Sam here, with Chapter 1 of The Gift, by Lewis Hyde. I’ve wanted to talk about this chapter for three weeks but didn’t want to rush past other goodies. If you’re just joining the conversation, you can read about those here and here. Today I’ll tell you about an obscure Bible story and then ask a few questions.
During the period of the Judges, the tribe of Dan sent five men
to spy out the land and explore it…. So the five men left and came to Laish, where they saw that the people were living in safety, like the Sidonians, unsuspecting and secure. And since their land lacked nothing, they were prosperous. Also, they lived a long way from the Sidonians and had no relationship with anyone else…. Then six hundred men from the clan of the Danites…went on to Laish, against a peaceful and unsuspecting people. They attacked them with the sword and burned down their city. There was no one to rescue them because they lived a long way from Sidon and had no relationship with anyone else (Judges 18:7, 11, 27-28).
This story demonstrates the consequences of limited gifting. Laish lived independently of others. They gifted to themselves, creating what Hyde refers to as an “ego-of-one.” The business world is all abuzz about something similar called the silo effect. The silo effect is “a lack of communication and common goals between departments in an organization” (Wikipedia). Think farm silos: narrow, vertical, window-less. If you’re in one, it’s the only world you know. Laish was a silo of a town.
1. What gifts – given or received – might have assisted Laish?
2. Are there areas of your life where you are like Laish?
3. Do you see other connections between this story and Chapter 1 of The Gift?
Water photo by Elizabeth O. Weller. Used with permission. Post by Sam Van Eman.
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I had forgotten this Bible story, Sam, and if illustrates your point so well.
I’ve re-read the parts of ch. 1 on the ego and am so glad you brought it forth. This story of the Laish makes me examine how I handle my gifts…self gratification? or am I sharing so that the gift goes on?
Yes, if the Laish had reached out to their neighbors and established an ally, their fate may have been different.
I love the portion of this chapter that talks about the “…ego complex as a thing that keeps expanding…” and the way Hyde says this, “When we are in the spirit of the gift we love to feel the body open outward.”
When I think of the times I have been an integral part of something, a full sharer in the give and take–this is the spirit of the gift to me, and a fullness of joy.
No post for me today, Sam. Getting ready for VBS, so a bit preoccupied. Enjoying looking back and reflecting more today, though.
That story struck me, not because of Laish in their silo, but because of the Danites! Sometimes the Bible puzzles me.
I suppose, like you imply here Sam, that the story is less a justification of what the Danites did, and more a warning against what Laish did. If we build silos, other people will be able to sneak up on us without warning. Like you said, there are no windows in silos.
I like how this idea brings the idea of gifts into all workplaces. Even if an organization is working to generate profits, employees can still approach their work as a cooperative gift to others in the organization.
Now you’ll have to excuse me. I have some silos to knock down.
Laura, I don’t think we do anything without self-gratification involved. Even gift-giving (the birthday kind) is affected by our desire to be affirmed by the recipient. My self-gratification, however, usually trumps a healthy “sharing so that the gift goes on,” as you put it. Fortunately and despite my selfish pursuits, God makes the gift go on. Grace works like that. I’m so glad.
Have a great, collaborative, non-Laish week at VBS.
Marcus, I’m guessing very few Israelites in that day reflected on this story in terms of a Laishian failure. More likely were recountings of Danites marching, God providing and Danites sacking. Sometimes the Bible puzzles me, too.
But I bet the lesson wasn’t lost. I bet the tribe of Dan and others adopted admonishments, “Now, Sammy, don’t you wander off like a Laishite,” and fables, “And who will help me plant the wheat? Not I said the Laishite.”
1. the gift of relationship with their neighboring tribes may have
assisted laish. relationship is gift given and received.
2. yes, there are many areas of my life like laish. my thoughts
can become vary narrow around what is going on with my health,
my feelings, things i should be doing, etc. not thinking of what
gifts that i can be passing on to others…or what gifts that are
being given to me.
3. yes, acquiring wealth to be thought of as prosperous, instead of the giving of gifts to be seen as prosperous and powerful to others.
nAncY, the point you mention in #3 jumped out to me in the book. Here’s a snippet of it:
“So long as these assumptions rule [that acquisition is a clearer sign of success than generosity], a disquieting sense of triviality, of worthlessness even, will nag the man or woman who labors in the service of a gift and whose products are not adequately described as commodities.”