Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
PHall | November 1, 2013
Seeing David and Bathsheba as simply a story of adultery misses the lex taliones reprisals. Notice “I will take your wives and give them to another before your very eyes, and he will sleep with them publicly” (2Sam.12.16) and the fulfillment, “Sleep with your father’s concubines he left to take care of the palace. When […]
PHall | November 1, 2013
Compare the two halves of the narrative:• David sends for Bathsheba and abuses his power over her.• David sends for Uriah and abuses his power over him.To have Bathsheba provoking David and willingly committing adultery destroys the symmetry and has David as the victim in the first half.
PHall | November 1, 2013
In studying David’s narrative with Bathsheba and Amnon, Tamar, and Absalom, I wonder if another sin of David is that he refused to give full forgiveness to Absalom like Yahweh had given to him. “He may return to his house, but he may not see my face” (2 Sm.14.24). This of course encourages Absalom’s rebellion. […]
PHall | November 1, 2013
The Greeks said, be wise, know yourself. The Romans said, be strong, discipline yourself. Religion says, be good, conform yourself. Hollywood says, be sensuous, enjoy yourself. Education says, be resourceful, expand yourself. Psychology says, be confident, assert yourself. Materialism says, be satisfied, please yourself. Pride says, be superior, promote yourself. Humanism says, be capable, believe […]
PHall | November 1, 2013
The foot-washing scene foreshadows the cross: Jesus removes His robe; and the Romans cast lots for His robe. Jesus washes feet of the apostles; and the Romans nail His feet to the cross. Jesus offers bread to Judas; and someone offers sour wine to Jesus. Jesus washes with water the feet of disciples; and Jesus […]
PHall | October 31, 2013
Three Possibilities Presented: 1) Bathsheba was a brazen woman, a temptress and an adulteress; 2) Bathsheba was a weak woman, an adulteress only by David’s instigation; 3) Bathsheba was a victim. The first is almost exclusively has the text is preached when the text is about David and not Bathsheba.
PHall | October 31, 2013
Compare David and Amnon Both David and Amnon want what is not theirs to have. Both Bathsheba and Tamar are beautiful. Both David and Amnon use “advisors.” Both stories involve a bed: David rises from his bed and Amnon lies on his bed. Both women are sent for. Both stories have David angry Both stories […]
PHall | October 31, 2013
A – 11.1 – David not at war B – 11.2-5 – Bathsheba washing and purifying herself, pregnant. C – 11.6-27 – Uriah dies D – 12.1-4 – Parable D’ – 12.5-15a – Parable Explained C’ – 12.15b-19 – Baby dies B’ – 12.20-25 – David washing and anointing himself, Bathsheba pregnant A’ 12.26-31 – […]
PHall | October 29, 2013
There is one reality where it is easy to deny God’s existence, where answers are not solutions, just numbing sounds to a soul wanting to be numb. Some questions can only be answered and accepted outside of and before “then and there;” outside of the hospital, before the accident; outside of the pain; before the […]