J-M's History Corner

Here is my Restored English Translation (RET) of the Book of Beresheet (Genesis).  As usual, it contains the  Hebrew names and the  Aleph Tavs (even though I now seriously doubt them ), as well as a glossary of the Hebrew names at the end. Chapter 8 continues the Flood narrative that began in chapter 6.  A note on chapter 7: it specifically says (verse 20) that the waters rose 15 cubits (7.5 metres, or 24.6 feet) above the highest mountain s , thus disproving the notion that the Flood was local.  Water seeks its own level, and cannot drown the highest mountain without drowning everything else on the planet.  (Kinda like the tsunami that drowned the Himalayas in the movie 2012 ; it would have been simply impossible for any of the rest of the planet to survive.  Same situation here – literally, albeit with fewer survivors, and only one ark, and no unrighteous elite.) And with regards to Noah’s Ark: there is abundant eyewitne...

Welcome to the 10th edition of My Fortnightly Movie/TV Thoughts.  Last fortnight I reviewed A Good Day to Die Hard (2013).  This fortnight I'm reviewing: Noah (2014), rated M for mature themes and violence That's the Australian rating; in the United States, it's rated PG-13 for violence, disturbing images and brief suggestive content. As usual, I'll include the trailer and a clip at the end.  And as usual, the disclaimer applies: WARNING: POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD.  PROCEED AT OWN RISK. Noah When I first heard about Darren Arofosky's adaption of the Biblical tale of Noah and the Flood - and saw the trailers for it - I was excited.  Then it was released, and the hugely negative Christian reviews started flooding in.  It was inaccurate.  It was environmentalist.  It was horrible.  So, like Exodus: Gods and Kings , I put off watching it for 5 years.  And like Exodus , I'm sure as hell glad I finally did watch it. After an introd...

Here is my Restored English Translation (RET) of Beresheet ( Genesis ) chapter 9.  As usual, it contains the  Hebrew names and the  Aleph Tavs (although I now doubt them ).  A glossary of the Hebrew names used can be found at the end. This chapter contains the infamous incident of Noah getting drunk, and Ham spotting him.  This incident is very strange; verses 20-27 read (RET): “ 20 And Noach [Noah] began to be a man of the ground, and planted a vineyard.  21 And he drank from the wine, and was drunk.  And he stripped himself inside his tent.  22 And saw Cham [Ham] , the father of Kena’an [Canaan], את nakedness of his father; and he told to his two brothers outside.  23 And took Shem and Yefet  [Japheth] את the garment and laid it on both their shoulders, and they went backwards, and covered את nakedness of their father.  And their faces were turned backward, and they did not see their father’s nakedness....