[Avodah] Its measure is longer than the earth

[Micha Berger via Avodah]

Iyov 11:9 reads:
    Arukah mei'eretz midahh     - Its measure is longer than the earth
    urchavah minni yam          - and broader than the sea.

(The "it" here is lashon neqeivah, hidden in a "-ahh", mapiq hei, suffix.)

Rav Chisda darshened to Mari bar Mar (Eiruvin 21a) that the "it" is the
body of mitzvos (c.f. Tehillim 119:96).

We don't know when Iyov was written, with opinions in the gemara ranging
from Moshe Rabbeinu to Iyov being one of the returnees after galus Bavel.
(c.f, BB 14b, 15a-15b)

However, at some point within that range of time the Greeks came up
with this thing they called geometry, or geo + metry = earth measuring,
as divying up land was geometry's initial primary function. It would be
an interesting coincidence (or "coincidence") if the words "mei'eretz
midahh" were not a translation of "her geo-metry." Even with the second
clause having no similar Greek parallel that I know of.

Along these lines.... We all know the idea from Chazal that a child learns
Torah in the womb. Compare to Plato. He didn't understand how people can
learm math and other abstract ideas, since we never experience them. So,
Plato posited that the psyche learns the Forms, the Ideals before birth,
and is only reminded of them in life when they are "taught". Sound
familiar? The maamar Chazal is basically: No, it's not the Forms that
are the primary knowledge, it's Torah.

Much like saying that halakhah is bigger than geometry.

:-)BBii!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             "The most prevalent illness of our generation is
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