And Reu lived thirty-two years, and begot Sarug.
וַיְחִ֣י רְע֔וּ שְׁתַּ֥יִם וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֖ים שָׁנָ֑ה וַיּ֖וֹלֶד אֶת־שְׂרֽוּג׃
3 Church Fathers comment on this verse · 4 commentaries
Subsequently, the adversary misdirected the people further, leading them to craft idols from various materials—wood, brass, marble, gold, and silver. They worshiped these creations, offering their sons and daughters as sacrifices, which led to the corruption of the entire earth. It was Serukh who first initiated the making of idols, designing them as tributes to the deceased: former monarchs, valiant warriors, wise individuals, and unfaithful spouses.
Ecclesiastical history relates that Ragab, the son of Phalek and grandson of Eber, fathered Seruch, who is the great-grandfather of Abraham, during the peak of his life at age 132. Following him, he also had additional sons and daughters. Civil history accounts, as noted by George Kedrin, reveal that in Ragab's time, prideful individuals began to rise and claimed royal titles among the people. They also manufactured weapons and instigated conflicts against each other. Consequently, the tribe of Canaan grew weary and fell under the burden of slavery, just as the patriarch Noah had prophesied.
It is worth recalling our earlier discussion regarding Asshur, referred to as Bilhah, who, upon the demise of Nimrod, could no longer tolerate the Hamites’ rule in Babylon and took control of the city himself, effectively ending their reign.
Similarly, we understand Kedar's account of Nina, the son of Beel, who was the first to extend the Assyrian monarchy within the Celestial Empire. Many historians assert that he sought to acquire several peaceful lands inhabited by contented people, unacquainted with warfare; thus, he conquered them, thereby expanding and solidifying his kingdom. Yet, his insatiable thirst for power led him to conquer further lands, culminating in a war against Zoroaster, the king of Bactria, whom he ultimately defeated and killed. The Bactrian kingdom was situated behind Assyria and bordered on Scythia; it derived its name from the Bactros River that flowed through it, with Bactra serving as its capital. This kingdom was home to nearly a thousand cities. In a brutal display of inhumanity, the elderly were treated mercilessly: when parents became frail with age, their children were offered to dogs to be devoured. These dogs, specially nurtured for this gruesome task, were known as funeral dogs, their bellies filled with human flesh. What a wretched act of ingratitude by children towards their parents—returning the blessing of life and nurture with such cruelty! How blindingly misguided and deceived the pagans were, having succumbed to demonic seductions, believing this vile act to be righteous! It is possible to interpret that this was part of God's righteous judgment, permitting such atrocities upon a people who had sacrificed their own children to idols, leading to their own demise at the hands of their offspring. As stated in the Psalms, "They devoured their sons and their daughters with the demon, shedding innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters" (Psalm 105:37-38). Thus, the very children they sacrificed ultimately returned to claim their lives in a fitting retribution for their deeds, as God's justice proclaims: What you have done to your children, you shall also receive from your children; having offered your offspring to demons, your own will consume you.
Zoroaster’s birth was marked by laughter, a deviation from the norm, which startled many, as infants typically cry upon entering the world. Upon reaching maturity, he was known for his keen intellect and is often regarded as the earliest originator of astrology and sorcery after the flood, as well as a skilled healer. He authored many teachings, yet these were all destroyed by Nin, leading to Zoroaster's death. His life starkly illustrated the transience of earthly existence and the fleeting nature of human joy. He entered existence laughing but departed amidst tears. Despite being born into a joyful demeanor, he ended with a sorrowful demise—a poignant reminder of the duality in our lives. Our existence often begins with joy, only to conclude in sorrow, fleeting moments of happiness quickly overshadowed by grief. This is especially true at death, when all joy dissipates, leaving only the weight of sorrow for those who have revelled in sinful pleasures. Our lives can be likened to the sweet waters of a river that continuously flow toward the sea's bitterness. Just as these waters lose their sweetness upon entering the sea, so too do our fleeting joys vanish when faced with death.
Again, many rivers empty into the sea, but the sea's bitterness cannot be changed by the addition of sweet waters. The transient pleasures of this world, cherished during life, provide no comfort in life's final moments. At the moment of death, all past joys fail to alleviate present bitterness, which only amplifies for those who have taken delight in ephemeral blessings. The heavenly warning regarding the proud Babylonian woman also echoes this truth: "If only you glorify and rage, you will give her torment and weeping" (Rev. 18:7). Blessed are those who mourn in this present life rather than rejoice, who do not seek the vanity of temporal blessings but reflect on the realities of death, judgment, and eternal separation, and who strive to please God, seeking the true joy found in the Lord.
It should be noted that a later stargazer of the same name, Zoroaster, emerged in Persia. Chronicles tell of his prediction regarding his demise by lightning. He instructed the Persians to honor his remains, assuring them of the kingdom's durability as long as his bones remained within its borders. His prophecy of his own death came to pass when he was struck down by lightning, but his assurance regarding the Persian kingdom proved false, as it swiftly fell thereafter.
During those times when nations proliferated, cities were established, and kingdoms rose in various parts of the world, civil laws were enacted alongside a growing disregard for divine order. Evil individuals turned away from the unseen God, the Creator, who their ancestors had revered, and instead fashioned earthly gods to whom they offered prayers, worshipping the handiwork of their own creation. As the apostle stated, ‘And they changed the glory of the incorruptible God into the likeness of a corruptible image of man, and of birds, and of quadrupeds, and of creeping things, and changed the truth of God into a lie, and honoured and served the creatures more than the Creator: whereby God delivered them into the passions of dishonour, into a profane and lawless life’ (Rom. 1:23-26). Although they might have established laws that appeared beneficial, these were ultimately undermined by their wickedness. Contrary to the belief that idolatry began with Seruch, Abraham’s great-grandfather, it was not he who created idols but rather he accepted those that had already been made. The roots of idolatry can be traced back to Nain, the son of Bilhah. Following the death of King Bilhah, who ruled over Assyria and Babylonia, his son Nin succeeded him. In his grief, Nin fashioned a lifelike idol of his father to honor him, placing it prominently in the city on a pillar, desiring that his father be revered even after death. He decreed that anyone guilty of an offense could attain forgiveness by worshipping this image. Consequently, many people sought the king’s favor by participating in the veneration of the idol. Other nations began to mimic the Assyrians and Chaldeans, honoring their former leaders by erecting idols in their memory. In response to this homage, demons began to inhabit these lifeless idols, endowing them with a voice to deceive humanity, providing answers to inquiries as if foreseeing the future. Consequently, those who perceived these idols as living beings began to worship them as gods, offering sacrifices in their honor. This marked the beginning and escalation of polytheism and idolatry among people. The Amsterdam chronographer suggests that Nin was not the one who erected the idol of Vil, but rather Semiramis, claiming her lineage as Vil’s daughter and Nin as her husband. Nonetheless, the majority believe that Nin, as the son of Vil, was indeed responsible for creating the image of his father. In Egypt, similar idolatrous practices emerged, notably by a noble named Syrophanis, who, out of sorrow for his deceased son, created an image of him and placed it upon his tomb. This gesture somewhat alleviated his grief, prompting those under his authority to honor the idol with sacrifices and worship. Saint Chrysostom references this, saying that a wealthy man, in his profound sorrow for his son, crafted a soulless image of him, which he gazed upon to ease his mourning. Some, indulging in indulgence (Phil. 3:19), began to serve this image, thus perpetuating idolatry. It is recorded that, seeing the prostration of his acquaintances before his son’s likeness, Syrophanis built a temple over the tomb. He appointed priests to serve in this temple, instituting laws that required them to abandon their worldly cares and abstain from marital relations during their service. This code infiltrated the ranks of idol priests throughout the land, leading them to abstain from meat and wine, except for sacrificial consumption, and to avoid contact with their wives and even children during their service. They devoted themselves to the study of astrology and sorcery, deeply immersing themselves in understanding the visible world. This is mentioned to prompt contemplation among the spiritual leaders of today’s community: if those serving demons performed with such rigorous abstinence, avoiding basic earthly comforts, how much more should Christian priests, who minister before the true God and present the unbloody sacrifice of Christ for the entire world, uphold their duties with fervor? How can it be that some Christian priests live indulgent lives, reveling in excesses, neglecting spiritual studies, failing to impart wisdom, and conducting their ministries with carnal minds and sinful lifestyles? Aren't they destined for harsher punishment than idol priests, who, lacking the truth, still exhibited considerable discipline? Servants of demons approach their service with reverence, while some who serve Christ do so with indifference. Woe to the corruption and wickedness within the priesthood! How will they stand before Christ, whom they have not served with the zeal found among the idol priests?
It is claimed by some that idols originated with Seruch, who is a distant ancestor of Abraham. However, this assertion does not accurately reflect the nature of the matter. Seruch was not the originator of idols but rather a craftsman of those that existed prior to him. He engaged in this trade, and it provided him with his livelihood.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS