Question 69: Who were the Ishmaelites?

Answer:

They were descendants of Ishmael, Abraham's son and were divided into twelve tribes (Genesis 25:16; Genesis 16:15, 16). They were also called Hagarites, Hagarenes and Arabians (1 Chronicles 5:10; Psalm 83:6; Isaiah 13:20). They were governed by kings, were rich in cattle and dwelt in tents (Jeremiah 25:24; Isaiah 13-20; 1 Chronicles 5:21). Though they were the merchants of the East and travelled around in large caravans (Genesis 37:25; Job 6:19), they were frequently lawless and would waylay and plunder travellers (Jeremiah 3:2). After harassing Israel, they were overcome by Gideon (Judges 8:10-24; 2 Chronicles 5:10; 2 Chronicles 26:7). It would seem that later they became more peacefully inclined, as they sent presents to Kings Solomon and Jehoshaphat (1 Kings 10:15; 2 Chronicles 17:11).

Question 68: What is known of the Hivites?

Answer:

They formed one of the seven nations of Canaan, descended from Canaan (Genesis 10:15, 17). They dwelt near Lebanon. The Shechemites and Gibeonites were affiliated with them (Judges 3:3; Genesis 34:2; Joshua 9:3-7). Esau intermarried with them. Their land was promised to Israel and it was commanded to destroy them (Deuteronomy 7:1, 2, 24). In the reign of Solomon, a remnant of the Hivites was made tributary to Israel (1 Kings 9:20, 21).

Question 67: What is known of the Hittites?

Answer:

They were descendants of Canaan's son Heth. One of the seven Canaan nations, they dwelt in Hebron and were governed by kings (Deuteronomy 7:1; Genesis 23:2, 3, 19; 1 Kings 10:29). Their land was promised to Israel and it was commanded to destroy them; but Israel did not destroy them entirely (Deuteronomy 7:1, 2, 24; Joshua 14:13; Judges 3:5). Among their prominent personages were Ephron, Ahimelech and Uriah (Genesis 49:30; 1 Samuel 26:6; 2 Samuel 11:6, 21). Esau, Solomon and many other Israelites intermarried with the Hittites. They were a warlike people and made many conquests.

Frequently asked questions and answers:

Question 66: How soon after Adam’s fall did idolatry begin?

Answer:

Adam and some of his descendants as late as the time of the Flood, are believed to have lived under a revealed system in which, through their patriarchs and otherwise, they had knowledge of YHVH sufficient for their condition. Afterwards there arose the nature-worship, called Fetishism, consisting of the setting up and worshipping of animals, trees and stones, etc. -- an idolatry invented by those who for their sins had been forsaken of YHVH (Romans 1:28). There is no distinct mention in the Bible of any idols prior to the time of the Flood, but it is reasonable to suppose that idolatry was one of the abominations for which that terrible punishment was visited on the earth. The first positive indications of idolatry which appear in history are found in the worship of Set or Sitech (equivalent to the Hebrew Patriarch, Seth), to whom divine honours were paid by the Egyptians. Some Jewish writers interpret Genesis 4:26 to mean that Enos, the son of Seth, was the originator of idolatry in that he paid divine honours to the host of heaven instead of to YHVH alone.

Question 65: Was the rainbow visible before the Flood?

Answer:

There is no recorded evidence that a rainbow was visible from the earth before the Flood. Some commentators hold that the conditions described in Genesis 2:6, "But there went up a mist from the earth," etc., lasted until the atmospheric change wrought by the Flood and that the rainbow was a natural consequence of such change. This however, despite the fact that scientific support is claimed for such view, is merely conjecture. The Bible (Genesis 9:13-17) is very clear to the effect that YHVH established the rainbow at that time as "the token of the covenant" between Him and mankind and hence we need no conjecture.

Question 64: What was the population of earth before and after the Flood?

Answer:

All the information we have in Scripture concerning the population of the earth before the Flood is contained in Genesis 4, 5 and 6. It is made clear in Genesis 5:4 that Adam had a numerous progeny. Jewish tradition says he had thirty-three sons and twenty-three daughters. Chapter 5 tells of the increased population. There must have been intermarriages. This is the view generally accepted by commentators, as the only reasonable explanation, where no other light can be had on the subject. The only record we have of the repopulation of the world after the Flood is that found in Genesis 9, 10 and 11.

Question 63: Was there rain before the Flood?

Answer:

Read Genesis 2:4-6. This, according to some geologists, indicates that the earth, being then in a cooling condition, had no rain; and they also affirm that there may have been none until the great precipitation at the Flood cleared the atmosphere and established new conditions. (See chapters 8 and 9.) Of course, these are merely scientific speculations or conjectures, but they are not opposed to Scripture.

Question 62: What became of Elijah’s body?

Answer:

The bodies of Elijah and Enoch were doubtless changed or transformed as Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52 -- the verses immediately following the well-known passage, that flesh cannot inherit the kingdom. They were changed into spiritualized bodies like in some degree that with which Moshiach rose from the dead. His resurrection body seemed to be made of flesh, but it was clearly different from that which he possessed before his death. All the redeemed, the saints who have died before Moshiach's coming and those who are alive when he comes, are promised these new "celestial" bodies for the heavenly life. These are the views of commentators who have discussed the subject.

Frequently asked questions and answers:

Question 61: From whom were the Edomites descended?

Answer:

They were descendants of Esau. They inhabited a fertile and rich country specially given to them (Deuteronomy 2:5; Genesis 27:39). Their country was traversed by roads though it was mountainous and rocky (Numbers 20:17; Jeremiah 49:16). They were governed by dukes and later by kings (Genesis 36:15-30; Numbers 20:14). In character they are said to have been wise, proud and self-confident, strong and cruel, vindictive, idolatrous and superstitious (Jeremiah 49:7, 16, 19; Ezekiel 25:12; 2 Chronicles 25:14, 20; Jeremiah 27:3). They inhabited the cities of Avith, Pau, Bozrah, Teman and others. Though they were implacable enemies of Israel, it was forbidden to hate them (Deuteronomy 23:7) or to spoil and they might be received into the congregation in the third generation (Deuteronomy 23:8). Saul made war against them and David conquered them (1 Samuel 14:47; 2 Samuel 8 :14). They took refuge in Egypt and returned after David's death (1 King 11:17-22) when they confederated with Israel's enemies only to again be over thrown (2 Chronicles 20:10) but finally aided Babylon against Judah (Psalm 137:7, Obadiah 11).

I received this 18 minute video from Scripture Truth Ministries just a few minutes ago. They claim that rabbinic Judaism is wrong on the clean and unclean animals classification.

Scripture Truth Ministries believes that tuna, duck, geese, swan, veal, mushrooms, seaweed, etc., which are classified as clean by rabbinic Judaism, are in reality, unclean. Scripture Truth Ministries claim that they are not adding to Scripture, but clarifying it.

I personally believe that rabbinic Judaism has the clean foods right, but what do the rest of you think?