Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Peter Kirk <peter.r.kirk AT ntlworld.com>]

On 14/07/2003 16:50, Jim West wrote:

> At 04:05 PM 7/14/03 -0400, you wrote:
>  
>
> > Perhaps you should investigate the cultural context prior to being so 
> > defamatory.
> >    
> >
> > > Paul H. Belanger
> > >      
>
> Interesting comment.  What it fails to recognize is that the cultural
> context demands a rather harsh judgment on the actions of these women.  It
> is only a modern deification of biblical characters which blinds eisegetes
> into seeing angels where there are none.  And where the biblical authors
> intended us to see none.  
>
> It is, however, fairly common in some circles to denounce interpretations of
> texts which do not harmonize with piety.
>
> Jim
>
> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
> Jim West
> Quartz Hill School of Theology
> Adjunct Professor of Biblical Studies
>
> Biblical Studies Resources
> http://web.infoave.net/~jwest
>
>
>  
I agree with you, Jim, except that this kind of deification is not just 
modern. It is certainly attested in ancient times. I don't want to give 
some of the clearest examples as they might offend Christians and 
Muslims. But arguably the process had started already when the books of 
Chronicles were written, as they considerably clean up the mixed 
pictures of David and Solomon found in Samuel and Kings.

--
Peter Kirk
peter.r.kirk AT ntlworld.com
http://web.onetel.net.uk/~peterkirk/