The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 14.0173  Friday, 31 January 2003

From:           Michael B. Luskin <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date:           Thursday, 30 Jan 2003 09:56:06 EST
Subject: 14.0166 Re: Claudius' Incestuous Marriage
Comment:        Re: SHK 14.0166 Re: Claudius' Incestuous Marriage

>Claudius did MORE than "dishonor his brother...

Recall Abigail and her no-account husband, Naval, whom David shames to
death.  And, in addition, she keeps him from a blood-guilt.  There is
soot on David for what he did.

Recall also David and Uriah the Hittite, whom David sentences to certain
death at the front of the army, so that David can wed his beautiful
wife, who is now with child by David, who is of course to be the mother
of Solomon. Even though Uriah is a general, and it is not unreasonable
to place him in the front of the enemy, David knows that he has sinned
in spades, in intention, and that marriage to Bathsheva is somewhat
tainted

David did many sinful things, and was also a man of war, which is why
G-d did not permit him to build the temple.

All Jewish oriented attempts to whitewash Claudius, whether one uses the
Torah, the histories, Talmud, or commentaries are doomed to abject
failure.

Michael B. Luskin

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