An Installment on the Interaction of Intercourse and Economics
One of the more disconcerting passages in all the Bible is the rape of Tamar, David’s daughter, by her half-brother Amnon (2 Samuel 13). As the narrative goes, Tamar is “loved” by her brother because he was tormented by her beauty. He feigns an illness to be alone with Tamar. When she brings him food to eat, he seizes her and rapes her despite her fervent resistance. After the rape, Amnon loathes his sister more than he ever “loved” her. He thrusts her away as a slave, a piece of property which was expended and now retains no value. To Amnon, she is no longer “Tamar,” she is now “this woman.” She is no longer a person who is “loved,” she is chattel to be discharged.1
Amnon learned this behavior from his father – that is, he learned to treat people, especially women, as property instead of humans created in God’s image. Just in the previous chapter David is finally confronted about his rape of Bathsheba and his clandestine execution of Uriah. People and their lives were mere objects to be consumed to David. He cared little for love, for family, for holiness. He cared only for consumption, and people are just another thing to be procured, retain, owned, and conquered.
What I find interesting in this whole matter is how intercourse and economics relate. As the narrative advances, we find Solomon, in the climax of his rule, with infinite wealth and thousands of sex-slaves. Women are objects to be owned – he too learned this from his father. Relationships, love, or devotion have no place in his world. Only objects exist, objects which are bought and sold, owned and operated, controlled and dominated.2
When economics and power become the chief agenda of a people, the objectification of others comes to dictate the landscape. This is particularly the case with sex. Sex becomes nothing more than, in our world, two consumers devouring one another, envision the other as an item whose individual purpose is to satisfy my desires without regards to the consequences of this behavior. That’s what consumerism is at its nastiest – a inexhaustible sport of stockpiling objects for one’s own agenda without considering the consequences of that consumption either for the earth, the other person, the community, or the world. It’s all about the ego.
Intercourse and economics – isn’t staggering how a person’s view on one stimulates certain assumptions about the other? When one views economics as merely a means of consumption and gaining wealth, power, and property, one will perceive sex the same way. But if economics is principally about honoring God through the giving away of one’s possessions, one will see sex differently as well. It is not about my desires, it is not about my consumption; it is about the other person, their will, their enjoyment, their desire. People are no longer objects to be owned and dominated (such as in pornography), they are people made in the Image of God! The denial of the ego in economic areas translates into the denial of the ego in the bedroom. This is why Paul lists greed right along side a bunch of sexual sins in Colossians 3. He realized the connection!
Its seems, then, that if we yearn for holiness, maybe our deity of covetousness and wealth ought to go first. If economics is linked to intercourse, imagine what else it is relates to – violence, anger, division, quarreling, pride! Maybe dispossession isn’t only about abnegation,3 but about sanctification in all areas of life.
- there is some credence to the thought that this objectification of women is inherent within the Torah. After all, women are listed among the property not to be coveted in the 10 Commandments. [↩]
- Solomon’s disregard for others in favor of his own economic advancement is well documented among biblical scholars. This actually ends up splitting the kingdom after he dies, if you remember. [↩]
- Thanks Theotica! [↩]
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Comments
E.I.
Many of David’s psalms were written early in his career, when his was still a man after God’s own heart. Others were written (such as #51) in the midst of his sin. For him, the timing is not an issue.
For Solomon, there is considerable question as to whether he actual wrote Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. BUT, assuming he did write them, it is well after he had grown displeased and disenchanted with wealth, power, and sex - all things he addresses in Ecclesiastes. And he especially addresses the dangers of sinful sex in Proverbs, which he would know of from experience. So, again, assuming he wrote it, it was probably at the end of his life when he was counseling his son on how to be a wise ruler.
Why, anyway, would their writings lose meaning if we found out they were hyprocrites? All we have to do is read the historical narratives of 2 Sam and Kings to see they were! And yet we see God’s ultimate grace in their lives, not because they were perfect, but because they were like me - sinful consumers and objectifiers. That hypocrisy is exactly what makes their stories real!
Tom,
I’m wondering - At what point did David and Salomon write their Psalms and poetry? Were they writing the Psalms and Proverbs and Ecclesiastics at the same time they were having their wild orgies?
Or did they get saved, left their old selves behind, and then write their stuff?
I wonder if their writings would lose meaning if we found out they had been written at the same time the wild parties were going on. I can picture Solomon: Party all night. Wake up. Feel Guilty. Write a few things. Go back to Party. Repeat.
Would we call that Hypocrisy?
Edgar.