Introduction to Nimrod
Beginning of our journey through Ancient Mesopotamia
The following is the beginning of “Table of Nations: Nimrod”, the 2nd completed book from the Table of Nations series. This book can be read stand alone, and was written for any reader, even those with zero background in the Table of Nations. It also serves as an insertion between Ham’s children Cush and Mizraim, with Nimrod being a son of Cush.
Jewish literature has portrayed Nimrod as a perpetual adversary of the righteous, and enemy of God. This caricature of a towering giant, striking fear in the hearts of man, comes down to us through the Torah and the imagery it uses for Nimrod. He is the first to be called a “גִּבֹּ֖ר בָּאָֽרֶץ”, translated as “mighty man in the land”; attesting to his status as a “gibbor” - otherwise known as a giant. Renowned in his time, it was said of him “כְּנִמְרֹ֛ד גִּבּ֥וֹר צַ֖יִד לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה” meaning “Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the Lord.” alluding to his fearsome status as a hunter in not just profession, but idolatrous worship in the face of God.
The importance of Nimrod has been dealt with by many Rabbanim over the millennia being one of the earliest rivals of the Jewish people through his contention with our father Abraham during his very earliest days. Much of the impetus for Abraham’s personal journey is triggered by the calamity in the land of Ur during Nimrod’s reign. The physical battle between these men of renown culminated in a pseudo World War between the forces of Mesopotamia and Canaan featuring numerous biblical figures relevant to the formation of the earliest Jewish history. Tugging at these fine hairs is necessary for us to fully contextualize the message the Torah is attempting to convey, and unraveling the memory of this period will give us a firmer foundation to understanding the spiritual heart of the Jewish people.
The Table of Nations, otherwise known as the Toledot Noach (Generations of Noah) features over seventy different named individuals, founders of nations, and important historical leaders that provides the setting for the events in the Torah. While most of these names are one off mentions, only briefly brought up in relation to their later nations, Nimrod has a comparatively lengthy diatribe associated with his kingdom and the founding of his primary cities - something left out of every other name on the Table.
Nimrod is humanized in a way that presents his kingdom as less than mythological, making him center stage in our understanding of the Yetzer HaRa (Evil Inclination). In a similar vein to the pre-Flood figures like the “נָּחָשׁ” (Nahash/Snake), Cain, Enoch, and the Nephilim; Nimrod serves as a foil to the righteous men of the world, and catalyzed the spread of Avodah Zarah (Idolatrous Worship) across the earth. While the memory of these antediluvians was lost following Hashem’s flooding of the earth, Nimrod serves as a chain in the timeless evil that yet again finds support in what God intended to be a new era. Following his promise to never again intervene through a flood, we are thus left to judge our fellow man for his actions, and limit the spread of this evil wherever possible.
In following with the other books written on the Table of Nations this book serves as another piece in the anti-materialist puzzle that has plagued us since the days of Nimrod. We must limit the spread of the Avodah Zarah with all our might, but at the same time need to find a balance by grappling with topics that make one seem like an epikoros. We have no choice but to dive into these murky waters in order to carve out the true wisdom at the bottom of the heretical pit, or we can never bring God’s splendor into the light.
Comments and suggestions are welcome. I want to know even the most mundane opinions on this subject, since Nimrod truly is a mysterious figure who only becomes illuminated through active learning. Thank you once again for reading, and I hope you enjoy this adventure through the ancient past.