Re'umah

ראומה


Genesis 22:24 names her as the concubine of Nachor (נחור), Av-Ram's brother. Her children were Tevach (טבח), Gacham (גחם), Tachash (תחש) and Ma'achah (מעכה).

The king's concubine in the Tanach is often a euphemism for his sacred marriage to the high priestess of the moon-goddess. As with every such instance, the concubines "sons" likewise turn out to be the holders of temple duties.

Tevach (טבח): the ritual slaughterer, or executioner. We know him best as the "cook" or "baker" in the story of Yoseph (see also notes in Poti-Phera).

Gacham (גחם) means "having flaming eyes", which links him to the Keruvim (cherubim) who guarded the flaming sword (Genesis 3:24), the guardians of the doorway where the swastika or wheel of fire spins in all goddess temples.

Tachash (תחש) = "animal skin", of the sort used to make shoes, but also as a covering for the Ark of the Covenant. Weasel or badger skin was mostly used, though also seal when available, and some scholars regard Tachash as the dolphin. The craft of tanner was one of several (blacksmithing, coopering etc) which operated from inside the Temple grounds under the personal patronage of the gods and goddesses who were said to have founded the crafts.

Ma'achah (מעכה): almost certainly a sister, not a brother (see the link to her name). She would have been a priestess. King David later married a Ma'achah, daughter of Talmai the king of Geshur, and the son from that marriage, 
Av-Shalom (Absalom) also had a daughter named Ma'achah.

The root is thought to be Ra'am (ראם) = "exalted", which links Re'umah closely with Av-Ram (אברם) – "exalted father", the 
Chaldean name for the Biblical patriarch before it was changed to Av-Raham (אברהם). However, this explanation of Av-Ram is probably incorrect, where in Re'umah's case it is clearly quite correct, though again that word "concubine" needs careful consideration. We tend to think of Biblical concubines as just some girl from the harem whom the king fancies taking to bed. This is quite erroneous, though evidently in later times it became the case.

See also Re'u-Ven (Reuben), but not to be confused with Re'u (רעו) or Re'u-El (רעואל) both with an Ayin (ע).






Copyright © 2019 David Prashker
All rights reserved
The Argaman Press

No comments:

Post a Comment