gengwall

I will happily let others slug it out over “banishment” issues as I really don’t have a dog in that fight (I side with Cheryl, but my interest is luke warm at best). I will say this, though, to Mark. Not only do I agree with the below statement by you (which puts me somewhat at odds with many here), but your translational views on el may provide the missing link to showing the “why” of something I have long felt true but have struggled to find any good argument for: that the “desire” of Genesis 3:16 negatively impacts marriage as much as the “rule”. So, at least in this one rare instance, you and I are sympatico.

1. First of all, we need to remember that this verse is within the corpus of punishment and curse. Therefore to assume that anything in these verses is ‘positive’ neglects the context. I say this to comps as well, since some believe that this verse is a remedy to the fall (that the husband shall rule over wives). This is wrong. This is a judgment on Eve and Adam therefore nothing here should be considered positive. Eve’s desire is not positive, nor is the husbands rule.