Midianite Captives...(and beyond...sexual taboos)

SJ Weisiger errancy@infidels.org
Sun, 2 May 1999 12:57:27 -0500 (00925685847, 000a01be94c5$40e266c0$42a2a6d0@default) 

AARON
Still...I think it's interesting that my dad thinks his god wouldn't
do such an evil thing as allow the Midianite raping.  (Oh, he also
added that he thinks the Amalekite massacre was probably
punished too, or in other words...He sees the injustice in this also.)

Aaahhh...I remember those days...diligently searching for
justification for the evils I was discovering that my beloved Lord
had ordered & committed.

SJANE
After reading this thread I consulted Ken's Concordances in
"Ken's Guide to the Bible" and found more nasty stuff for
Aaron's father's edification which the author calls
"God's laundry list of sex taboos" beginning with:

Leviticus 18:
6
None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him,
to uncover their nakedness: I am the LORD.

and ending with:

Leviticus 18:
23
Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith:
neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is
confusion.

SJANE
Verse 23 is a favorite of mine because it suggests that
it was common for humans to sexually gratify themselves
with animals.

Chapter 20 of Leviticus gets even better because
God shows His true colors.  I have cut and paste the verses
in their entirety.

10
And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that
committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the
adulteress shall surely be put to death.
11
And the man that lieth with his father's wife hath uncovered his father's
nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be
upon them.
12
And if a man lie with his daughter in law, both of them shall surely be put
to death: they have wrought confusion; their blood shall be upon them.
13
If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have
committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood
shall be upon them.
14
And if a man take a wife and her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be
burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you.
15
And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall
slay the beast.

17
And if a man shall take his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's
daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; it is a wicked
thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people: he hath
uncovered his sister's nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity.
18
And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover
her nakedness; he hath discovered her fountain, and she hath uncovered the
fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among their
people.
19
And thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister, nor of thy
father's sister: for he uncovereth his near kin: they shall bear their
iniquity.
20
And if a man shall lie with his uncle's wife, he hath uncovered his uncle's
nakedness: they shall bear their sin; they shall die childless.
21
And if a man shall take his brother's wife, it is an unclean thing: he hath
uncovered his brother's nakedness; they shall be childless.

SJANE
So a man should be killed if he commits adultery with another man's wife
(although adultery with your neighbor's wife used to be tolerated)
or has sex with:
his father's wife
 or
 his daughter-in-law
 or
 mankind
 or
 his wife
and her mother at the same time
 or
 an animal
 or
 his own sister
or
 a menstruating woman
 or
 his aunt
 or
 his sister-in-law

I find it interesting that the only sexual taboo for women
that is punishable by death is:

16
And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto,
thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast:
they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

I hadn't planned on having sex with my
dog anytime soon so I can live with that one.
I love reading the Bible.

SJane Weisiger