First of, let me say that I have never read the entire Bible. When I do read it, I just open it and read.. at random. I also like to add that I totally understand Mandy's and others "problems" with the Bible. The old Testaments does have some weird passages, and I won't try to explain them.. because I can't. What I can say is that there are different translations to the same passages. Some see it one way, while others see it differently. I stopped listening. I told myself to find my own meaning.. what those words mean to me. As I said earlier.. I don't trust these "men of God" out there preaching.. I will find God myself, without other views and explanations. I feel the same way about organized religions, I have no trust in them.
What I will say is that those were "weird" times. I look at them as humanities "infancy". I also see a almost hatred for women. I think (at those times), women were blamed for our expulsion from paradise. Yes, it seems cruel, but here's my take on all that.. the Bible (Old Testament) was written at a time when we all were "sinners", and God made some very strict laws for us in order to be sin free. Remember, this was at the time of Moses.. when the Jews were freed (they were slaves in Egypt) by God. So when Moses was away talking to the "burning bush" in Mt.Siani(?), these same Jews, that Moses fred through God, decided to make a false idol (the golden calf), and party (fornicating, stealing, etc.). For these actions, we fell out of favor, God saw how corrupted we were. That's why we had such harsh laws. That's the way I see those times. Then came Jesus, and He died for our sins and wickedness. There's where the New Testament begun, and the old ways were changed forever. One thing I know is.. God is a loving God, but he's also a harsh, jealous God. And he has to be.. nothing unclean can be with Him.