The Skeptics Annotated Bible (468 page)

9 He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness.

10 And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.

(106.11-18) God is praised for the creative ways that he kills people: drowning, earth-swallowing, burning, etc.

11 And
the waters covered their enemies: there was not one of them left.

12
Then believed they his words; they sang his praise.

(106.11-12)
“The waters covered their enemies: there was not one of them left. Then believed they his words; they sang his praise.”

13 They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:

14 But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.

15 And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.

16 They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the LORD.

17
The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.

(106.17)
“The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan and covered the company of Abiram.”

18 And
a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up the wicked.

(106.18)
“A fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up the wicked.”

19 They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image.

20 Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.

21 They forgat God their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt;

22 Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red sea.

23 Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.

24 Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word:

25 But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD.

26 Therefore he lifted up his hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness:

27 To overthrow their seed also among the nations, and to scatter them in the lands.

28 They joined themselves also unto Baal-peor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.

(106.29-30) God sent a plague on the Israelites for “committing whoredom with the daughters of Moab.” But “then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment [by throwing a spear through a newly married couple]: and so the plague was stayed.” But not before 24,000 (1 Cor 10.8 says 23,000) had died. (See Num 25.6-9 for all the gory details.)

29
Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions: and the plague brake in upon them.

(106.29)
“Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions: and the plague brake in upon them.”

30
Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so the plague was stayed.

(106.30)
“Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so the plague was stayed.”

31 And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore.

32 They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes:

33 Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.

34 They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them:

35 But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.

36 And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.

37 Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,

38 And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.

39
Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions
.

(106.39) “Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions.” God is offended by those who make things with their hands or invent things with their minds.