otseng wrote: It has a range of meaning from a physical grave
I am partial to the Hebrew word studies that suggest that the word
kefer the grave is never to be conflated with Sheol.
F. 20 reasons why sheol is not the grave:
http://www.bible.ca/su-hades.htm
Even if the word sheol did refer to a literal grave so what! The word
"spirit" sometimes refers to literal wind or breath, but most time the word is used, it cannot refer to wind or breath. So too, the vast majority of uses of Sheol/Hades cannot refer to the grave.
(Death and The Afterlife, Robert Morey, p. 76,77)
- While the kabar (to bury) is used in connection with kever it is never used in connection with Sheol. We can bury someone in a grave but we cannot bury anyone in Sheol (Gen. 23:4, 6, 9,19, 20; 49:30, 31, etc.).
- While kever is found in its plural form "graves" (Ex. 14:11), the word Sheol is never pluralized.
- While a grave is located at a specific site (Ex. 14:11), Sheol is never localized, because it is everywhere accessible at death no matter where the death takes place. No grave is necessary in order to go to Sheol.
- While we can purchase or sell a grave (Gen. 23:4-20), Scripture never speaks of Sheol being purchased or sold.
- While we can own a grave as personal property (Gen. 23:4-20), nowhere in scripture is Sheol owned by man.
- While we can discriminate between graves and pick the "choicest site" (Gen. 23:6), nowhere in Scripture is a "choice" Sheol pitted against a "poor" Sheol.
- While we can drop a dead body into a grave (Gen. 50:13), no one can drop anyone into Sheol.
- While we can erect a monument over a grave (Gen. 35:20), Sheol is never spoken of as having monuments.
- While we can, with ease, open or close a grave (2 Kings 23:16), Sheol is never opened or closed by man.
- While we can touch a grave (Num. 19:18), no one is ever said in Scripture to touch Sheol.
- While touching a grave brings ceremonial defilement (Num. 19:16), the Scriptures never speak of anyone being defiled by Sheol.
- While we can enter and leave a tomb or grave (2 Kings 23:16), no one is ever said to enter and then leave Sheol.
- While we can choose the site of our own grave (Gen. 23:4-9), Sheol is never spoken of as something we can pick and choose.
- While we can remove or uncover the bodies or bones in a grave (2 Kings 23:16), the Scriptures never speak of man removing or uncovering anything in Sheol.
- While we can beautify a grave with ornate carvings or pictures (Gen. 35:20), Sheol is never beautified by man.
- While graves can be robbed or defiled (Jer. 8:1,2), Sheol is never spoken of as being robbed or defiled by man.
- While a grave can be destroyed by man (Jer. 8:1,2), nowhere in Scripture is man said to be able to destroy Sheol.
- While a grave can be full, Sheol is never full (Prov. 27:20).
- While we can see a grave, Sheol is always invisible.
- While we can visit the graves of loved ones, nowhere in Scripture is man said to visit Sheol.
PCE Theology as I see it...
We had an existence with a free will in Sheol before the creation of the physical universe. Here we chose to be able to become holy or to be eternally evil in YHWH's sight. Then the physical universe was created and all sinners were sent to earth.
This theology debunks the need to base Christianity upon the blasphemy of creating us in Adam's sin.
