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Focus on Vayikra XX |
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MOLECH (Myth or Monster?) What was, at first, meant to be another short study into the weekly Parashah quickly became a major undertaking. This ‘Molech’ question demands full and extended analysis. How could this be properly explored and reported within the confines of this ‘Focus’ format. I read the text and made the normal Hebrew to English transitions. Then thought that this word ‘Molech’ ought to be fully translated and found the word was originally ‘Melech’ or ‘King’. From
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew English Lexicon Strongs
# 4432 Molek- Molech
= "king"; the
god of the Ammonites and Phoenicians to whom some Israelites sacrificed
their infants in the
Now, to quote Mark Twang, ‘that’s where all the
trouble started’. We quickly found that the translators of, what has
come to be called ‘The Masoretic
Text’, changed these vowel points. They wanted to differentiate
its meaning from the recorded word ‘Melech’ which simply meant
‘King’. So, wherever they believed it made reference to the ‘king
god’ of their distant cousins the offspring of The Masorites altered the vowel points consequently changing the word’s pronunciation. In doing so they successfully superimposed an atypical meaning. By what or whose authority did these men produce their desired result? Wouldn’t the real weight of proof fall on these forgotten men who took it upon themselves to modify the original text? The word Mesorah means ‘Tradition’, in this case, seventh century, diasporic, Tradition. Aren’t these the very traditions that had caused our expulsion some six hundred years before? Did these men have the authority, the holy anointing, to undertake this profound mission? We need first to know who these Masoretics were. When these translations are a work of the seventh century CE, shouldn’t we be concerned, considering the fact that all these critical words had been set down and recorded in text for a thousand years or more? Now, please tell me, since when does tradition have greater weight than cold textual evidence? Doesn’t something seem askew? If we were to fully expunge this differentiation and restore this word to its original meaning what would be the effect? Could it be, ‘god forbid’ an instruction to limit the power of the king by refusing to pledge our allegiance thus reserving our loyalty to YHWH alone? Well folks, the remainder of this story is yours to write. I have presented the question and hopefully given you good cause to investigate. Only your life and fortunes are in the balance, but the ball is now in your court. They are your dear children that are under fire. Focus well and hopefully your answers will free us all. |
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