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		#1 | 
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			I ran across this: 
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
	http://www.christian-thinktank.com/fabprof2.html and, as I'm not particularly well versed in these matters, I was wondering how truthful it is. More precisely, are the definitions it gives of almah and bethulah correct?  | 
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		#2 | 
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			All the examples they give for claiming betula can mean non-virgin show nothing of the sort: 
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
	Ezek 23:3: the two women were virgins and lost their virginities in Egypt. "The breasts of their virginity" means "their breasts while they were virgins". Joel 1:8: Hebrew ba'al means "husband"; whether the husband has committed intercourse is not stated. Specifically, ba'al n'ureha (the husband of her youth) means "the one who was wedded/betrothed to her in youth". Esther 2:17: the Persian king simply took a virgin every night and devirginized her. It was a common oriental palace custom, as also told in the Arabian Nights.  | 
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		#3 | 
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			"Esther 2:17: the Persian king simply took a virgin every night and devirginized her. It was a common oriental palace custom, as also told in the Arabian Nights."  
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
	Our pal Gilgamesh gets credit for starting the custom of going on the honeymoon with the bride & groom and getting first dibs on the bride!  | 
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		#4 | 
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			Thanks for your help, guys. Better to check that it is nonsense before I confidently claim so, though, isn't it?!
		 
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
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