What Happens When A Person Dies? [On Mortality, Immortality, Suicide], Weekly Saturday Series, 'Nuts and Bolts', Post 9A-3-A, 'Addendum' Series, July 20, 2019.

My friends, Welcome Back.

Now, my friends, as during the months of May, June, 2019 we have completed our 'first asides' - 'the blessed hope'; 'the living hope'; and the 'now' 'abundant' life - all based on the meanings from the Holy Bible. Let us look at another 'topic' we said we would get to - 'chastity'.  Continuing from July 6, 13, 2019.

Now excerpts from such as Bibliography W. G. Cole, Sex and Love in the Bible (1959); R. Pattai, Sex and Family in the Bible and the Middle East (1959); The Standard Jewish Encyclopedia (1959), 1693, 1924, 1925; O. Piper, The Biblical View of Sex and Marriage (1960); R. Marcus, tr., The Antiquities of Flavius Josephus (1966), Bk. IV, Ch. VIII. Some words to ponder for more understanding, to wit: 'SEX'.

Has God changed? [Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29; Isaiah 31:2; 2 Corinthians 1:19]​

​'SEX'. The word sex does not appear in the Bible. However, the Bible contains numerous references to topics related to the subject and deals with matters related to sex with a mixture of frankness and caution. This article covers the overall Biblical teachings concerning the subject.

I. Introduction
The Scriptures reflect the cautious attitude toward discussion of the sex organs and related topics which was prevalent in ancient times. The poetic and imaginative nature of the Hebrew. language and the Hebrew view of man resulted in the use of euphemisms which tended to conceal linguistically such things as the male and female organs, sexual intercourse, and reproduction. However, the subject of sex and related topics are treated with frankness in the Bible even though circumlocutions frequently were used to avoid direct reference to the sex organs or to sexual activities.

II. The teaching of the OT [Old Testament] concerning sex
The OT contains the major portion of the Biblical teaching concerning sex. Reference is made to distinctions between the sexes in the creation account in Genesis; and the Pentateuch contains numerous commandments related to sex and sexual acts. The narrative portions of the OT contain references to normal and abnormal sexual activities. Portions of the wisdom literature deal with sex in relation to such diverse themes as married love (Song of Solomon) and the dangers of promiscuity (Proverbs). The Bible states that OT teachings were included in the Scriptures not only for the purpose of conveying redemptive truth but also for the “instruction” of believers through the centuries (1 Corinthians 10:11). The OT references to sex seem to fall largely under the latter category.

​A. Distinctions between the sexes. In Genesis mention is made of the creation of male and female (Genesis 1:27). The primary meaning of the word sex emphasizes the physical differences between the members of the human family.(Read More...audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html)

1. The male role. According to the first chapter of Genesis, the first created human was a male called Adam. Adam was assigned specific tasks following his creation which included the care of the garden of Eden and the naming of the animals (2:15-20). Other activities of early males included sheep herding and farming (4:1, 2); ranching (4:20); and working with metals (4:22).

The male in the OT was expected to be the head of the household and was to be the spiritual leader of the family (3:16; Exodus 12:1-6; 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:20-25; etc.). It seems that Jewish parents specially welcomed the birth of male children. This was demonstrated in the desire for male progeny (1 Samuel 1:8-18). Also, a higher ransom was to be paid for males in contrast to females (Leviticus 27:1-8). When the numbering of the Israelites was conducted special attention was given to males (Numbers 3:40-43). Jewish genealogies also gave special attention to males in their roles as progenitors of the families (Ezra 8:1-14); and the priesthood was reserved for males (Exodus 19:22; Leviticus 1:11). The majority of the prophets were males, although female prophets, or prophetesses, were active in Israel at varied times (Exodus 15:20; Judges 4:4; 2 Kings 22:14; 2 Chronicles 34:22; Nehemiah 6:14, and Isaiah 8:3).(Read More...audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html)

(Read More...audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html)

​Males were not allowed to put on women’s garments (Deuteronomy 22:5); and Jewish males were distinguished from other males in the surrounding nations by the rite of circumcision (Genesis 34:14-17). Apparently Jewish males were to be distinguished in the wearing of their hair from females (1 Corinthians 11:14) and from the surrounding nations (Leviticus 19:27). While particularly short hair was not the standard of distinction between Israelites and other nations or males and females in ancient times, the cutting of the side locks of the hair by males was forbidden (Leviticus 21:5). Possibly during the Diaspora, the Jews adopted the Roman custom of closely cutting the hair of males. This feature distinguished them from females; although many Jews of the Diaspora continued to allow their side locks to grow long, even though they began to cut their hair more closely.(Read More...audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html)

​Hebrew women took pride in their long and attractive hair (2 Kings 9:30 and Song of Solomon 7:5). Males were to be distinguished from females by not wearing their hair in a fashion equated with that of women.
Ancient Israel was more patriarchal and tended to give decided favor to the male role. Apparently males were afforded a number of privileges under this system that were not afforded to females.

audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html

2. The female role. According to the creation account in Genesis, the first female, Eve, was created from the rib of Adam (Genesis 2:21, 22). Prior to the creation of Eve, Adam was referred to as being without a “helper fit for him” (2:20). According to Genesis, the creation of woman apparently served a utilitarian purpose as far as man was concerned. Adam called his wife “woman,” a term which signified her being taken from man [2:23]. Eve, the first female, was enticed to partake of the forbidden fruit and gave the same to her husband Adam (3:1-6).(Read More...audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html)

Following this act, the male and female apparently became aware in a sexual sense of the physical differences between them (3:7). The fall of man is said to result in a divine judgment on both the male and the female sexes. For the male, a different form of work would result and for the female, an increased sense of pain in childbirth and a heightened or dependent sexual desire for the male was to be expected (3:14-16).

​The role of woman in the earliest days of recorded history generally was considered to be that of bearing and mothering children and of serving as a helper to the male (4:1, 2, 16-25). Gradually, the role of the female in the OT became more sophisticated and over time women seemed to assume a greater share of the activities originally ascribed to males. The Book of Proverbs describes a virtuous wife as one who engaged in: spinning wool and making linen from flax; purchasing real estate; planting vineyards; and in the sale of linen garments (Proverbs 31:10-31). At this point in Israel’s history, such activities were considered desirable as far as women were concerned and were placed on a plane next to that of bearing and rearing children.

Has God changed? [Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29; Isaiah 31:2; 2 Corinthians 1:19]
(Read More...audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html)

​Be blessed. And, please return Saturday, July 27, 2019, as the Lord wills.  Amen.  Amen. 

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