The problem with censorship, be it via a megacorp or the government, is that truth is always the victim. I kmow that some have fought for a corporation's right to censor. The reward? Disinformation and harm both physically and intellectually. Even when it's "your/our" side.

https://mb.ntd.com/cdc-gave-fa....cebook-misinformatio

I mean to make myself a man, and if I succeed at that, I shall succeed in everything else. -James A. Garfield

Q56: "They shall not regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight in it." Who do these words refer to?

#quiz

Source: www.biblequiz.biz

PS: Discussions are very welcome, but please do not give the answer away in your discussions.

Why is #marriage in America in such terrible shape today? Hint: It's not because of homosexuality or no-fault divorce.

https://soilfromstone.blogspot.....com/2007/11/divorce

is there anyone near ava missouri that would be willing to discuss the possibility of helping me write Bible based scripts for videos?

When a man takes a wife and marries her, if then she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her, and he writes her a certificate of #divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house, and she departs out of his house...
#deuteronomy 24:1 #marriage

"Some uncleanness" isn't just something that the man dislikes. It's also not the same Hebrew word normally translated "unclean". Rather, it implies something sexual or indecent, yet still short of provable adultery.

INFLUENTIAL WOMEN OF THE BIBLE – PART 2

Female Judge Deborah
Deborah was the name of two Old Testament women. The word in Hebrew means [honeybee] -- Psalm 118:12; Isaiah 7:18. The Deborah I refer to was also a prophetess and judge -- Judges 4-5. Deborah’s position as a prophetess shows that her message was from YHVH. That was not unique in the Bible, but it was unusual. Other prophetesses included Miriam -- Exodus 15:20, Huldah -- 2 Kings 22:14 -- and Anna -- Luke 2:36. Deborah, however, was unique. Only she is said to have [judged Israel] before the major event that marks her story -- Judges 4:4. Her husband, Lappidoth, is otherwise unknown. Deborah, known as a [mother in Israel] -- Judges 5:7 -- remained in one location and the people came to her for guidance. Evidently over two hundred years later, when the book of Judges was compiled, a giant palm tree still marked the spot. Though she lived within the boundary of Benjamin -- 4:5; compare Joshua 16:2; 18:13 -- Deborah was probably from the tribe of Ephraim. That was the most prominent tribe of northern Israel. Some feel she came from the tribe of Issachar -- Judges 5:14-15. Under Deborah’s inspired leadership, the poorly equipped Israelites defeated the Canaanites in the plain of Esdraelon -- Judges 4:15. The flooding of the Kishon River evidently interfered with the enemy’s impressive chariots --5:21-22. The Canaanites retreated to the north, perhaps to Taanach near Megiddo -- 5:19. They never reappeared as an enemy within Israel. The Song of Deborah -- chapter 5 -- is a poetic version of the account recorded in Judges 4.

Song of Deborah:
The Song of Deborah is an ancient poem found in Judges 5, celebrating an Israelite victory over the Canaanites. Similar to Moses’ song -- Exodus 15:1-18 -- and paralleling a prose account in Judges 4, the Song of Deborah describes the miraculous defeat of a powerful Canaanite king, Jabin of Hazor, and of Sisera, his general. The song’s poetic style and occasional use of archaic Hebrew forms are reflected in slightly differing translations in modern versions of the Bible. The poem’s vigorous language suggests that it was composed by an eyewitness of the battle, probably Deborah herself. Judges 5:2 -- urges Israel to praise Adonai. The next verse exhorts foreign kings to learn of Israel’s YHVH and His exploits. It is not clear whether verses 4-5 describe the present battle or refer to YHVH’s previous appearance to Moses at Mount Sinai. Verse 5 could be translated, [The mountains quaked at the presence of the One of Sinai.] Deborah is first introduced in verse 7. Verse 8 could mean either that Canaanite oppression prevented open displays of Israelite weaponry or, more likely, that the Canaanites had wiped out all weapon-making industry in Israel -- 1 Samuel 13:19. In an atmosphere of fear, indecision, and isolationism, Deborah, a judge, urged the Israelite tribes to battle. When Deborah appealed to the whole nation for help, some tribes were apathetic, but others gave assistance. The battle took place at Taanach, fifteen miles southwest of Mount Tabor. The Canaanites had mobilized in that vicinity -- Judges 4:13 -- so the Israelites lost whatever advantage their mountain position would have afforded. Deborah’s song, however, implies Adonai’s intervention, perhaps through a severe storm. Divine aid is also alluded to in -- 4:14 [for the ADONAI is marching ahead of you]. The stars that fought Sisera and the flooding of the river Kishon represent the forces of nature helping Israel -- 5:20-21. In addition, any advantage of the Canaanites’ chariotry was nullified after Jael, a heroic Hebrew woman, killed Sisera, the chariot leader -- 5:24-27. Sisera’s death fulfilled Deborah’s prophecy to the Israelite commander, Barak, that a woman, not he, would receive glory for that feat -- 4:9. Sisera’s mother is seen pathetically awaiting his return. In contrast to the sarcastic portrayal of that Canaanite woman, the last words of Deborah’s song are a fervent prayer for future safety. Although Jael was blessed -- Judges 5:24 -- and Deborah acclaimed, YHVH of Israel -- 5:1-3 received the glory.

Huldah
Huldah was a prophetess living in Jerusalem; a contemporary of the prophets Jeremiah and Zephaniah. Huldah is introduced as the wife of Shullam, the wardrobe keeper in King Josiah’s court -- 2 Kings 22:14; 2 Chronicles 34:22. Josiah sent his officers to ask Huldah’s counsel concerning the book of the Mosaic Law that had been found during the temple repair. She prophesied that disaster would strike the nation -- 2 Kings 22:16 -- but that Josiah would be spared because he was penitent and had humbled himself before Adonai -- 22:18-19. She declared the destruction would come after his death and that he would be buried in peace -- 22:20. Although Josiah later died in battle, he was properly entombed -- 23:30 -- avoiding the indignity of becoming prey for vultures. It was after receiving Huldah’s advice that Josiah carried out his religious reform -- 2 Chronicles 35:1-25.

Abigail
Nabal’s wife, Abigail later married David -- 1 Samuel 25:2-42. Nabal was a wealthy sheep owner whose property David’s men had protected. When David asked for some supplies in return for that protection, Nabal refused. Enraged, David set out with 400 armed men to destroy Nabal and his house. Abigail, who had been informed of her husband’s actions, decided to meet David and offer him many supplies, taking the blame for her foolish husband. David thanked YHVH for using Abigail to contain his anger. After passing out drunk, Nabal woke up the next morning, learned what had happened, and suffered a stroke from which he died ten days later. Abigail then married David and shared his adventurous life among the Philistines -- 1 Samuel 30:1-19. Abigail went with David to Hebron when he became King of Judah -- 2 Samuel 2:2 -- and she gave birth to David’s second son, Chileab -- 2 Samuel 3:3 -- who was also called Daniel -- 1 Chronicles 3:1.

Anna
Anna was Phanuel’s daughter from Asher’s tribe, and a prophetess in Jerusalem when Yeshua was a young child. She worshiped with prayer and fasting day and night in the temple. When Yeshua’ parents presented Him to Adonai in the temple, she came up, thanking YHVH and speaking of Him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem -- Luke 2:36-38.

Hannah
Hannah was the mother of the prophet Samuel. She was the wife of Elkanah from Ephraim’s tribe. The childless Hannah prayed annually at Shiloh for a son, whom she vowed to dedicate to Elohim. Adonai answered her prayer, and she called her son Samuel. When he was weaned [probably about age three], she dedicated him at Shiloh to the service of YHVH in the sanctuary. Afterwards, Samuel lived with Eli the priest and was visited by his parents on their annual pilgrimages. Hannah had three more sons and two daughters -- 1 Samuel 1:1-2:21. Her prophetic psalm -- 2:1-10 is similar to Mary’s song of praise, the [Magnificat] -- Luke 1:46-55.

INFLUENTIAL WOMEN OF THE BIBLE – PART 1

Many believers are up-in-arms and want to argue that a women’s place is in the kitchen and home to raise children. We are not in a position to decide who YHVH will use to bring a message and we are not in a position to judge should a powerful word come to us through a female. What we as believers should do is to open our ears and listen to the message and compare that to the Word of Elohim. Seek and you shall find the truth; we are taught. Because of this, there are several influential women in the Bible that plays a very important role according to me and even if we are reluctant to admit it, there are also powerful women today whom YHVH use.

Sarah
Sarah is the wife of Abraham whose name was originally Sarai -- Genesis 11:29. Her name was changed to Sarah [princess] when she was promised that she would bear a son and become the mother of nations and kings -- 17:15-16. Sarah was both the wife and the half-sister of Abraham -- 20:12. Sarah went with Abraham in his journey from Ur of the Chaldees to Haran and eventually into the land of Canaan -- Genesis 11:31; 12:5. She could not have children during most of her marriage. When YHVH promised Abraham that his children would become a great nation -- 12:2 -- and that the land of Canaan would be given to his descendants -- 12:7 --, Sarah was still barren. After ten years had passed -- compare Genesis 12:4; 16:16 -- and Sarah continued without children, she gave her Egyptian slave, Hagar, to Abraham to have a child with. Hagar conceived and bore a son, Ishmael -- 16:3-4. YHVH promised that a nation would come from Ishmael -- 17:20 -- but that he was not the child YHVH had promised Abraham. Sarah herself was to be the mother of this child, even though she laughed when the birth was predicted. Sarah indeed gave birth to Isaac -- 21:2-3, -- when she was ninety years old, twenty-five years after the original promise of a child to Abraham -- 17:17; 21:5. When famine forced Abraham and Sarah to journey down into Egypt shortly after they came to Canaan, they told the Egyptians that Sarah was Abraham’s sister. This resulted in Sarah’s being taken by Pharaoh to be one of his wives, because of her great beauty -- Genesis 12:11-15. Abraham was then treated well and rewarded by the Egyptians instead of being killed. But YHVH protected the marriage of Abraham and Sarah by sending a plague on Pharaoh and his house until Pharaoh released Sarah. Abraham and Sarah did the same thing at another time in Gerar -- 20, where she was taken into the household of Abimelech the king of Gerar. Again, YHVH protected Sarah, so that there would be no doubt who Isaac’s father was. Interestingly, Isaac was born not long after this incident -- 21:1-5, his birth having been promised about a year earlier -- 17:21; 18:10-14. Sarah died at the age of 127 and was buried in the cave at Machpelah, which Abraham had purchased from Ephron the Hittite -- 23. Apart from the book of Genesis, Sarah is referred to in the Old Testament only in -- Isaiah 51:2. Reference is made to her in the New Testament in -- Romans 4:19, 9:9, Hebrews 11:11, 1 Peter 3:6, and Galatians 4:21-31, -- although in the Galatians text she is not mentioned by name.

Miriam
Miriam was the sister of Aaron and Moses -- Exodus 15:20; Numbers 26:59; 1 Chronicles 6:3. Miriam first appears in Scripture as a young girl given the task of watching her infant brother’s cradle hidden in the reeds of the Nile River -- Exodus 2:4. Hiding baby Moses was the scheme conceived by her parents -- Hebrews 11:23 -- in order to escape the pharaoh’s edict that all Hebrew boys be drowned at birth -- Exodus 1:22. Miriam reveals not only courage and concern but also displays a certain wisdom when her brother is discovered by the Egyptian princess -- 2:5-6. Taking the initiative, she offers to find a nurse for the child. When this plan is accepted, she gets her mother -- Exodus 2:7-8. Miriam first appears by name after the Israelites have left Egypt and miraculously crossed the Red Sea -- Exodus 15:20. She is given the title of [prophetess] and is, with her brothers, appointed a leader in the nation -- Micah 6:4. Following the death of the Egyptian armies in the Red Sea, she leads the women of Israel in a song of praise with dancing and instrumental music -- Exodus 15:21. Miriam appears in disgrace after her jealousy of and rebellion against Moses. With Aaron, she murmurs against their brother Moses because of his superior influence in the nation and because of his marriage to a Cushite [foreign] woman -- Numbers 12:1-2. For this attack against YHVH’s chosen spokesman, she is struck with leprosy -- 12:10. Moses, however, prays to YHVH and intercedes on her behalf -- 12:9-13. She was restored after seven shameful days spent outside the camp, while Israel waited to resume its march -- 12:14-15. This sad incident is the last recorded event in Miriam’s public life. She died near the close of the wilderness wanderings at Kadesh and was buried there -- 20:1.

Rahab
Rahab was the heroine of the battle of Jericho -- Joshua 2-6. Soon after Moses’ death, YHVH told Joshua that he and the people were to cross the Jordan and occupy the Promised Land. Before the crossing, however, Joshua sent two spies into the land to scout out the opposition, in particular the fortified city of Jericho. Upon entering the city, the spies quickly found their way to Rahab’s house, which was perhaps an inn or a brothel. Apparently, she was a prostitute. News of the spies’ arrival was not long in reaching the king of Jericho, who demanded that Rahab divulge their whereabouts. She cleverly admitted seeing them but insisted that they had left the city at nightfall. Actually, the spies were hiding under the stalks of flax on the roof of her house. When the king’s search party left Jericho to hunt the spies, Rahab confessed to the spies the reason for her sympathy for the Israelites’ cause. She feared YHVH of the Jews, believing that He would surely give them victory -- Joshua 2:11. In return for her help, the spies agreed to save Rahab and her family. The sign was to be a cord of scarlet thread hanging from her window. The spies used this cord to escape the city. Rahab and her family were indeed the only survivors of the subsequent battle. They were led to safety, on Joshua’s command, by the very men Rahab had saved. Rahab became the wife of Salmon and mother of Boaz, and thus an ancestor of Yeshua -- Matthew 1:5. Rahab is listed, along with Moses, David, Samson, and Samuel, as an example of faith -- Hebrews 11:31. Her deed is an example of good works and justification -- James 2:25.

Esther
Esther is one of two names of the Jewish queen of Persia. Hadassah [Hebrew meaning Myrtle] apparently was her Jewish name -- Esther 2:7, -- and Esther [Persian meaning Star] her name as queen of Persia. Some scholars speculate about a connection with the Babylonian goddess Ishtar, since exiled Jews were occasionally given pagan names -- see Daniel 1:7. Esther was an orphan from the tribe of Benjamin who lived with the Jewish exiles in Persia. She was reared by her cousin Mordecai, a minor government official and covert leader of the Jewish community -- Esther 3:5-6 -- in Susa, capital of the Persian kingdom. Esther became queen after King Ahasuerus [Xerxes] became displeased with Queen Vashti when she refused to obey his command to attend a banquet -- 1:11-12. After Esther’s coronation, she discreetly won Xerxes’ confidence by informing him of an assassination plot -- Esther 2:21-23. The favour she won in the king’s eyes enabled her to deliver her family and her people from a massacre by Haman, a high official to the king. The Feast of Purim was instituted to celebrate YHVH’s deliverance of His people through Esther and Mordecai. This Jewish festival is still observed annually. The Feast of Purim is this coming week --- 16 to 17 March 2022. Google how to observe and do accordingly.

Its not about justice. Its about hierarchy. Keep the commoners at each others throats, abuse them as you will, and every once in a while throw them a bone.

https://twitter.com/Barnettfor....AZ/status/1566857226