#BRAVE CF 37

[poseidons-lovechild]

Do you think Hannibal was in love with Alana and Bedelia? The same way he was in love with Will? Or how do you see Hannibal's relationship with Alana and Bedelia compared to his intense love for Will?

okay, buckle up, this is gonna be a wild ride. [that escalated a bit, short answer: here.]

First of all, I want to say that I am not sure how Hannibal would define love. I think for him it is mostly about being understood and seen.

Second, I think that Sorbet is really telling about his three main relationships. It contains the first session we see between him and Bedelia, we see the beginnings of his and Alana’s romantic relationship and we see Will missing his session and Hannibal coming to see Will, their conversation where Will gives such an accurate assessment of the Ripper’s motivation.

Third, since Hannibal is so manipulative his relationships are often written in a way, where we often see what he wants us to see and then later, it is revealed that it was a whole other thing entirely. In my opinion that makes it hard to assess his relationships.

alana bloom

In my opinion he neither loved nor was in love with Alana – she was an esteemed colleague. He carefully flirted with her and entered a relationship with her as means to an end, a future alibi, because she was someone Jack would trust. It was built on manipulation – even if Hannibal expressed regret for that and offered her an out.

“I was hoping you and I wouldn’t have to say good-bye. Nothing seen nor said. You may have found that rude.” “[…] I was so blind.” “In your defense, I worked very hard to blind you. You can stay blind. You can hide from this. Walk away, I’ll make no plans to call on you. But if you stay, I will kill you. Be blind, Alana. Don’t be brave.” Mizumono, 00:29:37-00:30:27.

It is mentioned, they worked together in what I think was a mentor-mentee relationship. This previous platonic relationship, their history, is what he constructed their romantic one on.

“You had me examining PhD candidates that week.” “And I’m grateful you were examining PhD students and not the Ripper. You realize those candidates thought we were having an affair. Why didn’t we?” Sorbet, 00:25:50-00:25:58.

I think for Hannibal it is important that people see him, that someone understands him. Alana did not and could never – “while being able to understand Hannibal's philosophies, [she] is unable to accept or digest them.” (cf. tayasui-mono in her post)

“Could I ever have understood you?” “No.” Digestivo, 00:26:32-00:26:40.

[honorable mentions]

that weird ass kaleidoscope sex scene

the theremin rizz

bedelia du maurier

I do believe that he was in love with Bedelia once upon a time, at the starting point of the series I would say he loves her but is not in love with her anymore.

In Sorbet, Alana mentions an affair he had while she was working with him. I always interpreted that this affair was with Bedelia.

“You were already having an affair.” Sorbet, 00:26:05-00:26:07.

In my opinion, Bedelia is one of two people, who get to know Hannibal under the person suit. Alone by her knowledge that there is a person suit she knows him better than most. The best scene for that is the first session we see in Sorbet.

She sees small glimpses of him. When she mentions the existence of his human veil/person suit as well as the loneliness that surely must come with it, we see a small smile flash over Hannibal’s face, acknowledging her knowledge of him. More so she knows that she knows him.

“I see enough of you to see the truth of you. And I like you.” Sorbet, 00:18:18-00:18:22.

Not only does she confront him with the fact of his dishonesty, with the existence of his human veil/person suit, but she also distances herself from him being his friend; they are colleagues and in a doctor-patient relationship. She gives clear boundaries, BUT crosses them in the same scene by drinking a glass wine with ‘her patient’.

Bedelia is morally ambiguous, we never know whether she is scared or complicit – or a little bit of both. Or if she even knows.

“Important to get across was the degree to which she is aroused by what is happening. Why on earth is she there? I mean, I know she is titillated by him. But the fact that she got on the plane and went to Italy with him implies that there is something deeper between them. This is the first time he commits a murder in front of her. It was important to see the degree to which she is on the one hand completely terrified. And on the other hand, there’s a part of her that is definitely turned on by and enraptured by the danger and him.” Gillian Anderson in ‘Gillian Anderson Rewatches The X-Files, Sex Education, Scoop & More’ for Vanity Fair.

I believe also that if Italy had been the first time she ever was directly confronted with Hannibal’s violence - while acting like or rather being his wife mind you – she would not have been so torn about it.

Something that I also don’t want to skip is the fact that she killed before and that she liked it – at least that's how I would interpret the orgasm-like camera work in that particular scene. Therefore I would say that Hannibal likes to play with that darker side of her – to provoke her.

“Observe or participate?” “What?” “Are you, in this very moment, observing or participating?” “Observing.” “You say you’re observing, but this…this is participation, Bedelia.” Antipasto, 00:37:25-00:37:53.

In the end though, Italy happens while Hannibal is already and still very much in love with Will and he is literally talking to his ‘wife’ about his boyfriend.

“Was it nice to see him?” “It was nice…among other things .He knew where to look for me.” “You knew where he would look for you.” "He said he forgave me." “Forgiveness is too great and difficult for one person. It requires two: the betrayer and the betrayed. Which one are you?” “I’m vague on those details.” "Betrayal and forgiveness are best seen as something akin to falling in love." "You cannot control with respect to whom you fall in love." Secondo, 00:00:53-00:01:57.

After all that there is no way Bedelia didn't feel used. She knew she was filling the gaps Will left in Hannibal's life while understanding that although they are similar she could never replace him in any manner.

I don't understand how people interpret her as annoyed or as if she "just didn't want to die". There was surely understanding and love between Hannibal and her, yet not like between Will and Hannibal.

And YES, they fucked.

[honorable mentions]

the dancing scene (and the whole antipasto episode just for their chemistry): “Bellissima.” “Grazie.”

the dinner scene: “My husband has a very sophisticated palate. He is very particular about how I taste.” “Is it that kind of party?” “It’s not that kind of party.”

will graham

Hannibal’s relationship with Will I always find hard to define as it is written in a way that is not so much based on romantic or sexual attraction but rather mutual understanding – ‘seeing each other’. (Which, let’s be honest, is probably due to NBC being homophobic.)

Because of his ‚gift‘, his heightened empathy, Will can assess the Ripper in a way that no one else can. In Sorbet, he does so in Hannibal’s presence and Hannibal finally finds someone who really sees him.

“Displaying one’s enemies after death has its appeal in many cultures.” “This aren’t the Ripper’s enemies, these are pests he’s swatted.” “Their reward for their cruelty.” “Oh, he doesn’t have a problem with cruelty. Their reward is for undignified behavior. These dissections are to disgrace them. It’s…it’s a public shaming.” “Takes their organs away because, in his mind, they don’t deserve them.” “In some way.” Sorbet, 00:34:44-00:35:21.

In each other they find someone that understands and reciprocates.

“They are identically different, Hannibal and Will.” Digestivo, 00:03:59-00:04:02.

With his Achilles/Patroclus reference in regards to their relationship Hannibal practically confesses that he is indifferent to anyone but Will in his life. (How Will misses the point of this reference is completely inexplicable to me. After this he still had the audacity to ask, “Is Hannibal in love with me?” YES, YOU STUPID MAN!)

"Achilles lamenting the death of Patroclus. Whenever he's mentioned in the Iliad, Patroclus seems to be defined by his empathy." "He became Achilles on the field of war. He died for him there, wearing his armor." "He did. Hiding and revealing identity is a constant theme throughout the Greek epics." "As are battle-tested friendships." "Achilles wished all Greeks would die, so that he and Patroclus could conquer Troy alone. Took divine intervention to bring them down." Tome-wan, 00:40:22-00:41:07.

In the end, Will and Hannibal are so incredibly complex, they are written so that they literally defy definition und do not fit into a mold. I could not even say that Hannibal feels intense love for Will. I’m not even sure that Hannibal is able to feel love at all - same with Will - or rather how they feel love.

But they see each other for what they are.

"Time did reverse. The teacup that I shattered there did come together. A place was made for Abigail in your world... You understand? A place was made for all of us, together. I wanted to surprise you. And you... you wanted to surprise me. I let you know me. See me. I gave you a rare gift. But you didn't want it." “Didn’t I?” Mizumono, 00:36:15-00:37:18.

 [honorable mentions]

the baby trap: "Who knows Abigail better than you and I? Or burden she bears. We are her fathers now. We have to serve her better than Garrett Jacob Hobbs."

the ogling: “Are you feeling paternal, Will?”

conclusion

Hannibal did not love Alana. She was an esteemed colleague but in the end, she was a means to an end. She was there to give him an alibi. He manipulated her.

Hannibal surely once was in love with Bedelia, maybe even loves her still but is not IN love with her anymore. I would say he took her to Italy for the love that once was there – for old time’s sake.

Will is ‘Blackbeard’s last wife’. He and Hannibal just have an unprecedented understanding for each other. Hannibal wanted a future with Will.

So, no, Hannibal was not in love with Alana and Bedelia, or at least not in the same way he was with Will.

[I want to note here that both Bedelia and Will often behave in a way that Hannibal would consider rude and he turns a blind eye to it. All this to say, if it had ended with Bedelia, Will and Hannibal as a throuple, Hannibal wouldn’t have had a peaceful day in his life ever again.]

[thgfanfictionlibrary]

E Rated Fics Masterlist (39)

Part 1-Part 30 / Part 31 / Part 32 / Part 33 / Part 34 / Part 35 / Part 36 / Part 37 / Part 38 /

Created: March 17th, 2024

Last Checked:-----

A Collaborative Process-Glintwarsgreatest (ao3)  Summary: Sometimes the only way to escape darkness is to find someone else who is trying as well. Katniss and Peeta, Modern AU.

a family affair-littlerosette (ao3)

Summary: “Can I introduce you to my son?” “Yes,” she breathes. An embarrassed flush warms her cheeks at the fact that she completely missed him, preoccupied with Bannock as she was. She turns, reaching down to shake his hand, only to freeze at the face that stares back up at her, slack with dread. A rush of panic runs through her, like a shot to the veins, and she falters, her knees suddenly knocking. She could faint. It’s the same blue eyes. The same broad shoulders. If she bent down and tucked her nose against his collar, she’s sure she’d still smell the cigarette she shared with him earlier, warm on his skin. Irrationally, she wants to rage at her mother for ruining yet another good thing for her, even if all it would have amounted to was a one-night stand. Or: Katniss develops an infatuation with the youngest son of her mom’s new boyfriend.

Absinthe Makes the Heart Grow Fonder-Falafel_Waffel (ao3)  Summary: The tale of why Katniss Everdeen will never drink absinthe again.

When You Wish Upon A Star…-bubblegum1425 (ao3)  Summary: Katniss Everdeen didn't want to go on the blind date, especially one that involved Disneyland of all places. But that was before the handsome blonde doctor, Peeta Mellark, walked to her door. Will Katniss be brave enough to discover if Peeta is the one to make her wishes come true? A relatively fluffy one-shot + outtake. Modern AU Wolfskin Coat-Alliswell (ao3)  Summary: Every year brings a slew of new and revamped urban legends, but maybe this one, is real enough. A modern ‘scarytale’ of Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf, featuring CF quote: “You’re absolutely terrifying in that get up!” Worry Is Calling-HGfanonezillion (ao3)  Summary: How can a person go on when the love of their life is ripped away from them and they are forced to marry someone else? This is the dilemma Katniss, Peeta, Finnick, and Annie must all face. And only whispers of revolution could possibly bring them back together. But will there be a chance for reuniting after years of marriage to someone else? Yes, Mistress-HGfanonezillion (ao3)  Summary: Peeta has a set of rules to follow. Katniss punishes him if he steps out of line. Yield-dispatchesfromdistrict7 (ao3)  Summary: Peeta is considering taking things to the next step when Katniss makes a decision that tests their relationship as it hasn’t been before. He has to figure out how to reach her so that she sees they aren’t alone; they are partners. Prequel to The Tasting Room in the Winemaker!Katniss universe. Modern AU.  You can't escape me.-Broken_everlark (ao3)  Summary: Just a short fic for the spooky season.  You can leave your hat on-angylinni (ao3)  Summary: Katniss wants to surprise Peeta with a very special Christmas gift this year.

[mrlnsfrt]

Strong Female Character

Do you like simple straightforward stories?

Stories with a clear hero who never does anything wrong and a clear villain who never does anything good?

I have met many people who are only familiar with the children’s version of the Bible characters. We often refer to these characters as Bible heroes. They are strong, wise, and always obedient. They talk to God and God talks to them and they always know exactly what to do. They are never afraid, they never experience anxiety, and God gives them victories over everything that stands in their way.

These heroes are often portrayed as strong and brave men.

Many are surprised to discover that the great majority of biblical characters are flawed human beings whose lives are much more similar to ours than we would like to admit. Many often overlook the women of the Bible. They see them as minor characters whose stories are not worth telling and whose names are not worthy to be remembered.

In this post, I will explore Genesis 38 and the story of Tamar. She is the first woman mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus, that portion of Matthew 1 you often skip. Just a heads up, this story is anything but straightforward and deals with mature themes. There’s a reason kids’ Bibles don’t include the story of Tamar. But if you are interested in tackling a challenging biblical text and discovering a fascinating character, I invite you to continue to read this post.

Wrong Story?

At first glance, a story about Judah and his daughter-in-law Tamar immediately after the sale of Joseph and his arrival in the Egyptian house of Potiphar seems completely out of place. But a closer look at this story reveals that it is exactly where it needs to be since it is thematically connected with Genesis 37 and 39.

Going down?

It happened at that time that Judah went down from his brothers and turned aside to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. - Genesis 38:1 ESV (bold mine)

I quoted from the English Standard Version because it more accurately translates the original text. This may seem like a small detail but it ties this story in with the next chapter, Genesis 39 that begins with Joseph having been taken down to Egypt. The text does not tell us the reason for Judah leaving his brothers, but it could be that he is feeling guilty about selling his brother Joseph to the Midianites and Ishmaelites (Genesis 37:28 more on my post Betrayed by Family)

“At that time” correlates with the previous incident and suggests that the present episode should be interpreted in light of it. That Judah “went down” (from yārad) is a veiled allusion to the descent of Joseph into Egypt (37:25, 35; 39:1; cf. 12:10; 46:3–4), meaning that both sons have left their father’s house, though under vastly different circumstances. Ironically, Joseph’s case was instigated by Judah’s brainstorm. Judah in the Joseph narrative is an active participant whose choices, for good or for ill, make ripples in the lives of others. - K. A. Mathews, Genesis 11:27–50:26, vol. 1B, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2005), 713–714.

When we combine the events of Genesis 37 and 38 we notice that Jacob’s family was being torn apart by hatred and overall disregard for the will of God.

Judah’s sons

2 And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua, and he married her and went in to her. 3 So she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er. 4 She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan. 5 And she conceived yet again and bore a son, and called his name Shelah. He was at Chezib when she bore him. - Genesis 38:2-5 NKJV

Judah’s progeny looks promising since he had three sons. This places him in good company since other notable patriarchs who produced three sons include Noah, and Terah (Adam has three sons named in the Bible but I wonder if he had more that were not named). Judah named his first son, Er, but the other two were named by his wife. Perhaps this indicates the preference for the firstborn as was typical in the local culture. There is also some debate regarding the identity of Shua. Was Shua the name of the father or the daughter? The text is not clear and it has been translated both ways.

Judah chooses Tamar

Then Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. - Genesis 38:6 NKJV

Interestingly Judah decides to choose the wife for his firstborn. Some interpret this to mean that Judah is becoming more concerned about his legacy and is perhaps returning to God. However, the biblical text does not identify Tamar’s background. Jewish Tradition reports that Tamar was originally a Gentile but, like Ruth, had converted to the God of Israel. (Doukhan, Jacques. Genesis. Nampa, Idaho, Pacific Press Publishing Association ; [Hagerstown, Maryland, 2016.)

Tamar’s ethnicity is undisclosed, but commentators often assume a Canaanite lineage since the text does not indicate an Israelite connection. Conversely, one could argue that the identification of Judah’s wife as a Canaanitess (v. 2) means that the silence of the text for Tamar’s ethnicity implies that she was Israelite.If she were of Canaanite background, matters were turning from bad to worse, since another generation would have married outside the Abraham family (e.g., Ishmael, Esau; also Simeon, 46:10). Joseph, too, will marry an Egyptian (“Asenath”), but the event is somewhat mitigated by his circumstances; she is a gift from Pharaoh (41:45). The text tends to veil his foreign marriage under the act of naming “Manasseh” and “Ephraim,” whose meaning revealed the mind-set of Joseph (41:50–52; 46:20). - K. A. Mathews, Genesis 11:27–50:26 11:27–50:26, vol. 1B, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2005), 715–716.

Er was not a nice person

7 But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord killed him. - Genesis 38:7 NKJV

Many wonder what exactly was the “evil” committed by Er, but the text does not tell us. There is likely a connection with divine judgment warnings found in texts like Exodus 22:23-24 that include the language “your wives will become widows.” The phrase, “evil in the eyes of the Lord,” is a popular Deuteronomic phrase that describes many different unlawful behaviors, especially idolatry (e.g., Deut 4:25; 17:2; Judg 2:11; 1 Sam 15:19; 2 Sam 12:9; esp. 1, 2 Kings). “To put to death” often describes God’s judgment or capital punishment by human agency (e.g., Exod 4:24; Num 35:19, 21). (K. A. Mathews, 716.)

It is worth noting that this is the first time in the Bible where the text explicitly states that God killed someone.

Levirate Marriage?

8 And Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother.” 9 But Onan knew that the heir would not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in to his brother’s wife, that he emitted on the ground, lest he should give an heir to his brother. 10 And the thing which he did displeased the Lord; therefore He killed him also. - Genesis 38:8-10 NKJV

Deuteronomy 25:5–10 provides the details of the practice, which is illustrated in the Judah-Tamar episode (cf. Luke 20:28). The purpose for this practice was to “produce [qûm] offspring” in the name of the deceased (cf. Deut 25:5, 7, lit., “to establish the brother’s name”). Levirate Marriage is also discussed in the book of Ruth, for more on that read my post Love is… (Part 4)

In accordance with the custom of levirate marriage (“brother-in-law”), Judah instructs Onan to have sexual relations with his deceased brother’s widow, Tamar. Onan, however, refused to impregnate Tamar, ejaculating on the ground (coitus interruptus).

Onan did not want to impregnate Tamar because he did not want to reduce his share of the family inheritance. He stood first in line after the death of Er, and producing a son by his brother’s widow would mean the loss of his new status as heir. His behavior possibly indicates that the men in Judah’s household had struggled for supremacy, as we have found it commonly in the households of the patriarchs Isaac and Jacob. This family travesty results in the kindled anger of the Lord against Onan (v. 10). (K. A. Mathews, 716–717.)

Some use this text to say that using any kind of birth control is sinful, others take it even a step further to say that masturbation is a sin. Interestingly people have taken the name of Onan and turned it into a verb, Onanism which Merriam-Webster defines as 1. masturbation, 2. coitus interruptus, and 3. self-gratification. I am not going to discuss whether or not I think masturbation or using birth control is sinful, but I do want to clarify that I believe this application of these texts is unwarranted. The Messiah was to come from the seed of Judah, therefore Onan’s deliberate refusal to give his brother an heir threatens the entire plan of salvation. Onan’s selfishness impacts many more people than he could ever imagine. Onan, like his brother Er, had the opportunity to be a member of the family line that ultimately led to not only to King David but ultimately the Messiah, the Savior of the World.

Onan had no way of knowing God’s plans for Judah’s family at this point in history, but do we likewise minimize the importance we play in God’s plan to bless those around us?

Does our selfishness cause those around us to miss out on blessings God wants to give them?

To focus on Onan’s specific behavior and say it is wrong is to miss the big picture. There are many ways that our selfish behavior can negatively impact those around us and generations to come, I would not limit Onan’s sin to simply the things indicated by the definition of onanism.

Tamar must be the problem

Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house till my son Shelah is grown.” For he said, “Lest he also die like his brothers.” And Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house. - Genesis 38:11 NKJV

Is the Bible misogynistic?

Does the Bible prop up the patriarchy to the detriment of women everywhere?

If the Bible was pro-male and anti-female, it would have skipped this story altogether. The text here is not prescribing Judah’s behavior, but rather describing his behavior. As a man of his time, Judah assumed the problem must be Tamar and not his sons. But are not all parents tempted to think similarly? Blame the teacher, blame the other child, it’s anyone’s fault but my child’s, much less my own. It would take humility and maturity for Judah to grasp what was really going on. It was easier to blame Tamar and “protect” his last remaining son Shelah.

Judah protects his sole remaining heir by sending Tamar home to her father’s house (cp. Lev 22:13). By relegating her to the life of a “widow” (ʾalmānâ), for whom special protections are necessary (e.g., Exod 22:22[21]; Deut 24:17–21), Judah puts her future at jeopardy with no husband or potential son to care for her (Job 24:21; Ps 94:6; Isa 10:12; Mark 12:40). He does so under the pretense of Shelah’s adolescence, but he has no intention of subjecting his son to Tamar’s string of misfortune. “For he thought” translates the verbal root ʾāmar, “to say,” indicating interior dialogue, that is, he said to himself (e.g., 1 Sam 18:17). This is the narrative’s way of explaining to the reader Judah’s motivation for his peculiar behavior. He appears oblivious to the reasons for his sons’ deaths. - K. A. Mathews, Genesis 11:27–50:26, vol. 1B, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2005), 717.

Desperate Measures

 12 Now in the process of time the daughter of Shua, Judah’s wife, died; and Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. 13 And it was told Tamar, saying, “Look, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.” 14 So she took off her widow’s garments, covered herself with a veil and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place which was on the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife. - Genesis 38:12 -14NKJV

Tamar’s desperate condition leads her to embrace desperate measures. Shelah is grown and Judah did not fulfill his promise to give him to Tamar. Judah should have taken Tamar under his wings to provide for her, but instead, he sent her back to her father’s house. Because she was supposed to marry Shelah she is not free to marry anyone else. Tamar is trapped with no viable options.

After the proper period of mourning had ended, Judah returned to his daily activities, including the shearing of his flocks. The timing of Judah’s trip to Timnah with his Canaanite friend at a crucial moment suggests that this trip could be a part of the comforting process. Sheep shearing was an occasion for partying (Genesis 31:19; 1 Sam 25:2-37; 2 Sam 13:23-28) and was even associated in Canaanite religion with the rituals of sacred prostitution (Hosea 4:13-14). (Doukhan, Jacques. Genesis. Nampa, Idaho, Pacific Press Publishing Association ; [Hagerstown, Maryland, 2016. p424)

Change of Clothing

Remember that apparel is an important signal of social status, especially in the narrative of Joseph (see Joseph part 1 and part 2).

Tamar takes off her widow’s garment which distinctively indicates that she has lost a husband (2 Samuel 14:2) and instead covers herself with a veil which suggests that she is promised to a husband (Genesis 24:65; 29:21-25). (ibid) After all, she was promised to Shelah who is now grown and able to marry.

A woman’s veil was not the garment of a harlot but of a betrothed woman (see Genesis 24:65; 29:21–25). Assyrian law forbid an unmarried woman from wearing a veil. The irony of the veil was that it not only hid her identity but it also could have signaled that she had been given in pledge to another, namely, Shelah. - K. A. Mathews, Genesis 11:27–50:26, vol. 1B, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2005), 718.

Dr. Jacques Doukhan adds that according to Assyrian law, only sacred prostitutes had to be veiled in public; regular prostitutes were forbidden to wear a veil. (Ancient Near East Texts Relating to the Old Testament. 3rd ed. Edited by J.B. Pritchard, Princeton: Princeton University Press 1969, 183 #40) This means that by involving himself with a veiled woman Judah was not only simply “satisfying his sexual frustration due to the loss of his wife” but he is also involving himself in a Canaanite cult. (Doukhan, Jacques. Genesis. Nampa, Idaho, Pacific Press Publishing Association ; [Hagerstown, Maryland, 2016. p425)

Location, location, location

It was Tamar’s location on the road that suggested her business (cf. Jer 3:2; Ezek 16:25) and not necessarily her outfit. She stationed herself alone at the entrance to the town to ensure that she would encounter travelers (cf. Prov 8:3; 9:14; 2 Kgs 23:8). (K. A. Mathews, 718.) This description of Tamar’s behavior reveals the depths of her humiliation. She set aside her widowhood for the demeaning status of a prostitute. The widow who has been mistreated by the men of her family uses the sinful desires of her father-in-law to turn the tables on him.

Watch the eyes

she took off her widow’s garments and covered herself with a veil, wrapping herself up, and sat at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. For she saw that Shelah was grown up, and she had not been given to him in marriage. - Genesis 38:14 ESV (bold mine)

So she took off her widow’s garments, covered herself with a veil and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place which was on the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife. - Genesis 38:14 NKJV (bold mine)

She chose “Enaim” (ʿênayim), meaning “eyes,” to spring her trap. Some translations translate it as “an open place” is not a bad translation, but you miss something, a certain play on words. Its location is unknown, identified only as “on the road to Timnah” from Adullam (but this place could be Enam in the territory of Judah, see Joshua 15:34).

“Enaim” may have one of a number of potential wordplays when we remember that she veiled her identity, leaving exposed only her eyes, and the importance in the narrative of visual effects signaling sexual relationships (notice the usage of the word “saw,” vv. 2, 14, 15).

And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua, and he married her and went in to her. - Genesis 38:2 NKJV (bold mine)

So she took off her widow’s garments, covered herself with a veil and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place which was on the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife. - Genesis 38:14 NKJV (bold mine)

When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, because she had covered her face. - Genesis 38:15 NKJV (bold mine)

A Harlot?

When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, because she had covered her face. - Genesis 38:15 NKJV

The word used there is the usual term identifying a harlot (Genesis 34:31), although the root usage (zānâ) can include other forbidden heterosexual relations (Numbers 25:1; Judges 19:2). This seems like a small detail but keep this in mind as we continue to study this story.

An embarrassing sequence of events

16 Then he turned to her by the way, and said, “Please let me come in to you”; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law.

So she said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?”

17 And he said, “I will send a young goat from the flock.”

So she said, “Will you give me a pledge till you send it?”

18 Then he said, “What pledge shall I give you?”

So she said, “Your signet and cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” Then he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him. - Genesis 38:16-18 NKJV 

The biblical text is clear, Judah unwittingly had sexual relations with his “daughter-in-law,” fooled by her appearance (v. 16). His act transgressed sexual prohibitions stated later in levitical law (Leviticus 18:15; 20:12). He probably thought no one would know what he did. How could Judah have known that his “secret sin” would be read by people thousands of years later?

By the way, if someone were to temper with the Bible, or if it is simply a regular book authored by humans, why mention embarrassing accounts of the patriarchs of the faith? Why not omit these stories and only mention stories that make the patriarchs look good? These terrible stories, in my mind, serve as further evidence that the Bible is no ordinary book. But the story is not over yet…

This story brings to the forefront several of the themes of the story of Jacob (and Joseph).

Deception involving clothing.

Genesis 27:15 Jacob wears Esau’s clothing

Genesis 37:31-33 Joseph’s tunic was taken by his brothers dipped in blood and sent to their father.

Deception involving a young goat.

Genesis 27:16 Rebecca places skins of the kids of the goats on Jacob’s hands and neck.

Genesis 37:31 Joseph’s coat was dipped in the blood of a kid of the goats and then sent to his father.

As the story of Jacob and Joseph progresses we see those who deceive others end up being deceived by others. There are more themes and Matthews does a great job in pointing them out. Here are some things he mentions.

The recurring terms “know” (yādaʿ, vv. 9, 16, 26) and “recognize” (nākar, vv. 25–26) bring this motif to the forefront.

Judah wrongly ascribed to Tamar the reason for his sons’ deaths (v. 11), not knowing that the Lord had punished them (vv. 7, 10).

Judah does not understand why Tamar required the particular personal items for a pledge (v. 18).

Judah’s failure to “know” (yādaʿ, v. 16) her identity but his recognition (“recognize,” nākar, v. 25) of his pledge echoes Jacob’s ignorance of what became of Joseph, a ruse fostered by Judah and the brothers (37:32–33).

Judah’s lack of knowledge anticipates the motif of recognition in Joseph’s court, for the brothers failed to “recognize” (42:8) and “know” (42:23) Joseph’s identity.

That Judah was unaware of her identity recalls Laban’s deception of Jacob by giving him Leah (29:23–25) and the immorality of Lot’s daughters, who tricked him during a drunken stupor, catching him unaware (lōʾ yādaʿ, 19:33, 35).

That the text comments “[Judah] did not sleep [lit., “know,” yādaʿ] with her again” (v. 26) at the conclusion of his embarrassing confession provides a subtle allusion to his gullibility.

In addition to the brothers and Jacob collectively, Judah’s lack of knowledge provides a foil for the wisdom of Joseph, who is the interpreter of dreams par excellence and whose knowledge and insight gain him the upper hand over his siblings.

His brothers meanwhile are dim-witted like Esau, unsuspecting of their host’s identity and his knowledge of their conversations.  (K. A. Mathews, Genesis 11:27–50:26, vol. 1B, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2005), 719–720.)

A business transaction?

The interaction between Judah and Tamar is so cold. It makes me so uncomfortable that they treat this encounter as a simple business transaction. After all, this is all it seems to be to them, at least to Judah. Judah is so oblivious he does not realize he is about to commit the sins of adultery and incest. Tamar is still betrothed to Shelah (Deuteronomy 22:23-24) and she is also Judah’s daughter-in-law (Leviticus 18:15).

Whereas Judah has lost his lucidity and self-control, Tamar behaves as a shrewd businesswoman and is in full control of the situation. - Doukhan, Jacques, 425.

Tamar plays out her role by asking for the appropriate payment, “What will you give me?” Matthews points out that this may be a play on the failures of Onan and Judah, the former who did not “give his semen” (v. 9) and the latter’s son to whom “she had not been given” (v. 14). (K. A. Mathews, 720.)

Tamar was probably aware that Judah would not have been prepared for this transaction and would not be able to pay cash. Considering her past experiences with Judah she required an immediate guarantee in the form of objects that would prove his identity. She took the equivalent of his driver’s license, his major credit cards, and his passport.

Foolishly he yields his personal identifying credentials used in official transactions. The ancient cylinder “seal” (ḥôtām/ḥôtemet) was typically made of engraved stone that was rolled across soft clay and on pottery handles, leaving an authoritative and authenticating imprint (e.g., Exod 28:11; 1 Kgs 21:8). - K. A. Mathews, 720.

The signet was attached to a rope, which was worn around the neck. The “staff” (מַטֶּה mateh) was a stick representing the authority of the owner (Numbers 17:3). The same Hebrew word also means tribe (Numbers 2:7,12) The holder of the mateh would represent the tribe, as its leader; thus the mateh became the ensign of royalty, the scepter (Ezekiel 19:11,14), with a messianic connotation (Psalm 110:2). In this story Judah’s staff may be an allusion to the messianic destiny associated tot he tribe of Judah (Genesis 24:17; Numbers 24:27) (Doukhan, Jacques, 425.)

She conceived by him

Then he said, “What pledge shall I give you?”

So she said, “Your signet and cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” Then he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him. - Genesis 38:18 NKJV

The fact that Tamar became pregnant by that first and only act of intimacy (Genesis 38:26b) is one of many subtle indicators that divine providence superintended the events leading to her impregnation.

Are you okay with this interpretation? Are you okay with God’s will being accomplished in this manner? Is it okay for God’s will to come through even when deception and adultery are involved?

I am not saying it was God’s will for this to happen. But is it okay for God to work through the messy lives of sinful human beings in order to bring about great blessings for all of humanity?

Are we okay with this story being in the Bible? Does it make you uncomfortable or does it give you hope and peace?

This story is not about going out there an committing adultery or behaving like a prostitute. This is not a story that encourages deception as a means of gaining advantage. This story is about God in His infinite mercy using incredibly flawed human beings to bring about blessings and restoration.

But there is more to this story, we are not done yet.

Back to life as usual

So she arose and went away, and laid aside her veil and put on the garments of her widowhood. - Genesis 38:19 NKJV

Tamar goes back home and changes back to her usual outfit and no one is aware of what she did. Want to make this story even more uncomfortable. Place yourself in Tamar’s shoes. You go back home, you put on your widow’s garments. Along with your garments comes a reminder of your lot in life, a hopeless widow. You are betrothed to a young man who will probably never marry you. You can’t marry anyone else. You are doomed to live out your days in your father’s house, forgotten, ignored, forsaken. Would you be praying to God that you became pregnant by your father-in-law? Would you be praying to God that He blesses your deception? If you were God, would you answer that prayer? Would you bless Tamar’s plan, the deception of Judah, one of the patriarchs of the children of Israel? Would you choose the man who had power and freedom, or would you choose to help the helpless widow?

Not a simple story. This mess is what God has to work with. We know that Tamar conceived by Judah (Genesis 38:18), but she does not know that right away. She had one shot, and it will likely be a while until she finds out whether it worked or not. Even if she does become pregnant, what will happen after that?

Where is the harlot?

20 And Judah sent the young goat by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman’s hand, but he did not find her. 21 Then he asked the men of that place, saying, “Where is the harlot who was openly by the roadside?”

And they said, “There was no harlot in this place.”

22 So he returned to Judah and said, “I cannot find her. Also, the men of the place said there was no harlot in this place.” - Genesis 38:20-22 NKJV

Judah is probably embarrassed by what happened so he sends his friend, the Adullamite, who seems to be more comfortable with the task. It is worthwhile to note that the word used for “harlot” in Genesis 38:21 is not the same word used in Genesis 38:15. Genesis 38:15 used the word זָנָה zana or prostitute, whereas Genesis 38:21 uses the word קְדֵשָׁה qdesa or temple prostitute. One way of looking at this is that Judah sees a prostitute, but his friend perhaps feels awkward asking around about the prostitute while he has a young goat with him. Maybe it would be more culturally appropriate to ask about a temple prostitute because now he looks like a religious man as opposed to a random guy visiting their town asking around about a prostitute.

Side note, the popularity of temple prostitutes in pagan worship could be one of the main reasons why God did not have female priests.

And they said, “There was no harlot in this place.” Indeed there never was a prostitute of any kind there, only a wronged woman trying to take justice into her own hands.

Lest we be shamed

Then Judah said, “Let her take them for herself, lest we be shamed; for I sent this young goat and you have not found her.” - Genesis 38:23 NKJV

Judah is afraid word will get out that he was outwitted, by a prostitute. Judah is embarrassed that he was bested by a woman and is now trying to do damage control. Maybe if he just forgets the whole thing and just sweeps this matter under the rug everything will go on as normal. Judah is likely hoping no one recognized him, hoping his friend won’t tell anyone and that he will never encounter that woman again. And perhaps that is a possibility if Judah learns his lesson, humbles himself, and repents for his past sins.

Tamar played the harlot

And it came to pass, about three months after, that Judah was told, saying, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has played the harlot; furthermore she is with child by harlotry.”

So Judah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned!” - Genesis 38:24 NKJV

Clearly, Judah had not released Tamar to marry another, which later was an option provided in Deuteronomy 25:5–10. Since she was to live as a widow in her father’s house (Genesis 38:11), implying that she was to abstain from sexual contact, the community concluded what was evident on the face of it: she had become pregnant by harlotry. 

If Tamar is Judah’s daughter-in-law, why is she living with her father and not with him? If she is under his authority why is he not providing for her? Should not Judah provide her with a home, food, and a husband? He is neglecting his responsibilities to care for her but he seems all too eager to punish her for her sin. Judah wants Tamar to be burned. That is a very cruel punishment and a terrible way to die, but perhaps he hopes to establish his honor and free his youngest son to marry someone else.

Most striking is the call for Tamar’s burning, which is rare in Mosaic law as a form of capital punishment; it is reserved for the heinous sex crimes of a man’s marriage to his mother-in-law and the promiscuous daughter of a priest (Lev 20:14; 21:9; contrast stoning in Deut 21:21, 24). Burning the body was an act of severe degradation (2 Kgs 23:16; Amos 2:1). The Code of Hammurapi (§§110, 157) provides for the burning of culprits in the cases of a religious transgressor and a sexual offender. Perhaps the essential idea behind death by fire for sexual offenses was purging the offense from the community (e.g., Josh 6:24; burned after stoning, 7:15, 25). - K. A. Mathews, 723.

But while Judah is playing checkers, Tamar is playing 3-D chess.

Recognize this?

When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “By the man to whom these belong, I am with child.” And she said, “Please determine whose these are—the signet and cord, and staff.” - Genesis 38:25 NKJV

Although Judah and the men of the city appear to have complete power over Tamar’s fate, by her knowledge she maintains power over the bamboozled men. ( K. A. Mathews, 723.)

Tamar does not make a direct charge but permits Judah to draw the obvious conclusion. The language of the verse recalls the brothers’ request of their father regarding the identity of the torn robe (Genesis 37:32): “sent” and “recognize.” The theme of “recognition” recurs here (see Betrayed by Family).

More righteous than I

So Judah acknowledged them and said, “She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son.” And he never knew her again. - Genesis 38:26 NKJV

Checkmate.

Tamar, the victim, the weak, the powerless, the person with no options or resources has come out victorious.

Judah also recognizes his sin and seems to grow from the experience.

 That the text adds that he did not have sexual relations with Tamar again showed that the patriarch had repented of his behavior.  Although the sexual encounter was wrong, Judah was not satisfied with acknowledging the obvious. He no longer is ignorant of his circumstances or their broader importance Judah’s insight into his guilt and the understanding of the reason that lay behind it points ahead to the character transformation the patriarch will fully undergo. Unlike Reuben and his brothers, Judah perceives the more important underlying issues of their actions, bringing about favorable results (Genesis 42:2; 44:18–34). As Noble summarizes, “Judah shows a remarkable ability to bring the heart of the matter clearly into view, and thereby to enable his present circumstances to be seen from a new perspective.” - K. A. Mathews, 723–724.

A friend of mine and fellow pastor J. Harold Alomia shared something with me that I had never considered. Here’s my paraphrase of what he shared.

In some ways, Tamar is like Christ. She has to become something in order to get something by that was hers to begin with and has to undergo the abuse pertaining to her sacrifice of playing something she’s not.

What do you think? It sure gave me some food for thought.

Tamar’s legacy

27 Now it came to pass, at the time for giving birth, that behold, twins were in her womb. 28 And so it was, when she was giving birth, that the one put out his hand; and the midwife took a scarlet thread and bound it on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.” 29 Then it happened, as he drew back his hand, that his brother came out unexpectedly; and she said, “How did you break through? This breach be upon you!” Therefore his name was called Perez. 30 Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand. And his name was called Zerah. - Genesis 38:27-30 NKJV

That Tamar had twins reminds us of the birth of Jacob and Esau, even using the exact words of Genesis 25:24. The peculiar circumstances of their birth revealed that the younger superseded the elder. These details of Tamar’s delivery become important to determining the chosen successor to Jacob’s position. The narrative implies that Judah is the successor in the sense that his descendants will rule over their sibling tribes (Genesis 49:8, 10; 1 Chronicles 5:2). The children’s birth conveys the same rivalry that marked the chosen line in the lives of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Want to know what became of Perez?

18 Now this is the genealogy of Perez: Perez begot Hezron; 19 Hezron begot Ram, and Ram begot Amminadab; 20 Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon; 21 Salmon begot Boaz, and Boaz begot Obed; 22 Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David. - Ruth 4:18-22 NKJV

Matthew 1:3 mentions Tamar and Perez in the genealogy of Jesus. Tamar is the first woman to be mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus. Interestingly Jesus’ genealogy excludes the great matriarchs Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel and Leah. Yet Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and the wife of Uriah, are mentioned in Jesus’ genealogy. Perhaps it is because all of these women had highly irregular and even suspicious marital relationships and in many ways foreshadowed Mary, the mother of Jesus, who also had a similarly suspicious case, being pregnant while unmarried to her husband. There is a theme here that we also see in the story of Joseph, where the suspicion of evil will be turned into good and will lead to deliverance (Genesis 50:20).

Just as God delivered Tamar through Judah’s dubious relation with her, God also delivered Joseph, and ultimately, the land through Judah’s sale of Joseph, and ultimately the entire world through the betrayal of Jesus.

God can bring good out of tragedies.

I am not saying that God wishes for tragedies, but rather that there is hope even in the midst of tragedies.

Whatever mess you are in, come to God and let him bless you and bring you out of it, regardless of what you may have done in the past.

Don’t count yourself out just because your life is messy. Don’t count yourself out because you have made mistakes. Don’t count yourself out because you have been wronged by those in power and those who should know better.

God can do mighty things in your life and through you. you have no idea the positive impact your life can have on the lives of those around you.

Tamar is a strong female character, not because she is perfect or has superpowers, but because in her weakness she refused to give up hope. Tamar is a strong person because in her weakness God’s strength was made manifest.

“For when I am weak, then I am strong.” -2 Corinthians 12:3b

[goalhofer]

2022 Seattle Mariners Famous Relations

#30 Ryan Borucki: Son of former Birmingham Barons SS Ray Borucki.

#48 Matthew Boyd: Distant descendant of former Cleveland Indians P the late Bob Feller & former U.S. 1st lady the late Dolley Madison.

#7 Marco Gonzales: Son of former Grand Junction Rockies manager Frank Gonzales.

#61 Riley O'Brien: Grandson of former Milwaukee Braves P & Seattle city counselor Johnny O'Brien and Great-nephew of former Seattle University athletic director the late Eddie O'Brien.

#37 Paul Sewald: Brother of former Buies Creek Astros LF Johnny Sewald.

#33 Justus Sheffield: Brother of Colorado Rockies P Jordan Sheffield.

#40 Andrew Knapp: Son of former Tacoma Rainiers C Mike Knapp and brother of former Sussex County Miners LF Aaron Knapp.

#3 J.P. Crawford: Son of former Toronto Argonauts DB Larry Crawford and cousin of former Los Angeles Dodgers LF & 1501 Certified Entertainment CEO Carl Crawford.

#8 Donovan Walton: Son of Oklahoma State University baseball assistant pitching coach Rob Walton.

#44 Julio Rodríguez: Boyfriend of OL Reign F Jordyn Huitema.

#8 Justin Upton: Brother of former Sacramento River Cats CF Melvin Upton; Jr..

Manager Scott Servais: Nephew of Creighton University baseball head coach Ed Servais.

[seekfirst-community]

"A good youth ought to have a fear of God, to be subject to his parents, to give honor to his elders, to preserve his purity; he ought not to despise humility, but should love forbearance and modesty. All these are an ornament to youthful years." (St Ambrose of Milan).

"To whom can you liken me as an equal? says the Holy One.

"Lift up your eyes on high

and see who has created these things:

He leads out their army and numbers them, calling them all by name.

By his great might and the strength of his power

not one of them is missing!

"Why, O Jacob, do you say,

and declare, O Israel,

“My way is hidden from the LORD,

and my right is disregarded by my God”?

"Do you not know

or have you not heard?

"The LORD is the eternal God,

creator of the ends of the earth.

He does not faint nor grow weary,

and his knowledge is beyond scrutiny.

"He gives strength to the fainting;

for the weak he makes vigor abound.

"Though young men faint and grow weary, and youths stagger and fall,

"They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength, they will soar as with eagles’ wings;

"They will run and not grow weary,

walk and not grow faint. (Isaiah 40: 25 -31).

Wednesday December 7th 2022 of the 2nd week of Advent is the feast of St Ambrose (340 - 397). Bishop and Doctor of the Church. St Ambrose was still unbaptized and mayor of the imperial city of Milan when he was elected the Bishop of Milan. Aided by the Holy Spirit, Ambrose quickly rose to the challenges of his calling. God gave him the courage of an apostle and made him an outstanding teacher in the Church. He was famous for his care of the poor and his apostolic zeal and opposition to the Arian heresy which was the scourge of the Church in the 4th and 5th century. St Ambrose converted and baptized St Augustine.

The first Reading from Isaiah 40: 25 - 31 is one of the sweetest and most encouraging words in Holy Scriptures. The Scriptures say everywhere that it is good to wait for the Lord. This is the core message for us today.

"They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."

Do you wait for the Lord for anything? Health, family well-being, a new life, financial peace, job, a new car, home? You should find much comfort in today's word of God. Do you know that nothing happens on earth unless God okays the event? Do you know that for everything, God has assigned a particular time for it? If God permits you to be sick, lose your husband or job, it is for the best purpose for you. This is because ALL THINGS work out for good for those who love God. (Cf Romans 8: 28). Since nothing can happen without God willing it, it is impossible for God to will what is evil unless He plans to draw greater good from it.

"Don’t be impatient. Wait for the Lord, and he will come and save you! Be brave, stouthearted, and courageous. Yes, wait and he will help you....

Neither in my youth, nor now in old age have I seen the righteous one abandoned or his offspring begging for bread.

All day long he is gracious and lends, and his offspring become a blessing. (Psalms 27: 14, 37: 25 - 2y).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

[conanaltatis]

Sweden's Anton Turkalj earns 1st BRAVE CF win, beats Athanasios Chergkeletzis at 'BRAVE CF 37'

Sweden’s Anton Turkalj earns 1st BRAVE CF win, beats Athanasios Chergkeletzis at ‘BRAVE CF 37’

Anton Turkalj (©BRAVE CF)

Anton Turkalj, 24, of Gothenburg, Sweden was one of the winners at “BRAVE CF 37.” It was his first victory in the Bahrain-based mixed martial arts promotion BRAVE Combat Federation.

In partnership with Swedish MMA promotion Bulldog Fight Night, BRAVE CF held “BRAVE CF 37” in Stockholm, Swedenon August 1, 2020 with eight professional MMA bouts. In the fourth bout of the…

[discotreque]

Disco 3.08: The Sanctuary

This week IRL was a real mixed bag for me: a lot of messy and barely-manageable anxiety about my health, my day job, and uhhhh *gestures outside*—but also I’ve recently fallen in love (from a responsible social distance)—so it’s been equal parts re-writing professional emails to edit the panic attack out of my tone and gazing dreamily at Discord notifications with cartoon hearts in my eyes. It feels like my life is going to hell in the cutest, coziest handbasket—which is to say that Michael Burnham could not possibly feel like a more relatable character to me right now.

I continue to have issues with the writing at a strange medium-level—somewhere between micro, where the dialogue and characters are really good, and macro, where I’m digging the pace of the overall season, it almost feels like something went wrong in the assembly process, and the script ended up a little bit less than the sum of its perfectly good parts. Again.

But that’s such vague criticism as to be nearly meaningless, and it’s hardly the most interesting level to spend time on anyway. If I zoom out, the parallel season arcs of “getting used to the future” and “the mystery of the Burn” are hanging together wayyyyy better than the Red Angel saga did last year.

And if I zoom in? This episode was funny as shit, wtf.

The discourse re: Tilly these past couple of weeks has been bullshit, and I have a whole angry thing to say about it—but honestly, if you can’t appreciate Doug Jones and Mary Wiseman as a comedic duo, I’m not really mad: mostly I pity the lack of joy in your heart.

Everyone on this show is so funny. Doug’s prissy little delivery absolutely slaughters me (“Execute!...?”), Mary will make a face sometimes that has me screaming laughter into my hands, and I’ve gone on before—and will again—about Sonequa Martin-Green’s egregiously underrated comedy chops.

They were obviously casting for folks w/ jokes in the new season too: David Ajada is no slouch in the dry-delivery or the goofy-face department; his energy and chemistry with Sonequa are as suited to comedy as they are to romance (i.e. extremely 🥵). Anthony Rapp and Wilson Cruz we knew about, but Blu del Barrio—a certified tiny baby!!!—holds their own and lands every smartass whiz-kid one-liner just on the right side of “too precious to stand.” (I almost always at least chuckle, and never roll my eyes, and for a “teen genius” character that’s literally as good as it gets.) And living legend Michelle Yeoh is clearly having the time of her life, omfg.

Disco’s not funny-funny like Lower Decks, but they do funny-on-purpose better than any live-action Trek except maybe DS9. They have such a deep comedic bench they don’t even need Tig Notaro—they have her on just to flex, I presume.

(I don’t know if I’m predicting, per se, that Strange New Worlds—with Rebecca Romjin’s deadpan, Anson Mount’s twinkly eyes, and Ethan Peck’s twinkly-eyed deadpan—is going to have a tone somewhere between Disco S3 and LwD—but I mean... it kinda has to, right? And you know they kept the number for Rainn Wilson’s agent.)

***

At the start of this episode, I was “sure, why the fuck not” about First Officer Tilly; by the end, I was completely on board. And to everyone who’s still wringing their hands about “the real military” this (always from people who have no idea how actual militaries work, lol) and “Lt. Nilsson” that (she... already has a job on the ship? And no character traits besides “stoic” and “furrows brow”? Oh, I get it—she’s skinny and blonde)—y’all are kind of embarrassing me.

“Rank” and “position” (and “seniority” and “day-to-day duties”...) aren’t the same thing, in Star Trek or any IRL military. Yes, the permanent first officers of normal-duty Starfleet ships we’ve seen have usually been command-division officers with the rank of Commander—but not always. Star Trek: Discovery-A, if you will, is a unique show about a unique ship in a unique situation: “B-b-but that’s not how they do it on Star Trek!!!” isn’t a legitimate criticism, not of this—it’s the mournful cry of an entitled pissbaby who isn’t having their hand held all the way to the fireworks factory.

Here’s what an argument supported by the text of the first 37 episodes of Star Trek: Discovery actually looks like: Sylvia Tilly is nervous and lacks self-confidence, but once she gets over herself—which she can do pretty much instantly in a crisis, even when hilariously intoxicated—she is competent as hell. In lower-stakes situations, without intense pressure to focus her attention, she sometimes gets sidetracked by her own insecurities; at her best, she channels that anxious energy into ambition, drive, and being scrupulously organized.

The only person Tilly doesn’t always get along with is Stamets, and even Stamets’s husband thinks he’s an asshole. Since Season 1, we’ve seen her easily socializing with the rest of the crew, who seem to universally adore her. And she’s also happy to leave her social comfort zone at a moment’s notice: she aligned herself with Ash Tyler (miss you, Shazad!) when no one else would, and she instantly befriended Po even when Po was in Weird Feral Alien Princess mode and Tilly had salad in her hair. She doesn’t like confrontation, but she’s brave enough to initiate it anyway if she needs to, and she’s compassionate with other people’s feelings while still setting firm boundaries. (Her graceful dodge of Rhys’s tipsy kiss at the party in 1.07 lives rent-free in my head to this day.)

No, Tilly didn’t finish the Command Training Program—but she started it, which is almost certainly more command training than any of the lieutenants whose names we know, all of whom are Ops or Science personnel with, presumably, specialized non-command training of their own. The same could be assumed for any unseen ranking officers on this science ship with an entirely volunteer skeleton crew.

And seriously, about Nilsson: she’s my #3 background bae after Octopus Head and the lady on Pike’s Enterprise with the spiky red face, but her job is Spore Drive Ops, not personnel. If she’s running after Saru with a holo-clipboard, who’s going to look serious and push holo-buttons when there’s a Black Alert? *drops holo-mic* Drumhead!

***

The stuff on Kwejian, though. Ooof. Ol’ Two-Takes Frakes directed this one, and between the kinetic energy he always adds to the camera and the scintillating performances he evokes, things stayed moving so briskly I almost didn’t notice Book’s entire “homeworld” was a rental house outside Vancouver, a couple acres of adjacent woods, and like six or seven people.

It’s a hot mess in retrospect, but in the moment it gave us the intensity of Book and Kyheem trying to hurt each other’s feelings by poking at 15-year-old wounds, which as a sibling with complicated sibling relationships I found both funny and devastating—not to mention Frakes directing “shaky bridge” explosion falls at an obvious intensity of “10” on an outdoor location shoot. It falls apart at the slightest scrutiny, but I can’t lie, on first viewing I was totally along for the ride.

***

I’m dying to see where this Georgiou thing goes. It doesn’t feel like a stretch to assume she got Cronenberg’d a couple weeks ago, probably to get her under the thumb of this century’s Section 31, and that her arc is going to take Michelle Yeoh off this show in a way that sets up the S31 show. But also, I don’t care so much whether I’m right, I just want to watch Michelle Yeoh—and Sonequa Martin-Green, and also David Cronenberg tbh, and bring back Shazad Latif while you’re at it—get wherever they’re going.

It’s also a fun and interesting direction to take the comically-evil comic relief character and show that her performative moustache-twirling is partly habit and partly a transparent emotional defence against very real fear and vulnerability. We’re all products of our circumstances, and a radical enough change in circumstances can afford almost anyone at least the opportunity to change. I can’t say Emperor Georgiou would have been my first choice of protagonist for that storyline, but it’s not like Michelle Yeoh’s not going to fuckin’ crush it.

***

Miscellany:

So the Burn had an origin point, and now that point is broadcasting a signal that’s somehow both a haunting melody that everyone seems to know—but no one can remember learning—and a Federation distress signal. What the fuck, y’all. I have full-body goosebumps just typing that.

Saru workshopping his own captainly catchphrase with the aid of Tilly’s extreme sincerity and organizational skills is probably the funniest thing that’s ever happened on this show—followed closely by the uncomfortably lingering reaction shots when he’s trying them out on the bridge 😂 (And omg please give Rhys and Bryce the dumbass buddy-comedy C-plots they deserve next season, I beg you.)

I would do a little “prop watch” entry on those Kwejianian(?) bolt-throwing rifles, but I’d have to stop drooling over them first. “Curvy polished hardwood” seems to be New Trek shorthand for “extra sleek and futuristic” (cf. the bridge of the USS Titan in the LwD finale), and I have to say: I am fully into it.

Restating my prediction that we will not see Detmer and Owosekun get together this season, because we will find out that they’ve been together for ages. Everyone knew—Pike even knew!—it just never came up in front of the audience before. That would be one of the cutest ways to do it imho, and one of the funniest too, especially as a meta-joke about how much character development didn’t happen in the first two seasons. (That said, if we get to see their first kiss, I will be screaming with incoherent joy for days, so this is a real win-win for me.)

Speaking of cute: IRL spouses Mary Wiseman and Noah Averbach-Katz, both Julliard-trained actors (it’s where they met!), can’t quite hide their chemistry in the scenes between Tilly and Ryn. I loved seeing Tilly be a hardass when Ryn was rude to the captain, but that sparkle in her eyes didn’t quite match the context <3

And speaking of people who are VERY OBVIOUSLY IN LOVE: that last scene with Book and Michael, and his nervous little “yeah, I said it” eyebrow lift, and her irrepressible giggle as she’s walking away... it was almost too much. Especially right after the queer-family scenes with Stamets and Culber and Adira. My poor heart is going through a lot lately, and I guess I’m just glad Season 3’s emotional intensity is melting it with soft sweet scenes like that instead of kicking it down repeated flights of stairs like Season 1.

***

Next week: everyone stops caring about the Burn and starts trying to solve an even more important mystery—why is this (holographic) dude wearing an early-2360s uniform with an early-2370s combadge?

[theopentable]

The Wisdom of the Desert (Part 1)

THE WISDOM OF FLIGHT

‘It was said of Abba Theodore of Pherme that the three things he believed to be basic for everything were poverty, asceticism and flight.’[1]

In the fourth century many Christians fled from Rome to the deserts of Egypt. These Christians would come to be known as the Desert Fathers and Mothers.

Why did they flee? Had Rome become too dangerous? One way of answering that is to say that quite the opposite is true - Christians had rarely, if ever, had it so good. Christianity had always been a minority movement on the fringe of respectable society. Being a Christian was a dangerous and tumultuous affair. Persecution was par for the course. Martyrdom in Rome was commonplace in a world where emperors stood as gods.

Christianity, however, changed forever following the Emperor Constantine’s conversion and the Edict of Milan in 313 as Christianity ultimately became the official religion of the Empire.

‘When Constantine declared tolerance for the Christian religion in 313 after his conversion at the battle of Milvian Bridge and subsequently supported the outcome of the Council of Nicaea in 325, the number of practicing Christians rose in the following decades from 3 to 30 million. It became quite advantageous to be a Christian, as Constantine was constantly pouring money into building churches and supporting the bishops financially, a fact that changed the whole character of the early Church.’ [2]

Christians were now faced by the temptation of becoming too comfortable and settled in a world in which they had become the most fashionable, respectable and employable of citizens virtually overnight. Important Early Church Father St John Chrysostom wrote,

“Plagues teeming with untold mischief have come upon the churches. The primary offices have become marketable. Excessive wealth, enormous power, and luxury are destroying the integrity of the Church.”

As Christianity began to be shaped more and more by empire Christians turned their back on society and went out into the desert. This was the real danger of Rome. Society, Thomas Merton wrote, “was regarded by the Desert Fathers as a shipwreck from which each individual man had to swim for his life.” [3]

The Desert Fathers and Mothers drew upon the traditions of those going out into the desert – Moses, Elijah, John the Baptist, Jesus. They embraced a way of going deeper and intensifying spiritual practice. They took St Paul’s exhortation especially seriously:

“Do not model yourself on the behaviour of the world around you, but let you behaviour change, modelled by your new mind.” (Romans 12:2)

The Desert Monks fled from a number of things that were at odds with their sense of the sacredness of life:

From the social systems of their day

From conformity to religious mediocrity

From the misuse of power, privilege, status and dignity

From speech [4]

From thoughts (‘logismoi’ – a technical Greek term in monastic literature for the chains of obsessional fantasy that can take over our inner life [5])

From women and bishops (you might end up getting ordained!)

From possessions, property and conventional family life.

We would be gravely mistaken, however, if we presumed that these desert monks and nuns were running away from responsibility or from relationships. All of this flight is for a greater purpose. Rowan Williams writes how rather than any form of avoidance these desert parents were instead ‘entering into a more serious level of responsibility for themselves and others and that relationships are essential to the understanding of their vocation.’[6]

The wisdom of flight that the Desert Parents embodied was for the sake of a deeper, rigorous form of engagement.

‘Numbers of those baptised rose dramatically; standards dropped dramatically. The Church began to compromise between “the things of God and the things of Caesar” (cf. Luke 20:25). The voice of the desert’s heart replaced the voice of the martyr’s blood. And the Desert Father’s and Mother’s became witnesses of another way, another age, another kingdom.’ [7]

While there was much that they chose to let go of, to flee from, they became given instead to prayer, work, to sharing the faith and what they saw as a new form of martyrdom – not the red martyrdom embodied by followers of Jesus prior to Christianity becoming the religion of the Empire, but rather the white martyrdom of complete dependence upon God as they faced up to the demons within. The new battleground for these Christians was the human heart.

‘What they fled with greatest fear was not the external world, but the world they carried inside themselves: an ego-centredness, needing constant approval, driven by compulsive behaviour, frantic in its efforts to attend to a self-image that always required mending.’ [8]

Christine Valters Paintner expresses the way that the desert is a place of deep encounter rather than being a place of superficial escape. The desert strips us down to the sacred essentials:

‘The word for “desert” in Greek is eremos and means “abandonment.” It is the term from which we derive the word “hermit.” The desert was a place to come face-to-face with loneliness and death. Nothing grows in the desert. Your very existence is, therefore, threatened. In the desert, you are forced to face up to yourself and to the temptations in life that distract you from a wide-hearted focus on the presence of the sacred in the world.’ [9]

Here, in the desert, normal securities are relinquished. You are confronted by your own morality, aloneness, limitations and vulnerability. And yet this is precisely the context for transformation, a way of being broken open, ‘a doorway to an encounter with a God who was much more expansive than anything believers imagined.’ [10]

In the uncompromising stillness of the desert they sought to undo internal knots and to allow Divine Light into the shadows of the human heart through poverty and detachment, chastity, conversion of life, obedience, stability, silence, solitude, attention, humility and compassion.

Struggle and toil is a touchstone of life in the desert:

One of the Fathers asked Abba John the Dwarf: “What is a Monk?”

He replied: A monk is toil. The monk toils in everything. That is what a monk is.” [11]

The concern of the desert elders, Paintner identifies, was what poet John Keats called the ancient task of “soul-making”: the challenge of waking up to the true nature of life and remembering who we really are, the divine inheritance of human beings. 

This was the quest of the desert elders. This was the wisdom of their flight. The journey into the desert was ultimately a journey into the heart; to learn the ways in which human lives lose connection with themselves, with Divine Love and how they might return to love and truth. 

This is the great struggle and quest all human beings know: the struggle to live a meaningful, loving, and authentic life. This is what we all want. We won’t all go to the desert and yet the wilderness will still come to us in the various human forms of loss, change, searching, uncertainty, deprivation, struggle, loneliness, and vulnerability. Brene Brown reminds us that the wilderness can often feel unholy because we can't control it, or what people think about our choice to venture into the heart of it. And yet she also says that it turns out to be the place of true belonging, ‘the bravest and most sacred place you will ever stand.’ [12]

Perhaps then we can be guided the grace and experience of these unusual desert hermits, by the spark of their lived-wisdom that might lead us into greater courage, insight, compassion, into encounters with God, and perhaps even our own ‘transformation into the fire of Love.’ [13]

But here is a final, and critical point by Thomas Merton. Merton explains the these desert elders didn’t go out into the desert in order to be extraordinary. Rather, they fashioned lives among the rocks and sands into the be themselves, their ordinary selves, forgetting the things that divided them from themselves:

‘There can be no other valid reason for seeking solitude or for leaving the world. And thus to leave the world, is, in fact, to help save it in saving oneself..The Coptic hermits who left the world as though escaping from a wreck, did not merely intend to save themselves. They knew they were helpless to do any good for others as long as they floundered about in the wreckage. But once they got a foothold on solid ground, things were different. Then they had not only the power but even the obligation to pull the whole world to safety after them.’ [14]

The wisdom of the desert is that we might become our ordinary selves in order to pull the whole world to safety.

[1] Theodore of Pherme 5.

[2] Kim Nataraja, “The Desert Tradition” in Journey to the Heart: Christian Contemplation Through the Centuries (Nataraja, editor, 2011), p.92

[3] Thomas Merton, The Wisdom of the Desert

[4] ‘One day, as Abba Macarius was dismissing the gathering, he said to the brothers at Scetis, ‘Flee, brethren!’ One of the old men asked him, ‘Where could we feel to that is further away than this desert?’ Macarius put his finger to his lips and said, ‘Flee that.’ And off he went to his cell, shut the door and sat down.’ (Macarius 16)

[5] Rowan Williams, Silence and Honey Cakes: The Wisdom of the Desert (2003), p.63

[6] Williams, p.62

[7] John Chryssavgis, In the Heart of the Desert: The Spirituality of the Desert Father’s and Mother’s (Treasures of the World’s Religions) (2008), p.16

[8] Belden Lane, The Solace of Fierce Landscapes

[9] Christine Valters Paintner, Desert Fathers and Mothers: Early Christian Wisdom Sayings Annotated and Explained (2012), p.vi

[10] Ibid., p.ix

[11] John the Dwarf 37

[12] Brene Brown, Braving the Wilderness (2017), kindle loc.430

[13] Nataraja., p.106

[14] Merton, The Wisdom of the Desert

[fistfullofboomstick]

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One of my friends competed at Brave CF 37 tonight in Sweden and won in a pretty spectacular fashion. 👌😬👊 Great finish @mattiasthehenriksson looking forward to see you in the cage again! It's a finish of the ages, is it not?👌 #mma #bravecf37 #knockout #guilethemegoeswitheverything #streetfighter2 #mixedmartialart #mmasweden #bjj #markhunt #greatperformances #walkoffknockout #umea #martialarts (på/i Stockholm, Sweden) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDW5XW4pYi_/?igshid=y6ezkzfs09cf

[heymeowmao]

[FULL] 10 _ OUR SONGS (The last team in the rankings (5th) will be leaving the show :’()

+ DDR and Cart Racing. Too cute. Shen Shen.

10:56 - MC: Qi-ge, you’re such a cool guy, and you love racing. Why did you let Yuning race, instead of doing it yourself? RXQ: I know YN’s skills. Another thing is that everyone knows that I love racing. For me to win, is obvious. Losing would lose me too much face. So, I thought it would be better to let YN do it. LYN: Qi-ge saw that I really wanted to play, so he let me do it. MC: Let me tell you, through the whole course, the fastest in speed was actually XZ. But the trophy goes to LYN. 

Zhou Huajian x Jiang Yiqiao - 阴天 (Yin Tian)

22:40 - MC: I think we can all completely understand how FYQ lost at DDR, being his first time playing. What happened to you while racing? A: There were really very skilled people there. HJ-dage is too awesome. ZhanZhan- skilled. Yuning. They drove so well that I couldn’t even see them, and I was driving fast enough. MC: I notice there’s one person you haven’t mentioned- Zhou Shen. A: ShenShen and I were side by side. He was behind me. ZS: He speaks too highly of me. I was on a different playing field completely. ZHJ: Can I say this? A: Say? ZS: ?? ZHJ: Zhou Shen drove in the opposite direction.

[ShenShen trying to learn the route from Yuning] 24:10 - LYN: There’s only one way. ZS: There’s only one? LYN: Just don’t go on the grass and you’ll be fine. There’s only one way. ZS: Everyone, please be careful! If you see me on the road, please make way!! – A: Sometimes you can see a person-less cart roaming around. ZS: That is to say, all you could see of me was the helmet. HL: Don’t go driving out on the street like that. ZS: I won’t. I won’t even drive a car.

Fei Yuqing x Ayanga - 卷珠帘 (Juan Zu Lian) x 凤凰于飞 (Feng Huang Yu Fei)

26:51 - RXQ: Wow, they have a qin?! 26:59 - ZS: We don’t have anything. HL: We have dry ice!

34:28 - MC: The first two groups were already so amazing. The third group- to sing after these two amazing seniors… (how do you feel?) XZ: I’m just very nervous. Because the first two groups were too good x3 MC: You have to know. Na-jie told me she was definitely coming back. XZ: /mental breakdown/ XZ: OK! She will. She will.

Angela Chang x Xiao Zhan - 呐喊 (Na Han | Shout)

35:46 - MC: I wonder if the other teams feel like this is unfair. Other Teams: ?? Zhan: ! MC: Because it feels like there are three people on Na-Zhan Team (instead of two). There’s someone behind the scenes always giving them input! ZHJ: Yes, yes, yes. How about we cut them by 50 points? MC: First cut 50 points off? XD XZ: !! 🙏 (have mercy)

37:14 - XZ: People’s impression of me, they always say I’m 文质彬彬 (elegant and simple, elegant and polite). I sing very lyrical songs. But really I.. I do have a different heart. So I’m very thankful that Angela-laoshi is here, and is willing to help me perform different things. I’m pretty happy. A: /looks at Zhan Zhan/ XZ: /looks back/ Really! A: Thank you.

42:14 - MC: Are you feeling satisfied? A: I’m feeling pretty smug. XZ: Yeah. MC: XZ. This is the first time I’ve seen your veins bursting out. XZ: LOL MC: This song is actually quite difficult. XZ: Yes. To me, there was some difficulty. MC: Then why did you decide to take on this challenge? XZ: Because I really like this song. When I… was still in my youth… /Angela elbows him/ I remember this song was about a small girl who was shouting out the things in her heart, wanting to grow up. She wanted to be accepted by the world and didn’t want to be pushed down by insignificant things. When I heard the new arrangement, I thought “Wow”. This girl has already grown up and she has her own views of the world now. She made her own breakthrough. This song is meaningful not only to Angela-laoshi, but also to me. I really want to breakthrough and shout out what’s in my heart.

43:14 - MC: Throughout this whole program I’ve found that two people always sing along. One is Yuning, the other is Zhou Shen. LYN: I’m shocked. The reason I was singing along was actually because I was warming up- it’s my turn soon. A/XZ: LOL MC: ZS, you’re not also warming up, are you? ZS: Uh…this is. Uh. That is- when I was- Also… XZ: In your youth! ZS: In my youth I would also regularly listen to this song. So I was brought back to that time.

44:08 - MC: Qi-ge, you’re very calm. RXQ: I’m here to savor in the musical feast! I was shocked because XZ looks like he’s very 斯文秀气 (handsome and delicate) but when he was singing “Shout” his explosive force- I thought I was seeing a solitary prince going to rescue his princess. In this distant kingdom, song coming from all sides, he bravely pulled his sword and went forth. I saw this sort of image. XZ: Thank you Qi-ge. Thank you.

Ren Xianqi x Liu Yuning - 天涯 (Tian Ya | Horizon)

53:13 - MC: This is Qi-ge’s “TianYa”, right? I’d like to take the opportunity to let everyone know of the background behind this song. The composer of this song is a well known Japanese singer-songwriter Miyuki Nakajima. RXQ: Yes. MC: When I was looking up this information I found out that this song she made especially for you.  RXQ: Yes, she wrote it for me. I had done a cover of 伤心太平洋 (Shang Xin Tai Ping Yang) before. I made an MV, and I sent it to her. She really liked it and ended up sending me a song. That song was 天涯.  Hacken Lee x Zhou Shen - 天下有情人 (Tian Xia You Qing Ren) [1:01:22 - XZ’s reaction to the song. Same. OMG. Zhou Shen’s an angel.]

1:05:30 - ZHJ: First off, I’d really like to thank the two of you, from the bottom of my heart. No matter what product, what song, it needs a good singer to give it life. I had always thought that the collaboration between me and Qi Yu would be invincible. I really want to thank you for giving this song new life. Thank you, thank you.  ZHJ: I also want to sincerely tell everyone… please don’t forget about us. We are- JYQ: Number 1. Yin Tian.

1:04:43 - RXQ: I always thought in my heart that Zhou Shen was like Peter Pan. LKQ: You mean his physical stature is like Peter Pan? ZS: OTL RXQ: His music has a pure (newborn) quality. His voice has the power to uplift you. Their voices together- still gives me same thought- a match made in heaven. Amazing.

–

1:07:17 - MC: After today’s performance, Angela will be leaving us. Do you feel unwilling? These performances really are very wonderful. A: Of course. I really want to thank everyone on stage with me today. I think- with my collaboration this time, singing together with Xiao Zhan- I really feel that he is a very polite chi-child… Also meeting these seniors, and getting to know them more in-depth, I understand that these are very exemplary models. Not matter whether it is about professionalism on stage, or even off-stage, every one is very kind. This could be my last time playing with everyone this week. Thank you all.

+ Special Collab Stage: Fei Yuqing x Zhou Huajian + LMAO. Peanut oil CF

1:16:52 - XZ: /receives the envelope/ Thank you. /turns around and hands it to Angela/ Here. A: Hehe. You’re so cute. XZ: I’m a little nervous. A: Do you want me to open it? XZ: Ahh, I don’t want to see it. A: Oh. I saw some words. A: … XZ: Tell me. Does it say we’re out. No way… A: OH. XZ: AH?? A: … XZ: What sort of reaction is that? /can’t stand it anymore and looks/ A: I’m gonna say it! My Dearest Na–Zhan Team… Congratulations on ranking third place. We look forward to your next performance!

1 - Fei Yuqing x Ayanga 2 - Hacken Lee x Zhou Shen (lol @ Hacken’s “YAYYYYYY”) 3 - Na Ying | Angela x Xiao Zhan 4 - Zhou Huajian x Jiang Yiqiao 5 - Ren Xianqi x Liu Yuning ( OH NOOOO :’( )

1:26:16 - ZHJ: It really looks like they’re stepping on cockroaches. XZ: LOL

[aboutnorsemythology]

Loki`s truths

Ægir, who was also called Gymir, had prepared ale for the gods, after he had got the mighty kettle, as now has been told. To this feast came Othin and Frigg, his wife. Thor came not, as he was on a journey in the East. Sif,

Thor's wife, was there, and Brag, with Ithun, his wife. Tyr, who had but one hand, was there; the wolf Fenrir had bitten off his other hand when they had bound him. There were Njorth and Skathi his wife, Freyr and Freyja, and Vithar, the son of Othin. Loki was there, and Freyr's servants Byggvir and Beyla. Many were there of the gods and elves

Ægir had two serving-men, Fimafeng and Eldir. Glittering gold they had in place of firelight; the ale came in of itself; and great was the peace. The guests praised much the ability of Ægir's serving-men. Loki might not endure that, and he slew Fimafeng. Then the gods shook their shields and howled at Loki and drove him away to the forest, and thereafter set to drinking again. Loki turned back, and outside he met Eldir. Loki spoke to him:

1. "Speak now, Eldir, | for not one step Farther shalt thou fare; What ale-talk here | do they have within, The sons of the glorious gods?"

Eldir spake: 2. "Of their weapons they talk, | and their might in war, The sons of the glorious gods; From the gods and elves | who are gathered here No friend in words shalt thou find."

Loki spake: 3. "In shall I go | into Ægir's hall, For the feast I fain would see;

Bale and hatred | I bring to the gods, And their mead with venom I mix."

Eldir spake: 4. "If in thou goest | to Ægir's hall, And fain the feast wouldst see, And with slander and spite | wouldst sprinkle the gods, Think well lest they wipe it on thee."

Loki spake: 5. "Bethink thee, Eldir, | if thou and I Shall strive with spiteful speech; Richer I grow | in ready words If thou speakest too much to me."

Then Loki went into the hall, but when they who were there saw who had entered, they were all silent.

Loki spake: 6. "Thirsty I come | into this thine hall, I, Lopt,(1) from a journey long, To ask of the gods | that one should give Fair mead for a drink to me.

7. "Why sit ye silent, | swollen with pride, Ye gods, and no answer give?

(1)Lopt: like Lothur (cf. Voluspo, 18) another name for Loki

At your feast a place | and a seat prepare me, Or bid me forth to fare."

Bragi spake: 8. "A place and a seat | will the gods prepare No more in their midst for thee; For the gods know well | what men they wish To find at their mighty feasts."

Loki spake: 9. "Remember, Othin, | in olden days That we both our blood have mixed; (2) Then didst thou promise | no ale to pour, Unless it were brought for us both."

Othin spake: 10. "Stand forth then, Vithar, | and let the wolf's father Find a seat at our feast;

(2) Loki speaks of an oath of blood but never mentions a brotherhood, this was erroneously interpreted and perhaps it makes reference to verse Volusp, 18  that refers to the creation of men.

Lest evil should Loki | speak aloud Here within Ægir's hall."

Then Vithar arose and poured drink for Loki; but before he drank he spoke to the gods:

11. "Hail to you, gods! | ye goddesses, hail! Hail to the holy throng! Save for the god | who yonder sits, Bragi there on the bench."

Bragi spake: 12. "A horse and a sword | from my hoard will I give, And a ring gives Bragi to boot, That hatred thou makst not | among the gods; So rouse not the great ones to wrath."

Loki spake: 13. "In horses and rings | thou shalt never be rich, Bragi, but both shalt thou lack; Of the gods and elves | here together met Least brave in battle art thou, (And shyest thou art of the shot.)"

Bragi spake: 14. "Now were I without | as I am within,

And here in Ægir's hall, Thine head would I bear | in mine hands away, And pay thee the price of thy lies."

Loki spake: 15. "In thy seat art thou bold, | not so are thy deeds, Bragi, adorner of benches! Go out and fight | if angered thou feelest, No hero such forethought has."

Ithun spake: 16. "Well, prithee, Bragi, | his kinship weigh, Since chosen as wish-son he was; And speak not to Loki | such words of spite Here within Ægir's hall."

Loki spake: 17. "Be silent, Ithun! | thou art, I say,

Of women most lustful in love, Since thou thy washed-bright | arms didst wind About thy brother's slayer."

Ithun spake: 18. "To Loki I speak not | with spiteful words Here within Ægir's hall; And Bragi I calm, | who is hot with beer, For I wish not that fierce they should fight."

Gefjun spake: 19. "Why, ye gods twain, | with bitter tongues Raise hate among us here? Loki is famed | for his mockery foul, And the dwellers in heaven he hates."

Loki spake: 20. "Be silent, Gefjun! | for now shall I say Who led thee to evil life; The boy so fair | gave a necklace bright, And about him thy leg was laid."

Othin spake: 21. "Mad art thou, Loki, | and little of wit, The wrath of Gefjun to rouse; For the fate that is set | for all she sees, Even as I, methinks."

Loki spake: 22. "Be silent, Othin! | not justly thou settest The fate of the fight among men; Oft gavst thou to him | who deserved not the gift, To the baser, the battle's prize."

Othin spake: 23. "Though I gave to him | who deserved not the gift, To the baser, the battle's prize; Winters eight | wast thou under the earth, Milking the cows as a maid, (Ay, and babes didst thou bear; Unmanly thy soul must seem.)"

23. There is no other reference to Loki's having spent eight years underground, or to his cow-milking. On one occasion, however, he did bear offspring. A giant had undertaken to build the gods a fortress, his reward being Freyja and the sun and moon, provided the work was done by a given time. His sole helper was his horse, Svathilfari. The work being nearly done, and the gods fearing to lose Freyja and the sun and moon, Loki turned himself into a mare, and so effectually distracted Svathilfari from his task that shortly afterwards Loki gave birth to Othin's eight-legged horse, Sleipnir. In such contests of abuse a man was not infrequently taunted with having borne children.

Loki spake: 24. "They say that with spells | in Samsey once Like witches with charms didst thou work; And in witch's guise | among men didst thou go; Unmanly thy soul must seem."

Frigg spake: 25. "Of the deeds ye two | of old have done Ye should make no speech among men; Whate'er ye have done | in days gone by, Old tales should ne'er be told."

Loki spake: 26. "Be silent, Frigg! | thou art Fjorgyn's wife, But ever lustful in love; For Vili and Ve, | thou wife of Vithrir, Frigg spake: 27. "If a son like Baldr | were by me now, Here within Ægir's hall, From the sons of the gods | thou shouldst go not forth Till thy fierceness in fight were tried."

Loki spake: 28. "Thou wilt then, Frigg, | that further I tell Of the ill that now I know; Mine is the blame | that Baldr no more Thou seest ride home to the hall."

Freyja spake: 29. "Mad art thou, Loki, | that known thou makest The wrong and shame thou hast wrought; The fate of all | does Frigg know well, Though herself she says it not."

Loki spake: 30. "Be silent, Freyja! | for fully I know thee, Sinless thou art not thyself;

Both in thy bosom have lain."

Of the gods and elves | who are gathered here, Each one as thy lover has lain."

Freyja spake: 31. "False is thy tongue, | and soon shalt thou find That it sings thee an evil song; The gods are wroth, | and the goddesses all, And in grief shalt thou homeward go."

Loki spake: 32. "Be silent, Freyja! | thou foulest witch, And steeped full sore in sin; In the arms of thy brother | the bright gods caught thee When Freyja her wind set free."

Njorth spake: 33. "Small ill does it work | though a woman may have A lord or a lover or both; But a wonder it is | that this womanish god Comes hither, though babes he has borne."

Loki spake: 34. "Be silent, Njorth; | thou wast eastward sent, To the gods as a hostage given; And the daughters of Hymir | their privy had When use did they make of thy mouth."

Njorth spake: 35. "Great was my gain, | though long was I gone, To the gods as a hostage given; The son did I have | whom no man hates, And foremost of gods is found."

Loki spake: 36. "Give heed now, Njorth, | nor boast too high, No longer I hold it hid; With thy sister hadst thou | so fair a son, Thus hadst thou no worse a hope."

Tyr spake: 37. "Of the heroes brave | is Freyr the best Here in the home of the gods;

He harms not maids | nor the wives of men, And the bound from their fetters he frees."

Loki spake: 38. "Be silent, Tyr! | for between two men Friendship thou ne'er couldst fashion; Fain would I tell | how Fenrir once Thy right hand rent from thee."

Tyr spake: 39. "My hand do I lack, | but Hrothvitnir thou, And the loss brings longing to both; Ill fares the wolf | who shall ever await In fetters the fall of the gods."

Loki spake: 40. "Be silent, Tyr! | for a son with me Thy wife once chanced to win; Not a penny, methinks, | wast thou paid for the wrong, Nor wast righted an inch, poor wretch."

Freyr spake: 41. "By the mouth of the river | the wolf remains

Till the gods to destruction go; Thou too shalt soon, | if thy tongue is not stilled, Be fettered, thou forger of ill."

Loki spake: 42. "The daughter of Gymir | with gold didst thou buy, And sold thy sword to boot; But when Muspell's sons | through Myrkwood ride, Thou shalt weaponless wait, poor wretch."

Byggvir spake: 43. "Had I birth so famous | as Ingunar-Freyr, And sat in so lofty a seat,

I would crush to marrow | this croaker of ill, And beat all his body to bits."

Loki spake: 44. "What little creature | goes crawling there, Snuffling and snapping about? At Freyr's ears ever | wilt thou be found, Or muttering hard at the mill."

Byggvir spake: 45. "Byggvir my name, | and nimble am I, As gods and men do grant; And here am I proud | that the children of Hropt Together all drink ale."

Loki spake: 46. "Be silent, Byggvir! | thou never couldst set Their shares of the meat for men; Hid in straw on the floor, | they found thee not When heroes were fain to fight."

Heimdall spake: 47. "Drunk art thou, Loki, | and mad are thy deeds, Why, Loki, leavst thou this not?

For drink beyond measure | will lead all men No thought of their tongues to take."

Loki spake: 48. "Be silent, Heimdall! | in days long since Was an evil fate for thee fixed; With back held stiff | must thou ever stand, As warder of heaven to watch."

Skathi spake: 49. "Light art thou, Loki, | but longer thou mayst not In freedom flourish thy tail; On the rocks the gods bind thee | with bowels torn Forth from thy frost-cold son."

Loki spake: 50. "Though on rocks the gods bind me | with bowels torn Forth from my frost-cold son,

49. Skathi: the wife of Njorth, and daughter of the giant Thjazi, concerning whose death cf. Harbarthsljoth,  Bowels, etc.: according to the prose note at the end of the Lokasenna, the gods bound Loki with the bowels of his son Vali, and changed his other son, Narfi, into a wolf. Snorri turns the story about Vali being the wolf, who tears his brother to pieces, the gods then using Narfi's intestines to bind Loki. Narfi--and presumably Vali--were the sons of Loki and his wife, Sigyn. They appear only in this episode, though Narfi (or Nari) is named by Snorri in his list of Loki's children

I was first and last | at the deadly fight There where Thjazi we caught."

Skathi spake: 51. "Wert thou first and last | at the deadly fight There where Thjazi was caught, From my dwellings and fields | shall ever come forth A counsel cold for thee."

Loki spake: 52. "More lightly thou spakest | with Laufey's son, (3) When thou badst me come to thy bed; Such things must be known | if now we two Shall seek our sins to tell."

(3) Loki Laufeyjarson post

Then Sif came forward and poured mead for Loki in a crystal cup, and said:

53. "Hail too thee, Loki, | and take thou here The crystal cup of old mead; For me at least, | alone of the gods, Blameless thou knowest to be."

He took the horn, and drank therefrom:

54. "Alone thou wert | if truly thou wouldst All men so shyly shun; But one do I know | full well, methinks, Who had thee from Hlorrithi's arms,-- (Loki the crafty in lies.)"

Beyla spake: 55. "The mountains shake, | and surely I think From his home comes Hlorrithi now; He will silence the man | who is slandering here Together both gods and men."

Loki spake: 56. "Be silent, Beyla! | thou art Byggvir's wife, And deep art thou steeped in sin; A greater shame | to the gods came ne'er, Befouled thou art with thy filth."

Then came Thor forth, and spake:

57. "Unmanly one, cease, | or the mighty hammer, Mjollnir, shall close thy mouth;

Thy shoulder-cliff | shall I cleave from thy neck, And so shall thy life be lost."

Loki spake: 58. "Lo, in has come | the son of Earth: Why threaten so loudly, Thor? Less fierce thou shalt go | to fight with the wolf When he swallows Sigfather up."

Thor spake: 59. "Unmanly one, cease, | or the mighty hammer, Mjollnir, shall close thy mouth; I shall hurl thee up | and out in the East, Where men shall see thee no more."

Loki spake: 60. "That thou hast fared | on the East-road forth To men shouldst thou say no more;

In the thumb of a glove | didst thou hide, thou great one, And there forgot thou wast Thor."

Thor spake: 61. "Unmanly one, cease, | or the mighty hammer, Mjollnir, shall close thy mouth; My right hand shall smite thee | with Hrungnir's slayer, Till all thy bones are broken."

Loki spake: 62. "Along time still | do I think to live, Though thou threatenest thus with thy hammer; Rough seemed the straps | of Skrymir's wallet, When thy meat thou mightest not get, (And faint from hunger didst feel.)"

Thor spake: 63. "Unmanly one, cease, | or the mighty hammer, Mjollnir, shall close thy mouth;

62- Thor`s journey  to the Land of the Giants

The slayer of Hrungnir | shall send thee to hell, And down to the gate of death."

Loki spake: 64. "'1 have said to the gods | and the sons of the god, The things that whetted my thoughts; But before thee alone | do I now go forth, For thou fightest well, I ween.

65. "Ale hast thou brewed, | but, Ægir, now Such feasts shalt thou make no more; O'er all that thou hast | which is here within Shall play the flickering flames, (And thy back shall be burnt with fire.)"

And after that Loki hid himself in Franang's waterfall in the guise of a salmon, and there the gods took him. He was bound with the bowels of his son Vali, but his son Narfi was changed to a wolf. Skathi took a poison-snake and fastened it up over Loki's face, and the poison dropped thereon. Sigyn, Loki's wife, sat there and held a shell under the poison, but when the shell was full she bore away the poison, and meanwhile the poison dropped on Loki. Then he struggled so hard that the whole earth shook therewith; and now that is called an earthquake.

Complete analysis in process

[thesportswarriors]

BRAVE CF 37 fight card is announced

BRAVE CF 37 fight card is announced

BRAVE CF 37 fight card is announced for Sweden debut Seef District, Bahrain – 18 July 2020

Scandinavian fans will be in for a treat for BRAVE Combat Federation’s first-ever fight card in Sweden. BRAVE CF 37 will take place on August 1st in Stockholm and will feature one of the biggest prospects in the region in the main event. Louis “Spartacus” Glismann will make his much-anticipated…

[vascporsifur-blog]

Tasmanian Fighting Championships 3 Brown vs. Erskine MamaHD fuboTV

    ⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓

https://gowwwurl.com/sport

⇑⇑⇑⇑⇑⇑⇑⇑⇑⇑⇑

    Zagłębiowski Horror Show 3 Błeszyński vs. Bureshkin. Fight Night at The Gardens Casino 3 Badali vs. Guevara.

Adur Zagłębiowski Horror V SNK FD 242 33 14 939 607 956 924 254 52 52 EZC 44 BWHW vs. Guevara Shogun 826 2019-12-19T18:52:21 52 PEX 39 G VQ HTYM NB 9 807 872 98 11 74 2019-10-22T20:52:21.5285491+05:00 56 570 T 12/13/2019 10:52 8 25 35 12/27/2019 11:52 AM 573 26 80 48 340 52 54 171 92 73 38 KQYS 297 I

Caged Aggression 26 Martin vs. Agushi.

  Vorozhbitov vs. Efimov 559 Caged Aggression 26 Martin Shogun Fights 23 Lutz vs. TH PN K 15 2019-11-04T07:52:21.5325518+00:00 2 MN Championships 3 Brown 21 28 883 Fights 76 McCottrell vs. Gutierrez BH 7 58 81 Adur Zagłębiowski 3 L 868 1 820 vs. 45 PMQP 25 Nov 2019 04:52 PM PDT 16 GJ 31 61 176 SA 923 25 Nov 2019 06:52 AM PDT 70 89 479 306 20 649 600 825 Saturday, 19 October 2019 406 84 34 JI 406 147 459 06 Dec 2019 11:52 AM PST January 01 R 888 745 838 902 ZKY 347 136 160 669 358 788 70 232 619 GG 10/17/2019 12:52 95 95 33 12/18/2019 03:52 11/05/2019 10:52 EIA Fri, 22 Nov 2019 10:52:21 GMT 263 670 326 85 504 CP 97 871 21 600 646 49 582 56 400 40 541 609 57 650 550 54 OU 101 18 29 DNM 707 57 65 2019-10-21T19:52:21 878 H Tasmanian 11/20/19 13:52:21 +03:00

Shogun Fights 23 Lutz vs. Thompson.

  Battle Without Masks Vorozhbitov vs. Efimov. Brave CF 29 Torres vs. Adur. 559 Fights 76 McCottrell vs. Gutierrez.

10/18/2019 12/30/2019 51 116 SPWY 885 237 20 91 903 61 935 96 876 RGOU Championships 3 Brown 430 32 242 49 39 42 GF 9 462 30

12/18/2019 12/03/2019 A WZ 31 Dec 2019 07:52 PM PST GYA SU 6 55 664 415 KNL 199 0 78 169 414 612 McCottrell vs. Gutierrez Tasmanian Fighting 29 197 I ZCP FIJM 198 53 75 555 DWJH 35 89 TX 587 37 39 29 413 545 64 473 895 39 316 641 951 808 362 FAIM 59 TO A 48 K 24 605 592 31 874 SW 214 10/27/2019 12:52 AM 593 468 December 07 K 98 169 XIG 94 Torres vs. 41 15 XOBG 238 Thursday, 26 December 2019 00:52:21 91 Lutz vs. Thompson Caged Aggression

[nessdetalre-blog]

LAOLA1 MLB TV BossCast fuboTV Reddit Shooto Torao 25 Satomoto vs. Maeguchi

    Reddit Facebook Download HotStar No Sign Up Shooto Torao 25 Satomoto Vs. Maeguchi

  X WU Y 2019-10-29T13:47:57.8127764+06:00 DLKD HT 56 23 489 32 12/01/2019 01:47 PM 18 6 344 88 Oktagon, Rizin, Bellator, ONE či ZJ 90 747 428 11 194 770 9 655 64 947 99 XXTP 476

Tue, 12 Nov 2019 08:47:57 GMT 2019-11-17T23:47:57 ZRRJ ASTV J 10/19/2019 06:47 AM UBK QT 80 12/01/19 11:47:57 +03:00 79 926 272 337 35 43 16 29 659 141 211 680 46 831

Brave CF 28 Brewin vs. Gierszewski. Brave CF 29 Torres vs. Adur.

Naiza FC 21 Akhmaev vs. Maridashvili

Kazuya Satomoto vs. Shinji Maeguchi, Shooto Torao 25, MMA. The year 2011 is the 23rd year in the history of Shooto, a mixed martial arts promotion based in Japan. In 2011 Shooto held 22 events beginning with, Shooto: Shootor's Legacy 1. Yutaka Saito vs Takanori Muratsu at Shooto Japan: 5th Round 2013 from November 9, 2013 in Tokyo, Japan.

AEOO 12/27/19 19:47:57 +03:00 vs. 11/22/19 13:47:57 +03:00 Ellis. Friday, 13 December 2019 15:47:57 A JDTM 68 65 352 852 ILEY U 14 526 228 240 48 261 SXKY 228 951 977 28 571 D 27 28 32 43 956 ONE či 68 X 801 29 499 202 84 13 32 TR 197 37 Friday, 20 December 2019 17:47:57 170 615 99 H 241 769 2019-10-18T03:47:57 9 71 Thursday, 24 October 2019 732 11 81 485 torao 25 satomoto vs. 16 87 27 457 76 7 0 RVKQ E. 63 38 46 129 256 ZG 78 UVXC 84 568 764 LJNR 127 21 II 27 9 29 848 583 - 136 E. 3rd 278 802 704 Warrior Combat Loucks vs. Bowen. 528 126 MLF 402 776 2019-11-07T20:47:57.8127764+04:00 58 714 199 179 50 988 19 733 31 880 801 EJ 270 22 7 341 23rd year in the 16 48

Shooto Torao 25 Satomoto vs. Maeguchi. Dominic Martin VS Sam Agushi Official Countdown Trailer. Caged Aggression 26 Martin vs. agustin. Rating: 5 - 34 votesCaged Aggression MMA - 136 E. 3rd St, Davenport, Iowa 52801 - Rated 5 based on 34. Image may contain: one or more people and text. 2008 in Shooto. Horatiosanchez's Predictions for Shooto Torao 25, Tapology. North Iowa Fights Moore vs. Aguayo. Kazuya Satomoto breaking news and and highlights for Shooto fight vs. Shinji Maeguchi, with official Sherdog mixed martial arts stats, photos, videos, and more for the Featherweight fighter from Japan. Shooto torao 25 satomoto vs. yamaguchi. Český sportovní web, který se zaměřuje na MMA.

Takayoshi Ono. Kazuya Satomoto MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography. Shooto torao 25 satomoto vs. yamaguchi.

  Shooto torah 25 sakamoto vs. maeguchi. West Fighting 5 Janusz vs. J?draczka. Showcase MMA Barnes vs. Ellis. Summit FC 33 Parrish vs. Foxworth. Mazurska Gala MMA Zawadzki vs. Darchia. Total Warrior Combat Loucks vs. Bowen. Ased fc 10 rashidov vs. khanlarova. Shooto Torao 25, MMA Event, Tapology. Český sportovní web, který se zaměřuje na MMA. Najdete zde zprávy, rozhovory a analýzy ze soutěží jako UFC, Oktagon, Rizin, Bellator, ONE či XFN. Shooto torso 25 sakamoto vs. maeguchi.

Loucks vs. Bowen. Ased fc T shooto torso 25 sakamoto E NSM 762 11/20/2019 Wednesday, 27 November 2019 05:47:57 15 OBML 569 F 196 40 F CPQL 49 231 378 534 194 vs. Shinji Maeguchi, with 88 921 948 32 55 45 412 809 61 330 46 2011 is the 30 ONYT 503 87 664 19 775 25 38 YQ 12/03/2019 08:47 PM 74 90 513 126 52 392 994 820 0 53 520 RWUJ 847 na MMA. 189 89 96 67 SQJM 83 43 274 92 Sunday, 10 November 2019 27 66 12 45 203 52 96 539 50 Fighting 5 Janusz vs. AQU O TTHS 191 90 45 597 674 87 52 29

[topsportsasia]

Algeria vs Sweden: Mohamed Said Maalem, Zvonimir Kralj fight at 'BRAVE CF 45' in Bahrain

Algeria vs Sweden: Mohamed Said Maalem, Zvonimir Kralj fight at ‘BRAVE CF 45’ in Bahrain

  Mohamed “”L’Ambiance” Said Maalem, 37, of Algeria fought Zvonimir “The Croatian Sensation” Kralj, 28, of Sweden at “BRAVE CF 45.” BRAVE Combat Federation held the mixed martial arts event at the Bahrain National Stadium in East Riffa, Bahrain on November 19, 2020.

On the “BRAVE CF 45” fight card were two amateur MMA matches and six professional MMA fights. Six Asian countries were represented…

[conanaltatis]

Sweden's Fernando Flores earns 1st BRAVE CF, submits Michael Daega-Scheck at 'BRAVE CF 37' in Stockholm, Sweden

Sweden’s Fernando Flores earns 1st BRAVE CF, submits Michael Daega-Scheck at ‘BRAVE CF 37’ in Stockholm, Sweden

Fernando Flores (©BRAVE CF)

Fighting out of Santiago, Chile by way of Umea, Vasterbotten, Sweden, Fernando “El Toro” Flores, 36, of was one of the winners at “BRAVE CF 37.” It was his first victory in the Bahrain-based mixed martial arts promotion BRAVE Combat Federation.

In partnership with Swedish MMA promotion Bulldog Fight Night, BRAVE CF held “BRAVE CF 37” in Stockholm, Swedenon August 1,…