In what is once again a chilling echo of wars past and present, Gaza is on Jeremiah’s mind in today’s chapter of the @belowthebiblebelt929 journey —as it is on our troubled minds as well, glued to the news. How old IS this war??
The battle he’s referring to is between Egypt and Assyria, a year or so before the final and conclusive battle of 605 BCE and one of its defining battlefields in the coastal lands - including Gaza.
When addressing the woes of war, the prophet indicates the ancient signs of somatic sorrow - gashing one’s face in mourning and shaving the head as a gesture of grief:
בָּ֤אָה קׇרְחָה֙ אֶל־עַזָּ֔ה נִדְמְתָ֥ה אַשְׁקְל֖וֹן שְׁאֵרִ֣ית עִמְקָ֑ם עַד־מָתַ֖י תִּתְגּוֹדָֽדִי׃ ה֗וֹי חֶ֚רֶב לַיהֹוָ֔ה עַד־אָ֖נָה לֹ֣א תִשְׁקֹ֑טִי הֵאָֽסְפִי֙ אֶל־תַּעְרֵ֔ךְ הֵרָגְעִ֖י וָדֹֽמִּי׃
Shaving our head in grief has come upon Gaza,
Ashkelon is destroyed.
O remnant of their valley,
How long will you gash yourself?
O sword of GOD,
When will you be quiet at last?
Withdraw into your sheath,
Rest and be still!”
Jeremiah 47:5-6
Listen to how wild the war sounds from these syllables, the sword personified as grief and rage: That ancient war still roars right now although our war games have upgraded. No gashing of the flesh for soldiers but the sword has not withdrawn, it is not still at all.
Rabbi Analia Bortz wrote this commentary on today’s chapter, as an image letter from Jeremiah to God, chilling and raw:
Dear God,
I hope this letter finds you well. I’m sure you are very busy taking care of this chaotic universe, violent humanity, demographic displacement, religious intolerance, persecutions and of course climate change. I don’t envy You, You have a tough job. I’m sorry I’m interrupting Your intervention (or lack of) in this world you have created so long ago but I need to share with You something extraordinary, that hopefully You will be proud of.
I decided to come back from exile. You know, after 2500 years it was about time. I found out that The Temple has been rebuilt for a second time just about five decades after I left and it was destroyed again by the Romans, another empire. That means that “Your people” were exiled from Jerusalem a second time after the destruction of the second Temple. Well, to make a long story short, they came back…after 2000 years. They rebuilt the Land. The region is complicated, there are constant attacks, retaliations, strikes and the cycle starts again. It’s hard to believe, aren’t we all human beings created in Your image?
The other day, a hot day in the area, the hamsin was blowing, I was standing at the Erez crossing, the border between Israel and Gaza, and I saw a bright comet in the sky and then a piercing noise. I asked what had happened and a soldier explained to me that the comet was not a comet, it was a rocket launched to destroy lives, homes and fields. The noise came from Iron Dome, a mobile air defense system designed to intercept these rockets and protect the people, the homes and the fields. I was impressed by this device so I decided to visit Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries, the corporations that manufactured the Iron Dome.
I know, dear God, You might be thinking ‘why do we need those devices? Why not get along and share that beautiful coastal beach? But you remember what You told me in my book, chapter 47?
“Shaving our heads with grief has come upon Gaza, Ashkelon is destroyed. O remnant of their valley, How long will you gash yourself? O sword of YHWH, When will you be quiet at last? Withdraw into your sheath, Rest and be still! How can it be quiet When YHWH has given it orders Against Ashkelon and the seacoast, Given it assignment there?" (47:5-7).
I reassure You, the Iron Dome is not another Tower of Babel, nobody is trying to reach God- the gods. This defense system created by humans is only a way to help You, God, to make Your job easier for Israel. Just wanted to update You.
Have a nice day!
Warmly, J.
May there be more kindess than carnage, more healing and hope - in Gaza and in Israel, everywhere, with no grief and sorrow, and peace for all. May the sword be still.
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