A difference...

I am in the mood to write because I can not concentrate on anything else, but my mind is just moving from point-to-point on different topics trying to concentrate on one idea and nothing is working.

I am sure that everyone has been in a situation were they have so much to say, but have put off writing everything down with all the information glued in the brain.

The old testament is a library of 39 books written mostly in Hebrew, but parts written in Aramaic. The "Hebrew Bible" was written over a time period of approximately 1000 years. The scriptures function as writings for Jews and Christians and to some extent for Islam; all three religions stem from a common ancestor, Abraham.

The first five books that make up the Pentateuch are: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

The first story that we read, that is well known, God permits the first couple to eat from any tree in the garden except from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. With this story Adam and Eve provide explanations of the basic aspects of our lives, pain and child birth.

To understand were "testament" comes from there has to be an understanding of Latin. The term testament comes from the Latin term that means covenant.

A passage form the Old Testament (OT) book of Jeremiah anticipates the establishment of a new covenant between God and Israel.

Three themes of the OT are: Creation, Election and Blessing.

From Genesis chapter 12, we read that God selected Moses as a means to bless all the nations of the earth; Moses lived around 1300 BCE (Before Common Era). Abraham lived around 2000 BCE and David lived around 1000 BCE. This Abraham character was given circumcision as a sign of God's covenant with him.

Jacob has 12 sons, whose descendants later became the 12 tribes of Israel. Jacob moved his family to Egypt due to a famine.

The events of Adam and Eve, Abraham and Jacob are all recorded in the book of Genesis. The book of Genesis is often divided into two major parts; the first part is designed as "Primeval History" (Gen 1-11), and the second major part is usually designed as "Ancestral History" (Gen 12-50).

The Ancestral History is divided into three major sub-divisions; the Abraham cycle, the Jacob cycle and the Joseph saga make up the divisions.

The Abraham cycle which begins with "the call of Abram". Following the initial episode, throughout the "Abraham Cycle", Abraham responds to the circumstances of his life with either "Fear" or "Faith". This "Abraham Cycle" concludes with the near-sacrifice of Issac. Now the three correspondences between the first and last episode of the "Abraham Cycle" are: "go to the land", the silent obediance and trust and the start in Moreh and the end in Moriah. The one thing that we haven't mentioned that is key is the heart of the "Abraham Cycle". The heart of the "Abraham Cycle" is the divine covenant. One event that occurs twice in the "Abraham Cycle", but is not the only even that occurs twice, is the saving of Lot.

To compare two covenants that are made in Genesis we see that the rainbow that was given after the flood was made as a universal covenant while the Abrianic covenant was only given to the nations.

Abraham moved from Canaan to Egypt because there was a famine just like Jacob and his family moved to Egypt because of a Famine (I guess it should be the other way around for the movement scenario, but the picture is clear). This movement to Egypt brought about the "Say you are my sister" act that Abram told Sarai. At this time the Egyptian Hagar became Sarai's slave.

Ishmael had 12 sons just like Jacob. One important lesson that we can gain from the expulsion of Hagar and Ishmael is that God works through those outside the community of faith. This might be hard to think about because tradition says that all outside of Israel at this time is wrong, but if you read Amos 9:7 what is the implications there?

How does Ishmael play into the role of the Israelites? Well since Sarai could not bear any children Abram bore a child through Sarai's slave Hagar, from Egypt, and "now you have conceivd and shall bear a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard your affliction" (Gen 16:11).

Mann believes the central issue, or focal point of the "Abraham Cycle" is the "issue of the son".

Read through Genesis 15 ad tell me what you think God passing through the animal parts mean. Mann believes that "if I [God] do not keep the covenant may what happens to these animals happen to me".

The story of Sodom and Gomorrah story in Gen. 18-19 shows that the real protagonist is not Lot, but Abraham.

The events of Moses and the escape of the Hebrews from Egypt are recorded in the book of Exodus. In remembrance of the great act of deliverance from Egypt, God commands his people to celebrate the Passover.

Under the leadership of Joshua, the Israelites croseed the Jordan, carried out a swift military conquest and claimed the land as their own.

The three promises God made to Abraham are: land, great nation and blessing to all nations.

David established Zion or Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

If there is an inclusio in the biblical text there would be a word or phrase that appears at the beginning and the end or that text.

The designation "Babel" is a wordplay for the name "Babylon".