Torah and Jewish Idea > Torah and Jewish Idea
Why did G-d Grant the Magicians of Pharoah a small amount of power?
edu:
What I meant when I mentioned Rashi's explanation for the power granted the magicians, I was refering to the following:
רש"י שמות פרק ז
(ג) ואני אקשה - מאחר שהרשיע והתריס כנגדי, וגלוי לפני שאין נחת רוח באומות עובדי עבודה זרה לתת לב שלם לשוב, טוב לי שיתקשה לבו למען הרבות בו אותותי ותכירו אתם את גבורותי. וכן מדתו של הקב"ה מביא פורענות על האומות עובדי עבודה זרה כדי שישמעו ישראל וייראו, שנאמר (צפניה ג ו) הכרתי גוים נשמו פנותם וגו', (שם ז) אמרתי אך תיראי אותי תקחי מוסר, ואף על פי כן בחמש מכות הראשונות לא נאמר ויחזק ה' את לב פרעה, אלא ויחזק לב פרעה:
But you could argue the 2 issues (hardening Pharoah's heart and the power of the magicians) aren't necessarily connected.
If someone else doesn't do it first, at a later time I will try to translate, bli neder, for those who don't have a good understanding of hebrew the above passage.
muman613:
Well, in a line of thought consistent with what I have been saying the Torah says clearly that he will lay waste to Egypt as a result of Hashem hardening Pharaohs heart...
I can not translate that Rashi but looking at the lines in the Torah which he is discussing it is clear to me that Hashem says that Egypt will eventually relent after being punished by the plagues.
3. But I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and I will increase My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt.
4. But Pharaoh will not hearken to you, and I will lay My hand upon the Egyptians, and I will take My legions, My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt with great judgments.
5. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord when I stretch forth My hand over Egypt, and I will take the children of Israel out of their midst."
But Rashi is commenting on the the line "But I will harden" (ואני אקשה) and Chabads Rashi translation seems broken at the moment...
muman613:
edu,
I would love to hear your insight into this Rashi...
Here is the translation I have found on this Rashi...
http://www.tachash.org/texis/vtx/chverse/+lwwBmeYAz1ecPGxwwxFqt0Ldm15qFqAgrwpBnGaXsmFqMeR8qxG5neWykDXveuxww/search2.html#hit1
Verse 3: I will harden.87
Since he acted wickedly and in opposition towards Me, and it is revealed to Me that the nations take no pleasure in wholeheartedly repenting, it is better for Me that his heart be hardened so that My signs be increased against him and you will thereby recognize My power. This is the way of G-d: He brings punishment upon the wicked nations so that Israel may hear about it and fear [Him], as it is said:88 "I have cut off nations making their corners desolate . . . I said: If only you would fear Me then you (Israel) will accept admonition." Nevertheless, concerning the first five plagues it does not say: "G-d strengthened Pharaoh's heart" but, "Pharaoh's heart was strengthened."89
edu:
Muman613 asked for a commentary on
--- Quote ---Since he acted wickedly and in opposition towards Me, and it is revealed to Me that the nations take no pleasure in wholeheartedly repenting, it is better for Me that his heart be hardened so that My signs be increased against him and you will thereby recognize My power. This is the way of G-d: He brings punishment upon the wicked nations so that Israel may hear about it and fear [Him], as it is said:88 "I have cut off nations making their corners desolate . . . I said: If only you would fear Me then you (Israel) will accept admonition." Nevertheless, concerning the first five plagues it does not say: "G-d strengthened Pharaoh's heart" but, "Pharaoh's heart was strengthened."
--- End quote ---
Mizrachi says that had G-d not hardened Pharoah's heart, he would of cooperated with the request to send away Israel, in order to avoid suffering, but not because of an ideological belief that one must observe the will of G-d. Therefore, in that situation, it was better that he refused, so that would then be an excuse to perform wonderous plagues and signs against Pharoah, which would strengthen the fear of G-d by the true servants of G-d.
Siftei Chachamim, says that if Pharoah would have done a partial repentance and then received punishment for his sins, people would innacurately, blame the partial repentance as the source of the punishment. In this situation, it would be better for the world to clearly recognize that Pharoah was evil and an enemy of
G-d, so that his later downfall would be attributed to his rebellion against G-d.
muman613:
--- Quote from: edu on December 30, 2010, 01:46:29 AM ---Muman613 asked for a commentary on
--- Quote ---Since he acted wickedly and in opposition towards Me, and it is revealed to Me that the nations take no pleasure in wholeheartedly repenting, it is better for Me that his heart be hardened so that My signs be increased against him and you will thereby recognize My power. This is the way of G-d: He brings punishment upon the wicked nations so that Israel may hear about it and fear [Him], as it is said:88 "I have cut off nations making their corners desolate . . . I said: If only you would fear Me then you (Israel) will accept admonition." Nevertheless, concerning the first five plagues it does not say: "G-d strengthened Pharaoh's heart" but, "Pharaoh's heart was strengthened."
--- End quote ---
Mizrachi says that had G-d not hardened Pharoah's heart, he would of cooperated with the request to send away Israel, in order to avoid suffering, but not because of an ideological belief that one must observe the will of G-d. Therefore, in that situation, it was better that he refused, so that would then be an excuse to perform wonderous plagues and signs against Pharoah, which would strengthen the fear of G-d by the true servants of G-d.
Siftei Chachamim, says that if Pharoah would have done a partial repentance and then received punishment for his sins, people would innacurately, blame the partial repentance as the source of the punishment. In this situation, it would be better for the world to clearly recognize that Pharoah was evil and an enemy of
G-d, so that his later downfall would be attributed to his rebellion against G-d.
--- End quote ---
I believe that this is the reason there is the belief that everyone has free-will except politicians, rulers, presidents, and kings...
--- Quote ---http://www.aish.com/tp/i/moha/48957436.html
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We now realize that Moshe and Pharoh are more worthy as adversaries than we ever would have thought. Both have been selected, even preordained, for their respective missions. To a certain extent, neither had a choice.
Rabbi Dovid Shlomo Eibshitz (1755-1814) in his Arvei Nachal,9 explains that kings enjoy advantages as well as disadvantages as compared to commoners. Clearly, kings have numerous advantages in terms of wealth and power. This not withstanding, they are not always empowered by G-d to make their own decisions. Their choices impact too many people. While the concept of Free Will is considered by most authorities to be a cornerstone of Judaism, it is not an absolute concept. There are processes that G-d desires to happen, and others He wishes to block. Kings, who can impact so many lives,10 often have their Free Will suspended.11 This is the meaning of the verse in the Book of Mishlei: "The Heart of a king is in the hand of G-d." 12
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9. Arvei Nahal, Vayechi.
10. See Malbim on Mishlei 25:3.
11. See Meshech Chachma Sh'mot 6.
12. Mishlei 21:1.
--- End quote ---
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