On this topic, you may want to check out How to Read the Bible: A Guide to Scripture, Then and Now by James Kugel. It provides a historical overview of how the implicit and explicit interpretations of the old testament narratives have changed with respect to scholarship. Great read.

http://www.amazon.com/How-Read-Bible-Guide-Scripture/dp/0743...

One can read the Bible on various different levels: as a historical document, a document specifically for you, and so on.

It has many surprises (like the example you gave). Heck, if the Old Testament was made into a movie, it'd be R rated.

My current favorite scripture is the origin of the pet. It's in Genesis 2:18-19. Adam was lonely in the Garden of Eden, so God provided Adam with animals for companionship. Adam gave a name to every one of his animal friends.

It's an endlessly fascinating book. I have many versions of it for study, but I prefer the King James.

Hey, I just posted a similar viewpoint but I explained my own reason. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8855847

It's literally the only book I've ever found unreadable (sequentially.) I tried really, really hard for weeks, and not just once. Multiple times over the course of different years.

man, forget it. It's easier to read a kernel dump.