Reflections of Readers
Three short reader contributions: Gerardo Sachs on the number eight as the biblical marker of a new beginning alongside seven's symbolism of completion, Elihu Schatz arguing that the sons of Elokim in Genesis 6 are men created directly by God rather than angels, and Israel Stein pairing the political mutiny of the spies with a spiritual mutiny over the Sabbath.
This column gathers three brief notes from readers. Gerardo Sachs observes that while seven pervades the Torah as a sign of completion, the eighth day recurs at circumcision, at Shavuot, at Shemini Atzeret and at the priest’s investiture, and the fiftieth year at the Jubilee, marking eight as the number of a fresh start. Elihu Schatz rejects the mythological reading of Genesis 6, proposing that the sons of Elokim are men formed directly by God and the daughters of Adam women formed from man. Israel Stein reads Numbers 14 and 15 as paired political and spiritual mutinies.
Cite this article
Various. "Reflections of Readers." Jewish Bible Quarterly 36, no. 2 (April – June 2008): 124–127.
Various. "Reflections of Readers." Jewish Bible Quarterly, vol. 36, no. 2, 2008, pp. 124–127.