The Book of all Books

The Book of all Books Dr. Azila (Tzili) Talit Reisenberger Head of Hebrew University of Cape Town

Lecture 3:The Book as a reflection of Life Testament of LIFE as it was: “Scientific record”, political, judicial, social, geographical, daily life, celebrations, wisdom, medical, (birth and death and anything in between)

“Scientific” The Book tries to explain: • The creation of the world and the place of humans in it. • Anthropological phenomena (why a man leaves his parents for his wife) • Natural phenomena (the rainbow) • The division into nations and languages (the Tower of Babel)

Political reality • Conquests (Joshua, the Gibeonites etc) • Capital cities (Shilo, Hebron, Jerusalem, Samaria) • Division in the land (Tribes, United Kingdom, Northern and Southern kingdoms etc) • Allies and foes (wars, treaties, betrayal etc) • Dynasties (Saul/ Benjamin; David/ Yehuda; then in Northern Kingdom variety of Dynasties)

The conquest of Jerusalem 2 Sam 5:6-9 “…the king of the Jebusites said…Thou shalt not come in hither, except thou first remove away the blind and the lame; meaning David cannot come hither. Nevertheless, David captured the strong-hold of Zion. And David said on that day, whoever will smite the Jebusites, and reach the aqueduct… and David dwelt in the fort, and he called it ‘The City of David’… ????????

The conquest of Jerusalem 1 Chro. 11:5-6 “And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, Thou shalt not come in hither, Nevertheless, David captured the strong-hold of Zion, the same is the city of David. And David said Whoever doth smite the Jebusites at first shall be head and chief. Then did Joab the son of Zeruya go up at first, and became head-man…”

Judicial • Second to the stories of war and peace (mainly wars) the legal corpus in The Book is most prominent • Most laws are to keep the social order • But there are laws that are directed at keeping the people ‘Ethical’ / pure / Holy (Mitzvot/laws of love: identity)

Laws to do with social order Bouquet of examples: • Keep the Shabbat • Honour your father and mother (“nakedness of your parents thou shalt not see…) • An eye for an eye • True prophet vs. False prophet • Six cities of refuge (Num 35) …… and many many others

Ethical laws Examples: • Look after the less fortunate: Leket, Pea, Shiche’cha • ShatnezandKil’a’yim – do not mix things, such as Ox and Donkey should not ‘work together’ (Deut. 22:10) • Do not pick eggs while the mother bird is in the nest (Deut. 22:6-7). This and ‘honour your parents’ (Deut. 5:15) are the only commandments that give one long and good life

Laws as - Identity markers • On the seam between ethical and identity: Kosher laws, e.g. ‘do not cook a kid in its mother’s milk’ (Deut. 14:21) • Circumcision (not only Hebrews). Yet now it is a ‘Jewish’ identity. • Mezuzah, and Tzizit • Holidays: Passover (Matzah) Etc…

Court system • Most fascinating story is of Moses’ exhaustion as he was a sole judge of the nation (Ex. 18:13-18) • Jethro (his Father-in-law, Midianite Chief) advised him to set an order of courts at various levels and appoint judges. (‘rulers’ of the thousands…of the hundreds…of the fifties and the tens) Jud. 18:21. • Moses became the Chief Justice.

Two interesting facts that SA can learn from the Bible • The leadership is NOT above the law (The king: Ahab, could not confiscate Nabot’s vineyard. Jezebel had to stage a ‘Sham-court’) 2 Kings 21 2. Cities of refuge: clear distinction between premeditated crime and accidents. (Num. 35)

Geographical Examples: • ‘Syrian-African fault’, Sodom and Gemorah • Valley of Yizrael - Sissera and Deborah (Jud 5:6) • Gilboa Mountains - David lament (2 Sam 1:21)

Daily life / survival • Who is doing what in the household (young ladies fetch water, i.g. Rebecca, Jethro’s daughters…) • Wedding customs (see Samson: parents ‘close the deal’, then party: Jud 14:10; party activities: quiz) • Celebrations of rites-of-passage, such as weaning a baby (Sarah and Isaac: Gen 21:8) • Sitting in City’s gate (elders / courts) • Living within City’s walls (harlots: Rahav, Solomon case) • Hospitality in the desert (Abraham in Mamre) Etc…

Wisdom Spirituality, Insight and Understanding • Psalms • prophecies • Proverbs • Job • Song of Songs and many more pearls…

Medical records • Giving birth, especially the twin cases: see Transfusion Syndrome (Gen 38) • Was Isaac diabetic? • Solomon’s judgement: who was the right mother etc….

One biblical story…. The prophet Elisha ben Shaphat. • 9th Century BCE • Assistant of Elijah (for 8 years) • Was the ‘official prophet’ in Israel for 60 years !!! • Had double the power of Elijah (2 Kings 2:9) • Used his power for military purpose (unusual for a prophet) • Caused his ‘enemy’ to hallucinate

Miracles: ‘unending’ supply of oil and food, cured ‘bad’ water, • Medical miracles: helped with conception, then resuscitated a ‘dead’ man, cured Na’aman of leprosy. • Refused payment and fought corruption by Gechazi. • Controlled laws of nature? Or used science: caused iron axe-blade to float… • Anointed Yehu ben Nimshi, • His dead body revived a ‘dead-man’ (2 Kings 13 20-21)

But he was human: • He was quick-tempered and unforgiving: punished Gechazi’s greediness by leprosy, and caused the death of 42 young children who mocked him… • Cried bitterly when he saw that Chazael is to succeed Ben-Hadad and oppress Israel. End of story: • Samaria under siege, great hunger, Elisha promises that by tomorrow there will be plenty… • Ben-Hadad leaves overnight and the lepers notify the city… • We are waiting for historical confirmation

So much to learn from one story of one prophet…. …… Thank you I would like to thank JuttaSchoof for editing these notes.

The Book of all Books