Bereishis 5786 - Tax and the Age of the Universe

Back to the beginning. What was the first ever tax? Who charged it, how much was it and how did people avoid it?

The earliest archeologic records of taxation are traced back to the Mesopotamian kingdom of the Third Dynasty of Ur. They’ve found clay “documents” accounting for various tax payments and receipts signed by government clerks. Produce, livestock and slaves were taxed at various rates. There are even records of penalties for late payments. 

Evasion tactics were remarkably similar to those employed today. Underreporting income, hiding assets and good old bribery. There is record of a farmer excusing himself from tax payment because his goats died.  Nothing has changed.

There’s only one problem with this tax system. The archeologists claim is that this whole system happened during the 22nd Century BCE. According to the Chazal the world was under water for over a year exactly during that time. How do we reconcile the traditions of the Torah and archeologic evidence?

Moreover, what can this teach us about the age-old question of the age of the Universe?

An important axiom in this discussion is that evidence of age does not imply actual age. If one starts from the premise that God made the Universe one can ask a simple question. How old did the Universe look when it was created?

The Gemoro in Chullin (60a) says that all creations were created “in their full size, consciousness and beauty.” (Translation following the Aruch.)

Hashem didn’t create a world that “looked” brand new. The world which Hashem created was made fully populated with all forms of wild and plant life, roaring oceans, wild rainforests and boiling deserts. He created a world filled with evidence that it existed for billions of years.

There is no logical argument that Hashem needs to make the world look only 5786 years old. Why wouldn’t Hashem throw in a few pieces of outdated paperwork to make us feel at home?

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Good Shabbos.