What did G-d do before Creation?Reconciling Nature with Continuous CreationHow do Jews reconcile 6 days creation with light from stars 1 billion years ago?How are pre-creation >4000 BCE human civilization and pre-flood >2300 BCE civilizations that continued reconciled with Judaism?How do we define the word 'עולם'?Plants before the Sun in the Order of CreationWhy did God make such a vast, expansive universe?Did HaShem forget Chava in the creation?Did the Rabbi just back us into a corner?Maimonides on the purpose of animals?On the interpretation of Genesis 1: 1
Why is it considered acid rain with pH <5.6?
Does dual boot harm a laptop battery or reduce its life?
Is this photo showing a woman standing in the nude before teenagers real?
Move the outer key inward in an association
How did the Sinclair compare on price with the C64 in the UK?
What language is Raven using for her attack in the new 52?
How did the Axis intend to hold the Caucasus?
(3 of 11: Akari) What is Pyramid Cult's Favorite Car?
How do I use JSON.generator to generate an unnamed array?
Summoning A Technology Based Demon
Name These Animals
Is there a way to know the composition of a Team GO Rocket before going into the fight?
Going from a circuit to the quantum state output of the circuit
Mechanics of Horizontal Stretching and Shrinking
Why did Windows 95 crash the whole system but newer Windows only crashed programs?
Examples of simultaneous independent breakthroughs
What container to use to store developer concentrate?
What steps would an amateur scientist have to take in order to get a scientific breakthrough published?
Filter search results by multiple filters in one operation
How does one get an animal off of the Altar surreptitiously?
Does Wolfram Mathworld make a mistake describing a discrete probability distribution with a probability density function?
Incrementing add under condition in pandas
How do you pronounce "Hain"?
How long until two planets become one?
What did G-d do before Creation?
Reconciling Nature with Continuous CreationHow do Jews reconcile 6 days creation with light from stars 1 billion years ago?How are pre-creation >4000 BCE human civilization and pre-flood >2300 BCE civilizations that continued reconciled with Judaism?How do we define the word 'עולם'?Plants before the Sun in the Order of CreationWhy did God make such a vast, expansive universe?Did HaShem forget Chava in the creation?Did the Rabbi just back us into a corner?Maimonides on the purpose of animals?On the interpretation of Genesis 1: 1
.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;
Is it possible to know what G-d was doing before this creation?
While, as Maimonides states, that we cannot know anything about G-d except for what G-d is not (G-d has no body and is one), nevertheless, I think the question remains, and can be boiled down to this: are there any sources explaining what G-d might have done before creation of the world (i.e. was G-d forming past worlds in an endless cycle, as in preforming His creative energy?) Think of reincarnation but on a larger scale, namely, the universe. Indeed some scientists think this was the case before the Big Bang. If true, it would entail that this world-building will continue to occur. What were our sages' opinions regarding this?
hashkafah-philosophy science creation
|
show 4 more comments
Is it possible to know what G-d was doing before this creation?
While, as Maimonides states, that we cannot know anything about G-d except for what G-d is not (G-d has no body and is one), nevertheless, I think the question remains, and can be boiled down to this: are there any sources explaining what G-d might have done before creation of the world (i.e. was G-d forming past worlds in an endless cycle, as in preforming His creative energy?) Think of reincarnation but on a larger scale, namely, the universe. Indeed some scientists think this was the case before the Big Bang. If true, it would entail that this world-building will continue to occur. What were our sages' opinions regarding this?
hashkafah-philosophy science creation
To see the same question posed to the Moslems, click here: islam.stackexchange.com/questions/52152/…
– Turk Hill
8 hours ago
Proverbs 8:22-31 with commentators is a good source to look at in this context
– b a
8 hours ago
4
Isn't the entire idea of time and "doing" not relevant to the nature of God? Aren't we just imposing our human notion of staying busy over linear moments onto the infinite and ineffable?
– rosends
8 hours ago
בראש יתברא 4 left
– Dr. Shmuel
7 hours ago
1
Accordingly the midrash states that, "G-d built worlds and destroyed them" prior to the creation of our present universe. The Midrash Tehillim 90:13 explains that there were created and destroyed 974 worlds.
– Turk Hill
6 hours ago
|
show 4 more comments
Is it possible to know what G-d was doing before this creation?
While, as Maimonides states, that we cannot know anything about G-d except for what G-d is not (G-d has no body and is one), nevertheless, I think the question remains, and can be boiled down to this: are there any sources explaining what G-d might have done before creation of the world (i.e. was G-d forming past worlds in an endless cycle, as in preforming His creative energy?) Think of reincarnation but on a larger scale, namely, the universe. Indeed some scientists think this was the case before the Big Bang. If true, it would entail that this world-building will continue to occur. What were our sages' opinions regarding this?
hashkafah-philosophy science creation
Is it possible to know what G-d was doing before this creation?
While, as Maimonides states, that we cannot know anything about G-d except for what G-d is not (G-d has no body and is one), nevertheless, I think the question remains, and can be boiled down to this: are there any sources explaining what G-d might have done before creation of the world (i.e. was G-d forming past worlds in an endless cycle, as in preforming His creative energy?) Think of reincarnation but on a larger scale, namely, the universe. Indeed some scientists think this was the case before the Big Bang. If true, it would entail that this world-building will continue to occur. What were our sages' opinions regarding this?
hashkafah-philosophy science creation
hashkafah-philosophy science creation
edited 8 hours ago
Turk Hill
asked 8 hours ago


Turk HillTurk Hill
3361 silver badge12 bronze badges
3361 silver badge12 bronze badges
To see the same question posed to the Moslems, click here: islam.stackexchange.com/questions/52152/…
– Turk Hill
8 hours ago
Proverbs 8:22-31 with commentators is a good source to look at in this context
– b a
8 hours ago
4
Isn't the entire idea of time and "doing" not relevant to the nature of God? Aren't we just imposing our human notion of staying busy over linear moments onto the infinite and ineffable?
– rosends
8 hours ago
בראש יתברא 4 left
– Dr. Shmuel
7 hours ago
1
Accordingly the midrash states that, "G-d built worlds and destroyed them" prior to the creation of our present universe. The Midrash Tehillim 90:13 explains that there were created and destroyed 974 worlds.
– Turk Hill
6 hours ago
|
show 4 more comments
To see the same question posed to the Moslems, click here: islam.stackexchange.com/questions/52152/…
– Turk Hill
8 hours ago
Proverbs 8:22-31 with commentators is a good source to look at in this context
– b a
8 hours ago
4
Isn't the entire idea of time and "doing" not relevant to the nature of God? Aren't we just imposing our human notion of staying busy over linear moments onto the infinite and ineffable?
– rosends
8 hours ago
בראש יתברא 4 left
– Dr. Shmuel
7 hours ago
1
Accordingly the midrash states that, "G-d built worlds and destroyed them" prior to the creation of our present universe. The Midrash Tehillim 90:13 explains that there were created and destroyed 974 worlds.
– Turk Hill
6 hours ago
To see the same question posed to the Moslems, click here: islam.stackexchange.com/questions/52152/…
– Turk Hill
8 hours ago
To see the same question posed to the Moslems, click here: islam.stackexchange.com/questions/52152/…
– Turk Hill
8 hours ago
Proverbs 8:22-31 with commentators is a good source to look at in this context
– b a
8 hours ago
Proverbs 8:22-31 with commentators is a good source to look at in this context
– b a
8 hours ago
4
4
Isn't the entire idea of time and "doing" not relevant to the nature of God? Aren't we just imposing our human notion of staying busy over linear moments onto the infinite and ineffable?
– rosends
8 hours ago
Isn't the entire idea of time and "doing" not relevant to the nature of God? Aren't we just imposing our human notion of staying busy over linear moments onto the infinite and ineffable?
– rosends
8 hours ago
בראש יתברא 4 left
– Dr. Shmuel
7 hours ago
בראש יתברא 4 left
– Dr. Shmuel
7 hours ago
1
1
Accordingly the midrash states that, "G-d built worlds and destroyed them" prior to the creation of our present universe. The Midrash Tehillim 90:13 explains that there were created and destroyed 974 worlds.
– Turk Hill
6 hours ago
Accordingly the midrash states that, "G-d built worlds and destroyed them" prior to the creation of our present universe. The Midrash Tehillim 90:13 explains that there were created and destroyed 974 worlds.
– Turk Hill
6 hours ago
|
show 4 more comments
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
I could point you to Shabbos 88b below, but please clarify if you are asking about what occurred prior to 974 generations before the creation of the world.
ואמר רבי יהושע בן לוי בשעה שעלה משה למרום אמרו מלאכי השרת לפני הקדוש
ברוך הוא רבונו של עולם מה לילוד אשה בינינו אמר להן לקבל תורה בא אמרו
לפניו חמודה גנוזה שגנוזה לך תשע מאות ושבעים וארבעה דורות קודם שנברא
העולם אתה מבקש ליתנה לבשר ודם מה אנוש כי תזכרנו ובן אדם כי תפקדנו ה׳
אדנינו מה אדיר שמך בכל הארץ אשר תנה הודך על השמים
And Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: When Moses ascended on High to
receive the Torah, the ministering angels said before the Holy One,
Blessed be He: Master of the Universe, what is one born of a woman
doing here among us? The Holy One, Blessed be He, said to them: He
came to receive the Torah. The angels said before Him: The Torah is a
hidden treasure that was concealed by you 974 generations before the
creation of the world, and you seek to give it to flesh and blood? As
it is stated: “The word which He commanded to a thousand generations”
(Psalms 105:8). Since the Torah, the word of God, was given to the
twenty-sixth generation after Adam, the first man, the remaining 974
generations must have preceded the creation of the world. “What is man
that You are mindful of him and the son of man that You think of him?”
(Psalms 8:5). Rather, “God our Lord, how glorious is Your name in all
the earth that Your majesty is placed above the heavens” (Psalms 8:2).
The rightful place of God’s majesty, the Torah, is in the heavens.
1
This is a good answer. Thank you and upvote.
– Turk Hill
7 hours ago
974 Generations of what exactly?
– Al Berko
5 hours ago
1
974 generations refer to pre-Adam Hominids. They were also 974 worlds according to the Midrash.
– Turk Hill
4 hours ago
add a comment |
This is one of the topics that one should avoid discussing. See Mishna Chagiga 2:1, 11b in the Talmud:
אֵין דּוֹרְשִׁין בַּעֲרָיוֹת בִּשְׁלֹשָׁה. וְלֹא בְמַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית
בִּשְׁנַיִם. וְלֹא בַמֶּרְכָּבָה בְּיָחִיד, אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן הָיָה
חָכָם וּמֵבִין מִדַּעְתּוֹ. כָּל הַמִּסְתַּכֵּל בְּאַרְבָּעָה
דְּבָרִים, רָאוּי לוֹ כְּאִלּוּ לֹא בָּא לָעוֹלָם, מַה לְּמַעְלָה, מַה
לְּמַטָּה, מַה לְּפָנִים, וּמַה לְּאָחוֹר. וְכָל שֶׁלֹּא חָס עַל
כְּבוֹד קוֹנוֹ, רָאוּי לוֹ שֶׁלֹּא בָּא לָעוֹלָם:
They may not expound upon the subject of forbidden relations in the
presence of three. Nor the work of creation in the presence of two.
Nor [the work of] the chariot in the presence of one, unless he is a
sage and understands of his own knowledge. Whoever speculates upon
four things, it would have been better had he not come into the world:
what is above, what is beneath, what came before, and what came after.
And whoever takes no thought for the honor of his creator, it would
have been better had he not come into the world.
The Midrash Tehillim 90:13 does not avoid it but explains the creation of 974 worlds before this one.
– Turk Hill
8 hours ago
+10 Let's stop with those questions, the OP himself stated many times that G-d is impossible to know and now he throws this question?
– Al Berko
5 hours ago
Maimonides felt that the world could have been created from nothingness - ex nehilo or pre-existing matter. I think he believed in the latter.
– Turk Hill
4 hours ago
The question asks whether there is a source for the latter, namely if there was pre-existing material to go around.
– Turk Hill
3 hours ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
I could point you to Shabbos 88b below, but please clarify if you are asking about what occurred prior to 974 generations before the creation of the world.
ואמר רבי יהושע בן לוי בשעה שעלה משה למרום אמרו מלאכי השרת לפני הקדוש
ברוך הוא רבונו של עולם מה לילוד אשה בינינו אמר להן לקבל תורה בא אמרו
לפניו חמודה גנוזה שגנוזה לך תשע מאות ושבעים וארבעה דורות קודם שנברא
העולם אתה מבקש ליתנה לבשר ודם מה אנוש כי תזכרנו ובן אדם כי תפקדנו ה׳
אדנינו מה אדיר שמך בכל הארץ אשר תנה הודך על השמים
And Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: When Moses ascended on High to
receive the Torah, the ministering angels said before the Holy One,
Blessed be He: Master of the Universe, what is one born of a woman
doing here among us? The Holy One, Blessed be He, said to them: He
came to receive the Torah. The angels said before Him: The Torah is a
hidden treasure that was concealed by you 974 generations before the
creation of the world, and you seek to give it to flesh and blood? As
it is stated: “The word which He commanded to a thousand generations”
(Psalms 105:8). Since the Torah, the word of God, was given to the
twenty-sixth generation after Adam, the first man, the remaining 974
generations must have preceded the creation of the world. “What is man
that You are mindful of him and the son of man that You think of him?”
(Psalms 8:5). Rather, “God our Lord, how glorious is Your name in all
the earth that Your majesty is placed above the heavens” (Psalms 8:2).
The rightful place of God’s majesty, the Torah, is in the heavens.
1
This is a good answer. Thank you and upvote.
– Turk Hill
7 hours ago
974 Generations of what exactly?
– Al Berko
5 hours ago
1
974 generations refer to pre-Adam Hominids. They were also 974 worlds according to the Midrash.
– Turk Hill
4 hours ago
add a comment |
I could point you to Shabbos 88b below, but please clarify if you are asking about what occurred prior to 974 generations before the creation of the world.
ואמר רבי יהושע בן לוי בשעה שעלה משה למרום אמרו מלאכי השרת לפני הקדוש
ברוך הוא רבונו של עולם מה לילוד אשה בינינו אמר להן לקבל תורה בא אמרו
לפניו חמודה גנוזה שגנוזה לך תשע מאות ושבעים וארבעה דורות קודם שנברא
העולם אתה מבקש ליתנה לבשר ודם מה אנוש כי תזכרנו ובן אדם כי תפקדנו ה׳
אדנינו מה אדיר שמך בכל הארץ אשר תנה הודך על השמים
And Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: When Moses ascended on High to
receive the Torah, the ministering angels said before the Holy One,
Blessed be He: Master of the Universe, what is one born of a woman
doing here among us? The Holy One, Blessed be He, said to them: He
came to receive the Torah. The angels said before Him: The Torah is a
hidden treasure that was concealed by you 974 generations before the
creation of the world, and you seek to give it to flesh and blood? As
it is stated: “The word which He commanded to a thousand generations”
(Psalms 105:8). Since the Torah, the word of God, was given to the
twenty-sixth generation after Adam, the first man, the remaining 974
generations must have preceded the creation of the world. “What is man
that You are mindful of him and the son of man that You think of him?”
(Psalms 8:5). Rather, “God our Lord, how glorious is Your name in all
the earth that Your majesty is placed above the heavens” (Psalms 8:2).
The rightful place of God’s majesty, the Torah, is in the heavens.
1
This is a good answer. Thank you and upvote.
– Turk Hill
7 hours ago
974 Generations of what exactly?
– Al Berko
5 hours ago
1
974 generations refer to pre-Adam Hominids. They were also 974 worlds according to the Midrash.
– Turk Hill
4 hours ago
add a comment |
I could point you to Shabbos 88b below, but please clarify if you are asking about what occurred prior to 974 generations before the creation of the world.
ואמר רבי יהושע בן לוי בשעה שעלה משה למרום אמרו מלאכי השרת לפני הקדוש
ברוך הוא רבונו של עולם מה לילוד אשה בינינו אמר להן לקבל תורה בא אמרו
לפניו חמודה גנוזה שגנוזה לך תשע מאות ושבעים וארבעה דורות קודם שנברא
העולם אתה מבקש ליתנה לבשר ודם מה אנוש כי תזכרנו ובן אדם כי תפקדנו ה׳
אדנינו מה אדיר שמך בכל הארץ אשר תנה הודך על השמים
And Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: When Moses ascended on High to
receive the Torah, the ministering angels said before the Holy One,
Blessed be He: Master of the Universe, what is one born of a woman
doing here among us? The Holy One, Blessed be He, said to them: He
came to receive the Torah. The angels said before Him: The Torah is a
hidden treasure that was concealed by you 974 generations before the
creation of the world, and you seek to give it to flesh and blood? As
it is stated: “The word which He commanded to a thousand generations”
(Psalms 105:8). Since the Torah, the word of God, was given to the
twenty-sixth generation after Adam, the first man, the remaining 974
generations must have preceded the creation of the world. “What is man
that You are mindful of him and the son of man that You think of him?”
(Psalms 8:5). Rather, “God our Lord, how glorious is Your name in all
the earth that Your majesty is placed above the heavens” (Psalms 8:2).
The rightful place of God’s majesty, the Torah, is in the heavens.
I could point you to Shabbos 88b below, but please clarify if you are asking about what occurred prior to 974 generations before the creation of the world.
ואמר רבי יהושע בן לוי בשעה שעלה משה למרום אמרו מלאכי השרת לפני הקדוש
ברוך הוא רבונו של עולם מה לילוד אשה בינינו אמר להן לקבל תורה בא אמרו
לפניו חמודה גנוזה שגנוזה לך תשע מאות ושבעים וארבעה דורות קודם שנברא
העולם אתה מבקש ליתנה לבשר ודם מה אנוש כי תזכרנו ובן אדם כי תפקדנו ה׳
אדנינו מה אדיר שמך בכל הארץ אשר תנה הודך על השמים
And Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: When Moses ascended on High to
receive the Torah, the ministering angels said before the Holy One,
Blessed be He: Master of the Universe, what is one born of a woman
doing here among us? The Holy One, Blessed be He, said to them: He
came to receive the Torah. The angels said before Him: The Torah is a
hidden treasure that was concealed by you 974 generations before the
creation of the world, and you seek to give it to flesh and blood? As
it is stated: “The word which He commanded to a thousand generations”
(Psalms 105:8). Since the Torah, the word of God, was given to the
twenty-sixth generation after Adam, the first man, the remaining 974
generations must have preceded the creation of the world. “What is man
that You are mindful of him and the son of man that You think of him?”
(Psalms 8:5). Rather, “God our Lord, how glorious is Your name in all
the earth that Your majesty is placed above the heavens” (Psalms 8:2).
The rightful place of God’s majesty, the Torah, is in the heavens.
answered 7 hours ago


MordechaiMordechai
5559 bronze badges
5559 bronze badges
1
This is a good answer. Thank you and upvote.
– Turk Hill
7 hours ago
974 Generations of what exactly?
– Al Berko
5 hours ago
1
974 generations refer to pre-Adam Hominids. They were also 974 worlds according to the Midrash.
– Turk Hill
4 hours ago
add a comment |
1
This is a good answer. Thank you and upvote.
– Turk Hill
7 hours ago
974 Generations of what exactly?
– Al Berko
5 hours ago
1
974 generations refer to pre-Adam Hominids. They were also 974 worlds according to the Midrash.
– Turk Hill
4 hours ago
1
1
This is a good answer. Thank you and upvote.
– Turk Hill
7 hours ago
This is a good answer. Thank you and upvote.
– Turk Hill
7 hours ago
974 Generations of what exactly?
– Al Berko
5 hours ago
974 Generations of what exactly?
– Al Berko
5 hours ago
1
1
974 generations refer to pre-Adam Hominids. They were also 974 worlds according to the Midrash.
– Turk Hill
4 hours ago
974 generations refer to pre-Adam Hominids. They were also 974 worlds according to the Midrash.
– Turk Hill
4 hours ago
add a comment |
This is one of the topics that one should avoid discussing. See Mishna Chagiga 2:1, 11b in the Talmud:
אֵין דּוֹרְשִׁין בַּעֲרָיוֹת בִּשְׁלֹשָׁה. וְלֹא בְמַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית
בִּשְׁנַיִם. וְלֹא בַמֶּרְכָּבָה בְּיָחִיד, אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן הָיָה
חָכָם וּמֵבִין מִדַּעְתּוֹ. כָּל הַמִּסְתַּכֵּל בְּאַרְבָּעָה
דְּבָרִים, רָאוּי לוֹ כְּאִלּוּ לֹא בָּא לָעוֹלָם, מַה לְּמַעְלָה, מַה
לְּמַטָּה, מַה לְּפָנִים, וּמַה לְּאָחוֹר. וְכָל שֶׁלֹּא חָס עַל
כְּבוֹד קוֹנוֹ, רָאוּי לוֹ שֶׁלֹּא בָּא לָעוֹלָם:
They may not expound upon the subject of forbidden relations in the
presence of three. Nor the work of creation in the presence of two.
Nor [the work of] the chariot in the presence of one, unless he is a
sage and understands of his own knowledge. Whoever speculates upon
four things, it would have been better had he not come into the world:
what is above, what is beneath, what came before, and what came after.
And whoever takes no thought for the honor of his creator, it would
have been better had he not come into the world.
The Midrash Tehillim 90:13 does not avoid it but explains the creation of 974 worlds before this one.
– Turk Hill
8 hours ago
+10 Let's stop with those questions, the OP himself stated many times that G-d is impossible to know and now he throws this question?
– Al Berko
5 hours ago
Maimonides felt that the world could have been created from nothingness - ex nehilo or pre-existing matter. I think he believed in the latter.
– Turk Hill
4 hours ago
The question asks whether there is a source for the latter, namely if there was pre-existing material to go around.
– Turk Hill
3 hours ago
add a comment |
This is one of the topics that one should avoid discussing. See Mishna Chagiga 2:1, 11b in the Talmud:
אֵין דּוֹרְשִׁין בַּעֲרָיוֹת בִּשְׁלֹשָׁה. וְלֹא בְמַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית
בִּשְׁנַיִם. וְלֹא בַמֶּרְכָּבָה בְּיָחִיד, אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן הָיָה
חָכָם וּמֵבִין מִדַּעְתּוֹ. כָּל הַמִּסְתַּכֵּל בְּאַרְבָּעָה
דְּבָרִים, רָאוּי לוֹ כְּאִלּוּ לֹא בָּא לָעוֹלָם, מַה לְּמַעְלָה, מַה
לְּמַטָּה, מַה לְּפָנִים, וּמַה לְּאָחוֹר. וְכָל שֶׁלֹּא חָס עַל
כְּבוֹד קוֹנוֹ, רָאוּי לוֹ שֶׁלֹּא בָּא לָעוֹלָם:
They may not expound upon the subject of forbidden relations in the
presence of three. Nor the work of creation in the presence of two.
Nor [the work of] the chariot in the presence of one, unless he is a
sage and understands of his own knowledge. Whoever speculates upon
four things, it would have been better had he not come into the world:
what is above, what is beneath, what came before, and what came after.
And whoever takes no thought for the honor of his creator, it would
have been better had he not come into the world.
The Midrash Tehillim 90:13 does not avoid it but explains the creation of 974 worlds before this one.
– Turk Hill
8 hours ago
+10 Let's stop with those questions, the OP himself stated many times that G-d is impossible to know and now he throws this question?
– Al Berko
5 hours ago
Maimonides felt that the world could have been created from nothingness - ex nehilo or pre-existing matter. I think he believed in the latter.
– Turk Hill
4 hours ago
The question asks whether there is a source for the latter, namely if there was pre-existing material to go around.
– Turk Hill
3 hours ago
add a comment |
This is one of the topics that one should avoid discussing. See Mishna Chagiga 2:1, 11b in the Talmud:
אֵין דּוֹרְשִׁין בַּעֲרָיוֹת בִּשְׁלֹשָׁה. וְלֹא בְמַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית
בִּשְׁנַיִם. וְלֹא בַמֶּרְכָּבָה בְּיָחִיד, אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן הָיָה
חָכָם וּמֵבִין מִדַּעְתּוֹ. כָּל הַמִּסְתַּכֵּל בְּאַרְבָּעָה
דְּבָרִים, רָאוּי לוֹ כְּאִלּוּ לֹא בָּא לָעוֹלָם, מַה לְּמַעְלָה, מַה
לְּמַטָּה, מַה לְּפָנִים, וּמַה לְּאָחוֹר. וְכָל שֶׁלֹּא חָס עַל
כְּבוֹד קוֹנוֹ, רָאוּי לוֹ שֶׁלֹּא בָּא לָעוֹלָם:
They may not expound upon the subject of forbidden relations in the
presence of three. Nor the work of creation in the presence of two.
Nor [the work of] the chariot in the presence of one, unless he is a
sage and understands of his own knowledge. Whoever speculates upon
four things, it would have been better had he not come into the world:
what is above, what is beneath, what came before, and what came after.
And whoever takes no thought for the honor of his creator, it would
have been better had he not come into the world.
This is one of the topics that one should avoid discussing. See Mishna Chagiga 2:1, 11b in the Talmud:
אֵין דּוֹרְשִׁין בַּעֲרָיוֹת בִּשְׁלֹשָׁה. וְלֹא בְמַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית
בִּשְׁנַיִם. וְלֹא בַמֶּרְכָּבָה בְּיָחִיד, אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן הָיָה
חָכָם וּמֵבִין מִדַּעְתּוֹ. כָּל הַמִּסְתַּכֵּל בְּאַרְבָּעָה
דְּבָרִים, רָאוּי לוֹ כְּאִלּוּ לֹא בָּא לָעוֹלָם, מַה לְּמַעְלָה, מַה
לְּמַטָּה, מַה לְּפָנִים, וּמַה לְּאָחוֹר. וְכָל שֶׁלֹּא חָס עַל
כְּבוֹד קוֹנוֹ, רָאוּי לוֹ שֶׁלֹּא בָּא לָעוֹלָם:
They may not expound upon the subject of forbidden relations in the
presence of three. Nor the work of creation in the presence of two.
Nor [the work of] the chariot in the presence of one, unless he is a
sage and understands of his own knowledge. Whoever speculates upon
four things, it would have been better had he not come into the world:
what is above, what is beneath, what came before, and what came after.
And whoever takes no thought for the honor of his creator, it would
have been better had he not come into the world.
answered 8 hours ago
Salmononius2Salmononius2
4,48813 silver badges31 bronze badges
4,48813 silver badges31 bronze badges
The Midrash Tehillim 90:13 does not avoid it but explains the creation of 974 worlds before this one.
– Turk Hill
8 hours ago
+10 Let's stop with those questions, the OP himself stated many times that G-d is impossible to know and now he throws this question?
– Al Berko
5 hours ago
Maimonides felt that the world could have been created from nothingness - ex nehilo or pre-existing matter. I think he believed in the latter.
– Turk Hill
4 hours ago
The question asks whether there is a source for the latter, namely if there was pre-existing material to go around.
– Turk Hill
3 hours ago
add a comment |
The Midrash Tehillim 90:13 does not avoid it but explains the creation of 974 worlds before this one.
– Turk Hill
8 hours ago
+10 Let's stop with those questions, the OP himself stated many times that G-d is impossible to know and now he throws this question?
– Al Berko
5 hours ago
Maimonides felt that the world could have been created from nothingness - ex nehilo or pre-existing matter. I think he believed in the latter.
– Turk Hill
4 hours ago
The question asks whether there is a source for the latter, namely if there was pre-existing material to go around.
– Turk Hill
3 hours ago
The Midrash Tehillim 90:13 does not avoid it but explains the creation of 974 worlds before this one.
– Turk Hill
8 hours ago
The Midrash Tehillim 90:13 does not avoid it but explains the creation of 974 worlds before this one.
– Turk Hill
8 hours ago
+10 Let's stop with those questions, the OP himself stated many times that G-d is impossible to know and now he throws this question?
– Al Berko
5 hours ago
+10 Let's stop with those questions, the OP himself stated many times that G-d is impossible to know and now he throws this question?
– Al Berko
5 hours ago
Maimonides felt that the world could have been created from nothingness - ex nehilo or pre-existing matter. I think he believed in the latter.
– Turk Hill
4 hours ago
Maimonides felt that the world could have been created from nothingness - ex nehilo or pre-existing matter. I think he believed in the latter.
– Turk Hill
4 hours ago
The question asks whether there is a source for the latter, namely if there was pre-existing material to go around.
– Turk Hill
3 hours ago
The question asks whether there is a source for the latter, namely if there was pre-existing material to go around.
– Turk Hill
3 hours ago
add a comment |
To see the same question posed to the Moslems, click here: islam.stackexchange.com/questions/52152/…
– Turk Hill
8 hours ago
Proverbs 8:22-31 with commentators is a good source to look at in this context
– b a
8 hours ago
4
Isn't the entire idea of time and "doing" not relevant to the nature of God? Aren't we just imposing our human notion of staying busy over linear moments onto the infinite and ineffable?
– rosends
8 hours ago
בראש יתברא 4 left
– Dr. Shmuel
7 hours ago
1
Accordingly the midrash states that, "G-d built worlds and destroyed them" prior to the creation of our present universe. The Midrash Tehillim 90:13 explains that there were created and destroyed 974 worlds.
– Turk Hill
6 hours ago