Freethought & Rationalism Archive

douglas · 01-03-2007, 06:18 AM

Quote:

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,
and the LORD will reward you.

On another forum it was suggested that, to ancient Hebrews, heaping burning coals on someone's head is actually a good thing. Nights were cold, and nomadic tribes slept in tents with a fire in the middle of the tent. They slept with their heads near the coals for warmth, so this proverb is actually a blessing on enemies rather than a curse.

Is this a defensible interpretation of this particular passage?

IndigoDad · 01-03-2007, 06:33 AM

Given there's more Biblical support for being rough on our enemies...

Lamentations 3

3:64 Render unto them a recompence, O LORD, according to the work of their hands. (3:64-66)
"Give them sorrow of heart, thy curse unto them. Persecute and destroy them in anger."
How should we treat our enemies?
3:65 Give them sorrow of heart, thy curse unto them.
3:66 Persecute and destroy them in anger from under the heavens of the LORD.

Maybe it's just a recommendation for a more advanced, subversive technique. To make them feel bad? :huh:

pharoah · 01-03-2007, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by douglas

On another forum it was suggested that, to ancient Hebrews, heaping burning coals on someone's head is actually a good thing. Nights were cold, and nomadic tribes slept in tents with a fire in the middle of the tent. They slept with their heads near the coals for warmth, so this proverb is actually a blessing on enemies rather than a curse.

Is this a defensible interpretation of this particular passage?

The main problem that I see is that there is no reason to believe that the Hebrews were either nomads or tent dwellers at the time that Proverbs was written, but I could be wrong.

Gamera · 01-03-2007, 12:23 PM

The traditional exegesis (which is nonhistorical as far as I can tell), is that the heaping coals symbolize the igniting of the pangs of guilt and shame in the enemy at being treated with love. Such is the typical Christian commentary. Paul of course paraphrases this verse in Romans 12:20, and he wasn't a nomad.

Coals are mentioned numerous times in the OT, almost always in a negative way, often relating to punishment. Hence:

Psalms 140:10 - Let burning coals fall upon them! Let them be cast into pits, no more to rise

One explanation is that coals were carried in clay pots by women on their heads when they needed to rekindle a fire that had gone out. The got the coals from neighbors. Hence heaping coals on your enemy's head is an act of hospitality. This would have ostensibly applied to the time of Proverbs, and didn't involve campfires.

See a discussion of Proverb's use of the phrase here.

http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache...s&ct=clnk&cd=6

See this link for some historical and or other exegesis of Paul's paraphrase (not Proverbs).

http://www.logos.com/nationalbiblewe...ectedessays/44

01-03-2007, 06:33 AM	#2
IndigoDad Regular Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Lake Tahoe Posts: 103	Given there's more Biblical support for being rough on our enemies... Lamentations 3 3:64 Render unto them a recompence, O LORD, according to the work of their hands. (3:64-66) "Give them sorrow of heart, thy curse unto them. Persecute and destroy them in anger." How should we treat our enemies? 3:65 Give them sorrow of heart, thy curse unto them. 3:66 Persecute and destroy them in anger from under the heavens of the LORD. Maybe it's just a recommendation for a more advanced, subversive technique. To make them feel bad? :huh:

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01-03-2007, 12:23 PM	#4
Gamera Banned Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Palm Springs, California Posts: 10,955	The traditional exegesis (which is nonhistorical as far as I can tell), is that the heaping coals symbolize the igniting of the pangs of guilt and shame in the enemy at being treated with love. Such is the typical Christian commentary. Paul of course paraphrases this verse in Romans 12:20, and he wasn't a nomad. Coals are mentioned numerous times in the OT, almost always in a negative way, often relating to punishment. Hence: Psalms 140:10 - Let burning coals fall upon them! Let them be cast into pits, no more to rise One explanation is that coals were carried in clay pots by women on their heads when they needed to rekindle a fire that had gone out. The got the coals from neighbors. Hence heaping coals on your enemy's head is an act of hospitality. This would have ostensibly applied to the time of Proverbs, and didn't involve campfires. See a discussion of Proverb's use of the phrase here. http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache...s&ct=clnk&cd=6 See this link for some historical and or other exegesis of Paul's paraphrase (not Proverbs). http://www.logos.com/nationalbiblewe...ectedessays/44

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