Lasting Impressions: Eikev

All that is gold does not glitter

JRR Tolkien

Years ago, a good friend invited me to a Hollywood Bowl concert. His box seats were close to the orchestra pit. Before Bowl peformances, it customary for box holders to picnicofteny bring out their fancy baskets and indulge in every imaginable delicacy and imbibe with fine wine and champagne.

As I started to eat, I saw a familiar face next to me. In the adjacent box was famed actor, Sir Anthony Hopkins. Despite him being completely pleasant and completely normal, my thoughts turned to liver, fava beans and a nice Chianti. For the entire evening, my mind cycled through many of the terrifying scenes from Silence of the Lambs. My dinner with Hannibal Lecter was rather disconcerting. Echos of “quid pro quo” crossed my mind frequently. And those words weren’t coming from the lawyer side of my brain!

Eikev

Be it from the animate or inanimate objects, seeing items triggers memories. In turn they trigger emotions and revive imaginative possibilities.

This concept was not lost in the Torah Portion Eikev. Within it, the Children of Israel are directed as follows: “You shall burn the statues of gold in fire. You shall not covet the gold and silver on them and take them for yourself.” Deuteronomy 7:25. This action was to be taken during the Promised Land conquest.

We begin by coveting what we see every day

Hannibal Lecter

The Connections

Before Eikev’s directive concerning the precious metals, the Children of Israel participated a quite dramatic moment. At Mt. Sinai, idolatry broke out when Aaron and the Children of Israel made a graven image of a Golden Calf. The idol was fashioned out of gold. The gold’s source is of interest.

Arguably, the calf’s gold was of Egyptian origins. Before leaving Egypt, the Torah tells: “…and they [Children of Israel] asked items of silver and items of gold and garments from Egypt. And the Lord had put the people’s favor in the Egyptians’ eyes, and they lent to them, and they despoiled Egypt.” Exodus 12:35-36.

Thus, It is probable that Egyptian gold was used to create the Mt. Sinai idol. See Exodus 32:2. Arguably, the material’s origins carried with them a history. There was a connection to Egypt and its idolatry.

Thus, was the Golden Calf incident the impetus for the Torah Portion Eikev’s directive? A statue’s gold and silver can easily be melted down to take other forms. Despite that, the precious metals would carry with them the idolatrous past. This time, however, is would be the past would be within the Promised Land. It would be a reminent of idolatry that could potentially be reformed into a graven image.

Further, even if the gold and silver were not crafted into another graven image, the precious metals carried with them a legacy of gods and idolatry. They may have been perceived to have retained god-like powers. Those wearing jewelry crafted from the material might be viewed as a god. Simply put, there was nothing kosher with those precious metals.

Concluding Thoughts

Rationality and irrationality applies to human thought. Humans connect to the past. Thus, guardrails, in certain instances, are required to prevent the human imagination from taking over.

Eikev, in destroying the previous metals, eliminated the possibility that the concept of idolatry would remain within the population as a result of the booty.

Sometimes irrationality can give rise to a legitimate fear. “If it happened once, it could happen again!” As history tends to repeat itself, this belief is something that should never be discounted. In the end, it might be viewed as rational.

Be well!!

Please like, follow, comment or share.