At 13:25 10/8/1999 -0600, Burns, Andy wrote:
>I thought the Bible referred to it as a "Great Fish" ... not a whale....
You are partially right. First, it depends on what translation you read. If
you read the KJV, this large aquatic creature is called a "great fish" and
a "fish" in Jonah, and a "whale" in Matthew. If you read most modern
translations, the word "whale" doesn't even occur, but "great fish" does.
Some theologians like to argue (I could end the sentence here) about
exactly what kind of creature swallowed Jonah. All the Bible really says in
the original languages is that God prepared a large aquatic animal (fish,
whale, or similar) that swallowed Jonah to rescue him from drowning, swam
to Ninevah, and vomited Jonah up, there, alive (but probably very smelly
and weak). This seemed to be enough to convince Jonah that he really should
obey God and warn these people to repent so that they wouldn't be
destroyed, even though Jonah knew they had a history of fighting with
Israel. The sea creature may have been a whale, a VERY large fish with an
air bubble in its belly, some creature that is now extinct, or some
specially created thing never seen before or after. Whatever it was, God
prepared it and sent it on its mission.
I remember reading a story once of an English fisherman who fell overboard
and was swallowed by a whale. The next day, his shipmates harpooned that
whale, cut it open, and found their friend alive, but in great distress.
They did revive him and he recovered. (This was many years ago, when
whaling was a respectable occupation.)
...
>From: Soaring Golden Eagle [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
...
>"Whale" (including "whales" and "whale's") occurs 4 times in the KJV (Gen.
>1:21, Job 7:12, Ezek. 32:2, Matt. 12:40).
>"Fish" occurs 35 times in the KJV, including two references in Jonah (1:17,
>2:10) that likely referred to a whale. (Hebrew lacks the distinction
>between aquatic mammals and fish with gills that English has, so it can be
>read either way, and various translations choose differently.)
...
>>>> Here is a perplexing riddle. See if you can figure it out....
>>>>
>>>> God made Adam out of the dust,
>>>> But thought it best to make me first;
>>>> So I was made before the man,
>>>> According to God's Holy plan.
>>>> My whole body God made complete
>>>> Without arms or hands or feet.
>>>> My ways and acts did God control,
>>>> But in my body He placed no soul.
>>>> A living being I became,
>>>> And Adam gave to me a name.
>>>> Then from his presence I withdrew,
>>>> For this man Adam I never knew.
>>>> All my Maker's laws I do obey,
>>>> And from these laws I never stray.
>>>> Thousands of me go in fear,
>>>> But seldom on the earth appear.
>>>> Later, for a purpose God did see,
>>>> He place a living soul in me.
>>>> But that soul of mine God had to claim,
>>>> And from me took it back again.
>>>> And when this soul from me had fled,
>>>> I was the same as when first made;
>>>> Without arms, legs, feet, or soul,
>>>> I travel on from pole to pole.
>>>> My labors are from day to night,
>>>> And to men I once furnished light.
>>>> Thousands of people both young and old,
>>>> Did by my death bright lights behold.
>>>> No right or wrong can I conceive;
>>>> The Bible and it's teachings I can't believe.
>>>> The fear of death doesn't trouble me;
>>>> Pure happiness I will never see.
>>>> And up in Heaven I can never go,
>>>> Nor in the grave or Hell below.
>>>> So get your Bible and read with care;
>>>> You'll find my name recorded there.
>>>>
>>>> This puzzle was written by a lady in California in 1890 in response
>>>> To a gentlemen in Philadelphia, who said that he would pay $1,000.00 to
>>>> anyone who could write a puzzle that he could not solve. He failed
>>>> to do so, and paid the lady 1,000.00 (a great sum at that time). The
>>>> answer is one word, five letters long, and appears only four times in
>>>the
>>>> King James Version of the Bible.
>>>>
>>>> An eight-year-old boy figured out the puzzle. Can you?
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