Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Yigal Levin <leviny1 AT mail.biu.ac.il>]

Shoshanna,

While you are correct that "xamud" is an adjective, derived from the verb 
"XMD" (like in the last commandment of the Decalogue), "xemdah" is a noun, 
and means "desire" or "love". Look at 2 Chr. 21:20.

The fact that the midrash, followed by Rashi, interprets the "woman" of Dan. 
11 as being the Israel that God loves is not surprising, since it does the 
same thoughout the Song of Songs. However, midrash is not the literal 
meaning of the verse - that's peshat.

Yigal Levin
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Shoshanna Walker" <rosewalk AT concentric.net>
To: <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Monday, November 13, 2006 5:36 AM
Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] "Desire of Women" in Heb. Text of Dan. 11:37


> When I first read this query, according to the Hebrew, including
> modern Hebrew, that I know, I intuitively 'knew' that "chemdat
> nashim" did not refer to "the desire of women", since "chamud" or
> "chamuda" in modern Hebrew, refers to someone who is desirable, ie
> "chamud" is not a noun, but an adjective (except in modern Hebrew
> slang).  Then when I looked it up in the translations that I use,
> this was confirmed.  It is Rashi, among others, who teaches that
> Daniel is referring to Israel - and our Sages are authorities in this
> regard, and they teach according to historical context.
>
> "He will not give consideration to the G-d of his (Israel's)
> ancestors nor to the desirable among women (Israel), nor will he give
> consideration to any god, for he will aggrandize himself above
> everything"  makes more sense than to say that Daniel is referring to
> a deity worshipped by women - by which women?  Israelite women???
> Which deity was that?  This verse is speaking about a rebellious
> king, who rebels against G-d and Israel.
>
>
> Shoshanna
>
>
> > It's not "the desire of women" - it's "The most desirable among
> > women", and Daniel is referring to Israel
> >
> > Shoshanna
>
> I would think that since the verse starts "and he will not pay
> attention to the
> gods of his ancestors" and ends with "nor will he pay attention to any 
> gods
> because  he will boast over all" that the middle portion of the verse 
> would
> translate as "and concerning the [thing/one] desired by women" and would
> contextually refer to a deity worshipped by women.
>
> --
> James W Bennett
> jimb AT tara-lu.com
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