09-10-2002, 02:20 PM
OAS, numbers had supernatural significance to ancient people. The numbers 7 and 40 both held special meaning. Noahs flood lasted for 40 days and forty nights. The world was created in 7 days. You must forgive some "not 7 times but 7 x 70 times". Etc.
Ancient people did not record things historically the way we do, but were only interested in recording the meaning and intent of the event. That's why the Bible is NOT a historical record. It easily mixes historical fact, such as there really was a person named Jesus and Roman govenor named Pontious Pilot, with fables and morality stories like the story of Job and the whole book of Genesis.
Ancient people did not record things historically the way we do, but were only interested in recording the meaning and intent of the event. That's why the Bible is NOT a historical record. It easily mixes historical fact, such as there really was a person named Jesus and Roman govenor named Pontious Pilot, with fables and morality stories like the story of Job and the whole book of Genesis.