Legends of Old Testament characters, from the Talmud and other sourcesBaring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
Religion
Legends of Old Testament characters, from the Talmud and other sources
Baring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
Bible. Old Testament -- Legends; Jewish legends
After having governed many centuries, and knowing, by divine revelation,
that the time of his death drew nigh, he thus addressed Surkrag: “I am
about to depart hence and enter on another existence; but before I
leave, I wish to bequeath to you some famous work, which shall
perpetuate my name into remote ages.”
Thereupon Rocail erected an enormous sepulchre, adorned with statues of
various metals, made by talismanic art, which moved, and spake, and
acted like living men.[143]
According to the Rabbinic traditions, Seth was one of the thirteen who
came circumcised into the world. The rest were Adam, Enoch, Noah, Shem,
Terah, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Samuel, David, Isaiah, and Jeremiah.[144]
The book Schene Luchôth says that the soul of righteous Abel passed into
the body of Seth, and afterwards this same soul passed into Moses; thus
the law, which was known to Adam and in which Abel had been instructed,
was not new to Moses.[145]
The Little Genesis says, that Seth was instructed by the angels in what
was to take place in the world; how its iniquity was to grow, and a
flood was to overwhelm it; and how the Messiah would come and restore
all things. Seth was remarkable for the majesty and beauty of his
appearance, as he had inherited much of the loveliness of unfallen man.
He married his sister Azur, or, according to others, Noræa or Horæa.
Suidas, under the heading ‘Σήδ,’ says: “Seth was the son of Adam: of
this it is said, the sons of God went in unto the daughters of men; that
is to say, the sons of Seth went in unto the daughters of Cain. For in
that age Seth was called God, because he had discovered Hebrew letters,
and the names of the stars; but especially on account of his great
piety, so that he was the first to bear the name of God.”
Theodoret thus refers to the verse,—“_And to Seth, to him also there was
born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the
name of the Lord_,” or as our marginal reading is, “_then began men to
call themselves by the name of the Lord_.” “Aquila interpreted it thus,
‘then Seth began to be called by the name of the Lord.’ These words
intimate his piety, which deserved that he should receive the sacred
name; and he was called God by his acquaintance, and his children were
termed the sons of God, just as we are called Christians after
Christ.”[146]
The origin of this tradition seems to be the fact that Seth was the name
of an ancient Egyptian deity, at first regarded as the giver of light
and civilization, but afterwards identified with Typhon by the
Egyptians, who considered Seth to be the chief god of the Hyksos or
shepherd kings; and in their hatred of these oppressors, the name of
Seth was everywhere obliterated on their monuments, and he was regarded
as one with the great adversary, Typhon; and was represented as an ass,
or with an ass’s head.[147]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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