Aaron Crofut’s Reviews > Douay Rheims Bible > Status Update

Started listening to the audiobook version. Sounds weird, but that's probably how most people in history learned it, so why not? Listening and reading are different modes and the focus tends to be different. In Leviticus now; St. Thomas Aquinas' explanation of the relation of these ceremonials to the New Law is helpful.

The plagues of Egypt is chilling reading, and the Passover is simply powerful. The Paschal Lamb as a clear prefigurement of Christ; less noticed is the command that no uncircumcised man shall eat it. The same rule applies today: any uncircumcised of sin by baptism or confession must not eat of the Lamb who is truly present in the Blessed Sacrament.

Genesis is an amazing book that is too often missed because of the Creation/Evolution nonsense. That really isn't what the book is about; yes, it sets out that God created the world, which is important, but it says little beyond that. About 3/4th concerns Abraham and his offspring; the first 12 chapters are a jaunt to get to that story, with a brief Noah interlude. The all to follow God and its ups and downs...

Curious note about Joseph buying all the land of Egypt from the people during the famine and turning this over to Pharaoh, leading to a rent system where 20% of the crop is due to the king.

The sacrifice of Isaac is incredible. The foreshadowing of Christ and his sacrifice near this very spot is amazing. One gets a feeling reading the Bible, and Genesis in particular, of reading an ancient book. Not just old, mind you; I read old books all of the time, but I rarely get that same feeling with them.

God says to Abraham, be ye perfect

*turns page*

"Abraham fell flat on his face."

Yeah, that is an appropriate reaction to that request. Also the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. Interesting that it begins with their wickedness; I recall reading in Ezechiel that Sodom's problem was "pride, fullness of bread, and abundance, and the idleness.." (chap 16, verse 49-50). The society of well-being...

One builds an altar after we receiving God's blessing. This is a key part of being human. God's promise to Abraham is simply beautiful. I've been reading Greek mythology and it is surprising how little these have in common. Theatrical vs historical, with poetry serving both.

Cain and Abel didn't sit well with me as a youth. Now I tend to see Genesis, especially up until Abraham, as a condensed, almost bullet point notes that was surely expanded in the oral telling (people didn't sit at home reading their copy back then). Pawing through Josephus seems to confirm that. Their sacrifice was not equal, and so not equally pleasing. And God didn't smite Cain for that; Cain ruined himself.