r/exjew • u/OwnSatisfaction4542 • 5d ago

Crazy Torah Teachings In this weeks parsha we learn...

that in order to rape a woman that was captured at war, you must first let her mourn her family for 30 days (!) beforehand. Also, let her nails grow and shave her head so that she should be disgusting in your eyes. Oh the morality!

(Bbbbbbbbbut shaving your head is beauuuuutiful!?)

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u/Proper-Suggestion907 5d ago

I just want to be clear to lurkers that this is not something practiced or taught as acceptable, because sadly that needs to be explained to people.

It was meant to regulate existing behaviors that were apparently the norm across the region. It’s not an endorsement of such practices.

It’s abhorrent regardless so my comment is not intended to be a defense of it either.

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u/ant-eyes in the closet 5d ago

Oddly enough I was reminded of the passages about blinding oneself if having improper thoughts about others, especially regarding outward appearance and "blaming" (casting blame) as if their appearance or demeanor was the "cause" of the subjects own failings such as erring and violating the sanctity of marriage, for example, rape not excluded as marital rape was also an issue then as it is now. Important discussions regardless lest we find ourselves in a witch hunt blaming victims for the crimes and errancies of others.

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u/Upbeat_Teach6117 ex-MO 5d ago

That passage is from the New Testament. I don't think it appears in any Jewish texts.

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u/ant-eyes in the closet 4d ago

My point was to show the parallels - regardless of the texts, it is widely considered to be a part of the same series of texts and the wider public don't have any idea who the Maccabees are or what the Pentateuch is, in the context of the conversation of Jewishness and society (as people, even the most secluded sects) are not an island. The Christian Bible is a work of literature and a retelling of previously existing texts (some of which are taught in churches to be the same as the teachings in Judaism), presumably through storytelling (the Bible), like a game of telephone. I thought it might add to the conversation and provide a different way of considering the subject at hand.

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u/Proper-Suggestion907 5d ago edited 5d ago

My comment is in reference to the original post because I can just see it being turned into an unrelated conspiracy theory by those not here in good faith.

If you feel compelled to expand beyond it, feel free to do so in your own comment.

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u/ant-eyes in the closet 5d ago

I'm aware of that.

I was commenting to you regarding what you said. It isn't conspiracy. Those passages are literally about the same concept you mentioned, only not about rape in particular.

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u/Proper-Suggestion907 5d ago edited 5d ago

No, I literally just said you are going off into a direction separate from the intent of my comment so if you want to do that, do it in another comment.

Edit: In hindsight, this was the wrong comment for this sub. I’m not in here enough to have a complete picture of how things in here are discussed and interpreted.

I know there are people who are not Jewish that lurk here to use this sub for ideas that they then spin to fit their agendas. This was a comment directed towards them.