Chaf Lamed Hay –Genesis 18:21 Destruction?

Chaf Lamed Hay –Genesis 18:21, This has been translated Destruction or Altogether or completed or . . . . I think you get the idea about the word in general. The issue is in specific. This verse in question with the leading verse 20, reads as:

[20 And the LORD said: 'Verily, the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and, verily, their sin is exceeding grievous. 21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto Me; and if not, I will know.'] JPS 1917, reads the same in 1999 version.

Some translation like the Art Scroll -Stone Edition Tanach, adds the words “then Destruction” following the “come unto Me;”.

O.k. big deal, some people think there should be “Destruction” in this verse. Why does it matter?

That is the real question, “Why does it matter?”. I tell you that for the majority of people in the world it does not matter at all. It does matter to me and apparently it matters to some translators. I can not speak for them, only for me and maybe you will find some value in this also.

Idol Worship? –Mourning a building!

Idol Worship? –Mourning a building!

Commandment TWO --

Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor any manner of likeness, of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 4 thou shalt not bow down unto them, nor serve them; for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me;

We have just completed a day of mourning called the 9^th day of Av or Tish B'Av. In thinking about what I am being told to do, I have serious concerns that I may be acting against my soul, in mourning the lose of a building or two and what ever extra events some one wants to attach to this rabbinically commanded Day of Mourning. I the G-D of Abraham, G-D of Isaac, G-D of Jacob commanded this, even then I would need to determine whether this was actually from G-D as it seems to break Law #2.

Why is it so important to have G-D dwell among us?

When G-D declared that HE will not be among the people, but a angel will lead them to the Promised Land, for they are a stiff-necked people. A true mourning happens; [Exodus 33:4 And when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned; and no man did put on him his ornaments.] But, why is this important? Moses states it like this; [Exodus 33:16 For wherein now shall it be known that I have found grace in Thy sight, I and Thy people? is it not in that Thou goest with us, so that we are distinguished, I and Thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth?'] --In this way We, you and I can know that we are keeping G-D's law and are Blessed by the Lord G-D most High as his people.