We know that Noah and his family were spared, a fresh start for humanity. But, well, it didn't take long for things to go sideways again, did it?
According to Ginzberg’s retelling in Legends of the Jews, corruption spread like wildfire amongst the descendants of Shem, Ham, and Japheth. They appointed princes to rule over them: Nimrod over Ham’s line, Joktan over Shem’s, and Phenech over Japheth’s. Just ten years before Noah died, these princes already controlled millions.
And what were these millions up to? They gathered in Babylonia with a disturbing plan. "The time is coming," they said, "when neighbor will fight neighbor, brother will fight brother! Let’s build a city, a tower that reaches heaven itself! Let’s make a great name for ourselves!" They even planned to write their names on the bricks they made, ensuring their legacy. A tower reaching heaven? Making a name for themselves? This wasn't about honoring God; it was about usurping Him.
But not everyone was on board. Twelve pious men, including a very important figure named Abraham, refused to participate. They were arrested and brought before the three princes. "We will not make bricks," they declared, "nor remain with you, for we know but one God, and Him we serve! Even if you burn us in the fire, we will not walk in your ways."
Nimrod and Phenech were furious, ready to throw them into the fire immediately. But Joktan, who was described as a God-fearing man and kin to the prisoners, intervened. He proposed a seven-day reprieve, and his colleagues, respecting his position, agreed.
Joktan secretly had fifty of his attendants take the twelve prisoners to the mountains on mules, providing them with a month's worth of food. He hoped that in the meantime, either the people would change their minds, or God would intervene.
Eleven of the prisoners gratefully accepted this escape plan. But Abraham refused. Can you imagine? Everyone else is running for their lives, and he says no? "If we flee to the mountains," he argued, "and wild beasts devour us, or we die of famine, we will be seen as fleeing from the people and dying in our sins. I will not depart from this place. If I am to die, I will die by the will of God."
Joktan pleaded with him, but Abraham remained steadfast. He stayed in the prison, alone, while the others escaped. Talk about conviction!
When the seven days were up, the people demanded the death of the twelve captives. Joktan could only produce Abraham, claiming the others had escaped. The people were ready to throw Abraham into a lime kiln.
But then, something incredible happened! An earthquake shook the ground, fire erupted from the furnace, and eighty-four thousand people standing nearby were consumed, while Abraham remained unharmed. image: the fiery destruction, the unwavering faith of Abraham, the sheer power of the divine.
Afterward, Abraham went to his eleven friends in the mountains and told them of the miracle. They all returned with him, and, untouched by the people, they praised and thanked God.
So, what does this story tell us? It’s more than just a tale of corruption and punishment. It’s about the power of unwavering faith, the importance of standing up for what you believe in, even when everyone else is going the other way. And perhaps, it’s a reminder that even in the darkest times, miracles can happen.
With the spread of mankind corruption increased. While Noah was still alive, the descendants of Shem, Ham, and Japheth appointed princes over each of the three groups—Nimrod for the descendants of Ham, Joktan for the descendants of Shem, and Phenech for the descendants of Japheth. Ten years before Noah's death, the number of those subject to the three princes amounted to millions. When this great concourse of men came to Babylonia upon their journeyings, they said to one another: "Behold, the time is coming when, at the end of days, neighbor will be separated from neighbor, and brother from brother, and one will carry on war against the other. Go to, let us build us a city, and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven, and let us make us a great name upon the earth. And now let us make bricks, and each one write his name upon his brick." All agreed to this proposal, with the exception of twelve pious men, Abraham among them. They refused to join the others. They were seized by the people, and brought before the three princes, to whom they gave the following reason for their refusal: "We will not make bricks, nor remain with you, for we know but one God, and Him we serve; even if you burn us in the fire together with the bricks, we will not walk in your ways." Nimrod and Phenech flew into such a passion over the twelve men that they resolved to throw them into the fire. Joktan, however, besides being a God-fearing man, was of close kin to the men on trial, and he essayed to save them. He proposed to his two colleagues to grant them a seven days' respite. His plan was accepted, such deference being paid him as the primate among the three. The twelve were incarcerated in the house of Joktan. In the night he charged fifty of his attendants to mount the prisoners upon mules and take them to the mountains. Thus they would escape the threatened punishment. Joktan provided them with food for a month. He was sure that in the meantime either a change of sentiment would come about, and the people desist from their purpose, or God would help the fugitives. Eleven of the prisoners assented to the plan with gratitude. Abraham alone rejected it, saying: "Behold, to-day we flee to the mountains to escape from the fire, but if wild beasts rush out from the mountains and devour us, or if food is lacking, so that we die by famine, we shall be found fleeing before the people of the land and dying in our sins. Now, as the Lord liveth, in whom I trust, I will not depart from this place wherein they have imprisoned me, and if I am to die through my sins, then will I die by the will of God, according to His desire." In vain Joktan endeavored to persuade Abraham to flee. He persisted in his refusal. He remained behind alone in the prison house, while the other eleven made their escape. At the expiration of the set term, when the people returned and demanded the death of the twelve captives, Joktan could produce only Abraham. His excuse was that the rest had broken loose during the night. The people were about to throw themselves upon Abraham and cast him into the lime kiln. Suddenly an earthquake was felt, the fire darted from the furnace, and all who were standing round about, eighty four thousand of the people, were consumed, while Abraham remained untouched. Thereupon he repaired to his eleven friends in the mountains, and told them of the miracle that had befallen for his sake. They all returned with him, and, unmolested by the people, they gave praise and thanks to God.
