I have a sense, and I think you alluded to this shadowy possibility, Amichai, that the Book of Judges is prophetic, for it seems to me that the world is moving towards its dystopia. Clan and tribe, scarcity and fear, mafiaosi in seats of power, identity politics and conspiracy theories splintering forms of consensus... climate peril and contraction. The social and political chaos of Judges seems tragically of the moment. No Samuel in the wings. In the face of this, are we not called to decency, neighborly awareness, family atonements, and judgment married to compassion? Meanwhile, in this patient journey through the Bible we are shown bright mythic fragments in which our guide seeks to see the mirrors. How sustaining his practice and mine to follow.
Well - we ARE in the biblical section called "Prophets"... what is uncanny, esp. now as I travel through Israel/Palestine this week is how much of this so called history still echoes, spiraling back in surprising ways, along with places named for these chapters and fables, actual memories and fragments of fantasy. More than anything it feels like a spiral - repeating again and again, hopefully with some learning on a slow curve of progress as the arc - perhaps - bends forwards? Maybe some better version of Samuel is indeed waiting in the wings.. :)
I have a sense, and I think you alluded to this shadowy possibility, Amichai, that the Book of Judges is prophetic, for it seems to me that the world is moving towards its dystopia. Clan and tribe, scarcity and fear, mafiaosi in seats of power, identity politics and conspiracy theories splintering forms of consensus... climate peril and contraction. The social and political chaos of Judges seems tragically of the moment. No Samuel in the wings. In the face of this, are we not called to decency, neighborly awareness, family atonements, and judgment married to compassion? Meanwhile, in this patient journey through the Bible we are shown bright mythic fragments in which our guide seeks to see the mirrors. How sustaining his practice and mine to follow.
Well - we ARE in the biblical section called "Prophets"... what is uncanny, esp. now as I travel through Israel/Palestine this week is how much of this so called history still echoes, spiraling back in surprising ways, along with places named for these chapters and fables, actual memories and fragments of fantasy. More than anything it feels like a spiral - repeating again and again, hopefully with some learning on a slow curve of progress as the arc - perhaps - bends forwards? Maybe some better version of Samuel is indeed waiting in the wings.. :)