Strange Scriptures That Perplex the Western Mind: Clarified in the Light of Customs and Conditions in Bible Lands

By Barbara M. Bowen

Delve into the intriguing world of biblical interpretation with Barbara M. Bowen's Strange Scriptures That Perplex the Western Mind. This enlightening book offers readers a comprehensive guide to understanding the cultural, historical, and linguistic contexts of various biblical passages that often confuse or perplex modern Western readers.

Barbara M. Bowen, an esteemed biblical scholar and educator, provides a detailed exploration of scriptures that seem mysterious or contradictory when viewed through a contemporary Western lens. By shedding light on the ancient customs, traditions, and idiomatic expressions of the times, Bowen reveals the true meanings and profound wisdom contained within these passages.

Strange Scriptures That Perplex the Western Mind covers a wide range of topics, including enigmatic sayings, puzzling parables, and complex metaphors found in both the Old and New Testaments. Bowen's accessible and engaging writing style makes these ancient texts come alive, offering readers new insights and a deeper appreciation for the richness of the biblical narrative.

The book is organized thematically, making it easy for readers to navigate and find explanations for specific passages that have long puzzled them. Bowen's thorough research and thoughtful analysis provide clear and concise interpretations that bridge the gap between ancient and modern understanding.

This book is an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of the Bible, whether they are students of theology, clergy, or lay readers. Strange Scriptures That Perplex the Western Mind not only clarifies confusing passages but also enriches the reader's overall comprehension of the Bible's message and its relevance to contemporary life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Porirua Publishing
• Release date: Jun 14, 2024
• ISBN: 9781991312112

Book preview

cover.jpgimg1.png

© Porirua Publishing 2024, all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means, electrical, mechanical or otherwise without the written permission of the copyright holder.

Publisher’s Note

Although in most cases we have retained the Author’s original spelling and grammar to authentically reproduce the work of the Author and the original intent of such material, some additional notes and clarifications have been added for the modern reader’s benefit.

We have also made every effort to include all maps and illustrations of the original edition the limitations of formatting do not allow of including larger maps, we will upload as many of these maps as possible.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1

DEDICATED 9

FOREWORD 10

CHAPTER 1— PERPLEXING SCRIPTURES 12

Salute No Man by the Way 12

Go Not From House to House 14

Suffer Me First to Bury My Father 15

The Lord Hath Made Bare His Arm 16

He Shall Dwell Between His Shoulders 17

Thy Youth Renewed Like the Eagle’s 18

The Eagle Stirreth Up Her Nest 19

And David Danced Before the Lord 20

Bathed His Feet With Tears 21

Water on the Hands of Elijah 22

Cursing the Fig Tree 23

Lying at the Feet 24

Bring the Veil Which Thou Hast Upon Thee 25

The Wringing of Milk Bringeth Forth Butter 26

Quails 27

Bosom 28

Anointing 30

Ashes 31

Whited Sepulchres 32

Coals of Fire 33

Selah 34

A Covenant of Salt 35

CHAPTER 2 — WOMEN 36

Who Can Find a Virtuous Woman? 36

A Contentious Woman 37

The Ointment of the Right Hand 38

Two Women at the Mill 39

Graven on the Palms of My Hands 40

Thou Wast Not Swaddled at All 41

Weaning of a Child 42

Lost Coin 43

And She Painted Her Face Making Her Eyes With Paint (Hebrew) 44

CHAPTER 3 — GARMENTS 45

Seamless Coat 46

Garment Not to Be Taken in Pledge 47

Sackcloth 48

They Enlarge the Borders of Their Garments 49

Coat of Many Colours 50

Now We See Through a Glass Darkly 51

A Good Name is Better Than Precious Ointment 53

Veil 54

Saul Lay Sleeping 55

CHAPTER 4 — CLOTHING AND JEWELS 56

Her Clothing Is Silk and Purple 56

She Took a Veil and Covered Herself 57

Mine Horn Is Exalted in the Lord 58

With Their Loins Girded 59

Round Tires Like the Moon 60

A Gold Chain About Joseph’s Neck 61

I Put a Jewel on Thy Nose 62

Thy Signet, and Thy Bracelets, and Thy Staff 63

Ornaments of the Feet and Legs 64

Beds and Bedchambers 65

My Children Are With Me in Bed 66

Israel Bowed Himself Upon the Bed’s Head 67

A Cottage in a Vineyard, a Lodge in a Garden of Cucumbers 68

A Lamp in Jerusalem 69

I Will Pour Water on Him That is Thirsty 70

Broken Sherd 71

Rings 72

I Will Make Thee As a Signet 73

CHAPTER 5 — PEASANT MEN 74

Take It for Nothing 74

Go to the Ant, Thou Sluggard 75

They Make Broad Their Phylacteries 76

The Sabbath Was Made for Man 77

A Writer’s Inkhorn by His Side 78

He Wrote on the Ground 79

A White Stone 80

Little Children 81

Hands of the Masters 82

Kicking Against the Pricks 83

"Iniquities Like a Heavy Burden 84

I Cast Out My Shoe 85

As Trees Walking 86

Redemption of the Purchased Possession 87

They Comfort Me 88

A Bruised Reed 89

White Asses 90

CHAPTER 6 — HOME LIFE 91

Sit Down in the Lowest Seat 91

Oh That I Had a Lodging Place 92

The Key Will I Lay Upon His Shoulder 93

The House Top 94

They Uncovered the Roof 95

A Strong Tower 97

Thy Word Is a Lamp Unto My Feet 98

Rachel Took the Images 99

Bed 100

Bottles 101

Cruse of Oil 102

CHAPTER 7 — FEASTS 103

Use Hospitality One to Another 103

Dipping the Sop 104

Calling to a Feast 105

Table or Scamba 106

If His Son Asked Bread, Will He Give Him a Stone? 107

Go Ye Into the City, and There Shall Meet You a Man With a Pitcher 108

So Shall He Sprinkle Many Nations 109

Arab Hospitality 110

Eaters of Barley Bread 111

And They Sighed for the Cucumbers 112

His Birthright for a Mess of Pottage 113

CHAPTER 8 — FIELDS 114

The Grass of the Field 114

While Men Slept, the Enemy Sowed Tares 115

Bread in Bible Lands 116

Parched Pulse 117

Ruth Gleaning 118

Thou Shalt Not Remove Thy Neighbor’s Landmark 121

They Shall Still Bring Forth Fruit in Old Age; They Shall Be Fat and Flourishing 123

Hyssop—Zufa 124

The Snare of the Fowler 125

Elisha Plowing With Twelve Yoke of Oxen 126

Weights and Scales 127

He Drinketh Up Scorning Like Water 128

A Bag With Holes 128

CHAPTER 9 — TOMBS AND TENTS 129

She Covered Him With a Mantle 129

The Needle’s Eye 131

Maniacs in the Tomb 132

Christ Three Days and Three Nights in the Heart of the Earth? 133

Superscriptions on the Cross 134

Impure Bible Stories 135

David’s Sin 136

CHAPTER 10 — GATES AND TRADES 137

In the Gate of Samaria 137

The Seat of Justice 138

An Artificer in Brass and Iron 139

And They Fetched the Carved Image 140

And Hiram Sent Masons 141

The Carpenter Encouraged the Goldsmith 142

Took Bread and a Bottle of Water 143

Go Down to the Potter’s House 144

Vessel of Mercy 146

Vessel of Wrath 147

A Clean Vessel 148

A Chosen Vessel 149

Holy Vessel 150

STRANGE SCRIPTURES

That Perplex the Western Mind

CLARIFIED IN THE LIGHT OF CUSTOMS AND CONDITIONS IN BIBLE LANDS

By

BARBARA M. BOWEN

STRANGE SCRIPTURES—That Perplex the Western Mind

by BARBARA M. BOWEN

How often have you thought, Just what does this or that passage mean? You are sure there is a wealth of meaning hidden in it, and yet it is veiled from your complete understanding.

The Bowens traveled in the Holy Land and became familiar with the customs, way of life and thought concepts of these people of Bible Lands. By so doing they found that various passages took on poignant meaning not clear to the Western mind. The light they received they are sharing with us in a series of books to which this one belongs.

Palestine has changed very little since Bible times. The people reason thus, What was good enough for father Abraham is good enough for us.

She washed his feet with tears. What an exceedingly precious expression of love—tears from her tear bottle! Yet we ourselves would never sense the full significance of this act without help such as this book affords.

Did you know that the children who mocked Elisha were really grown men?

What is a broken sherd? What image does the snare of the fowler conjure up in your mind? Vessels of honor, and dishonor?

Unless you know what kind of mirrors they used in Bible days, you will never get the full significance of now we see through a glass darkly.

First-hand knowledge of archaeology and Bible lands and times gives you this informative handbook.

Strange Scriptures that Perplex the Western Mind

CLARIFIED IN THE LIGHT OF CUSTOMS AND CONDITIONS IN BIBLE LANDS

by

BARBARA M. BOWEN

Bob Jones University, Greenville, S. C.

DEDICATED

to the companion of all my journeys,

my partner in work and study,

my husband,

Frank Henry Bowen

FOREWORD

Frequently after our lectures on the land and the people of the country of our Lord, people have requested us to bring together in a book some of the customs and thoughts and ways of these people that appear strange to us.

Palestine has changed very little since Bible days, the people are chiefly Ishmaelites and dress, eat, live and think as their ancestors did. They live this very primitive life because their parents and grandparents for a hundred generations have lived so.

They say, Our father Abraham lived as we do, what was good for him is good for us; what was good enough for yesterday is good enough for tomorrow.

A better understanding of their lives, their homes, their dress, their work and their ways of thinking will help us to comprehend many Scriptures that now appear strange.

This small book contains nothing new, but brings together information on many customs differing so widely from those of our part of the world that we hope it will help Sunday School teachers and young people to a little better understanding of some parts of THE BOOK.

—BARBARA M. BOWEN

Strange Scriptures That Perplex the Modern Mind

img2.png

CHAPTER 1— PERPLEXING SCRIPTURES

Salute No Man by the Way

(Luke 10:4)

JESUS is sending out the seventy, two by two, into every city and place where He himself would come. He tells them that the harvest is very great but there are few