Why Ashur Fled Nimrod and Earned the Mission of Jonah to Nineveh

Midrash Aggadah, Genesis 10:11

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"From that land went forth Ashur" (Genesis 10:11). Because Ashur saw that his sons were rebelling against the Holy One, blessed be He, and were building a city and a tower in the land of Shinar under the kingdom of Nimrod. And why was his name called Nimrod? Because he rebelled (marad) against the Holy One, blessed be He. He went out from their counsel and went off to another land, and therefore the Holy One, blessed be He, placed in him spirit and understanding, and he built Nineveh, and Rehoboth-Ir, and Calah, and Resen. And because he fled from them and did not wish to be in their counsel to rebel against the Holy One, blessed be He, therefore when the people of Nineveh sinned, the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Jonah ben Amittai that he should go there and prophesy over them. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: Their father went out from his land for the sake of My honor; therefore go on a mission to the people of his city — which we do not find regarding the other prophets, that they went to the cities of the nations of the world, even though they prophesied over them.

Themes

JonahAdam EveRebellionCreationWisdom

Biblical References

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