Deuteronomy: - Fundación Otras Ovejas de Argentina

Num 15:37-41 (See The Jewish Study Bible 2004:315, Num 15:37-41 note):
37 ―Yahweh said to Moses 38 ‗Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‗Throughout the generations to come you are
to make tassels on the corners of your [linen] garments, with a blue [woolen] cord on each tassel. 39 You will
have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of Yahweh, that you may obey them
and not prostitute yourselves by going after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. 40 Then you will remember
to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God. 41 I am Yahweh your God, who brought you
out of Egypt to be your God. I am Yahweh your God.‘‖ � cf the priestly linen garments with tassels
containing wool thread (Ex 28:4-6, 39:27-29).
Ex 28:5 ―They [the artisans]…shall receive the gold, the blue, purple, and crimson yarns [wool] and the fine linen‖ (to make
the priestly vestments; JSB 2004:172, note Ex 28:5; similarly, obeyed in Ex 39:27-29).
Yet the woman with hemorrhage was healed by touching the wool tassels on the fringe (kraspedon) of Jesus‘ linen garment
(Mat 9:20 // Lk 8:44; cf. Mk 5:25-34), which contained two types of thread (linen and wool), despite the prohibitions in Lev
19:19c and Deut 22:11 (Danker BDAG 2000:564; NJB Mat 23:5 note on tassel). Elsewhere multitudes were healed by
touching the woolen tassels of Jesus‘ linen garment (Mk 6:56; Mat 14:36; cf. Paul as healer in Acts 19:11). ―Jewish men
(and possibly women) wore fringes to remind them of the commandments (Num 15:38; Deut 22:12)‖ (Jewish Annotated NT
note, 2011:18-19). JSB 254
This woman represents a sexual minority, (Amy-Jill Levine, Women in Scripture 20001:443) whom Jesus dignifies by calling
her ―daughter‖ (of Abraham?) and to whom he gives priority over the literal daughter of the synagogue leader Jairus. She
had been economically independent (as divorced-prostitute and/or, widow), having spent all of her‖money on physicians but
only grew worse (Mc 5:26; omitted by Dr. Luke). Prostitutes (Mat 21:31-32; 9:9-13; 1:1-17) were known for superstitions
and wearing tassels of two types of cloth, wool from animals and linen from plants (R. Nelson, Deuteronomy, 2002:269).
The woman‘s blood flow made her ritually unclean for twelve years (Lev 15:19-27; Ezk 36:17) but Jesus‘ positive outflowing
healing power prevented his being made unclean by her touch (Mk 7:19; Rom 14:14, 20; see ―uncleanness‖ in Rom 1:24).
Moreover, the woman is healed by touching Jesus‘ tassels, made of linen and wool, which represented an infraction of the
prohibition in Leviticus 19:19 and Deut 22:11 (see the prohibitions of male-male anal sex in Lev 18:22; 20:13). Jesus‘ tassels,
made of linen and wool (contrary to Lev. 19:19 and Deut 22:11), characterized him as a typical Jewish male but Jewish high
priests were commanded to wear tassels in the shape of pomegranates, alternating with bells on the hem of their linen
garments, which distinguished them from laity (Ex 28:4-6; 39:27-29; cf. ―Hear we not thy golden bells?‖ in F. R. Havergal‘s
hymn ―Thou art Coming).
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