Abraham Allegiant Quotes

“turned the majority of their kingdom — the peasants, workers, and slaves — against the wealthy members of society. They encouraged hatred of the rich for their indulgent consumption —all the rich, that is, except for the royal family, whose wealth was needed to rule beneficently. Then they confiscated most of the wealth of these “greedy” rich through excessive taxation, in the name of spreading the wealth around, so that “all would be equal.” But the rich were ruined and could no longer afford to employ the poor commoners in their fields and storehouses. The government then had to confiscate the means of production and place all citizens in their care as wards of the state. So commoners ended up not much different than slaves. They depended upon the government for their daily bread, their shelter, and even their health. The daily survival of the citizens was completely in the hands of Semiramis and Mardon.”
― Brian Godawa, Abraham Allegiant

“Women, on the other hand, needed men like a fish needed a chariot.”
― Brian Godawa, Abraham Allegiant

“giant clans as listed below.   Rephaim (Deut. 2:10-11, 20; 3:11) Zuzim, short for “Zamzummim” (Deut. 2:20) Emim (Deut. 2:10-11) Horites/Horim (Deut. 2:21-22) Amalekites (Numbers 13:28-29) Amorites (Amos 2:9-10)”
― Brian Godawa, Abraham Allegiant

“In the section below on Babel Inheritance, Deuteronomy 32:9 is shown to describe Yahweh as dividing the nations up at Babel and allotting the peoples under the authority of other gods, while keeping Israel as his own people. Yahweh would be the name he would use to mark the strong demarcation between his people and the people in slavery to other gods.”
― Brian Godawa, Abraham Allegiant

“When Yahweh told Moses he revealed himself to the forefathers as El Shaddai, but not as Yahweh, he was saying that they only knew him in a limited sense that was not as full as he was about to reveal. The Mosaic revelation of Yahweh on Sinai would be a dramatic world changing self-disclosure of God’s unique character through his Law, a new revelation of God. This is what would separate them from the nations as a holy people of God’s own choosing.”
― Brian Godawa, Abraham Allegiant

“El Shaddai, carries with it a possible derivation of “God of the mountain,” a common understanding of deities in the ancient Near East as revealed in power on mountains (Mount Sinai and Mount Zion are God’s locations of self-disclosure).[9] Finally, Yahweh is the “eternally self-existent one” who is the unique covenantal name of Israel’s deity in opposition to the nations.[10]”
― Brian Godawa, Abraham Allegiant

“But when one researches the meaning behind the original Hebrew words, their truer fuller meaning comes to light. Elohim is revealed as a more generic plural reference to the Creator as all humankind can know through general revelation.[7] El Elyon has a linguistic affinity to the Ugaritic “Elyon Ba’al” a name for the Most High God of Canaan, and therefore a polemical stance against him. Ba’al is not the Most High, the God of Israel is.[8]”
― Brian Godawa, Abraham Allegiant

“Unfortunately, English translations obscure the meaning of the text by painting over the Hebrew names with bastardized generic terms. Thus, Yahweh is translated as “the LORD,” and El Shaddai, as “God Almighty,” which drains them of their rich cultural context and meaning. They further this offensive activity by translating El Elyon as “God Most High,” and Elohim as “God,” and on and on. We have reduced the names of the living God to nameless generic references to a “supreme being.” This de-naming of Yahweh Elohim is more a reflection of the Greek impersonal “Prime Mover” than the Hebrew personal “Named One.”
― Brian Godawa, Abraham Allegiant

“not a single scrap of actual historical or archeological evidence for this theorizing, it also reeks of modern imperialism by projecting stupidity onto the writers of some of the most intelligent and poetic literature in history. Such arrogance is easily dismissed when one studies the ancient cultural context of divine names as expressing character traits related to specific situations.”
― Brian Godawa, Abraham Allegiant

“The idea of individuals changing their names is nothing new in the ancient world. We know that Abram’s name which meant “exalted father” was changed to Abraham to mean “father of many nations” (Gen 17:5) based on the historical events of God’s covenant with him. Later in the Bible, Jacob (“usurper”) was changed to Israel (“struggles with God”) as the ancestor of the people of God. Even ancient gods changed names based on locales. Inanna of Sumer became Ishtar of Babylonia, and then Ashtart of Canaan. Ninurta of Sumer was probably the basis for Marduk of Babylon, and then Ba’al of Canaan.”
― Brian Godawa, Abraham Allegiant

“used the interpretation of ancient Jewish texts and legends as my paradigm to place Abraham back during the time of the Tower of Babel, an event that would be considered about a thousand years before Abraham under the conventional chronology. While this supposition is largely rejected now, it has a long venerable tradition in 2nd Temple Jewish literature and Talmudic interpretation and shows up in Ginzberg’s famous Legends of the Jews.[5] It is that interpretation that I found interesting enough to present within the pages of the novel because I have used these ancient Jewish sources throughout the entire series”
― Brian Godawa, Abraham Allegiant

“Much of ancient history is anchored in Egyptian chronology that is notoriously ambiguous and imprecise and creates problems for all kinds of historical anchoring of events. Donovan Courville in the 1970s, and more recently David Rohl, has explored the Egyptian problems to offer a “New Chronology” of the ancient world that roots Biblical history in new contexts significantly different from the conventional chronology.[3] They too have shaken up the establishment by uncovering the significant chronological problems of the conventional view. In more recent years, Gerald Aardsma, has offered the Biblical theory that the Exodus occurred in 2450 B.C., nearly one thousand years earlier than the conventional dates of 1445 B.C. or 1225 B.C.[4] This would place Abraham in Mesopotamia around 3000 B.C. instead of 2000 B.C. A radical reconsideration.”
― Brian Godawa, Abraham Allegiant

“But the reason why this is all so important is because the standard interpretation of Biblical archaeology is increasingly that the events of the Bible did not happen because they do not line up with the artifactual evidence of archaeology. There is simply no current evidence of a crushing defeat of Egypt or the resultant wandering of the Jews in the desert around the traditional date of 1445-1400 B.C. (or the more critical late date of 1275 B.C.) There is no current evidence of the cities of Ai or Jericho being inhabited, much less destroyed around the dates that Biblical scholars say they must have happened. Aardsma shows that there is however archaeological evidence of all of the above occurring about one thousand years earlier than normally attested by Bible scholars. With a thousand year shift backwards, all the Biblical history falls into place with known external evidence.”
― Brian Godawa, Abraham Allegiant

“True to his word, El Shaddai did visit Sarah one year after the incident of laughing. This time, it was to oversee a birth. Sarah did conceive as El Shaddai promised and she bore a son for Abraham, whose name was Isaac. This time Sarah laughed with happiness instead of doubt and said, “God has made laughter for me. I have borne a son for Abraham in his old age.” • • • • • Somewhere out in the Negeb desert, not too far from the ruins of Kiriath-Arba, a young fifteen year old giant named Anak finished his fighting practice for the day. He sat before a fire. His long, muscular neck pulsated with rage, as he listened to an old witch tell him again the story of his birth and the annihilation of his entire giant clan by the armies of Abraham, who came from the oaks of Mamre. One day, he thought, I will spawn a people and destroy the entire seed of this Abraham. And my seed will rule Canaan.”
― Brian Godawa, Abraham Allegiant

“The second evening, the daughters got him drunk again and Gaia, the youngest, slept with him and got pregnant as well. The fruit of their incestuous intercourse would one day prove to be a thorn in the side of Abraham’s seed to come. The firstborn bore a son and called him Moab. The younger one bore a son and called him Ben-ammi. These two would be the fathers of the Moabites and the Ammonites.”
― Brian Godawa, Abraham Allegiant

“Lot had been so traumatized by the devastation of Sodom and Gomorrah that he took his daughters up, out of Zoar. He lived in a cave in the hills, away from all human contact. His daughters fretted that they would never be in the presence of civilization again, and would become two old, unmarried maids. So they acted out of desperation to preserve their family seed in honor of their mother. One evening, they got their father drunk, which was not hard to do. He had lapsed into depression from his lifetime of failure to honor his god El Shaddai. The eldest, Ishtar, then slept with him to get pregnant. Because Lot had been so inebriated, he had no recollection of the incestuous deed, just a phantom memory of having a shameful dream that made him even more depressed.”
― Brian Godawa, Abraham Allegiant

“Everything was turned to salt and embers. But the finale was yet to come. Huge geysers of salt water burst out in locations all about the Jordan Sea. They had been released like vents from Sheol. The salt water would kill all sea life in its wake as it spread through the fresh waters. One last seismic convulsion ripped through the plain. The entire valley dropped three hundred feet in five seconds. It was as if the earth had been sucked downward. In the sudden surface change, a runoff of the Jordan Sea rushed in, to fill the newly lowered plain. A wall of salt water washed over the cities of the plain, putting out the fires. It buried the inhabitants and their ruins under a blanket of salt water. A new shoreline washed up all the way to the town of Zoar, where Lot had fled to. Black steam billowed and mixed with the smoke of the burning bitumen. The plans of Ba’al and Ashtart had been thwarted. Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, were now under the deadly brine waters of what would now be called the Dead Sea.”
― Brian Godawa, Abraham Allegiant

“Then the lightning struck. A massive display of multiple lightning strikes painted the sky with a frightening brush. It lit the combustible elements in the whirlwind. A rainstorm of fire and brimstone from heaven engulfed the four cities of the plain in a furnace of sulfurous flames. Nothing survived.”
― Brian Godawa, Abraham Allegiant

“Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim were at the very epicenter of the catastrophic conflagration. Their buildings crumbled in the wake of the shaking. The sounds of a population in chaos could be heard in each city as their citizens sought refuge and found none. The storm front created a pressurized system that caused a huge uprush of wind from the ground to the sky. Outside the city, the bitumen pits exploded with black pitch spewing out like a field of small, gushing volcanoes of black vomit. The earth was in upheaval. It belched forth gasses, solids, and liquids into the sky. The hurricane-like winds sucked the volatile materials up into the whirlwinds high above the entire valley.”
― Brian Godawa, Abraham Allegiant

“Suddenly, a light from heaven burned down upon the two angels and they were gone, translated up to heaven. • • • • • All along the Valley of Siddim, the long, gigantic rift began to spasm. Large fractures opened in the crust. Massive amounts of heat and gas escaped into the air. The land rolled like a tsunami wave of earth. Up above, lightning joined the thunder in the black heap of cumulus storm clouds.”
― Brian Godawa, Abraham Allegiant

“the few stragglers still stumbling around in the aftermath of the blinding. The stragglers cried for mercy. Their eyes had been burned out of their sockets. They flailed for anything to grab onto for security. Mikael and the Destroyer stood in the center of the square. Mikael looked up and prayed, “El Shaddai, God Almighty, the Most High God, El Elyon, possessor of the heavens and earth, bring down your wrath!” With that prayer, the Destroyer lifted his massive sword and plunged it into the ground all the way up to the hilt. The earth trembled and shook. The Meat Puppet lost its footing and fell to the ground. Up above, a large storm cloud gathered. Thunder cracked the sky. The Sodomites circled the angels.”
― Brian Godawa, Abraham Allegiant

“Ba’al led Ashtart down the underground tunnel in a dog collar. It had been thirteen years since the battle of nine kings, where Marduk had defeated Ashtart and became Ba’al, the king of the gods of Canaan. Ashtart’s plan had been set back generations with the devastation of her giant progeny throughout the land by Chedorlaomer’s forces. But with the addition of Ba’al as the Most High God of Canaan, the two of them together could do what she could not do alone. Ashtart had revitalized the original program of miscegenation of the Watchers. The rest of the pantheon of gods were fearful of the consequences of such a pursuit, since El Shaddai had already flooded the earth the first time such a course of action had been undertaken. But with the two most powerful divinities united, the pantheon could do little but sit back and see what happened.”
― Brian Godawa, Abraham Allegiant

“Sarai,” he said with a hurt voice, “We are a family, you and I. We may not have children, but that does not make us any less a family in the eyes of El Shaddai.” He was right. She realized that by saying such a thing, she was reducing their marriage to a mere tool for having children. When El Shaddai created marriage in the Garden, he said the first priority was oneness. Procreation was second in importance to that union. She had made an idol out of children and negated her husband as her priority. It only made her cry more in repentance. “I am so sorry, my husband. You are my heart and soul. Please forgive me.” “There is nothing to forgive, my beauty pie. You are my heart and soul.”
― Brian Godawa, Abraham Allegiant

“Abram, you can take the goods you have confiscated, just give me back the people stolen from me.” “I do not think you understand,” said Abram. “I have lifted my hand to El Shaddai, God Almighty, who is El Elyon, possessor of heaven and earth, that I would not take a thread or sandal strap of anything that is yours, lest you should say that you had made me rich.” Bera’s beady eyes narrowed, “No man is without his price.” Abram said, “I will take nothing but what we have eaten. As for Mamre, Eshcol, and Aner, let them take their shares, for they have been worthy allies.” “Indeed,” said Bera. “And would your Amorite confederation consider a covenant with the Cities of Love, to build a wider alliance of defense?” Abram stared at Bera with disgust. “I would sooner form an alliance with Sheol.” “Well,” said Bera, “I guess you think you have purchased the right to insult me.” Their growing antagonism filled the air with tension. Suddenly, messengers from Mamre’s community entered the tent. They bowed before Abram and Mamre, winded from a speedy ride. “My lords, Arba has attacked our clans.”
― Brian Godawa, Abraham Allegiant

“Do I not get blessed?” It took a moment for Abram to recall what Bera must have been ruminating over. “You have the return of your people and spoils,” said Melchizedek. Abram butted in, “After a tenth of everything is given to the good king Melchizedek for his priestly services and mediation.”
― Brian Godawa, Abraham Allegiant

“Then Abram figured it out. His eyes widened. “Are you —?” Melchizedek put his finger to his lips. “I am Melchizedek, king of Salem. I have no past. I am the servant of El Elyon, the most high God.” But Abram knew he was talking to Shem ben Noah, the blessed seedline, his great ancestor. It was why he was so old, and why he had the weapons that could only have been handed down from Noah. After the Tower of Babel debacle, Shem must have moved to Canaan and created a new identity for himself, wiping away his past, as the sons of Noah turned corrupt.”
― Brian Godawa, Abraham Allegiant

“Melchizedek picked up one of the clay tablets. “These are the toledoth tablets,” he explained. “They contain the generations of your family, all the way back to Adam.” Abram looked at it. He already had some genealogy tablets he had received from Noah. But they were not as complete as these. He could see these tablets also contained stories of his forefathers that he would one day pass down to his posterity as well. Abram stared into Melchizedek’s eyes with intense curiosity. “How old are you?” he asked. Melchizedek hesitated, as if not sure he should answer. “Too old to remember.” “Last of the old-timers,”
― Brian Godawa, Abraham Allegiant

“Melchizedek gestured to the weapons and said, “They are angelic weapons used by your ancestors. This is the Bow of Enoch and the whip sword of Lamech. They were both mighty giant slayers in their day.” Abram said, “How did you come by them?” Melchizedek looked familiar to him, but he still could not place him. “That is not important,” said the mysterious king. “All you need know is that they are yours for safekeeping, to pass down through your seedline. The bow is made of heavenly metal and strung with indestructible Cherubim hair. The sword is also heavenly metal that is both flexible like a whip and durable as the strongest sword. Your ancestor Lamech called it ‘Rahab’ after the sea dragon, because of its destructive capability.”
― Brian Godawa, Abraham Allegiant

“Before they sat down to the feast spread out before them, Melchizedek ordered one of his guards to bring forward several items; a set of cuneiform tablets, a compound bow, and a strange looking sword handle sticking out of a small leather pouch. He handed them to Abram. “Blessed be Abram by El Elyon, God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth,” he said. “And blessed be El Elyon who has delivered your enemies into your hand. I give these heirlooms to you.” “What are they?” asked Abram.”
― Brian Godawa, Abraham Allegiant

“The other king was the king of Salem, Melchizedek. He was a mysterious leader whose past was unknown to Abram. There was something very different about this ruler. He arrived with a simple escort, bringing bread and wine for their meeting. He wore a long robe with a hood rather than a crown. He had a well-groomed beard, and spoke as if he did not belong on earth. Lot could not keep his eyes off the mysterious Melchizedek as he entered the tent, followed by a censor of incense. He offered the bread and wine as a symbolic meal of fellowship between the three leaders.”
― Brian Godawa, Abraham Allegiant