The Sound of Silence

Kings 1 19:22

^{Shhhh. Silence invites us to go deeper, listen more carefully, notice subtle realities that are not as present with so much distraction going on. This is the secret Elijah learns in today’s chapter with it’s mysterious mystical encounter.} 

^{Like so many prophets before and after him, Elijah is filled with the crippling fear of failure. Even his astonishing fete on the top of Mt. Carmel, bringing down fire from YHWH, followed by the long awaited rain does not last - Queen Jezebel is intent on worshipping Ba’al and persecute Elijah and the others who like him are still devoted to the old ways. Elijah flees to the Southern border, from there goes into the Sinai desert and after 40 days of walking, aided by angels, he reaches Mt. Sinai. In this mythic moment of liminal space and time he experiences one of the most stunning revelations of the divine - as compelling today as it has been for generations, a dance between the natural and supernatural mystery of all.  He discovers sacred silence.} 

^{The revelation is vocal. Like other important spiritual moments in the Hebraic tradition the divine appears through sound, not vision. Elijah, depressed and lonely, seeking to die, hears a voice asking him: Why are you here, Elijah?} 

^{He responds: Because I am zealous prophet, fighting for my God, and am now fleeing away from those who want to kill me, here I am, fleeing for my life.} 

^{He is instructed to stand outside the cave as a whirlwind storm becomes an earthquake, thunder and rumble, but he somehow knows - these are just the layers - not the core.} 

^{And then:} 

^{וְאַחַ֤ר הָרַ֙עַשׁ֙ אֵ֔שׁ לֹ֥א בָאֵ֖שׁ יְהֹוָ֑ה וְאַחַ֣ר הָאֵ֔שׁ ק֖וֹל דְּמָמָ֥ה דַקָּֽה׃}

^{After the earthquake—fire; but YHWH was not in the fire. And after the fire—a still small voice.} 

^{Kings 1 19:22}

^{Kol D’mama Daka — the Hebrew for “Still small voice” is the King James Bible translation, still quite popular today. But there are so many ways to decipher what is this specific audio moment of awe - often, and here, lost in translation.} 

^{More modern translations prefer to read the first word ‘Kol’ as a physical sound and not a metaphorical voice, suggesting "a tiny whispering sound”, "the sound of a light whisper" or "a soft murmuring sound”.  Simon and Garfunkel didn’t reference this verse in their beloved song where ‘hello darkness my old friend’ beckons all seekers - but there’s something there that clearly links to what Elijah’s experience may have been about.}

^{Rabbi Mike Comins suggests a "voice of fragile silence." Inspired by Heschel’s reading of the verse, Comins suggests that}

^{“ Precedent for such a reading can be found in the book of Genesis, where God says to Cain, "the voice of your brother's blood calls out to me" (Gen. 4:10). Here Kol is a silent voice rather than an audible sound. And that, I believe, is precisely what Elijah hears: a voice without sound.}

^{Not all silences are alike. Put in earplugs or enter a soundproof room and the silence is muggy and oppressive. Silence in a forested, mountain wilderness is rare. The wind howls, leaves rustle, birds chirp, insects buzz, creeks "sing." True silence, perhaps on a peak when the wind stops, is actually quite rare. It hits suddenly, with dramatic impact.}

^{In Israel's deserts and the Sinai, where the wind is usually still for at least half the day, the silence is vastly different. If you are in the desert now, close your eyes and wait for the wind to stop. This silence is total, yet light and natural - even embracing.}

^{And precious. The smallest movement of an insect or the slightest breeze registers audibly. You hear the ruffling of your sleeve, or the call of a raven miles away. This is desert silence. Easily disturbed. A fragile silence.”}

^{It’s unclear what Elijah makes of this revelation. The next verse is an exact repeat of the dialouge that preceded the storm: He is asked the same question - why are you here? And responds with the same response. But there is no reference to what just happened, just the next instruction - here’s your next prophetic mission - a voice commands him, and off he goes. The chapter ends with his meeting with Elisha, the young man who will be his apprentice and prophetic successor. But not yet.} 

^{We are left with a stunning secret, an invitation to silence and listening, subtle and seductive,the sounds of silence within and beyond. What does it mean? Many still wonder. A recent, post-pandemic, series of rabbinic voices on the modern meaning of God, conducted by Abby Pogrebin for The Forward was aptly named A Still Small Voice, because “Whether or not Jews have faith —and the reality is that many are on the fence — there’s no doubt that 2020 has prompted people to think anew about the powers beyond us, events that defy explanation, and whether we’re called in some way.”} 

^{As these sacred spring days continue today - find a quiet spot to tune out the noise, lower the volume, and breath inside the silence heartbeat at the core of it all.} 

"The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls,
In tenement halls
And whispered in the sound of silence.”

---

The Forgotten Kingdom: Join our Monthly Conversation on Zoom:

Join me on Thursday, April 27th 2023, at 1pm ET, for a closer look at the Books of Kings - and a special focus on the Northern Kingdom of Israel through the eyes of modern scholars. This is our 60 min. monthly Live Zoom conversation to go even deeper below the belt.

Please note - this monthly zoom conversation is a perk for paid subscribers of Below the Bible Belt, generously enabling this blog to be free daily for all, and supporting this marathon in the making! Thank you for the continued support in so many ways.

Want to become a paid subscriber today? details here. Sign up: Here

Zoom link will be sent a few days before the 4/27 conversation.

---

Below the Bible Belt: 929 chapters, 42 months, daily reflections.

Become a free or paid subscriber and join Rabbi Amichai’s 3+ years interactive online quest to question, queer + re-read between the lines of the entire Hebrew Bible. Enjoy daily posts, weekly videos and monthly learning sessions. 2022-2025.

#Kings #Kings1:19 #Melachim #BookofKings #Prophets #Neviim #Hebrewbible  #Tanach #929  #labshul #belowthebiblebelt929 #postpatriarchy #stillsmallvoice #thesoundsofsilence #Elijah #Elijahtheprophet #sinai #mountsindai #revealation #Meditation #innervoice #doesgodexist #simonandgarfunkel #silence #innerpeace #prophecy