I have been reading the bible and need to know which bits I ought to take literally?

Based on my extensive study of the Americanus Redneckian, I think the rule is: Everything is 100% literal. Unless it's personally inconvenient.

You're not Jewish, so nothing in the Tanakh applies to you. It was never meant to be taken as universally applicable.

Judaism's suggestions for others are: don't murder, don't steal, be careful who you sleep with, form courts of justice, don't eat flesh from an animal that's still alive, you might not want to worship rocks and please don't kill your kids in the name of a god. These come from the story of Noah, Judaism didn't begin until Abraham.

A great sage summarized Torah by saying "That which is hateful to yourself, do not do to others. That is the whole of Torah, all the rest are details. Now go and study."

Outsiders get all worked up over the mentions of capital punishment in the Tanakh but rarely look to see how it's practiced. For it to be enforced, two witnesses of good-standing must each individually inform the person that what he's doing/about to do carries a death penalty, the person must acknowledge that he's heard and understand this and proceed to do it anyway - and within the time it takes to say a short phrase of five (I think) syllables. If there's a longer time, the death penalty cannot be applied. If there's any **possibility** that the person didn't actually understand, the death penalty cannot be applied. If there's any **possibility** that the person wasn't in a reasonable mental state, the death penalty cannot be applied.

Do you remember your question on suicide? And how something like the possibility of stress means self-inflicted death cannot be ruled a suicide under Jewish law? It's similar here. Every possible mitigating factor is invoked.

When a penalty is mentioned in the Tanakh, it is the **outer limit** of possible punishment in a worst case (and therefore exceptionally rare) scenario. That's just how Jewish law is written. It indicates the seriousness of the offense.

The walls around capital punishment are so high that a court which executed more than one person was considered to be a murderous court and immediately disbanded.

If you want to understand the Tanakh, don't read it literally with your modern assumptions. Read it contextually, looking at what was going on at the time the section was written and how it's used in Judaism. These are very old texts from a very different world after all.

Thats all the Mosaic Law...when Jesus came to the earth that was all done away with....the only commandment now is in Matthew 22:36-40....and everything else is conscience. Like, if you love your neighbour, your not gonna kill him, lie to him , or be greedy and want, or covet, his stuff :) etc

Be glad u don't live back in Bible times where stoning was all the rage:p

Why not try taking it all literally before you try to pick and choose...there is a way to reconcile the harsh laws of the old testament with the "love thy neighbor" instructions in the new testament, but if you don't find that before you start searching for metaphorical meanings, you'll never find it.

God gave us all a brain. We can choose to use it. The bible is a great book written to provide guidance. My suggestion to anyone reading it is to try and put the word in the context of the culture from whence it came.

Sadly many of us misuse the document, rather than a reference for guidance it ends up being a weapon.

Worst of all look at how misinterpretation has affected so many people in a negative way. Look at the misuse of Celibacy by the catholic church. That has sure backfired on them. God gave us these great tools tools for pleasure and procreation and they expect their leadership to NOT use use them.. SHeesh Engage your brains!!!!!

Other than the prophetic books like Revelation, Daniel, and Isaiah. All of it. And by the way. Because the bible documents something. Such as stoning, banning women from speaking, is not God telling you to go and do thou likewise. If you'd pick up yourself a good study bible and read the foot notes it would explain that to ya. And you wouldn't have to come on yahoo making sarcastic remarks to try and get someone go giggle.

Actually, there is one part that can be taken literally.

Leviticus, I believe, gives instructions regarding washing.

After handling the sick or injured or a corpse detailed washing is ordered.

Hell, "modern" medicine didn't get locked on to that concept til after the turn of the century.

Take the parts that say "submit to your man" very seriously.

Not doing what a man tells you to is a SIN.

Numbers

22:28 And the LORD opened the mouth of the ***, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?

22:29 And Balaam said unto the ***, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.

22:30 And the *** said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ***, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.

Definitely literal.....

Send me a pic of your neighbor cleaning his pool, will you? Then I can covet him too.