And Then the Building Collapsed
James Tissot (French, 1836-1902). The Tower of Siloam
In Job 1 v 18-19, we read that his sons and daughters were killed when a building fell on them.
While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
The impression is they were having a raucous party. This was probably a regular event as Job is recorded giving sacrifices for his children, because of their behaviour (Job 1 v 5).
There are some interesting parallels with other stories in the Bible.
The end of Samson’s life where he pulls the building down upon himself and the Philistines, killing everyone (Judges 16).
Also in Luke 13, Jesus talks about a Tower in Siloam which fell on eighteen Galileans. The impression we get from this gospel was that these Galileans were cursed because the building fell on them.
Why would the Galileans think that a building falling on someone and then killing them, were cursed?
Could it be that if a stone building falls and kills someone then the body cannot be recovered and buried in the correct manner. Therefore they would be cursed.
Another Biblical character died because a building fell on him. But this is not recorded in the Bible.
The Book of Jubilees was popular reading material amongst the Jewish communities around the birth of Jesus. It is believed that it was originally written around 150 BC. It is a narrative to be read alongside Genesis and Exodus. Many Christian’s believe it is not inspired by the Holy Spirit and does not appear in the majority of Biblical canons.
In Jubilees 4, it mentions that Cain was killed by a stone roof falling in on him. The writer likened it to when Cain used a stone to kill Abel. The God-cursed man died in a ‘cursed’ way.
Could it be this tradition around Cain influenced the Jews’ thinking?
The last word on this needs to go to Jesus.
Luke 13 1 v 5
Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
He says that just as the Galileans whose blood mixed with the sacrificial blood were not cursed, people who die when a building falls on them are not cursed either.
But all those who do not choose Christ are cursed and will perish.