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"Flame of Yahweh" offers a thorough exploration of gender relationships and sexual activity in the Old Testament. Topics include sexuality in Eden, the elevation vs. the denigration of women, exclusivity vs. adultery and premarital sex, permanence vs. divorce and remarriage, intimacy vs. incest, and sexuality in the "Song of Songs". Written from a theologically conservative perspective, Richard Davidson provides a meticulously researched work which makes extensive use of other Ancient Near Eastern documents on subjects ranging from homosexuality to gender relations. At the same time, the author offers clear explanations of terms and historical context that make the work accessible to the reader.
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;;. . -- _., . : ·:. .···-�·· . Sexuality in the Old Testament Richard M. Davidson . _,,... . . __, .�'-, _.,,.: ,. · .... �- ·.; Flame of Yahweh: Sexuality in the Old Testament © 2007 by Hendrickson Publishers, Inc. P. 0. Box 3473 Peabody, Massachusetts 0 1 9 6 1 -3473 ISBN 978-1 -56563-847 - 1 All rights reserved. N o part o f this book may be reproduced o r transmitted i n any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, record ing, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Scripture quotations taken from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible are copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America, and are used by permission. Scripture quotations taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION are copyright© 1973, 1 978, 1 984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® are copyright © 1960, 1962, 1 963, 1 968, 1 9 7 1 , 1 972, 1 973, 1975, 1 977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. ( www.Lockman.org) Scripture quotations taken from the New King James Version are copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations taken from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible are copyright 1 952 (2d ed., 1 9 7 1 ) by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States ofAmerica First Printing- May 2007 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Davidson, Richard M., 1 946Flame of Yahweh : sexuality in the Old Testament I Richard M. Davidson. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and indexes. ISBN- 13: 9 78 - 1 -56563-847- 1 (alk. paper) 1. Sex-Biblical teaching. 2. Sex-Religious aspects. 3. Bible. O.T. Criticism, interpretation, etc. I. Title. BS l l 99 .S45D38 2007 233'.5-dc22 2006027754 To Jo Ann: lov�r, partner, wife, theologian, and best friend-par excellence w1th whom the Flame of Yahweh ever blazes more beautifully! Table of Contents Acknowledgments XVll Abbreviations XIX Introduction The Purpose of the Work The Plan and Scope of the Work Overview of Old Testament Sexual Vocabulary 2 6 7 Section 1: Sexuality in Eden: T he Divine Design (Genesis 1-3) Chapter 1 : Sexuality in the Beginning: Genesis 1-2 Sexuality as a Creation Order A Heterosexual Human Duality and Marital Form A Monogamous Marital Form Equality of the Sexes without Hierarchy Sexuality and Wholeness Sexuality and Exclusivity Sexuality and Permanence Sexuality and Intimacy Sexuality and Procreation The Wholesome, Holy Beauty of Sexuality 15 17 19 21 22 35 43 44 46 49 50 Chapter 2: Sexuality and the Fall: Genesis 3 The Nakedness of A