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 | + | <p>The plural form is used because Hashem was including the angels in His speech.</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 | + | <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 man together with Wisdom.  See <multilink><a href="Enoch2-30-10" data-aht="source">Enoch</a><a href="Enoch2-30-10" data-aht="source">2:30:10</a><a href="Enoch" data-aht="parshan">About Enoch</a></multilink> similarly.</fn> <multilink><a href="BereshitRabbah8-8" data-aht="source">Bereshit Rabbah</a><a href="BereshitRabbah8-3-4" data-aht="source">8:3-4</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>"נַעֲשֶׂה אָדָם" – What did the angels do?</b><ul> | <point><b>"נַעֲשֶׂה אָדָם" – What did the angels do?</b><ul> | ||
| − | <li>According to Rashi, following Bereshit Rabbah, Hashem simply consulted with the angels regarding man's creation, but they did not actually do anything.  As evidence, he points to the verseוַיִּבְרָא אֱלֹהִים אֶת הָאָדָם" ‏,", which presents Hashem as the singular subject of the verb "ברא" and makes no mention of other beings.</li> | + | <li><b>Consult</b> – According to Rashi, following Bereshit Rabbah, Hashem simply consulted with the angels regarding man's creation, but they did not actually do anything.  As evidence, he points to the verseוַיִּבְרָא אֱלֹהִים אֶת הָאָדָם" ‏,", which presents Hashem as the singular subject of the verb "ברא" and makes no mention of other beings.</li> |
| − | <li>Philo, Ibn Ezra, Abarbanel and Seforno, in contrast, suggest that the angels played an active role in creating man.  Abarbanel asserts that just as Hashem had the land actively draw forth vegetation since the two were naturally similar, he had angels abet him in creating mankind, who | + | <li><b>Create </b>– Philo, Ibn Ezra, Abarbanel and Seforno, in contrast, suggest that the angels played an active role in creating man.  Abarbanel asserts that just as Hashem had the land actively draw forth vegetation since the two were naturally similar, he had angels abet him in creating mankind, who are naturally similar in having an intellect.</li> |
</ul></point> | </ul></point> | ||
<point><b>"הָבָה נֵרְדָה וְנָבְלָה" – What did the angels do?</b><ul> | <point><b>"הָבָה נֵרְדָה וְנָבְלָה" – What did the angels do?</b><ul> | ||
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</ul></point> | </ul></point> | ||
<point><b>Why work with angels?</b><ul> | <point><b>Why work with angels?</b><ul> | ||
| − | <li><b>Moral lesson</b> – According to Bereshit Rabbah and Rashi, Hashem consults with the angels to teach a lesson in humility to humans.  If even Hashem asks permission of those lesser than | + | <li><b>Moral lesson</b> – According to Bereshit Rabbah and Rashi, Hashem consults with the angels, not because He needs their advice,<fn>See Radak as well: "כבר פרשנו מלת הבה ואינו אלא על דרך משל, כי אין היוצר נועץ עם הנוצר". </fn> but to teach a lesson in humility to humans.  If even Hashem asks permission of those lesser than Him before acting, all the more so should mankind.<fn>It is not clear though, why it is only in these verses where we are told of Hashem's consultations.</fn></li> |
| − | <li><b>Divine duties</b> – Others might more simply suggest that Hashem often speaks to intermediaries to fulfill His will, and | + | <li><b>Divine duties</b> – Others might more simply suggest that Hashem often speaks to intermediaries to fulfill His will, and the cases discussed here are not particularly exceptional except for the fact that the Torah shares the heavenly discussion with the reader.</li> |
<li><b>Dirty work</b> – According to Philo, Hashem had the angels participate in creating man, so that all the errors and wickedness of mankind could be attributed to these subordinate powers and not to Hashem.<fn>He does not address their necessity by the dispersal of the generation of the Tower of Bavel.</fn> </li> | <li><b>Dirty work</b> – According to Philo, Hashem had the angels participate in creating man, so that all the errors and wickedness of mankind could be attributed to these subordinate powers and not to Hashem.<fn>He does not address their necessity by the dispersal of the generation of the Tower of Bavel.</fn> </li> | ||
</ul></point> | </ul></point> | ||
<point><b>Why specifically in these verses?</b></point> | <point><b>Why specifically in these verses?</b></point> | ||
| − | <point><b>"בְּצַלְמֵנוּ כִּדְמוּתֵנוּ"</b></point> | + | <point><b>"בְּצַלְמֵנוּ כִּדְמוּתֵנוּ"</b> – One of the motivations of this position is the discomfort with suggesting that Hashem is referring to His own body/ form in these words, for that could suggest an anthropomorphic God.</point> |
<point><b>Belief in angels</b></point> | <point><b>Belief in angels</b></point> | ||
<point><b>"כְּאַחַד מִמֶּנּוּ לָדַעַת טוֹב וָרָע"</b></point> | <point><b>"כְּאַחַד מִמֶּנּוּ לָדַעַת טוֹב וָרָע"</b></point> | ||
Version as of 06:27, 4 August 2015
Divine Plurals
Exegetical Approaches
Partnership with Others
The plural form is used because Hashem was including the angels in His speech.
Sources:Philo,1 Bereshit Rabbah, Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, Rashi, Rashbam, Ibn Ezra, Radak, Abarbanel #2, Seforno
"נַעֲשֶׂה אָדָם" – What did the angels do?
- Consult – According to Rashi, following Bereshit Rabbah, Hashem simply consulted with the angels regarding man's creation, but they did not actually do anything. As evidence, he points to the verseוַיִּבְרָא אֱלֹהִים אֶת הָאָדָם" ,", which presents Hashem as the singular subject of the verb "ברא" and makes no mention of other beings.
- Create – Philo, Ibn Ezra, Abarbanel and Seforno, in contrast, suggest that the angels played an active role in creating man. Abarbanel asserts that just as Hashem had the land actively draw forth vegetation since the two were naturally similar, he had angels abet him in creating mankind, who are naturally similar in having an intellect.
"הָבָה נֵרְדָה וְנָבְלָה" – What did the angels do?
- Most of these commentators suffice by saying that Hashem spoke with the angels, but do not elaborate as to whether they actively helped in dispersing the nations.
- Abarbanel, though, claims that after the sin of the generation of the tower,2 God decided to remove His providence from the nations and give them into the hands of ministering angels instead. It is this that Hashem tells the angels when He says, "let us go down".
Why work with angels?
- Moral lesson – According to Bereshit Rabbah and Rashi, Hashem consults with the angels, not because He needs their advice,3 but to teach a lesson in humility to humans. If even Hashem asks permission of those lesser than Him before acting, all the more so should mankind.4
- Divine duties – Others might more simply suggest that Hashem often speaks to intermediaries to fulfill His will, and the cases discussed here are not particularly exceptional except for the fact that the Torah shares the heavenly discussion with the reader.
- Dirty work – According to Philo, Hashem had the angels participate in creating man, so that all the errors and wickedness of mankind could be attributed to these subordinate powers and not to Hashem.5
Why specifically in these verses?
"בְּצַלְמֵנוּ כִּדְמוּתֵנוּ" – One of the motivations of this position is the discomfort with suggesting that Hashem is referring to His own body/ form in these words, for that could suggest an anthropomorphic God.
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
