The Skeptics Annotated Bible (117 page)

(19.20)
“Whosoever lieth carnally with a woman, that is a bondmaid, betrothed to an husband … She shall be scourged.”
If a man has sex with an engaged slave woman, scourge the woman, but don’t punish the man. (Even if he raped her?)
42 Is slavery OK?

21 And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, even a ram for a trespass offering.

22 And the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering before the LORD for his sin which he hath done: and the sin which he hath done shall be forgiven him.

(19.23-28) Uncircumcised fruit, blood, astrology, beards, tattoos, wizards and familiar spirits

23 And when ye shall come into the land, and shall have planted all manner of trees for food, then
ye shall count the fruit thereof as uncircumcised
: three years shall it be as uncircumcised unto you: it shall not be eaten of.

(19.23)
“Ye shall count the fruit thereof as uncircumcised.”
God tells the Israelites that the fruit from fruit trees is “uncircumcised” for three years after the trees are planted.

24 But in the fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be holy to praise the LORD withal.

25 And in the fifth year shall ye eat of the fruit thereof, that it may yield unto you the increase thereof: I am the LORD your God.

26
Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times.

(19.26)
“Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times.”
Don’t eat anything with blood, or use magic or astrology.
92 Is magic OK?
4 Does the Bible condemn astrology?

27
Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.

(19.27)
“Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.”
Don’t round the corners of your head or beard.

28
Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you
: I am the LORD.

(19.28)
“Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you.”
Don’t get any tattoos.

29 Do not prostitute thy daughter, to cause her to be a whore; lest the land fall to whoredom, and the land become full of wickedness.

30 Ye shall
keep my sabbaths
, and reverence my sanctuary
: I am the LORD.

(19.30)
“Keep my Sabbaths … I am the LORD.”
101 Is it necessary to keep the Sabbath?

31
Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards
, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.

(19.31)
“Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards.”
Stay away from wizards and familiar spirits.
92 Is magic OK?

(19.32-36) A few more good rules