One of the really strange Old Testament stories is that of Jonah and the whale. Jonah was told by God to go to Nineveh, but he tried to run away by boarding a ship. Then a huge storm came, and the sailors threw Jonah overboard, and he was swallowed by a large fish (commonly thought of as a whale). He spent three days and three nights in the belly of the fish before being spat out onto dry land.
We can understand them as moral lessons. For example, Jonah's story can be seen as a lesson about not running away from our responsibilities. God gives us tasks, and if we try to avoid them, there will be consequences.
One of the weird stories could be the miracle of the Gadarene swine. Jesus cast out demons from a man and sent them into a herd of pigs, which then rushed into the sea. It's quite strange as it involves the transfer of demons and the mass death of pigs.
One of the main themes is the relationship between God and His people. It shows how God chose the Israelites, made covenants with them, and guided them. Another theme is the concept of sin and redemption. The stories often depict the people's disobedience and God's mercy in forgiving them when they repent.
I'm not entirely sure specifically which '87' stories you are referring to. However, in the Old Testament, the concept of 'the beast' can be related to various symbolic or literal interpretations. For example, in the book of Daniel, there are visions of strange beasts that represent kingdoms or powers. Each beast has distinct characteristics that signify different aspects of worldly rule and its relationship with the divine.
The age of the Old Testament stories is difficult to pinpoint precisely. They have been passed down and developed over a long period, likely spanning several millennia.
The Exodus is a very significant event. It's when the Israelites were led out of slavery in Egypt by Moses. Another one is the creation of the world as described in the book of Genesis.
Well, if we assume that the 'beast' is being presented in a traditional Old Testament sense, it might be shown as a symbol of evil or chaos. Maybe it's depicted as something that is in opposition to God's order.