Difference between revisions of "Divine Plurals/2"
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<category>Partnership with Others | <category>Partnership with Others | ||
| − | <p>The plural form is used because Hashem either consulted, or actively acted with others. | + | <p>The plural form is used because Hashem either consulted, or actively acted with others.</p> |
| − | + | <mekorot><multilink><a href="PhiloOntheConfusionofTongues35-179" data-aht="source">Philo</a><a href="PhiloOntheConfusionofTongues35-179" data-aht="source">On the Confusion of Tongues 35:179</a><a href="Philo" data-aht="parshan">About Philo</a></multilink>,<fn>This is Philo's understanding in his work, On the Confusion of Tongues.  In On Drunkenness, however, he implies another reading, that Hashem created together with wisdom.</fn> <multilink><a href="BereshitRabbah8-8" data-aht="source">Bereshit Rabbah</a><a href="BereshitRabbah8-8" data-aht="source">8:8</a><a href="BereshitRabbah21-5" data-aht="source">21:5</a><a href="Bereshit Rabbah" data-aht="parshan">About Bereshit Rabbah</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="TargumPseudo-JonathanBereshit1-26" data-aht="source">Targum Pseudo-Jonathan</a><a href="TargumPseudo-JonathanBereshit1-26" data-aht="source">Bereshit 1:26</a><a href="Targum Pseudo-Jonathan" data-aht="parshan">About Targum Pseudo-Jonathan</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RashiBereshit1-26" data-aht="source">Rashi</a><a href="RashiBereshit1-26" data-aht="source">Bereshit 1:26</a><a href="RashiBereshit3-22" data-aht="source">Bereshit 3:22</a><a href="RashiBereshit11-7" data-aht="source">Bereshit 11:7</a><a href="R. Shelomo Yitzchaki (Rashi)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RashbamBereshit1-26" data-aht="source">Rashbam</a><a href="RashbamBereshit1-26" data-aht="source">Bereshit 1:26</a><a href="R. Shemuel b. Meir (Rashbam)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shemuel b. Meir</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="IbnEzraBereshit1-26" data-aht="source">Ibn Ezra</a><a href="IbnEzraBereshit1-26" data-aht="source">Bereshit 1:26</a><a href="IbnEzraBereshit3-22" data-aht="source">Bereshit 3:22</a><a href="IbnEzraBereshit11-7" data-aht="source">Bereshit 11:7</a><a href="R. Avraham ibn Ezra" data-aht="parshan">About R. Avraham ibn Ezra</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RadakBereshit1-26" data-aht="source">Radak</a><a href="RadakBereshit1-26" data-aht="source">Bereshit 1:26</a><a href="RadakBereshit3-22" data-aht="source">Bereshit 3:22</a><a href="RadakBereshit11-7" data-aht="source">Bereshit 11:7</a><a href="R. David Kimchi (Radak)" data-aht="parshan">About R. David Kimchi</a></multilink>, Abarbanel #2, <multilink><a href="SefornoBereshit1-26" data-aht="source">Seforno</a><a href="SefornoBereshit1-26" data-aht="source">Bereshit 1:26</a><a href="R. Ovadyah Seforno" data-aht="parshan">About R. Ovadyah Seforno</a></multilink></mekorot> | |
| − | + | <point><b>What did the angels do?</b> According to most of these commentators, Hashem simply consulted with the angels, but they did not actually do anything.  In his comments on the creation story Rashi stresses that the act of creation was Hashem's alone., as evidenced by the very next verse, ‏"‏וַיִּבְרָא אֱלֹהִים אֶת הָאָדָם"‏‎<fn>In this verse Hashem alone is the subject of the root "ברא", implying that He (and not the angels) created.</fn></point> | |
| − | + | <point><b>Why work with angels?</b><ul> | |
| − | |||
<li>According to Rashi, following Bereshit Rabbah 8:8, Hashem consulted with the angels to teach a lesson in humility to humans.  If even Hashem asks permission of those lesser than He, all the more so should mankind.<fn>In his comments on the creation story Rashi stresses that, despite the consultation, the act of creation was Hashem's alone.  As proof he points to the very next verse, "וַיִּבְרָא אֱלֹהִים אֶת הָאָדָם", which mentions only Hashem as creating mankind.</fn></li> | <li>According to Rashi, following Bereshit Rabbah 8:8, Hashem consulted with the angels to teach a lesson in humility to humans.  If even Hashem asks permission of those lesser than He, all the more so should mankind.<fn>In his comments on the creation story Rashi stresses that, despite the consultation, the act of creation was Hashem's alone.  As proof he points to the very next verse, "וַיִּבְרָא אֱלֹהִים אֶת הָאָדָם", which mentions only Hashem as creating mankind.</fn></li> | ||
<li>Philo and Abarbanel, in contrast, explain that the angels actively participated together with Hashem. According to Philo, Hashem utilized the angels so that all the errors and wickedness of mankind could be attributed to these subordinate powers.  Abarbanel, instead, explains that all of life sprang forth from that which it was similar to in nature. Thus, mankind, having an intellect, like the angels was created via these beings.</li> | <li>Philo and Abarbanel, in contrast, explain that the angels actively participated together with Hashem. According to Philo, Hashem utilized the angels so that all the errors and wickedness of mankind could be attributed to these subordinate powers.  Abarbanel, instead, explains that all of life sprang forth from that which it was similar to in nature. Thus, mankind, having an intellect, like the angels was created via these beings.</li> | ||
</ul></point> | </ul></point> | ||
| − | + | <point><b>Why specifically in these verses?</b></point> | |
| − | + | <point><b>"בְּצַלְמֵנוּ כִּדְמוּתֵנוּ"</b></point> | |
| − | + | <point><b>Belief in angels</b></point> | |
| − | + | <point><b>"כְּאַחַד מִמֶּנּוּ לָדַעַת טוֹב וָרָע"</b></point> | |
| + | </category> | ||
| + | <category>Hashem acting Alone | ||
| + | <opinion>Utilized Earthly Elements | ||
| + | <mekorot><multilink><a href="RadakBereshit1-26" data-aht="source">R. Yosef Kimchi</a><a href="RadakBereshit1-26" data-aht="source">cited in Radak Bereshit 1:26</a><a href="R. Yosef Kimchi" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef Kimchi</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RambanBereshit1-26" data-aht="source">Ramban</a><a href="RambanBereshit1-26" data-aht="source">Bereshit 1:26</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Nachman (Ramban, Nachmanides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Moshe b. Nachman</a></multilink>, Abarbanel #1, Maasei Hashem,</mekorot> | ||
</opinion> | </opinion> | ||
| − | <opinion> | + | <opinion>Rhetorical Flourish |
| − | < | + | <mekorot><multilink><a href="RSaadiaGaonHaEmunotVeHaDeot2-6" data-aht="source">R. Saadia Gaon</a><a href="RSaadiaGaonHaEmunotVeHaDeot2-6" data-aht="source">HaEmunot VeHaDeot 2:6</a><a href="R. Saadia Gaon" data-aht="parshan">About R. Saadia Gaon</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="LekachTovBereshit1-26" data-aht="source">Lekach Tov</a><a href="LekachTovBereshit1-26" data-aht="source">Bereshit 1:26</a><a href="LekachTovBereshit11-7" data-aht="source">Bereshit 11:7</a><a href="R. Toviah b. Eliezer (Lekach Tov)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Toviah b. Eliezer</a></multilink>, R"Y Bekhor Shor #1, Ibn Kaspi, <multilink><a href="ShadalBereshit1-26" data-aht="source">Shadal</a><a href="ShadalBereshit1-26" data-aht="source">Bereshit 1:26</a><a href="R. Shemuel David Luzzatto (Shadal)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shemuel David Luzzatto</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RSRHirschBereshit1-26" data-aht="source">R. S"R Hirsch</a><a href="RSRHirschBereshit1-26" data-aht="source">Bereshit 1:26</a><a href="RSRHirschBereshit3-22" data-aht="source">Bereshit 3:22</a><a href="R. Samson Raphael Hirsch" data-aht="parshan">About R. Samson Raphael Hirsch</a></multilink>, R. D"Z Hoffmann, Cassuto</mekorot> |
</opinion> | </opinion> | ||
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</category> | </category> | ||
</approaches> | </approaches> | ||
</page> | </page> | ||
</aht-xml> | </aht-xml> | ||
Version as of 02:13, 4 August 2015
Divine Plurals
Exegetical Approaches
Partnership with Others
The plural form is used because Hashem either consulted, or actively acted with others.
Sources:Philo,1 Bereshit Rabbah, Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, Rashi, Rashbam, Ibn Ezra, Radak, Abarbanel #2, Seforno
What did the angels do? According to most of these commentators, Hashem simply consulted with the angels, but they did not actually do anything. In his comments on the creation story Rashi stresses that the act of creation was Hashem's alone., as evidenced by the very next verse, "וַיִּבְרָא אֱלֹהִים אֶת הָאָדָם"2
Why work with angels?
- According to Rashi, following Bereshit Rabbah 8:8, Hashem consulted with the angels to teach a lesson in humility to humans. If even Hashem asks permission of those lesser than He, all the more so should mankind.3
- Philo and Abarbanel, in contrast, explain that the angels actively participated together with Hashem. According to Philo, Hashem utilized the angels so that all the errors and wickedness of mankind could be attributed to these subordinate powers. Abarbanel, instead, explains that all of life sprang forth from that which it was similar to in nature. Thus, mankind, having an intellect, like the angels was created via these beings.
Why specifically in these verses?
"בְּצַלְמֵנוּ כִּדְמוּתֵנוּ"
Belief in angels
"כְּאַחַד מִמֶּנּוּ לָדַעַת טוֹב וָרָע"
Hashem acting Alone
Utilized Earthly Elements
Rhetorical Flourish
Sources:R. Saadia Gaon, Lekach Tov, R"Y Bekhor Shor #1, Ibn Kaspi, Shadal, R. S"R Hirsch, R. D"Z Hoffmann, Cassuto
