A quest to find references to bleeding disorders in sacred texts
I hope to understand which stories were included, why, and what they might mean
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I recently wrote a paper that compared how different religious traditions address bleeding disorders, starting with where they are mentioned in sacred texts.
The study of theology is one of my many interests. As someone who identifies as a polysectarian (I’m connected to two religions, both of which often demand singular allegiance), religious practice and spiritual expression fascinate me. I recognize the value of incorporating spirituality into one’s life, and I have witnessed the comfort it can bring to people navigating rare diseases.
As part of my paper, I sought to understand what stories were included, why, and what they might say about a particular religion’s beliefs about bleeding issues. I cited a letter to the editor published this year in the peer-reviewed medical journal Haematologica, which led to a piece of my own being published in a recent issue, the first I’d authored entirely on my own.
The process made for an interesting discovery, and I’d like to share a little about what I found out.
Fact-checking my research
One of the oldest documented mentions of hemophilia is in the Talmud. The Babylonian Talmud is believed to have been compiled by Rav Ashi between 352 and 427 CE. It includes a story about a woman who’s told not to circumcise her son after the sons of her three sisters all die after circumcision. It also includes a rabbinic instruction that a woman should not circumcise her fourth son if the first three die after circumcision. (Different interpretations of this opine that a woman should not circumcise her third son if the first two die after circumcision.) This seems to suggest the X-chromosome-linked inheritance pattern consistent with hemophilia.
The letter to the editor I found suggested the Book of Exodus, from the Bible and the Torah, may have referred to hemophilia as well when the son of Moses and Zipporah bled after his circumcision. Most scholars believe that Exodus was composed in the sixth century BCE, which to me was exciting. Was hemophilia known even centuries before that reference in the Babylonian Talmud? I was thrilled to note this reference in my paper.
Yet, the more I thought about this, the more it didn’t make sense to me. The argument that the first mention of hemophilia was in the Book of Exodus didn’t seem to hold up theologically or clinically, according to my research.
Even though I had included it in my paper, I decided to respond to the letter to the editor and turned to multiple rabbis, a priest, a theologian, and a couple of medical doctors, who all graciously helped to fact-check me and make sure my position was correct.
I am thrilled that my comment was accepted for publication. I learned so much through this process and am incredibly thankful to be able to engage in scholarly debate about when and how bleeding disorders are referenced in sacred texts. In my comment, I discuss the theological and clinical proof we need in order to make a retrospective diagnosis in hematological theology, a term I hope others will use when they work in this space.
Engaging in discussions like these offers us a unique view as to how sacred texts have helped shape our knowledge of and views about bleeding disorders. I cannot wait to continue the conversation! And, yes, I will investigate sources more thoroughly before submitting them!
Note: Hemophilia News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Hemophilia News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to hemophilia.
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