Genesis Marks the Spot

Carey Griffel

Raiding the ivory tower of biblical theology without ransacking our faith.

  1. 5D AGO

    Jesus and the Forces of Death: Ritual Purity in the Gospels - Episode 159

    This week, Carey continues the Purity Series by digging into Matthew Thiessen’s Jesus and the Forces of Death: The Gospels’ Portrayal of Ritual Impurity within First-Century Judaism—and uses it as a springboard to talk about atonement, purification, and why “apocalypse” is not just end-times hype. A core thread: modern readers (and plenty of scholars) often read Jesus as if he’s against Jewish purity, when the Gospels actually portray him as rescuing people from the forces of ritual impurity—with a “contagious holiness” that overwhelms impurity at its source. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Why we misread the Gospels when we unconsciously import our modern conceptual world into a first-century purity framework (a frame-semantics problem) The common scholarly false dichotomy: “Jewish holiness vs Jesus’ mercy,” and why it fails A helpful map for thinking clearly: holy/profane (common) and pure/impure as distinct-but-related categories Why “ritual impurity vs moral impurity” can be a useful discussion tool—but isn’t quite a clean biblical taxonomy “Death-logic,” sacred space, and why childbirth (surprisingly) gets pulled into the conversation How this connects to Genesis (childbirth, Eden as sacred space, exile from the presence, Sabbath, and the start of death) Demonic impurity / unclean spirits: why Genesis 6/Nephilim and 1 Enoch matter, but don’t “solve” everything—and why you have to account for broader ancient exorcism Apocalyptic vs prophetic genre: prophecy as covenant lawsuit and warning to rebels; apocalypse as hope for the faithful and God “breaking in” A bridge into the atonement conversation: how “atonement” language can mean purification/purgation of sacred space, and how that differs from broader “at-one-ment” reconciliation talk Referenced Matthew Thiessen, Jesus and the Forces of Death   Andrew Rillera, Lamb of the Free (and the PSA conversation) Jacob Milgrom and “death-logic” Join the study (On This Rock) Carey is formally kicking off a deep-dive study of Lamb of the Free in January 2026, with recorded Zoom discussions and supporting visuals/charts; the study is for paid members (noted as $5/month in the episode) On This Rock Biblical Theology Community:  https://on-this-rock.com/ Website: genesismarksthespot.com    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot    Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/   Link to the original Marble Machine video by Win... Chapters (00:00:00) - Thiessen, purity, atonement, apocalypse vs prophecy(00:04:37) - The big misread: “Jesus vs Jewish purity”(00:08:52) - Unclean spirits, sickness/wholeness, and why “unclean” is a category worth studying(00:12:37) - Jesus vs the forces of death (impurity, conflict, cross, resurrection)(00:13:28) - PSA debates and why Lamb of the Free is in this conversation(00:16:51) - “Atonement”: at-one-ment vs purification/purgation (word-logic matters)(00:19:12) - Invite: the Lamb of the Free study group on On This Rock(00:21:24) - Genesis Marks the Spot: death, child birth, sacred space, exile, Sabbath(00:25:25) - Genesis as “proto” + why Leviticus becomes essential(00:26:12) - Two binaries: holy/common and pure/impure(00:31:07) - Ritual vs moral impurity: helpful distinction, messy taxonomy(00:34:31) - “Death logic” (Milgrom), chaos/order, and why impurity matters(00:40:14) - Childbirth, blood, and why “death” gets linked to impurity(00:44:45) - Apocalypse: what it is (and isn’t) + why genre matters(00:54:58) - Eschatology reflections: prophecy vs apocalypse(00:59:19) - Demonic impurity beyond 1 Enoch: demons, bodies, exorcism, and kingdom signs

    1h 8m
  2. 12/19/2025

    Theophanies, Spirit-Fire, and the “Angel of the LORD” (with Courtney Trotter) - Episode 158

    In this episode of Genesis Marks the Spot, Carey sits down with Courtney Trotter of Kairos Classroom for a deep-dive into how Scripture portrays God’s appearances—especially the debated “Angel of the LORD,” and the often-overlooked manifestations of the Holy Spirit. Courtney outlines a helpful taxonomy (aural, phenomenological, and embodied theophanies) and explains how these encounters operate across “tiers” of experience—earthly, heavenly vision from earth, and heavenly vision in the heavenly realm. Together, Carey and Courtney explore why this matters for Trinitarian theology (including how Augustine’s approach shifted Western instincts, and how Luther/Calvin helped repopularize a Christophany reading), and why it matters for worship, embodiment, and daily Christian life—especially in an age tempted toward “functional deism.” In this conversation: What a theophany is—and why the “Angel of the LORD” question isn’t a side issue A practical framework for how God appears in Scripture (aural / phenomenological / embodied + where the experiencer is) Spirit theophanies as wind/breath/fire: Genesis 1 and Exodus 14 as “Breath/Wind/Spirit” readings The fire-thread: Sinai fire, temple presence, exile traditions, Hanukkah (2 Maccabees 2), and Pentecost as “fire moving outward” Why John’s Gospel presses the issue (“that was me” logic tied to Abraham/Isaiah/Jacob patterns) and how that connects to the Transfiguration A key scholarly prompt: Benjamin Sommer’s argument that a “God with an earthly body… and a heavenly manifestation” is a perfectly Jewish model (and why that matters for Christian claims) Why this isn’t “too mystical”: seeing creation as an arena for encounter, not mere “resources” Referenced / mentioned in the episode: Courtney Trotter’s Kairos Classroom (Greek & Hebrew instruction): Kairos Classroom  Benjamin Sommer, The Bodies of God in Ancient Israel C.S. Lewis, The Discarded Image 2 Maccabees 2 (the preserved fire tradition) On This Rock Biblical Theology Community:  https://on-this-rock.com/   Website: genesismarksthespot.com    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot    Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/   Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan  Chapters (00:00:00) - Theophanies, Angel of the LORD, and Spirit manifestations(00:04:57) - Intro: Courtney Trotter (Kairos Classroom)(00:07:06) - Theophany taxonomy + the “three tiers” framework(00:09:21) - Are embodied theophanies pre-incarnate Logos?(00:20:30) - Sinai fire → altar/temple → exile/Hanukkah → Pentecost → Revelation lampstands(00:27:29) - Benjamin Sommer and the Jewishness of theophanies and Spirit manifestations(00:45:08) - Incarnation uniqueness + “time traveling Jesus?”(00:55:31) - Rabbinic commentary on the “Great Angel” of Genesis 22

    1h 10m
  3. 12/12/2025

    Noah and the Nephilim: Violence, Corruption, and Idolatry in Genesis 6 - Episode 157

    In this episode we head back into Genesis 6 and ask what it means that Noah was “blameless in his generations.” Is this about genetic purity and Nephilim DNA… or about covenant faithfulness in a violently corrupt world? Working through the structure of Genesis, ancient “ancestor epics,” and the toledoth of Adam and Noah, Carey explores how Genesis 6 sets up a pattern that runs through the prophets and into the New Testament: idolatry → corruption → violence → judgment… with a righteous remnant preserved. Along the way, she interacts with Sandra Richter’s “primeval sons of God” view, nuances Michael Heiser’s “three rebellions” framework, and pushes back against the Christian Supernatural Entertainment Complex’s obsession with hybrid DNA and racialized readings of the Nephilim. You’ll hear how: “Generations” in Genesis 6 uses two different Hebrew words (toledoth vs Noah’s “blamelessness”), and why that matters. Noah’s “without defect” language echoes cultic purity and covenant wholeness, not lab-grade genetics. The flood narrative prototypes the idolatry → corruption → violence → judgment pattern seen in Ezekiel, Amos, Hosea, Habakkuk, and Romans 1. The Nephilim, “men of the name,” and hero cults connect Genesis 6 with Babel, Deuteronomy 32, and Second Temple traditions (apkallu, Enoch, Rephaim). Why over-focusing on supernatural beings can distract from human responsibility, justice, and repentance—and how Noah models a different way of walking with God. On This Rock Biblical Theology Community:  https://on-this-rock.com/  Website: genesismarksthespot.com    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot    Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/   Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan  Chapters (00:00:00) - Back to Genesis 6: Noah, Purity, and Corruption(00:03:19) - Toledoth, Ancestor Epics, and the Structure of Genesis(00:07:31) - Who Are the “Sons of God”? Richter, Heiser, and Human Responsibility(00:12:25) - “Blameless in His Generations”: Ethics, Cultic Purity, or DNA?(00:21:20) - Corruption, Violence (ḥamas), and Noah as Ethical Contrast(00:31:28) - Heiser's Description of the Three Rebellions(00:40:54) - From Idolatry to Corruption: The Prophetic Pattern(00:49:12) - Primeval History as Template: Israel Recapitulates Noah’s World(00:55:12) - Nephilim, Hero Cults, and the Origins of Idolatry(01:03:07) - Purity, Worship, and Why Noah’s Blamelessness Still Matters Today

    1h 12m
  4. 12/05/2025

    Between Glory and Ashes 4: Refined, Not Consumed - Episode 156

    In this episode, Carey continues the fire in Scripture series by following the holy fire of God into the furnace—where His presence purifies without consuming. We trace how Isaiah and Daniel picture God’s burning holiness as both judgment and safety, a place where the faithful can actually live inside the fire without being destroyed. Using frame semantics and the idea of sensus plenior (“fuller sense”), we explore how Scripture’s meaning develops without contradiction, moving from Torah’s guarded nearness to God, through exile and restoration, into the incarnation, resurrection, Pentecost, and the church’s baptism “with the Holy Spirit and fire.” We look at key passages in Isaiah 4, 6, 30, and 63 alongside Daniel 3, 7, and 12 to show how God’s jealous love guards, guides, evaluates, and refines His people. Trials are not signs of abandonment but a refining furnace that exposes and burns away what cannot live in God’s presence—while preserving and beautifying what can. We then bring this all the way to the New Testament: Hebrews, 1 Corinthians 3, 1 Peter, and Matthew 3’s promise that Jesus will baptize “with the Holy Spirit and fire.” What does it mean to be baptized into the One who dwells in the fire? How can the church live near the consuming fire of Hebrews 12 without being consumed? And how do suffering, repentance, and our everyday choices fit into that larger frame of glory, presence, and purification? If you’ve wrestled with judgment, suffering, or the fear of “not doing enough” in repentance, this episode will help reframe those fears inside the story of God’s refining love—and why baptism belongs inside the fire-and-glory framework rather than outside of it. In this episode, we explore: How frame semantics helps us see “fire” as a family of frames: boundary, guarding, purification/furnace, guidance, glory, and judgment Isaiah 6 as a divine council scene where holy fire purifies Isaiah’s lips and commissions him rather than destroying him Isaiah 4, 30, and 63 as pictures of in-house purification, guidance, and God’s breath/Spirit as burning, judging, and leading presence Daniel 3 and the fiery furnace: why Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego can live in the flames with the “one like a son of the gods” Daniel 7 & 12: the Son of Man, rivers of fire, judgment of the beasts, and the shining resurrection hope of the wise How sensus plenior works: later Scripture doesn’t contradict earlier Scripture, but fills out seeds already planted Why trials and suffering in the New Testament function as a refining furnace rather than a sign that God has abandoned us 1 Corinthians 3 and 1 Peter 4: judgment beginning with the household of God, and works tested “as through fire” Matthew 3:11–12 and what it means that Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit and fire Baptism as participation in Christ’s indwelling fire—where the person is not consumed, but the unfit things are burned away On This Rock Biblical Theology Community:  https://on-this-rock.com/   Website: genesismarksthespot.com    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot    Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan Link to Wintergatan’s websit... Chapters (00:00:00) - Hermeneutic Corner: Sensus Plenior & Fire(00:10:24) - Isaiah 6: Holy Fire, Purification, and Calling(00:17:32) - Isaiah 4: In-House Purification & Spirit of Burning(00:22:31) - Isaiah 30 & 63: Judgment, Guidance, and Spirit-Led Exile Living(00:35:21) - Daniel 3: The Fiery Furnace & Living Inside the Flames(00:39:05) - Daniel 7 & 12: Son of Man, Rivers of Fire, and Resurrection Hope(00:47:53) - From Daniel to Jesus: Fire Brought Near in the New Testament(00:52:35) - Drawing Near to the Consuming Fire Today(00:57:17) - Judgment Begins with the Household of God(01:01:43) - Baptism and the Furnace of God’s Presence

    1h 8m
  5. 11/28/2025

    Between Glory and Ashes 3: Authorized Fire vs. Zeal - Episode 155

    What if fire really does fall from heaven…and the nation still doesn’t change? In this episode, Carey walks through Elijah’s showdown with Baal, the prophetic lawsuit pattern, Psalm 82, and how Jesus redirects our zeal so we don’t weaponize “calling down fire” today. In this Fire series episode, we step onto Mount Carmel and into the divine courtroom. Elijah calls down fire, Baal stays silent, the people shout “Yahweh is God!”—and yet the monarchy doesn’t change, Jezebel still hunts Elijah, and injustice continues. We trace how this scene works as a prophetic lawsuit rooted in the covenant of Deuteronomy, how it mirrors Psalm 82’s divine council courtroom, and why public spectacle can expose idols but can’t regenerate hearts. Along the way, we explore the difference between magic and covenant obedience, Baal’s “silence,” and why Carmel doesn’t mean rival powers don’t exist. The episode then jumps forward to 2 Kings 1 and Luke 9, where Elijah’s script is picked up—and corrected—by Jesus. The disciples want to call down fire on a Samaritan village; Jesus rebukes them and re-orders zeal under his timing, his mission, and his authority. If you’ve ever wished God would “just show up” with a big miracle to settle everything—or been tempted to weaponize judgment texts against your enemies—this conversation on holiness, power, and posture is for you. In this episode we: Frame the Fire series in terms of God as consuming, jealous love Unpack Elijah at Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18) as a prophetic lawsuit Connect covenant drought, Baal’s failure, and Yahweh’s fire as legal evidence Read Psalm 82 alongside Carmel as a divine council courtroom scene Explore why spectacle can expose idols but can’t legislate heart change Distinguish magic-technique vs. covenant obedience in Elijah’s actions Clarify idols vs. gods and why Baal’s silence doesn’t equal non-existence Follow Elijah to Horeb (1 Kings 19) and the remnant that didn’t bow to Baal Walk through 2 Kings 1 and the captains of fifty as a case study in posture Watch Jesus reorient Elijah-style fire in Luke 9 and Luke 10 Reflect on James 1 and what meekness, anger, and “strength under authority” look like Consider what it means for us to act as God’s hands and feet without hijacking his judgment On This Rock Biblical Theology Community:  https://on-this-rock.com/   Website: genesismarksthespot.com    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot    Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/   Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan  Chapters (00:00:00) - Why We'll “Skip” Exodus–Leviticus(00:02:02) - Elijah and the Ethics of Power(00:07:45) - Covenant Drought, Baal Worship, and Setting Mount Carmel(00:10:15) - 1 Kings 18: Elijah vs. the Prophets of Baal(00:21:41) - The Prophetic Courtroom: Claim, Evidence, Verdict, Sentence(00:24:11) - Psalm 82, Deuteronomy 32, and the Cosmic Ethics of Power(00:27:01) - What Fire from Heaven Can (and Can’t) Do(00:28:32) - Magic vs. Covenant: Technique, Obedience, and Yahweh’s Turf(00:31:15) - Idols, Gods, and Why Baal’s Silence Isn’t Non-Existence(00:34:48) - Elijah at Horeb: Remnant, Whisper, and God’s Pursuit of Hearts(00:38:44) - 2 Kings 1: Captains of Fifty and the Ethics of Calling Down Fire(00:44:36) - Jesus, James & John: When Not to Torch the Samaritan Village(00:51:40) - Meekness, Anger, and Acting Under God’s Authority Today(00:56:49) - Unseen Realm, Holiness as Fire, and Living Under God’s Jurisdiction

    1h 2m
  6. 11/21/2025

    Between Glory and Ashes 2: God Is a Consuming Fire - Episode 154

    In this episode of Genesis Marks the Spot, Carey continues tracing the theme of fire through Scripture—this time by pairing it with the biblical theme of glory and the language of God as a “consuming fire” and “jealous God.” We explore how glory functions as weight, radiance, presence, boundary, purification, guidance, evaluation, and honor—and how fire shows one way those realities are enacted. Walking through key passages like Deuteronomy 4, Exodus 13–14, Numbers 9, and Hebrews 12, demonstrates how God’s jealous love guards covenant loyalty, guides His people, and exposes what cannot survive His holy presence. Along the way, we situate these texts in a Divine Council framework and wrestle with different readings of the “allotment of the nations.” Finally, we step into the water–fire–Spirit framework of baptism: how the flood, the Red Sea, and Pentecost help us see baptism not just as a declaration of allegiance, but as a boundary marker, a call into sanctification, and an invitation to live near holy love without being consumed. You’ll also hear about a Frame Semantics Study Guide on Glory & Fire, created to help you visualize the overlapping frames that Carey describes throughout the episode. In this episode, we explore: Why glory is more than “brightness”—it’s God’s gravity, weight, and worth How glory and fire overlap but are not identical (glory answers why, fire answers how) Deuteronomy 4’s “consuming fire and jealous God” in light of the Divine Council Several textually plausible options for what it means that the nations are “allotted” to the heavenly host—and why Carey leans toward a “handing over” reading The pillar of cloud and fire as a moving fence, guide, and protector in Exodus and Numbers Hebrews 12’s contrast between Sinai and Zion, and why “acceptable worship with reverence and awe” still matters for the church How baptism sits inside a broader water–fire–Spirit pattern: flood, Red Sea, Spirit as distributed fire, sanctification as a furnace Why baptism is more than a finish line—it enrolls us into a space where God’s jealous love guards, purifies, and forms us for communion and mission Resources mentioned: Frame Semantics Study Guide on Glory & Fire: God is a Consuming Fire: How “Glory” and “Fire” Frames Help You Read the Bible  Carey’s broader Frame Semantics Study Guide can be found here. On This Rock Biblical Theology Community:  https://on-this-rock.com/ Website: genesismarksthespot.com    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot    Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/... Chapters (00:00:00) - Fire Theme, Biblical Theology & Resources(00:03:23) - Glory as Weight, Radiance, Presence & Boundary(00:17:14) - Purification, Guidance & Honor: Overlapping Glory Frames(00:22:23) - How Fire Frames Relate to Glory(00:26:22) - Deuteronomy 4: Consuming Fire and Jealous God(00:29:52) - Divine Council and the Allotment of the Nations(00:44:25) - Exodus and Numbers: The Mobile Pillar of Fire and Cloud(00:51:09) - Hebrews 12: Sinai, Zion and Acceptable Worship(00:55:57) - Baptism in the Water–Fire–Spirit Framework

    1h 5m
  7. 11/14/2025

    Between Glory and Ashes: Fire at the Boundary - Episode 153

    This episode launches a new mini-series on the theme of fire in Scripture and how it works as more than just a judgment or “end times” metaphor. Fire marks boundaries, tests fitness for nearness, guards holy space, and signals God’s own presence with His people. Starting at the flaming sword of Eden, Carey traces how fire shows up as a guardian of sacred space, a refining presence, and a covenant sign—from Noah’s burnt offerings and Abram’s smoking firepot to Moses and the burning bush. Along the way, she draws on frame semantics to help us see fire not as a single symbol, but as a cluster of overlapping frames: guardian, purifier, theophany, judgment, empowerment. We also explore some fascinating scholarly debates about Genesis 3:24: Is the flaming sword just a weapon… or a spiritual being in its own right? How do ancient Near Eastern parallels and Psalm 104 factor in? What do later readings like the Targums suggest about God’s presence “east of Eden”? From Cain and Abel to Noah, Abram’s covenant ceremony, and Moses at the burning bush, this episode asks: What counts as a boundary in these stories? What makes someone fit to draw near? How do judgment and mercy belong together in God’s fiery presence? Finally, these themes connect to the bigger biblical story of glory, conquest, and God’s dangerous-yet-merciful nearness—with an invitation to go hunting for fire imagery in your own studies, using word studies as a launchpad but not the destination. On This Rock Biblical Theology Community:  https://on-this-rock.com/ Website: genesismarksthespot.com    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot    Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan Link to Wintergatan’s website: Chapters (00:00:00) - Why Fire is a Burning Topic(00:04:26) - Flaming Sword of Eden: Judgment or Mercy?(00:11:17) - Divine Council Readings: Is the Sword a Spiritual Being?(00:21:24) - Targums and Divine Presence(00:28:21) - Fire, Boundaries, and Sacrifice I: Cain and Abel(00:32:59) - Fire, Boundaries, and Sacrifice II: Noah(00:38:08) - Covenant by Fire: Abram’s Vision and the Smoking Firepot(00:43:46) - Names, Circumcision, and Ishmael in the Promise(00:49:01) - The Burning Bush: Holy Ground and a Reluctant Prophet(00:54:01) - Glory and Word Studies

    1h 2m
  8. 11/07/2025

    From Magic to Presence: Prayer, Baptism, and Protection - Episode 152

    In this sweeping synthesis episode, Carey zooms out from Mesopotamian exorcism texts to contrast ancient magic/technique with the Bible’s holiness/presence frame. We explore how Scripture attributes sickness and calamity to God’s covenant governance (not a sprawling demonology), why ritual ≠ incantation, and how protection language (Psalm 91) differs when it’s used as prayerful trust rather than magical leverage. We also trace Passover’s blood as sign of covenant loyalty (protection for presence) versus pagan apotropaic rites (protection from volatile powers), and we re-situate baptism as incorporation into a purified people indwelt by the Spirit. Along the way: John Walton on conflict theology, Heiser’s take on Psalm 91 and the “evil eye,” Egypt’s maat, Hittite purity, and the danger of the sacred. We finish by reframing discipleship around holiness first, not death first—so that ethics flow from presence, not technique. Resources & references mentioned Psalm 91 and Jesus’ temptation (Matt 4); Heiser’s Naked Bible episodes on Psalm 91 & “evil eye” (ep. 162 and 321 referenced). Udug-hul Tablet 12; Shurpu confessional series; Egypt’s maat; Hittite rituals and kings. Community note In November 2025 the On This Rock community is discussing the church—join the conversation; link in show notes. On This Rock Biblical Theology Community:  https://on-this-rock.com/  Website: genesismarksthespot.com    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot    Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/   Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: Chapters (00:00:00) - Agency & sickness(00:05:36) - Ritual vs technique(00:07:21) - Psalm 91 & the “evil eye”(00:09:07) - Guarding against “magical drift”(00:15:25) - Holiness-first ethics(00:18:49) - Baptism in the holiness frame(00:22:37) - Plague & providence(00:25:30) - Priest vs healer roles(00:27:12) - Shurpu confessions & fire(00:32:49) - Incantation vs prayer(00:36:22) - Divination & technique creep(00:41:02) - Jesus’ temptation and amulets(00:44:43) - Comparing Egypt and Israel(00:50:31) - The danger of the sacred(00:59:32) - Holiness that transforms

    1h 7m
5
out of 5
38 Ratings

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Raiding the ivory tower of biblical theology without ransacking our faith.

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