In today’s sermon text, Isaiah delivers a cryptic oracle to Edom, the sons of Esau and inhabitants of Mount Seir. But Edom is not called Edom. It is called “Dumah,” a pun on Edom that means “silence.” That pun summarizes the oracle. A voice asks a night watchman the . . . . Continue Reading »
Mann again. He points out that US aid is not typically spent for development purposes but for strategic purposes. Hence, a good deal of it goes to a small number of countries in the Middle East: “A third goes to one of the 20 riches countries in the world - Israel. A fifth goes to Egypt, . . . . Continue Reading »
In his 2005 Incoherent Empire , UCLA sociology Michael Mann notes that US tariffs are on average only 4%, “low by historic standards.” But a closer look shows that this openness to foreign goods is selective, and allied to a form of protectionism-by-subsidy. Mann observes that . . . . Continue Reading »
When saints first appear in heaven, they are beneath the altar (Revelation 6:9-11). The great multitude that is caught up to heaven “stands” around the throne (7:11). They have moved up, from a place beneath the altar to a place before the throne. But that is not the end of their . . . . Continue Reading »
The list “lightning, sounds, thunder” frames the “seal” section of Revelation, occurring in both 4:5 and in 8:5. Plus, there is a reference to fire in both 4:5 and 8:5. Though the phrase is repeated here, there is also a progression. In 4:5, the lightning, voices, and . . . . Continue Reading »
The Bible’s first kiss occurs when disguised Jacob receives a blessing from his father Isaac. Isaac is suspicious, and wants Jacob to come closer so he asks for a kiss (27:26-27). From that point on, the book of Genesis uses the word “kiss” about ten times. Men kiss men (Genesis . . . . Continue Reading »
Jesus promises the saints at Sardis white garments (Revelation 3:4), and also puts white garments on sale at Laodicea (3:18). But how does one overcome so as to receive the white robe? Revelation 4-7 (the seal section) tells us. The section opens with John’s ascent into heaven to see . . . . Continue Reading »
To the right, you will see a picture of a newly published Festscrift for James B. Jordan, edited by John Barach and me. It’s not yet available from Amazon, but is available from the publisher, Wipf & Stock. If you don’t know James Jordan, shame, shame, shame on you. But don’t . . . . Continue Reading »
The Hebrew word mippeney is rarely translated with its root in mind ( pan , face). Instead of “from the face of,” it is translated simply as “from before.” In Isaiah 21:15, it seems important to bring out the root meaning more deliberately. Isaiah envisions fugitives fleeing . . . . Continue Reading »
In the same 2005 Critical Inquiry article where he quotes Freud on kissing, he gives a brief, provocative phenomenology of kissing. The mouth, he asserts, is the most intimate part of the body that is generally public. Eyes traditionally reveal the soul, but the mouth is a yawning entry into the . . . . Continue Reading »
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