[Avodah] Was Lavan daft, dense or what?

[SBA Gmail]

From: Arie Folger < >

Lavan benefited from an experience we all strive for, but know that, living
in times of hester panim, we cannot expect: direct revelation. Before
reaching Ya'aqov's camp, G"d appeared to Lavan and told him to abstain from
talking to Ya'aqov either good or bad.



However, moments after relating that incident to Ya'aqov, he asks "lamah
ganavta et elohai?!" Is Lavan out of his mind? He just experienced
Revelation, and he asks for his idol?! How can he?

>>



To get some idea about what Uncle Lavan's trafim were and how they operated,
see Daas Zekenim miBT 31:19. The Targum Yonoson tells a similar story. These
were not some simple lifeless getchke - (eg like those models available in
the zeida Terach's AZ Emporium)



It quotes the Pirkei deRE's description  -



A human firstborn was slaughtered, it's head lopped off and salted - with
salt and spices. The name of a 'shem ruach tumah' was written upon a gold
piece - which was placed upon (or under) the tongue. This was then
positioned into a wall with a candle lit before it. They bowed to it and it
would talk.



And that is why Rochel stole it from her father - so this talking head
wouldn't disclose that they had escaped (or maybe where they went).



(BTW, I have no doubt that many people - who aren't overly makpid on 'Tammim
tihyeh im HE' would - given the chance - also make such use of such highly
sophisticated information technology...)



Meanwhile the Ramban suggests that the trafim were some sort of
fortune-telling clock.



In any case it's quite obvious that the ovdei AZ of those days also believed
in HKBH - but preferred to also have some additional
technological/witchcraft/magical 'back-up'.



SBA

sba at sba2.com
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