Premarital sex and the Bible

[_aussieguy55]

Interesting comment about the book of Ruth by Jennifer Knust, the author of Unprotected Texts: The Bible's Surprising Contradictions About Sex and Desire

"Prothero: Really? Where does the Bible give a green light to premarital sex?

Knust: Perhaps the most striking example is in the story of Ruth, though there are other examples as well. According to the Book of Ruth, when the recently widowed Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi were faced with a famine in Ruth's homeland Moab, they returned to Israel impoverished and with little hope of survival. Ruth took to gleaning in the fields to find food for herself and Naomi. The owner of the fields, a relative of Naomi named Boaz, saw Ruth and was pleased by her. When Naomi heard about it, she encouraged Ruth to adorn herself and approach Boaz at night while he was sleeping to see what would happen. Ruth took this advice, resting with him until morning after first "uncovering his feet" (in Hebrew, "feet" can be a euphemism for male genitals). The next day, Boaz goes to town to find out whether he can marry her, and, luckily, another man with a claim to Ruth agrees to release her. They do marry and together they produce Obed, the grandfather of King David.

None of this would have been possible if Ruth had not set out to seduce Boaz in a field, without the benefit of marriage."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephen-p ... 20950.html

[_bcspace]

Ruth took this advice, resting with him until morning after first "uncovering his feet" (in Hebrew, "feet" can be a euphemism for male genitals).

Says nothing of the kind in Strong's and Thayer's. The closest one could get in English is "make his feet naked". Margĕlah
is simply the feet or place of the feet. In addition, in chapter 3 to which this is referring, vs. 8,11, and 14 preclude fornication. The "theologian" is behaving pretty much as any anti Mormon does. Make up something new to satisfy a constituency and hope no one looks it up.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2 Timothy 4:3

[_just me]

So, “water of the feet” means urine; “hair of the feet” (Isa. 7:20) means “pubic hair.” Dt. 28:57 speaks of a formerly pampered woman as being reduced by famine to eating the afterbith that comes out from between her “feet.” Ezek. 16:25 personifies Jerusalem as a wanton nymphomaniac, who spreads her “feet” to every passerby. In Isa. 6 the six wings of the seraphim come in three pairs: one to fly with, one to cover the face (for reverence) and one to cover the “feet” (for modesty). David urges Uriah the Hittite, called home on furlough, to go and wash his “feet”; Uriah replies that while his comrades are at arms he would not go home to eat and drink and “lie with his wife.” (2 Sam. 11:8) According to 1 Chr. 16:12, Asa, at the end of his long reign, got sick in his “feet” (possibly gout, I suppose; more likely urinary tract problems, which are very common in old men). Based on an Ugaritic parallel, Pope understands Proverbs 19:2 as

Without knowledge, “soul” [libido] is not good.
One fast with his “feet” sins.

http://bycommonconsent.com/2006/01/24/w ... -the-feet/

[_ludwigm]

I had a good story about Ruth, from a very different viewpoint:
my three year old comment

- from this thread (was bumped)

by the way should I quote the comment here?

[_bcspace]

http://bycommonconsent.com/2006/01/24/w ... -the-feet/

Has no references. And even if it could be shown to be a possible euphemism there is no evidence of it being used as such. Plus there is the matter of the surrounding verses which precludes sex.

[_PrickKicker]

I was told 'covering the feet' meant taking a crap.
But can mean dropping your pants for any reason.

Being Betrothed = Engaged: I was told was the legal arrangement of marriage, it meant all the legal work was done, bar the Marriage ceremony.
which means a blind eye was often turned and they could have been doing the dirty. in the case of Mary and Joseph.

[_Drifting]

There is no evidence that Adam and Eve were legally and lawfully married...

[_just me]

There is no evidence that Adam and Eve were legally and lawfully married...

Nuhuh. They totally went down to the courthouse and got a license. Then they went to the chapel and got hitched!