Ephraim was Black

[The Rambam]

I want it to be perfectly clear that I have absolutely no interest in how the ethnicity of Ephraim may or may not reflect upon the priesthood ban.

That said, I don't think he was black.

The Hyksos were in control during the second intermediate phase between the Middle and New Kingdoms of Egypt. If scholarly projections are correct and the lifetimes of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph ran through this era, there's no reason to believe they wouldn't have been running the show, even occupying offices traditionally reserved for Egyptians-- such as the Priestess of On, or more importantly, the Pharoah. The argument that the Priestess of On had to be black by definition is a blanket statement that has to cover thousands of years of Egyptian history, and nowhere is an exception to the rule more likely than during a foreign regime.

It comes as little surprise to me that even very reputable scholars claim that Asenath, and therefore Ephraim, must have been black (though the only one you mention who makes that claim is Nibley, it appears). I've seen even more reputable scholars argue that Hannibal was black, even though we KNOW he was Punic, and that Cleopatra was black, even though we KNOW she was Macedonian, both facts less disputed even than the traditional race of the Priestess of On. It's all too easy to automatically assume that African=Black.

To be clear, not only do I not know whether Asenath was black, I don't care. If it turns out that Ephraim was black, I'll keep paying my tithing. I speak up only because of the implications Radambam makes of this poetic irony. If you want to argue that your daughter should be ordained a deacon, fire away, but you really shouldn't use the notion that Ephraim himself was black to bolster your argument. Not only is it on the wrong side of the probability scale, it has the dual disadvantage of being not only unproven, but also unprovable.

Seeing it is impossible to avoid being linked to other posters on other boards, goodbye.

[SeattleUte]

Seeing it is impossible to avoid being linked to other posters on other boards, goodbye.

[woot]

Seeing it is impossible to avoid being linked to other posters on other boards, goodbye.

I don't understand what just happened. I appreciate your input to the board.

[RobinFinderson]

Seeing it is impossible to avoid being linked to other posters on other boards, goodbye.

I missed the link. Was it about a daughter? Couldn't that be a reference to a universal 'you' and his/her any-old-daughter?

I would hope you would stick around, but if not... CHEERS!

[Jeff Lebowski]

AA was being a smartass with his moniker. Read carefully.

[TripletDaddy]

AA was being a smartass with his moniker. Read carefully.

ah...ok. I was confused, as well.

AA thinks he is so bitchen ever since he started applying to law schools.

ps I like The Rambam. It would be a shame to lose our only resident Jewish philosopher.

[woot]

AA was being a smartass with his moniker. Read carefully.

Oh I never would have noticed that if he hadn't pointed it out for all of us (and confirmed it's true). Oh well.

[Goatnapper'96]

Seeing it is impossible to avoid being linked to other posters on other boards, goodbye.

In the immortal words of the poster Goatnapper'96 from Cougarboard and Goatnapper'96 from Cougarguard, pull the string.

[RobinFinderson]

ps I like The Rambam. It would be a shame to lose our only resident Jewish philosopher.

I'll convert... and become a philosopher.

[TripletDaddy]

I'll convert... and become a philosopher.

You can't just convert. There are other rules, you know.

Are you...uh.......you know...

I mean, were you.....um.......you know, at birth........

[RobinFinderson]

You can't just convert. There are other rules, you know.

Are you...uh.......you know...

I mean, were you.....um.......you know, at birth........

Oy! You question my particulars? Schmuck!

[All-American]

ah...ok. I was confused, as well.

AA thinks he is so bitchen ever since he started applying to law schools.

ps I like The Rambam. It would be a shame to lose our only resident Jewish philosopher.

Come now, give me a little credit. I though I was so bitchen long before I started applying to law schools.

Although, since you brought it up, I just got a phone call from the U of Texas to congratulate me on being admitted.

[CardiacCoug]

I just got a phone call from the U of Texas to congratulate me on being admitted.

Finally you get accepted to a school in the Great State of Texas. Congratulations. I'm sure it's your first choice.

[All-American]

Finally you get accepted to a school in the Great State of Texas. Congratulations. I'm sure it's your first choice.

Well, they have the best football program of the schools I've heard back from so far. That's hard to ignore.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Come now, give me a little credit. I though I was so bitchen long before I started applying to law schools.

Although, since you brought it up, I just got a phone call from the U of Texas to congratulate me on being admitted.

Hook 'em Horns, baby.

Austin is a wonderful place.