Just one day before we sit down for Passover Seder tomorrow and quickly pass over the last act of terror in which every firstborn in the land of Egypt died, it’s fascinating to realize that this was not just a random choice, dramatic and successful in getting the king and country to finally relent. Firstborn sacrifice was a familiar trope in the ancient world, and in today’s chapter we are surprised to dig up those bones, found beneath the cornerstone of Jericho - a city rebuilt with blood.
Succession is swift in Israel, and within just a few years, King Baasha’s line is discontinued, a military coup fails and a new ambitious king is on the throne: Omri, origin unknown, is a general turned king who makes it into history, noted in extra-biblical documents and archaeological findings as a warrior and empire builder whose dynasty will be one of the longest and most powerful in the kingdom of the north. The Bible, written by the Judeans next door, hates him of course, and blames him for the continued choice of preferring the local deities’ worship and cultural norms instead of the ever ephemeral YHWH. Omri will hand over the crown in this chapter to his famous son Ahab, not before securing a regional trade/marriage contract with the powerful Sidonite kingdom. Princess Jezebel of Sidon and Prince Ahab of Israel will rule from Samaria and will become infamous for the religious war conducted during their reign.
But whoever wrote the Bible, with their preference for the abstract God of Israel and abhorrence of the local idols and religious norms couldn’t resist, for some reason, including the incriminating story at the end of today’s chapter. Whatever worship was conducted through those ancient days in Israel and Judah - did it involve child sacrifice? Were firstborn babies offered to the deities as part of the religious practice of those days? It seems so - and with no rebuke.
Chapter 16 ends by describing King Ahab’s construction projects throughout the land, including altars to Ba’al, Ashera and the other locals, and then adds this:
בְּיָמָ֞יו בָּנָ֥ה חִיאֵ֛ל בֵּ֥ית הָאֱלִ֖י אֶת־יְרִיחֹ֑ה בַּאֲבִירָ֨ם בְּכֹר֜וֹ יִסְּדָ֗הּ וּבִשְׂג֤וּב צְעִירוֹ֙ הִצִּ֣יב דְּלָתֶ֔יהָ כִּדְבַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבֶּ֔ר בְּיַ֖ד יְהוֹשֻׁ֥עַ בִּן־נֽוּן׃
During his reign, Hiel the Bethelite fortified Jericho. He laid its foundations at the cost of Abiram his first-born, and set its gates in place at the cost of Segub his youngest, in accordance with the words that the YHWH had spoken through Joshua son of Nun.
Kings 1 16:34
Joshua demolished Jericho 500 years prior. As readers may recall, the demolition of the Canaanite town and its people was accompanied by a curse that appears in chapter 6: “Cursed be the one who rises up and builds this city Jericho; he shall lay its foundation with his firstborn, and with his youngest he shall set up its gates.’”
Was it the builder’s fault for building Jericho five centuries later that he gave up his sons due to a curse? Or is what’s hiding here the popular custom in some of the local cultures to offer one’s most precious possessions - oldest and youngest children, as gifts to the gods? Most scholars assume this verse was inserted later but there is little doubt about the familiar horror of this ancient traditions. Bones of baby boys who were brutally killed and buried were found under massive cornerstones in Gezer and in other local cities from the same period - in both Judah and Israel, as well as the entire region.
The practice of child sacrifice - and particularly firstborns, and at consecrated construction sites - is common knowledge in the ancient near east and was likely known and practiced by some who belonged to Israel - or Judah. We’ll encounter it again in future chapters. The idea is that ‘as below, so above’: By offering the deities my most precious treasure - I will receive the same in return.
In her disturbing book, Child Sacrifice in Ancient Israel, scholar Heath D. Dewrell suggests that
“Exploring the practice of child sacrifice provides a window into the diversity of Israelite Yahwism. There was diversity in practice among those Yahwists who sacrificed their children, but there were also a variety of rhetorical strategies employed by those who opposed such rites. While the Hebrew Bible today overwhelmingly condemns child sacrifice as abominable, this biblical consensus only emerged as the result of a struggle over the relationship of Yahweh worship to the sacrifice of children. While those who opposed all forms of child sacrifice obviously (and thankfully!) won the day, the fact that these debates are preserved at all indicates that at least some Israelites saw things differently.”
In the coming chapters Ahab and Jezebel’s Israel will face internal religious war with Elijah, the prophet who will one day be famous for his zeal and fury. In yet another interesting confluence, Passover’s arrival tomorrow weaves the sacrifice of the firstborn Egyptians to enable Israelites freedom, with this story about the rebuilding of Jericho - and with Elijah’s spirit, sipping the wine of mystery and wiping the threshold of blood. How did Elijah become the one to sit at our Seder? There are several speculations but one of them has to do with how he showed up to console the builder of Jericho, mourning his youngest and last son. More on that tomorrow..
We have evolved from offering our firstborn children to the gods - to animal sacrifices - and now to our prayers - but what else is waiting in our must-have evolutions to transcend the tribal terror of the other and the old ways that don’t serve us anymore so that we can fully embrace what liberation, justice and equality - for all - is really all about? May this holy season and mysterious stories help us learn and actualize.
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