Jovial,
I
appreciate your time and effort at exegesis of "the
desire of women” in Daniel 11:37. However, I
would still defer to Gesenius’ expertise on deciphering
ancient Semitic languages and Biblical texts. He literally wrote the book:
“Gesenius’ Hebrew Grammar”. It
is his determination that in the context of the passage as
recorded in his Lexicon, “this is
to be understood, as the context shows it must, of
some idol especially worshipped by the Syrian women
such as Astarte or Anaitis.” His words, not
mine.
And
really, the whole passage from 11:36 through 11:39
explores the specific subject of the godlessness of the
evil ruler. To
interject his proclivities against women, their desires or
abstinence from women would be completely out of context,
even if that were the case.
[36]
And
the king shall do according to his will; and he shall
exalt himself, and magnify himself above
every god, and shall speak marvelous things against
the God of gods, and shall prosper till the
indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined
shall be done. [37] Neither shall he regard the God
of his fathers, nor the desire of women,
nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself
above all. [38] But in his estate shall he honor the
God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew
not shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with
precious stones, and pleasant things. [39] Thus shall he
do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom
he shall acknowledge [and] increase with glory:
and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall
divide the land for gain. - Dan 11:36-39 KJV
Paraphrasing
the context of the passage along with your
out of context variable interpretation:
The
king will lift himself above every god: speak things
against the God of gods; won’t honor his ancestor’s gods;
will magnify himself above all gods; he will honor the
false god of human safety with many treasures, even though
it’s not a god his ancestors knew; he shall honor and
acknowledge this false god even in the strongest places. Oh and by the way,
he won’t respect desirable women, won’t respect women’s
desire for husbands or children; won’t respect desiring
women, neither will he respect any god.
Do
you see the absurdity of that out-of-context and
variable interpretation directly followed in the same
sentence by “neither will he respect any god”?
On the other hand,
paraphrasing with the “desire of women” in the same
context:
The king will lift
himself above every god: speak things against the God of
gods; won’t honor his ancestor’s gods; won’t respect those
gods desired by women; won’t respect any god; he will
magnify himself above all gods; he will honor the false
god of human safety with many treasures, even though it’s
not a god his ancestors knew; he shall honor and
acknowledge this new false god even in the strongest
places.
Respectfully yours in
Christ,
Kevin H.