Why just the crucifixion? Because of ‘ă-ṣê ‘ō-lāh

Discussion about the New Testament, apocrypha, gnostics, church fathers, Christian origins, historical Jesus or otherwise, etc.
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Giuseppe
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Joined: Mon Apr 27, 2015 5:37 am
Location: Italy

Why just the crucifixion? Because of ‘ă-ṣê ‘ō-lāh

Post by Giuseppe »

Genesis 22:3

Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood [ עֲצֵ֣י ‘ă-ṣê ] for the burnt offering [ עֹלָ֔ה ‘ō-lāh ] , he set out for the place God had told him about.


The feminine noun עלה ('ola), denoting a whole burnt offering ('that which goes up', says BDB). This noun occurs 286 times throughout the Old Testament.

http://www.abarim-publications.com/Dict ... W9rjvZuJjo

‘ă-ṣê ‘ō-lāh = "wood for burnt offering" = "wood that which goes up" = a tree to elevate = suspension on a tree

The victim is sacrificed in the same time when he is elevated. And vice versa.

The best way to vehicle the idea of elevation (=sacrifice) of the victim is the his hanging on a tree or stauros. I.e. crucifixion.

This confirms that the choice of the stauros as tool for the death of Jesus is of midrashical origin.

Hence, in this sense, in the Book of Revelation the crucifixion is not absent, afterall (remember that Revelation 11:8b is a late Christian interpolation). It is implicit in the idea of sacrifice of the Lamb.

The evidence of a Roman crucifixion disappears.
Nihil enim in speciem fallacius est quam prava religio. -Liv. xxxix. 16.
Giuseppe
Posts: 13732
Joined: Mon Apr 27, 2015 5:37 am
Location: Italy

Re: Why just the crucifixion? Because of ‘ă-ṣê ‘ō-lāh

Post by Giuseppe »


He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac

The two thieves.

It can be translated also with:

He took with him two young men and his son Isaac

Nihil enim in speciem fallacius est quam prava religio. -Liv. xxxix. 16.
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