A story I won't tell

Chapter 34

This chapter was the inspiration of another book that inspired me to start this blog, itself written as a blog by an American, agnostic Jew. The blog was published as “the Good book” by David Plotz. Mr Plotz - thank you for your book and insights.

David was at his niece’s batmitzvah when, bored with the ceremony, he picked up a bible from the pew and started to read – to his surprise he found a story he had not come across before. Shocked that this could happen in Genesis (as well as at what happens in the chapter) – he decided to read the rest of the Jewish Scripture so find out what else he might have missed.

For those who don’t know the story read the chapter. Go on - find a bible and read it yourself. If you are reading this online there are online bibles you can use - a good one is the World English Bible available online http://ebible.org/web/GEN34.htm#V0

Warning - the story contains both sex and violence. you have been warned!
If you are a man I challenge you not to wince at what happens.

In some ways I envy David Plotz and A.J. Jacobs, both class themselves as non-observant Jews who had not had much exposure to their faith or the scriptures and they came to it fresh and with no preconceptions. 

I’ve been bought up in a Christian family and heard and read the bible before and had a lot of teaching on the Bible, so I sometimes miss just how extra ordinary this book is.

If this story is new to you, I challenge you to try reading the Bible for yourself. 

What harm can it do?