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The Divine Hardening of Pharaoh's Heart
TANAKH
Pharaoh's heart was hardened by God to showcase divine power and fulfill the prophecy delivered through Moses. In the book of Exodus, God hardens Pharaoh's heart to ensure that His signs and wonders are fully revealed. This deliberate hardening of Pharaoh's heart allowed both Egyptians and Israelites to witness God's extraordinary miracles and recognize His supreme authority.
Liberating the Torah from Exile
CHASIDUT
The hardening of Pharaoh's heart and the servitude of the Israelites in Egypt were necessary to bring the Awareness, which is the Torah, out of exile. The 18th-century Hasidic work Me'or Einayim by Rabbi Menachem Nachum of Chernobyl offers mystical insights into the Torah, particularly focusing on the spiritual significance of the Israelites' servitude and the letters of the Torah.
Pharaoh's Misguided Faith
COMMENTARY
Pharaoh believed that Baal Tzefon, an idol, could counteract God's will. Sforno, a 16th-century Italian rabbi, explains Pharaoh's mistaken belief in the power of Baal Tzefon in his commentary on Exodus.
The Symbolism of the Burning Bush
COMMENTARY
Pharaoh's resistance to the plagues was preordained and symbolically represented to Moses at the burning bush. Rabbeinu Bahya, a medieval Jewish commentator, explains the burning bush as a metaphor for Pharaoh's unnatural obstinacy.
Preventing False Repentance
MUSAR
G–d hardened Pharaoh's heart to prevent a false appearance of repentance, which would lead to a desecration of G–d's name among the nations. Rabbi Isaiah HaLevi Horowitz, in his 17th-century work Shenei Luchot HaBerit, offers a profound explanation of the divine reasoning behind the hardening of Pharaoh's heart.
Divine Purpose and Human Free Will
COMMENTARY
The phrase 'God hardened Pharaoh’s heart' should be understood in the context of God's overarching role as the author of history. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks explores the concept of free will in the Torah portion Va'era, where God hardens Pharaoh's heart.
Madness in Pursuit
COMMENTARY
Pharaoh's relentless pursuit of the Israelites, even after witnessing the miraculous splitting of the sea, was an act of madness induced by G-d. Ramban, a prominent medieval Jewish scholar, offers a deep and insightful commentary on the hardening of Pharaoh's heart in the book of Exodus.
Miracles of Punishment and Transformation
CHASIDUT
God's miracles serve dual purposes: they can punish oppressors or inspire a change of heart. This is illustrated in the stories of Pharaoh and Achashverosh. Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, an 18th-century Hasidic scholar, explores these themes in his commentary on Shemot Rabbah, addressing the nature of divine intervention in the book of Exodus.
God's Demonstration of Power in Egypt
JEWISH THOUGHT
God’s deliberate hardening of Pharaoh's heart was a key aspect of demonstrating His power and ensuring that the Egyptians recognized Him as YHVH. Eliezer Berkovits, a 20th-century Jewish philosopher, examines this divine strategy in his analysis of the Exodus narrative.
Pharaoh's Dismissal of Miracles
COMMENTARY
Pharaoh dismissed Aaron's miracles as mere sorcery, claiming his own magicians could do the same. Rashbam, a medieval French Torah commentator, offers a plain meaning (peshat) interpretation of the Torah, focusing on the Book of Exodus.
Pharaoh's Pursuit
COMMENTARY
The Lord's intervention in Pharaoh's decisions was crucial in shaping the dramatic finale of the Exodus story. By hardening Pharaoh's heart, God led him to pursue the Israelites, who left Egypt not as fleeing escapees but with a sense of triumph.
Pharaoh's Silent Refusal
COMMENTARY
Pharaoh's silence after Aaron's demonstration was interpreted by God as a refusal to free the Israelites. This act of silence was seen as a manifestation of Pharaoh's hardened heart. Rabbi Chaim ibn Attar, in his 18th-century commentary Or HaChaim, provides a mystical and ethical perspective on Pharaoh's response to Moses and Aaron.
Pharaoh's Choice and Divine Power
COMMENTARY
God initially gave Pharaoh a choice and warned him of the worst plague from the very beginning, hoping that Pharaoh would not ignore God's threats. In his commentary on the Passover Haggadah, the guiding text of the Passover seder, Yaakov Ettlinger explains that God's intention was to demonstrate His power over everything, including life itself, through the progression of the plagues.
The Miraculous Rod
MIDRASH
The miraculous nature of Aaron's rod swallowing the other rods and turning back into its original form symbolizes the power of God over Pharaoh. The Midrash Tanchuma, an early medieval collection of midrash, provides deeper insights and moral lessons from the biblical text.
Divine Plan Behind Pharaoh's Stubbornness
SECOND TEMPLE
Pharaoh's stubbornness and the Egyptians' persistence were part of a divine plan to bring about their downfall. The Book of Jubilees, an apocryphal retelling of the events of the books of Genesis and Exodus, offers a retelling of the Exodus story with additional details, emphasizing the divine orchestration behind Pharaoh's actions.
Divine Judgment and Repentance
HALAKHAH
God's withholding of repentance is a form of judgment for those who have committed great iniquities, ensuring they face retribution for their sins. In the Mishneh Torah, Rambam, in his famed 12th-century code of Jewish law, explores the concept of Teshuvah (repentance) and divine retribution, emphasizing the consequences of willful sin.
Drawing, Page of a sketchbook; Moses before Pharaoh(.), ca. 1595 (CH 18117863). Cooper–Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
Drawing, Page of a sketchbook; Moses before Pharaoh(.), ca. 1595 (CH 18117863). Cooper–Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
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