Quite troublesome that the OT ritual is to happen just on the basis of the husband's jealousy.

As for the Corinthians...well, as Scott wrote, these are doozies.
 

One reason I chose these readings it to keep myself honest. I often advocate for including more passages in the lectionary, particularly difficult ones, but these are especially troublesome to me personally, as a woman who DOES speak in church and plans to become a priest...what can I do with these passages, other than ignore them? How can I respect them as part of the canon?
 

I don't even have anything to write. It's kind of like finding out your dear old nanny, the one who bakes cookies and serves tea, is a bipolar sado masochist.

Something has got to give. Today amidst the preparations of my life this is the best I can do.
 

Well, I was stuck again this morning when I looked at these readings. so, I consulted a commentary for the Numbers pericope, and that helped somewhat.

It pointed out that the trial-by-ordeal described here (and apparently common in the Ancient Near East) was not only to condemn the women in cases of a jealous husband and no eyewitnesses or other proof, but also to exonerate her. While this kind of justice sounds random (not to mention sexist) to me, I do find that somewhat helpful.

I also think the one thing they have right and we don't is the importance of community. Adultery does not "just" hurt those involved in the marriage; it hurts the whole community. I think about the Bill-Monica scandal, and those who said that we need to stay out of the President's private affairs...I certainly did not wish to hear about his affair, but I also think that pushes individualism to an unhealthy degree. It can be damaging on a large scale when one person commits immoral acts. Think of the damage when a priest has an affair with a parishioner, or the damage to the Roman Catholics due to a small number of pedophile priests. Christianity and Judaism were meant to be lived out in community, not just in our nuclear families.
 

I still can't get a grip on these readings. Again they strike me at odds with what the gospels stand for.

The only thing that really hit me today was wondering if there was a connection between these readings (water of bitterness) and the faith surrounding those who drink snake venom.

Obviously I have very little connection to each but the thought struck me that the guilty act would kill the woman. If she was pure she would live.
 

Well, the comentary helped a little with the Corinthians passages, too...that it seems to be addressing one class of women, i.e., wives, as opposed to all women; v. 25 supports that...apparently the Greek word could mean women or wives.

It's also significant that this is addressed to wives in church, not at all times; and the commentary states that it does not apply to speaking in tongues or prophesying, or applying one's critical gifts to what one is hearing in church...

Still, as a wife who loves preaching, this one is pretty hard for me to accept! But that's why I picked it. As a leader in the church, if verses like these are stumbling blocks to others, should I bury my head and pretend they don't exist; direct them to more pleasant verses; tell that that some of the Bible is sacred Scrtipture, and some isn't? I'm grateful for some time to explore these difficult texts with others.
 

I wonder what it is the water of bitterness, if there are some herbs in it that cause it to taste bitter.

The Numbers reading is much less shocking to me today that it was when first posted. The Corinthians, however, with its "shamefulness" is still problematic.
 

I also struggle with the Corinthians verse; when I looked at the New American Standard, version it said "should be subject to themselves" instead of "should be subordinate," which could significantly change the meaning.
Over the past few years, I've become very involved with our denomination's women's organization, and have been asked by one of my friends whether or not the such organizations have become irrelevant and outlived there purpose now that women are included in the leadership of the church. For many years, Presbyterian Women and other such societies presented an alternative format that lifted up the gifts of women in a church that marginalized the input of women because of their interpretation of verses such as this one.
However, this philosophy of exclusion doesnt seem to jive with alot of what Paul himself says; in other books, he's lifted up Priscilla, Phoebe, and other who we know took on leadership roles and spoke up in the Christian community.
As a student of grammar and language (though I haven't taken Greek yet), I know that often the verb forms for "should be" and "are expected to be" can be very similar. And so, because of the conflict with other writings, and the phrase "be subject unto themselves," which to me connotes a lifting up of women's ability to understand and elaborate on scripture, I wonder if this isn't really an affirmation of women - it could very easily be saying " (because) they are not permitted to speak, women be subject to themselves (or organize themselves).... If there is anything they desire to know, let them speak with their husband at home (fostering dialogue) because such discussion will not happen in the church." That would also seem to fit more in with the general thesis of 1 Cor 14, which lifts up prophets in the church, who have already been recognized to come from both men and women.
As for the second passage, it seems very unlikely that water with a few herbs that has had some parchment floating in it could cause a woman's uterus to drop and make her infertile. It seems much more likely that some STD she may have picked up from whoever she was playing around with (if she actually was an adulteress) would have that affect. In this manner, it can be a protection for women; the husband has seen her go through the ritual, and so no longer subjects her to the type of emotional and physical abuse that can often come with jealousy; it also acknowledges that there are high prices and risks to promiscuity and infidelity, which can destroy relationships and result in terribly serious health issues.

Anyway, those are my thoughts for today. Maybe I'm being a revisionist; I can't wait to learn Greek and Hebrew and really find out for myself!
 

Amy, we are not worthy!

How awesome is this format that as a collective we can continue to experience God even when as individuals we can hit a wall? (I'm speaking of myself at present.)

Today I write, "Yea, what she said!"