Biblical craftsmen, donors and cherubim

Parasha for March 21, 2020

Va-Yakhel (Exodus 35:1-38:20)

By Irv Jacobs, MD

Irv Jacobs

LA JOLLA, California — This parasha deals with the actual construction of the Tabernacle, with the lavish materials provided as gifts by the Israelite population. The work was performed under the guidance of the designated skilled craftsmen, Bezalel and Oholiab.

I have chosen three passages (paraphrased below) for which I have sought Internet sources for comparison with our Hebrew texts.

I. Exodus 35:30-35 Moses: “…the Lord has singled out…Bezalel… endowed him with…skill…in every kind of craft…to make designs for work in gold, silver, and copper…cut stones…carve wood…in every…designer’s craft…and to give directions…and Oholiab…do any work–of the carver, designer, embroiderer in…yarns…of the weaver…in all crafts…”

Though I found no such preserved literature of a direct mandate by pagan gods, there were pagan gods who filled that function. Ptah, an Egyptian god, was a maker of things and a patron of craftsmen. He was originally the deity of Memphis, the capital of the First Dynasty. He was represented as a man in mummy form, wearing a skullcap and a short false beard. [1]

The Greeks had Hephaestus, the god of blacksmiths, metalworking, carpenters, craftsmen, artisans, sculptors, metallurgy, fire, and volcanoes. His Roman equivalent was Vulcan.

He was cast off Mount Olympus by his mother Hera, because of a shriveled foot. In another account, his deformity resulted from being flung down from the heavens by Zeus, as punishment for protecting Hera from Zeus’ sexual advances.

He made all the weapons of the gods, served as the blacksmith of the gods. His symbols were a smith’s hammer, anvil, and a pair of tongs. He designed Hermes’ winged helmet and sandals, the Aegis breastplate, Aphrodites’ famed girdle, Agamemnon’s staff, Achilles’ armor, Diomedes’ body armor, Hercules’ bronze weapons, Helios’ chariot, Eros’ bow and arrows, and all the thrones in the Palace of Olympus.

He had a special power to produce motion in his works. He made the golden and silver lions and dogs at the entrance of the palace in Alkinoos in such a way that they could bite invaders.

He could be vengeful. In an archaic story, he punished Hera for rejecting him by making her a magical golden throne, which, when she sat on it, did not allow her to stand up. The gods begged him to let her go, but he refused, saying “I have no mother.” Ultimately Dionysis intoxicated him with wine, and she was released.

It should be noted that the pagan data emphasizes the gods’ skills, not the expressions of humans as in the Hebrew Bible.

II. Exodus 36:4-6 “…people are bringing more than is needed…Moses thereupon…’Let no man or woman make further…gifts for the sanctuary.'”

The Internet yields a confusing system of reciprocity and relationships between humanity and the divine, from across the pan-Indo-European spectrum. Vedic,* Norse, Roman, and Irish source materials have commonalities in this regard. There is a myriad of such cultural expressions of gifting to and from the gods, including votives, foodstuffs, libations,** etc.

III.Exodus 37:6-9 “(Bezalel)…made two cherubim of gold…one…at one end and the other…at…other end…of one piece with the cover (of the ark). The cherubim had their wings spread…shielding the cover with their wings…the faces of the cherubim were turned toward the cover.” (The ark was made to be carried via two permanent poles inserted at its base.)

The Hebrew Bible does not describe these cherubim, which has led to speculation over the centuries, e.g. with children’s faces, as angels, or forms of birds. The Babylonian Talmud offered: “When Israel did the will of God, the cherubim faced each other, but when they did not do God’s will, they faced away from each other.”

Per the Internet, the Babylonians had a similar structure, using winged bulls with human faces at the entrance to their temples and palaces.

Even earlier, ancient Egyptians had an ark and covering figures startlingly similar to that of the Israelites. Examples were found on Tutankhamen’s Shrine and on top of his tomb.

It is speculated that the Israelites must have seen the Egyptian ark with its ‘cherubim’ carried by Egyptian priests, also by means of two poles that extended from its base.

Illustrations of Rameses II’s military camp at the Battle of Kadesh depict this structure at the center of the battlefield. Likewise Moses told his priests to lead the ark into battle against the Midianites (Numbers 31:6). In the conquest story of Jericho, the ark went in front of the marchers around the city (Joshua 6:6-8). Later King Saul had the ark carried into battle (1 Samuel 14:18), as did King David (2 Samuel 11:11). [2]

*

*The ancient religion of the Aryan peoples who entered northwestern India from Persia c. 2000–1200 BC. It was the precursor of Hinduism.

** particularly unique to Mediterranean religions

[1] Encyclopedia Brittanica, last updated 2-13-2020 by the editors
[2] https://www.uncensoredjudaism.com/en/archives/1769

*
Irv Jacobs is a retired medical doctor who enjoys writing about a variety of interests, including both religion and science. He may be contacted via irv.jacobs@sdjewishworld.com