This is certainly a topic worth discussing.
I think we should consider the Hebrew meaning for words when discussing Old Testament.
Sojourner = toshab; A dweller, esp. as a native citizen, and a tempory inmate or mere lodger, resident alien:- foreigner, inhabitant, stranger.
Stranger = geyr; a foreigner:- Alien, sojourner, stranger.
Sojourneth = guwr; To turn aside from the road (for a lodging or any other purpose) sojourn (as a guest) to shrink, fear (as in a strange place) also to gather for hostility (as be afraid) abide, assemble, be afraid, dwell, fear, gather (together) inhabitant, remain, stand in awe.
We can have the discussion about God and whether HIS intent regarding HIS Words, "
One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.", was only speaking to humans with Hebrew DNA or not later.
But the point of my post on this thread is to ask about what "works of the Law" Paul is referring to when speaking about forgiveness or justification. How can we understand what "Works of the LAW" were being pushed onto the new converts for atonement if we don't look at the Law God gave the Levites for atonement?
Right now I think it prudent to understand what LAW was "ADDED" and what was it ADDED to, in Gal. 4.
One thing is for certain. Abraham was forgiven his sins. But not by the Levitical Priesthood "works of the Law" ADDED 430 years later.
A lot of these things need to be visited. Just like you say above about Abe's sins being for given. I am not convinced that would even be a proper concept to apply. Was Abrahams sin even taken into account prior to the law?
Ro 4:15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
Ro 5:13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
Or the notion of breaking a command without having any guilt (accountability). Such is the case with the priests working in the temple?
Mt 12:5 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?
And another term for stranger is those which are strangers of the priest priesthood, and from going within the temple itself. All other tribes not of Levi or sons of Aaron.
stranger=zuwr
02114 זור zuwr zoor
a primitive root; v; [BDB-266a, BDB-266b] {See TWOT on 541}
AV-stranger 45, strange 18, estranged 4, stranger + 0376 3, another 2, strange woman 2, gone away 1, fanners 1, another place 1; 77
1) to be strange, be a stranger
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to become estranged
1a2) strange, another, stranger, foreigner, an enemy (participle)
1a3) loathsome (of breath) (participle)
1a4) strange woman, prostitute, harlot (meton)
1b) (Niphal) to be estranged
1c) (Hophal) to be a stranger, be one alienated
Ex 29:33 And they shall eat those things wherewith the atonement was made, to consecrate and to sanctify them: but a stranger <02114> shall not eat thereof, because they are holy.
Ex 30:9 Ye shall offer no strange <02114> incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering; neither shall ye pour drink offering thereon.
Ex 30:33 Whosoever compoundeth any like it, or whosoever putteth any of it upon a stranger <02114>, shall even be cut off from his people.
Le 10:1 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange <02114> fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.
Le 22:10 There shall no stranger <02114> eat of the holy thing: a sojourner of the priest, or an hired servant, shall not eat of the holy thing.
Le 22:12 If the priest’s daughter also be married unto a stranger <02114>, she may not eat of an offering of the holy things. {a stranger: Heb. a man a stranger }
Le 22:13 But if the priest’s daughter be a widow, or divorced, and have no child, and is returned unto her father’s house, as in her youth, she shall eat of her father’s meat: but there shall no stranger <02114> eat thereof.
Nu 1:51 And when the tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it down: and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger <02114> that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
Nu 3:4 And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD, when they offered strange <02114> fire before the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest’s office in the sight of Aaron their father.
Nu 3:10 And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest’s office: and the stranger <02114> that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
Nu 3:38 But those that encamp before the tabernacle toward the east, even before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger <02114> that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
Nu 16:40 To be a memorial unto the children of Israel, that no stranger <02114>, which is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense before the LORD; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as the LORD said to him by the hand of Moses.
Nu 18:4 And they shall be joined unto thee, and keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, for all the service of the tabernacle: and a stranger <02114> shall not come nigh unto you.
Nu 18:7 Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priest’s office for every thing of the altar, and within the vail; and ye shall serve: I have given your priest’s office unto you as a service of gift: and the stranger <02114> that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
