Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Yigal Levin <leviny1 AT mail.biu.ac.il>]

Dear Shoshanna,

What is your criterion for telling which parts are "exaggeration and not 
entirely accurate" and which parts are accurate? Or when Hazal intended the 
midrash to be taken literally and when they intended it to be understood 
allegorically?



And please remember to use your full name.


Yigal Levin



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Shoshanna Walker" <rosewalk AT concentric.net>
To: "Yigal Levin" <leviny1 AT mail.biu.ac.il>
Cc: "b-hebrew" <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Monday, February 04, 2008 4:49 AM
Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] "Shinar" at Genesis 14: 1 Is Not "Sumer", Part I


> Your point of view is only viable if one regards the midrash as a work of 
> literature, composed by various authors, out of their imaginations.  That 
> is incompatible with my point of view, that the Midrash is a recording of 
> what was "popular knowledge" handed down through the generations.  Some of 
> it could have been exaggeration, and not entirely accurate, but some of it 
> was also probably very true.  We, alas, on this forum, will never know 
> which was which, except for those of you who believe it was ALL just a 
> fabrication - for you none of it is actually true.
>
> Shoshanna
>
>
>
>
> The "midrash" was possibly seeing  $IN(AR as consisting of $IN, 'two,
> different' and (AR 'river', Y)OR or NAHAR. Thus $IN(AR = the land of
> the $NEI Y)OR-IM. Another midrash may see (AR as standing for (IR, )
> UR, 'city, people, throng'. Still another midrash may see $IN as
> standing for 'tooth' and (AR being a contracted HAR, 'mountain',
> ect., ect. Likewise for the -er of Sumer, the land of the big, (ACUM,
> Aryans.
> Isaac Fried, Boston University
> On Feb 3, 2008, at 2:45 AM, Yigal Levin wrote:
>
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Shoshanna Walker" <rosewalk AT concentric.net>
> >
> >
> > > Shinar is Babylon
> >
> > Probably correct in a general sense, but on what do you base this
> > statement?
> >
> > > The Midrash identifies Chedorlaomer as Elom son of Shem son of Noah
> > Which Midrash? Do you have a source?
> >
> > You really should read Maharal on midrashim.
> >
> >
> >
> > > Shoshanna
> >
> > And please remember to use your full name.
> >
> > Yigal Levin
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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>
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