Tower of Babylon by Ted Chiang
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Re-Thinking the Covenant

Chiang‘s interpretation of the well known biblical myth of the Tower is innovative, interesting, and... well, inspired. It is also acutely theological and reveals Chiang’s familiarity with some lesser known biblical material.

The tower story is contained in Chapter 11 of the book of Genesis. It is derived from similar Semitic myths current in the Middle East. Ostensibly it is an explanation for the existence of the diversity of human language. This has always struck me as a trivial waste of biblical space. It seems that Chiang thinks the same way.

The real point of the myth has to do with the potency of collective human effort. This is clear from the reason given for YHWH’s throwing those working on the tower into mutual incomprehensibility: “And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.” [Genesis 11:6].

Why YHWH should be so concerned about the cooperative abilities of humanity is not stated directly in the biblical text. In order to rationalise the divine action, a sort of meta-myth about human impertinence and arrogance in attempting to reach God has emerged as the implicit standard. Men were getting too big for their breeches and had to be taught a lesson.

But like much of what is compiled in the Hebrew Scriptures, it is context that is the most important element in interpretation. And the important context here occurs several chapters previously. After YHWH has destroyed life on Earth with the exception of Noah, his family and his animals, he apparently has some severe divine remorse. YHWH promises never to do the watery death thing again. And he also lays down seven rules of behaviour - no murder, no adultery, no lying, no stealing etc. These overlap with the later Ten Commandments but, since Abraham and his Israelite descendants are as yet only in the distant future, the rules apply to all of humanity not just to Jews.

This arrangement is known as the Covenant of Noah, and is the first of many other covenants which are proclaimed by YHWH with humanity. This idea of covenant is extremely fluid in biblical literature. It takes on content relevant to the changing circumstances at hand. But the concept always involves the self-restraint of YHWH and the imposition of rules. Most importantly the violation of rules may result in divine punishment but no degree of transgression will void the covenant itself.

Because of its ambiguities, the relation of the covenant might be considered ephemeral, hard to discern among the apparently important events of daily life. The reality of the covenantal relation is, therefore, often made explicit by YHWH and by Israel in a 'concrete' object as a symbol of the reality created and maintained in the covenant by Israel jointly with YHWH and to which both Israel and YHWH submit.

Various physical and ritual symbols are used throughout the Hebrew Scriptures as a reminder of the continuing existence of the covenant: a heap of stones, the Sabbath, the altar of the Temple, a tamarisk tree, the sun and the moon, the stone which Jacob used for a pillow, and a monumental stone slab or stele. All have a simple function: to ensure that the covenant is remembered as a fundamental fact of reality.

The Tower of the biblical myth is perhaps the grandest of these cultural reminders. This is clearly how Chiang interprets it. The workers, assembled from many foreign places, share not just a language but a devotion to YHWH. The tower itself is being built to honour him. It is the physical representation of the spiritual search for YHWH that is implicit in its changing content. Humanity is attempting to reach YHWH not out of arrogance but as a matter of devotion.

Of course, human understanding cannot reach to the exalted heights of YHWH’s existence. But only when their search stops is the covenant in jeopardy. In their continuing physical and intellectual quest for the ultimate reality human beings can put themselves in awkward and life-threatening situations. No matter what happens, however, YHWH can be relied upon not to break his covenant promise - never again will he use water against them, nor let them use it against themselves.

Oh, and there are also some interesting meditations on the philosophy and poetry of science. Don’t miss it.

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