Moses and Pre-Monotheism
I'm still making my way, slowly (but enjoying it), through Robert Alter's new translation of The Five Books of Moses. I find it interesting that his version preserves certain things that other translations try to hide: for example, the occasional references to "gods" in the Torah, the foundational text of monotheism. Alter calls one such passage (Exodus 22:7, "the owner of the house shall approach the gods") "a vestige of premonotheistic verbal usage." Other translations render "gods" in this verse as "God" or "judges." These first five books of the Bible were woven together from several different strands, and apparently some of those strands were older, and less monotheistic, than others.
It reminds me of the wonderful novel, The Red Tent, which shows how un-natural (and patriarchal) monotheism must have seemed when it first appeared on the scene (especially compared to the more earthy, elemental spirituality of the women in the red tent).
I like Robert Alter's comment on the first part of Exodus 23:2, "You shall not follow the many for evil":
It reminds me of the wonderful novel, The Red Tent, which shows how un-natural (and patriarchal) monotheism must have seemed when it first appeared on the scene (especially compared to the more earthy, elemental spirituality of the women in the red tent).
I like Robert Alter's comment on the first part of Exodus 23:2, "You shall not follow the many for evil":
The last word here could also be rendered "harm." The most straightforward way to construe this verse is as an injunction to cling to one's own sense of what is right despite the temptation to follow popular opinion, including when popular opinion is bent on the perversion of justice.
Amen! We are called upon to stand in our truth, even when it's lonely to do so.
Darrell
www.WildFaith.com
posted by Darrell Grizzle | 1:38 PM
3 Comments:
Darrell,
I think you really would like reading "A History of God" by Karen Armstrong (if you haven't already). She makes the point that it's hard to actually find a single monotheistic verse in the Penteteuch. Yahweh (poorly translated as "the LORD") is referred as "your God," or "our God" as opposed to all these other gods the goyim (nations, heathen) worship.
Armstrong also has a breadth and passion, that I haven't seen in other historians (including Pagels), as well as a unique ability to see commonalities and trends and make sense of the whole mess.
Jon
"...when popular opinion is bent on the perversion of justice."
Amen. It reminds me that I am appalled by our country's definition of Morality (especially as seen in Election '04). We like to think of morality in terms of sexuality and abortion but pay no mind to the real moral issues such as justice, compassion, and beauty.
Thanks for the reminder to stand for TRUTH.
Thanks, Trev and Jon! I have not read Karen Armstrong's book, but I will get it -- and add it to my ever-growing stack of books to read! :o)
Darrell
Post a Comment
<< Home