Killing Your Son

Killing Your Son

Haran dies before the face of his father (11:28)

Do we all suspect a great crime was committed in our family?  But what exactly was crime?  And who did it?

For my family, the Bible records the crime.  My brother Haran dies before the face of his father.  And the Bible gives us clues revealing why my brother died.

Haran breaks our masculine liberation movement’s vow.  We men pledged to never call a woman by name!  But Haran calls his daughters “Milcah” which means “Queen” and “Yiscah” which means “See.” Haran’s fatal mistake was call out, in front of our father,  “See, Queen -- come to dinner.”

Our father picks up his wooden and screams, “No names for girls in our tribe! Do you want to drown us in a flood again?”  He smashes the idol into Haran’s lips. When Haran’s daughters walk in, Haran manages to whisper as he dies, “See! Queen.”

**

Our half-sister sparked this tragedy.  She was the first woman in the Bible to be called “beautiful to see.”  It was impossible to ignore women after being awed by her beauty.  When I married her, I tried to keep her under control by calling her “Sarai” -- which means “My Princess.”