Packet 3: Tossup 20

Description acceptable. Martin Buber argued that Zephaniah 3 alludes to this passage by repeating “leading words” from it like safah and potz. A midrash on this story describes a statue wielding a sword in its hand. A word in this passage (-5[1])may play on an Akkadian name meaning “gate of the gods.” (-5[1])Because the Hebrew (15[1])for name is shem, this (-5[1])passage’s (-5[1])invocation, “Let us make a name (-5[1])for ourselves” (15[1])contrasts with Shem’s (15[1])genealogy (15[1])directly following it. The (*) Etemenanki (-5[1])may have inspired this (10[1])story (10[2])which occurs at the end (10[2])of the (10[1])primeval (-5[3])history, (-5[2])after the Table (10[1]-5[1])of Nations. Because this story is set in the “land (-5[1])of Shinar,” its ruler Nimrod (10[1])is traditionally seen (10[2])as having (10[1])challenged (10[1])God (10[1])when (10[4])“the whole (10[1])earth (10[1])had one language.” (10[5])For (10[1])10 points, (10[2])identify (10[1])this story where the LORD prevented the construction of a (10[1])building (10[1])“with its top in the heavens.” ■END■ (10[9])

Back to tossups

Buzzes

Summary