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Before we look at where we can find evidence of “where” the Tanakh might have been changed, let’s look at “
they were a rather dreadful bunch! but it makes you wondered they altered the Tanakh, why didn't they portray themselves in a better light obedient and chaste, pious and understanding, virtuous, long suffering and full of good deeds?"
So let’s see just how dreadful, they really are. This excerpt is taking from Nehemiah, which, according to scholars is really part 2 of the Book of Ezra. For those that haven’t checked the link, here is an additional tidbit on the power that Ezra wields in Jewish worship:
Who were the "Anshei Knesset Hagedolah"; "Men of the Great Assembly"?
by Rabbi Yossi Marcus
They were a group of 120 sages, amongst them several prophets, headed by Ezra the Scribe. Among the more prominent among them were: Mordechai of the Purim story, and Daniel, as in Daniel in the lion’s den. (Others included Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, Zerubavel, Nehemiah son of Chachalayah, Chananiah, Mishael and Azaryah.) Shimon Hatzadik was the last of the Great Assembly.
Ezra established this Great Assembly in Israel shortly after the beginning of the Second Jewish Commonwealth (which began with the completion of the Second Temple in 349 BCE).
They instituted such many basic Jewish practices as the recitation of Kiddush on the Sabbath, Havdallah after the Sabbath, prayer three times a day, the Amidah prayer, and recitation of blessings before eating.
It is said that this “assembly” lasted about 200 years but their structuring of Jewish life is still intact to this very day.
Source:
http://www.askmoses.com/article.html?h=591&o=539
In order to paint a picture of just how disobedient the Jews were without being labeled as anti-Jewish, it makes sense to use their own Scriptures. I had originally intended to start with the writings of Jeremiah/Baruch, but I was rather astounded and the pithiness and the total picture that was given to us in so few words. The following is an excerpt from “Levites Song of Praise”, taken from Mesorah Publication’s The Stone Edition of the Tanakh. Of course, this is a Jewish Publication. We pick it up at the conquest of Canaan:
Nehemiah 9:24
24) The children [of Israel] came and took possession of the land, and YOU subdued inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, before them, and delivered them into their hand, along with their kings and the peoples of the land, to do with them as they pleased.
25) They captured fortified cities and a fertile land; they took possession of houses filled with every good thing, chiseled cisterns, vineyards and olive trees, and abundant fruit trees; so they ate and became satiated and fattened and took delight in YOUR great bounty.
26) Then they became recalcitrant and rebelled against YOU, casting YOUR Torah behind their backs. They killed YOUR Prophets who had warned them in order to make them return to YOU, and they committed great provocations. 27) So YOU delivered them into the hands of their enemies and YOU afflicted them. But at the time of their affliction they would cry out to YOU and YOU would hear them from Heaven; and in YOUR abundant compassion YOU would send them saviors who would save them from the hand of their enemies.
28) But when it would ease for them they would revert to doing evil before YOU, so YOU would abandon them into the hands of their enemies, and would oppress them. They would once again cry out to YOU, and YOU would hear from Heaven and in YOUR compassion YOU would rescue them numerous times.
29) YOU warned them, to return to YOUR Torah, but they acted wickedly and did not listen to YOUR commandments and transgressed through YOUR laws, which man should do in order that he may live through them. They turned a rebellious shoulder away and stiffened their necks and did not listen.
30) Yet YOU extended {grace} to them for many years, and YOU warned them by YOUR spirit, through the hand of YOUR Prophets, but they did not give ear; so you delivered them into the hands of the people of the lands.
31) In YOUR abundant compassion YOU did not annihilate them and YOU did not abandon them, for YOU are A Gracious and Compassionate God.
so what do learn by these verses?
24) The children [of Israel] came and took possession of the land, and YOU subdued inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, before them, and delivered them into their hand, along with their kings and the peoples of the land, to do with them as they pleased.
25) They captured fortified cities and a fertile land; they took possession of houses filled with every good thing, chiseled cisterns, vineyards and olive trees, and abundant fruit trees; so they ate and became satiated and fattened and took delight in YOUR great bounty.
here we are told that Allah Suhannahu Wa Ta'Aala "delivered the land of the Canaanites into the hands of the Israelis and they became "
satiated and fattened." so what happened next?
26) Then they became recalcitrant and rebelled against YOU, casting YOUR Torah behind their backs. They killed YOUR Prophets who had warned them in order to make them return to YOU, and they committed great provocations.
so now
they rebelled against Allah Suhannahu Wa Ta'Aala, and
started to ignore the Torah, His Laws.
they also "killed Allah Suhannahu Wa Ta'Aala's Prophets! Nauoothu Billah! why did they kill them? because they were sent to warn them to return to Allah Suhannahu Wa Ta'Aala. They also committed other "great provocations"!
27) So YOU delivered them into the hands of their enemies and YOU afflicted them. But at the time of their affliction they would cry out to YOU and YOU would hear them from Heaven; and in YOUR abundant compassion YOU would send them saviors who would save them from the hand of their enemies.
as a result of their behavior, Allah Suhannahu Wa Ta'Aala let their enemies overtake them. as they now became the oppressed,
Allah Suhannahu Wa Ta'Aala would listen to their prayer and then would send them saviors who would save them from the hand of their enemies. i was really struck by the use of the term "saviors" here, something to dwell upon.
28) But when it would ease for them they would revert to doing evil before YOU, so YOU would abandon them into the hands of their enemies, and would oppress them. They would once again cry out to YOU, and YOU would hear from Heaven and in YOUR compassion YOU would rescue them numerous times.
so...Allah Suhannahu Wa Ta'Aala saves them and then they would revert to doing evil! SubhanAllah! then Allah Suhannahu Wa Ta'Aala would abandon them and save them again. did this happen just once or twice? NO, we are told:
in YOUR compassion YOU would rescue them numerous times! just to remind you in case you forgot or you missed it:
numerous times!
29) YOU warned them, to return to YOUR Torah, but they acted wickedly and did not listen to YOUR commandments and transgressed through YOUR laws, which man should do in order that he may live through them. They turned a rebellious shoulder away and stiffened their necks and did not listen.
again we are told of their rebellious nature, but we are also told some great advice, namely
we obey Allah Suhannahu Wa Ta'Aala's Laws in order:that [we] may live through them!
30) Yet YOU extended {grace} to them for many years, and YOU warned them by YOUR spirit, through the hand of YOUR Prophets, but they did not give ear; so you delivered them into the hands of the people of the lands.
once again we are told about Allah Suhannahu Wa Ta'Aala's Grace, notice the verse mentions that
Allah Suhannahu Wa Ta'Aala's "Spirit" warns them through the hands of the Prophets!
31) In YOUR abundant compassion YOU did not annihilate them and YOU did not abandon them, for YOU are A Gracious and Compassionate God.
how wonderful is it that although we learn just how much the "Jews" angered Allah Suhannahu Wa Ta'Aala,
we are told over and over again in these SEVEN VERSES of His Abundant Compassion!
I will try in the near future, Insha' Allah, to show you evidence in the Tanakh itself that the Torah is NOT in it's original form!
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