Tower Interpreted Across Ages
Genesis: 11 1-9 Torah Study Class 8/29 with Rabbi Janet Marder
Many interpretations of the story
Gadal (Hebrew root) = big tall – what is the significance?
Questions
most interpretations: “Make name for selves” indicates a rebellion against God – idolatry.
Story has been construed as a satire and a mocking of Babylonian culture. A parody.
More modern interpretations
Abravanel – 15th century -
Urbanization brings corruption and violence
“journey from East” (v2) Kedem means East and before – interpretation based on these words – moved from how the world was to technological production by man.
Rousseau– 18th century – On the Origin of Inequality
man who fenced in an area and said “this is mine” - and others believed him – the beginning of inequality. - No one owns the earth!
Once people congregate there is the strong who abuse of power and dominate the weak. Cynicism of people getting together to build the city.
Erich Auerbach - compares the Bible to Homer – Biblical style leaves out the details
Bricks = technology of its day.
Netziv: Rabbi Naphtali Tzvi Judah Berlin – 19th century of Volozhin (now Belarus Russia)
“top in the heavens” - not plan for one city in the world – but this city would be the dominate city – with a watch tower to see others. To make sure no one would break away.
concern – that the ideas of people should be the same – builders of the tower were to be sure no one would change their way of thought. Sees a denial of independent thought.
“Big Brother” concept.
Midrash quoted: Years building tower – took a year to climb to the top – brick was more precious than the life of a human. If a brick fell they wept but not if a man fell.
About the inhumanity of its time – refers to the time of Roman building projects.
“God came down” “God descended” verse 3
Suggests human-like image of God
Ibn Ezra on anthropomorphisms
But accepts as a description. Human language.
David Kimze – also of the middle ages
Describes the lowly man- scripture calls this descent – language of spatial movement – when God wants to examine human deeds.
Rashi – to teach judges not to condemn an offender until they have reviewed all the details - personal investigation. (a teaching point)
Eli Munk – quote: Nachmanades – Kabalistic reading - descend when applied to God – says that it refers to the scale of divine attributes. Still God that comes down – metaphorical way God moves from love and compassion down to strict justice.
Satire – God had to “come down” but they were building a tower – not tall enough!
Samson R Hirsch – describes as a society that is determined that they don’t need God. Problem was in the attitude that motivated the builders. Structure to remind
Community must act in service to God. Problematic that the act of building the monument is the ‘end’ rather than a ‘means to an end.’
Seen as an act to ‘dethrone’ God – an act of arrogance.
- - -
Another theme of Torah: ending of divine intervention
Tower of Babel is the ‘last direct intervention’ by God. Concept that end of Bible the earth is given to humans.
Men don’t learn their lessons.
Another interesting parallel to Jacob's ladder - link
- - -
“Let us go down” Who is “us”?
1. Majestic / Royal “WE”
2. God consults with the angels.
Significance – God is humble – takes cognizance of other opinions. (team of Rivals)
Value of humility – act of humility.
V7 – Let us… Hebrew ‘Hava’ – first word
V3 – same word/phrase used when humans are talking. Symmetry
Word for Confound- Wordplay on the word for brick also – the consonants are reversed.
V8 – scatters – stopped building – story based on the ruins 100 bce of a ziggurat
Question is it a punishment or not?
Benno Jacob - 20th century reform Jewish commentator
Misunderstood story – Name Tower of Babel misleading it is about the city.
Not like the story of the Titans… not an attack on heaven.
About the building of the city as an act of unification due to anxiety and fear. Want to gather together not to get lost. The scattering of the nations is a consequence of population growth and a fulfillment of the mitzvah.
"The tower was to bring them fame and glory. their mistake was to use their technology for pride and vanity instead of using it to improve quality of life in their society."
Earth given so we will spread out and become diverse!
Story is a protest against uniformity.
Poem by our classmate Nora Buys:
Many interpretations of the story
Gadal (Hebrew root) = big tall – what is the significance?
Questions
What is wrong with this?
How can we understand the consequences?
most interpretations: “Make name for selves” indicates a rebellion against God – idolatry.
Story has been construed as a satire and a mocking of Babylonian culture. A parody.
More modern interpretations
Abravanel – 15th century -
Urbanization brings corruption and violence
“journey from East” (v2) Kedem means East and before – interpretation based on these words – moved from how the world was to technological production by man.
Rousseau– 18th century – On the Origin of Inequality
man who fenced in an area and said “this is mine” - and others believed him – the beginning of inequality. - No one owns the earth!
Once people congregate there is the strong who abuse of power and dominate the weak. Cynicism of people getting together to build the city.
Erich Auerbach
Bricks = technology of its day.
Netziv: Rabbi Naphtali Tzvi Judah Berlin – 19th century of Volozhin (now Belarus Russia)
“top in the heavens” - not plan for one city in the world – but this city would be the dominate city – with a watch tower to see others. To make sure no one would break away.
concern – that the ideas of people should be the same – builders of the tower were to be sure no one would change their way of thought. Sees a denial of independent thought.
“Big Brother” concept.
Midrash quoted: Years building tower – took a year to climb to the top – brick was more precious than the life of a human. If a brick fell they wept but not if a man fell.
About the inhumanity of its time – refers to the time of Roman building projects.
“God came down” “God descended” verse 3
Suggests human-like image of God
Ibn Ezra on anthropomorphisms
But accepts as a description. Human language.
David Kimze – also of the middle ages
Describes the lowly man- scripture calls this descent – language of spatial movement – when God wants to examine human deeds.
Rashi – to teach judges not to condemn an offender until they have reviewed all the details - personal investigation. (a teaching point)
Eli Munk – quote: Nachmanades – Kabalistic reading - descend when applied to God – says that it refers to the scale of divine attributes. Still God that comes down – metaphorical way God moves from love and compassion down to strict justice.
Satire – God had to “come down” but they were building a tower – not tall enough!
Samson R Hirsch – describes as a society that is determined that they don’t need God. Problem was in the attitude that motivated the builders. Structure to remind
Community must act in service to God. Problematic that the act of building the monument is the ‘end’ rather than a ‘means to an end.’
Seen as an act to ‘dethrone’ God – an act of arrogance.
- - -
Another theme of Torah: ending of divine intervention
Tower of Babel is the ‘last direct intervention’ by God. Concept that end of Bible the earth is given to humans.
Men don’t learn their lessons.
Another interesting parallel to Jacob's ladder - link
- - -
“Let us go down” Who is “us”?
1. Majestic / Royal “WE”
2. God consults with the angels.
Significance – God is humble – takes cognizance of other opinions. (team of Rivals)
Value of humility – act of humility.
V7 – Let us… Hebrew ‘Hava’ – first word
V3 – same word/phrase used when humans are talking. Symmetry
Word for Confound- Wordplay on the word for brick also – the consonants are reversed.
V8 – scatters – stopped building – story based on the ruins 100 bce of a ziggurat
Question is it a punishment or not?
Benno Jacob - 20th century reform Jewish commentator
Misunderstood story – Name Tower of Babel misleading it is about the city.
Not like the story of the Titans… not an attack on heaven.
About the building of the city as an act of unification due to anxiety and fear. Want to gather together not to get lost. The scattering of the nations is a consequence of population growth and a fulfillment of the mitzvah.
"The tower was to bring them fame and glory. their mistake was to use their technology for pride and vanity instead of using it to improve quality of life in their society."
Earth given so we will spread out and become diverse!
Story is a protest against uniformity.
Poem by our classmate Nora Buys:
The tower has gone
Its rubble smoothed away
By winds and rains and wars
Even so, the whisper
“You can be like God”
Still lures, still tempts,
Still seduces
Responding arrogance builds new towers
Seizes new powers
Grabs new riches
Creates new empires
Always to crumble into oblivion
The sighing, murmuring, siren voice lies
For we cannot be like God
© Nora Buys
Its rubble smoothed away
By winds and rains and wars
Even so, the whisper
“You can be like God”
Still lures, still tempts,
Still seduces
Responding arrogance builds new towers
Seizes new powers
Grabs new riches
Creates new empires
Always to crumble into oblivion
The sighing, murmuring, siren voice lies
For we cannot be like God
© Nora Buys
posted by Chavarah @ 11:00 PM
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