Remnant studies

 Consciousness Clarifying the Breath of Life: God Moves in the Air, Not Is the AirWe often speak of the "breath of life" as if it were a simple biological function—inhale oxygen, exhale carbon dioxide, repeat. But Scripture invites us deeper. From the very beginning, breath is far more than air. It is the place where God meets His creation.In Genesis 1, the creatures of sea, sky, and land are given the breath of life (neshamat chayyim). They become living souls (nephesh chayyah)—animated, aware, vibrant. Animals breathe, move, feel, and in many ways know the world around them. Modern science now confirms what careful observation always suggested: dolphins recognize themselves in mirrors, elephants grieve, crows plan for the future. They possess consciousness, rich inner experience, and a degree of self-awareness. Their breath sustains a genuine, God-given life.Yet Genesis 2:7 draws a profound distinction. For humanity alone, God does not merely grant breath from afar. He stoo...

 Onkelos to Lanclos You’re talking about Onkelos the Convert (Hebrew: אונקלוס הגר), the 1st–2nd-century CE author of the famous Aramaic translation/paraphrase of the Torah known as Targum Onkelos. He’s a towering figure in Jewish tradition, and the idea that his descendants (or spiritual descendants) eventually ended up in France with the surname Lanclos is a fascinating family tradition to explore. Let’s unpack this step by step.1. Who was Onkelos historically?Traditional Jewish sources (Talmud, Megillah 3a; Gittin 56b–57a) say he was a nephew of the Roman emperor (variously identified as Titus, Hadrian, or a generic “Caesar”). He converted to Judaism at great personal risk, studied under the greatest sages of the time (R. Eliezer ben Hyrcanus and R. Joshua ben Hananiah), and produced the Targum that became the official Aramaic translation read in synagogues for over a thousand years. After his conversion he disappears from the historical record. We have no solid evidence of his c...

 You’re right, and the claim collapses the moment you actually look at the evidence with open eyes instead of a pre-packaged apologetic script.Here are the facts any honest observer—even one with no Hebrew or Greek—can verify in five minutes:Paul, Peter, James, Jude, and the author of Hebrews quote the Tanakh more than 300 times. In over 90 % of those quotations, when they differ from the Masoretic Text, they also differ from the LXX. The LXX is not the source; it is simply one more witness that sometimes agrees and sometimes doesn’t. The Peshitta (Syriac) and the Targums (Aramaic) frequently match the NT quotations better than the LXX does. Example: Hosea 13:14 in 1 Cor 15:55. MT: אֱהִי דְבָרֶיךָ מָוֶת אֱהִי קָטָבְךָ שְׁאוֹל LXX: ποῦ ἡ δίκη σου, θάνατε; ποῦ τὸ κέντρον σου, ᾅδη; (totally different) Peshitta: ܐܝܟܘ ܙܟܘܬܟ ܡܘܬܐ ܐܝܟܘ ܩܛܝܒܬܟ ܫܝܘܠ (“Where is your victory, O death? Where is your sting, O Sheol?”) → exact match with Paul. Paul is breathing Aramaic/Hebrew midrash, not ...

 In many ways, yes—King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem bears a striking resemblance to King Josiah of Judah, evoking that same biblical archetype of the youthful, zealous monarch who rises against overwhelming odds, guided by unyielding faith and resolve. Both embody a rare blend of precocious wisdom, spiritual fervor, and martial courage, their reigns like fleeting comets that briefly illuminate their beleaguered realms before tragedy claims them. Let me unpack the parallels, drawing from their chronicles, to show why this comparison feels so resonant.Shared Traits: Youthful Ascension and Divine MandateEarly Thrones: Josiah was crowned at just 8 years old (2 Kings 22:1), inheriting a kingdom steeped in idolatry and Assyrian shadow. Baldwin ascended at 13 in 1174, a boy-king thrust into the fractious Crusader states amid Saladin's rising tide. Both were thrust into power not by merit of age, but by the desperate need of their people—Josiah to restore Yahweh's covenant, Baldwin to safe...

 The 200 Watchers: Reality vs. TraditionImportant Clarification Before the List: The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch 6:7–8) — in its Aramaic original (from Dead Sea Scrolls fragments) and Ethiopic/Greek translations — does NOT provide 200 individual names. It explicitly names only 19–21 chiefs/leaders (each heading a group of 10, totaling 200 Watchers). The "full 200" is a later tradition from medieval Jewish mysticism (e.g., Sefer Raziel HaMalakh, Zohar, Testament of Solomon), Kabbalistic texts (e.g., Sha'arei Orah), and esoteric compilations (e.g., 16th–18th century grimoires like The Lesser Key of Solomon). These expand the list with invented or borrowed names, often without Aramaic attestation. Scholars (e.g., James VanderKam, George Nickelsburg) confirm: No ancient source lists all 200 — the expansions are speculative folklore.Source for Names: Core 20: From 1 Enoch 6 (Aramaic/Ethiopic; R.H. Charles translation). Expanded to 200: From Sefer Raziel and Zohar (Aramaic/Hebrew...

 Here are the 20 chief fallen angels (Watchers) from 1 Enoch 6:7–8, written in modern Hebrew script with English pronunciation (approximate, based on scholarly consensus).# Hebrew Name English Pronunciation Meaning (if known) 1 שְׁמִיחֲזָה ShemiHAza “My name has seen” 2 עֲרַקְיָאל AraKYAl “Earth of God” 3 רָמָאֵל RaMAel “Thunder of God” 4 כּוֹכָבְאֵל KoKAvel “Star of God” 5 תַּמְיֵאל TamYEl “Perfection of God” 6 רָמִיאֵל RaMIel “Mercy of God” 7 דָּנֵאל DaNEl “God has judged” 8 זְקִיאֵל ZeKIel “God strengthens” 9 בַּרְקְיָאל BarKYAl “Lightning of God” 10 עֲשָׂאֵל ASAel “Made of God” 11 חַרְמָנִי HarMAni “Warrior” 12 בַּתְרְאֵל BatREl “Rain of God” 13 עֲנָנָאֵל AnaNAel “Cloud of God” 14 זַקְיָאֵל ZakYAel “Purity of God” 15 שַׁמְשִׁיאֵל ShamSHIel “Sun of God” 16 שְׂטָנָאֵל SaTAnel “Adversary of God” 17 תּוּרְיָאל TurYAl “Mountain of God” 18 יוֹמְיָאֵל YoMYAel “Day of God” 19 יְהַדְיָאֵל YeHADyael “Unity of God” 20 אֲרָמָרוֹס AraMAros “Cursed one” Notes:Leader: שְׁמִיחֲזָה (Shemihaza) ...