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Bible Briefs
Does the Exodus Prove Day is Night?
Passover is the First Day of Unleavened Bread
How to Figure the Tithe of Produce
What about GMOs, Hybrids and Other Food Facts?
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Inheritances
Question: What is the appropriate way of handling inheritances? Does the Biblical law of primogeniture still apply in this society?
Answer: The Bible explicitly requires parents to honor the eldest son’s rights of inheritance. Notice what Yahweh commanded:
“…on the day when he assigns [‘wills’; NASB] his possessions as an inheritance to his sons,…he shall acknowledge the first born,…by giving him a double portion of all that he has,…the right of the first-born is his” (Deut. 21:16-17).
And if a man dies having no son:
“If a man dies, and has no son, then you shall cause his inheritance to pass to his daughter…” (Num. 27:8).
The eldest son gets twice as much as the other sons. For example, if a man has three sons, the inheritance is divided into four parts. The eldest son gets two parts. The others get one part each.
These two references together show as well, that a man having only one living son gets all the inheritance-all his father’s possessions. The daughters and mother are not to be willed part of the inheritance when there is one son living. However, the son or eldest son-in the father’s absence-is responsible for his sisters (until they marry) and mother. See Yahshua’s example (John 19:27).
Yahweh’s inheritance laws tell us all the father’s possessions go to the family. His possessions-in part or whole-are not to be willed to charities, churches, or other ‘causes’ looking for a handout. -ICY
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Paying Wages
Question: In modern times such as we live in, is it necessary for employers to pay wages each day as the Bible seems to indicate?
Answer: The Bible does require employers to pay wages daily. Notice what Yahweh commanded:
“You are not to oppress your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of a hired man are not to remain with you all night until morning” (Lev. 19:13).
Here is an unambiguous command to pay wages daily. Yahshua even gave a parable (Matt. 20:8), which showed compliance to the Law just quoted. Yahweh calls it robbery (a serious charge) not to pay the employee his wages no later than the night following the day he earned them. If the employee is poor, the wage must be paid that day before the sun sets (Deut. 24:15)-in any society.
This is rarely, if ever, the practice in our society. Stealing wages by failing to pay the wage at the end of the day is the one of the most common forms of theft today.
It would be interesting to see how wage disputes between labor and management would be affected if this rule were followed. What economic spinoffs would result from the application of just this one law?
Is failure to comply with this economic law part of the reason why businesses sometimes suffer crushing losses, employee apathy, embezzlement, strangling governmental red tape, and a myriad of other woes?
Could it be these are penalties from causes yet unidentified? A sort of “collection” on debts incurred for a form of robbery.
The biggest problem with Yahweh’s Law is that very few have ever actually tried it where its laws are clearly applicable! The Bible has the solutions-if they are used. -ICY
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Fire on the Sabbath
Question: I understand some orthodox Jews will not drive their car on the Sabbath, because starting the engine is considered kindling a fire on the Sabbath. Should we not drive our car on the Sabbath since a fire must be started when the engine runs?
Answer: The Bible prohibits kindling (starting) a fire on the Sabbath. It is also true that a fire is started when the car engine runs. Let’s look at the Scripture regulating this:
“You shall not kindle a fire in any of your dwellings on the Sabbath day” (Ex. 35:3).
Notice it says “…in any of your dwellings…light no fire in any house…” (Moffatt); “…not light a fire…in any of your homes” (NJ).
As these translations clearly show, lighting or starting a fire applies only to ones house-where we live. This obviously excludes our car. We can drive on the Sabbaths.
How does this apply though within the home? Can we have no fire of any kind in our home on the Sabbath Day? What about wintertime?
This same term “kindle/ed (SEC 1197)” (KJV, NAS) is used in Ex. 22:6: “…whoever started the fire…” (NAS); “…coals were kindled by it [fire]” (II Sam. 22:9). So this term refers to initiating or starting a fire. If there is fire already within the house when the Sabbath dawns early Saturday morning, if the coals are already burning there, then this law is not violated.
It is permissible, then, to have a pilot light already lit in the furnace, or a wood fire already burning when the Sabbath dawns. Or technically, one could start the fire outside on the Sabbath and bring the fire inside the house.
Apparently electric heaters, stoves, and furnaces do not come under the restrictions of this law since they produce no actual flame or spark by consuming materials or ionizing air. -ICY
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Laws of Clean and Unclean
Question: Do the laws of clean and unclean mentioned in Lev. 15, for example, apply today? If so, how about Lev. 15:19? Does this mean the woman must be removed outside the city during her menstrual cycle? Also, how are items she touches cleansed?
Answer: There is no evidence these laws of clean and unclean have been rescinded. In the N.T. the term “unclean” (Gr. akathartos) is used 30 times, and the term “uncleanness” (Gr. akatharsia) is used 10 times. Akathartos is used in II Cor. 6:17: “Wherefore come out from among them, and be you separate, saith Yahweh, and touch not the unclean thing;…” This is a quote of Isaiah 52:11 where the Hebrew word “tame” is translated “unclean” (Used 103 times in the Law). Therefore, “tame” and “akathartos” are equivalent terms, and akathartos/sia (same root word) refers to the unclean as spelled out in the Law. Those laws regulating clean and unclean still hold.
The subject is listed along with other obvious sins such as fornication, adultery, etc. See Galatians 5:19; Ephesians 5:3, etc. Paul said, “For Yahweh has not called us to uncleanness (akatharsia), but to holiness.”
As to Lev. 15:19, the matter of separation during the menstrual period is clarified in v. 26: “…the BED of her separation…” This does not say the house, city, or camp, but bed of her separation (See Lev. 18:19; Ezk. 18:6). The reference in Num. 5:1-3 clearly holds only when Yahweh actually dwells among the people (v. 3: “…camp where I dwell…”).
Also [v.19], the term “whosoever” should be translated “whatsoever”, so anything touching her is unclean until evening. -ICY
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Scriptural Leavening
Question: Most all groups who observe the Days of Unleavened Bread say leavening includes all modern leavening agents such as baking powders and baking soda, even egg whites. What is the Bible teaching on this subject?
Answer: The primary references are Ex. 12:15, 18:
“Seven days shall you eat unleavened (“unfermented”, NWT; SEC 4682) bread… even the first day you shall put away leaven (“yeast” GN; SEC 7603) out of your houses…” “…you shall eat unleavened (SEC 4682) bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month” (KJV).
Strong’s says the word translated “leaven” (SEC 7603) is: “barm or yeast cake.” Barm is “the foamy yeast that appears on the surface of fermenting malt liquors” (Websters).
The more authoritative Gesenius says of this word: “fermentation, leaven.” In the Greek (SEC 2219), leaven is “yeast, leaven:” “a little yeast ferments the whole lump of dough…” (I Cor 5:6; A.G. p. 340). Unleavened (SEC 4682) means “what is sweet, i.e. unfermented bread” (Gesenius). The Biblical principle is fermentation. Websters says leaven is “a substance, such as yeast, used to produce fermentation, especially in dough.”
Fermentation is “the breakdown of complex molecules in organic compounds by a ferment such as yeast or bacteria” (Websters). More specifically, this change is produced by the action of an enzyme. The yeast plant or bacteria produces the enzyme, which ferments the starches and sugars producing ethanol, which is driven off during baking, and carbon dioxide which causes the dough to swell or rise.
These facts unmistakenly show fermentation must be the process by which bread is Scripturally leavened by yeast. Consequently, baking soda, baking powders, or eggs are not Biblical leavening. They do not produce the enzymatic fermentation process. -ICY
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Does the Exodus Prove Day is Night?
This question refers to Number 3:13: “Because all the firstborn are mine; for on that day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn…”
The word “that” used here is highly suspect in light of Exodus 12:51 and 12:1-3. These verses show in conjunction with Numbers 33:3 (“…they departed from Rameses in the first month; on the morrow after the Passover the children of Israel went out…in the sight of all the Egyptians.”) that Israel left Egypt on the 15th, which was the same day He sanctified the firstborn:
“Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel…Moses said unto the people. Remember this day in which you came out of Egypt (15th of Abib: Num 33:3)…when Yahweh shall bring you into the land of the Canannite…that you shall set apart unto Yahweh all that openeth the matrix (Ex. 13:2-3; 11-12).”
It is clear from these accounts that Yahweh told Moses to sanctify or hallow the firstborn on the 15th of Abib, the day they actually marched out of Egypt in the sight of all the Egyptians (Num. 33:3). Obviously they could be seen by the Egyptians as their march out of bondage began. It must have been light. The word day is SEC 3317 in all these cases as it is in Genesis 1:5 where Yahweh defines light as day.
Furthermore, the Bible clearly records the killing of the firstborn occurred at midnight. Midnight means literally “the middle of the night.” The middle of night has an equal number of hours of night (darkness; Gen. 1:5), before it and after it; equal amounts of darkness on both sides of that point.
Comparison of these verses shows the sanctification of the firstborn occurred after Yahweh killed the firstborn of Egypt. Actually the sanctification was the day (15th) after the midnight slaying of the Egyptian firstborn. The recorded sequence of events shows the translation of this verse should go something like:
“Because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day AFTER I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn…” -ICY
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Passover is the First Day of Unleavened Bread
Foundational Scriptures
First notice Mark 14:12. This inspired and undeniable record of an apostle clearly shows Passover is the first day of unleavened bread:
“And the FIRST DAY OF UNLEAVENED BREAD, [notice now] WHEN THEY KILLED THE PASSOVER, his disciples said,…where will you that we go and prepare that YOU MAY EAT THE PASSOVER.”
How could a scripture state more plainly that the day the Passover is killed IS the first day of unleavened bread? And which day of the month of Abib is the Passover killed?
“And in the FOURTEENETH day of the FIRST MONTH…is the Passover (Num. 28:16; See also Lev. 23:5; Ex. 12:6; Num. 9:2-3, 5; Josh. 5:10; Ezr. 6:19; Ezk. 45:21).”
These two verses together plainly show the fourteenth day of the first month, Passover, is the first day of unleavened bread [Note the fifteenth of Abib is not alluded to in any way. It says IN the fourteenth. NOT IN the fifteenth.]. These verses need no interpretation; no further explanation to get their meaning. All that is needed is to be willing to admit what they say and accept it.
But Mark 14:12 is not alone. Notice Matt. 26:17:
“Now the FIRST ‘day’ OF the ‘feast of’ UNLEAVENED BREAD the disciples came to Yahshua, saying…Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to EAT THE PASSOVER?”
The disciples came to Yahshua on the first of unleavened bread. There is no record of unleavened bread. There is no record in Scripture of an unleavened bread requirement before the fourteenth of the first month [Abib], so this had to be at least Abib 14.
This was before the Passover was eaten so it could not have been the fifteenth of Abib. Therefore, it must have been sometime on the day of Abib 14, prior to killing the Passover that evening. Since it was the first of unleavened, Abib 14 is the first day of unleavened bread (See again Num. 28:16). This is the SECOND decisive reference.
Yahweh does not stop there. Notice another, the THIRD, reference:
“Then came THE DAY OF THE UNLEAVENED BREAD, when THE PASSOVER MUST BE KILLED…And he sent…saying, Go and prepare us THE PASSOVER, that we may eat (Luke 22:7-8).”
Absolutely without question, these verses hammer home the rock-solid truth that the day the Passover is killed [Abib 14], is a day of unleavened bread. Since it precedes the 15th, it must be the first day of unleavened bread. -ICY
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Christmas is a Pagan Festival
Notice was Alexander Heslop says, “…the 25th of December was called by out Pagan Anglo-Saxon ancestors, ‘Yule-day’ or the ‘Child’s day,’ and the night that preceded it, ‘Mother-night,’ long before they came in contact with Christianity,…sufficiently process its real character. Far and wide, in the realms of Paganism, was this birthday observed” (The Two Babylons, Heslop, pp.93-94) [Emphasis mine].
Heslop further concludes: “…within the Christian Church no such festival as Christmas was ever heard of till the third century, and that not till the fourth century was far advanced did it gain much observance…That Christmas was originally a Pagan festival, is beyond doubt. The time of year, and the ceremonies with which it is still celebrated, prove its origin…In Egypt, the son of Isis, the Egyptian title for the queen of heaven, was born at this very time ‘about the time of the winter’ solstice’” (Ibid. p. 93). See Jeremiah’s comments on the queen of heaven: Jer. 7:18.
No it is not just an innocent national holiday. It is a holiday Yahweh does not sanctify. It is in fact a bizarre mixture of paganism, and so-called Christian religious celebrations; a heathen practice which Yahweh specifically condemns. We are not at liberty to set holy times for ourselves, and neither can churches, Catholic of Protestant, legally do so.
Yahweh says,
“Learn not [do not do as they do] the way so the heathen,…For the customs of the people are vain: for one cuts a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it [‘deck the halls, etc.’…] with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree…Be not afraid of them…” (Jer. 10:1-5) [Emphasis mine].
If Yahweh says “Learn not the ways of the heathen…,’ we are not to learn, or practice them – regardless, national holiday or no national holiday! -ICY
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Easter is Pagan
Bunny rabbits, colored eggs and Sunday sunrise services are not part of Passover. Where did these trappings of Easter and the term itself originate? Notice these facts: “What means the term Easter itself? It is not a Christian name…Easter is nothing else than Artate, one of the titles of Beltis, the queen of heaven…That name…on…Assyrian monuments, is Ishtar. The worship of Bel and Astarte was very early introduced into Britain…The origin of the Pasch eggs is just as clear. The ancient Druids bore an egg, as the sacred emblem of their order…In China…dyed or painted eggs are used…hence the egg become one of the symbols of Astarte or Easter (The Two Babylons, pp. 103, 108-109).” Notice too Ezekiel 8:16: “…and they worshipped the sun toward the east.” Yahweh ordained Passover and will not accept Easter as a substitute! Will you? -ICY
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Clean and Unclean Foods
Question: Does Genesis 9:3 prove it is Scriptural to eat any animal flesh we please?
Answer: Here is that verse: “Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you: even as the green herb have I given you all things” (Gen. 9:3; KJV). The literal Hebrew here does say, ‘Every or All…” Several translations read essentially the same.
Taken by itself we can see how anyone looking for a way around the Law’s restrictions on eating unclean animals would point to this verse as proof we can Biblically eat whatever animal flesh we like.
The usual translation of this verse makes no distinction in edible meats. However, it contradicts other clear, very detailed verses showing clean animals we can eat, and unclean animals we cannot (Gen. 8:2, 8; Lev. 11; Deut. 14).
There was a definite change in diet from pre-Eden to post-Eden. Before Adam was expelled from the garden of Eden for his sin no mention was made of eating meat of any kind…either for man or beast: “I have given to you every herb…for food [Heb: “to eat”]…to [for] every creeper… every greenness of herb for food [“to eat”: Heb]…” (Gen. 1:29-30). These verses show an herbivorous nature of man and beast while in Eden, and no clean and unclean differences.
Apparently, after the disobedience of Adam and Eve, and sin had caused severe consequences, a distinction was made between clean and unclean animals. For example, before the flood Noah loaded seven pairs of clean animals and only a single pair each of unclean animals (Gen. 7:2, 8).
Why did he take seven pairs of clean animals? One answer is he needed them for sacrificial offerings (Gen. 8:20). There is little doubt this was his practice before the flood as well.
Are we to assume then, the only reason for the clean and unclean distinction was sacrificial usages? This is certainly consistent with the Law which informs us: “…you shall put a difference between unclean and unclean” (Lev. 10:10).
Now along comes Gen. 9:3 which could not change the pre and post-flood rules mentioned just a few verses earlier distinguishing clean and unclean animals (Gen. 7:2, 8; 8:20), and appears to make no distinction, including none for food, “meat for you.”
However, there is absolutely no escaping the fact that Yahweh tells us in Lev. 11 and Deut. 14, what we can and cannot eat of animal flesh. So how do we reconcile these scriptures?
If we assume Gen. 9:3 is the principle of eating animal flesh, this contradicts scores of other verses. If, however, we assume the Lev. 11 and Deut. 14 laws must be obeyed, then, to avoid contradiction we find a more consistent translation of Gen. 9:3 is “OF all moving animals shall be food for you…” That is, we choose out of all the moving animals some for food as detailed in the restrictions listed in Lev. 11 and Deut. 14.
So was there another reason Noah preserved seven pairs of clean animals? Using these other scriptures shows he was providing some clean animals for food and others for sacrifices.
Rightly dividing Yahweh’s Word requires we use all scriptures related to the topic at hand. Once connecting references are found, the picture can be completed. This is a common feature in Scripture, and requires we look for related verses: “Whom shall we teach knowledge? Or whom shall we make to understand doctrine? For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, and there a little” (Isa. 28:9-10). -ICY
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How to Figure the Tithe of Produce
Question: “I need to know how I figure a tenth of my garden? Also, is it a tenth of each plant or the whole garden together? Is it the first ones to come up?”
Answer: The first tithe law has two parts: “And all the tithe of the land, whether the seed of the land, or of the fruit of trees is Yahweh’s, it is holy to Yahweh” (Lev. 27:30). Notice no method is given as to how this tenth is determined.
But contrast this to the 2nd part: “…concerning the tithe of the herd, or the flock…whatsoever passes under the rod, the tenth shall be holy to Yahweh” (Lev. 27:32).
Here we see the tithe of flocks and cattle is found by simply numbering: the tenth one counted is the tithe.
For produce of wheat, barley…grains, numbering would be nearly impossible. Since grain sizes of the same grain type (wheat, rice, etc.) are nearly equal, volume (bushel, peck, same bucket size, etc.) is accurate. By weight is somewhat more accurate since the amount of produce in a given volume depends on variable size, and weight depends only on the mass.
For gardens and fruit trees Yahweh does not say the “tenth apple that passes under the rod…[numbering].” And since He does not specify numbering for tithe of the land, insisting on numbering is adding to the law (Deut. 32:12).
What we are left with is figuring garden produce or fruit by weight or volume. Weight would give a precise way to determine the tenth part. Volume would be a less precise measure due to variations in the sizes of carrots, apples, onions, etc. Although either is allowed.
Since Yahweh does not calculate the tithe for garden produce or fruit by numbering, which appears to add to the law what is only specified for animals, we judge the tenth part of these by volume or weight.
Further Details
A garden produces a variety of produce. How are these tithed? Do we take a tenth of each kind of the produce as a whole? The Law requires a tenth of each kind: “And ALL…the seed of the land…” (Lev. 27:30). Since the tenth is on “ALL of the seed…” the produce of each kind of seed must be tithed. If we do not separate it like this, a person could give, for example, nothing but potatoes if the potato crop were large enough to equal the tenth by volume or weight of the total produce of all garden produce. Yahweh would get only potatoes and no onions, tomatoes, lettuce, etc. Potatoes are not the only seed or produce planted.
Firstfruits
“You shall bring the very first of first fruits of your soil into the house of Yahweh” (Ex. 34:26). “…you shall give…the first fruits of your grain, new wine, and your oil, and the first of shearing of your sheep..” (Deut. 18:4).
This is simply the first ripe produce…just one of a kind that ripens. It does not have to be a tenth of the first ripe…just some of what ripens first, and does not have to be the best.
First fruits of grain is a sheaf of the first ripe grain brought as a wave offering (Lev. 23:10).
-ICY
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What about GMOs, Hybrids and Other Food Facts?
Are GMOs (genetically modified organisms) and hybrid foods allowable Biblically? What does the Bible say about the production of fruits, vegetables, grains and live stock?
An example from Scripture shows “genetic engineering” is possible under some conditions. This is illustrated by the case of Jacob having his sheep and goats conceive while they saw wooden rods which he had stripped to make rings and spots. Their offspring were then spotted, striped, and speckled (Gen. 30:37-42).
The Bible has restrictions directly related to these questions. Notice these cases. Two scriptures prohibit sowing the field with “mingled” seed (Lev. 19:19) and “divers” seed [Deut. 22:9], both Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance number 3610. In the LXX 3610 is translated “diverse” in both Deut. 22:9 and Lev. 19:19. Also, cattle breeding with “diverse” (SEC 3610) kinds is prohibited (Deut. 22:19).
This word, SEC 3610 [Heb. “kilayim”], refers to two heterogeneous things which is the definition of “hybrid”: anything derived from heterogeneous sources (Gesenius Lexicon, p. 398). GMOs are certainly a heterogeneous mixture. Note that “kilayim” is equivalent to the Ethiopic “of a twofold kind” [Gesenius, p.398 [See also Brown-Driver-Briggs Lexicon, p. 476]. “…of A twofold kind” indicates a single element composed of heterogeneous parts.
Biblically, it appears both GMOs (though resulting from tapering on the DNA level directly to mix heterogeneous parts), as well as hybrids come under this prohibition of mixing hetero-geneous kinds. Some countries have banned GMO foods for human consumption and animal feed.
These are two examples of food pollution.
There other facts to consider such as “uncircumcised” fruit which is sold in markets (Lev. 19:23-25). For example, who knows if that apple at the supermarket was under the curse of being a fruit of the first 4 years the tree yielded…uncircumcised, or maybe also a GMO “non-brown spot” reduced enzyme product?
Maybe that tomato was made resistant to frost and freezing temperatures by genetic engineering using antifreeze genes from a cold-water fish, the winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus)…or maybe some other source.
Was that steak from a firstling (Ex. 13:12), what should have been the tithe of the herd (Lev. 27:32), or an heterogeneous mixture of breeds?
These examples are just the tip of the iceberg which have a major effect on the foods we eat. Recall the first sin was eating what was forbidden (Gen. 3:1-13). The human race has been reeling from that mistake ever since.
GMOs are a much more technologically advanced way of violating Yahweh’s food Laws. Of course hybridization is also a highly sophisticated method of breaking or “bending” those Laws.
-ICY