Fortson's Taboo Topics In The Bible

In 2 Samuel 23:20, we find a gripping and often-overlooked verse detailing one of King David's mighty men, Benaiah. As a celebrated warrior, he is remembered for three remarkable feats: slaying an Egyptian giant, killing a lion in a pit on a snowy day, and striking down "two lion-like men of Moab". While modern translations and scholars debate the exact meaning of these "lion-like men" (some suggest they were mighty warriors, others that they were mythological or monstrous beings), the deeper spiritual lessons remain clear.

The figure of Lilith remains one of the most enduring and complex entities in the history of human mythology; she is a shadow that has haunted the periphery of theology, folklore, and literature for over four millennia. To understand Lilith is to look into a mirror that reflects the changing fears and aspirations of the cultures that birthed her. She does not emerge from history as a singular, static character, but rather as a linguistic and spiritual evolution, a "screech owl" in the desert, a child-stealing demon in a Babylonian incantation, and eventually, the defiant first wife of Adam.

The concept of the Satyr represents one of the most enduring and multifaceted archetypes in the history of human mythology. Emerging from the rugged, untamed landscapes of ancient Greece, these hybrid beings have occupied the peripheral spaces of the human imagination for millennia.

The unicorn remains one of the most persistent and versatile symbols in the history of human imagination. Unlike many mythical creatures that originated as composite monsters intended to inspire terror, the unicorn emerged primarily as a biological curiosity. For millennia, it was treated not as a product of fantasy, but as a legitimate, albeit rare, member of the animal kingdom. This creature has bridged the gap between ancient natural history, medieval theology, and modern folklore, adapting its meaning to fit the cultural needs of every era it inhabited.