Biblical Hebrew Forum

[George Athas <gathas AT mail.usyd.edu.au>]

Hi Ron!

Your comments on the Soul are interesting, but I have two further comments to 
make.

(1) I agree that Sheol and the grave are one and the same. However,

(2) Sheol does seem to be a place (not "hell") where the departed go. In the 
episode of Samuel's
spirit being raised for Saul at Eyn-Dor, it appears that the spirit (if we 
can separate it from the
soul in this case) is in a particular place, namely a place which is viewed 
as being "down". I
assume this to mean that Sheol is more than just the "grave" - it is a place 
where people do exist,
but they exist in a state of unconsciousness and virtual nothingness. Note 
Samuel's reponse to
having been "disturbed" and his statement that Saul and his sons would, the 
next day, be where
Samuel was.

Best regards,
GEORGE ATHAS
Dept of Semitic Studies,
University of Sydney
- Email: gathas AT mail.usyd.edu.au
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