Posted by Bibleman [Bibleman] on November 08, 1999 at 03:16:27 {Nq8EnQ8RVAMSSTtTA17sslyACFuF8c}:
In Reply to: 7 or 14 Clean Animals?? posted by Petro on November 07, 1999 at 13:18:07:
Hello Petro,
Yes, it is just as I thought. The Hebrew term for "wife" here is the same in singular and plural. That is, at Genesis 4:19 and 23 where it speaks of Lamech's two WIVES it is exactly the same Hebrew word. So the context determines the plurality of the term.
Thus if it was understood that clean animals usually congregated in herds or prides or other family groups with a male and several females, then the reference to the clean animals in sevens, the "sire and its wives" could have been understood, especially since it is an uneven number.
Of note, this is the formula for a week. Six days and one day of rest, a sabbath. So six females (week days) and one male (weekend).
So does this mean mean are supposed to think of themselves as the weekend and women as workdays?
Hmmmmm.... a guy needs his rest after six days.
We know this, right?
:>
Nice post.
In conclusion, the seven clean animals that were to be brought into the ark likely referred to a male and six females, not fourteen couples?
Cheers,
Bibleman