Biblical Hebrew Forum

[ben.crick AT argonet.co.uk (Ben Crick)]

On Tue  4 Apr 2000 , parousia_occ AT yahoo.com wrote:
> [snippage]      So it should be 
> odd if they were commanded not to sleep with their fathers.  Just
> thought that was interesting.

 To "sleep with one's fathers" is a euphemism for death and dying. It is
 a common phrase in 1 Kings 2:10, and many other verses in 1 and 2 Kings
 and 2 Chronicles.

 To "uncover nakedness" is a euphemism for sex and attempted sex. It is
 akin to the "nudity thing" `eR:WaT DaBaR in Deuteronomy 24:1 which was
 grounds for a divorce.

 Also it implies titillation or voyeurism; compare the sin of Ham in
 Genesis 9:22-25. Verse 24 implies that Ham did more than just gawp at his
 father in that condition; and it merited a solemn curse on his *progeny*
 (Canaan, verse 25).

 Shalom
 Ben
-- 
 Revd Ben Crick, BA CF
 <ben.crick AT argonet.co.uk>
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