I am in the process of finishing “East of Eden” by Steinbeck, and have been thinking about “timshel” (תמשול) lately. If you’re unfamiliar with the background, take a brief gander at this explanation and/or the excerpt from the book.
Very provocative story, inspired by Biblical themes. Read it.
Anyway, I attended a concert last night. I’m not big on the whole “fan-dome” thing, but I do admire Mumford & Sons at times. Mostly I respect them because of their brutally honest lyrics and passionate performances. They played their newest unreleased song, “Broken Crown,” and it floored me. I feel compelled to share the performance as it is quite relevant to “timshel” (among other things), and fills this concept with palpable emotion. Please pardon the minor use of expressive language.
Watch first, then read the rest:
…and to add even more background/food for thought to the topic at hand:
Yechezkel (Ezekiel) 28:13-18 [Click for Hebrew translation]
“In Eden, the garden of God you were; every precious stone was [set in] your covering; ruby, topaz, diamond, chrysolite, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, carbuncle, and crystal and gold; the work of your drums and your orifices is in you; on the day of your creation they were established. You were a cherub of great measure, that covers, and I gave that to you; you were on the mount of the sanctuary of God: you walked among stones of fire. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created until wrongdoing was found in you. Because of the multitude of your commerce, they filled you with violence and you sinned, and I shall cast you as profane from the mountain of God, and I shall destroy you, O covering cherub, from among the stones of fire. Your heart became haughty because of your beauty; you destroyed your wisdom with your brightness; I have cast you upon the ground; I have set you before kings to gaze upon you. Because of the multitude of your iniquities, with the wrongdoing of your commerce, you profaned your sanctity, and I shall bring forth fire out of your midst-it will consume you, and I shall make you ashes on the ground before the eyes of all who see you. All who know you among the peoples will wonder over you; you shall be a terror, and you shall be no more, ever.”
Do our choices seal our fate? What are the implications of the cherub’s fall for mankind, and how does it relate to the serpent in Genesis 3:14-15 (think Eden)? What kind of commentary is “Broken Crown” making on such themes? These are questions to which the illuminations are woven throughout the Tanach. However, I believe it is vital to assess and trace this text for oneself for it to be truly impacting.
This deserves discussion and analysis. Thoughts? Observations?
