Biblical Hebrew Forum

[irene riegner <iriegner AT concentric.net>]

Dear List People,

How should one understand this verse?
How should one understand the word  _btym_?  Houses?  What are
_houses_  for the asherah?  Is there a more arcane meaning for
_btym_ in this context?  How should one understand the 2nd clause
beginning with  _)$r_, the clause after the etnachah?  Is this
something like a parenthetical clause, an identifying aside?  Are
the women weaving inside the houses of the holy men (there's no
reason to presuppose they are male prostitutes)?  Shouldn't
_$m_  have a   beth_  in front of it  _b$m_?