Something I had to write for who knows why.

Another essay from senior year. Obviously, I had horrible writing then.

David Hill

Mr. Peper

Theology 12

8-19-2007

 

                                                            Honi the Circle-Drawer

"Once they said to Honi the Circle-Drawer, 'Pray that rain may fall,' He said to them, 'Go out and bring in the Passover ovens that they may not be softened.' He prayed, but rain did not come down. What did he do? He drew a circle and stood within it and said, 'Lord of the universe, Your sons have turned their faces to me, for I am as a son of the house before You. I swear by Your great name that I will not move from here until You have mercy on Your sons.' Rain began dripping. He said, 'Not for this have I prayed, but for rain (that fills) cisterns, pits, and caverns.' It began to come down violently. He said, 'Not for this have I prayed, but for rain of goodwill, blessing, and plenty.' It came down in moderation until Israel went up from Jerusalem to the Mount of the House because of the rain." That’s a paragraph from the Mishnah, it is also the most common story of Honi and what he is pretty much famous for. (http://www.christian-thinktank.com/mq4.html)

Onias is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Honi. As read above, all Onias did was pray to God for rain, and he got it. Oh, and he drew a circle in the ground and told God he wasn’t going to move until it rained.  Josephus, a skeptic of miracle workers, regarded Onias as a “righteous man” and “beloved of God.” (http://members.aol.com/FLJOSEPHUS/HoniTheCircleDrawer.htm)

 In Honi’s time he was considered a miracle worker, but he shouldn’t be grouped with Jesus for that fact alone. Honi was called “Son of the House” which means literally “Closeness to God.” John Dominic Crossan (how ironic that he appeared!) is said to have argued that Onias, by drawing circles, was simply performing magic. But, Josephus was adamant that he was a righteous man, who prayed to God and got results. (http://www2.ida.net/graphics/shirtail/honithe.htm)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glenn Miller December 5, 2001 http://www.christian-thinktank.com/mq4.html

G.J. Goldberg http://members.aol.com/FLJOSEPHUS/HoniTheCircleDrawer.htm

Kerry A. Shirts http://www2.ida.net/graphics/shirtail/honithe.htm