Sunday, August 28, 2011

1Timothy 1:10 Neither Alludes to Leviticus 20:13 nor Condemns Homosexuality.

StevenM--

Jews reject the Septuagint (LXX), the Greek translation of the original Hebrew Scriptures, as their authoritative Scriptural text; we see it merely as an uninspired translation.

Referring to 1 Timothy 1:10, you contend ἀρσενοκοιτης, was coined from ἄρσενος κοίτην in Leviticus 20:13 (LXX). Actually, ἀρσενοκοιτης is non-existent; the authentic word is “ἀρσενοκοίταις.” Leviticus 20:13 threatens capital punishment upon a nondescript subject: “whoever” (ὃς) - “if he is bedded with” (κοιμηθῇ μετὰ) “a man” (ἄρσενος) as “he would bed a woman” (κοίτην γυναικός). Following grammatical convention, the nominal complement of the verb, “κοίτην,” is properly a woman: “γυναικός,” not a man: “ἄρσενος” as you suggest.

Closer examination shows the passage condemns filial incest, not homosexuality.

The Hebrew text of Leviticus 20:13 specifically condemns “a man,” or “אִישׁ” who commits incest with his “male offspring,” or “זָכָר” Hebrew scholar, Wilhelm Gesenius notes that “זָכָר,” is “a male, as being he through whom the memorial of parents is continued.” a sense which is lost in the LXX and English translations.

Each of the following verses speaks to “זָכָר” as referencing male progeny while employing variant forms of “ἄρσην” in the LXX - thus validating Gesenius’ claim:

Genesis 17:10, 12, 14; Exodus 12:48; 13:12, 15; Leviticus 6:18; 12:2, 7; 18:22; 20:13; Numbers 1:2, 20; 3:15, 39, 40; Numbers 26:62; Joshua 17:2; Every verse in Ezra 8:3-14 mentions “sons of” various chiefs in the Babylonian exodus; Isaiah 66:7 and Jeremiah 20:15.

1Timothy 1:10 neither alludes to Leviticus 20:13 nor condemns homosexuality.

--ez duz it ©2011

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Genesis 19 Condemns Sexual Brutality Within a Military Context, not Homosexuality

Genesis 19 doesn’t condemn homosexuality, but rape committed within a military context.
What occurred in Genesis 14-18?
The Jordan Valley city-states constantly warred for control of regional resources, setting the stage for Genesis 19.

What key strategy was used to attack ancient cities?
The book of Joshua and others recount scouts entering enemy towns to survey strategic weaknesses for the purpose of facilitating military assaults.

What was Lot’s error?
Lot was a foreigner residing in Sodom. He failed to allow the town elders to scrutinize his out-of-town visitors. Lot’s actions exposed the entire community to possible capture or military annihilation.

Who assaulted whom? Why?
“ALL the people, from every quarter” of the town of Sodom, men and women, young and old, demanded to “know” Lot’s visitors. They wanted to sexually brutalize these potentially threatening visitors. Why? Rape is a violent assertion of power designed to bring shame on Lot and deal with his unexamined interlopers.

Would this happen today?
Sure. Confronted with suspected foreign threats, male and female American soldiers attached electrodes to Iraqi prisoners’ genitals, stacked them unclad like cordwood forcing them to wear waste-soiled undergarments over their heads. Also, five New York police officers used a broomstick to rape Haitian-born Abner Louima.

Were the offenders homosexual?
No! The residents of Sodom, the American soldiers and police officers who sexually assaulted their prisoners were motivated by unbridled rage, fear and a desire to humiliate perceived foreign enemies by sexually brutalizing them.

--ez duz it © 9 August 2011