Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Peter Kirk <peterkirk AT qaya.org>]

On 16/07/2004 02:04, Patrina wrote:

> ...
>
>
> Deuteronomy 23:18 - You shall not bring the hire of a zonah, or the
> price of a dog (?male prostitute), into the house of YHWH your Elohim
> for any vow: for both of these are an abomination to YHWH your Elohim.  
>
> Here would have been the perfect verse to mention kadeshah if there were
> any major problems with this.  I think it seems clear that a distinction
> was made in those days between a sanctioned kadeshah, whose services
> would have been available in the temple precincts, and a zonah who
> operates on the highways and byways.  
>  

Patrina, here is an excellent example of the principle that you can 
prove anything by taking a verse out of context. Look at the previous 
verse, which is 23:18 in the Hebrew, and you will find an unambiguous 
statement that neither qadesh nor qadesha were sanctioned among the 
Israelites. The two verses taken together seem to imply that 
prostitution was not completely banned but was to be kept completely 
separate from the house of YHWH.

--
Peter Kirk
peter AT qaya.org (personal)
peterkirk AT qaya.org (work)
http://www.qaya.org/