[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: Ezra-Neh

On Tue, 16 Jul 1996 14:55:22 +0300 (IDT), victor@bgumail.bgu.ac.il writes:
>
>Dear Asia,
>I don't want to stir up a hornets' nest and open a discussion of women's 
>contribution to the composition of the Hebrew Bible.  There are examples 
>in the ANE of female scribes and authors- note Enheduanna daughter of 
>Sargon of Akkade who composed some beautiful hymns, as well as Nissaba 
>the goddess of the scribal art and also acredited with inspiring some 
>literary comositions.  Nonetheless, it must be proven and not only 
>asserted that women played such roles in every society.
   
   Good grief, Charlie Brown.  King Tut's neice's made funerary offerings of
   their writing cases, the examples buried with him showed signs of use.  We
   have the example, just for one, of a Chantress of Amen corresponding
   through the good offices of the skipper of the boat belonging to Ra Meses,
   the grandson of Ra Meses II and son of Kha Em Uset.  The judgement in
   Egyptology is that many people were literate.  If Solomon married Bithiah,
   Shishak's sister-in-law, and she came with Gezer as a dowry, she must have
   not just been literate but would have arrived with scribes and a whole
   collection of Egyptian literature such as wisdom literature which "Solomon"
   so lavishly borrowed.  This is not conjecture.  The evidence lies in the
   words themselves.  

   I disagree with David Rohl's thesis but he shows from the record just how
   much Egyptian influence existed in "Solomon's" Jerusalem.  I put Solomon in
   quotes to point out that I know of no contemporary epigraphic record of
   such a person as Solomon or Bithiah for that matter beyond what comes to us
   from records nearly a millennium later.  All of that reality is later
   communication.  Shishak is real.  Hard data shows who he was.  What hard
   contemporary data shows that Solomon existed?


  NOte that MIriam 
>and Deborah both are said to have composed songs of victory, but, whether 
>accurate or fictitious their compsitions seem to be orally composed.  
>Also the prophetess Hulda, who is the final authority in determining how 
>to react to the newly discovered book of the law is not said to have read 
>it, and it is no less likely that the scribes who paid her a visit read 
>it for her.  
>There are women's names on seals. Does this constitute evidence of 
>literacy or does it indicate just the opposite?

   Apply the same standards as for Solomon or for David.  There's one 
   putative mention of House of David only?  BTW, it seems illogical that
   someone not able to write would want a seal with writing on it.  An 
   image would do as well.  The owner would want to be able to identify 
   it.  How would she otherwise unless there were an image she knew?

>Avigdor Hurowitz


Tom Simms