Posts by TheListener

posted

45
Nimrod; Tower of Babel
by TheListener in
1. watchtower
2. bible
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did nimrod build the

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TheListener

I typed up a very long post but lost it. Oh well.
Basically I have reviewed the WTCDrom and they only say Nimrod was bad because the Jewish Targums and Josephus say it. Of course, they don't discuss all the other things those documents say.
They insert "in opposition to Jehovah" into Genesis chapter 10 for effect. It works - for dubs. The word "before" #6440 literally means in front of someone or something's face. There is no character added into it. It doesn't imply Nimrod being evil before Jehovah's face. In fact it means he did his hunting openly before Jehovah. The word #6440 is used like 2,100 times in the OT. The society references about 6 of them to support adding "in opposition to Jehovah." I reviewed each reference they gave and it makes no sense. You can insert the simply word "before" in every case and it sounds perfectly fine. The translators may have made word #6440 "against" instead of "before" but that is a translators perogative. It doesn't change the basic meaning of the word.
I'm appalled that I didn't catch this deception earlier.
My vote is that Nimrod may be guilty or innocent of the things ascribed to him. We don't know and presenting it as factual is dishonest. Unless someone has newer information that 2,000 year old Targums and 2,000 year old Josephus references to 2,000 year old oral traditions.
45
Nimrod; Tower of Babel
by TheListener in
1. watchtower
2. bible
.

did nimrod build the

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TheListener

Yes it does. The NWT adds "in opposition" into Gensis 10:9. Unless someone can show me a Hebrew reason for doing so I think there translation of this verse was colored by their beliefs.
45
Nimrod; Tower of Babel
by TheListener in
1. watchtower
2. bible
.

did nimrod build the

.
TheListener
Nimrod:
Strong's word 05248
- Origin: "Probably of foreign origin" (thus not a Hebrew name? If that's true it's hard to ascribe a Hebrew meaning that is significant).
- Meaning: "rebellion" or "the valiant"
1. the son of Cush, grandson of Ham, and great grandson of Noah; a mighty hunter, he established an empire in the area of Babylon and Assyria
I did a Hebrew interlinear for Genesis 10:9 and the meaning of the words "mighty hunter before the Lord" don't appear to support a positively evil bent. In fact without adding to the text based on oral traditions it could be argued that Nimrod set up his kingdom and sacrificed to God. Hunting animals that were harming his people. Perhaps he didn't have anything to do with the tower of Babel.
45
Nimrod; Tower of Babel
by TheListener in
1. watchtower
2. bible
.

did nimrod build the

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TheListener

I guess my question is: what proof of that (your statement) is there?
The Bible itself doesn't offer that proof and it appears that written history about Nimrod comes from relatively modern writers (modern meaning 200BC - 200AD). These writers were writing down oral traditions and legends. Is that enough to villify someone so profoundly?
I'm just asking.
45
Nimrod; Tower of Babel
by TheListener in
1. watchtower
2. bible
.

did nimrod build the

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TheListener

Thank you Greendawn. I feel much better.
45
Nimrod; Tower of Babel
by TheListener in
1. watchtower
2. bible
.

did nimrod build the

.
TheListener

Did Nimrod build the Tower of Babel, and was he evil?
Nimrod is mentioned in the Bible 3 times.
Genesis 10:8 “And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. (9) He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD. (10) And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.
1 Chronicles 1:10 “And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be mighty upon the earth.”
Ezra 5:6 “And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within our borders.”
From Wikipedia: “Though not clearly stated in the Bible, Nimrod has since ancient times traditionally been interpreted to be the one who led the people to build the Tower of Babel. Since his kingdom included the towns in Shinar, it is believed likely that it was under his direction that the building began. This is the view adopted in the Targums and later texts such as the writings of Josephus. Some extra-biblical sources, however, assert to the contrary, that he left the district before the building of the tower.”

I know Nimrod's name in Hebrew means "Let's rebel". Is that enough of a reason to add to the Biblical text? Is there more reason to view Nimrod as inherently evil?

I've read and heard rabbis disagree over the nature of Nimrod.

What's your opinion?
26
Awake! 1969 May 22 p.15 -- not on any CD Library that I possess.
by Schizm in
1. jw
2. friends
truthseeker posted the following quote, here: http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/114458/2002789/post.ashx#2002789.

i attempted to verify the quote by referring to the society's library, which i possess.

in fact i posess the 1997, 2004, and 2005 libraries.
TheListener

I thought Babylon the Great Has Fallen was on the 1997 CD rom? I'll check tonight.
45
Nimrod; Tower of Babel
by TheListener in
1. watchtower
2. bible
.

did nimrod build the

.
TheListener

can someone explain what might be happening to my post? I can't take the stress.
45
Nimrod; Tower of Babel
by TheListener in
1. watchtower
2. bible
.

did nimrod build the

.
TheListener

AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
I seem to have trouble copying and pasting from Word. I will try again:
Did Nimrod build the
45
Nimrod; Tower of Babel
by TheListener in
1. watchtower
2. bible
.

did nimrod build the

.
TheListener

Did Nimrod build the