THE TALMUD

THE HAGGADA

SELECTIONS BEARING ON BIBLICAL HISTORY

I

NIMROD

Cush, the son of Ham and grandson of Noah, married in his old age a young wife, and begat a son whom he called Nimrod, because in those days the people were beginning to rebel again against the Lord's command, and "Nimrod" sig nifies" rebellion."

Now Nimrod grew up, and his father loved him exceedingly, because he was the child of his old age. And there was a certain coat of skins which God had made for Adam. When Adam died this coat became the possession of Enoch, from him it descended to Methusaleh, his son; Methusaleh gave it to Noah, who took it with him into the ark. And when the people left the ark Ham stole this coat, and hid it from his brothers, giving it secretly thereafter to Cush, his son. Cush kept it hidden for many years, until out of his great love he gave it to Nimrod, the child of his old age. When Nimrod was twenty years of age he put on this coat, and it gave him strength and might might as a hunter in the fields, and might as a warrior in the subjection of his enemies. and opponents. And his wars and undertakings prospered until he became king over all the earth.

Behold, to this day his power is a proverb among men, and he who instructs the youthful arm in the wielding of weapons and the youthful mind in the secrets of the chase wishes his pupils "even as Nimrod, who was a mighty hunter in the land, and prosperous in his wars."

When Nimrod was forty years old his brethren, the sons of Ham, quarreled with the sons of Japhet. And Nimrod as

sembled the tribe of Cush, and went forth to battle with the sons of Japhet. And he addressed his army, saying:

"Be not dismayed, and banish fear from your hearts. Our enemies shall surely be your booty, and ye shall do with them as ye please."

Nimrod was victorious, and the opposing armies became his subjects. And when he and his soldiers returned home rejoicing, the people gathered around and made him king, and placed a crown upon his head. And he appointed counselors, judges, chiefs, generals, and captains. He established a national government, and he made Therach, the son of Nahor, his chief officer.

When Nimrod had thus established his power he decided to build a city, a walled town, which should be the capital of his country. And he selected a certain plain and built a large city thereon, and called it Shinar. And Nimrod dwelt in Shinar in safety, and gradually became ruler over all the world; and at that time all the people of the earth were of one language and of one speech.

Nimrod, in his prosperity, did not regard the Lord. He made gods of wood and stone, and the people copied after his doings. His son Mordon served idols also, from which we have, even to this day, the proverb, "From the wicked, wickedness comes forth."

And it came to pass about this time that the officers of Nimrod and the descendants of Phut, Mitzrayim, Cush, and Canaan took counsel together, and they said to one another:

"Let us build a city and also in its midst a tall tower for a stronghold, a tower the top of which shall reach even to the heavens. Then shall we truly make for ourselves a great and mighty name, before which all our enemies shall tremble. None will then be able to harm us, and no wars may disperse our ranks." And they spoke these words to the king, and he approved of their design.

Therefore these families gathered together and selected a suitable spot for their city and its tower on a plain toward the east, in the land of Shinar.

And while they were building, rebellion budded in their hearts, rebellion against God, and they imagined that they could scale the heavens and war with him.

They divided into three parties; the first party said: "We will ascend to heaven and place there our gods, and worship them."

The second party said:

"We will pour into the heavens of the Lord and match our strength with his."

And the third party said:

"Yea, we will smite him with arrow and with spear." And God watched their evil enterprise, and knew their If one of the stones which thoughts, yet they builded on. they had raised to its height fell, they were sad at heart, and even wept; yet when any of their brethren fell from the building and were killed, none took account of the lives thus lost.

Thus they continued for a space of years, till God said, "We will confuse their language." Then the people forgot their language, and they spoke to one another in a strange tongue.

And they quarreled and fought on account of the many misunderstandings occasioned by this confusion of language, and many were destroyed in these quarrels, till at last they were compelled to cease building.

According to their deserts did God punish the three rebellious parties. Those who had said, "We will place our gods in the heavens," were changed in appearance, and became like apes; those who had said, "We will smite him with arrows," killed one another through misunderstandings; and those who had said, "Let us try our strength with his," were scattered over the face of the earth.

The tower was exceedingly tall. The third part of it sunk down into the ground, a second third was burned down, but the remaining third was standing until the time of the destruction of Babylon.

Thus were the people dispersed over the globe, and divided into nations.

THE TALMUD

THE HAGGADA

II

ABRAHAM

Therach, the son of Nahor, was the chief officer of King Nimrod, and a great favorite with his royal master; and when his wife Amtheta, the daughter of Karnebo, bore him a son, she called the child Abraham, meaning "Great father.” Therach was seventy years old when Abraham was born.

Now it came to pass on the night of Abraham's birth that Therach entertained a number of his friends, including the wise men and magicians of Nimrod the King. They passed the night in revelry and merriment, and when they went forth from the house of their host morn was dawning. Lifting their eyes heavenward, they beheld a large and brilliant star rise before them in the east, and swallow up or consume four stars from the four corners of the heavens. The magicians wondered much at this occurrence, and they said one to the other, "Verily, this is an omen connected with the newly born child of Therach. When he grows up he will be fruitful and increase greatly in power and excellence, and his descendants will destroy this kingdom and possess its lands."

And they went home and pondered over the matter, and when they met in the house of assembly they said,

Behold, we had better inform the King of the wonderful occurrence which greeted our sight. Should it come to his knowledge indirectly, he will be wroth with us for keeping it from him; he may even slay us for our neglect. Let us go to him at once that we may be free from blame."

Entering into the presence of the King, his wise men saluted him, saying, "O King, live forever!'

And the chief of the wise men then related to the King

the phenomenon which they had witnessed, and the interpretation or meaning which they assigned to it. Concluding the relation, he added,

"And now, if it be pleasing to the King, we would advise him to pay the value of this child unto his father and destroy him while in his infancy, lest in the days to come, through him and his descendants, we and our children be utterly destroyed."

The King listened attentively to the words of his servants and approved of their advice. He sent a messenger for Therach, and when the latter appeared before him he told him all that the wise men had related, and said,

"Now, therefore, give up the child, that we may slay him before misfortune falls upon us, and in payment we will fill thy coffers with silver and with gold!"

Then answered Therach,

"I have listened to the words of my lord, and all that he wishes I will do; yet first I beg, let me tell the King of a request made to me but yesterday, and ask his advice thereon."

me.

"It is well," replied Nimrod; "speak."

Yesterday," said Therach, "Ayon, the son of Morad, came to my house desiring to purchase from me the beautiful steed, which thou, O King, didst graciously present to 'Sell me the horse,' said Ayon,' and I will pay thee his full value and likewise fill thy stables with straw and provender.' And I answered him that I did not feel at liberty to so dispose of the King's gift without the King's approval; and now, O King! I ask thee for advice."

Angrily the King answered.

"And thou wouldst think of selling my gift, of parting with that noble steed for gold and silver, straw and provender! Art thou in such need of these things that thou wouldst barter for them the horse which I have given thee, a steed unequaled in the land?"

Then Therach bowed before the King and said, “And if such is thy feeling in regard to this horse, how canst thou ask me to give up my child? Gold and silver can not pay