In last week's #Torah portion, we were introduced to a character named Potiphar.

We run into a character this week with a simillar name that ended up creating a lot of confusion.

So here's a short thread to show how confusing it is!

#Mikeitz
#EBAMeme

1/7 The #Torah calls Potiphar a chief chef. But most commentators don't like that. Some say he was a butcher (the text doesn't indicate that).

And because of the importance of a different Poti-phera, some hold that he was the chief executioner.

(Imagination)

#Mikeitz
#EBAMeme

2/7

[thread]

Let's talk a little bit about the #Torah story where Isaac pretends that his wife is his sister.

It is not only directly lifted from the story of Abraham, but seems oddly inserted in the timeline.

#EBAMeme
#Toldot

1/6 Previously, we are told that Rebecca was barren for 20 yrs (25:21), then she was pregnant with twins, and it was such a painful time, she walked to visit Yahweh to get some advice.

#EBAMeme
#Toldot

2/6

(Due to a holiday, I didn't get to post much about Gen 1-6, so here's a late thread about Adam's WIVES.)

Because of contradicting narratives in the Torah-anthology, legends were invented.

The result is more entertaining than the myths themselves.

#Bereishit
#EBAMeme

1/9 First up, we have Lilith. Because Gen-1 says man and woman were created at the same time, and Gen-2 changed that, we get a story about a mate who declared she was equal, wanted to be on top during coitus, so Adam hated her, and God disposed of her:

#Bereishit
#EBAMeme

2/9

This week, we begin reading Genesis...again.

So let's talk about the two creation myths (Gen1 and Gen2-3).

It is clear, upon examination, that these myths were never intended to be read as history.

To do so requires a lot of apologetics (dishonesty).

#Berashit
#EBAMeme

1/4 There are two different styles of writing between the Gen1 and Gen2-3 myths.

While the first is from a song writer who was more concerned with rhyming than grammar, the second is from a humorist who was more interested in puns and sexual imagery.

#Berashit
#EBAMeme

2/4

In this week's #Torah portion, we are introduced to several supernatural entities, one of which is called "Rephaim".

Keep in mind that "Rephaim" is older than the OT and is an appropriated word from the Canaanites.

So what were they in ANE literature?

#Devarim
#EBAMeme

1/5 In ANE religions lie the OT, death was dreary and undesirable. It is a lonely existence unless you were deserving in life, meaning, a great hero or leader. In such a case you could serve the Gods, interact with the living, making you one of the Rephaim.

#Devarim
#EBAMeme

2/5

This week begins the Book of Deuteronomy. It's a collection of narratives with views/legends that are distinct from the others, and are often are at odds with Gen-Num.

Deuteronomy also has several anachronisms that could only have been written much later.

#Devarim
#EBAMeme

1/4 The opening verses of Deut. provides us with a list of places that the other books didn't mention,, but where the Hebrews apparently traveled, but the point of view is from someone in the future living in Israel.

#Devarim
#EBAMeme

2/4

Here's a short thread about Hagar who appears in Genesis 16 and 25.

As with Sarai, we don't have any background information in the text. Legends say she was a princess, an Egyptian. And another says that she became Abraham's wife after Sarah died.

1/5

#EBAMeme
#Lech_Lecha The plain text tells us that she was a slavegirl, a shifcha. We see this term also apply to Bilha and Zilpah, who served Rachael and Leah:

2/5

#EBAMeme
#Lech_Lecha

[Sarai thread]

Let's talk about Sarah, who is first appears in Genesis 11 as Sarai.

The text gives very little information about her.

And many people assume that in Chapter 12, she is 65 years old.

But is she?

#EBAMeme
#Lech_Lecha

1/5 The first time we have ANY reference about her age is many chapters later in a tale about a miraculous birth.

It is an often used error to assume that the details in one story by one author will carry over into other stories by other authors.

#EBAMeme
#Lech_Lecha

2/5

This week's Torah portion begins with a man named by his father as "Esteemed Patriarch" or "High Father" (AvRam). The text doesn't give his age. Commentators like to use "75", making his wife, Sarai, 65.

They're also the first characters to own slaves.

#EBAMeme
#Lech_Lecha

1/5 The very first verse of the passage comes with a problem: why is Yahweh telling Abram to go from the land of his birth when he already did that a long time ago?

#EBAMeme
#Lech_Lecha

2/5

[thread]

I got an email from a fan of Chabad (perhaps a member) to "suggest" (he indicated that he's a lawyer) that I stop mocking their goofy religious teachings on Twitter.

So, in response to that, here are a few of my "Stupid things about Chabad and their Rebbe" memes.

1/8 While having claimed to have an engineering degree (which cannot be confirmed by the university), the Rebbe would often write letters (which are collected in bound volumes and revered by his followers) to try to explain science.

This is one example of "Geocentrism is true".

In this thread, I will be posting several links to posts that I have written concerning the so-called "fulfilled prophecies" of Jesus. Hopefully they will be of some interest to you. The purpose of this is to make a pinned Tweet thread for later on.

So let's begin... In this first link, I cover several (6) of the Psalms that Christians claim that Jesus fulfilled, and show how he didn't fulfilled them.

apikoris.blogspot.co.il/2017/11/the-fa…