Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Harold R. Holmyard III" <hholmyard AT ont.com>]

Dear Jonathan,

>  >From biblical through Second Temple through talmudic until modern times,
> both Jews and Christians have tended to ignore, or interpret according to
> their beliefs, the fact that both Amos (5:25) and Jeremiah (7:22-23)
> categorically reject sacrifice as a Canaanite influence and something not
> commanded by God. They both prefer observing his berit and observing the
> moral code.

HH: Do you really think that is what Amos and Jeremiah are doing. I 
am flabbergasted. The law about sacrifices came from Sinai itself. 
Your Tanakh turns into swiss cheese full of holes if you consider 
sacrifice a foreign element that is false to true worship of Yahweh.

HH: I think Jer 7:22-23 speaks of what had priority. What did God 
stress when He first brought the people out of Egypt? I don't think 
Amos 5:25 is denying that they brought sacrifices, but saying that 
while they may have done that, they also carried their idols along 
with them.

                                Yours,
                                Harold Holmyard