Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Ruthy & Baruch" <alster AT comandcom.com>]

Peter wrote: 
> > So do we have to interpret this as Jeremiah contradicting the rest of
> > scripture? Or can we use this as evidence that the Bible contradicts
> > itself?

to which Jonathan responded:
> Yes on both counts. On your first question, see Amos' rhetorical question
> on 5:25: "Did you offer burnt-offerings and sacrifices to me 40 years in
the desert, O
> House of Israel?" Both prophets regard the sacrifical cult as something
not pertaining
> to the true worship of of the Lord, something alien, even pagan.

However, in almost all cases I can remember, the prophetic call against
sacrifices and other cultic rituals comes with a parallel call for obeying
ethical commandments, or praying with one's heart (as in Joel 2:13, whose
call for not tearing clothes is definitely rhetorical).  This seems to mean
that we are dealing with prophetic rhetoric, which shows which commandments
take priority over others, not with total denunciation of cultic practices.

> On your second question, compare the prophetic and Pentateuchal ideas of
Divine reward
> and punishment with the sentiments expressed in Job.

Yes, the Bible as a whole does contradict itself here and there.  But I
would think twice before looking for contradictions just because the text
doesn't read smoothly.  This approach denies the Bible any possibility of
showing anything but a black-and-white world, and I really don't think that
was the writers' intention.  Of course with enough apologetics _all_
contradictions _may_ be harmonized, but I think that even without
apologetics, _many_ so-called contradictions _should_ be harmonized.

Kol Tuv, 
Baruch Alster
Kochav Ya`akov, Israel