From Plowshare to Sword

Genesis 4: 19-26 Torah Study with Rabbi Marder 11.08.08

Book
Our Fathers' Wells: A Personal Encounter With the Myths of Genesis (Paperback)
by Peter Pitzele

Link to article about this

Bibliodrama as a way to experience the feelings of Cain. An innovative way to study Torah with acting it out and having an audience to respond.

Peter Pitzele explains his view of the art of Bibliodrama: “Situated somewhere between school and theater, between the pulpit and the stage, Bibliodrama is a form of role-playing that invites participants to find their voices in the text and the text's voice in themselves”.

We discussed how this form of learning inspires more creativity and insight.

Is it true: Disobedience leads to creativity and invention

With the rise of wealth also comes aspiration for supremacy – they seek to outdo each other.

The criminal or murderer can often be found in the world of philanthropy.

Like the character of Magwitch in Great Expectations. The benefactor hides his crimes.

Behind great cities of culture is Cain, the one who murdered his brother.

Books mentioned:
Richistan: A Journey Through the American Wealth Boom and the Lives of the New Rich by Robert Frank (Author)

A Splendid Exchange: How Trade Shaped the World by William J. Bernstein

Jane Austin's Mansfield Park – the great nobleman has a dark side which is the slaves and unethical treatment of people are behind the beautiful city that is portrayed.

Names – Descendents of Cain – Meanings
From Plowshare to Sword




Lamech – Arabic for Strong & Young
The Song of Lamech is a poem with rhythm and structure and is often referred to as the Song of the Sword as it refers back to Cain. And gives a direct link from the ‘plowshre to the sword’ from peace to war.

Said to his wives

“Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;
Wives of Lamech, listen to my speech!
For I have killed a man for wounding me,
Even a young man for hurting me.
If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold,
Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”

—Genesis 4:19-24

from Wikipedia

When fully translated, the text has a strong resemblance simply to a basic mythology concerning the origin of the various forms of civilisation, the shepherds and musicians being products of the day, and pleasure being a product of the night. Blacksmiths, in carrying out their trade, are also associated with the darkness. Thus, in a sense, Lamech could be interpreted as a culture hero. Some of the names also appear to demonstrate punning - Jabal, Jubal, and Tubal rhyme, and appear to be derived from the same root - JBL (YVL in modern Hebrew): to bring forth, (also) to carry. A similar description existed amongst Phoenicians.
The names are instead interpreted in the Midrash as an attack on polygamy

3 names that sound similar all represent different facets of the Arts:
Jabal – Shephard/Pastoral
Juval/Jubal = Music – rams horn
Tubal-Cain – Blacksmith


Marking the advancement of civilization.

These factors are connected in Torah and also in Greek Mythology.

Leon Kass – connects the rise of culture with the rise of aggression.
With the rise in wealth comes aspiration of supremacy. People seek to outdo each other.

Rabbi Ellie Monk - Cain’s descendents were evil with the exception of Naamah who was ‘sweet’ and became the wife of Noah.

Leads to the concept that it is possible to be good even when descendent from a line that is designated as evil.

Lamech’s song – ties back to Cain and murder and also reflects on the boasting warrior.
(like in David and Goliath) Rabbi Monk also reflected on Lamech’s song as referring to the dark and foreboding world.