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b-hebrew - Re: [b-hebrew] Coat of sleeves, or many colors?

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  • From: ben.crick AT argonet.co.uk (Ben Crick)
  • To: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Coat of sleeves, or many colors?
  • Date: Mon, 8 Aug 2005 00:06:51 +0100

On Sun 7 Aug 2005 (16:49:07), villandra AT austin.rr.com wrote:
> The lessons for this Sunday included the story of the sale of Joseph
> into slavery by his brothers.
>
> MInister said that the "coat of many colors" is a translation error and
> it was actually a "coat with sleeves".
>
> I understood that the coat of many colors was a typical Canaanite
> garment.
> Which actually was it?

According to Genesis 37:3, Jacob gave Joseph a "coat of many colours"
K:ToNeT PaSSiYM as a mark of special favour. The same phrase denotes a
royal robe in 2 Samuel 13:18. Some commentators prefer to translate this
"a long robe with sleeves"; but WF Albright, in /The Archaeology of
Palestine/, Pelican Books, 1949, p 209, shows a reproduction of the
Beni Hassan Tomb painting, circa 1890 BC. A 20" frieze depicts a group
of Semitic itinerant tinkers (men, women and children) visiting Egypt
with their goats and donkeys (compare Genesis 43:24). They are carrying
weapons for protection, a lyre for entertainment, and the tools of their
trade. Most are dressed in longer or shorter *sleeveless* "coats of many
colours", whereas the Egyptians in the picture have short white kilts.

HTH
Ben
--
Revd Ben Crick, BA CF ZFC Hf
<ben.crick AT NOSPAM.argonet.co.uk>
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