Thinking About Time

And these are the generations of Terah:  Genesis 11:27  (translation J. Green)

These are the generations – We are familiar with the Hebrew term toledoth, in this verse, e’le toldoth.  We investigated the problem with the spelling of this word.  We’ve noted that the toledoth pattern is the structural framework of Genesis and the deliberate architecture of Matthew.  But we might not have realized just how radically different ancient Semitic thought about the nature of time and history really is.  Once we look a little closer, we find implications that are very disturbing to our usual way of reading Scripture.  So brace yourselves.  Let’s take a cold plunge into the world of the ancient Near East.

“In contemporary Western societies we tend to imagine ourselves on the linear path of time (the pervasive timeline) with the past behind us, striding into the future, which is shrouded in mist.  In the ancient Near East, in contrast, terminology indicates that the people viewed themselves positioned at the convergence of fields representing the past and the future.  At this convergence they were oriented toward the past with its ancestors and traditions, while the future was obscured behind them.”[1]  Walton’s comment echoes Wolff’s analysis of the Hebrew idea of the future – and the lack of any Hebrew words for the concept of time.  One of the implications of this reversal of Greek metaphysics is that history is not a catalog of temporal events in sequential order.  History is concerned with the spiritual meaning of events.  Their particular order doesn’t really matter.  What matters is what is interpreted about the will of the gods through these occurrences since every event is saturated with divine intention.  In Near Eastern (non-Hebraic) thinking, history is going somewhere, but where it is going is determined by the gods and is unknown to men, often despite divination.  All men can do is hope to decipher the will of the gods so that they are not caught unaware.  To do this requires a careful recounting of ancestor experience, magic and cultic ritual.  Even so, the ancients say, “Man is dumb; he knows nothing; Mankind, everyone that exists – what does he know?  Whether he is committing sin or doing good, he does not even know.”[2]

The implication is drastic.  If you were living in the cultures of the ancient Near East, you would have believed that only the gods have control of the future.  All men can do is gather the threads from past events and present incantations in order to catch a glimpse of what might be the case and thereby avoid potential disaster.  The gods are completely fickle and men are caught in their whims.  This essentially means that there is nothing you can do about what is going to happen to you.  You don’t even know if what you are presently doing is pleasing or offensive.

Hebraic thinking is both a radical departure from this situation and a continuation of this cultural orientation.  It is a radical departure because God reveals Himself and His instructions.  No other ancient culture has a foundation in revelation.  In the Hebrew worldview, I don’t have to guess about what God wants.  He tells me.  I can know if I have sinned.  I can know if I am doing what is just and right.  But just like the other ancient Near Eastern cultures, Hebraic thinking is not oriented toward a chronology of events.  It is not concerned with some future outcome (not even some “heavenly” goal).  It still maintains the view that the meaning of the events is the critical factor.  It still holds the view that all events are God-determined and God-saturatedThere is no distinction between sacred and secular and there is no expectation of cause and effect.  Things happen.  Why they happen (what caused them to happen) is almost irrelevant, unless, of course, they are the result of sinful behavior.  What they mean for the present is the critical issue.  How they reveal something about God and God’s will is the important element.  There is no concept of historical progress as we presently understand history in the West.

“These are the generations” is not a statement about the causal connections of fathers and sons.  It is a statement about the meaning of the present, revealed in the people of the past.  That’s why the genealogies of Scripture are not necessarily temporally progressive.  That’s why the chroniclers can skip generations, add names, alter relationships and manipulate the sequence.  What matters is what it means, not how it happened.

If this is true for the ancient Near Eastern view of history, how much of our preoccupation with cause and effect categories has misdirected our reading of Scripture?  Have we paid attention to unimportant “connections” and missed the meaning that the authors were trying to communicate because we applied our idea of history to a different world?  Are we so preoccupied with the causes of events that we no longer see the meaning of events?  What do you think?  Try reading Genesis 1 again, without thinking it’s about 24-hour days or the order of creation.

Topical Index:  toledoth, generations, time, history, Genesis 11:27



[1] John Walton, Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament, p. 222.

[2] A statement from an ancient Near Eastern text

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Luzette

This brings me back to the sermon on mount: Yeshua calling His disciples for a one-on-one( even if others did overhear) This must have had great meaning!

And in order of meaning he states:

be poor in spirit – meaning – if I have pride I still do not need a Saviour?
Pride stands between me knowing that I have nothing and can do nothing and desparetaly needs Someone. YHWH needs a lot of blank space to write His Torah on.

As for Hebrew time: my plan for a future event relies on the fact that it should be inline with God and Torah and have GREAT MEANING for God?

robert lafoy

This is when I began to understand, not only the structure of creation, but of the kingdom in particular. HOW it operates, and WHY it operates that way. It’s all right there in the 1st chapter, and you can’t seem to get to the bottom of it.

Jan Carver

If we could read Hebrew & went to Temple (not Messianic) & could hear & be taught out of the Torah – would we/could we then understand the scriptures correctly??? Where is there a Bible/Torah (with new testament) that is written correctly – has anyone accomplished this???

I have asked this question before about how/what to read instead of the Greek Bible & Skip/you suggested many sources – but is there not one source – like a Jewish Bible that us Gentiles can read & it be true to the Hebraic language & the Bible as we know it but not in Greek or King James interpretation???

jan

A.W. Bowman

Shalom Jan –

You have posed the most penetrating question a non Hebrew speaking person could ask. Back around 550 BCE the same question was asked by a great number of non-Hebrew speaking Jews scattered throughout the world. At that time, the most common language in use at that time was Greek, so an effort to reproduce the Holy Scriptures in the common language was undertaken, you will recognize the product as being the Greek Septuagint (LXX).

However, the Septuagint suffers from the same problem that our English translations of the Hebrew text do today, i.e., Greek and English languages are not compatible with Hebrew! They represent two entirely different world views, and they manner of expression do not translate in a word for word exchange. Even as a though for thought translation, it misses much.

Quickly, Hebrew is a conceptual, helical time structured, verb based language – while the Greek and English languages are abstract, linier time dependant, noun based languages. The result is that in order to fully appreciate the Hebrew Scriptures on must consider all of the following for each word translated: the picture the word paints, its sound, color, taste, feel, smell, as well as the emotion(s) evoked. The practical result of performing this task can result from anything as short as a single word translation to a single word translation requiring a page or two of ‘expiation’.
As one can imagine, a full translation of the Hebrew text into a comprehensive English language edition might require a wheelbarrow or two just to move it around one’s house. There is not much chance of one finding such an edition at the local book store.

The short answer is this: The best approach is to do your own translation. The second best is to sit under a teacher who does this (as necessary) in perpetration for each lesson presented. (James 3 & 2Timithy 2:15-16). The third best is to study a number of different translations and commentaries for each verse being studies. Remembering that all teaching concerning the scriptures are but personal commentaries, and will most likely contain some degree of imperfection – and that includes your own translation and resulting commentary (opinion, doctrine). But, do not despair! The scriptures are designed to require everyone to study and to restudy, and to study again every word that issues from the mouth of God. Take what you can get each time you delve into the word, add it to what you already and examine it afresh. When we think we have ‘it’, we get stuck in what we think we know and that produces zero growth.

I hope this little exercise is of some assistance.

A.W. Bowman

Sorry – too quick on hitting the submit button – please forgive the several grammatical problems and missing words. I didn’t find an edit or button, so if you have a problem in deciphering my comments, I’ll resubmit it.

Jan Carver

A.W. – I know – was just hoping against all hope…

“As one can *imagine,* a full translation of the Hebrew text into a comprehensive English language edition might require a wheelbarrow or two just to move it around one’s house.”

Don’t get me started on *imagination/imagining* it could take a while… 🙂

I am wondering if this could be accomplished electronically via computer programming like this fellow did: http://www.planbible.com/

NOW – I am beginning to wonder why i was not born into the house of Israel/Jewish instead of this blessed American household of faith – for once in my life I wish I was born into a different place when it comes to knowing the truth of God’s Word(s) – I am blessed but I could also have grown up with access to the the true translation… ♥

BUT – God chose my place in life & I am thankful – i can still seek/learn the truth others have to offer me – starting with Skip Moen… ♥

Daughter of Jerusalem/Zion
jan

A.W. Bowman

So well put!

Ian Hodge

“Are we so preoccupied with the causes of events that we no longer see the meaning of events?”

We do not see meaning because we have no principle(s) by which to determine meaning, history (time), as you comment here, being one of them. If God is not interested in time and there are no Hebrew concepts of time, then history is meaningless: there is nothing to learn from the past, our place in history it purely random, and our contribution to the future unnecessary and irrelevant.

Yet, a recurring phrase in Scripture is “ADONAI said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.'” This theme started in the Tanakh and is repeated in the New Testament.

A prominent Jewish theologian, Sha’ul made this comment: 1 Cor. 15:25 “For he (the Messiah) has to rule until he puts all his enemies under his feet.” This sounds very much like a Hebrew concept of time and the future. A time that has meaning and significance — for YHWH and his creation. A yet to be realized time when everything will acknowledge the Messiah’s kingship.

It is precisely this concept of creation, time and the future, that sets the Hebrew religion apart from all other religious beliefs — then and now. Why we would want to read Scripture through the lens of other faulty religious beliefs in effect says the faulty religious views have more authority than Scripture. Is it not the faulty religious views about God, time, creation, man, sin and redemption that need to be corrected by Scripture?

A.W. Bowman

A quick comment: Excellent observations. You have pointed out some very important issues. Yet, we must also remember this:

Technically, in the Hebrew language there are only two ‘tenses’, perfect and imperfect, things will happen or they have already happened. This is why some prophesies are translated into English containing past, present, and/or future tense language concerning the same event. See Isaiah 9:6 as an example of a future event translated in the ‘present tense’, with a separate future event included.

Even so, perhaps this is one reason why most of the Tanakh is focuses on ‘how to please God’ (Hebraic, relationship approach) rather on figuring out who and what God is (Greek, rational approach).

A.W. Bowman

Same problem here as in my post above – to quick on the submit button.

Even so, perhaps this is one reason why most of the Tanakh is focuses on ‘how to please God’ (Hebraic, relationship approach) rather on figuring out who and what God is (Greek, rational approach).

should have read:

Even so, perhaps this is one reason why most of the Tanakh focuses on ‘how to please God’ (Hebraic, relationship approach) rather on figuring out who and what God is (Greek, rational approach).

Ian Hodge

Thank you for the response. Is it possible to “please God” without knowledge of who He is?

A.W. Bowman

No, I think it is not possible to please God without knowing Him. However, we of the Western mind set ‘focus’ our attention on the ‘who and what’ rather than on the’ how and why’.

Scripture informs us that were are both to ‘know God’ and that it is’ impossible to know God’. This sets up a paradox that can only be resolved by taking only the Hebraic world view of scripture. We cannot mix Western and Hebraic world views. The simplest way I know of to explain the difference is this: We we encounter an apparent conflict or contradiction in the scriptures it is because we are reading them from an abstract (Western) world view, and not from a conceptual (Hebraic) world view. It is at this point that the study of the Hebrew is critical to one’s understanding

Remember, it is the focus of our attention that impedes our studies, it is not that one approach must be forsaken in order to embrace the other. But it is our nature to want to ‘figure things out’ that create stumbling blocks for ourselves.

Yet, this illustrates why, when the Tanakh describes God, His nature, attributes, and modes of existence, almost always He is described in anthropomorphic terms, not in absolutes. Why? because there are no human terms that can adequately express who and what God is. We can only know God and understand Him from a human perspective of comprehending God as an unidentifiable, invisible entity. What we are left with are descriptions of His attributes of deity and the physical evidence of His presence and power. So, even without direct knowledge of Him we can still ‘know Him’ from the things that are seen. (Romans 1)

At the same time, the scriptures are full of what God expects from us, in order to please Him. Obedience is considered great in the eyes of God (Gen 26:1-6), even when one does not understand the ‘why’ of the requirements e.g., mixing wool and linen (De 22:11).

Does this help – or make thing more muddled?

Ian Hodge

I have to reply here as there are limited “depths” in Skip’s post. No you haven’t muddled things.

I fully understand and appreciate the necessity for obedience to not just Torah but the whole of Scripture. The trouble is, how to put some of it into practice. If you’re interested in an application of the idea of rulers over 10s, 50s and 100s, etc (De. 1:15), you might look at “Hundreds” in Wikipedia.

A.W. Bowman

Could you narrow down the search a little? LOLOL I don’t think I found what you were referencing.

Ian Hodge

Sorry!!! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hundred_(county_subdivision). Consider it’s origin. 🙂

Brian

Thank you Skip for this excellent teaching. YHWH is the only God that reveals Himself and His instructions. No other ancient culture has a foundation in revelation. This to me is so exciting and the body of Messiah needs to hear this desperately.

It is amazing to me that the body of Messiah does not want to receive what YHWH has given so outrageously and generously of His revealed instructions. He does not want to keep us guessing and in the dark. Yet it seems the body of Messiah prefers the dark of their own wanderings and ponderings, instead of the bright lighted path of His glorious instructions.

Robin Jeep

“Yet it seems the body of Messiah prefers the dark of their own wanderings and ponderings, instead of the bright lighted path of His glorious instructions.” Brian, I suppose that is because we are familiar with the gods being fickle and being subject to their mysterious whims–familiar spirit.

Robin Jeep

I find this very interesting. I will read Genesis without thinking about the order of creation and look for the point that is being made.

John Adam

This is fascinating, Skip. I have long wondered what a Hebraic interpretation of the description of the pattern of creation recorded Genesis would ‘look like’. Hopefully more coherent than the previous sentence. 🙂 It seems to me that parts of Christendom have largely distorted the true meaning of those passages by their insistence on chronology.

Perhaps this is something you might pursue in the future? Along with all the other projects you plan to pursue!

carl roberts

When does “eternity” start? lol!- we are standing in the middle of it!- go back, and back and back..- now go forward, forward- further still..- no beginning, no end- we’re stuck in the middle! Eternal life (YHVH’s promise to His children) is not merely about quantity, it’s about quality. He gave and He gives His life, His breath, His words, His thoughts to us. He is the changeless Christ, the same yesterday, today and tomorrow- our “forever” G-d.
There are two concepts of time I would like to remember. Chronos time..- the “tick” of the clock.. (tempus fugit and all that sort of stuff!) and then there is kairos time (the good stuff)- defined as those fleeting ‘glimpses of glory’ that make up our day. These are “G-d moments.” I’d like you to share more with us Skip, on “kairos time.” We might even define these as “special moments..”
G-d lives in and out of time. A thousand years is as a day and a day is as a thousand years- and (more importantly) -He knows the end from the beginning. Our concept of time runs forward while His runs backward! Our time (while here on earth) is running out..- It is T-minus “??” and counting! There are events (Biblical events) yet to be. When will they occur? Only ONE knows!- And this is the very same ONE who knows the number of hairs on our heads!

A.W. Bowman

Sounds like a book I too need to study!

carl roberts

This I do know my dear brother- He is not limited by time as we (finite creatures) are. We are held captive by the clock, – He is not! Nothing ever “occurs” to G-d, and we should never attempt to play chess with Him as He knows what our next move would be and even the outcome of the game! For us carbon units “time” moves forward.. it seems (like I know, right?) time for Him moves backward, in other words He, knowing the end from the start arranges everything to accomplish His purpose and always everything “occurs” right on schedule- His schedule. He’ never late and never in a hurry..- except when the wandering son “remembered” His Father, repented, and returned home! Will there be “days” in heaven? I hope there are no clocks- We will have “time” to enjoy one another’s company without looking down at our watches and saying.. “gotta go, I’m late!!”

Ricky Hazelton

If God knows the end and it is all figured out, why do we need to bother to pray or obey torah for that matter? At what point does free will come into the equation? Just some food for thought.

A.W. Bowman

Love your approach! Thank you.

carl roberts

One of the greatest gifts G-d has ever given to man (all men, everywhere) is the ability to choose. We are totally free in the choices we make. (The “free will” of man). Go ahead, bang your head against the wall- you are totally free to do so. But, dear brother- you will end up with a lumpy head!- We are free in our choices (amen) but we are not free from the consequences of our choosing. If I choose to “supersize” my Happy Meal for the next thirty days- what will be the consequences of my choosing to do so be? I would be destined for “greatness!”
This is the law of the harvest. We will reap “whatever” we sow. The question is: – what “good seed” are we planting? And what is this “good seed?” Once again..- back to the Book. “A sower went forth to sow..” We are not left to guess about this..- Read the Book..- “it’s in there!”
I have seventy, eighty, ninety years to “bounce about” the planet. (In reality, I do not even have my next breath or heartbeat unless the grace of G-d allows it.) All I have is “today” (maybe) and today is yesterday’s tomorrow- (again!). “The fear of ADONAI is the beginning of wisdom.” Today, will I walk “in the fear of the LORD?” Dear friends, what is His Name? He is (now, today, this moment) our ever-present Comforter, Guide and (blood-covenant) Friend.
I’m not so worried about “eternity”- I’m more concerned on how I’m going to “steward” the gift of today..-and the gift of the present. G-d is with us- now, in this present (and pregnant!) moment, and in this place- whereever “this place” may be. Whether “here” or there- G-d is (ever) with us. That is His name,- remember? Immanu El, our “very present Help, in time of need. Always. Forever. This is our compassionate Elohim, our Savior-Shepherd-Sovereign-Succour-Strength and Song of songs. King of kings, LORD of lords- Friends, (how can I say this any stronger or louder or more penetrating?) G-d IS with us and G-d IS for us. There is no “IF.” He is.
The G-d of Eternity and the King of the Universe counts and knows the number of hairs on each of our heads. How can this be? Because dear ones- He (alone) is G-d. Is this difficult to apprehend or appreciate? – How “big” is G-d? – “Bigger.” Much bigger. More than this finite creature can possibly begin to know or fathom. There is no top and there is no bottom. We cannot say- “let’s get to the bottom of this- because there is no bottom- neither top.
So hear we are..-back on the planet. Now what? “Listen to Him- whatever He says unto you- “do it.” Shema the Savior. Listen (and obey) His words. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of G-d.” Are we listening? – Today, (today) if you will hear His voice..
Do you have “time” for G-d? (seems we have or can find time for everything but..) Have we made reservations/plans to spend time with Him and to open His book?