Biblical Hebrew Forum

["K Randolph" <kwrandolph AT gmail.com>]

Kelton:

This sounds like a rabbinic addition to the meaning. Of course a
heartfelt admission of guilt will lead to feelings of guilt, and
restitution, but I don't see the necessity of feelings in the meaning
of the word itself.

I can see this as a counter to people who may put on a real show
during Yom Kippur as to how they are so spiritual, while oppressing
their fellow men. But again, we are making a theological addition not
necessarily in the word itself.

Karl W. Randolph.

On 8/24/06, kgraham0938 AT comcast.net <kgraham0938 AT comcast.net> wrote:
> A textbook of mine agrees with Milgrom.  It's called "Readings in Biblical Hebrew an 
> Intermediate Textbook" by Ehud Ben Zvi, Maxine Hancock, & Richard Beinert says 
> regarding this passage:
>
> "The issue, therefore, is not if they come to know that they were doing 
> wrong, but rather if they feel remorse for doing wrong. (Milgrom, Leviticus 1-16, 
> 334, 38,39-45).
>
> The condition of feeling remorse for one's guilt is the regular conclusion of 
> the protasis in Lev 4:13,22,27;   5:2,3,4,5,17,23.  These priestly text claim 
> that there is no possible ritual expiation for a sinner unless he or she 
> feels remorse.  In otherwords, sacrifices are not seen as a mechanical gate 
> to purification, on the contrary, the right attitude of the 
> heart-repentance-is essential for the efficacy of the ritual.
>
> Moreover, the sacrifice is only the last of a series of actions a person 
> should take upon feeling guilty.  One assumption on which a text such as Lev 
> 5:20-26 rests is that a person cannot expect expiation and forgiveness while 
> retaining the fruits of misbehavior.  Thus, the first action to be taken are 
> those concerned with restitution and the rectification of the wrong.  The 
> description of these actions opens the apodosis of our text immediately 
> following ve`ashem.
>
> Not sure if I buy it but it does have merit.
>
> --
> Kelton Graham
> KGRAHAM0938 AT comcast.net