Changes

96:1.12 The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canaanites Canaanites] had long [[revered]] [[Yahweh]], and although many of the [[Kenites]] believed more or less in [[El Elyon]], the supergod of the [[Salem]] [[religion]], a [[majority]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannanites Canaanites] held loosely to the [[worship]] of the old [[tribal]] [[deities]]. They were hardly willing to abandon their [[national]] [[deities]] in favor of an international, not to say an [[interplanetary]], [[God]]. They were not [[universal]]-[[deity]] minded, and therefore these [[tribes]] continued to [[worship]] their [[tribal]] [[deities]], including [[Yahweh]] and the silver and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_calf golden calves] which [[symbolized]] the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedouin Bedouin] herders' [[concept]] of the spirit of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Sinai Sinai] volcano.

96:1.12 The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canaanites Canaanites] had long [[revered]] [[Yahweh]], and although many of the [[Kenites]] believed more or less in [[El Elyon]], the supergod of the [[Salem]] [[religion]], a [[majority]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannanites Canaanites] held loosely to the [[worship]] of the old [[tribal]] [[deities]]. They were hardly willing to abandon their [[national]] [[deities]] in favor of an international, not to say an [[interplanetary]], [[God]]. They were not [[universal]]-[[deity]] minded, and therefore these [[tribes]] continued to [[worship]] their [[tribal]] [[deities]], including [[Yahweh]] and the silver and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_calf golden calves] which [[symbolized]] the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedouin Bedouin] herders' [[concept]] of the spirit of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Sinai Sinai] volcano.

96:1.13 The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Syria Syrians], while [[worshiping]] their gods, also believed in [[Yahweh]] of the [[Hebrews]], for their [[prophets]] said to the Syrian king: "Their gods are gods of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them on the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=First_Book_of_Kings#Chapter_20]

96:1.13 The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Syria Syrians], while [[worshiping]] their gods, also believed in [[Yahweh]] of the [[Hebrews]], for their [[prophets]] said to the Syrian king: "Their gods are gods of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them on the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=First_Book_of_Kings#Chapter_20]

96:1.14 As man advances in [[culture]], the lesser gods are subordinated to a [[supreme]] [[deity]]; the great [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jove Jove] persists only as an exclamation. The [[monotheists]] keep their subordinate gods as spirits, demons, fates, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nereids Nereids], fairies, brownies, dwarfs, banshees, and the evil eye. The [[Hebrews]] passed through [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henotheism henotheism] and long believed in the [[existence]] of gods other than [[Yahweh]], but they increasingly held that these foreign [[deities]] were subordinate to [[Yahweh]]. They conceded the [[actuality]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemosh Chemosh], god of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amorites Amorites], but [[maintained]] that he was subordinate to [[Yahweh]].

96:1.14 As man advances in [[culture]], the lesser gods are subordinated to a [[supreme]] [[deity]]; the great [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jove Jove] persists only as an exclamation. The [[monotheists]] keep their subordinate gods as spirits, demons, fates, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nereids Nereids], fairies, brownies, dwarfs, banshees, and the evil eye. The [[Hebrews]] passed through [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henotheism henotheism] and long believed in the [[existence]] of gods other than [[Yahweh]], but they increasingly held that these foreign [[deities]] were subordinate to [[Yahweh]]. They conceded the [[actuality]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemosh Chemosh], god of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amorites Amorites], but [[maintained]] that he was subordinate to [[Yahweh]].

==96:2. THE SEMITIC PEOPLES==

==96:2. THE SEMITIC PEOPLES==

96:2.1 The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semites Semites] of the East were well-[[organized]] and well-led horsemen who [[invaded]] the eastern regions of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fertile_Crescent fertile crescent] and there united with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonia Babylonians]. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaldea Chaldeans] near [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ur Ur] were among the most advanced of the eastern [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semites Semites]. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenicia Phoenicians] were a superior and well-[[organized]] group of mixed Semites who held the western section of [[Palestine]], along the [[Mediterranean]] coast. Racially the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semites Semites] were among the most blended of [[Urantia]] peoples, containing hereditary [[factors]] from almost all of the [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_78#78:1._RACIAL_AND_CULTURAL_DISTRIBUTION nine world races].

96:2.1 The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semites Semites] of the East were well-[[organized]] and well-led horsemen who [[invaded]] the eastern regions of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fertile_Crescent fertile crescent] and there united with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonia Babylonians]. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaldea Chaldeans] near [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ur Ur] were among the most advanced of the eastern [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semites Semites]. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenicia Phoenicians] were a superior and well-[[organized]] group of mixed Semites who held the western section of [[Palestine]], along the [[Mediterranean]] coast. Racially the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semites Semites] were among the most blended of [[Urantia]] peoples, containing hereditary [[factors]] from almost all of the [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_78#78:1._RACIAL_AND_CULTURAL_DISTRIBUTION nine world races].

96:2.2 Again and again the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabia Arabian] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semites Semites] fought their way into the northern [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Promised_land Promised Land], the land that "flowed with milk and honey,"[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Exodus#Chapter_.3] but just as often were they ejected by the better-organized and more highly civilized northern Semites and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hittites Hittites]. Later, during an unusually severe [[famine]], these roving [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedouin Bedouins] entered Egypt in large numbers as contract laborers on the Egyptian public works, only to find themselves undergoing the bitter [[experience]] of [[enslavement]] at the hard daily toil of the common and downtrodden laborers of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egypt Nile valley].

96:2.2 Again and again the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabia Arabian] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semites Semites] fought their way into the northern [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Promised_land Promised Land], the land that "flowed with milk and honey,"[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Exodus#Chapter_.3] but just as often were they ejected by the better-organized and more highly civilized northern Semites and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hittites Hittites]. Later, during an unusually severe [[famine]], these roving [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedouin Bedouins] entered Egypt in large numbers as contract laborers on the Egyptian public works, only to find themselves undergoing the bitter [[experience]] of [[enslavement]] at the hard daily toil of the common and downtrodden laborers of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egypt Nile valley].

96:2.3 It was only after the days of [[Machiventa]] [[Melchizedek]] and [[Abraham]] that certain [[tribes]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semites Semites], because of their peculiar religious [[beliefs]], were called the children of [[Israel]] and later on [[Hebrews]], Jews, and the "[[chosen people]]." [[Abraham]] was not the [[racial]] [[father]] of all the [[Hebrews]]; he was not even the progenitor of all the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedouin Bedouin] Semites who were held captive in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Egyptian_Captivity Egypt]. True, his [[offspring]], coming up out of Egypt, did form the [[nucleus]] of the later Jewish people, but the vast [[majority]] of the men and women who became incorporated into the [[clans]] of [[Israel]] had never [[sojourned]] in Egypt. They were merely fellow [[nomads]] who chose to follow the [[leadership]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] as the [[children]] of [[Abraham]] and their [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semite Semite] associates from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Exodus Egypt] [[journeyed]] through northern [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabia Arabia].

96:2.3 It was only after the days of [[Machiventa]] [[Melchizedek]] and [[Abraham]] that certain [[tribes]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semites Semites], because of their peculiar religious [[beliefs]], were called the children of [[Israel]] and later on [[Hebrews]], Jews, and the "[[chosen people]]." [[Abraham]] was not the [[racial]] [[father]] of all the [[Hebrews]]; he was not even the progenitor of all the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedouin Bedouin] Semites who were held captive in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Egyptian_Captivity Egypt]. True, his [[offspring]], coming up out of Egypt, did form the [[nucleus]] of the later Jewish people, but the vast [[majority]] of the men and women who became incorporated into the [[clans]] of [[Israel]] had never [[sojourned]] in Egypt. They were merely fellow [[nomads]] who chose to follow the [[leadership]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] as the [[children]] of [[Abraham]] and their [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semite Semite] associates from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Exodus Egypt] [[journeyed]] through northern [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabia Arabia].

96:4.4 The [[fact]] that [[Yahweh]] was the god of the fleeing [[Hebrews]] [[explains]] why they tarried so long before the [[holy]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Sinai mountain of Sinai], and why they there received the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Commandments ten commandments] which [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] promulgated in the name of [[Yahweh]], the god of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Horeb Horeb]. During this lengthy [[sojourn]] before Sinai the [[religious]] [[ceremonials]] of the newly evolving [[Hebrew]] [[worship]] were further [[perfected]].

96:4.4 The [[fact]] that [[Yahweh]] was the god of the fleeing [[Hebrews]] [[explains]] why they tarried so long before the [[holy]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Sinai mountain of Sinai], and why they there received the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Commandments ten commandments] which [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] promulgated in the name of [[Yahweh]], the god of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Horeb Horeb]. During this lengthy [[sojourn]] before Sinai the [[religious]] [[ceremonials]] of the newly evolving [[Hebrew]] [[worship]] were further [[perfected]].

96:4.5 It does not appear that [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] would ever have succeeded in the [[establishment]] of his somewhat advanced [[ceremonial]] [[worship]] and in keeping his followers intact for a quarter of a century had it not been for the [[violent]] eruption of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Horeb Horeb] during the third week of their ''worshipful'' [[sojourn]] at its base. "The mountain of Yahweh was consumed in fire, and the smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Exodus#Chapter_.19] In view of this [[cataclysm]] it is not surprising that [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] could impress upon his brethren the teaching that their [[God]] was "mighty, terrible, a devouring fire, fearful, and all-powerful."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Exodus#Chapter_.24]

96:4.5 It does not appear that [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] would ever have succeeded in the [[establishment]] of his somewhat advanced [[ceremonial]] [[worship]] and in keeping his followers intact for a quarter of a century had it not been for the [[violent]] eruption of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Horeb Horeb] during the third week of their ''worshipful'' [[sojourn]] at its base. "The mountain of Yahweh was consumed in fire, and the smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Exodus#Chapter_.19] In view of this [[cataclysm]] it is not surprising that [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] could impress upon his brethren the teaching that their [[God]] was "mighty, terrible, a devouring fire, fearful, and all-powerful."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Exodus#Chapter_.24]

96:4.6 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] proclaimed that [[Yahweh]] was the Lord God of Israel, who had singled out the [[Hebrews]] as his [[chosen people]]; he was building a new [[nation]], and he wisely [[nationalized]] his [[religious]] teachings, telling his followers that [[Yahweh]] was a hard taskmaster, a "jealous God."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Deutoronomy#Chapter_.4] But none the less he sought to enlarge their [[concept]] of [[divinity]] when he taught them that [[Yahweh]] was the "God of the spirits of all flesh,"[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Numbers#Chapter_.27] and when he said, "The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Deutoronomy#Chapter_.33] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] taught that [[Yahweh]] was a [[covenant]]-keeping God; that he "will not forsake you, neither destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers because the Lord loves you and will not forget the oath by which he swore to your fathers."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Deutoronomy#Chapter_.4]

96:4.6 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] proclaimed that [[Yahweh]] was the Lord God of Israel, who had singled out the [[Hebrews]] as his [[chosen people]]; he was building a new [[nation]], and he wisely [[nationalized]] his [[religious]] teachings, telling his followers that [[Yahweh]] was a hard taskmaster, a "jealous God."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Deutoronomy#Chapter_.4] But none the less he sought to enlarge their [[concept]] of [[divinity]] when he taught them that [[Yahweh]] was the "God of the spirits of all flesh,"[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Numbers#Chapter_.27] and when he said, "The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Deutoronomy#Chapter_.33] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] taught that [[Yahweh]] was a [[covenant]]-keeping God; that he "will not forsake you, neither destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers because the Lord loves you and will not forget the oath by which he swore to your fathers."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Deutoronomy#Chapter_.4]

96:4.7 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] made a [[heroic]] [[effort]] to uplift [[Yahweh]] to the [[dignity]] of a [[supreme]] [[Deity]] when he presented him as the "God of truth and without iniquity, just and right in all his ways."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Deutoronomy#Chapter_.32] And yet, despite this exalted teaching, the limited [[understanding]] of his followers made it [[necessary]] to speak of [[God]] as being in man's image, as being subject to fits of anger, wrath, and severity, even that he was vengeful and easily [[influenced]] by man's [[conduct]].

96:4.7 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] made a [[heroic]] [[effort]] to uplift [[Yahweh]] to the [[dignity]] of a [[supreme]] [[Deity]] when he presented him as the "God of truth and without iniquity, just and right in all his ways."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Deutoronomy#Chapter_.32] And yet, despite this exalted teaching, the limited [[understanding]] of his followers made it [[necessary]] to speak of [[God]] as being in man's image, as being subject to fits of anger, wrath, and severity, even that he was vengeful and easily [[influenced]] by man's [[conduct]].

96:4.8 Under the teachings of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] this [[tribal]] [[nature]] [[god]], [[Yahweh]], became the Lord God of [[Israel]], who followed them through the wilderness and even into [[exile]], where he presently was conceived of as the [[God]] of all peoples. The later [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_captivity captivity] that [[enslaved]] the Jews in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylon Babylon] finally [[liberated]] the evolving [[concept]] of [[Yahweh]] to assume the [[monotheistic]] role of the [[God]] of all [[nations]].

96:4.8 Under the teachings of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] this [[tribal]] [[nature]] [[god]], [[Yahweh]], became the Lord God of [[Israel]], who followed them through the wilderness and even into [[exile]], where he presently was conceived of as the [[God]] of all peoples. The later [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_captivity captivity] that [[enslaved]] the Jews in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylon Babylon] finally [[liberated]] the evolving [[concept]] of [[Yahweh]] to assume the [[monotheistic]] role of the [[God]] of all [[nations]].

96:5.3 Many of the advances which [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] made over and above the [[religion]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_religion Egyptians] and the [[surrounding]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levant Levantine] tribes were due to the [[Kenite]] [[traditions]] of the [[time]] of [[Melchizedek]]. Without the teaching of [[Machiventa]] to [[Abraham]] and his contemporaries, the [[Hebrews]] would have come out of Egypt in hopeless [[darkness]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] and his father-in-law, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jethro_(Bible) Jethro], gathered up the residue of the [[traditions]] of the days of [[Melchizedek]], and these teachings, joined to the learning of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_reliigon Egyptians], guided Moses in the [[creation]] of the improved [[religion]] and [[ritual]] of the Israelites. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] was an [[organizer]]; he selected the best in the [[religion]] and [[mores]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_religion Egypt] and [[Palestine]] and, associating these [[practices]] with the [[traditions]] of the [[Melchizedek]] teachings, organized the [[Hebrew]] [[ceremonial]] [[system]] of [[worship]].

96:5.3 Many of the advances which [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] made over and above the [[religion]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_religion Egyptians] and the [[surrounding]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levant Levantine] tribes were due to the [[Kenite]] [[traditions]] of the [[time]] of [[Melchizedek]]. Without the teaching of [[Machiventa]] to [[Abraham]] and his contemporaries, the [[Hebrews]] would have come out of Egypt in hopeless [[darkness]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] and his father-in-law, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jethro_(Bible) Jethro], gathered up the residue of the [[traditions]] of the days of [[Melchizedek]], and these teachings, joined to the learning of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_reliigon Egyptians], guided Moses in the [[creation]] of the improved [[religion]] and [[ritual]] of the Israelites. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] was an [[organizer]]; he selected the best in the [[religion]] and [[mores]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_religion Egypt] and [[Palestine]] and, associating these [[practices]] with the [[traditions]] of the [[Melchizedek]] teachings, organized the [[Hebrew]] [[ceremonial]] [[system]] of [[worship]].

96:5.4 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] was a believer in [[Providence]]; he had become thoroughly tainted with the [[doctrines]] of Egypt concerning the [[supernatural]] [[control]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nile Nile] and the other elements of [[nature]]. He had a great [[vision]] of [[God]], but he was thoroughly [[sincere]] when he taught the [[Hebrews]] that, if they would [[obey]] [[God]], "He will love you, bless you, and multiply you. He will multiply the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your land—the corn, wine, oil, and your flocks. You shall be prospered above all people, and the Lord your God will take away from you all sickness and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt upon you."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Deutoronomy#Chapter_.7] He even said: " Remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the power to get wealth. " " You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. You shall reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over you."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Deutoronomy#Chapter_.8]

96:5.4 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] was a believer in [[Providence]]; he had become thoroughly tainted with the [[doctrines]] of Egypt concerning the [[supernatural]] [[control]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nile Nile] and the other elements of [[nature]]. He had a great [[vision]] of [[God]], but he was thoroughly [[sincere]] when he taught the [[Hebrews]] that, if they would [[obey]] [[God]], "He will love you, bless you, and multiply you. He will multiply the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your land—the corn, wine, oil, and your flocks. You shall be prospered above all people, and the Lord your God will take away from you all sickness and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt upon you."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Deutoronomy#Chapter_.7] He even said: " Remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the power to get wealth. " " You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. You shall reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over you."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Deutoronomy#Chapter_.8]

96:5.5 But it was truly pitiful to watch this great [[mind]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] trying to [[adapt]] his [[sublime]] [[concept]] of [[El Elyon]], the [[Most High]], to the [[comprehension]] of the [[ignorant]] and illiterate [[Hebrews]]. To his assembled [[leaders]] he thundered, "The Lord your God is one God;[[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Deutoronomy#Chapter_.6]] there is none beside him "[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Deutoronomy#Chapter_.4]; while to the mixed multitude he [[declared]], "Who is like your God among all the gods?"[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Exodus#Chapter_.15] Moses made a [[brave]] and partly successful stand against [[fetishes]] and [[idolatry]], declaring, "You saw no similitude on the day that your God spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Deutoronomy#Chapter_.4] He also forbade the making of images of any sort.

96:5.5 But it was truly pitiful to watch this great [[mind]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] trying to [[adapt]] his [[sublime]] [[concept]] of [[El Elyon]], the [[Most High]], to the [[comprehension]] of the [[ignorant]] and illiterate [[Hebrews]]. To his assembled [[leaders]] he thundered, "The Lord your God is one God;[[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Deutoronomy#Chapter_.6]] there is none beside him "[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Deutoronomy#Chapter_.4]; while to the mixed multitude he [[declared]], "Who is like your God among all the gods?"[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Exodus#Chapter_.15] Moses made a [[brave]] and partly successful stand against [[fetishes]] and [[idolatry]], declaring, "You saw no similitude on the day that your God spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Deutoronomy#Chapter_.4] He also forbade the making of images of any sort.

96:5.6 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] feared to [[proclaim]] the [[mercy]] of [[Yahweh]], preferring to [[awe]] his people with the [[fear]] of the [[justice]] of [[God]], saying: "The Lord your God is God of Gods, and Lord of Lords, a great God, a mighty and terrible God, who regards not man."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Deutoronomy#Chapter_.10] Again he sought to [[control]] the [[turbulent]] [[clans]] when he [[declared]] that "your God kills when you disobey him; he heals and gives life when you obey him."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Deutoronomy#Chapter_.32] But [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] taught these [[tribes]] that they would become the [[chosen people]] of God only on condition that they "kept all his commandments and obeyed all his statutes."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Deutoronomy#Chapter_.12]

96:5.6 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] feared to [[proclaim]] the [[mercy]] of [[Yahweh]], preferring to [[awe]] his people with the [[fear]] of the [[justice]] of [[God]], saying: "The Lord your God is God of Gods, and Lord of Lords, a great God, a mighty and terrible God, who regards not man."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Deutoronomy#Chapter_.10] Again he sought to [[control]] the [[turbulent]] [[clans]] when he [[declared]] that "your God kills when you disobey him; he heals and gives life when you obey him."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Deutoronomy#Chapter_.32] But [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] taught these [[tribes]] that they would become the [[chosen people]] of God only on condition that they "kept all his commandments and obeyed all his statutes."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Deutoronomy#Chapter_.12]

96:5.7 Little of the [[mercy]] of [[God]] was taught the [[Hebrews]] during these early times. They learned of [[God]] as "the Almighty; the Lord is a man of war, God of battles, [[glorious]] in [[power]], who dashes in pieces his enemies."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Exodus#Chapter_.15] " The Lord your God walks in the midst of the camp to deliver you."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Deutoronomy#Chapter_.23] The [[Israelites]] thought of their [[God]] as one who [[loved]] them, but who also "hardened Pharaoh's heart"[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Exodus#Chapter_.7] and "cursed their enemies."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Deutoronomy#Chapter_.30]

96:5.7 Little of the [[mercy]] of [[God]] was taught the [[Hebrews]] during these early times. They learned of [[God]] as "the Almighty; the Lord is a man of war, God of battles, [[glorious]] in [[power]], who dashes in pieces his enemies."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Exodus#Chapter_.15] " The Lord your God walks in the midst of the camp to deliver you."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Deutoronomy#Chapter_.23] The [[Israelites]] thought of their [[God]] as one who [[loved]] them, but who also "hardened Pharaoh's heart"[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Exodus#Chapter_.7] and "cursed their enemies."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Deutoronomy#Chapter_.30]

96:5.8 While [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] presented fleeting glimpses of a [[universal]] and [[beneficent]] [[Deity]] to the [[children]] of [[Israel]], on the whole, their day-by-day [[concept]] of [[Yahweh]] was that of a [[God]] but little better than the tribal gods of the [[surrounding]] peoples. Their [[concept]] of [[God]] was [[primitive]], crude, and [[anthropomorphic]]; when [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses#Death Moses passed on], these [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedouin Bedouin] [[tribes]] quickly reverted to the semibarbaric [[ideas]] of their olden gods of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Horeb Horeb] and the [[desert]]. The enlarged and more [[sublime]] [[vision]] of [[God]] which [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] every now and then presented to his [[leaders]] was soon lost to view, while most of the people turned to the [[worship]] of their [[fetish]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_calf golden calves], the Palestinian [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shepherd herdsman]'s [[symbol]] of [[Yahweh]].

96:5.8 While [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] presented fleeting glimpses of a [[universal]] and [[beneficent]] [[Deity]] to the [[children]] of [[Israel]], on the whole, their day-by-day [[concept]] of [[Yahweh]] was that of a [[God]] but little better than the tribal gods of the [[surrounding]] peoples. Their [[concept]] of [[God]] was [[primitive]], crude, and [[anthropomorphic]]; when [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses#Death Moses passed on], these [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedouin Bedouin] [[tribes]] quickly reverted to the semibarbaric [[ideas]] of their olden gods of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Horeb Horeb] and the [[desert]]. The enlarged and more [[sublime]] [[vision]] of [[God]] which [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] every now and then presented to his [[leaders]] was soon lost to view, while most of the people turned to the [[worship]] of their [[fetish]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_calf golden calves], the Palestinian [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shepherd herdsman]'s [[symbol]] of [[Yahweh]].

96:6.1 Upon the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses#Death death of Moses] his lofty [[concept]] of [[Yahweh]] rapidly [[deteriorated]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua Joshua] and the [[leaders]] of [[Israel]] continued to harbor the Mosaic [[traditions]] of the all-[[wise]], beneficent, and almighty [[God]], but the common people rapidly reverted to the older [[desert]] [[idea]] of [[Yahweh]]. And this backward drift of the [[concept]] of [[Deity]] continued increasingly under the successive rule of the various [[tribal]] sheiks, the so-called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Judges Judges].

96:6.1 Upon the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses#Death death of Moses] his lofty [[concept]] of [[Yahweh]] rapidly [[deteriorated]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua Joshua] and the [[leaders]] of [[Israel]] continued to harbor the Mosaic [[traditions]] of the all-[[wise]], beneficent, and almighty [[God]], but the common people rapidly reverted to the older [[desert]] [[idea]] of [[Yahweh]]. And this backward drift of the [[concept]] of [[Deity]] continued increasingly under the successive rule of the various [[tribal]] sheiks, the so-called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Judges Judges].

96:6.2 The spell of the extraordinary [[personality]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] had kept alive in the [[hearts]] of his followers the [[inspiration]] of an increasingly enlarged [[concept]] of [[God]]; but when they once reached the fertile lands of [[Palestine]], they quickly evolved from [[nomadic]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shepherd herders] into settled and somewhat sedate [[farmers]]. And this [[evolution]] of life [[practices]] and [[change]] of religious viewpoint demanded a more or less complete [[change]] in the [[character]] of their [[conception]] of the [[nature]] of their [[God]], [[Yahweh]]. During the times of the beginning of the [[transmutation]] of the [[austere]], crude, exacting, and thunderous [[desert]] god of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Sinai Sinai] into the later appearing [[concept]] of a [[God]] of [[love]], [[justice]], and [[mercy]], the [[Hebrews]] almost lost sight of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses]' lofty teachings. They came near losing all [[concept]] of [[monotheism]]; they nearly lost their [[opportunity]] of becoming the people who would serve as a vital link in the [[spiritual]] [[evolution]] of [[Urantia]], the [[group]] who would conserve the [[Melchizedek]] teaching of one God until the times of the [[incarnation]] of a [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_20#20:6._THE_MORTAL-BESTOWAL_CAREERS bestowal Son] of [[Universal Father|that Father]] of all.

96:6.2 The spell of the extraordinary [[personality]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] had kept alive in the [[hearts]] of his followers the [[inspiration]] of an increasingly enlarged [[concept]] of [[God]]; but when they once reached the fertile lands of [[Palestine]], they quickly evolved from [[nomadic]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shepherd herders] into settled and somewhat sedate [[farmers]]. And this [[evolution]] of life [[practices]] and [[change]] of religious viewpoint demanded a more or less complete [[change]] in the [[character]] of their [[conception]] of the [[nature]] of their [[God]], [[Yahweh]]. During the times of the beginning of the [[transmutation]] of the [[austere]], crude, exacting, and thunderous [[desert]] god of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Sinai Sinai] into the later appearing [[concept]] of a [[God]] of [[love]], [[justice]], and [[mercy]], the [[Hebrews]] almost lost sight of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses]' lofty teachings. They came near losing all [[concept]] of [[monotheism]]; they nearly lost their [[opportunity]] of becoming the people who would serve as a vital link in the [[spiritual]] [[evolution]] of [[Urantia]], the [[group]] who would conserve the [[Melchizedek]] teaching of one God until the times of the [[incarnation]] of a [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_20#20:6._THE_MORTAL-BESTOWAL_CAREERS bestowal Son] of [[Universal Father|that Father]] of all.

96:6.3 Desperately [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua Joshua] sought to hold the [[concept]] of a supreme [[Yahweh]] in the [[minds]] of the tribesmen, causing it to be proclaimed: "As I was with Moses, so will I be with you; I will not fail you nor forsake you."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Joshua#Chapter__.1] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua Joshua] found it [[necessary]] to preach a stern gospel to his disbelieving people, people all too willing to believe their old and [[native]] [[religion]] but unwilling to go forward in the [[religion]] of [[faith]] and [[righteousness]]. The burden of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua Joshua]'s teaching became: "Yahweh is a holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Joshua#Chapter__.24] The highest [[concept]] of this age pictured [[Yahweh]] as a "God of power, judgment, and justice."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Job#Chapter_.37]

96:6.3 Desperately [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua Joshua] sought to hold the [[concept]] of a supreme [[Yahweh]] in the [[minds]] of the tribesmen, causing it to be proclaimed: "As I was with Moses, so will I be with you; I will not fail you nor forsake you."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Joshua#Chapter__.1] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua Joshua] found it [[necessary]] to preach a stern gospel to his disbelieving people, people all too willing to believe their old and [[native]] [[religion]] but unwilling to go forward in the [[religion]] of [[faith]] and [[righteousness]]. The burden of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua Joshua]'s teaching became: "Yahweh is a holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Joshua#Chapter__.24] The highest [[concept]] of this age pictured [[Yahweh]] as a "God of power, judgment, and justice."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Job#Chapter_.37]

96:6.4 But even in this dark age, every now and then a [[solitary]] teacher would arise proclaiming the Mosaic [[concept]] of [[divinity]]: "You children of wickedness cannot serve the Lord, for he is a holy God." "Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his Maker? "[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Job#Chapter_.4] " Can you by searching find out God? Can you find out the Almighty to perfection? Behold, God is great and we know him not. Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Job#Chapter_.11]

96:6.4 But even in this dark age, every now and then a [[solitary]] teacher would arise proclaiming the Mosaic [[concept]] of [[divinity]]: "You children of wickedness cannot serve the Lord, for he is a holy God." "Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his Maker? "[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Job#Chapter_.4] " Can you by searching find out God? Can you find out the Almighty to perfection? Behold, God is great and we know him not. Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Job#Chapter_.11]

==96:7. PSALMS AND THE BOOK OF JOB==

==96:7. PSALMS AND THE BOOK OF JOB==

96:7.5 The variegated picture of [[Deity]] presented in the [[Book of Job]] was the product of more than a score of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamian_religion Mesopotamian] religious [[teachers]] extending over a period of almost three hundred years. And when you read the lofty [[concept]] of [[divinity]] found in this compilation of Mesopotamian [[beliefs]], you will recognize that it was in the [[neighborhood]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ur Ur] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaldea Chaldea] that the [[idea]] of a real [[God]] was best preserved during the dark days in [[Palestine]].

96:7.5 The variegated picture of [[Deity]] presented in the [[Book of Job]] was the product of more than a score of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamian_religion Mesopotamian] religious [[teachers]] extending over a period of almost three hundred years. And when you read the lofty [[concept]] of [[divinity]] found in this compilation of Mesopotamian [[beliefs]], you will recognize that it was in the [[neighborhood]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ur Ur] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaldea Chaldea] that the [[idea]] of a real [[God]] was best preserved during the dark days in [[Palestine]].

96:7.6 In [[Palestine]] the [[wisdom]] and all-pervasiveness of God was often grasped but seldom his [[love]] and [[mercy]]. The [[Yahweh]] of these times "sends evil spirits to dominate the souls of his enemies "[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Judges#Chapter_.9]; he prospers his own and [[obedient]] [[children]], while he [[curses]] and visits dire [[judgments]] upon all others."He disappoints the devices of the crafty; he takes the wise in their own deceit."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Job#Chapter_.5]

96:7.6 In [[Palestine]] the [[wisdom]] and all-pervasiveness of God was often grasped but seldom his [[love]] and [[mercy]]. The [[Yahweh]] of these times "sends evil spirits to dominate the souls of his enemies "[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Judges#Chapter_.9]; he prospers his own and [[obedient]] [[children]], while he [[curses]] and visits dire [[judgments]] upon all others."He disappoints the devices of the crafty; he takes the wise in their own deceit."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Job#Chapter_.5]

96:7.7 Only at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ur Ur] did a [[voice]] arise to cry out the mercy of God, saying: "He shall pray to God and shall find favor with him and shall see his face with joy, for God will give to man divine righteousness."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Job#Chapter_.33] Thus from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ur Ur] there is preached [[salvation]], [[divine]] [[favor]], by [[faith]]: "He is gracious to the repentant and says, `Deliver him from going down in the pit, for I have found a ransom.'[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Job#Chapter_.33] If any say, `I have sinned and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not,' God will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and he shall see the light."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Job#Chapter_.33] Not since the times of [[Melchizedek]] had the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levant Levantine] world heard such a ringing and cheering [[message]] of [[human]] [[salvation]] as this extraordinary teaching of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elihu_(Job) Elihu], the [[prophet]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ur Ur] and [[priest]] of the [[Salem]] believers, that is, the remnant of the onetime [[Melchizedek]] colony in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia Mesopotamia].

96:7.7 Only at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ur Ur] did a [[voice]] arise to cry out the mercy of God, saying: "He shall pray to God and shall find favor with him and shall see his face with joy, for God will give to man divine righteousness."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Job#Chapter_.33] Thus from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ur Ur] there is preached [[salvation]], [[divine]] [[favor]], by [[faith]]: "He is gracious to the repentant and says, `Deliver him from going down in the pit, for I have found a ransom.'[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Job#Chapter_.33] If any say, `I have sinned and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not,' God will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and he shall see the light."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Job#Chapter_.33] Not since the times of [[Melchizedek]] had the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levant Levantine] world heard such a ringing and cheering [[message]] of [[human]] [[salvation]] as this extraordinary teaching of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elihu_(Job) Elihu], the [[prophet]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ur Ur] and [[priest]] of the [[Salem]] believers, that is, the remnant of the onetime [[Melchizedek]] colony in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia Mesopotamia].

96:7.8 And thus did the remnants of the [[Salem]] missionaries in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia Mesopotamia] maintain the [[light]] of [[truth]] during the period of the disorganization of the [[Hebrew]] peoples until the [[appearance]] of the first of that long line of the [[teachers]] of [[Israel]] who never stopped as they built, concept upon [[concept]], until they had achieved the [[realization]] of the [[ideal]] of the [[Universal]] and [[Creator]] [[Father]] of all, the [[acme]] of the [[evolution]] of the [[Yahweh]] [[concept]].

96:7.8 And thus did the remnants of the [[Salem]] missionaries in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia Mesopotamia] maintain the [[light]] of [[truth]] during the period of the disorganization of the [[Hebrew]] peoples until the [[appearance]] of the first of that long line of the [[teachers]] of [[Israel]] who never stopped as they built, concept upon [[concept]], until they had achieved the [[realization]] of the [[ideal]] of the [[Universal]] and [[Creator]] [[Father]] of all, the [[acme]] of the [[evolution]] of the [[Yahweh]] [[concept]].

96:7.9 [Presented by a [[Melchizedek]] of [[Nebadon]]].

96:7.9 [Presented by a [[Melchizedek]] of [[Nebadon]]].

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[[Category: PART III: The History of Urantia]]

[[Category: PART III: The History of Urantia]]