quote:
The Old Testament passages were written in a time and place when the common belief was a flat earth, so it makes sense that the writers did believe the earth was flat.
We know that they beleived the world to be flat
Yeah, I'm not so sure. Probably most people, but perhaps an esoteric number had some insight.
"He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in." -Isaiah 40:22
Now, this is poetry speaking about the magnificence of God in relation to the creation, but nonetheless, the intimation, given by Isaiah, is that the earth is round. Why did he say that?
Another verse that piqued my attention was found in the book of Job.
"He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; He suspends the earth over nothing." -Job 26:7
Again, this book too is very poetic, however, the intimation that the earth is suspended over nothing must have been a difficult concept in those days, and yet, at least the author of Job seems to be able to believe this confidently.
Its verses like these that make me wonder what people of ancient times did know, as opposed to us falsely assuming they were so uninformed.
"He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. -Micah 6:8