The Eruv of Peace and the Rebellion of the Generation of Dispersion

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Noach 22:1

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

(Genesis 11:1:) "Now the whole earth had one language and one set of words." Let our master teach us: A house in which one places an eruv — is it required to have an eruv of its own, or not? Rabbi Jacob bar Aha asked Rabbi Abbahu. He said to him: The House of Shammai say it is required, and the House of Hillel say it is not required, and the law follows the House of Hillel. Rabbi Joshua ben Levi said: They instituted the eruv of courtyards only for the sake of the ways of peace. How so? A woman sends her son to her companion, and she kisses him and embraces him, and his mother says, "See how she loves me; let my heart be drawn to her." Thus they end up making peace by means of the eruv. The Holy One, blessed be He, said: I placed peace in My world, yet these wicked ones arose to bring strife. And from where do we learn that they disputed against the Holy One, blessed be He? From what we have read in the matter, (Genesis 11:1:) "Now the whole earth had one language and one set of words." And the generation of the dispersion likewise arose and rebelled against the Holy One, blessed be He, and sought to ascend to the firmament. They said: It is not for Him alone to choose the upper regions for Himself. They began to bring forth words of blasphemy. And from where do we learn this? From what we have read in the matter, (Genesis 11:1:) "Now the whole earth had one language..."

Themes

RebellionAnimalsNoahWisdomWomen

Biblical References

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