Chapter 2 Paragraph 9
(a) In what ways does the Bible show itself to be historically accurate and reliable? (b) What does the honesty of its writers tell you about the Bible?
"The Bible is also historically accurate and reliable. Its accounts are specific. They include not only the names but also the ancestry of individuals.# In contrast to secular historians, who often do not mention the defeats of their own people, Bible writers were honest, even recording their own failings and those of their nation. In the Bible book of Numbers, for instance, the writer Moses admits his own serious error for which he was severely reproved. (Numbers 20:2-12) Such honesty is rare in other historical accounts but is found in the Bible because it is a book from God."
FootNote # "For example, note the detailed ancestral line of Jesus set out at Luke 3:23-38."
a)"Its accounts are specific. They include not only the names but also the ancestry of individuals.# (Luke 3:23-38)"
b)"In contrast to secular historians, who often do not mention the defeats of their own people, Bible writers were honest, even recording their own failings and those of their nation... the writer Moses admits his own serious error for which he was severely reproved. (Numbers 20:2-12)"
*** Bible Citations ***
(Luke 3:23-38) Furthermore, Jesus himself, when he commenced [his work], was about thirty years old, being the son, as the opinion was, of Joseph, [son] of He′li, 24 [son] of Mat′that, [son] of Le′vi, [son] of Mel′chi, [son] of Jan′na‧i, [son] of Joseph, 25 [son] of Mat‧ta‧thi′as, [son] of A′mos, [son] of Na′hum, [son] of Es′li, [son] of Nag′ga‧i, 26 [son] of Ma′ath, [son] of Mat‧ta‧thi′as, [son] of Sem′e‧in, [son] of Jo′sech, [son] of Jo′da, 27 [son] of Jo‧an′an, [son] of Rhe′sa, [son] of Ze‧rub′ba‧bel, [son] of She‧al′ti‧el, [son] of Ne′ri, 28 [son] of Mel′chi, [son] of Ad′di, [son] of Co′sam, [son] of El‧ma′dam, [son] of Er, 29 [son] of Jesus, [son] of E‧li‧e′zer, [son] of Jo′rim, [son] of Mat′that, [son] of Le′vi, 30 [son] of Sym′e‧on, [son] of Judas, [son] of Joseph, [son] of Jo′nam, [son] of E‧li′a‧kim, 31 [son] of Me′le‧a, [son] of Men′na, [son] of Mat′ta‧tha, [son] of Nathan, [son] of David, 32 [son] of Jes′se, [son] of O′bed, [son] of Bo′az, [son] of Sal′mon, [son] of Nah′shon, 33 [son] of Am‧min′a‧dab, [son] of Ar′ni, [son] of Hez′ron, [son] of Pe′rez, [son] of Judah, 34 [son] of Jacob, [son] of Isaac, [son] of Abraham, [son] of Te′rah, [son] of Na′hor, 35 [son] of Se′rug, [son] of Re′u, [son] of Pe′leg, [son] of E′ber, [son] of She′lah, 36 [son] of Ca‧i′nan, [son] of Ar‧pach′shad, [son] of Shem, [son] of Noah, [son] of La′mech, 37 [son] of Me‧thu′se‧lah, [son] of E′noch, [son] of Ja′red, [son] of Ma‧ha′la‧le‧el, [son] of Ca‧i′nan, 38 [son] of E′nosh, [son] of Seth, [son] of Adam, [son] of God.
(Numbers 20:2-12) Now there proved to be no water for the assembly, and they began to congregate themselves against Moses and Aaron. 3 And the people went quarreling with Moses and saying: “If only we had expired when our brothers expired before Jehovah! 4 And why have YOU men brought Jehovah’s congregation into this wilderness for us and our beasts of burden to die there? 5 And why have YOU conducted us up out of Egypt to bring us into this evil place? It is no place of seed and figs and vines and pomegranates, and there is no water to drink.” 6 Then Moses and Aaron came from before the congregation to the entrance of the tent of meeting and fell upon their faces, and Jehovah’s glory began to appear to them. 7 Then Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying: 8 “Take the rod and call the assembly together, you and Aaron your brother, and YOU must speak to the crag before their eyes that it may indeed give its water; and you must bring out water for them from the crag and give the assembly and their beasts of burden drink.” 9 So Moses took the rod from before Jehovah, just as he had commanded him. 10 After that Moses and Aaron called the congregation together before the crag, and he proceeded to say to them: “Hear, now, YOU rebels! Is it from this crag that we shall bring out water for YOU?” 11 With that Moses lifted his hand up and struck the crag with his rod twice; and much water began to come out, and the assembly and their beasts of burden began to drink. 12 Later Jehovah said to Moses and Aaron: “Because YOU did not show faith in me to sanctify me before the eyes of the sons of Israel, therefore YOU will not bring this congregation into the land that I shall certainly give them.”
