gengwall

LOL – I feel my contribution at this point is equivalent to adding 30 seconds to “Lawrence of Arabia”. Never the less, here goes.

This refers to Cheryl’s post 89 above.

I agree whole heartedly with these statements…:

There is no judgment at all. For a judgment God has to say “I will…(do this)” or “cursed is…” but no judgment can be brought by the phrase “you will…”

The passage says nothing about the woman “dominating” the man. That is an addition to the text for sure.

…and I have already stated my disagreement with Mark’s contention that “She will try to usurp his authority”, since he has no inherent authority to usurp.

But, I do not accept the one-sided notion that Eve (i.e. a wife) is somehow a victim and any and all marital discord stems from Adam’s (her husband’s) bad behavior. Therefore, I disagree with this:

Secondly the woman’s desire can be looked on as good and bad depending on whose eyes the actions are viewed through. For the man her desire is a good thing.

Is Adam’s “rule” a good thing in Eve’s eyes? Certainly not. I don’t believe her “desire” is any less favorable in his eyes. Cheryl, your stance seems to be that Adam’s “rule” is simply taking advantage of the prostrate Eve, who now, dutifully, with narry a harsh word or action, follows almost trancelike after her abusive husband. In this view, his “rule” has nothing to do with anything negative she has done, but is just a senseless, cruel, response to her “good in his eyes” “desire”. That makes wives universally the martyrs and completely exonerates them of any negative behavior toward their husbands which would lead to marital discord. Moreover, it makes husbands universally tyrants. I don’t buy that for one minute, nor is it born out in real life. Women are just as responsible for marital strife as men are, and I am convinced that thier contribution to that strife begins with this “desire” or “turning”, what ever it might be.

As for el, you asked:

In the Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew-English Lexicon, the main 3 meanings of this word have to do with a direction towards anything. The only negative meaning has to have a context to be of a hostile character. What words would “el” link to in the context that would provide the evidence of a “hostile character”? You cannot just use the word alone. There has to be evidence of hostility.

Is Adam not a hostile enough character for you? Even if the antagonism were only one way – like it is with Cain and Able in Gen 4:8 where el is translated “against” – that is enough to consider that Eve’s “turning” was against Adam. I think a translation of “against” is at least on the table.