Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Peter Kirk"<peter_kirk AT sil.org>]

From ancient headdresses to 20th century hidden platforms, national 
leaders have always used all sorts of devices to make them appear 
taller and more impressive than they really are. Og's (allegedly) nine 
cubit long bed, or sarcophagus (what does the word mean?), of 
Deuteronomy 3:11 could well have been part of a publicity trick that 
presented a naturally tall man as a giant. Perhaps it is more 
significant that this item was made of iron - evidence for Iron Age 
dating! Anyway, this verse seems to state that Og was the only Rafa of 
his period, which implies that Sihon was not one.

Peter Kirk


______________________________ Reply Separator 
_________________________________
Subject: Re: Sihon, King of the Amorites
Author:  <gathas AT mail.usyd.edu.au> at Internet
Date:    21/03/2000 22:44

<snip>

> In any case,
> anyone over 155 cm would have been a giant forf the ancient Israelites.

Yet why such a huge couch for Og? The various peoples classified generally as 
"r
ephaim"
were considered as some kind of terrifying, giant race (cf Anaqim - the 
"longnec
ks").

<snip>