Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Charles David Isbell" <cisbell AT cox.net>]

Hi Liz,
Whether or not WE think her a fake is not the point.  But that the author of
the passage, and the editors of the larger framework signal clearly THEIR
perception of her as a fake is what I do see as the point. I don't see the
reason for basing anything theological on a passage describing an incident
that the biblical writers themselves did not perceive as plausible.
The nephesh thing of course started the thread.  I see no reason to attempt
to change anyone's mind about this, for clearly some are convinced totally
of a particular perception of the soul and the afterlife in the Hebrew
Bible.  To them, I simply say, be well and believe what you will.  But if
any view of the afterlife in ancient Israelite society hangs on this
passage, I deem it a slender thread indeed.
Thanks, Liz, for the kind words about my health.
Charles