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Re: [b-hebrew] Human Sacrifice - 2 Sam 21

From: Peter Kirk <peterkirk AT qaya.org>
To: "Yard, John" <jyard AT ais.ucla.edu>
Cc: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org, tladatsi AT charter.net
Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Human Sacrifice - 2 Sam 21
Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2005 23:01:26 +0100

On 21/10/2005 19:07, Yard, John wrote:

If I am not mistaken the same technical expression -
'to dedicate to destruction' - is used in the Moabite stone on reference to the inhabitants of an Isrealite city who were sacrificed - XRM - to Chemosh.

It's quid pro quo - I give you something valuable -
you ( Chemosh ) give me something back,

The same word XRM is used in Arabic even today with a similar but subtly different meaning. Unclean food like pork is "haram" i.e. forbidden to Muslims. Also the "harem" or ladies' quarters are forbidden to all but the lord. But the component of destruction is missing from the Arabic concept.

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

[b-hebrew] Human Sacrifice - 2 Sam 21, Yard, John, 10/21/2005
- Re: [b-hebrew] Human Sacrifice - 2 Sam 21, Peter Kirk, 10/21/2005