Didn't say in a round about way that it was hidden ... covered up ... we mist up again ... that brain fog from the heating waters in the kettle ... caldron of mind? Tis often steamy ...
Resolution - to read the Bible
- Thread starter Seeler
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Didn't say in a round about way that it was hidden ... covered up ... we mist up again ... that brain fog from the heating waters in the kettle ... caldron of mind? Tis often steamy ...
Seeler
Well-Known Member
More Psalms.
I've reached the end of 2nd Samuel, and returned to 1 Chonicles, picking up at chapter 21. David is reaching the end of his long and eventful life. He has chosen Solomon from among his sons to be his heir, and he gathers materials and workers for Solomon to build the temple. (The Lord didn't want David to build the temple because of all the blood he had shed in the battles during his lifetime. Solomon's reign will be a reign of peace and Solomon will build the temple.)
I've reached the end of 2nd Samuel, and returned to 1 Chonicles, picking up at chapter 21. David is reaching the end of his long and eventful life. He has chosen Solomon from among his sons to be his heir, and he gathers materials and workers for Solomon to build the temple. (The Lord didn't want David to build the temple because of all the blood he had shed in the battles during his lifetime. Solomon's reign will be a reign of peace and Solomon will build the temple.)
Can you imagine this all going on inside an alien mind ... a far off psyche in secular terms ... off the beaten pathee?
Seeler
Well-Known Member
The writer/compiler of Chronicles must like lists - chapters of lists! Preparing for his death, David has a census taken of the Levite men. AApparently the Lord doesn't like to have the people counted but David and his generals went ahead anyway, and then had to negotiate their way baack into the Lord's favour. And so the lists of the Levites and their duties now that the Ark of the Covenant is in Jerusalem and will soon be established in a newly to be built temple - instead of being carried about as they moved from encampment to encampment. The other tribes had been numbered previously and now are listed with their leaders - descendants of Jacob. I understand the purposes of a census to know just how many people to divide responsibilities and land and services justly among them - but it makes dull reading for someone in a different part of the world centuries later. I didn't get any enlightenment from these lists. I wish that they had put them in an appendix.
Moving on, David continues to maake plans for the temple. Then David thanks the Lord for his long life and the blessings he has received, prays that the Lord will bless Solomon, and dies.
Again some psalms - of praise and thanksgiving, and suplication.
Moving on, David continues to maake plans for the temple. Then David thanks the Lord for his long life and the blessings he has received, prays that the Lord will bless Solomon, and dies.
Again some psalms - of praise and thanksgiving, and suplication.
Seeler
Well-Known Member
It's almost a week since I posted, but I've done some reading.
More psalms. Since the plan I'm following jumps around, and I haven't kept track of which psalms I've read (except by going back over this thread), I don't know if I've covered most of them or not. Perhaps just the psalms of David and a few others that pertained to his rule. I undeerstand that some of them were written by various unknown aauthors - some centuries later.
In the narrative - David has died; Solomon sits on the throne. Solomon's reign is supposedly peaceful. Onee of his first acts is to arrange for the murder of his half-brother Adonis, who was David's eldest surviving son; it may have been wise to get rid of him. (Oh, there were extenuating circumstances - Adonis requested through Solomon's mother to be permitted to marry their late father's nurse/wife. The new king had the right to the previoous king's propeerty including his wives. Solomon considered Adonis' request the first of many that would enable Adonis to seize the throne.)
I don't remember this story from my days in Sunday School - or my years of teaching Sunday School. More familiar are the stories about the Lord offering Solomon whatever gift he desired, Solomon asking for wisdom to rule the people, and the Lord giving him not only wisdom but riches and honor. His wisdom was shown in his advice to cut a baby in two and give half to each of the two women quarreling abbout whose baby it was???? Wise??? Yes, it turned out well. The baby was given to the woman who would give it up rather than see it killed.
From my reading this past week, and looking ahead, I can see that I will be reading Song of Solomon and Proverbs - both books accredited to Solomon - and the narrative story of Solomon's reign from 1Kings and 2 Chronicles - a chapter or two from each at a time.
Today I will be attempting Proverbs 7 to 10 - two days reading to catch up from some days I missed. (I'm trying to keep a month or two ahead with summer coming on.)
More psalms. Since the plan I'm following jumps around, and I haven't kept track of which psalms I've read (except by going back over this thread), I don't know if I've covered most of them or not. Perhaps just the psalms of David and a few others that pertained to his rule. I undeerstand that some of them were written by various unknown aauthors - some centuries later.
In the narrative - David has died; Solomon sits on the throne. Solomon's reign is supposedly peaceful. Onee of his first acts is to arrange for the murder of his half-brother Adonis, who was David's eldest surviving son; it may have been wise to get rid of him. (Oh, there were extenuating circumstances - Adonis requested through Solomon's mother to be permitted to marry their late father's nurse/wife. The new king had the right to the previoous king's propeerty including his wives. Solomon considered Adonis' request the first of many that would enable Adonis to seize the throne.)
I don't remember this story from my days in Sunday School - or my years of teaching Sunday School. More familiar are the stories about the Lord offering Solomon whatever gift he desired, Solomon asking for wisdom to rule the people, and the Lord giving him not only wisdom but riches and honor. His wisdom was shown in his advice to cut a baby in two and give half to each of the two women quarreling abbout whose baby it was???? Wise??? Yes, it turned out well. The baby was given to the woman who would give it up rather than see it killed.
From my reading this past week, and looking ahead, I can see that I will be reading Song of Solomon and Proverbs - both books accredited to Solomon - and the narrative story of Solomon's reign from 1Kings and 2 Chronicles - a chapter or two from each at a time.
Today I will be attempting Proverbs 7 to 10 - two days reading to catch up from some days I missed. (I'm trying to keep a month or two ahead with summer coming on.)
Seeler
Well-Known Member
I've read Proverbs 1 - 24 to date.
Proverbs are conventional wisdom - the type of advice older people give to youth. Not laws or commandments, but generallly good advice. They remind me of advice given in Shakespears 'Hamlet' - 'Never a lender or a borrower be.' 'Dress as costly as your purse will allow.; wise sayings from my elders when I was young 'birds of a feather flock together'. 'a stitch in time saves nine'.
Supposedly written by Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, they are often common sense, and make statements about things that are easily observable. They predict consequences: work hard and be successful; be lazy and a failure. Rewards for the good; misfortune for the bad.
Mostly conventional advice - but sometimes open to misinterpretation. 'Spare the rod ...' has been discussed in another thread. Proverbs has been quoted by proponents of the prosperity gospel. Women often shown in a poor light - gossiping, shrill, talking too much - and leading young men into adultery.
Use a bit of discernment when applying Proverbs to your life.
Proverbs are conventional wisdom - the type of advice older people give to youth. Not laws or commandments, but generallly good advice. They remind me of advice given in Shakespears 'Hamlet' - 'Never a lender or a borrower be.' 'Dress as costly as your purse will allow.; wise sayings from my elders when I was young 'birds of a feather flock together'. 'a stitch in time saves nine'.
Supposedly written by Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, they are often common sense, and make statements about things that are easily observable. They predict consequences: work hard and be successful; be lazy and a failure. Rewards for the good; misfortune for the bad.
Mostly conventional advice - but sometimes open to misinterpretation. 'Spare the rod ...' has been discussed in another thread. Proverbs has been quoted by proponents of the prosperity gospel. Women often shown in a poor light - gossiping, shrill, talking too much - and leading young men into adultery.
Use a bit of discernment when applying Proverbs to your life.
Only some of the proverbs are attributed to Solomon - not all. My favorite proverb - 'Go to the ant you sluggard!'
Only some of the proverbs are attributed to Solomon - not all. My favorite proverb - 'Go to the ant you sluggard!'
This would suggest the ante as past your ability to recall ... a host of folks don't like where they come from ... it is so strongly negative it blinds them! Kind 've the pits ... until gaining some insight ... into the composition of the extensive psyche ... considered myth to many riveted in place ...
Seeler
Well-Known Member
Only some of the proverbs are attributed to Solomon - not all. My favorite proverb - 'Go to the ant you sluggard!'
I did notice that sometimes the style and/or tone changed (the passage on wisdom for example is not written in the short two-line style of the sayings) and I suspected that there might be several different writers involved.
Seeler
Well-Known Member
Moving on:
1 Kings 5-8; 2 Chronicles 2-7; Psalm 136
After arranging for his brother's murder, Solomon settled into his peaceful reign. On the fourth year of his reign he began building the temple, followed. The reports of this building and dedication are similar in both 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles. Similar, but not word for word the same. Kings also reports the building of the palace, a detail skipped over by Chronicles. Kings also mentions that Solomon married the Pharaoh's daughter (his first wife among many?)
Both buildings were hugh and opulent - with imported woods and metals, skilled workmen, gold, silver, ornamentation.
Celebration of dedication, sacrifices, speeches, a long prayer - as the Ark of the Covenant is installed and God is invited to dwell in the house Solomon has built for him.
Chronicles has God answer Solomon's prayer with the promise that a descendant of David and Solomon would forever sit on the throne of Israel provided that they kept the covenant.
Psalm 136 is a psalm of praise - His love endures forever.
1 Kings 5-8; 2 Chronicles 2-7; Psalm 136
After arranging for his brother's murder, Solomon settled into his peaceful reign. On the fourth year of his reign he began building the temple, followed. The reports of this building and dedication are similar in both 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles. Similar, but not word for word the same. Kings also reports the building of the palace, a detail skipped over by Chronicles. Kings also mentions that Solomon married the Pharaoh's daughter (his first wife among many?)
Both buildings were hugh and opulent - with imported woods and metals, skilled workmen, gold, silver, ornamentation.
Celebration of dedication, sacrifices, speeches, a long prayer - as the Ark of the Covenant is installed and God is invited to dwell in the house Solomon has built for him.
Chronicles has God answer Solomon's prayer with the promise that a descendant of David and Solomon would forever sit on the throne of Israel provided that they kept the covenant.
Psalm 136 is a psalm of praise - His love endures forever.
Seeler
Well-Known Member
Psalms 134 / 146 - 150 - Songs of Ascent, and of praise.
Today's reading: 2 Kings 9, and 1 Chronicles 8.
2 Kings 9 parallels the ending of 1 Chronicles 7 where God renews his promise to Solomon. The remainder of the Kings reading and the Chronicles reading are very similar. In 20 years Solomon completed the construction of two great buildings in Jerusalem - the temple and the palace. While doing so he made slaves of the original inhabitants of the land - those who David had not eliminated. Israelites were not slaaves but served in the army or in administrative positions. Solomon also made alliances with other rulers, including the Egyptian pharaoh (through marriage to his daughter) and built ships to engage in trade. It seems that under Solomon Israel is becoming a mighty and prospeerous nation.
Today's reading: 2 Kings 9, and 1 Chronicles 8.
2 Kings 9 parallels the ending of 1 Chronicles 7 where God renews his promise to Solomon. The remainder of the Kings reading and the Chronicles reading are very similar. In 20 years Solomon completed the construction of two great buildings in Jerusalem - the temple and the palace. While doing so he made slaves of the original inhabitants of the land - those who David had not eliminated. Israelites were not slaaves but served in the army or in administrative positions. Solomon also made alliances with other rulers, including the Egyptian pharaoh (through marriage to his daughter) and built ships to engage in trade. It seems that under Solomon Israel is becoming a mighty and prospeerous nation.
Seeler
Well-Known Member
Proverbs 25 - 29 - these two liners are easy to read and sometimes bring flashes of wisdom, and/or are remembered as 'memory verses' from Sunday School or theme verses for reflections - but they become tedious reading after a couple of chapters (or sooner).
Ecclesiastics - lots of familiar lines or passages here: "Vanity, vanity, all is vanity", "there is nothing new under the sun", the well recognized "For everything there is a season" (which was made into a popular song a few years ago).
This is the first time I remember reading the entire book in one setting and it was interesting.
Although attributed to Solomon, it takes the format of one who is referred as the Teacher passing down wisdom to his son. Was it Solomon passing on his knowledge to his own son; or simply a literary style employed by some unknown writer?
The tone of the book seems to be that of a rich and pampered person who could have any luxury or pleasure his heart could desire - quickly becoming bored with each new acquisition and casting it aside. Observing the world from a privileged position and concluding that patterns repeat themselves; regardless of what a person does he has little control over his life or what is happening in the world. He is born, he lives, he dies - rich or poor, good or bad, hard working or lazy - his ultimate fate is the same. There is no concept of heaven or hell, or life after death in this book. Death results in oblivion; the end. His conclusion: one might as well eat, drink and be happy with your life. Work hard at work you enjoy.
There is a lot of fatalism in this book. Except your lot. Content yourself with the position you were born into. There is no sense in trying to change things. Make the best of it.
There is some criticism of kings and rulers. (Even if Solomon considered himself a good king, he no doubt knew some bad kings). But the individuaal should not complain, but accept the king as God's annointed leader and don't criticize.
"you do not know thework of God, who makes everything. . . .
Even those who live many yeaars should rejoice in them all; yet let them remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.
Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Follow the inclination of your heart and the desires of your eyes, but know that for all these thing God willl bring you into judgment.
Banish anxiety from your mind, and pput away pain from your body; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity."
And finally - remember your creator in the days of your youth.
Ecclesiastics - lots of familiar lines or passages here: "Vanity, vanity, all is vanity", "there is nothing new under the sun", the well recognized "For everything there is a season" (which was made into a popular song a few years ago).
This is the first time I remember reading the entire book in one setting and it was interesting.
Although attributed to Solomon, it takes the format of one who is referred as the Teacher passing down wisdom to his son. Was it Solomon passing on his knowledge to his own son; or simply a literary style employed by some unknown writer?
The tone of the book seems to be that of a rich and pampered person who could have any luxury or pleasure his heart could desire - quickly becoming bored with each new acquisition and casting it aside. Observing the world from a privileged position and concluding that patterns repeat themselves; regardless of what a person does he has little control over his life or what is happening in the world. He is born, he lives, he dies - rich or poor, good or bad, hard working or lazy - his ultimate fate is the same. There is no concept of heaven or hell, or life after death in this book. Death results in oblivion; the end. His conclusion: one might as well eat, drink and be happy with your life. Work hard at work you enjoy.
There is a lot of fatalism in this book. Except your lot. Content yourself with the position you were born into. There is no sense in trying to change things. Make the best of it.
There is some criticism of kings and rulers. (Even if Solomon considered himself a good king, he no doubt knew some bad kings). But the individuaal should not complain, but accept the king as God's annointed leader and don't criticize.
"you do not know thework of God, who makes everything. . . .
Even those who live many yeaars should rejoice in them all; yet let them remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.
Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Follow the inclination of your heart and the desires of your eyes, but know that for all these thing God willl bring you into judgment.
Banish anxiety from your mind, and pput away pain from your body; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity."
And finally - remember your creator in the days of your youth.
Seeler
Well-Known Member
It's been a few days since I was last here. I've been working on a worship service for later this month and reading in the New Testament, mainly John's gospel. Today's readings are from 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles. Tomorrows is from Proverbs.
I think I'll try to do them both today to help me keep ahead.
I think I'll try to do them both today to help me keep ahead.
Seeler
Well-Known Member
The readings from Kings and Chronicles are almost identical telling of the visit by the Queen of Sheba, and of all Solomon's riches - ivory, silver, gold, various types of wood, exotic animals, horses and chariots. Kings goes on to tell of Solomon's 1,000 wives and concubines, and their foreign gods. Because of these foreign gods, the one God allows rivals to oppose Solomon.
At Solomon's death, Jeroboam becomes ruler of the ten northern tribes - hereafter simply called Israel. Solomon's son retains the South and the city of Jerusalem with the palace and the temple - Judea.
The united kingdom of David and of Solomon is divided into two.
At Solomon's death, Jeroboam becomes ruler of the ten northern tribes - hereafter simply called Israel. Solomon's son retains the South and the city of Jerusalem with the palace and the temple - Judea.
The united kingdom of David and of Solomon is divided into two.
Seeler
Well-Known Member
It seems to me that on the death of Solomon we've reached a critical turning point in the Hebrew scriptures and perhaps it is time for a bit of reflection. Despite the mundane housekeeping details (ie instructions for offering sacrifices, building the ark of the covenant, the priests' clothing, etc.) repeated over and over, the lists, the census of the various tribes, the geneologies, it is a fascinating read so far.
Written, revised, and compiled in various styles by different people at different times and in different places, it's central theme seems to be people's developing idea of One God and their relationship with God. It explores the questions of good and evil, the place of suffering in the world, reward and/or punishment.
It was written by a particular group of people (referred to as the Hebrews, and as the Israelites) who believed that they had a special relationship with God and who considered themselves as God's chosen people - the stories are told from their point of view. God has made a covenant with them; God will look after them if they are obedient, if they follow God's commands.
The Bible contains some terrible stories - of battles and wars against neighbouring tribes, of rape, pillage, of murdering all the members of the enemy tribes, of genocide - that they believed God had directed or that would please God. Stories of jealousy - of Abraham casting out his slave woman and son at the whim of his wife. Stories of child sacrifice - Abraham preparing to kill his beloved son because he thought that was what God wanted. Of brothers rivallary Cain and Abel; Jacob and Esau. Stories of Lot offering his young daughters to a mob intent on rape, and later on a story about another man leaving his concubine outside for mob rape and then cutting her body into pieces to encourage the tribes to join him in punishing the tribe of Benjimin and almost wiping them out. Stories of the journey from slavery in Egypt to the promised land - and the brutal wars against the inhabitants of that land.
There is the treatment of women who were little more than property; and of slaves who were property.
But sometimes overlooked in the excitement of war, is the peaccful times when the land produced well and people lived peaceful uneventual lives - looking after their sheep, planting and reaping and preparing food, raising children, carrying water. The story of Ruth tells of the love a young woman had for her mother-in-law and how she attracted the attention of the man who would become her husband while gleaning in his fields.
Oh yes, the commandments of God that were part of the covenant contained instructions about gleaning - and other laws for providing for widows and orphans; as well as laws for the treatment of strangers in their midst.
In addition to the stories and instructions, the Bible contains poems and psalms, proverbs and wisdom sayings that reveal much about how people were feeling and thinking and their personal relationships with others and with God.
Over the time period between Abraham and his family, and king David and Solomon we see the people develop from a small group of wandering herds men who became slaves in Egypt, who spent a generation journeying through the desert to reach the promised land. We see the descendents of these people take possession of the land, establish borders for their 12 tribes, and live in relative peace for several centuries, governed only by judges who would rise up when needed and judge between arguments, or raise an army for a border squirmish.
The people prospered under this system, giving credit to God and their obedience to the covenant until they became strong enough to want their own king. Here enters the tension: the prophet Samuel advised that God didn't want them to have a king. Two fractions - for or against a king. The pro-king fraction gained popular support. God told Samuel to annoint a king. The first king, Saul, didn't work out. He was replaced by David, and the Solomon and the nation grew rich and powerful.
History has been kind to David. He is remembered as a great king who loved God and only stumbled once - in his affair with Bathsheba. We overlook the fact that he led a rebellion against King Saul - he married many different women, mainly for political reasons - he raised a jealous, rebellious family - he fought many wars and was brutal to his enemies - But he wrote beautiful poems that reveal a different side of him.
As for Solomon, I have a difficult time believing he was wise. Yes, during his reign the kingdom of Israel reached its greatest heights, but upon his death it fell apart.
That story we take up next. The tension between the divided kingdom; and between the kings and the prophets.
Written, revised, and compiled in various styles by different people at different times and in different places, it's central theme seems to be people's developing idea of One God and their relationship with God. It explores the questions of good and evil, the place of suffering in the world, reward and/or punishment.
It was written by a particular group of people (referred to as the Hebrews, and as the Israelites) who believed that they had a special relationship with God and who considered themselves as God's chosen people - the stories are told from their point of view. God has made a covenant with them; God will look after them if they are obedient, if they follow God's commands.
The Bible contains some terrible stories - of battles and wars against neighbouring tribes, of rape, pillage, of murdering all the members of the enemy tribes, of genocide - that they believed God had directed or that would please God. Stories of jealousy - of Abraham casting out his slave woman and son at the whim of his wife. Stories of child sacrifice - Abraham preparing to kill his beloved son because he thought that was what God wanted. Of brothers rivallary Cain and Abel; Jacob and Esau. Stories of Lot offering his young daughters to a mob intent on rape, and later on a story about another man leaving his concubine outside for mob rape and then cutting her body into pieces to encourage the tribes to join him in punishing the tribe of Benjimin and almost wiping them out. Stories of the journey from slavery in Egypt to the promised land - and the brutal wars against the inhabitants of that land.
There is the treatment of women who were little more than property; and of slaves who were property.
But sometimes overlooked in the excitement of war, is the peaccful times when the land produced well and people lived peaceful uneventual lives - looking after their sheep, planting and reaping and preparing food, raising children, carrying water. The story of Ruth tells of the love a young woman had for her mother-in-law and how she attracted the attention of the man who would become her husband while gleaning in his fields.
Oh yes, the commandments of God that were part of the covenant contained instructions about gleaning - and other laws for providing for widows and orphans; as well as laws for the treatment of strangers in their midst.
In addition to the stories and instructions, the Bible contains poems and psalms, proverbs and wisdom sayings that reveal much about how people were feeling and thinking and their personal relationships with others and with God.
Over the time period between Abraham and his family, and king David and Solomon we see the people develop from a small group of wandering herds men who became slaves in Egypt, who spent a generation journeying through the desert to reach the promised land. We see the descendents of these people take possession of the land, establish borders for their 12 tribes, and live in relative peace for several centuries, governed only by judges who would rise up when needed and judge between arguments, or raise an army for a border squirmish.
The people prospered under this system, giving credit to God and their obedience to the covenant until they became strong enough to want their own king. Here enters the tension: the prophet Samuel advised that God didn't want them to have a king. Two fractions - for or against a king. The pro-king fraction gained popular support. God told Samuel to annoint a king. The first king, Saul, didn't work out. He was replaced by David, and the Solomon and the nation grew rich and powerful.
History has been kind to David. He is remembered as a great king who loved God and only stumbled once - in his affair with Bathsheba. We overlook the fact that he led a rebellion against King Saul - he married many different women, mainly for political reasons - he raised a jealous, rebellious family - he fought many wars and was brutal to his enemies - But he wrote beautiful poems that reveal a different side of him.
As for Solomon, I have a difficult time believing he was wise. Yes, during his reign the kingdom of Israel reached its greatest heights, but upon his death it fell apart.
That story we take up next. The tension between the divided kingdom; and between the kings and the prophets.
Seeler
Well-Known Member
Reviewing my 'reflection', I realize that there is one point for which I didn't give due importance; that is in their developing understanding of monotheism they kept falling back on ideas of dualism, and what about the gods of other tribes.
Hear oh Israel, the Lord your God is One. Thou shalt worship the Lord your God. Do not make any graven image or any likeness of anything ... Do not bow down to them or worship them. - No golden calves.
Thou shalt not worship any other gods. - Does this imply that there are other gods - gods forbidden to the Israelites?
The temptation was always there. Joshua warned about it before he led the people into the promised land - choose this day which way you will go. Will you be attracted to the foreign gods of the people living in the land, or will you worship only God.
Since God had chosen the Israelites as his people, he was their God.
Other people worshiped other gods - baals. They were evil - or false.
But some of them were attractive.
There was no understanding that gods of agriculture that caused the rain to fall and the sun to shine, and/.or the goddess of furtility that helped the crops to grow andd the herds to increase, and a once barren woman to bear sons, might be aspects of the One True God. Or that worship in the high places of the countryside might be as proper as worship in the temple in Jerusalem.
King David was revered because he never swayed from his trust in God. King Solomon was influenced by his foreign wives and gradually their gods were introduced into the nation of Israel. (Foreign wives, and women in general, often take the rap for anything that goes wrong.)
Hear oh Israel, the Lord your God is One. Thou shalt worship the Lord your God. Do not make any graven image or any likeness of anything ... Do not bow down to them or worship them. - No golden calves.
Thou shalt not worship any other gods. - Does this imply that there are other gods - gods forbidden to the Israelites?
The temptation was always there. Joshua warned about it before he led the people into the promised land - choose this day which way you will go. Will you be attracted to the foreign gods of the people living in the land, or will you worship only God.
Since God had chosen the Israelites as his people, he was their God.
Other people worshiped other gods - baals. They were evil - or false.
But some of them were attractive.
There was no understanding that gods of agriculture that caused the rain to fall and the sun to shine, and/.or the goddess of furtility that helped the crops to grow andd the herds to increase, and a once barren woman to bear sons, might be aspects of the One True God. Or that worship in the high places of the countryside might be as proper as worship in the temple in Jerusalem.
King David was revered because he never swayed from his trust in God. King Solomon was influenced by his foreign wives and gradually their gods were introduced into the nation of Israel. (Foreign wives, and women in general, often take the rap for anything that goes wrong.)
Is that all there is to it .. or does it have something to do with expansion ... a place to store intelligence not wanted here by the powers? Allows brokenness, fractals and schism ... eternal divisiveness on this side of the veil ... deadly Gest?