#destroyer of the sword of fathoms

[larsisfrommars]

I need to talk about Fjord for a second because I have so, so many feelings about him.

I don’t think I have ever related to a fictional character more.

In my life.

The ambition, the awkwardness, the wanting to be someone else, the poisonous sources from which I drew my self worth. Weirdly enough, the unabiding love for the ocean despite the many times it could have killed me that also so happens to be a place of power for the people who generated poisonous thoughts in me.

I think, most of all, even though Fjord is not canonically trans, his story deeply relates to my trans, and by extension, life experience. Abandon ship now if you’d like, imma get Personal.

I was bullied, a lot, as a kid, for being ���weird” and not looking traditionally feminine (cuz hey, turns out, I’m not) so I tried to lean into the whole “tough scary kid” thing, trying to look and be stronger than other kids, it worked, kinda, but not really. I had asthma, I wasn’t very physically strong, and as scary as I would’ve liked to have been, I mostly tried to impress people singing and drawing and showing other kids which plants you could eat without poisoning yourself (chives, honeysuckle). More importantly, I was great at making things up. Pretending to have beat other kids in physical fights, having super powers, being able to talk to demons and other weird coping stuff. I didn’t think I was special, and god I wanted to be special. If Fjord wanting to be special, trying to act tough, filing his tusks down, being betrayed by former friends, didn’t hurt like a bitch as bits and pieces of his childhood unfolded I don’t know what does.

Once I got old enough I started figuring out, to an extent, why other kids didn’t like me, so I started putting on my “girl suit” I was the “mom friend”, the actress, the goodie two shoes, the musical loud mouth. Complete with a fresh new set of unIt was my persona for pretty much all of high school, and honestly? She was also a dick. I thought I had to be mean and controlling and a braggart to be accepted. Honestly, I turned into a version of the person my real poisons sprung from. She didn’t lie as much, not in the literal sense anyway. I was vicerally reminded of her in the Uka’toa arc, I thought it was Avantika that was providing this dark mirror, I was wrong… it was Fjord during the Uka’toa arc.

Then all of the sudden, I graduated and started college and none of the shit that I had built on top of myself from grade school mattered anymore. For the first time, I didn’t feel judged, I was powerless, reputationless and new and it felt so good. I never even got to build one because of the pandemic. So I scraped together Mighty Nein of my own out of the friends that managed to puncture the layers over of the years. I am in awe of the ways my friends and sibling move through the world with their own graces and talents that I find totally alien, while also seeing they’re as clueless as me. I see Beau in my little sibling, Caleb, Yasha, Molly, and Jester in my friends. I found the source of the poison, and have found a guide in a parental figure who is eerily similar to Caduceus. I have discovered I am Not A Girl, through being stripped of my childhood reputation. I have cast out my Sword of Fathoms, and I’m finding a new place, literally, closer to the ocean, closer to home.

I feel I am mid transformation, I’m in the seaweed cocoon, I’m on the crest of receiving my own metaphorical Star Razor. I’ve always wanted to be a Paladin in a real world sense, I’ve always had an affinity for them, paragons, textbook “vanilla” heroes (Link, Captain America, you name it) which is something I feel Fjord emerges from his own darkness to become. I want to believe in something and be someone people believe in and are inspired by, I wanna help people by Being. I want that quiet strength Fjord has made for himself, that vulnerability he is now comfortable expressing, I don’t want to be a burden. I want to be who shows up when someone prays for a miracle, and not at the price of poisoning myself like felt I had to to make change.

All that being said, Fjord, by the end of his character arc, is very much the kind of man I want and aspire to be. From a CR cast member I barely even took notice of and gravely misjudged from campaign one. I will miss this character and this campaign dearly and continue to soak up as much wisdom from his journey as I can.

In summary

Travis Willingham, Fjord Stone,

Thank you.

[itsclydebitches]

Dragon Ball. Dragon Ball Z Dragon Ball Super. Which is your favorite?

Oh, anon. You poor soul. You’ve activated my current obsession. Okay. I preface this by saying that DBZ, imo, is the CLASSIC. Frieza, Cell, and Buu? Iconic. DBZ is what I think of as the core of the DB franchise and I adore it accordingly. That being said… I’m really, really loving Dragon Ball Super. 

(And I’m totally gonna tell you why because you made the mistake of starting this conversation in the first place :D)

I’m just? A sucker for lore filled with fallible gods?? This is my long-lived love of Greek mythology rearing its head. Even back in DBZ the Supreme Kai was instantly a favorite of mine. Yeah, yeah, the whole fandom rags on him for supposedly being “useless,” but that’s precisely why I love him? He starts out as this mysterious, incredibly powerful figure–powerful enough to scare the crap out of Piccolo–and then very quickly falls off that pedestal, making him relatable and humanized. Shin clearly has a shit ton of trauma from, you know, watching Buu kill and/or absorb his entire family. He’s been forced to take on a job meant for five and he definitely hasn’t been trained (or at least fully trained) for this particular position. He comes to Earth expecting to use mortals as a tool, as one would expect from a high-ranking god, and is just totally blindsided by how powerful they are. It’s an instant double-edged sword. On the one hand hell yeah defeating Buu just got a whole lot more likely. On the other hand, existential crisis much? Who am I–who are all the gods–if we’re not intrinsically more powerful, knowledgeable, or spiritually sturdier than the mortals we watch over? Goku, Vegeta, and especially Gohan upset the presumed hierarchy. It’s why we get such a good dichotomy between Shin and Kibito. Shin rolls with this new information and embraces it fully. Okay. Mortals are stronger than us in so many ways, how wonderful! We can learn from them and rely on them, forming equal partnerships to achieve our goals. Kibito is stuck in his assumptions. How dare you set foot on this world? How dare you think you can pull out the Z Sword? How dare you think yourself equal to a god? 

It’s a familiar theme for DB: humanizing the latest, all-powerful entity. And each new introduction becomes more extreme.

Kami was our original god… who got some awkward moments. Then King Kai is the top guy…who loves lame jokes and lets Goku tear up his sacred planet in the name of training. Then Shin, Supreme Kai of the whole damn universe… who is also an anxious bean Just Trying His Best. It’s a theme I love because it upholds humanity (or in this case Saiyans adopted by humanity) as beings of endless potential. DB is all about pushing past your limits, but that doesn’t just apply to physical power. It also ties into upending the status quo; showing those who think themselves arrogantly better–in this case the gods–that no, we all have worth here. When the chips fall it’s mortals who consistently manage what the gods cannot, reaching a point where, ki-wise at least, they’re indistinguishable from gods, raising the question of why they were ever above them in the first place. They’re not. We’re all on equal footing once those assumptions are acknowledged and done away with. Ancient Kais can like dirty magazines. Supreme Kais can have panic attacks. Destroyers can love pizza as much as the next, average anime watcher.

Indeed, we see in the Tournament of Power that these rules now apply to Goku in his god state. He might have reached incredible power that everyone else thought impossible… but that doesn’t make the rest of the cast “below” him. It’s only because of his friends–presumably “useless” friends like Krillin and Tien–that allow him to enter the tournament and get as far as he did. It’s his old mentors who he has far outpaced that remind him he still has much to learn and who help Goku tap into Ultra Instinct in the first place. It’s a simple android we haven’t seen in years who manages to win the whole damn thing. The story consistently applies that same message of equality and worth to everyone, including our original paragon who has now reached the status of the very beings he’s worked to outpace. Rather than turning Goku into the hypocrite, DB keeps reminding him that no amount of power is going to change his or anyone else’s worth. He’s still BFFs with Krillin. Still married to Chi-Chi. Still needs other “weak” people like Bulma to help him when things get tough. No time machine, money, or strategic smarts? Sorry, no win.

In short, Dragon Ball Super takes that fantastic message and dials it up to 11. Now suddenly we’ve got a scary Destroyer God… who is easily swayed by tasty Earth food and a good nap spot. Angels who are equally humanized in their humor and love of mortal creations. An omnipotent ruler who is recognizably child-like. It both makes Zeno lovable and downright terrifying. He’s human enough to form friendships and use his power inappropriately. Zeno has the capacity to fall in love with a simple handshake as well as destroy an entire universe with the same detachment that we might, say, walk through an ant hill. Why did I do it? Because I could and no one has taught me yet that this might be something I shouldn’t do. Everyone has the capacity for growth.

And it’s so goddamn funny? Literally this scene is everything to me because it slams godly assumptions together with simplistic, mortal friendships, then lets that contrast play out. The most powerful being ever, creator of it all, the god that makes every other god shake in their boots wants… a friend? Okay! Our equally intimidating Grand Priest cracking up at this development? Whis losing his shit in the background? Shin straight up fainting? Goku pressing his shiny new god button because who DOESN’T press a button when you’re suddenly presented with one? All of it slays me. Forget stories where you endlessly bow before your supposed betters, knowing that you will never be able to even fathom their power. I want more stories like this, where the hero introduces enough kindness and brazen communication that it upends everyones’ expectations and fun, crazy new relationships form. Goku moved from utter shock at learning the Supreme Kai even existed to hoisting him over his shoulder like a drunk friend who is still refusing to head home. I love this weird-ass family.

All of which of course introduces the opposite as well. What if we’re given Zamasu, a fallible god whose imperfections don’t result in him becoming another quirky family member, but lead him down a path that endangers the entire multiverse? Though Super hasn’t commented on it explicitly yet, we’re also starting to toy with the idea of exactly how “human” the top gods are and how much growth they are capable of. For example, I’m fascinated by the Grand Priest. The anime makes him out to be far darker than he is in the manga, and I know there’s a disconnect between the two, so I’m not currently inclined to think that he’s the end Big Bad. Rather, he seems to actually have a stronger moral sense than Zeno–he comments on how awful it is that mortals riot and kill one another after learning about the Tournament–but as Zeno’s subordinate, and being well aware of how easy it can be to displease him, he’s not in a good position to sway him. We see him introducing tiny bits of logic to the Zenos (like stopping the fight between Goku and Toppo in the anime), but that’s a far safer thing to suggest then, say, “How about we don’t erase a ton of universes at once, hmm?”

Like his angel children, the Grand Priest ultimately exists to serve his Lord… but Goku and his friends are in no such position. Not as overtly, anyway. Created through evolution and developing their own ideals, they have the freedom to challenge and ultimately teach all those high-level gods, including Zeno. He says it himself in that clip: “No one will try. You can do what no one else can do!” Goku, both as a mortal and a very straight forward one, has the capacity to charge past those expectations and hit on something grand.

However, we see with Whis that, wow… maybe angels really are so far removed from us that they don’t care in any meaningful way. Whis seems like a friend, but when push came to shove he wasn’t very upset about his entire universe–and a Destroyer he’s known for who knows how many thousands of years–getting destroyed. We can attribute this apathy to him assuming it will all turn out alright (if anyone would realize that whoever wins can just use their wish to revert everything back to normal, it’s Whis), but even if he actually doesn’t care much right now… he’s learning too. Whis went from shrugging about Beerus destroying the Earth (at least he has his leftovers!) to telling Trunks and Mai how to break more time rules–rules Whis originally thought were more important than anything else–just so they could get a happy ending. We’ve seen him form a legitimate friendship with Bulma. He does little things like waving a Universe 7 flag and having them hold hands that demonstrate care, outside of practicalities (like delivering Bulla so Vegeta can fight). He seems more invested in challenging the status quo than his brother and even his brother, notably, slips up and uses “Father” instead of “Grand Priest,” demonstrating a certain level of familial love that can sometimes override pure duty.

Vados copies Whis and sits with the Universe 7 team, shrugging off the other gods’ disgust. Whis then shows legit pride in Goku managing Ultra Instinct. It’s GREAT watching these beings move from seeing mortals as inconsequential specs in the multiverse to individuals worthy of their time, attention, and respect. We’re seeing that development with Whis most of all, slowly but surely.

And it helps that our protagonist is really worthy of that respect this arc. Beyond his innate capacity for kindness, Goku is wonderfully smart in Super. I myself have mentioned that being naive and battle obsessed to the point of endangering others is kind of his thing, but Super hits a wonderful middle ground. Goku is the one who thinks to use the future Zeno to destroy Zamasu. He figures out a good portion of Zamasu’s plan. He thought up the idea of using dead warriors in the Tournament of Power and instantly has a way of negating the danger Frieza would pose: let’s use Baba so he can only come back for 24 hours. The anime (strangely…) emphasizes how the Tournament is supposedly Goku’s fault, but Vados reminds everyone that Zeno planned to erase the universes regardless. Though he didn’t intend the outcome, Goku’s suggestion of a tournament gave all universes a fighting chance. Much more importantly, it introduced the reward that would ultimately save them all. Goku’s got a good head on his shoulders this time around and the story emphasizes that it’s his capacity to care that saves far more than his brute power. Sparing enemies leads to them turning over a new leaf. Cultivating a diverse family results in a team with the strength and strategy to win. The ability to look at anyone–even Zeno–and smile as you shake their hand results in allies who can save the day when your own strength fails. IT’S ABOUT LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP AND I’M A WEAK GOODY-GOODY.

I just… fucking love DBS. It takes all of the best underdog themes of the DB franchise–Can a low-class warrior become the best? Can a normal human woman gain the love of a prince? Can mortals ever stand side-by-side with gods?–and homes in on those questions, emphasizing them to an almost meta extent. I could give you another hundred reasons of exactly how much I’ve enjoyed these new stories… but I should stop now lol

Last note though Ultra Instinct is AWESOME

[saturn-rowlf-wrong]

Chapter One: That Suffix is Greek For Destroyer.

Equius was dead to begin with. No, that’s a stupid beginning.  Let’s start somewhere happier.

John, Dave, and Karkat were playing Mario Kart. They were in Dave’s house. Dave, being a Hero of Time, could easily use some time travel to make sure the place stayed clean, but no, junk littered the area. The mess spanned from a stack of dinosaur fossils next to the tv, to an impressive tower of cups and plates in the sink. Dave’s sword, Caledfwlch, was plunged in the wall. Three boys sat on the leather sofa. Man, this sofa is comfortable. Karkat sat on the right. He was the Knight of Blood. He’s pretty shouty. Dave, the Knight of Time, sat in the middle. He wore sunglasses, and liked making raps and archaeology. What a cool guy. John sat on the left. He was the Heir of Breath and he liked Nick Cage movies.

Image 1: The Boys

“YOU BETTER NOT BE AIMING THAT RED SHELL AT ME, JOHN EGBERT.” Karkat whispered, not daring to release his eye contact from the screen.

On the tv screen, Yoshi crept behind Bowser, a red shell a way from causing personal destruction.

John showed no mercy. “Hehehehe.”

Karkat growled. “I’M WARNING YOU, EGBERT.”

John threw his red shell.

Karkat threw his joy-con. “OH F*** YOU, EGBERT. YOU KNOW HOW STUPID YOU LOOK IN YOUR BIDDYBUGGY? WHY DID YOU EVEN THINK YOU COULD FACE MY LANDSHIP? YOU THINK A RED SHELL WILL STOP ME? YOU ARE ONE LAP AWAY FROM YOUR JUDGEMENT DAY, GOT IT? ONE. LAP. AWAY.

Roy zoomed on his Yoshi Bike, right past Bowser and crashed right into Yoshi, completely wrecking him.

Image 2: Roy

 “Hoisted by your own petard, John.” Dave said. “It’s pretty stupid that Roy is the only character who wears shades in this game. Like, who even cares about Roy. He’s like one of Bowser’s kids, and even though he looks more like Bowser, we all know Bowser Junior is the best. Phenotype vs. genotype I think. Anyway, get wasted, boys.”

“Dude, you’re being a total butt,” John said. “And Karkat, you know this is just a game, right? Wait, are you driving backwards?”

Karkat was hoping 8th place would let him receive the blue shell. It didn’t. But he did not let that phase him.

“I’m doing what I have to,” Karkat said as he got the lightning bolt power-up. “I’m scratching the session.” Gauging their position on the map, he released the storm right as Dave and John were jumping across a chasm, causing them to fall in, destroying their chances for first place. The boys cursed.

“HAHAHAHA,” Karkat laughed. “JUDGEMENT OF BLOOD. ARE YOU BUTTHURT, JOHN? ARE YOU BUTTHURT, DAVE? I HAVE DECIMATED Y’ALL.

“Karkat, you made us fall in 4th and 5th,” Dave said bitterly. “You were in 8th.”

“I BASE MY SUCCESS ON THE EMOTIONAL IMPACT, LIKE A WRITER OF A STORY LOVED BY A DEDICATED AND VULNERABLE FANDOM. I MEAN AUDIENCE” Karkat said, making his way to the kitchen. “YOU THINK WHEN WE DEFEATED LORD ENGLISH AND INHERITED THE NEW UNIVERSE I WOULD JUST SETTLE DOWN? THERE WAS A TOTAL OF 12 TROLLS IN MY SESSION, AND ONLY THREE OF US DIDN’T DIE, WHILE ALL 4 HUMANS IN YOUR SESSION SURVIVED, AS DID THE FOUR HUMANS IN THE OTHER SESSION. I MEAN, TECHNICALLY WE ALL DIE IN OTHER TIMELINES, THE SAME WAY WE ALL ACHIEVE GOD TIER IN ONE REALITY OR THE OTHER. FUNNY: NEITHER KANAYA, TEREZI, OR I ACHIEVED GOD TIER IN THIS TIMELINE THOUGH. HOW ABOUT THAT? IS THAT CONVENIENT? IT’S LIKE MY STORY ISN’T OVER YET. HMMM. BUT SEE. I DON’T NEED GOD TIER. I’M THE KNIGHT OF BLOOD.  I AM DESTINED TO DESTROY MARIO KART. THAT MIGHT AS WELL BE CANON. I DON’T NEED GOD TIER, I AM ALREADY A HIVEWRECKER. YEAH, THAT’S CANON NOW TOO. KNIGHT OF BLOOD EQUALS MARIOCLAST. YES. THAT SUFFIX. IN FACT, FORGET ABOUT ASPECTS. FORGET ABOUT BLOOD AND BREATHE AND TIME AND SPACE AND LIGHT AND VOID AND HOPE AND RAGE AND LIFE AND DOOM. THERE ARE ONLY THOSE WHO DESTROY AND GET DESTROYED. BOOM BOOM, MOTHERGRUBBERS, THAT’S CANON AGAIN. THERE ARE THINGS OUT THERE THAT CAN’T BE EXPLAINED. LIKE WHERE DID SGRUB COME FROM? OR SBURB, I GUESS THAT’S THE HUMAN WORD FOR IT. THE NAME FOR THE GAME WE ALL PLAYED. SBURB. AND I DON’T REALLY KNOW HOW WE BEAT LORD ENGLISH. I DON’T CARE THOUGH. WHAT I REALLY WORRY ABOUT IS THE HORRORTERRORS. THOSE SPOOKY TROLL-LOVECRAFTIAN ANCIENT GODS THAT SPEAK TO US IN DREAMS FROM THE DEEPEST REACHEST OF PARADOX TIME AND PARADOX SPACE. BUT I WON’T GO INTO THAT. WHO WANTS SOME RUFFLES.”

“I’ll have some Ruffles,” John said. Karkat took some chips and threw them at the Heir of Breath. “Thanks, Karkat.” John was used to Karkat’s rants. This one was pretty short, really.

Dave took an apple juice from the fridge. “Dude, are you talking about my dreams again?” he asked. “Don’t worry John with that stuff, it really doesn’t matter.”

“What dreams?” John asked.

“HE KEEPS FLINCHING IN HIS SLEEP AND WAKING UP AND NOT TELLING ME WHAT’S WRONG.” Karkat said, throwing chips at Dave. “DID YOU KNOW HE SLEEPS WITH HIS SHADES? I CAN’T EVEN LOOK HIM IN THE EYES AND KNOW WHAT’S WRONG. ALL I GET IS THE DOUBLE-REFLECTION OF A CONCERNED FRIEND AND PARTNER. ME, IN THE REFLECTIONS OF HIS STUPID GLASSES.

Dave drinks his juice.

“Wait, do you guys sleep together?” John asked, unwittingly entering a touchy subject. Neither troll or cool dude responded. It was pretty awkward. John started to feel stupid and blush, so he made an excuse to go home and get his phone charger. Then he dissipated into wind, because that’s the sort of thing you can do when you’re a Hero of Breath.

The John molecules regathered in his house as he jumped on his bed to get the charger he left between it and the wall. He really did forget it. What was he going to do about Dave and Karkat though? It was obvious they liked each other. Honestly, a lot of people he knew were together. Sheesh, Kanaya and Rose got married and they never went through anything like this. Maybe he should text them. Wait no, he needed some experienced with the internalized homophobic behaviors and messy relationship, not something perfect. John called Jake.

“Well if isn’t my dear grandson in some timey-wimey something or other.” Jake crowed.

“Um, yeah? Listen, I need some help with my gay friends’ relationship and I thought you were the most qualified to help me help them.” John said.

“Crikey, John, you could not have made a worse call on judgement.” Jake chuckled.

“Haven’t you been dating Dirk for like a year now?” John asked.

“Ha ha, just because I’ve been blessed by Lady Luck doesn’t mean I fathom how it occurred. When it comes to relationships, my wisdom is nil, I’m afraid.” Jake apologized.

“You sure?” John asked. “Because I think Dave and Karkat’s problem is that they don’t want to admit their gay. Or, I guess that’s normal on Karkat’s planet. Not that that planet exists anymore, just that maybe Karkat might have a problem with dating a human. Like, they like each other but they’re afraid there’s something wrong with that.”

“Mm,” Jake intoned. “I think I know the shot you’re shooting for. Your comrades are afraid of not fitting the shape society made for them, even though we inherited a new universe and our traditions are being built from the ground up, from random chance and foggy memory. The culture they were born into is ingrained in their beings”

“Yeah, that,” John said.

“Well, if I am to dispense any council to you, by true-blue friend, is that a lack of communication can leave both parties feeling culpable, and the silence will just force them into roles that only demean them and show them in the worst light. Blood can spoil in someone’s heart, John. It can sour someone’s spirit. The old blood can kill you if you don’t do anything to replace it. They just should come clean with each other, because if you don’t respect your partner enough to tell him the truth, then how do you expect him to spend his life with you?”

“Jesus Christ, what on earth are you talking about?” John asked.

“By asking forgiveness. Because we all want to be forgiven, and people are really more sympathetic then we realized. At least, in my opinion. Anyway, I should get going John. It was a joy hearing from you.”

“You too, Jake. Thank you so much, this was really helpful.” John said, hanging up. Man, he just forgot everything Jake told them. Maybe he should’ve texted Rose, she would have a mature way of handling this. John aeroported himself back to Dave’s place. Yep, aeroport, that’s the word for when John turns into wind and transports somewhere. It’s CANON now.

“Hey guys, I found my charger,” John said walking into the living room. Dave was sitting at the table alone, staring at an incomplete game of Connect Four and several empty juice boxes.

“Karkat went home,” Dave said, completing a #red!Six-In-A-Row. “We had an argument, I guess.”

“What?” John said. “Did he leave while playing Connect Four. That’s unlike him. He would’ve thrown it to the ground.”

“Nah, dude, he stormed off with my Nintendo Switch and remaining bag of chips. I sent this game up post-argument, and I’ve been playing by myself ever since.”

“Dave, do you want to talk about something!?” John yelled.

“Well, yeah I had something in the old thinkpan. A real thought omelet. It’s not even an omelet any more, it’s a scrambled egg of contemplation, transfigured by the a worryspoon. It’s been in the thinkpan so long it’s starting to dry. The spoon keeps it from burning, flipping it indefinitely. But if this thought had any less moisture it would beat the Saharan desert in levels of dryness. Heck, it would beat a sandwich without any condiments. It would beat all the jars of peanut butter in the world if you even could conceive such a level of dryness of existing, and there’s no cup of milk or seasonal rain or hand turning off the oven flame that could change these levels of dryness. S***, I need another apple juice.”

“Yes. Please keep talking,” John said in a manner which was not desperate.

“Like, if this was a frog it would probably die. I just would. I mean, it just would. I’m not a Kermit, John. I just have some things I’m concerned about, and maybe Karkat flew off the handle because I was unreasonably keeping the door locked.” Dave said.

“Uh, yeah. You know if you ever need to talk to me, Dave, I’m here,” John said.

“I know,” Dave said. “That’s why we’re talking.

“Yeah, John said. “We’re talking.”

Dave: …

John: …

Dave: …

John: …

Dave: …

John (in pain): “So if you need talk about your relationship with Karkat—"

Dave: “What.”

John: “What.”

Dave: “I’ve been having these terrible nightmares, dude.”

John: “…”

John: “What.”

Dave: “John, I’ve been having nightmares about a figure with a burning skull. It rode a badass™ motorcycle and had knives for claws. It was a freaking Freddy Kruger demon, man. A dragon and a demon. And the sky was full of fireworks but I couldn’t tell what color they were because everything was black and white. It looked at me with its burning eyes and horns and it was holding a puppet. But the puppet was me, John. And then the skeleton changed and it had broken horns and cracked glasses and it told me to go back into the Game. John. I was the puppet.”

John: “…is this another metaphor.”

Dave: “No John. There are ghosts out there that want me to go back into Sburb. It said I needed to return, for my sake and his, and for everything that we had to let go of when we lose someone we loved. And then he wasn’t holding a puppet. He was holding a carton of eggs.”

John:  0 :

Dave: Karkat says I should forget about, but that’s because he doesn’t want me to leave him. Can’t blame him though. It’s a fool’s errand. But I’m that fool. Every fiber of being is telling to go on this errand. Do it, my fibers say. Be the fool. Not that know where I’d begin. But he said he wouldn’t help me and we started arguing and he ran out. That’s when I started to drink away my sorrows with apple juice.

John scratched his head. “So, you’re saying that you got a dream from… the Ghost Rider?”

“Yeah,” Dave said.

“Except he was probably a troll, since he had horns?” John asked.

“Troll Ghost Rider, yep, it appears so,” Dave said.

“Ghost Rider was a Nick Cage movie,” John said.

“Hm,” Dave said.

“Unless it asks you to make a deal. Wait, no that was Mephistopheles. You haven’t sold your soul to the devil, have you, Dave?”

“Hey, John, how about we don’t talk about Nicolas Cage, okay?” Dave asked.

“I mean, we could.” John said.

“Please. Could you do me a favor and breeze us to the Monument?”

“Sure,” John said, and he

“Wait,” Dave interrupted. He walked to his sword, unsheathing it from the hole in the wall. “Alright, now I’m ready. John held on to Dave’s arm as he areoported them to the Monument.

The sun had not yet set, but it had painted the sky pink in preparation for its departure. The sky is so pretty.

The Monument was shaped as the Sburb logo, a white house the size of… well, a house. They had opened the door from the other side, stepping into the new universe and out of the game. They were able to take the inhabitants of the game’s planets with them, although the door of the house soon vanished, leaving only a white expanse of sleek material.

Dave put his hand on the surface. He tried kicking it. He tried hitting it with his sword. Nothing worked. John watched him. This was not going as he planned. John tried making the breeze open the Monument. Nope, that was stupid.

“But Dave, don’t you have time travel powers?” John asked, lying on the grass.

“I can’t time travel into the game. It’s locked somehow,” Dave replied.

“Oh,” John said. “That’s a bummer.”

Dave sat down next to him. “I guess this was a waste of time. It’s like time is chocolate wrapper, and opportunity is a just a golden ticket you’re searching for. Look at all the time in the trash, and no golden ticket to show for it.”

“That’s pretty good, Dave. You should put it one of your rap songs.” John said.

“No, John, it was cheesy. Which is why you like it,” Dave said. “You know what I want to write about? All the people we left behind. Not just the dead but like movies and books and our human culture. I want this new culture to know about Snoop Dog, John. I want them to know about Texas, and CoolMathGames4Kids and the Great Wall Of China. This are all things that would’ve matter in a historical context but now it’s personal. I need people to know these things because things that existed should be cherished. Maybe. I don’t know. I feel like I need to prove something. This is irrelevant to anything that occurred today, though. “

“How long have you had these dreams, Dave?” John asked.

“Hmmmm I guess I’ve known the dream demon for a week now.” Dave said, taking off his glasses to clean them. “Crap, I forgot how bright the world is. “I’m putting these back on.”

“Hey, Dave.” John said.

Dave leaned backward until he was on his back. “Yeah, John?”

“How about we visit the cemetery?”

[dentelle-grise]

Your Latest Trick

Chapter 11 (Loki x Reader) Long after everyone has stopped talking about Loki and his misdemeanors, his failed attempt to take over Midgard and his punishment, you meet him at a party. A tale in which Loki woos the reader despite life imprisonment, mortal wounding and the cumbersome pretense of impersonating his father. Covering the events of 'The Dark World' and beyond Original Prompt: Imagine Loki undressing you slowly, entirely by magic, only touching you with his eyes. All chapters to date at AO3 (31K, NC-17) Tagging: @frenchfrostpudding Chapter 11: Vicious rumors and games of war

The horses’ breath leaves white smoky clouds in the air. Everything about the morning is damp, but crisp, as you set out. Mist hangs in the valley the party are riding through, soon to be chased by the morning sun.  You were right; this is a welcome escape from the paths of your own mind, those same trails to nowhere around the palace and the drab emptiness of missing someone in a way that can’t be mended by their return.  

You needed to get away and now here you are. From up on the hilltop, when you reach it, you can see far across Asgard, forests, fields and lakes.

“This is what is ours and we must protect.” Odin says gravely. “Have you ever seen such beauty on any other world?”

Its not a question that requires an answer, and anyway you haven’t been to any other worlds so how would you know? You wonder again about the royal invitation you received.  You’ve tried to look worthy of your role, Nara has her finest tack and you your mother’s riding cloak. Everyone dismounts to admire the panorama and allow the horses to rest.

Sif and Fandral are there and, though you keep your distance from them, you can’t help but glance now and then. He chatters away as usual and she hushes him and then he carries right on. You can’t help but wonder when will she come to her senses. Not that Fandral’s bad, but he’d rather have the admiration of many than the devotion of a single partner. That was a lesson hard in the learning. It’s what made you a little the same way. Sif on the other hand… When has she shown an interest in any man besides Thor? There was even that one time you hid from her when she drunkenly mistook you for him. She had to have been seriously hammered that night. But, as for the rest, if you were with her and a fellow caught her her eye it was surely the way he was armed that interested her. If Sif mentioned the length of a man’s sword then she was truly interested in the length of his sword. It could be quite boring.  

In your efforts to avoid the couple you find you are standing not far from Odin, on the side of his missing eye. You look at his face, worn by time, and try to find the similarities with Loki. You have the strangest feeling that he is looking at you while apparently gazing into the distance. You shake the feeling off and look at the view. A movement has stirred a flock of birds to flight and they rise into the sky.

The morning is a precious time of rebirth.  Perhaps that is why Odin brought the party out so early.  Not to hunt, but to admire; to see something worth fighting for.

“The danger is still alive. We must remain vigilant.” He continues. You wonder what he means. If Thor’s words are true then the dark elves are gone.  

Still feeling watched, you glance at Odin again to see if he is indeed looking at you, and in doing so  you witness something everyone else misses; something you’d never believe unless you’d seen it for yourself.  The king’s horse, Sleipnir, a courageous but gentle beast - who you are nevertheless wary of because of all his extra limbs - has crept forward behind his master. Sleipnir takes the hood of Odin’s cloak in his teeth and throws it up over the king’s head. Everyone but you is too busy looking at the scenery to see it happen.

You hide your smile and look away but you hear no harsh words from the king toward his steed, only a quiet horse noise that sounds a lot like a snigger.

On your return, you feel weary from the day and all its impressions, but somehow fortified. Surprisingly, Odin goes off to the stables to tend to his horse himself rather than leaving the task to the stable lads.

No one seems to find this strange.  Odin is, after all, the king - he does as he wishes. And he has done some strange things lately. But you can’t help yourself but ask about it when Fandral approaches you.  After all, there are other things - like Sif - that you are very carefully not asking Fandral about these days. So the question comes naturally, like an obvious bit of small talk.   

“Why did Odin go to the stables?”

“Because of Loki.” Fandral throws you a winning smile, as if you had not become immune long ago.

“What? Why?” There’s no connection there as far as you can see and you can’t help but be perplexed.

“It’s the last link he has…”

You must look confused as you feel.

Fandral raises an eyebrow in question.  “You didn’t know about Sleipnir…” His eyes flick away from you a moment. He’s not really trying to hide something. He’s waiting for you to take the bait. How predictable.

“What about Sleipnir?”

He lowers his voice as he guides you by the elbow out to where the walkway is open with a view over the rushing waters glistening in the evening light.

“He’s Loki’s son.”

“What!” And you turn on him, thinking his serious expression will break into a grin any instant.

“Fandral you’re just so full of sh…” You start tapping on his arms and laughing, thinking he will start too.  But no.

He shakes his head.

“Thor told us the other night, after you’d left. You remember when Loki went away to study that time.”

“At the sorcerer’s institute?”

“A lie. Does that sound likely to you?  A school of sorcery on Midgard?  No. He was here all the time, in the pastures, or in the stables, waiting for the happy arrival.” You stare at Fandral, unable to decide if it’s a farce or the truth. “A magical accident. Or a very much non magical one actually, he transformed himself, fell pregnant and was stuck as a horse for nearly a year.” he grins.

It is so far-fetched you don’t know why he’d even try to convince you.

“Men do not give birth and certainly not to horses.”

“If one man in the kingdom was capable of giving birth to an eight-legged horse it would be he, you must admit. And he was a horse at the time too, so…” Fandral goes to smooth his mustache and stops himself just in time as he remembers it’s fake.

“What kind of fool do you take me for?” You sigh and start to walk away.

“Believe me. He even attempted to convince me to try it.”

“Why?!”

“Told me the sex was incredible.” Now this really is getting out of hand. Even though that’s an argument that might sway Fandral. You’re glad you left early the other night if this is the level it reached later on.

“And you didn’t go for it?” You try to dead pan, bring this back to the tone of the joke it most probably is, all the while though you can feel your doubt starting to niggle at you and a growing sense of horror. You think of the mischief in Sleipnir, and the number of times Loki’s magic got out of hand despite his best intentions.

“I was afraid of getting stuck.  As an animal I mean, not caught like Loki I mean.  For a start I wouldn’t have let myself get turned into a female.”

You sigh and turn on him, anger rising.

“I didn’t mean it like that.”

“I know what you mean and I still don’t believe a word. It’s worse than the destroyer story.”

“Which is also true.” he puts in, raising a finger.

“That you and Volstagg killed the Destroyer...”

“More or less…”

“When I’ve also heard that Sif killed the destroyer and that Thor too killed it, which is good going - dying three times over - for a magical machine that was never alive to start with.”

“But you must admit that it is no longer.”

“Yes, and I know all about how expensive they are to replace.  But I refuse to believe that it was ‘heroically slain’.”

At that point you realize you have company. Sif has changed and is wearing a sumptuous red velvet dress, one you think you remember her getting made with Thor in mind. Fandral openly admires her. You ignore him.

“Loki did that too,” she adds. “Set the Destroyer on his own brother.”

She’s solemn.  Not condemning.  But you just don’t understand. All the events around Thor’s banishment happened shortly after you broke up with Fandral, a time when you hardly saw the warriors. You shake your head in disbelief.

“How do you think he ended up in prison. That and terrorizing Midgard” she says

“But he’s not… he was kind.”

At that Fandral doesn’t laugh but looks shocked.

“He was kind to me.” It’s enough, that and your story about the dragon. He knows. You don’t need to say any more because he knows you, just as you know about him and Sif. He rumples his brow and you can tell he wants to know the how and the why but he won’t ask in front of her. He won’t show her how well he still understands you.

 It’s horribly awkward. Now is the time you must leave. If only you can find the words for a quick exit.

At that moment you are saved by none other than the Allfather. He has also changed from his riding clothes into more regal evening attire, complete with a golden cape. He looks carefully are each of you, though not in such a way that you can fathom his thoughts. How much did he hear? Finally his eyes come to rest on you, and he says.

“I care to spend the evening discussing something other than politics and matters of state. Young lady, what do you know of Midgardian war.” He is perhaps waiting to see if you know. And you do, but you find you can’t say a word, the question being so unexpected.

“The game I mean, not the foolishness of the realm’s inhabitants.”

It’s a shock to be singled out.  You cannot refuse the Allfather and you are lucky that you know the game. Though why he should have thought you might is a mystery.

It’s been years since you played.  You learned it from your parents who believed it would instill forward planning and patience.

“Yes, Sire.” You reply. Sif and Fandral look at you in surprise but say nothing and gracefully and politely leave.

Later, you join Odin in the royal sitting room and a couple of servants wheel in a trolley with an enormous board on it and set it up at the table, you move to face Odin.

The servants thankfully remain with you, as the man’s presence is intense. You have never been alone with him and only the thought of concentrating on the game saves you from quaking in your shoes.

As the game progresses you become sure that he played this game with Frigga. That he picked you to put in her role should make you uncomfortable. But you like playing and the identity of your opponent and his motivations fade into the background.

“Do you know what the Midgardians call this game?”

“Chess, your highness”

“Yes, but beyond that?”

“No, I don’t, Sire.”

“The game of kings.”

You don’t know why he tells you this and you don’t know what to say but he makes his move and it takes away the need to answer.

Having never played Odin, you do not know if he sees far ahead in a game, as your father would, or whether he tries to provoke reactions, foolish moves.

You played this game as a child, not only with your parents but also with Loki. He could stay sitting still long enough, unlike his brother and their friends, though you could tell he was sometimes bored. He would conjure up extra pieces by magic when your attention was distracted.  It was only when you noticed he had three knights and both your bishops had shrunk to pawns that you called him on it.

But Odin is unreadable, his moves suggest neither a scheme nor opportunism.  He seems to want to know what you will do, each move a question awaiting a response.

For you, Odin has become more like an opposing army than a man across the table, the one who watches the board intently who but seems to be watching you with his missing eye, its creepy and you are sure you are imagining it.

He’s not talkative, not like your father, postulating about strategy as he goes.  Here you’re left guessing. Odin must be an experienced player, given his years. So, is he making it easy for you?  It’s not something you can rightly ask.  

You start to play provocatively, until you both get aggressive and the board quickly clears.  

But then it ends unsatisfyingly in a never-ending chase of the kings and their pursuers, never enough to trap them, always the space for the other to get away.

After you’ve thanked him and bid him goodnight you keep wondering about the ambiguous end game.

Had Odin planned it? And if so, why?

 Chapter 12

[kaylenellanos-blog]

Sign Into Our Weapon Blog And Get The Latest Updates

Unfortunately, they attempted it. The prepare is named "sequestration." It may possibly nonetheless transpire. Under that plan, government would be compelled to reduce $1.2 Trillion in weapon blog investing over 10 yrs, or about $100 Billion a calendar year. That's only two.6%twenty five of the $3.8 Trillion federal budget. And yet each and every one expert - which include the Tea Occasion congressmen who voted for it - admit it would be an financial armageddon. Why a definite technology is used in the military discipline? The technology influence has every single adverse and positive influences on the common civilians. The armours and arms are intended to retain the crime payment in probable verify. The nation will get added liberal and the govt entertains confined gun regulation fit costs. To endeavor a potent country, the critical diplomatic method is to focus on the military capabil ities equal to plane carriers, chopping edge of Navys rail gun, aircraft service provider, most significant tanks and proficiently all set frontline staff can battle towards the dangerous nuclear arsenals Just about every yr a large investing is necessary on the country to try the potential to the military budgets. Helmets, shields and body armours are used as their defensive weaponry. The axe, spear, javelin, sling, sword and bow are used as their offensive weaponry. Horse, elephant and chariot are used for the land transportation of weapons and troopers. Mechanical artillery and fortification very similar to fortress style, discipline fortification and siege towers were being the advancement and layout patterns of early weaponry. Mail and plate have been the non-public armours. The trebuchet and the Greek fire experienced been the siege weapons. The dividing line of weapons was not drawn inside the cavalry age, infantry revolution, and gun powder revolution and so forth. For factors I however cannot fathom, our small city commenced possessing air raid drills. I assume all towns did so irrespective of measurement. We had no Arms Industry, in any way. The plan that the enemy would squander bombs on us was over and above comprehension. In conclusion, my opinion as an pro in the personal Arms Industry is as follows: Each and every lady ought to have a smaller can of pepper spray with them at all periods.no exceptions! If they have a big purse they really should have a four oz. can as properly.It holds eight instances the sum and shoots just about two times as much. And if it is authorized in your point out you really should devoid of a question have a stun gun as nicely.You can under no circumstances be more than prepared in today's setting. We youngsters enthusiastically participated in the paper and scrap metal drives which had been weapon blog organized to help the war exertion. We canvassed the neighborhood and pestered the housewives to scour their basements and attics and we hauled the content to the junkyard in our coaster wagons. The Arms Industry constantly strives to develop and now it has began taking its wings on the rough seas. The excellent contracts has been signed by m any primary intercontinental areas to acquire multipurpose destroyers, missile destroyers and ballistic submarines. The intercontinental places want to give you with new wheeled armoured combating cars, self propelled artilleries, multipurpose destroyers and maritime self defensive forces. After quite a few yrs of speculation and provoked pondering, the nuclear power global places has decided to create the weapon sales overseas and sharing the armed services has also switch into doable in the nuclear period. The White House is happy to have great ol' Bobby Woodward to kick close to. It takes the headlines off of the truth that this discussion is more than a mere $85 billion reduction in the projected progress of the finances, is aspect of the complete $1 trillion in cuts that will be unfold about the subsequent 9 many years! We are arguing about $85 billion with a 2013 annual budget of $3.8 trillion as submitted by Barack Obama (Congress has not handed a finances for about a few a long time). The Logitech VX Revolution Cordless Laser Mouse was an Editor's Selection at CNET. It has a quite great dual mode wheel that has a totally free-spin, hyper-rapid speed mode that would make webpages fly by. You can purchase it for under $60. Some users favor the newer, scaled-down Logitech VX Nano, which obtained a "spectacular," ranking on CNET. It fees all over $49. Allow much more regional autonomy, so that every area gets to have its personal character. At the exact same time, make it possible for folks to shift about freely within the country. This will enable independence at each regional and individual degree, with each location getting a appropriate to its own character and just about every person staying free of charge to choose where he or she desires to live. A element of me wishes to guidance this, it truly does. I signify, I assume it would be fairly interesting to stay in a world in which there are superheroes and I'm all for individuals having the initiative to make the world a better location and showcase humanity's ability for good. That's all amazing stuff and for that I commend these people. One particular of the brilliant points about Superman is that he signifies what we can all aspire to be. The Nolan movies play up the plan that Batman way too is a symbol that has much more endurance and impact than a standard person. With most of the part models the media tries to make coming up woefully quick, there is a thing to the plan of turning out to be an embodiment of goodness and charity.

[evangelistopamfo]

JAN 30,-THE WONDERS IN GOD’S CREATIONS

January 30

Algae and Diatoms

Bible in a Year:

Exodus 23–24; Matthew 20:1–16

Stop and consider God’s wonders.

Job 37:14

COMMENT

JOURNAL

SHARE

Today's Scripture & Insight:

Job 37:14-24

“What’s a diatom?” I asked my friend. I was leaning over her shoulder looking at pictures on her cell phone she had taken through a microscope. “Oh, it’s like algae, but it’s harder to see. Sometimes you need a drop of oil on the lens or they have to be dead to see them,” she explained. I sat amazed as she scrolled through the pictures. I couldn’t stop thinking about the intricate detail God put into life that we can only see with a microscope!

God’s creation and works are endless. In the book of Job, one of Job’s friends, Elihu, points this out to Job as he struggles through his loss. Elihu challenges his friend, “Listen to this, Job; stop and consider God’s wonders. Do you know how God controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash? Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge?” (Job 37:14–16). We, as humans, can’t begin to understand the complexity of God and His creation.

Even the parts of creation we can’t see reflect God’s glory and power. His glory surrounds us. No matter what we’re going through, God is working, even when we can’t see it and don’t understand. Let’s praise Him today, for “He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted” (Job 5:9).

By Julie Schwab

Today's Reflection

Lord, thank You for the detail You put into creation and for being at work even when we can’t see it.

Welcome to Julie Schwab! Meet all our authors at odb.org/all-authors.

2.

Paul's Boast

Paul's Boast

Posted: 29 Jan 2019 05:37 AM PST

In Living in the Midst of Deception we noted four of Jeremiah's characteristics that helped him stand firm in difficult times. The Apostle Paul gives us a similar example to follow:

1. Knowing God...

Paul longed to know God wholeheartedly (Philippians 3:8-10).

2. Speaking truth...

Paul was not ashamed of the gospel (Romans 1:16).

3. Trusting God...

Paul relied on Christ's strength (Philippians 4:13).

4. Remaining loyal despite persecution...

Paul suffered and persevered (Romans 5:3; Romans 8:18; 2 Corinthians 11:23-29).

It's no coincidence that Paul refers to Jeremiah 9:23-24 in both 1 Corinthians 1:31 and 2 Corinthians 10:17.

Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 9:23-24

Let's read that passage again!

3.

Living in the Midst of Deception

God said Jeremiah “lived in the midst of deception” (Jeremiah 9:6).

We do too.

Just as Jeremiah was opposed by the people and the priests, Bible-honoring Christians can expect opposition inside and outside of the church.

If we genuinely love the Lord, we need to be like Jeremiah:

1. Knowing God…

Jeremiah longed to know the character and purposes of God (Jeremiah 9:23-24).

2. Speaking truth…

Even though proclaiming God’s Word brought him insult and injury, he couldn’t stop. God’s Word “burned in his heart like a fire” (Jeremiah 20:8-9).

3. Trusting God...

God was Jeremiah's hope and confidence (Jeremiah 17:7).

4. Remaining loyal despite persecution….

Even when loved ones opposed and deceived him, Jeremiah remained faithful (Jeremiah 12:6).

These are four ways we can also remain faithful in the midst of deception.

4.

Read the Passage (NRSV)    Find more resources related to this passage  Print

Jeremiah 14:1-15:9 – Repentance That Comes Too Late

Summary

The people of Israel openly confess their sins to God (14:7, 20), but it comes too late to have a positive effect on their future.

Analysis

This text is dialogical in character, with contributions from people (14:7-9, 19-22), prophet (14:13), and God (14:1-6, 10-12, 14-18; 15:1-9). It is dominated by laments from all three principals. The people confess their sins, but it makes no difference with regard to their situation! Some scholars suggest that the people's prayers were insincere, but there is no specific evidence in the text for such an understanding. A more helpful way into the text is to recognize that, whether the people's prayers were sincere or not, they were too late. The disastrous situation was too far along for anything (including prayers) to stop it. Like a boat just above a waterfall, there comes a point when it will go over, come what may. The only future for this people was on the far side of disaster.

Prayers, even if sincere, are not necessarily efficacious. This point does not suggest, however, that only God's will was at work in this situation. People's prayers are never offered in isolation from other factors at work in a given situation (social, medical, individual, and communal history). These factors have an effect on the situation and will shape the efficacy of the prayers offered, even ways in which God is able to be involved. The effect of the sins of the people had been so pervasive that the situation could not be turned around. Even by God!

The force of these verses is that nothing can stop the destruction of Israel: not religious or political leaders, not sacrificial acts, not intercessions (to which God will refuse to listen, 14:11; see also 7:16; 11:14), or confessions of sin, or professions of faith, not even sincere lamentation. It is too late!

Jeremiah 14:1-15:9

The Great Drought

14The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought:

2 Judah mourns

  and her gates languish;

they lie in gloom on the ground,

  and the cry of Jerusalem goes up.

3 Her nobles send their servants for water;

  they come to the cisterns,

they find no water,

  they return with their vessels empty.

They are ashamed and dismayed

  and cover their heads,

4 because the ground is cracked.

  Because there has been no rain on the land

the farmers are dismayed;

  they cover their heads.

5 Even the doe in the field forsakes her newborn fawn

  because there is no grass.

6 The wild asses stand on the bare heights,*

  they pant for air like jackals;

their eyes fail

  because there is no herbage.

7 Although our iniquities testify against us,

  act, O Lord, for your name’s sake;

our apostasies indeed are many,

  and we have sinned against you.

8 O hope of Israel,

  its saviour in time of trouble,

why should you be like a stranger in the land,

  like a traveller turning aside for the night?

9 Why should you be like someone confused,

  like a mighty warrior who cannot give help?

Yet you, O Lord, are in the midst of us,

  and we are called by your name;

  do not forsake us!

10 Thus says the Lord concerning this people:

Truly they have loved to wander,

  they have not restrained their feet;

therefore the Lord does not accept them,

  now he will remember their iniquity

  and punish their sins.

11 The Lord said to me: Do not pray for the welfare of this people. 12Although they fast, I do not hear their cry, and although they offer burnt-offering and grain-offering, I do not accept them; but by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence I consume them.

Denunciation of Lying Prophets

13 Then I said: ‘Ah, Lord God! Here are the prophets saying to them, “You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine, but I will give you true peace in this place.” ’ 14And the Lord said to me: The prophets are prophesying lies in my name; I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds.15Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name though I did not send them, and who say, ‘Sword and famine shall not come on this land’: By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed. 16And the people to whom they prophesy shall be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem, victims of famine and sword. There shall be no one to bury them—themselves, their wives, their sons, and their daughters. For I will pour out their wickedness upon them.

17 You shall say to them this word:

Let my eyes run down with tears night and day,

  and let them not cease,

for the virgin daughter—my people—is struck down with a crushing blow,

  with a very grievous wound.

18 If I go out into the field,

  look—those killed by the sword!

And if I enter the city,

  look—those sick with* famine!

For both prophet and priest ply their trade throughout the land,

  and have no knowledge.

The People Plead for Mercy

19 Have you completely rejected Judah?

  Does your heart loathe Zion?

Why have you struck us down

  so that there is no healing for us?

We look for peace, but find no good;

  for a time of healing, but there is terror instead.

20 We acknowledge our wickedness, O Lord,

  the iniquity of our ancestors,

  for we have sinned against you.

21 Do not spurn us, for your name’s sake;

  do not dishonour your glorious throne;

  remember and do not break your covenant with us.

22 Can any idols of the nations bring rain?

  Or can the heavens give showers?

Is it not you, O Lord our God?

  We set our hope on you,

  for it is you who do all this.

Punishment Is Inevitable

15Then the Lord said to me: Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my heart would not turn towards this people. Send them out of my sight, and let them go! 2And when they say to you, ‘Where shall we go?’ you shall say to them: Thus says the Lord:

Those destined for pestilence, to pestilence,

  and those destined for the sword, to the sword;

those destined for famine, to famine,

  and those destined for captivity, to captivity.

3And I will appoint over them four kinds of destroyers, says the Lord: the sword to kill, the dogs to drag away, and the birds of the air and the wild animals of the earth to devour and destroy. 4I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth because of what King Manasseh son of Hezekiah of Judah did in Jerusalem.

5 Who will have pity on you, O Jerusalem,

  or who will bemoan you?

Who will turn aside

  to ask about your welfare?

6 You have rejected me, says the Lord,

  you are going backwards;

so I have stretched out my hand against you and destroyed you—

  I am weary of relenting.

7 I have winnowed them with a winnowing-fork

  in the gates of the land;

I have bereaved them, I have destroyed my people;

  they did not turn from their ways.

8 Their widows became more numerous

  than the sand of the seas;

I have brought against the mothers of youths

  a destroyer at noonday;

I have made anguish and terror

  fall upon her suddenly.

9 She who bore seven has languished;

  she has swooned away;

her sun went down while it was yet day;

  she has been shamed and disgraced.

And the rest of them I will give to the sword

  before their enemies,

says the Lord.

SOURCE: ENTERTHEBIBLE.ORG

5.  

Hi there,

I’m so thrilled to have you as a subscriber. Together, we can work to make your life (and ultimately our world) happier, healthier, and more productive.

It doesn't matter what your age or what past experiences you’ve had, you can lead the life you've always wanted -- one that fulfills your purpose. You've already accomplished the first step.

I’ll show you that it’s possible to achieve a life of endless happiness!

Feeling stuck in your own life is probably one of the scariest feelings you can have.

About 13 years ago, I felt stuck. I was a manager at a high profile engineering firm on my way up the career ladder with a very successful future ahead of me. From the outside, my life seemed wonderful; but inside I felt empty... and overwhelmed.

There was never enough time; 8 hour workdays didn't seem long enough and so I often worked late hours. Weekends were dedicated to sleeping in and stress eating... not the most productive, or healthy, use of my time.

Even though I followed everything that everyone encouraged me to do, I was miserable. It was because I couldn't shake the feeling that I needed to be doing something else -- something in line with helping others. It was my true calling and it was getting louder and louder.

I knew I needed to make some changes or face the consequences. So, I dedicated all the free time I had to understanding how to become more productive and reclaim my time.

After a lot of research and trial and error, I realized that fixing one area wasn't enough. My life changed when I understood the power of leverage -- doing one thing that grows into multiple benefits. Over just a few weeks, the change was positively enormous -- and it's led me to where I am today.

You can experience this, too!

Put simply, that's our goal at Lifehack: helping you make positively enormous changes to your own life. I think it's important to set people on the right track, and this newsletter is an efficient and effective way to do just that.

Tomorrow I'll reveal just how you can make the most of your experience with us. I'll introduce a few key methods to finding and fulfilling your life's purpose.

If you have any questions or just want to reach out and say hello, send me a note directly by replying to this email.

Thank you again for subscribing. I'm really looking forward to helping you change your life!

Cheers,

Leon

[poetryofchrist]

1 Chronicles 21

This is more different that I expected from 2 Samuel 24. Worth considering how the same story gets coloured and told quite differently. God and the accuser make appearances, but Yahweh is still involved. There is no detailed itinerary for the visitation and the numbers are not reconcilable. Six hundred weight of gold rather than 50 of silver is the price for the threshing floor, and the name of the protagonist is different. I suspect the Chronicler had an agenda.

1 Chronicles 21 Fn Min Max Syll וַיַּֽעֲמֹ֥ד שָׂטָ֖ן עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיָּ֙סֶת֙ אֶת־דָּוִ֔יד לִמְנ֖וֹת אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל 1 And an accuser stood up over Israel, and he incited David to fathom Israel. 3e 4A 10 12 וַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֤יד אֶל־יוֹאָב֙ וְאֶל־שָׂרֵ֣י הָעָ֔ם לְכ֗וּ סִפְרוּ֙ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מִבְּאֵ֥ר שֶׁ֖בַע וְעַד־דָּ֑ן וְהָבִ֣יאוּ אֵלַ֔י וְאֵדְעָ֖ה אֶת־מִסְפָּרָֽם 2 And David said to Joab and to the chiefs of the people, Go. Count Israel from Beer-Sheva and to Dan, and come to me and I will know their counts. 3e 4C 29 13 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יוֹאָ֗ב יוֹסֵף֩ יְהוָ֨ה עַל־עַמּ֤וֹ ׀ כָּהֵם֙ מֵאָ֣ה פְעָמִ֔ים הֲלֹא֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כֻּלָּ֥ם לַאדֹנִ֖י לַעֲבָדִ֑ים לָ֣מָּה יְבַקֵּ֥שׁ זֹאת֙ אֲדֹנִ֔י לָ֛מָּה יִהְיֶ֥ה לְאַשְׁמָ֖ה לְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל 3 And Joab said, may Yahweh add to his people as they are a hundred times. Is not my Lord the king of all of them, my lord's for servants? Why does my Lord seek this? Why will he be an offense for Israel. 3d 4C 36 20 וּדְבַר־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ חָזַ֣ק עַל־יוֹאָ֑ב וַיֵּצֵ֣א יוֹאָ֗ב וַיִּתְהַלֵּךְ֙ בְּכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיָּבֹ֖א יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם 4 But the word of the king was resolute over Joab. And Joab went out and went through all Israel, and he came to Jerusalem. 3e 4B 10 21 וַיִּתֵּ֥ן יוֹאָ֛ב אֶת־מִסְפַּ֥ר מִפְקַד־הָעָ֖ם אֶל־דָּוִ֑יד וַיְהִ֣י כָֽל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֡ל אֶ֣לֶף אֲלָפִים֩ וּמֵאָ֨ה אֶ֤לֶף אִישׁ֙ שֹׁ֣לֵֽף חֶ֔רֶב וִֽיהוּדָ֕ה אַרְבַּע֩ מֵא֨וֹת וְשִׁבְעִ֥ים אֶ֛לֶף אִ֖ישׁ שֹׁ֥לֵֽף חָֽרֶב 5 And Joab gave the count of the conscription of the people to David, and all Israel were a million and one hundred thousand soldiers that drew a sword, and Judah four hundred seventy thousand soldiers that drew a sword. 3d 4C 15 38 וְלֵוִי֙ וּבִנְיָמִ֔ן לֹ֥א פָקַ֖ד בְּתוֹכָ֑ם כִּֽי־נִתְעַ֥ב דְּבַר־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֶת־יוֹאָֽב 6 Both Levi and Benjamin, he did not visit among them, for the word of the king was abhorrent to Joab. 3e 4A 13 11 וַיֵּ֙רַע֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים עַל־הַדָּבָ֖ר הַזֶּ֑ה וַיַּ֖ךְ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל 7 And it was an irritation in the eyes of God over this matter, and he struck Israel. 3e 4B 16 6 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר דָּוִיד֙ אֶל־הָ֣אֱלֹהִ֔ים חָטָ֣אתִֽי מְאֹ֔ד אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשִׂ֖יתִי אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה וְעַתָּ֗ה הַֽעֲבֶר־נָא֙ אֶת־עֲו֣וֹן עַבְדְּךָ֔ כִּ֥י נִסְכַּ֖לְתִּי מְאֹֽד 8 And David said to God, I have sinned excessively that I have done this thing, and now let pass please the iniquity of your servant, for I have been excessively silly. 3e 4C 26 19 וַיְדַבֵּ֤ר יְהוָה֙ אֶל־גָּ֔ד חֹזֵ֥ה דָוִ֖יד לֵאמֹֽר 9 And Yahweh spoke to Gad, the visionary for David, saying, 3e 4C 13 לֵךְ֩ וְדִבַּרְתָּ֨ אֶל־דָּוִ֜יד לֵאמֹ֗ר כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה שָׁל֕וֹשׁ אֲנִ֖י נֹטֶ֣ה עָלֶ֑יךָ בְּחַר־לְךָ֛ אַחַ֥ת מֵהֵ֖נָּה וְאֶֽעֱשֶׂה־לָּֽךְ 10 Go and speak to David saying, Thus says Yahweh, Three I have stretched out over you. Chose for you one from them, that I will undertake for you. 3d 4C 24 14 וַיָּ֥בֹא גָ֖ד אֶל־דָּוִ֑יד וַיֹּ֥אמֶר ל֛וֹ כֹּֽה־אָמַ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה קַבֶּל־לָֽךְ 11 So Gad came to David, and said to him, Thus says Yahweh. Undergo for yourself. 3d 4A 7 12 אִם־שָׁל֨וֹשׁ שָׁנִ֜ים רָעָ֗ב וְאִם־שְׁלֹשָׁ֨ה חֳדָשִׁ֜ים נִסְפֶּ֥ה מִפְּנֵי־צָרֶיךָ֮ וְחֶ֣רֶב אוֹיְבֶ֣ךָ ׀ לְמַשֶּׂגֶת֒ וְאִם־שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת יָ֠מִים חֶ֣רֶב יְהוָ֤ה וְדֶ֙בֶר֙ בָּאָ֔רֶץ וּמַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהוָ֔ה מַשְׁחִ֖ית בְּכָל־גְּב֣וּל יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְעַתָּ֣ה רְאֵ֔ה מָֽה־אָשִׁ֥יב אֶת־שֹׁלְחִ֖י דָּבָֽר 12 Whether three years of famine, or three months snatched before your foes, and the sword of your enemy overtaking, or three days of the sword of Yahweh, and pestilence in the land, and the angel of Yahweh destroying within every border of Israel. So now see what word I will return to him who sent me. 3e 4C 62 13 וַיֹּ֧אמֶר דָּוִ֛יד אֶל־גָּ֖ד צַר־לִ֣י מְאֹ֑ד אֶפְּלָה־נָּ֣א בְיַד־יְהוָ֗ה כִּֽי־רַבִּ֤ים רַחֲמָיו֙ מְאֹ֔ד וּבְיַד־אָדָ֖ם אַל־אֶפֹּֽל 13 And David said to Gad, My troubles are excessive. Let me fall, please, into the hand of Yahweh, for his compassions are excessive, and into the hand of humanity let me not fall. 3c 4C 11 21 וַיִּתֵּ֧ן יְהוָ֛ה דֶּ֖בֶר בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיִּפֹּל֙ מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֔ל שִׁבְעִ֥ים אֶ֖לֶף אִֽישׁ 14 And Yahweh gave a pestilence on Israel, and there fell from Israel seventy thousand men. 3c 4A 11 12 וַיִּשְׁלַח֩ הָאֱלֹהִ֨ים ׀ מַלְאָ֥ךְ ׀ לִֽירוּשָׁלִַם֮ לְהַשְׁחִיתָהּ֒ וּכְהַשְׁחִ֗ית רָאָ֤ה יְהוָה֙ וַיִּנָּ֣חֶם עַל־הָֽרָעָ֔ה וַיֹּ֨אמֶר לַמַּלְאָ֤ךְ הַמַּשְׁחִית֙ רַ֔ב עַתָּ֖ה הֶ֣רֶף יָדֶ֑ךָ וּמַלְאַ֤ךְ יְהוָה֙ עֹמֵ֔ד עִם־גֹּ֖רֶן אָרְנָ֥ן הַיְבוּסִֽי 15 And God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it, and as he was destroying, Yahweh saw and sighed over the evil, and said to the angel, the destroyer, Too much now. Let your hand desist. And the angel of Yahweh was standing beside the threshing-floor of I Shout With Joy [Ornan], the Jebusite. 3e 4C 49 15 וַיִּשָּׂ֨א דָוִ֜יד אֶת־עֵינָ֗יו וַיַּ֞רְא אֶת־מַלְאַ֤ךְ יְהוָה֙ עֹמֵ֗ד בֵּ֤ין הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ וּבֵ֣ין הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וְחַרְבּ֤וֹ שְׁלוּפָה֙ בְּיָד֔וֹ נְטוּיָ֖ה עַל־יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וַיִּפֹּ֨ל דָּוִ֧יד וְהַזְּקֵנִ֛ים מְכֻסִּ֥ים בַּשַּׂקִּ֖ים עַל־פְּנֵיהֶֽם 16 And David lifted up his eyes, and he saw the messenger of Yahweh standing between the earth and the heavens and his sword drawn in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. And David and the elders covered in sackcloth fell on their faces. 3c 4C 43 19 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דָּוִ֣יד אֶֽל־הָאֱלֹהִ֡ים הֲלֹא֩ אֲנִ֨י אָמַ֜רְתִּי לִמְנ֣וֹת בָּעָ֗ם וַאֲנִי־ה֤וּא אֲשֶׁר־חָטָ֙אתִי֙ וְהָרֵ֣עַ הֲרֵע֔וֹתִי וְאֵ֥לֶּה הַצֹּ֖אן מֶ֣ה עָשׂ֑וּ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהַ֗י תְּהִ֨י נָ֤א יָֽדְךָ֙ בִּ֚י וּבְבֵ֣ית אָבִ֔י וּֽבְעַמְּךָ֖ לֹ֥א לְמַגֵּפָֽה 17 And David said to God, Is it not I who said to fathom the people? So I am he who has sinned, and done evil. But these, the flock, what have they done? Yahweh my God, let be, if you will, your hand against me and against the house of my father, and not on your people that they should be plagued. 3e 4C 45 23 וּמַלְאַ֧ךְ יְהוָ֛ה אָמַ֥ר אֶל־גָּ֖ד לֵאמֹ֣ר לְדָוִ֑יד כִּ֣י ׀ יַעֲלֶ֣ה דָוִ֗יד לְהָקִ֤ים מִזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ לַיהוָ֔ה בְּגֹ֖רֶן אָרְנָ֥ן הַיְבֻסִֽי 18 And the angel of Yahweh said to Gad to say to David, that David go up to raise up an altar to Yahweh in the threshing-floor of I Shout With Joy the Jebusite. 3c 4C 14 22 וַיַּ֤עַל דָּוִיד֙ בִּדְבַר־גָּ֔ד אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֶּ֖ר בְּשֵׁ֥ם יְהוָֽה 19 And David went up by the word of Gad who spoke in the name of Yahweh. 3e 4C 16 וַיָּ֣שָׁב אָרְנָ֗ן וַיַּרְא֙ אֶת־הַמַּלְאָ֔ךְ וְאַרְבַּ֧עַת בָּנָ֛יו עִמּ֖וֹ מִֽתְחַבְּאִ֑ים וְאָרְנָ֖ן דָּ֥שׁ חִטִּֽים 20 And I Shout With Joy turned and he saw the angel, and his four children with him camouflaged themselves, and I Shout With Joy was pounding wheat. 3c 4B 22 6 וַיָּבֹ֥א דָוִ֖יד עַד־אָרְנָ֑ן וַיַּבֵּ֤ט אָרְנָן֙ וַיַּ֣רְא אֶת־דָּוִ֔יד וַיֵּצֵא֙ מִן־הַגֹּ֔רֶן וַיִּשְׁתַּ֧חוּ לְדָוִ֛יד אַפַּ֖יִם אָֽרְצָה 21 And David came to I Shout With Joy, and I Shout With Joy took note, and he saw David and came forth from the threshing-floor, and he prostrated himself to David, nostrils earthward. 3c 4C 8 28 וַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֜יד אֶל־אָרְנָ֗ן תְּנָה־לִּי֙ מְק֣וֹם הַגֹּ֔רֶן וְאֶבְנֶה־בּ֥וֹ מִזְבֵּ֖חַ לַיהוָ֑ה בְּכֶ֤סֶף מָלֵא֙ תְּנֵ֣הוּ לִ֔י וְתֵעָצַ֥ר הַמַּגֵּפָ֖ה מֵעַ֥ל הָעָֽם 22 And David said to I Shout With Joy, Give me a place in the threshing-floor that I may build in it an altar to Yahweh. For full silver you will give it to me, that the plague may be contained from over the people. 3e 4C 25 21 וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אָרְנָ֤ן אֶל־דָּוִיד֙ קַֽח־לָ֔ךְ וְיַ֛עַשׂ אֲדֹנִ֥י הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ הַטּ֣וֹב בְּעֵינָ֑יו רְאֵה֩ נָתַ֨תִּי הַבָּקָ֜ר לָֽעֹל֗וֹת וְהַמּוֹרִגִּ֧ים לָעֵצִ֛ים וְהַחִטִּ֥ים לַמִּנְחָ֖ה הַכֹּ֥ל נָתָֽתִּי 23 And I Shout With Joy said to David, Take for yourself and let my Lord the king do what is good in his eyes. See, I have given the oxen for burnt offerings, and the threshing instruments for wood, and the wheat for a gift. I have given it all. 3c 4C 24 31 וַיֹּ֨אמֶר הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ דָּוִיד֙ לְאָרְנָ֔ן לֹ֕א כִּֽי־קָנֹ֥ה אֶקְנֶ֖ה בְּכֶ֣סֶף מָלֵ֑א כִּ֠י לֹא־אֶשָּׂ֤א אֲשֶׁר־לְךָ֙ לַיהוָ֔ה וְהַעֲל֥וֹת עוֹלָ֖ה חִנָּֽם 24 And king David said to I Shout With Joy, No, for the purchase I will buy for full silver, for I will not lift up what is yours to Yahweh, and offer up a burnt offering for nothing. 3e 4C 21 17 וַיִּתֵּ֥ן דָּוִ֛יד לְאָרְנָ֖ן בַּמָּק֑וֹם שִׁקְלֵ֣י זָהָ֔ב מִשְׁקָ֖ל שֵׁ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת 25 And David gave to I Shout With Joy for the place, shekels of gold, six hundred weight. 3d 4B 11 9 וַיִּבֶן֩ שָׁ֨ם דָּוִ֤יד מִזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ לַיהוָ֔ה וַיַּ֥עַל עֹל֖וֹת וּשְׁלָמִ֑ים וַיִּקְרָא֙ אֶל־יְהוָ֔ה וַיַּֽעֲנֵ֤הוּ בָאֵשׁ֙ מִן־הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם עַ֖ל מִזְבַּ֥ח הָעֹלָֽה 26 And David built there an altar to Yahweh, and he offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings, and he called to Yahweh and he answered him in the fire from the heavens upon the altar of the burnt offering. 3e 4C 19 23 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ לַמַּלְאָ֔ךְ וַיָּ֥שֶׁב חַרְבּ֖וֹ אֶל־נְדָנָֽהּ 27 And Yahweh talked to the angel, and he returned his sword to its sleeve. 3e 4C 17 בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֔יא בִּרְא֤וֹת דָּוִיד֙ כִּי־עָנָ֣הוּ יְהוָ֔ה בְּגֹ֖רֶן אָרְנָ֣ן הַיְבוּסִ֑י וַיִּזְבַּ֖ח ��ָֽׁם 28 At that time when David saw that Yahweh answered at the threshing-floor of I Shout With Joy the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there. 3e 4C 21 4 וּמִשְׁכַּ֣ן י��֠הוָה אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֨ה מֹשֶׁ֧ה בַמִּדְבָּ֛ר וּמִזְבַּ֥ח הָעוֹלָ֖ה בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֑יא בַּבָּמָ֖ה בְּגִבְעֽוֹן 29 And the dwelling-place of Yahweh that Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of the burnt offering at that time, were in the high place of Gibeon. 3c 4B 24 6 וְלֹא־יָכֹ֥ל דָּוִ֛יד לָלֶ֥כֶת לְפָנָ֖יו לִדְרֹ֣שׁ אֱלֹהִ֑ים כִּ֣י נִבְעַ֔ת מִפְּנֵ֕י חֶ֖רֶב מַלְאַ֥ךְ יְהוָֽה 30 And David could not go before it to search out God, for he was alarmed in the presence of the sword of the angel of Yahweh. 3d 4B 16 11

from Blogger http://ift.tt/2AsgITP via IFTTT

[greenbraincomics]

New comics for Wednesday, July 19 2017

ALL AGES COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS     COMICS SQUAD RECESS GN VOL 03 DETENTION      $7.99 DC SUPER HERO GIRLS HERO OF THE MONTH YR PICTUREBACK     $5.99 DC SUPER HERO GIRLS YR HC KATANAAT SUPER HERO HIGH     $13.99 DISNEY FROZEN #8     $3.99 DISNEY MANGA MAGICAL DANCE GN VOL 02     $10.99 DUCKTALES #0 (VARIANT AVAILABLE)     $3.99 KORGI SHORT TALES     $4.99 MIRACULOUS ADVENTURES LADYBUG CAT NOIR #1      $3.99 POKEMON OMEGA RUBY ALPHA SAPPHIRE GN VOL 04     $4.99 POKEMON XY GN VOL 11     $4.99 POPEYE CLASSICS ONGOING #60     $4.99 SIMPSONS COMICS #240     $3.99 WALT DISNEY COMICS & STORIES #739      $5.99      YOUNG ADULT COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS     ARCHIE #22     $3.99 BACKSTAGERS TP VOL 01     $14.99 BILL & TED SAVE THE UNIVERSE #2     $3.99 GIANT DAYS NOT ON THE TEST EDITION HC VOL 01      $34.99 LEGEND OF ZELDA LEGENDARY ED GN VOL 04 MINISH CAP & PHANTOM     $17.99 LEGEND OF ZELDA LEGENDARY ED GN VOL 05 FOUR SWORDS      $17.99 MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS #17      $3.99 TMNT UNIVERSE #12      $4.99      STAR WARS UNIVERSE COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS     STAR WARS DARTH MAUL #5 (OF 5)     $3.99 STAR WARS POE DAMERON #17     $3.99      MARVEL UNIVERSE COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS     AMERICA #5     $3.99 US AVENGERS #8 SE     $3.99 BLACK EYED PEAS PRESENTS MASTERS SUN ZOMBIES CHRONICLES HC     $24.99 CAPTAIN AMERICA AND THE AVENGERS COMP COLL TP     $34.99 DAREDEVIL #24     $3.99 DEADPOOL KILLS MARVEL UNIVERSE AGAIN #2     $3.99 DOCTOR STRANGE #23 SE     $3.99 ALL NEW GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #6     $3.99 TOTALLY AWESOME HULK #21 WMD     $3.99 INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #9     $3.99 LUKE CAGE #3     $3.99 A-Z MARVEL MONSTERS HC     $24.99 MS MARVEL #20     $3.99 MS MARVEL TP VOL 07 DAMAGE PER SECOND     $17.99 PATSY WALKER AKA HELLCAT TP VOL 03 CARELESS WHISKERS     $15.99 PUNISHER TP VOL 02 END OF THE LINE     $17.99 ROYALS #5     $3.99 SECRET EMPIRE #6 (OF 10)     $4.99 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN RENEW YOUR VOWS #9     $3.99 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN TP VOL 06 WORLDWIDE     $19.99 PETER PARKER SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #2 (VARIANT AVAILABLE)     $3.99 MIGHTY THOR #21     $3.99 MARVELS THOR RAGNAROK PRELUDE #2 (OF 4)     $3.99 ULTIMATES 2 #9     $3.99 X-MEN GOLD #8 SE     $3.99 ASTONISHING X-MEN #1 (VARIANT AVAILABLE)     $4.99      DC UNIVERSE COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS     AMERICAN WAY #1 VERTIGO ESSENTIALS      $1.00 AQUAMAN #26     $3.99 BATMAN #24 4TH PTG     $2.99 BATMAN #25 2ND PTG     $3.99 BATMAN #27     $2.99 BATMAN 66 MEETS THE LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #1     $3.99 BATMAN TMNT ADVENTURES TP     $19.99 BATMAN TMNT TP VOL 01     $16.99 BATWOMAN #5     $3.99 CAVE CARSON HAS A CYBERNETIC EYE #10 (MR)     $3.99 DC JUSTICE LEAGUE ESSENTIALS AQUAMAN #1 REBIRTH     $1.00 DC JUSTICE LEAGUE ESSENTIALS BATMAN #1 REBIRTH     $1.00 DC JUSTICE LEAGUE ESSENTIALS FLASH #1 REBIRTH     $1.00 DC JUSTICE LEAGUE ESSENTIALS JUSTICE LEAGUE #1 REBIRTH     $1.00 DC JUSTICE LEAGUE ESSENTIALS SUPERMAN #1 REBIRTH     $1.00 FLASH UNWRAPPED BY FRANCIS MANAPUL HC     $34.99 GOTHAM ACADEMY SECOND SEMESTER TP VOL 01     $16.99 GREEN ARROW #27     $2.99 GREEN LANTERNS #27     $2.99 HARLEY QUINN #24     $2.99 INJUSTICE 2 #6     $2.99 JUSTICE LEAGUE #25     $3.99 ELSEWORLDS JUSTICE LEAGUE TP VOL 02     $34.99 MIDNIGHTER AND APOLLO TP     $16.99 NIGHTWING #25     $3.99 SUPERGIRL THE SILVER AGE TP VOL 01     $29.99 SUPERMAN #27     $2.99 SUPER SONS #6     $3.99 TRINITY #11     $3.99 WILD STORM #6     $3.99      ACTION / ADVENTURE COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS     ALIENS DEAD ORBIT #3     $3.99 BETTIE PAGE #1      $3.99 BITCH PLANET TRIPLE FEATURE #2 (MR)     $3.99 BLACK SCIENCE TP VOL 06 (MR)     $16.99 BLOOD BOWL MORE GUTS MORE GLORY #2 (OF 4) (MR)     $3.99 BRITANNIA WE WHO #4 (OF 4)      $3.99 CATALYST PRIME SUPERB #1     $3.99 CLUE #2     $3.99 CURSE WORDS #6 (MR)     $3.99 DEPT H #16     $3.99 DESCENDER #22     $3.99 VICTOR LAVALLE DESTROYER #3 (OF 6)     $3.99 ETHER TP VOL 01 DEATH OF THE LAST GOLDEN BLAZE     $14.99 ALL NEW FATHOM #6      $3.99 FOREVER WAR #6 (OF 6)     $3.99 GENERATION GONE #1 (MR)     $4.99 GRRL SCOUTS MAGIC SOCKS #3 (MR)     $3.99 HEARTTHROB SEASON 2 #2 (MR)     $3.99 HP LOVECRAFT HOUND & STORIES TP TANABE (MR)      $12.99 I HATE FAIRYLAND #14 (MR)     $3.99 INVINCIBLE #138 (MR)     $2.99 JAMES BOND KILL CHAIN #1 (OF 6)     $3.99 JIMMYS BASTARDS #2 (MR)     $3.99 KILL ALL MONSTERS OMNIBUS HC VOL 01      $24.99 KILL THE MINOTAUR #1 2ND PTG (MR)     $3.99 KILL THE MINOTAUR #2 (MR)     $3.99 LAZARUS X PLUS 66 #1 (OF 6) (MR)     $3.99 MAGNUS #2     $3.99 MOONSTRUCK #1     $3.99 NINJAK TP VOL 06 THE SEVEN BLADES OF MASTER DARQUE     $19.99 NORMANDY GOLD #2 (MR)     $3.99 PESTILENCE #3     $3.99 RAPTURE #3      $3.99 RICK & MORTY TP VOL 05     $19.99 RINGSIDE TP VOL 02 WORK (MR)     $16.99 ROYAL CITY #5 (MR)     $3.99 SCALPED TP BOOK 01 (MR)     $24.99 SECRET WEAPONS #2 (OF 4)      $3.99 SHAOLIN COWBOY WHOLL STOP THE REIGN #4 (MR)     $3.99 SISTERS OF SORROW #1 (MR)     $3.99 SOUTHERN CROSS TP VOL 02 ROMULUS (MR)     $16.99 SPENCER AND LOCKE #4 (OF 4) (MR)     $3.99 TIME & VINE #1      $4.99 TRUMP VS TIME LINCOLN #1     $3.99 WEIRD LOVE #19     $4.99 WINNEBAGO GRAVEYARD #1 (OF 4) 2ND PTG     $3.99 WINNEBAGO GRAVEYARD #2 (OF 4)      $3.99      SMALL PRESS COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS     BLUE MONDAY TP VOL 03     $14.99 COMPLETE DOC UNKNOWN HC     $24.99 JASON SHIGA DEMON SC GN VOL 03     $19.99 PETALS HC (KINGPIN)     $14.99 PRINCESS JELLYFISH GN VOL 05      $19.99 SANCTUM GENESIS HC (MR)     $19.95 SONGY OF PARADISE HC (MR)      $34.99 ULTRA PIG NIPPONIC ROULETTE HC (KINGPIN)      $14.99 VALERIAN COMPLETE COLLECTION HC VOL 02      $29.99 VALERIAN COMPLETE COLLECTION HC VOL 03      $29.99      CLASSIC COMIC / STRIP ARCHIVES     BACK ISSUE #98     $8.95 OVERSTREET COMIC BK PG SC VOL 47      $29.95

[poetryofchrist]

2 Samuel 24

You can look these places in the journey up (sort of) on a map. They start by travelling towards modern day Jordan through some places that are not identifiable, into the land of Dan north of Kinnereth, then further north to Sidon where they turn south to Tyre then way south to Beer-sheva, 100 or so km south of Jerusalem. I tried mapping it on Google maps - without much success.

A difficult journey today, and probably difficult in David's time as well. Verse 1 - what was David doing? In the parallel 1 Chronicles 21, it is an accuser (Hebrew, Satan) who incites David. Could David  just want to 'number' (ספר) Israel. The verb here is מנה, portion, apportion, and in a few places (like Qohelet 1:15) I have used fathom. This seems to me to be a credible sin. Otherwise what's the problem with a census (ראשׁ a head count)? In response to the request to fathom Joab visits and conscripts (פקד, also commonly visit). I have used this verb also in Numbers where tradition has number. As you can see, counting is represented by 4 different stems in the Hebrew. Hence my predicament when dealing with these, whatever they are, shades of 'meaning'. It is not possible, by the way, to get answers to these kinds of puzzling questions from a 'study Bible'. Most of these simply assume the traditional glosses and fail even to point out the guesswork behind the scenes of the translations. They are about as good for what we need to know from the Bible as a Google map for an ancient journey.

2 Samuel 24 Fn Min Max Syll וַיֹּ֙סֶף֙ אַף־יְהוָ֔ה לַחֲר֖וֹת בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיָּ֨סֶת אֶת־דָּוִ֤ד בָּהֶם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לֵ֛ךְ מְנֵ֥ה אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וְאֶת־יְהוּדָֽה 1 And again the anger of Yahweh burned in Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, Go, fathom Israel and Judah. 3d 4C 13 22 וַיֹּ֨אמֶר הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אֶל־יוֹאָ֣ב ׀ שַׂר־הַחַ֣יִל אֲשֶׁר־אִתּ֗וֹ שֽׁוּט־נָ֞א בְּכָל־שִׁבְטֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מִדָּן֙ וְעַד־בְּאֵ֣ר שֶׁ֔בַע וּפִקְד֖וּ אֶת־הָעָ֑ם וְיָ֣דַעְתִּ֔י אֵ֖ת מִסְפַּ֥ר הָעָֽם 2 And the king said to Joab, chief of the force that was with him, Rove please among all the sceptres of Israel from Dan and to Beer-Sheva, and conscript the people, so I may know the count of the people. 3e 4C 40 9 וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יוֹאָ֜ב אֶל־הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ וְיוֹסֵ֣ף יְהוָה֩ אֱלֹהֶ֨יךָ אֶל־הָעָ֜ם כָּהֵ֤ם ׀ וְכָהֵם֙ מֵאָ֣ה פְעָמִ֔ים וְעֵינֵ֥י אֲדֹנִֽי־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ רֹא֑וֹת וַאדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לָ֥מָּה חָפֵ֖ץ בַּדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּֽה 3 And Joab said to the king, May Yahweh your God add to the people as they are, and a hundred times as they are and let the eyes of my Lord the king see, but why does my lord the king delight in this matter? 3e 4C 41 15 וַיֶּחֱזַ֤ק דְּבַר־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶל־יוֹאָ֔ב וְעַ֖ל שָׂרֵ֣י הֶחָ֑יִל וַיֵּצֵ֨א יוֹאָ֜ב וְשָׂרֵ֤י הַחַ֙יִל֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לִפְקֹ֥ד אֶת־הָעָ֖ם אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל 4 But the word of the king was resolute to Joab and against the chiefs of the force, and Joab and the chiefs of the force went out, in the presence of the king, to conscript the people, Israel. 3e 4C 19 25 וַיַּעַבְר֖וּ אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן וַיַּחֲנ֣וּ בַעֲרוֹעֵ֗ר יְמִ֥ין הָעִ֛יר אֲשֶׁ֛ר בְּתוֹךְ־הַנַּ֥חַל הַגָּ֖ד וְאֶל־יַעְזֵֽר 5 And they crossed over at the Jordan, and encamped at Aroer on the right hand of the city that is in the midst of the wadi of Gad, and toward Yazer. 3d 4B 8 25 וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ הַגִּלְעָ֔דָה וְאֶל־אֶ֥רֶץ תַּחְתִּ֖ים חָדְשִׁ֑י וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ דָּ֣נָה יַּ֔עַן וְסָבִ֖יב אֶל־צִידֽוֹן 6 And they came toward the Gilead and to the land of lowest new moon [Txtymhodshy], and they came towards Dan (because) [Dan-Yeem] and round about to Sidon. 3e 4B 15 13 וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ מִבְצַר־צֹ֔ר וְכָל־עָרֵ֥י הַחִוִּ֖י וְהַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֑י וַיֵּֽצְא֛וּ אֶל־נֶ֥גֶב יְהוּדָ֖ה בְּאֵ֥ר שָֽׁבַע 7 And they came the enclosure of Tyre, and all the cities of the Hivite and the Canaanite, and they went forth to the south of Judah, Beer-Sheva. 3d 4A 18 13 וַיָּשֻׁ֖טוּ בְּכָל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיָּבֹ֜אוּ מִקְצֵ֨ה תִשְׁעָ֧ה חֳדָשִׁ֛ים וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים י֖וֹם יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם 8 And they held out in all the land, and came at the culmination of nine months and twenty days to Jerusalem. 3c 4A 9 18 וַיִּתֵּ֥ן יוֹאָ֛ב אֶת־מִסְפַּ֥ר מִפְקַד־הָעָ֖ם אֶל־הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַתְּהִ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֡ל שְׁמֹנֶה֩ מֵא֨וֹת אֶ֤לֶף אִֽישׁ־חַ֙יִל֙ שֹׁ֣לֵֽף חֶ֔רֶב וְאִ֣ישׁ יְהוּדָ֔ה חֲמֵשׁ־מֵא֥וֹת אֶ֖לֶף אִֽישׁ 9 And Joab gave the count of the conscription of the people to the king. And there were in Israel eight hundred thousand men of ability that drew a sword, and those of Judah, five hundred thousand men. 3d 4C 16 31 וַיַּ֤ךְ לֵב־דָּוִד֙ אֹת֔וֹ אַחֲרֵי־כֵ֖ן סָפַ֣ר אֶת־הָעָ֑ם וַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֜ד אֶל־יְהוָ֗ה חָטָ֤אתִי מְאֹד֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשִׂ֔יתִי וְעַ��ָּ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה הַֽעֲבֶר־נָא֙ אֶת־עֲוֺ֣ן עַבְדְּךָ֔ כִּ֥י נִסְכַּ֖לְתִּי מְאֹֽד 10 And the heart of David struck him after so counting the people, and David said to Yahweh, I have sinned excessively in what I have done, and now Yahweh, let pass please the iniquity of your servant, for I have been excessively silly. 3e 4C 16 39 וַיָּ֥קָם דָּוִ֖ד בַּבֹּ֑קֶר וּדְבַר־יְהוָ֗ה הָיָה֙ אֶל־גָּ֣ד הַנָּבִ֔יא חֹזֵ֥ה דָוִ֖ד לֵאמֹֽר 11 And David arose in the morning, and the word of Yahweh happened to Gad the prophet, the visionary for David, saying, 3e 4B 8 17 הָל֞וֹךְ וְדִבַּרְתָּ֣ אֶל־דָּוִ֗ד כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה שָׁלֹ֕שׁ אָנֹכִ֖י נוֹטֵ֣ל עָלֶ֑יךָ בְּחַר־לְךָ֥ אַֽחַת־מֵהֶ֖ם וְאֶֽעֱשֶׂה־לָּֽךְ 12 Go and speak to David, Thus says Yahweh, Three I will tolerate over you. Chose one of them for you, that I will undertake for you. 3e 4C 24 13 וַיָּבֹא־גָ֥ד אֶל־דָּוִ֖ד וַיַּגֶּד־ל֑וֹ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֡וֹ הֲתָב֣וֹא לְךָ֣ שֶֽׁבַע שָׁנִ֣ים ׀ רָעָ֣ב ׀ בְּאַרְצֶ֡ךָ אִם־שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה חֳ֠דָשִׁים נֻסְךָ֨ לִפְנֵֽי־צָרֶ֜יךָ וְה֣וּא רֹדְפֶ֗ךָ וְאִם־הֱ֠יוֹת שְׁלֹ֨שֶׁת יָמִ֥ים דֶּ֙בֶר֙ בְּאַרְצֶ֔ךָ עַתָּה֙ דַּ֣ע וּרְאֵ֔ה מָה־אָשִׁ֥יב שֹׁלְחִ֖י דָּבָֽר 13 So Gad came to David and made it clear to him, and said to him, Will seven years of famine come to you in your land, or three months you withdraw before your foes while he pursues you, or will there be three days pestilence in your land? Now acknowledge and see. What word will I return to him who sent me? 3e 4B 11 64 וַיֹּ֧אמֶר דָּוִ֛ד אֶל־גָּ֖ד צַר־לִ֣י מְאֹ֑ד נִפְּלָה־נָּ֤א בְיַד־יְהוָה֙ כִּֽי־רַבִּ֣ים רַֽחֲמָ֔יו וּבְיַד־אָדָ֖ם אַל־אֶפֹּֽלָה 14 And David said to Gad, My troubles are excessive. Let us fall, please, into the hand of Yahweh, for many are his compassions, and into the hand of humanity let me not fall. 3c 4C 11 20 וַיִּתֵּ֨ן יְהוָ֥ה דֶּ֙בֶר֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מֵהַבֹּ֖קֶר וְעַד־עֵ֣ת מוֹעֵ֑ד וַיָּ֣מָת מִן־הָעָ֗ם מִדָּן֙ וְעַד־בְּאֵ֣ר שֶׁ֔בַע שִׁבְעִ֥ים אֶ֖לֶף אִֽישׁ 15 And Yahweh gave a pestilence on Israel, from the morning and to an appointed time, and there died from the people, from Dan and to Beer-Sheva, seventy thousand men. 3e 4B 20 19 וַיִּשְׁלַח֩ יָד֨וֹ הַמַּלְאָ֥ךְ ׀ יְרֽוּשָׁלִַם֮ לְשַׁחֲתָהּ֒ וַיִּנָּ֤חֶם יְהוָה֙ אֶל־הָ֣רָעָ֔ה וַ֠יֹּאמֶר לַמַּלְאָ֞ךְ הַמַּשְׁחִ֤ית בָּעָם֙ רַ֔ב עַתָּ֖ה הֶ֣רֶף יָדֶ֑ךָ וּמַלְאַ֤ךְ יְהוָה֙ הָיָ֔ה עִם־גֹּ֖רֶן הָאֲרַ֥וְנָה הַיְבֻסִֽי 16 And the angel extended his hand to Jerusalem to destroy, and Yahweh sighed at the evil, and said to the angel, the destroyer among the people, Too much now. Let your hand desist. And the angel of Yahweh was beside the threshing-floor of Aravnah the Jebusite. 3e 4C 45 17 וַיֹּאמֶר֩ דָּוִ֨ד אֶל־יְהוָ֜ה בִּרְאֹת֣וֹ ׀ אֶֽת־הַמַּלְאָ֣ךְ ׀ הַמַּכֶּ֣ה בָעָ֗ם וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הִנֵּ֨ה אָנֹכִ֤י חָטָ֙אתִי֙ וְאָנֹכִ֣י הֶעֱוֵ֔יתִי וְאֵ֥לֶּה הַצֹּ֖אן מֶ֣ה עָשׂ֑וּ תְּהִ֨י נָ֥א יָדְךָ֛ בִּ֖י וּבְבֵ֥ית אָבִֽי 17 And David said to Yahweh when he saw the angel of striking among the people, and he said, Behold I, I have sinned, and I myself have been perverse, but these, the flock, what have they done? Let be, if you will, your hand against me, and against the house of my father. 3d 4C 47 10 וַיָּבֹא־גָ֥ד אֶל־דָּוִ֖ד בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ עֲלֵה֙ הָקֵ֤ם לַֽיהוָה֙ מִזְבֵּ֔חַ בְּגֹ֖רֶן אֲרַ֥וְנָה הַיְבֻסִֽי 18 So Gad came to David in that day and said to him. Go up. Raise up for Yahweh an altar on the threshing-floor of Aravnah the Jebusite. 3e 4C 11 22 וַיַּ֤עַל דָּוִד֙ כִּדְבַר־גָּ֔ד כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהוָֽה 19 And David went up according to the word of Gad as Yahweh commanded. 3e 4C 15 וַיַּשְׁקֵ֣ף אֲרַ֗וְנָה וַיַּ֤רְא אֶת־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ וְאֶת־עֲבָדָ֔יו עֹבְרִ֖ים עָלָ֑יו וַיֵּצֵ֣א אֲרַ֔וְנָה וַיִּשְׁתַּ֧חוּ לַמֶּ֛לֶךְ אַפָּ֖יו אָֽרְצָה 20 And Aravnah leaned over to look and he saw the king and his servants crossing to him, and Aravnah went out and he prostrated himself to the king, his nose earthward. 3c 4C 21 17 וַיּ��֣אמֶר אֲרַ֔וְנָה מַדּ֛וּעַ בָּ֥א אֲדֹנִֽי־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֶל־עַבְדּ֑וֹ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֜ד לִקְנ֧וֹת מֵעִמְּךָ֣ אֶת־הַגֹּ֗רֶן לִבְנ֤וֹת מִזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ לַֽיהוָ֔ה וְתֵעָצַ֥ר הַמַּגֵּפָ֖ה מֵעַ֥ל הָעָֽם 21 And Aravnah said, Why has my Lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To buy from you the threshing-floor to build an altar to Yahweh, that the plague may be contained from over the people. 3c 4C 18 33 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲרַ֙וְנָה֙ אֶל־דָּוִ֔ד יִקַּ֥ח וְיַ֛עַל אֲדֹנִ֥י הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ הַטּ֣וֹב בְּעֵינָ֑יו רְאֵה֙ הַבָּקָ֣ר לָעֹלָ֔ה וְהַמֹּרִגִּ֛ים וּכְלֵ֥י הַבָּקָ֖ר לָעֵצִֽים 22 And Aravnah said to David, Let my Lord the king take and offer up of what is good in his eyes. See the oxen for the burnt offering, and threshing instruments and vessels of the oxen, for wood. 3d 4C 25 21 הַכֹּ֗ל נָתַ֛ן אֲרַ֥וְנָה הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ לַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲרַ֙וְנָה֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ יִרְצֶֽךָ 23 The whole Aravnah gave to the king for the king. And Aravnah said to the king, Yahweh your God accept you. 3d 4C 13 19 וַיֹּ֨אמֶר הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אֶל־אֲרַ֗וְנָה לֹ֚א כִּֽי־קָנ֨וֹ אֶקְנֶ֤ה מֵאֽוֹתְךָ֙ בִּמְחִ֔יר וְלֹ֧א אַעֲלֶ֛ה לַיהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהַ֖י עֹל֣וֹת חִנָּ֑ם וַיִּ֨קֶן דָּוִ֤ד אֶת־הַגֹּ֙רֶן֙ וְאֶת־הַבָּקָ֔ר בְּכֶ֖סֶף שְׁקָלִ֥ים חֲמִשִּֽׁים 24 And the king said to Aravnah, No, for buying, I will buy from you at a price, for I should not offer up to Yahweh my God burnt offerings for nothing. And David bought the threshing-floor and the oxen with fifty shekels of silver. 3c 4C 34 23 וַיִּבֶן֩ שָׁ֨ם דָּוִ֤ד מִזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ לַֽיהוָ֔ה וַיַּ֥עַל עֹל֖וֹת וּשְׁלָמִ֑ים וַיֵּעָתֵ֤ר יְהוָה֙ לָאָ֔רֶץ וַתֵּעָצַ֥ר הַמַּגֵּפָ֖ה מֵעַ֥ל יִשְׂרָאֵֽל 25 And David built there an altar to Yahweh, and he offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings, and Yahweh was petitioned for the land and the plague was contained from over Israel. 3e 4C 19 22

from Blogger http://ift.tt/2jEnXxD via IFTTT