On Mon, Feb 14, 2011 at 8:46 AM, B Chan <bh-chan AT hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> Karl: There is an occurrence in Ruth 1:13
>
> You are right, and again there the idea is that God had attacked her,
taking away everything that she thought of value.
>
>
> Having regard to the story's internal structure I remain unconvinced that
> the reported communication to Hagar is "Ishmael will be at war with
> everybody; and everybody with him." If an element of conflict is to be
> imputed, it should not be too grim or bloody, or the ending "everybody with
> him" would be quite catastrophic and final.
>
Then how could he become a great and numerous people?
Just because there will be war, does not mean that it will be continuous,
nor that it will result in the destruction of the people.