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  • From: "Walter R. Mattfeld" <mattfeld12 AT charter.net>
  • To: <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: [b-hebrew] Children bear punishment for sins of fathers ?
  • Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2005 08:28:05 -0400

I thank all for the many contributions and insights on this issue. I recall that the Classical Greeks had a similar notion. Some histories and plays (so-called "Tragedies") mention a curse befalling a "house" and its "descendants" for the sins of some remote ancestor. Some have suggested this notion was developed to reign in the avarice and greed of the sinner. That is to say, he might curb his anti-social behavior being aware that it would affect not just himself but his "innocent" future descendants who would also pay or suffer for his crimes. We know, from archaeology that the Greeks have a long connection via trade with the ancient Near East, their wares being found in ancient Egypt, Syria, and Canaan from Late Bronze Age to Iron Age times. Perhaps this notion of innocent children (descendants) being punished for some remote ancestor's trespass or sin, was part of the religious "baggage" of the Late Bronze Age (1560-1200 BCE) and Iron Age (1200-587 BCE) worlds ?

Regards, Walter
Walter Reinhold Warttig Mattfeld y de la Torre, M.A. Ed.
mattfeld12 AT charter.net
www.bibleorigins.net





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