Biblical Hebrew Forum

["David N. da Silva" <huyxh8s02 AT sneakemail.com>]

Potter's wheels do contain stone: it provides momentum needed to keep the 
wheel turning smoothly.   Some think that the upper wheel (where the clay 
sits) was made of stone, and there is another stone as a hub for the lower 
kick wheel.   Perhaps this is based on archaeology.   But if I were building 
one, I would make the upper wheel of wood, and lash two balanced stones to 
either side of the central spindle.

As far as I know, there is no reason at all to suppose that 'aobnayim refers 
to birthing stools except that someone made that guess in an attempt to 
understand Gen 1:16.   Jeremiah 18:3 is the reference to a potter's wheel.   
There is nothing in Gen 1:16 (as far as I can tell with my poor Hebrew) that 
suggests the woman is on the 'aobnayim.

As to what Gen 1:16 means, surely that is obvious?   What after all would you 
look at to tell if a new-born babe is a boy or a girl?   I think the 
translation should be:

And he said: "When you act as midwife to an `Ebriy woman, look for the 'shaft 
and two stones.'   Kill the boys and let the girls live."

As always, I appreciate criticism.

By the way, does anyone have an idea if "Shifrah" and "Pu`ah" are Egyptian 
names? 
   
David Nunes da Silva

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