks. #question Why didn't they just eat their flocks instead? Possibly flocks were raised for purposes other than food? Or perhaps the flocks were malnourished. Or because the trade flocks for grain provided a longer period of sustenance than consuming the flocks would have?
  - 18-26 When both the money and flocks ran out, Joseph made a deal to give food in exchange for their land. The people were moved to the cities, and were given seed to grow on the land, in exchange for 20% of the yield going to Pharaoh as a tax. #question So, they were "forced" off their land. Then had to work the land and give 20% of their 'profit' to Pharaoh (rent?). Were they then effectively peasants? Was God really okay with this strategy? Does this Justify the wealthy Elites? #question Did this 'theft' of land and 'enslavement' become - in the minds of those who lost their properties - associated with the Israelites, thereby causing resentment used to justify the enslavement of the Israelites later?
  - 27-31 Jacob seeks an oath that his body will be buried in Canaan with his Fathers. (In spite of his whole family now residing in Egypt)
  
  ## Genesis 48
  - 1-6 Israel adopts (claims as his own) Josephs sons, Ephraim and Manasseh (Any future children will be Joseph's, recorded under the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh) #question Why?
  - 7 This verse seems a random aside "Rachel Died and I buried her"
  - 8 "Who are these?" Yet he spoke their names in v 5? Was this ritual speech?
  - 9-22 Jacob blesses Joseph's Sons, but he intentionally gives the birthright blessing to Ephraim (the younger child). God's will presumably (note: This is a repetition of Jacob's own circumstance, but without trickery). #question Why was Ephraim given a birthright blessing as an adopted son of Jacob? Neither he, nor his father was eldest? it appears there is a shared birthright in this instance - Ephraim, and Judah (neither is properly the birthright son. This would be Reuben).
  
  
  ## Genesis 49
  - 1-2 Jacob calls his sons together for father's blessings
  - 3-4 Jacob starts by calling Reuben the Firstborn, and seems to be laying praise on, then appears to curse him ("Thou shalt not excel") for his adultery.
  - 5-7  Simeon and Levi don't fare any better, for their poor behaviors (Slew a man and digged down a wall)
  - 8-12 Judah will be the Leader until Christ comes
  - 13 Zebulon  will be a safe-haven for ships (seafaring?)
  - 14-15 Issachar will be a servant, a bearer of burdens (?)
  - 16-18 Dan will be a Judge (an executor of Justice?)
  - 19 Gad will be  defeat, but ultimately prevail?
  - 20 Asher ?? Bakers?
  - 21 Naphtali is "A hind let loose ?" #question What does this mean/symbolize? "He giveth goodly words"? A source of scripture? Wisdom?
  - 22-26 Joseph - "A fruitful bough whose branches run over the wall" - referring to his material success in egypt, or a prophecy of a great progeny (includng the Nephites and Lamanites)?
      - 24 This appears to be a prophecy that Jesus lineage will come form Joseph.
      - 26 Blessed above his brethren
  - 27 Benjamin shall be a conquering nation?
  - 28-33 Jacob again secures promise of his children to be buried with his family in the field of Ephron. He dies.
  
  
  ## Genesis 50
  - 1-14 With Pharaoh's permission, Joseph takes his fathers body back to the land of Canaan to be buried in the family tomb.
  - 15-18 Fearing Joseph will now see revenge, his brothers make the claim that Jacob's dying wish was for Joseph to forgive them.
  - 19-21 Joseph reiterates that he has forgiven them an that God turned their act of evil to good. ([[Genesis#Genesis 45]])
  - 22-26 Joseph prophesies that one day God will return the Israelites to the land of Canaan. He requests that, when that occurs, they take his remains with them. He dies and is entombed in Egypt.z. #question was he in a city? On the outskirts of a city?
• 20-22 Jacob covenants to keep the law of Tithing.

Genesis 29

• 1-8 #question is the stone's purpose theft prevention, water retention, sanitation?
• 9-10 Is Jacob breaking policy? Rolling the stone away prematurely? Or is this just fortuitous timing?
• 17 "Leah was tender eyed, but Rachel was beautiful..." Are we suggesting Leah was sweet, but not very attractive?
• 23-27 Laban is a self-serving narcissist, it would seem. Also, how did Jacob not know it was Leah? Was he drunk?
• 30-35 #question Did the Lord actually "meddle" in this matter, or was this simply happenstance?

Genesis 30

• 1-13 Jacob's wives compete with each other through children, giving their maidservants when they are unable to bear themselves (what a weird competition)
• 14-16 #question What's the deal with mandrakes?
  • luck, fortune, fertility
• 22-24 Rachel finally gets a child of her own - Joseph - (who is the favored son)
• 25 It seems the trigger for Jacob wanting to leave was the birth of Joseph, Given the number of son borne just be Leah, it had to have been more than seven years already. What about this prompted the desire to leave?
• 27-34 Laban negotiates a deal with Jacob to keep him on - presumably Jacob brought great wealth to Laban
• 37-43 Jacob leveraged a superstition to bias the livestock births in favor of his deal?

Genesis 31

• 1-13 Laban appears to be having unkind (murderous?) thoughts toward Jacob, so Jacob decides it is time to leave
  • This section tells a slightly different story from Gen 30:37-43 - this indicates God said he would do it rather than Jacob did anything (It is still possible Gen 30 is also accurate - that Jacob 'did his part' to fulfill God's plan)
• 14-16 Rachel and Leah seem to be saying their father stole from them (i.e. used their dowries).
• 17-23 Jacob and family flee, Rachel steals the family idols. Laban learns of their flight on the third day (coincidence?) and gives chase
• 20 & 24 #question is there a reason we are specifically calling Laban "The Syrian" here?
• 24 In spite of Laban having idols, and defrauding his own family, God appears to him in a dream.
  • Curious that God directs him to "speak not good or bad", which were Laban's own words to Isaac's servant in the past (Gen 24:50)
• 24-29 Laban acts the good father ("I didn't get to say goodbye and shower you with gifts"), yet throws out his 'right' to punish Jacob for leaving, and implies his sole reason for not doing so is that God forbade him. #question Isn't Laban part of 'the family'? The whole reason Isaac's servant came to there family to get Rebekkah was to ensure Isaac married in the faith. Yet here, Laban refers to God as 'your God', and is worshiping Idols. Did he abandon the faith? Was Abraham's concern about bloodline and not faith?
• 30 Laban finally gets to his main complaint "you stole my Idols"
• 31-32 Jacob declares he fled out of fear, and then allows Laban to search for his idols and execute whomever has them.
• 33-35 Rachel hid the idols in the came furniture and claims to be on her period, thus unable to rise. Laban thus doesn't find the idols.
• 36-42 Jacob rebukes Laban (a good verbal beat-down)
• 43 Laban claims everything is his
• 44-55 The two set up a pillar (marker?) make a covenant not to cross the border to cause the other harm (country/kingdom peace treaty?).

Genesis 32

• 1-8 Jacob returns home, he tries to pacify Esau by demonstrating his own wealth and assuring Esau he wants nothing from him. Esau comes in force to meet him, Jacob splits his camp in two, so that is Esau attack the one half, the other can escape.
• 9-23 Jacob prays for God's intervention, then arranges waves of flocks as gifts for Esau to be sent ahead of his party.
• 24-26 Jacob wrestles a man (angel?) Is this literal, or symbolic? Was this wrestling physical or spiritual?
• 27-28 Jacob is given a new name (Israel), He is also given 'power' (priesthood endowment?)
• 29 Jacob asks the angels name but isn't told the name (secret?)
• 30-31 Jacob indicates he saw the face of God, was the angel in fact, Jesus?

Genesis 33

• 1-3 Jacob sends his family forward in the following order:
  • Handmaids + children
  • Leah + children
  • Rachel + Joseph (her only child)
  • (Least 'favorite' to 'favorite'? more time to escape if it goes wrong?)
• 4-7 Esau embraces Jacob, welcoming him. He meets the family
• 8-11 Esau declines Jacob's gifts of flocks as he has sufficient of his own, Jacob insists he take them.
• 12-16 Esau invites Jacob to come to his home, but Jacob declines claiming the need to rest his flocks. Esau returns home. The two seem to be diplomatically dancing around each other. Is this two brothers with long enmity trying to reconcile? Is there some element of diplomacy of the 'detente' sort? Two powerful Kingdoms in close proximity, recognizing the potential for a misstep to cause armageddon?
• 17 Jacob travels to Succoth, and build a home and booths for his cattle - perhaps more accurately, Jacob travels to an unclaimed region, builds a home and booths for cattle, and then names the place Succoth.
• 18-19 Jacob Travels from Padan-aram ( #question relationship to Succoth?) to Shalem (city in the country/kingdom/region of Shechem, in the land Canaan), where he buys land from the brother(s) of Shechem ("...children of Hamor, Shechem's father" #question Is this the same Shechem for who the Kingdom is named, i.e. the King?), 'for an hundred pieces of money' #question What kind of money? Seems strange (childish) to say it this way.
• 20 Jacob builds an altar to God (mini-temple?)

Genesis 34

• 1-2 Shechem (Son of Hamor, Prince of the Hivites) lays ( seduction or rape? see v19 - seems to suggest concensual? ) with Dinah (daughter of Leah)
• 3-12 Shechem falls in love and asks his father to broker a marriage. Hamor goes to the Jacob and his sons and offers an open dowry and a request for general intermarriage between the two groups (an alliance?)
• 14-24 Shechem and Hamor convince (/command) all the men inthe kingdom to be circumcised, per the direction of Jacob's sons (was Jacob aware of this?)
• 25-29 While the HIvite men are recovering from their surgery, Simeon and Levi slaughter them and take their women, children and flocks as spoils of war.
• 30 Evidently Jacob did not know his sons' plans (or at least the whole plan), he fears retaliation from the other Canaanite kingdoms.
• 31 The brothers argue their sister's honor is more important. What were her feelings about this?

Genesis 35

• 1-3 An apostasy was occurring in Jacob's family. Jacob was told to go to Beth-El (This means 'house of God', but seems to be a city, where Jacobs ancestors built an altar/temple), and put aside the false idols.
• 4 #question what is the significance of 'earrings'?
• 5 This verse seems to imply there were other reasons for leaving, possibly the potential for retribution from the other Canaanite kingdoms for the slaughter of the Hivites
• 6-7 Beth-El still bears the alternate name Luz (almond tree?, though the word has other meanings). Jacobs builds an altar and calles the place 'El-Beth-El' (God house of God?)
• 9-15 God reiterates Jacob's new name (Gen 32:27-28), and the Abrahamic covenant.
• 16-20 Rachel dies in childbirth. She calls the baby Ben-oni (Son of my distress), Jacob instead names the boy Benjamin (Son at the right hand). This occurs at or near Beth-lehem (house of bread)
  • Jesus is the bread of Life, born in the house of bread
• 22 Reuban (one of the sons from Leah) sleeps with Bilhah (His Father's concubine, who was Rachel's handmaid).
• 27-27 Jacob returns to his Father, Isaac, in the city Arbah (Hebron), in the kingdom/country Mamre. Isaac dies. Jacob and Esau bury him.

Genesis 36

• The descendants of Esau (also known as Edom) are listed

Genesis 37

• 1-2 Joseph brought to his father their (his brothers) "evil report". Suggest they were up to mischief and Joseph tattled
• 3-4 Joseph receive a coat of many colors, or possibly a coat with long sleeves. It is in some way special though and sets Joseph apart as the favorite.
• 5-11 Joseph has two dreams which indicated that is brothers (and parents) would bow to him. Given how poorly these were likely to be received, why did he share them with his brothers? And, given how poorly the first was received, why did he share the second? Seems a foolish choice.
• 12-20 Jacob sends Joseph to search for his brethren, who are tending the flocks. When they see him approaching, they conspire to kill him.
• 21-22 Reuben talks them out of Killing Joseph and instead putting him in a pit (Which Reuben intends to rescue him from later).
• 23-24 The brothers strip Joseph of his coat and cast him into a pit. They then take their meal
• 25-30 Judah hatches a plan to sell Joseph to passing merchants, rather than kill him or leave him to die, thus foiling Reuben's plan to free Joseph.
• 31-35 The brothers dip the coat in blood, then take it to Jacob, claiming not to have known what happened to Joseph. Jacob believe Joseph was slain by a wild beast and mourns.
• 36 Joseph is sold to Potiphar, Pharaoh's captain of the guard.

Genesis 38

• 2 Judah "He took her..." Does this indicate he married her (outside of the covenant)?
• 3-5 Judah and Shuah (Canaanite woman) Have three sons (Er, Onan, Shelah)
• 6 Judah selects a wife (Tamar) for his firstborn Son (Er)
• 7 Er is wicked and "...the Lord slew him" #question Did the Lord actually slay him, or did his wickedness create the circumstances which led to his death?
• 8-9 Judah directs Onan to take Tamar to wife, and to have children with her for Er (To carry on the firstborn lineage), Onan initiates the process but withdraws during copulation to prevent pregnancy from occuring ??? #question why not just say no? Why was he unwilling to bear children on behalf of Er? A grudge? Pride? Powerlust?
• 10 God kills Onan for this? #question is this really how it wet down? This seems an excessive punishment is there more to this story?
• 11 Judah sends Tamar to live with her father until Shelah is grown.
• 12-26 For some reason Judah does not send Shelah to Tamar once his is grown. Tamar dresses as a prostitute, and waits near a place Judah will be passing. He sees her and negotiates for time with her. She becomes pregnant by him.
• 27-30 During the birthing process. one child's (Zarah - means "rising" or "shining") hand breaches the womb, and a thread is tied on his hand, to keep track of the firstborn. But then Zarah draws back into the womb, and the other child (Pharez - means "breach" or "to break through") is fully birthed first. (Pharez is the lineage of Jesus)

Genesis 39

• 1-6 Joseph is blessed as Potiphar's servant, which in turn blesses Potiphar. As a result, Potiphar gives Joseph greater responsibility and authority over his household.
• 7-12 Potiphar's wife tries (repeatedly) to convince Joseph to have an affair with her. He refuses based on Loyalty to Potiphar, and Loyalty to God. Shoe ultimately tries to force the issue, but Joseph flees, losing his coat in the process.
• 13-20 Potiphar's wife fabricates a story about Joseph assaulting her. With no witnesses to speak otherwise, Potiphar believes his wife and has Joseph cast into prison.
• 21-23 Joseph is a model prisoner, and over time the Jailer put's Joseph effectively in charge of the prison. (Joseph has the "Midas touch")

Genesis 40

• 1-4 #question What did the butler and baker do that offended the King of Egypt sufficiently to warrant prison?
• 8 Joseph offers to interpret their dreams - #question Does this mean he is a seer at this point? Has he already received the priesthood?
• 13 Three days.... (significance of the number 3)
• 19 #question What was the baker's offense that he was executed, where the butler was restored to his position?
• 23 Butler forgets about Joseph and his request to be mentioned to Pharaoh. Really? After the dream interpretation happens? He forgets?!

Genesis 41

• 1 Joseph was in prison for two years after the baker was freed.
• 2-4 Pharaoh dreams of 7 fat and 7 lean cattle
• 5-7 Pharaoh dreams of 7 good and 7 thin ears of corn
• 8-13 Pharaoh's distress over the dreams triggers the butlers memory, he repents and tells Pharaoh about Joseph.
• 16 Joseph clarifies it is God, not him, that can understand the dream
• 33-37 After Joseph interprets the dreams he proposes a course of action to the Pharaoh, to prepare for the coming years of famine.
• 38-43 Pharaoh establishes Joseph as his equal (or second in command), and charges him to carry out the proposed plan
• 45 Pharaoh gives Joseph an Egyptian name - Zaphnath-paaneah (paaneah=source of life (bread?), Zaphnath meaning is uncertain). Pharaoh gives Asenath, daughter of Potiphera, to be his wife. Potiphera is a priest of On, There is no Egyptian God named On. On appears to refer to heliopolis - which would indicate Potiphera was likely a priest of the sun God, Re. (Non-biblical text Joseph and Asenath suggests Asenath converted to Pre-Christianity before marrying Joseph.)
• 50-52 During the seven prosperous years, Asenath bears two sons - Manasseh and Ephraim
• 56-57 Because of Joseph's preparations, Egypt is well-prepared for the famine. They sold food to the Egyptian people and to surrounding countries - a very prosperous venture.

Genesis 42

• 1-20 Jacob send his sons (except Benjamin) to get grain from Egypt, Joseph recognizes them and disguises himself. He accuses them of being spies, and demand they bring their youngest brother (Benjamin) as proof they are not.
• 22 Reuben: I told you so!
• 24 Simeon is taken prisoner until Benjamin is brought as proof.
• 25-28 Joseph has the brothers' sacks filled, and secretly returns their money, much to their distress
• 29-38 The brothers related the story to Jacob, who refuses to allow Benjamin to go, for fear of losing him.

Genesis 43

• 1-10 When Jacob is still reluctant to let Benjamin go, after the food is gone, Judah commits to take responsibility for Benjamin's safety - is this driven in part by guilt? he was the one responsible for Joseph being sold.
• 11-15 Jacob finally concedes, sending also the money which showed up in their sacks, and gifts.
• 16-34 Joseph has the brothers brought to his house, including Simeon, who he releases from prison. He has to run to his room when he sees Benjamin, to keep his brothers from seeing him weep. He provides a feast for them, giving Benjamin special attention, presumably as a test, whether they would be Jealous of Benjamin as they were of Joseph.

Genesis 44

• 1-15 Joseph sets a test for his brothers, framing Benajmin for the theft of Joseph's silver cup, and requiring Benjamin become his servant as payment for the crime.
• 16-34 Judah pleads with Joseph to be allowed to replace Benjamin.

Genesis 45

• 1-8 Joseph reveals himself to his brothers, and forgives them, saying that it was God's plan for them to sell him to Egypt, to save their family from the famine.
• 9-28 Joseph (under Pharoah's command) invites his whole family to come and live in Egypt (there are still five years of famine left), where they will be given lands and food.
• 24 "See that you fall not out by the way" #question is there some significance to this charge?

Genesis 46

• 1-7 God instructs Jacob to go to Egypt. Jacob packs up everything and goes
• 8-27 Genealogy of Jacob which went to Egypt (66 people - Joseph and Asenath, plus their two children makes 70 people total of the line of Jacob in Egypt. There were also others listed, which died in Canaan)
• 34 "For every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians" #question why? Because they are Shepherds? Or because they are Hebrews (Gen 43:32)? Or is there some other reason not clearly stated in the text? Ch 47 references cattle (and other flocks/herds) throughout Egypt, which would suggest it isn't because they are shepherds, though this is not conclusive as the references could be to peoples round about Egypt, but not specifically Egyptians.

Genesis 47

• 1-12 The Israelites are given permission to live in the land (take possession of the land?) Goshen, which is claimed to be the best lands in Egypt it appears the city of Ramses is in Goshen, which is one of the treasure cities (where all the surplus grain, etc is hoarded. This would make sense, as Joseph was placed in charge managing the grain.)
• 13-17 The people purchased grain from Joseph (/Pharaoh) until they ran out of money. When they again need food. Joseph let them buy food with their flocks. #question Why didn't they just eat their flocks instead? Possibly flocks were raised for purposes other than food? Or perhaps the flocks were malnourished. Or because the trade flocks for grain provided a longer period of sustenance than consuming the flocks would have?
• 18-26 When both the money and flocks ran out, Joseph made a deal to give food in exchange for their land. The people were moved to the cities, and were given seed to grow on the land, in exchange for 20% of the yield going to Pharaoh as a tax. #question So, they were "forced" off their land. Then had to work the land and give 20% of their 'profit' to Pharaoh (rent?). Were they then effectively peasants? Was God really okay with this strategy? Does this Justify the wealthy Elites? #question Did this 'theft' of land and 'enslavement' become - in the minds of those who lost their properties - associated with the Israelites, thereby causing resentment used to justify the enslavement of the Israelites later?
• 27-31 Jacob seeks an oath that his body will be buried in Canaan with his Fathers. (In spite of his whole family now residing in Egypt)

Genesis 48

• 1-6 Israel adopts (claims as his own) Josephs sons, Ephraim and Manasseh (Any future children will be Joseph's, recorded under the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh) #question Why?
• 7 This verse seems a random aside "Rachel Died and I buried her"
• 8 "Who are these?" Yet he spoke their names in v 5? Was this ritual speech?
• 9-22 Jacob blesses Joseph's Sons, but he intentionally gives the birthright blessing to Ephraim (the younger child). God's will presumably (note: This is a repetition of Jacob's own circumstance, but without trickery). #question Why was Ephraim given a birthright blessing as an adopted son of Jacob? Neither he, nor his father was eldest? it appears there is a shared birthright in this instance - Ephraim, and Judah (neither is properly the birthright son. This would be Reuben).

Genesis 49

• 1-2 Jacob calls his sons together for father's blessings
• 3-4 Jacob starts by calling Reuben the Firstborn, and seems to be laying praise on, then appears to curse him ("Thou shalt not excel") for his adultery.
• 5-7 Simeon and Levi don't fare any better, for their poor behaviors (Slew a man and digged down a wall)
• 8-12 Judah will be the Leader until Christ comes
• 13 Zebulon will be a safe-haven for ships (seafaring?)
• 14-15 Issachar will be a servant, a bearer of burdens (?)
• 16-18 Dan will be a Judge (an executor of Justice?)
• 19 Gad will be defeat, but ultimately prevail?
• 20 Asher ?? Bakers?
• 21 Naphtali is "A hind let loose ?" #question What does this mean/symbolize? "He giveth goodly words"? A source of scripture? Wisdom?
• 22-26 Joseph - "A fruitful bough whose branches run over the wall" - referring to his material success in egypt, or a prophecy of a great progeny (includng the Nephites and Lamanites)?
  • 24 This appears to be a prophecy that Jesus lineage will come form Joseph.
  • 26 Blessed above his brethren
• 27 Benjamin shall be a conquering nation?
• 28-33 Jacob again secures promise of his children to be buried with his family in the field of Ephron. He dies.

Genesis 50

• 1-14 With Pharaoh's permission, Joseph takes his fathers body back to the land of Canaan to be buried in the family tomb.
• 15-18 Fearing Joseph will now see revenge, his brothers make the claim that Jacob's dying wish was for Joseph to forgive them.
• 19-21 Joseph reiterates that he has forgiven them an that God turned their act of evil to good. (Genesis > Genesis 45)
• 22-26 Joseph prophesies that one day God will return the Israelites to the land of Canaan. He requests that, when that occurs, they take his remains with them. He dies and is entombed in Egypt.

On Villagers

 In June of last year, I posted thoughts on "The Problem with the Patriarchy". Since then, it has been  on my mind to post a more concrete, anecdotal approach to an alternative mindset.

A few recent interactions have - I believe -  helped to coalesce my thoughts on this. We will see if I can present them in a coherent way...

A few days ago, my wife asked me to go to the store for her to pick up some trivial bauble she was in need of. I have been working long hours for the past few weeks, and was busily trying to catch up on some of my household responsibilities, so this wasn't particularly convenient for me (full disclosure, she did ask if I was busy, or if I had time to go, and I lied and said it was not a problem).

Somewhere around this same time, I had a number of social media posts cross my path, in the vein of the men vs. women conflict. There were comments from "Alpha male" influencers asking "What does she bring to the table? What is she doing to earn her keep?", and there were feminist influencers comments to the effect that "At the point you are depending  on a man for your basic needs, you have lost."

My wife doesn't bring income into the household. How does that impact me? Well, it creates a great burden for me, to be honest. I carry the full economic burden of feeding, clothing and sheltering my family. I work long hours, constantly in fear of falling behind on the knowledge required to remain gainfully employed in my career. I am constantly worried that this year might be the year my name gets pulled in the layoff lottery. She's on her third vehicle, while I am still driving the same crappy car. I watch helplessly as savings flow out to cover school and sports and other activities for kids, and hospital bills and home repairs and... I watch the inflow and outflow, and I see little hope I will ever be able to retire.

And what then does my wife "bring to the table", since she doesn't "work"?

My wife has attended nearly EVERY activity my children have ever participated in - dance, cheer, cross-country, football, band, track, theater (every showing of every show)...

My wife has been up in the absurd hours of the morning and to bed well after midnight to shuttle children to and from various extracurricular activities. She has spent entire days in her vehicle. Shuttling kids from one activity to the next, with no gap long enough to return home for a break.

My wife invested hours making spectacular birthday cakes, decorating the house, and creating food and games and other activities for the large number of gatherings which have occurred at our home over the years. She has always tried to keep snacks on hand - to make our home a place our kids and their friends want to come to.

She participated in PTA and Booster clubs, and many other volunteer organizations, to do what she could to "lobby" for our children and their friends. 

As our own children have started leaving the home, she began volunteering at an English language learning center, providing service to refugees and immigrants who are working to integrate into a new and, for them, foreign country.

She is dialed into the community, so when we happened to have an extra kitchen table and chairs, and there was a family who had no furniture, we were able to immediately provide them with a table and chairs, when a man found himself living in an un-insulated camper in the winter, we knew, and that very night were able to provide him  a space heater we had purchased the year before to deal with an emergency of our own.

She has a love for Family history, and mad private investigator skills, and she has applied them to helping people find and learn about their ancestors, and their heritage. She has even helped a few adoptees in their efforts to learn about their biological family.

Her love for family also ensured we had regular visits to grandparents and extended family, so our kids grew up knowing their Grandparents, aunts and uncles (both sides of the family).

My wife is part of the Young women's leadership in our church - responsible for roughly one hundred girls right now. She loves and mama-bears those girls like they were her own. She attends most every one of their extracurricular activities. She has learned the ins and outs of tennis, cheer, drill, etc..., and she is fully invested in them and their success. (We spent our last wedding anniversary cheering for one of her girls at a cross-country meet, in fact.)

My effort, my energy... quite frankly, it enriches billionaires - corporate executives and their shareholders, who by and large neither know, nor care what I do, so long as I continue to help increase their margins - help them to charge more and pay less. I'm am just another cog in the corporate machinery, at the end of the day, grinding away until I wear out or break down, to ensure the C-suite receives their multi-million-dollar bonus checks.

My wife's effort, on the other hand, enriches lives. She makes a real and genuine difference for individuals.

Many times we have been in a store and seen one of "her girls". They will, with no embarrassment,  shout "Mama Sparkles!", and race across the store to give her a hug. They are eager to share their successes with her. And they will open up to her about some of their greatest difficulties, because they know her, they trust her, and they have felt her love for them. Young women who she has worked with in the past have driven out of their way just to see and visit her for even a few brief minutes. She is a bright light for so many, especially youth.

And beyond the benefit I receive just from being able to be on the sidelines, and observe the warmth and light of these beautiful interactions (and every  now and again, one of them will take pity on me and give me a hug too), she keeps me alive - she reminds to to eat and hydrate (yes, I am prone to forget those basic necessities). She keeps me from looking like a hobo. She fills my life with adventure.

If she was engaged in a full time career, doing the "boss-babe" bit, and maintaining her own financial independence, she wouldn't be able to do all the good she does. She wouldn't have the free time or energy to invest in the invaluable, unpaid labor she performs.

This is what interdependence and teamwork look like. "It take a village..." as the saying goes. I remove from her the burden of the mundane, and leave her free to be a light, shining brightly in the village. She is a villager - one who contributes real, lasting, meaningful value.

And that is what this world needs - fewer corporations, fewer politicians, influencers, protesters... and more villagers.

Evolving thoughts on the Second Amendment and Gun Control

 

I have always been a bit ambivalent on the topic of the second amendment and gun control.

I had a friend in high-school who emptied a semi-auto shotgun into a tree, point blank range,  and missed the bird he was shooting at.

I'm not sure folks like him should be trusted with firearms.

But there is that  pesky second amendment...

(I say that facetiously. I believe the constitution was an inspired document, and deserves greater scrutiny, adherence, and application in our governance.)

Now,  I have personally been willing to consider gun control options (I even go as extreme as complete disarmament, though that would be dependent upon all nation-states also disarming), but I do have a couple questions which have never been answered to my satisfaction by the pro gun control crowd:

- I personally know two women who have prevented kidnappings from occurring - one of a small child, the other of a teenage girl - by exercising their second amendment rights. They were both concealed carry registered, and in both instances they used their firearm to detain the kidnapper until police were summoned to take control of the situation.How many lives have been saved by guns versus how many taken? Is the trading of the one life for the other justified?

- The claim is that gun control is about saving lives. If this is truly the case, then why not start with the big fish? Alcohol kills roughly 3x more people than guns, and there are no specific constitutional protections in place around it. Why not start with stricter controls around alcohol? If saving lives is really the concern, doesn't it makes sense to start with this? The argument I usually get is that Guns are designed to kill people. If that is the best argument you can come up with, then you are being dishonest regarding your reasons for wanting gun control. It's not about saving lives, it's about getting rid of something you fear (i.e. no different than wanting to ban spiders or snakes).


That aside, I've proposed a few compromises in the past, but have always been shouted down by the angry mob. Would love any rational feedback on these:

1. Require an R-Rating (possibly a PG-13 in very mild cases) of any program which included gun violence. Maybe if kids aren't raised on images glorifying or romanticizing it, they won't be as prone to emulate it.

2. Require gun safety courses beginning in elementary school. Perhaps a thorough indoctrination on proper handling principles will breed a greater sense of responsibility.

3. Create a firearms license. It would be easy to obtain, thus no real inhibitor of 2A rights. A simple written test, possibly a mental health evaluation and/or background check (i.e. no felony criminal record). 

Perhaps, similar to drivers licenses, there would be a learner permit for kids, allowing them to begin under adult supervision. 

In the event of a violation (mishandling of a firearm, possibly some criminal activities) on first offense, license would be soft-suspended - you aren't allowed to use firearms for a period of 3 months, for example. A second offense while under soft suspension would lead to a hard suspension - your firearms would be removed from your possession and stored in a locker-facility for a period. 

Multiple offenses, or use of a firearm in a crime would lead to license revocation, and firearms confiscation. There would be a process for license reinstatement in most cases. There would also be an option of free storage in the event of a self-reported mental health crisis. I acknowledge there is an issue with regards to firearms inventory (to register or not to register), which would need to be resolved.

4. Create an advanced firearms license.  Instead of being based on restriction or control, this would be reward-based. It would be voluntary, and not required to purchase firearms, but taking the course and being certified would provide benefits or exemptions from some common restrictions (not sure what those would be, ideas? Maybe permission to carry on planes with approved, frangible rounds...), something which would make it a coveted status (reward is generally more effective than punishment at driving behavior).

---

The events of the past week got me thinking about these again, which is what prompted me to write them down. However, in the past twenty-four hours, I've had something of an epiphany. It was prompted by a number of posts which showed up in my social media feed. In the past few months:

These are relatively mild compared to some of the more inflammatory content I have seen in the wild. These all come from people who are in my "friends list". I have also seen some of the comments they have made on other people's posts. Many of those have been far less cordial in nature, than what they post on their own page.

Some were posted before the assassination of Charlie Kirk, and some after. The day after, there was a brief peppering of calls for peace from the more left-leaning folks - a sincere change of heart, or a fear that maybe this time they pushed too far? Given they have continued to make the occasional post consistent with their pre-incident posts, I would wager the latter.

Why do these matter? They are just people speaking out against perceived injustices, right? Pay attention to the language, the words used:
"vile", "N a ZI", "fascist". The posts are thick with emotion. They generalize across entire swath's of the population. They are inflammatory in nature, and are typically founded on a fragment of speech taken out of context, or a wild speculation with no solid footing. They are precisely the type of messages which fuel the hollowing out of the center. Each side feeds into their echo chamber, becoming more fearful, more angry, more extreme, until some at the edges are pushed too far.

Yes, there are some who switch sides. But increasingly they are mirroring - that is, they are remaining just as extreme or more so. I have seen more than one post by democrats who, after witnessing the celebratory comments of their, peers switched to the republican party, with warnings that the "Democrats can't be reasoned with. War is the only option left."

There are rumblings now that the shooter did not act alone. No, I am not talking CIA/IDF conspiracy. I mean he and peers on social media wound each other up, fantasized about doing something, until he finally did (not entirely dissimilar to how WWI was initiated; stupid, brash college kids immersed in hateful, divisive rhetoric, imagining themselves noble warriors of a holy cause.)

And I am increasingly convinced the people generating, participating in these kinds of posts are largely oblivious to the intellectual dishonesty. They are so consumed by the fear of what potentially could be, they are no longer able to reason, or think critically. This observation led to my epiphany.

The founding fathers wrote the second amendment as a protection against tyranny. Most of the time, we think of the tyranny of Government, which was certainly on their minds at the time. But, there is also a tyranny of the masses to be considered. That is why the founding fathers created a republic, not a democracy. A true democracy is an oppressive form of government. The mob rules over the minority.

Even in the more civil quotes I have presented, you can see the process of de-humanization at play. "The <insert opposing party> are vile, evil, fascist...". "They" are anonymized, they are viewed as less than animals, unworthy of respect or compassion.

And so, as I watch the widening gap, I am left to conclude that the Second Amendment -unfettered and unrestricted - is necessary. Necessary to allow individuals to protect against the tyranny of the masses.

Could that change? Sure. But it will take time and effort. The less extreme on both sides will need to:

1. Stop posting, re-posting, liking or commenting on media which fuels dissension and division. Just stop entirely. Instead engage creators who post acts of kindness, kittens, positive news. Stop watching and engaging with media sources who post fear-based narratives, and unsubstantiated rumors. Remove their source of revenue and let them dry up. If everybody turned off CNN, FOX, etc... It would only be a matter of weeks, if not days, before they would change their behavior, or cease to exist.

2. Ignore the extremists on the opposite side, and focus on the extremists on your side of the line. During the Cuban missile crisis it was another Russian officer, not an American, who talked the Russian officer out of launching a nuclear torpedo. YOU have to reign-in YOUR side.

3. Engage the so called 'other side' in honest dialogue. Don't try to find a gotcha word that proves they are as evil as you think, instead, if something sounds 'off' ask clarifying questions, with the assumption you have misunderstood their intent. Assume they actually agree with you on the whole, but just are saying it with different words, or have a different approach to how to achieve the end. Most of the time, I'll wager this is the case. Int he rare instance is isn't, quietly walk away. They are likely still in extremist mode, and it is the other side's responsibility to talk them down (see 2.)

4. Treat everyone with grace, but hold your own side accountable for their 'sins'. Not punitively, but from a perspective of responsibility, repair and recompense.

5. Ideally, abandon the party political system altogether. Stop finding ways to create tribes, to give power to individuals who don't deserve it, and to create enemies of those who should be friends and neighbors.


If you can manage that, then over time, the money and political currency to be made from sensationalism, fear, hate, and stirring the pot will dry up. The extremism will disappear, and the population can move back toward the middle. The tribes will dissolve, and then...

But, when we are at that point, gun control will no longer be a concern, will it?

Thoughts on the President: Eight Months in

I was taking stock of my feelings about the current president recently, and I realized there is an unmistakable pattern:

This pattern goes back to George H. W. Bush, and has been the pattern with every president with the exception of one.

For the first six months in office, I have defended each president; their words, their policies... My general stance has always been give them time, don't believe the slanted take the media presents.

Shortly after the six month mark I stop defending them. My perspective changes from patience and cautious optimism to annoyance, frustration.

I have done that with every single president - except Bill Clinton, I didn't like him from day one. from the very start he felt sleazy to me. But the rest; George Bush I & II, Obama, Trump, Biden... (Okay, I was a little iffy on Biden, after seeing him in the role of Vice President, but I still tried).

And now Trump again, and the pattern has repeated. Why?

Is it the actions taken?

Immigration - I am completely whelmed regarding this. Trump is doing the exact same thing every president has done. Obama still holds the record for deportations, and the "Kids in cages" started with him. In fact, it was under his tenure that I personally witnessed deportation activity, in tiny Cache Valley, Utah. Haven't personally felt it under any other president. I'm  more annoyed that legislators haven't done anything. During every presidency, one side is appalled and the other side is silent, from politician to populace. The United States is using an entire class of people as political currency. So in this I am annoyed at the nation, not the president.

DOGE and budget cuts - I don't quite know what to think of this. We absolutely need to trim the  budget. That will absolutely be painful. I remember my parents talking  about rations on gas, sugar, nylon, etc... associated with WWII. We have overspent, and sooner or later will have to pay the tab. Better our generation than the next. Is He doing it the way I'd like? Probably not. To be fair, I don't know. The media is so flooded with speculation and half-truths, I can't begin to sort out what is or is not real at this point. My irritation here is with the media and social media for the utter failure to do proper journalism.

Policies which appear to enrich the 1% - Again, this is so status quo, I don't think it even factors in. It is a steady hum of irritation in the background, which again, is an issue which needs to be addressed by the legislative body, who won't because they are prime beneficiaries.

Tariffs - Again, mixed feelings. I'm not convinced they will do what he thinks they will do, nor am I convinced he is using them for the correct reasons necessarily (personally, I'd like to see punitive tariffs against the countries at the top of the slavery list - India, China,...). I don't know enough about the big picture however - what tariffs are levied against the US, for instance, compared to what we already had in place, and what we have added. Again, I am swamped with conjecture, spin, and opinion, not facts.

The Big Beautiful Bill - Definitely annoys me, for the same reasons as the Affordable Care Act. A behemoth hiding all kinds of preferential perks, written by the advocates of the 1%. But, this is legislature, not the president.


Are there specific things each president has done I can point to to account for my shift?

W. Bush drastically expanded the surveillance state. That annoyed me.

Obama was horrifically divisive, but in a very high-brow way. In that regard He and Trump are just as abusive, it's just Trump is Bronx-style abusive, Obama is Hamptons-style abusive. I despise that behavior in either form.

I don't know that I can pick out anything specifically about Biden, he was mostly absent.

I don't recall anything specific from H. W. Bush either. But that was long enough ago, perhaps I have forgotten.

As I try to focus on Trump, there is one thing which does absolutely annoy me. In both of his terms, he promised to "Drain the Swamp."

Why hasn't a single political figure been prosecuted? Surely there is sufficient evidence to bring insider trading charges against a number of legislators. Where is the Epstein list? What about Hunter Biden? Joe Biden's activities in Ukraine? Nothing? Not one?

But in each of those cases, is that sufficient to explain my shift?

That last one, maybe, but I'm not convinced on the others.

Is it the media? I know it's garbage, but is the repetition of that garbage getting to me? "A lie repeated often enough becomes the truth." It it getting to me - in spite of my knowing it's propaganda - through pure repetition?


Maybe the problem isn't the president at all.

  

I keep coming back to this video essay on "The BBCs expose of the Deep State":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qH2aeha_UgU&list=WL&index=326


Maybe my annoyance with the president is misplaced. Maybe I am crediting him with authority he doesn't actually possess. Maybe the swamp is beyond the power of the president to drain.

Food, Chemicals, Reasoning

 I saw a post a few days ago, lambasting the general population for their absurd fears of chemicals listed in packaged foods. It was lengthy, and at first glance, seemed reasonable, if not someone unkind in approaching the ideas that people were being irrational with respect to fears of long, indecipherable chemical names listed as ingredients on packages.

The author began with a long list of frightening sounding chemical names - nearly a full page, including such items as yellow-orange 101 and 3-Methylbut-1-yl ethanoate. The author then quite mockingly pointed out the list of ingredients represented the chemical makeup of a banana. The point of this was to note that everything is made of chemicals.

Next the author reviewed at length the dangers of di-hydrogen monoxide (also know as water). He pointed out its use as a solvent, the number of deaths it has caused, due to an array of harmful properties, and how some college students pranked a number of people into signing a petition to ban it's use.

There were a few, similar anecdotes presented, in the same superior tone, shaming people for being so gullible, and afraid of "scary words". As I say, not kind, but on the surface, it seemed to make a valid point.

A few days later, removed from the fiery prose of the article, and given space to apply reasoning. I have realized how absolutely, childishly, absurd and misleading the article was, for two chief reasons.

One, consider 3-Methybut-1-yl ethanoate - it is just a chemical compound in a banana, the author uses this to generalize that it is absurd to be afraid of unfamiliar chemical names. 

What about trimethylbenzene? a consumer would be justified in being concerned if this showed up as an ingredient.  It is a hazardous compound found in gasoline.

Is the average consumer expected to memorize the over 160 million chemical names, their properties and potential hazards? Are they expected to spend time googling the ingredients on every package while they are shopping?

"But, that's why we have the FDA." They ensure that only "safe" and "effective" ingredients are used.

Except:
1. Not everything is regulated.
2. Does anybody actually trust "The  government?" Most liberals don't trust it today. Most conservatives didn't trust it four years ago. Most rational people recognize that governmental bodies are composed of humans who make unintentional errors, and who can in  many instances be bribed, misled or otherwise corrupted.

The second key issue the article overlooked is that of compounds versus individual chemicals.

Sodium Chloride is absolutely essential for your survival, your body needs it to survive. Sodium Chloride has it's own ingredient list: Sodium, and Chlorine. You should absolutely NOT consume sodium tablets, nor chlorine tablets. A specific chemical may be fine in combination with certain compounds, but deadly alone or in combination with other chemicals.

The article was no doubt written to combat absurd, extreme phobias regarding ingredient lists, but ultimately it was equally absurd in the opposite extreme.

This is the grand failing of narrative founded in pomposity and fueled by emotion. It grabs attention and pulls in viewers, but it leaves little room for reasoning.

KPop Demon Hunters

My daughter has, for the past few weeks, been raving about a show she watched (multiple times), called "K-Pop Demon Hunters"

Yesterday she conned me into watching it with her and her friends (It was very nice of her friends to let the old guy hang out with them.)

I have to say, I am very impressed with the writers. It was one of the better shows I have watched in quite some time. It had several very profound messages, and some very catchy and emotive songs.

On the whole, it is a battle between good and evil story.

The two Key Characters, Rumi and DuJin, portray two fundamental archetypes - One, the soul broken by their choices (sin), the other, the soul broken from birth (i.e. the "sins of the fathers", or perhaps a physical or mental disability). 

In both cases, the adversary's method is identical, he uses shame to convince them that they are defined by what they've done, or by this one characteristic. He convinces them they can never change, never be forgiven, never be more than their very worst moment. 

For DuJin - the sinner, the hero's journey is facilitated by two individuals in particular, who help him to see the good in him, the potential he has within. It culminates in him taking responsibility for his mistake, and sacrificing himself to save another. In doing so, he finds peace, redemption.

Rumi's story has some similarities. Her broken state was not her doing, it was a curse from birth. Something she desperately tried to hide, to find a way to remove. Her victory came as she acknowledged her flaws and scars. She didn't make them her identity, didn't wallow in victim-hood. She accepted them as part of her whole story and, through resilience, and the support of friends, re-made them into strengths.

Along the way, Rumi's journey surfaced another profound truth. As she worked her way through her own struggles, she became aware of the complex nature of the world in which she lived. People were no longer necessarily Good, or Evil, rather they were a mix of the two. And some who she before saw as despicable demons, became souls worth saving.

Another truth her story surfaced was that hate could not be used to drive out hate, that darkness couldn't not be fought with darkness.

These profound spiritual truths were told in a fun, quirky, somewhat campy way, with catchy tunes and silly animations. Subtle, but unmistakable.

And as the final conflict comes to a head, our heroines bring their journey to resolution with the following words in song

"Nothing but the truth now
Nothing but the proof of what I am
The worst of what I came from, patterns I'm ashamed of
Things that even I don't understand
I tried to fix it, I tried to fight it
My head was twisted, my heart divided
My lies all collided
I don't know why I didn't trust you to be on my side
 
I broke into a million pieces, and I can't go back
But now I'm seeing all the beauty in the broken glass
The scars are part of me, darkness and harmony
My voice without the lies, this is what it sounds like...
 
We're shattering the silence, we're rising defiant
Shouting in the quiet, you're not alone
We listened to the demons, we let them get between us
But none of us are out here on our own
So, we were cowards, so, we were liars
So, we're not heroes, we're still survivors
The dreamers, the fighters, no lying, I'm tired
But dive in the fire and I'll be right here by your side..."

A bold and brilliant anthem to the power of truth, trust, grace, redemption, of accepting people with all of their scars and messiness, setting aside guilt and shame, and lifting one another to greater heights.

The show is inspiring, uplifting, full of positive messaging with powerful music. Definitely worth a watch or three. I am grateful to my daughter and her friends for introducing me to this masterpiece.
 

The Problem With the Patriarchy

 

The Patriarchy is a false flag. A myth founded in an inaccurate worldview.

The first era is the primitive era. The land was wild and treacherous. Humans existed in tribes that competed fiercely for resources. Survival was one day at a time, hunting and gathering food. Fending off man and beast.

Biologically speaking, women were at a physical disadvantage in this world. 

Physically smaller, with lower bone density, less muscle mass, and less fast-twitch muscle (the muscle fibers which are important to speed and strength).

And on top of that, they have babies. For nine months, they carry the weight of an extra person around, which impedes movement, reduces endurance. Biochemical changes cause loosening of ligaments, increasing joint instability. Then they must expel said body. A traumatic experience leaving them even more vulnerable.

It is easy to see how a woman was dependent upon a man during this era. It is perhaps less obvious - largely due to human shortsightedness, but a man was just as dependent upon a woman. More on that later.


In The second era, we see the rise of civilization, hunting and gathering gives way to agriculture, then industry. Men and women invent any number of labor saving devices, and creatures comforts - cars, heating and air conditioning, dish washers and laundry machines. The brute strength of the past is no longer requisite for day to day survival. Specialization and Division of labor, along with a robust economic system provide the means for as women to largely set aside her past dependencies.

Except.

There is still the issue of pregnancy and childbearing and child rearing. The companies that hire laborers want dependency, consistency. Childbirth interrupts that consistency. This interrupts her ability to labor in her career, which in turn interrupts her ability to obtain for herself the requisite food, clothing, and shelter needed for survival. So once again, she depends upon her male counterpart to provide, if not protect.

And thus is born the concept of "The Patriarchy". Men lording over women. subjugating them.

It seems a reasonable, logical claim. And one can find examples a-plenty to back that claim. 

The third era brings the final solution. Technological advances give the world a vast array of ways and means for a woman to control, or eliminate altogether her childbearing functions. And should she still choose to bear children, large governments establish an array of laws and entitlements which require companies to provide time off and compensation for childbirth. Welfare programs extract surplus money from other laborers and give it to women. Women are now finally free of their dependency on men.

Except. 

They are not free of their dependency. All this has done is shift her dependency from one man of her choosing. To an ever-changing body of bureaucrats and politicians - men and women (yes, mostly men - likely owing to our old friend biology again. Along with size, strength and speed, biology also tends to grant men greater levels of aggression and risk tolerance. One should note however that only a very few men come out on top in the struggle. The majority of men are also subjects and victims in this system.) to whom she is just one more anonymous face. The support they provide waxes and wanes, their attention drawn by any number of other whims which suit their fancy. 

This problem is further compounded by the power to cease childbearing. What happens when there is no new generation to care for the old?

You see, the above is all seen through lens of the immediate. When one considers the long game, the dependency men have on women becomes more apparent. All people age, and with age comes infirmity. Speed, strength and endurance which served men in their prime fades. Before long, they too are dependent upon someone else to meet their basic needs.

So a man, from the very beginning was just as dependent upon the woman, to provide offspring who would care for the both of them in their dotage. 

But, we humans are myopic in our thinking. We forget the "long game", we measure all men against the few who rise to the top by beating others to submission - The Bill Gates' and Andrew Tates' of the world. And so we blame "The Patriarchy".

But the Patriarchy doesn't exist. It is a figment of a feeble imagination. A distraction born out of a flawed approach to human interaction. The problem isn't - and never has been - the patriarchy, rather it is the mindset. When an individual views the world and their interactions through a confrontational, transactional mindset, they are always concerned about about what they are getting vs what the others are getting. Who is doing the most work? who is reaping the greatest benefits, who is sacrificing the most? Who got the biggest half of the cookie?

Thus it devolves into a battle over scraps as each individual attempts to claw their way to perceived "fairness". It isn't the patriarchy, it is our own foolhardy selfishness. We battle an imaginary foe.

The solution to the problem is of course to abandon the battle against "The Patriarchy" and face the true foe - our own selfish natures.

Change the relationship perspective from contract to a covenant. From conflict to cooperation, From transaction to service

22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

                    (Ephesians 5)

There is a funny thing about this - when two people relate to each other through the lens of service - of focusing on what they can do to lift, help, support and strengthen the other, instead of worrying about if they are getting their 'fair' share, the available resources seem to multiply, the so-called 'patriarchy' vanishes. Together they are more than the sum of their parts, together they are indomitable. Together they conquer, and rise to greater heights.