I set out to write an article on a small question but ended up writing one about how to find meaning in the sections of Torah which appear to be meaningless, as explained by Rambam and Shadal.
Oct 20, 2023·edited Oct 20, 2023Liked by Rabbi Matt Schneeweiss
Very much enjoyed. Relatedly, R Avraham ibn Ezra, if memory serves, often says about a word's meaning that it was known to the generation that received the Torah. I believe that in creation and flood stories of other cultures the gods motivations were far from noble (eg world created from a dead god's cadaver and that the gods wanted to have humans to do their work for them and that the flood was initiated because the humans were making too much noise, again, if memory serves), as opposed to in the Torah where these events occur in the service of virtue and justice. To bring it full circle, Shadal, when commenting on Lemechs children's names, says: Adah bore, etc. In my opinion, the reason that the text records the names of the men who invented some of the trades is that these men were worshipped as gods in those times, but the Holy One, blessed is He, wanted to let Israel know that they were only men, and to identify their parents. . .
Tubal-Cain. Apparently identical with Vulcan [the Roman god of metalworking]. It should be noted that kinaya in Syriac and Arabic denotes a goldsmith or silversmith, or a craftsman in iron. Also, tu pal in Persian means a piece of gold, silver, or copper; this led Gesenius to say that this name is of Persian origin. Whatever the case may be, there is no doubt that many vain things were said in ancient times about these persons, and the Torah refined these stories of their impure elements.
. . . Naamah. She, too, apparently, was worshipped. Perhaps she is identical with Venus, in which case her name [lit “pleasant,” “lovely”] would be descriptive of her.
That's where those Shadal excerpts are taken from (thank you Dan Klein!). Alhatorah is a complete gamechanger (Go Novetzkys!). Gonna hafta check out your take but its getting late and it deserves my full attention 😊.
Very much enjoyed. Relatedly, R Avraham ibn Ezra, if memory serves, often says about a word's meaning that it was known to the generation that received the Torah. I believe that in creation and flood stories of other cultures the gods motivations were far from noble (eg world created from a dead god's cadaver and that the gods wanted to have humans to do their work for them and that the flood was initiated because the humans were making too much noise, again, if memory serves), as opposed to in the Torah where these events occur in the service of virtue and justice. To bring it full circle, Shadal, when commenting on Lemechs children's names, says: Adah bore, etc. In my opinion, the reason that the text records the names of the men who invented some of the trades is that these men were worshipped as gods in those times, but the Holy One, blessed is He, wanted to let Israel know that they were only men, and to identify their parents. . .
Tubal-Cain. Apparently identical with Vulcan [the Roman god of metalworking]. It should be noted that kinaya in Syriac and Arabic denotes a goldsmith or silversmith, or a craftsman in iron. Also, tu pal in Persian means a piece of gold, silver, or copper; this led Gesenius to say that this name is of Persian origin. Whatever the case may be, there is no doubt that many vain things were said in ancient times about these persons, and the Torah refined these stories of their impure elements.
. . . Naamah. She, too, apparently, was worshipped. Perhaps she is identical with Venus, in which case her name [lit “pleasant,” “lovely”] would be descriptive of her.
All the best and Shabbat Shalom
Yes! AlHaTorah has a great chart comparing the Torah's flood story with that of other ancient civilizations: https://alhatorah.org/The_Mabbul_and_Mesopotamian_Myths/0/en
I also wrote my own take on a related matter two years ago: https://rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/p/parashas-noach-migdal-bavel-and-hindu
I don't know how I missed that Shadal on Kayin's descendants! If I ever rewrite this article, I'll have to include that.
Thanks again for reading!
That's where those Shadal excerpts are taken from (thank you Dan Klein!). Alhatorah is a complete gamechanger (Go Novetzkys!). Gonna hafta check out your take but its getting late and it deserves my full attention 😊.