Bruce,You bring up a great point to illustrate what I was saying in a recent postabout the difference between "studying" scripture vs. "meditating" on scripture. Studying those examples that you gave or any other similar examples would involve perhaps getting some commentaries or a concordance out and seeing what else the Bible may say on a subject and then form an opinion about what it can all mean.Meditating begins with going to God directly with faith that He is willing and able to teach us and humbly asking God to reveal what He knows the hidden treasure is within His word for our edification. Then listen and open your heart to receive.I'd like to give one quick example that illustrates the hidden meaning in an otherwise seemingly meaningless bit of information similar to the ones you listed in your post:I was just thinking about this early this morning too so it must be that I was meant to share this.Bruce, would you say that the incident of Peter cutting off an ear with a sword that Jesus heals back on right away would fit in nicely with your other examples of strange mysteries in the Bible?Why an ear? I heard Gene Scott years ago mention about this that Peter was either the greatest swordsman in the world or the worst to go after a guy with a sword and only cut off an ear. If he was trying to do that then he's the greatest but if he was trying to cut off the guy's head, then he's the worst. (Like a scene in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, I think it was, where one of them shoots the gun out of a rival's hand and the now weaponless man, rubbing his empty hand admires his skill with a handgun until the shooter's partner informs him that he was actually aiming for your belly...)But here's what I learned from the Holy Spirit about this incident: Peter was trying to impress Jesus with his willingness to fight for Him and even die for Him as he had earlier stated that he would. Now, when the men arrived to take Jesus away, Peter saw his chance to make good on his claim and he attacked one with a sword but rather than be appreciated or commended by Jesus Peter was rebuked with the famous words:Matthew 26:52. Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.John 18:10. Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.
11. Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?Luke 22:50. And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.
51. And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.The text really doesn't give us much insight into what this ear cutting off could mean, it just tells it and leaves it at that. But the Holy Spirit had something more He wanted to say about it. Peter was doing what he thought Jesus would want but it turned out not to be what Jesus wanted at all. Many Christians operate this same way and do what they assume Jesus wants instead of letting Him lead them especially when it comes to dealing with others that come against us. We know that the Bible is called the Sword of the Spirit, right? Many Christians use the Word of God the way Peter was using his sword and attack or rebuke or even try to "witness" to non Christians by quoting scriptures at them but rather than doing good their efforts can result in a spiritual way the same as Peter's sword and result in the non Christian becoming as if their "ear to hear" is cut off, See? I have known people who have become hardened to the gospel after being "witnessed" to by a well meaning Christian until they hate to hear any mention of the "good news" anymore. But the same Jesus who healed that servant's ear can also heal the cut off ear of a wounded person if Jesus is allowed to be involved and we learn when to "put up the sword".The woman at the well is the way we should witness, which is to tell others of what Jesus has done for us and then introduce them to Jesus and then get out of the way and let Him speak to them Himself and then they can say what that woman's townsfolk said,John 4:42. And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.