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My question:

Would it be better to think of “idolatry” as being more intense or involved than just praying to an idol of a god? It seems that in ancient thinking, idolatry in the Old Testament involves not just praying before an idol, but feasting with and engaging in sex with the peoples who are ruled by said god, like at the beginning of Num 25? There are several places in the Bible which describes idolatry as including a procreative aspect, thereby fully connecting the idolator in every way with the people and culture of the god who heads them up?

ChatGBT response:

Yes — you’re tracking something very important, and you’re actually much closer to the biblical worldview than what many modern readers assume.

In the Old Testament (and the wider Ancient Near East), idolatry is far more than “bowing down and praying to a statue.” It is relational, communal, covenantal, and bodily. It often involves feasting, sexuality, and procreation as acts of religious allegiance.

Here’s how to think about it.

1. Idolatry in the Bible is covenantal, not merely devotional

Biblically, idolatry is not just about what you say to a god, but:

• Who you belong to
• Whose rule you accept
• Whose “family” you join

That’s why Scripture constantly frames idolatry as adultery and prostitution, not merely false prayer:

• “You have played the harlot… under every green tree” (Jer 3:6)
• “They played the harlot with the daughters of Moab” (Num 25:1)
• “They sacrificed… and joined themselves to Baal of Peor” (Ps 106:28)

The Hebrew phrase in Psalm 106:28 is crucial:

וַיִּצָּמְדוּ לְבַעַל פְּעוֹר (wayyitsamedu lebaʿal peʿor)

Literally: “they yoked/attached themselves” to Baal of Peor.

This is covenant language — not just prayer language.

2. The example of Numbers 25 is paradigmatic

You referenced the right text: Numbers 25.

What happens there?

1. Israel eats meals sacrificed to Moabite gods (cultic feasting)
2. Israelite men sleep with Moabite women (sexual union)
3. This joins them not just emotionally but ritually, bodily, genealogically to the worship of Baal Peor

This is not accidental moral failure.

This is ritualized covenant transfer.

The sexual act is not only immoral — it is religiously meaningful in that world. It is a way of blending bloodlines and loyalties.

3. Sex and procreation were seen as religious acts in pagan systems

In the ANE worldview, fertility wasn’t “biology” — it was theology in action.

Pagan cults believed:

• Sex reenacted the gods’ own sexual unions
• Fertility ensured the god’s favor
• Producing offspring was a way of extending the god’s world

So sleeping with a priestess or cult woman wasn’t just immorality; it was:

• A liturgical act
• A ritual of allegiance
• A kind of sacramental union with that deity’s order

That’s why Scripture so often links idolatry to “seed,” “fruitfulness,” “harlotry,” and “playing the harlot after other gods.”

4. Why “marrying the nations” is treated as spiritual treason

This also explains why Israel is so strongly warned about:

• Intermarriage (Deut 7:3–4; Ezra 9–10; Neh 13)
• Foreign wives leading hearts astray (1 Kings 11)

From our modern view this sounds racist.

From their worldview it was theological and covenantal:

Marriage =

• family allegiance

• covenant bond

• gods of the household

• inheritance of identity

So when Israel “joins” the peoples, they are literally:

Birthing a mixed covenant

Producing children raised under rival gods

Extending the dominion of false deities through their own seed

Idolatry includes bedroom, table, and womb.

5. “Becoming one flesh” as a spiritual act

Genesis 2:24 — “the two shall become one flesh” — was not only personal intimacy in the biblical mind.

It was:

• A real ontological joining
• A spiritual linkage
• A covenant act

So in Numbers 25, Israel isn’t merely committing sexual immorality; they are literally becoming “one flesh” with a rival sacred order.

That’s why Paul later warns:

“Shall I take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never!” (1 Cor 6:15–16)

Paul is reading sex with this ancient logic, not a modern psychological one.

6. Idolatry as adoption into another spiritual family

Your insight is right:

Idolatry in the OT is about full integration into another people and their god.

It’s:

• Eating their food
• Sleeping with their daughters
• Producing their children
• Sharing their festivals
• Sharing their calendar

In short:

It’s joining their household, not just repeating their prayers.

7. Why this matters theologically

This reveals why God’s language is so intense:

• “You are a holy people” (Deut 7:6)
• “You are my treasured possession”
• “You shall have no other gods before me”

This isn’t arbitrary jealousy.

It’s covenant jealousy.

Idolatry is spiritual treason, adultery, and genealogical corruption — not just theological error.

Summary in simple terms

You’re absolutely right to see idolatry as more than prayer.

Biblically, idolatry often includes:

• Ritual meals
• Sexual union
• Procreation
• Intermarriage
• Cultural assimilation

It is a full-bodied act of covenant transfer, not a mere change of beliefs.

After reading the response of ChatGPT, this came to mind…

Is it any wonder why God once said this:

“You must not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God…” – Exodus 20:5a (HCSB)

Godspeed, to the brethren!

Check out my book!

Isn’t it useful to see other people’s projects before you decide whether or not to buy a crochet pattern? Especially now, with the proliferation of scam sites and AI-generated ‘crochet’ images, seeing real projects from real people is the best way to know you can trust the designer you’re buying from.

I know I find the customer photos really helpful on larger e-commerce sites like Etsy and Amazon, so I spent the summer coding up this feature for PlanetJune too, and I’m so excited to have it up and running and filling up with gorgeous photos from my amazing customers!

Now you can go to any pattern (or set) listing in the PJ shop and look for the Gallery & Reviews tab. You’ll see a scrollable carousel of customer pics:

(Then click any of the thumbnails to launch a lightbox so you can see the full-size photo, with credit given to the crocheter who made the project.)

Here are a few more seasonal examples of beautiful customer-submitted photos you can see in the project galleries:

Do visit any pattern listing in the shop to see its gallery in action! Here are links to all the patterns shown in the screenshots in this post, to get you started:

• Fruit Bat
• Pine Cone Collection
• Ornamental Gourds Sets 1 & 2
• PocketAmi Set 3: Halloween
• Oak Leaf Collection & Life-Sized Acorn
• AmiDogs Custom Set (pick any 3)
• Horse, Unicorn & Pegasus
• Maple Leaf Collection

As the PlanetJune galleries are still new, there are currently only between 1 and 20 photos for most patterns, but I hope that we’ll see lots more submissions as time goes by and the galleries fill up with more beautiful projects – and I’d love to include your photos too!

Behind the Scenes

I’ve set up each gallery to display all the project photos for each pattern, randomly ordered, so there’s no preferential treatment, and each time a page loads you’ll see a different selection of projects popping up first.

Since the launch, I’ve also improved the functionality for pattern sets and multipacks, which now show a random selection of projects from all the included patterns, so you can get the flavour of all the patterns you can make without having to click away into each individual pattern in the set:

I’ll also be adding more features in future, for example I’m planning a main PlanetJune Customer Gallery that will show a random selection of customer projects from the previous month’s Top 50 patterns… but that’s another project for another day…

Add Your Projects

I hope you’ll upload your favourite photo for each PlanetJune project you’ve made!

Add your projects by clicking ‘add your photo’ from any shop page (see the first pic above), or visit your My Patterns page to see all your PJ patterns in one place. I’ve also completely revamped My Patterns with a cleaner look and new icons for each pattern for uploading your photo (camera) or writing your review (paper and pencil):

(See the Gallery FAQ for submission guidelines, how to track your submissions, and full instructions.)

Bonus for Ravelry Users: If you’ve made lots of PlanetJune patterns (or even just a few), with your permission I’d love to grab all your PJ project pics (past and future) from your Ravelry projects without you lifting a finger – just email me with your Rav username and the email address you use for your PlanetJune account, and I’ll do everything else.

I’ve wished for years to have a way to see and display all your project photos, and now the project galleries are finally here and working beautifully, I hope you’ll find them really helpful too. I love seeing the submissions coming in, and I can’t wait to see your photos in the gallery!

The post NEW: Pattern Project Galleries appeared first on PlanetJune by June Gilbank: Blog.

I’m very excited about my latest crochet designs – I’ve been planning and developing this pattern collection for a long time, and I’m so happy to be able to present the Coral Reef Collections today!

About Coral Reefs

Corals may look like beautiful underwater plants or colourful rocks, but they’re actually animals! Most corals are made up of thousands of tiny polyps that live together in colonies. There are soft corals that sway like plants in the water, and hard corals that build rigid, stony skeletons. These tiny polyps, working together, create reef ecosystems that support an incredible diversity of marine life.

Meet the Reef Dwellers

Each Coral Reef Collection design is inspired by a real reef inhabitant – from hard and soft corals to sponges, sea anemones, and zoanthids.

Coral Reef Collection 1 includes (L-R): Brain Coral (Symphyllia), Toadstool Leather Coral (Sarcophyton), Staghorn Coral (Acropora), and Button Polyps (Zoanthus) crochet patterns.

Coral Reef Collection 2 will include (L-R): Tube Sponge (Aplysina), Mushroom Coral (Fungia), Sea Anemone (Actinaria), and Trumpet Coral (Caulastraea) crochet patterns.

About the Designs

These innovative designs are all completely no-sew, and I’ve come up with lots of new techniques to bring these corals to life entirely through crochet! All you need is a hook, a few colours of yarn, and a little stuffing, and you can start creating your own reef.

Tip: These patterns are also great stashbusters – they’ll look amazing in almost any colour, and each piece needs no more than 35yds/30m of yarn per colour.

A single coral piece makes a lovely standalone decoration, and your reef display will become more and more spectacular as you add additional pieces in different colours!

With four patterns and dozens of step-by-step photos in each PDF, there’s a lot of details packed into these collections, so I’m releasing them as separate right-handed and left-handed editions. Choose your version before you checkout, and every photo will look exactly as you’ll see it while you’re crocheting.

Buy Now (and Save with the Preorder Bundle)

Getting all these details just right takes time, so I’m releasing Coral Reef Collection 1 now, with Coral Reef Collection 2 to follow in October. You’ll save $3.50 when you buy both together – but you don’t have to wait to get the deal!

Pick up the Coral Reef Collections 1 & 2 multipack today: you can download Collection 1 instantly so you can start crocheting your first four corals right away, and I’ll add the second PDF to your PlanetJune account as soon as it’s ready. I’ll also send you an email reminder with a download link when Collection 2 launches, so you can download it directly from your My Patterns page.

Here are the links:

• Coral Reef Collection 1
• Coral Reef Collections 1 & 2 multipack deal

I think these eight patterns are irresistibly cheerful and colourful, and I hope you’ll enjoy making all these corals and other reef inhabitants as much as I’ve enjoyed designing them all. I can’t wait to see your unique reef come to life!

The post Coral Reef Collection crochet patterns appeared first on PlanetJune by June Gilbank: Blog.

I love crocheting soft and squishy Giant Amigurumi versions of my patterns using blanket yarn! They’re super fun and huggable, but giant amigurumi are more like decorations than playable toys: using a hook that’s wider than a finger always leaves gaps between the stitches that little kids could stick their fingers in.

So I started to wonder: what if I could crochet a version that’s still big and soft, but with the firmness and structure of a standard amigurumi? Could I use the same super bulky blanket yarn with a small enough hook to eliminate those gaps and create a perfectly cuddly kids’ toy?

I did some tests to find out, and here’s the result, courtesy of a not-so-Baby Octopus (from my Baby Cephalopods collection):

A double-sized octopus (left) has twice the size and twice the snuggliness of a standard-sized octopus (right)!

It only took me an hour to make my octopus, and I’m so happy with the result! Trying to see chain stitches in chenille yarn made the tentacles a little more challenging – I had to frog a couple of the arms and try again, but I got there in the end, and everything else came together beautifully.

I forgot how clean and simple these Baby Cephalopods are – such a joy to make! If you haven’t tried these patterns yet, I can highly recommend them. Set 1 includes the Octopus and Squid, and Set 2 has the Cuttlefish and Nautilus, or you can get the multipack that includes all four sweet tentacled babies.

Now, back to my experiment: I found that using a 6.5mm (K) hook gave the best results for toy-making:

• Smaller hooks make the gaps between stitches so small that it’s harder to insert your hook – especially with chenille yarn, where the texture makes the stitches harder to see.
• Larger hooks create the softer ‘giant amigurumi’-style fabric with more space between the stitches.

The K (6.5mm) hook was the sweet spot – small enough to make a satisfyingly sturdy, gap-free fabric, but large enough to offer an easy, enjoyable crochet experience.

And, as a bonus: working with blanket yarn and a K hook, you end up with an ami that’s almost exactly twice the size of the original (for a standard sized amigurumi, worked in worsted weight yarn with an E hook). To demonstrate, here’s a comparison of three versions of my Tiny Whale pattern: Standard, Double, and Giant.

As you can see, the Double whale (centre) is about twice the size of the Standard one, and significantly smaller than the Giant version. It’s a nice middle ground if you want something bigger and cuddlier than a regular amigurumi but not as yarn-hungry as a giant ami!

As this is the ‘goldilocks’ size, I’ve refined my amigurumi scale chart and replaced the old Mini Giant scale (which was such a clunky name anyway!) with the slightly smaller but much more satisfying Double scale:

• If you’ve bought The Essential Guide to Amigurumi, you’ve already seen the new chart – the Double scale was debuted in the book when it launched!
• If you’ve bought The Complete Guide to Giant Amigurumi ebook, I’ve just updated page 8 to reflect the new Double recommendation (and you can download the revised version from your PlanetJune account)
• And I’ve also cleaned up my online Scaling Amigurumi guide with the new Double scale, so everything now matches.

Have you tried making standard amigurumi patterns with blanket yarn? If giant amigurumi feel a bit ridiculous, double-sized amigurumi could be just right for you! They use much less yarn and create a lovely plush huggable toy.

And here’s the best part: all the techniques I developed for giant amigurumi work beautifully at this scale too, especially my game-changing secure magic ring that’s perfect for chenille yarn. If you have my Complete Guide to Giant Amigurumi ebook, you’re already equipped with everything you need to make Double-sized amis too.

I think double-sized amigurumi using blanket yarn and a K US/6.5mm hook might be the perfect fit for sweet cuddly toys – give it a go and let me know what you think!

The post How To Crochet Double-Size Amigurumi appeared first on PlanetJune by June Gilbank: Blog.

Here’s a new addition to my stemmed flower patterns: an elegant sculptural lily flower! With my new crochet pattern you can make Calla, Peace, or Arum Lily flower stems that look stunning in a tall vase and are perfect for modern floral arrangements, wedding bouquets, or Easter décor.

A fun fact about these flowers: the Calla Lily (or Arum Lily) from South Africa shares its elegant flower shape with the unrelated Peace Lily from the tropical Americas. Despite their names, neither of these plants is a true lily!

I made mine in classic white (off-white, actually – for that extra touch of elegance), the colour of Peace Lilies and the wild Calla Lilies that I remember from my time in Africa. You can also get creative with your colours: hybrid calla lilies come in a variety of colours including yellow, orange, pink and dark purple, so you can pick your favourites!

While a few of these stems look lovely displayed alone in a narrow vase like this, you can also mix and match them with my other cut flower crochet patterns to create your own custom bouquet:

Here are all my other stemmed flowers: Basic Rose, Daffodils, Carnations and Tulips.

As I like to reward people who chose to donate for my donationware patterns, the PDF version of the Calla Lily / Peace Lily pattern includes additional assembly photos, bonus tips if you want to make a more resilient flower, and my special technique for fastening off the yarn neatly at the base of the stem. As always, the pattern is free for you to use, and you need only donate if you’d like to thank me for my time in creating it, or if you’d like the easy-to-print PDF version.

Go to the free Calla Lily / Peace Lily crochet pattern >>

Or jump straight to donate:

Order the Calla Lily / Peace Lily pattern >>

Not ready to make it yet? Add it to your Ravelry queue:

The post free crochet pattern: Calla Lily / Peace Lily appeared first on PlanetJune by June Gilbank: Blog.

Legendary RPG author and designer Rob Kuntz is adding TWO very sought-after PDF products to his Three Line Studio Store, after those products recently sold out as popular print releases elsewhere on the web (DATG at TLB Games, and DD at Chaotic Henchmen Productions)...

Rob's seminal treatise Dave Arneson's True Genius, and iconic RPG adventure module Dark Druids, have now joined our range of downloadable digital (PDF) products!

 

And here's the double-whammy to all our fans and friends: if you purchase DATG and DD together as a bundle — The DATG Dark Druids Bundle — you will get 20% off your order (*valid until 5th July 2023). Now that's regal!

Good Day to You All!

There is no better way to start off a New Year than with -- not just one but TWO -- brand-new, never-before-published creative, exciting products!  Even better, when such creative, exciting products are about a CELEBRATION...

Throughout 2023, Rob Kuntz and Three Line Studio will be celebrating 50 years since the inception and playtesting of the world's first commercial RPG in 1973!

And there is no better way to celebrate than to reward YOU, Rob's loyal fanbase, with our launch of Gargax's Glorious Gewgaws and Pryce's Price, both available to purchase exclusively from our newly-launched Three Line Studio Store!  Please note that for the very first time, we are 'going' digital as those two products are published in professional high-quality full-colour PDF format, printable and viewable on all electronic devices, PC/MAC/Android.  Cartography, interior art and Gewgaws cover art by are by a promising young Italian graphic artist, Davide Gambarara, who did a stirling job!  Davide brought a crisp line work to both Gewgaws and Pryce.  We cannot praise him enough and can already hint at the fact that Davide will be involved in forthcoming TLS projects!  https://www.facebook.com/dagamarts/
More information about Davide from our TLS Facebook post.

Rob's two celebratory releases are part of Three Line Studio's Red Book™ collection, and are send-ups to Gary Gygax:

Gargax's Glorious Gewgaws is divided into two sections.  The first part references in detail some special magic items, while the second part features the films, literature and authors that historically inspired the beginning of the RPG form.  Pryce's Price is a very exciting and captivating action-packed adventure module with gothic undertones, described as "one of the most fantastic adventures written by Rob Kuntz to date!"  Gewgaws and Pryce are sure to brighten up your day... and your game!  Head off to our store -- only one click away -- and while there please also make sure to download Rob's latest FREE (26-page long) Newsletter: https://threelinestudiostore.company.site/ If you wish to purchase Gewgaws and Pryce together, why not take advantage of our SPECIAL OFFER on the Gewgaws Pryce Bundle and save 25%! Happy Celebrations!
 

Download the first issue of Cepheus Journal. There is an article about CE skills, part one of a scifi adventure on salvage and recovery, a Sword of Cepheus NPC, a description of a free trader with deckplans, a small pseudolizard species to encounter, a piece on modern war, tech level comparisons and more. We want … Continue reading Cepheus Journal Issue #001

Rosalis Cluster is Sector generated using the Cepheus Engine rules. It can now be downloaded from the downloads page. The download includes a huge PNG-image (4227 x 5305 pixels), and two text-files with the UWPs and the XML-data. In the map of the sector we can see two multi subsector empires. The Raniera Worlds and … Continue reading Rosalis Cluster

You are rolling up a new Traveller character and you aren't sure which Background Skills to choose. In this article, I will show you the best background skills for your Traveller character.

You need scout ship deck plans for your virtual tabletop game. Check out my new Pioneer-Class Scout Ship Deck Plans For Roll20 AnD VTT.

The Cepheus Journal is a free and ad-free Fanzine. We are looking for submissions. While we wait for the first issue, these mock-up covers might provide some inspiration.

Looking for sci-fi RPG adventure seeds for your next game of Cepheus Engine or Traveller? Check out The Missing Survey Vessel.

Need a new hairdo?  Need that crooked nose straightened out?  Need to go incognito for a while?  Try the new Cosmedoc Cosmetics Autodoc!

My players needed something larger than the standard air/raft, so I created this civilian g-carrier for them.

The eighth and final live Traveller player panel for Mayday Traveller RPG Day 2020.  The Crew discusses more Traveller character backstories.

The eighth Interview for Mayday Traveller RPG Day 2020 is Marc MIller of Far Future Enterprises.  We discuss the origins of Traveller with the creator himself!

The seventh live Traveller player panel for Mayday Traveller RPG Day 2020.  The Crew discusses more Traveller character backstories.

The seventh Interview for Mayday Traveller RPG Day 2020 is Matthew Sprange of Mongoose Publishing.  We discuss the origins of Mongoose and the Mongoose Traveller 2nd Edition.

The sixth live Traveller player panel for Mayday Traveller RPG Day 2020.  The Crew discusses more Traveller character backstories.