Cactus Game Design Message Boards

While reading the Bible, I ran across something that I have read many times before, but that I just now realize is an anachronism in today's language...

So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

So...who invented the sword as we know it? From the description here, it doesn't sound like this is a normal kind of sword. Somehow it flamed and "turned every way" (like a lightsaber...or a flaming porcupine). But obviously it was a tool that the angels had, and was intended to inflict harm or block people out. Adam wouldn't have had a need to invent anything like this (unless Eve was a real stinker), so this object must have been invented by someone above.

Is it possible that somehow man discovered the technology of swords from angels? If so, what else might we have learned from the heavens in the early days? Or, is the word "sword" used here because there was no better word to describe this strange artifact at the time this book was written? If so, it is still a mystery as to what this thing really was...

I have no background information on this, I do not know the original Hebrew text, and I do not have access to a good commentary, but this struck me as odd. I hope someone can illuminate.


Also, a new card idea:

Flaming Sword
Silver 2/3 WC GE
"You may place this card on a site or fortress to negate it."
Genesis 3:24

Just a thought..

In Revelation, John often uses language of his day to try to describe something that he doesn't really understand.  In Revelation 8:8 he says "The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea."

Maybe "sword" is just the closest thing to whatever it is the flaming object was.

I actually was pondering what kind of swords the Israelites/Other peoples of their time used, this question is right in line with this one so if anyone has an answer for it, I'd love to know.

The Watchers gave much instruction to man before the time of the flood, and continued somewhat after.

I would like to know more about this...

Quote from: Minister Polarius on May 04, 2010, 02:08:56 PM

The Watchers gave much instruction to man before the time of the flood, and continued somewhat after.

I would like to know more about this...

the book of Enoch. non-canonical, but I'm pretty sure it was considered.

lightsaber ftw. this is an interesting thought.

I was pretty sure angels did not invent the sword as we know it, but that it was just a word used for this strange object which may not have even been known about in the time of writing. I just kind of wanted to confirm this and raise awareness of this odd passage. I also wanted everyone to know how thmart I em.

Quote from: BubbleBoy on May 04, 2010, 02:49:03 PM

Quote from: Minister Polarius on May 04, 2010, 02:08:56 PM

The Watchers gave much instruction to man before the time of the flood, and continued somewhat after.

I would like to know more about this...

the book of Enoch.

I have heard so much about this interesting book. I think I'm going to make studying this my focus once my AP tests are over.

lightsaber ftw. this is an interesting thought.

A flaming porcupine would be more practical.

It seems highly probable to me that it was a flaming porcupine.  That would be awesome.