Difference between revisions of "Bizarre Prophetic Commands/2"
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<category>Prophetic Vision | <category>Prophetic Vision | ||
<p>The bizarre actions commanded to prophets and their fulfillment took place only in prophetic visions.  They were meant to act only as analogies, not to be active public displays.</p> | <p>The bizarre actions commanded to prophets and their fulfillment took place only in prophetic visions.  They were meant to act only as analogies, not to be active public displays.</p> | ||
| + | <mekorot><multilink><a href="IbnEzraHosheaFirstCommentary1-2" data-aht="source">Ibn Ezra</a><a href="IbnEzraHosheaFirstCommentary1-2" data-aht="source">Hoshea First Commentary 1:2</a><a href="R. Avraham ibn Ezra" data-aht="parshan">About R. Avraham ibn Ezra</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RambamMorehNevukhim246" data-aht="source">Rambam</a><a href="RambamMorehNevukhim246" data-aht="source">2 46</a><a href="Rambam Moreh Nevukhim" data-aht="parshan">About Rambam Moreh Nevukhim</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RadakYeshayahu20-2-3" data-aht="source">Radak</a><a href="RadakYeshayahu20-2-3" data-aht="source">Yeshayahu 20:2-3</a><a href="RadakYechezkel4-4" data-aht="source">Yechezkel 4:4</a><a href="RadakYechezkel4-9" data-aht="source">Yechezkel 4:9</a><a href="RadakYechezkel5-1" data-aht="source">Yechezkel 5:1</a><a href="RadakHoshea1-2" data-aht="source">Hoshea 1:2</a><a href="R. David Kimchi (Radak)" data-aht="parshan">About R. David Kimchi</a></multilink></mekorot> | ||
| + | <point><b>Prophetic standards</b> – These sources find it unfathomable that Hashem would command his prophets to act in ways which would cause others to view them as unstable or mad. If a prophet walks around naked, marries a prostitute, or lies on his side for months on end, how can he earn the respect of the people and have his rebukes to be heard?</point> | ||
| + | <point><b>Transgressions</b></point> | ||
| + | <point><b>No mention of vision</b></point> | ||
| + | <point><b>Intended audience</b></point> | ||
| + | <point><b>Efficacy of prophecy</b></point> | ||
</category> | </category> | ||
<category>Symbolic Action | <category>Symbolic Action | ||
| Line 14: | Line 20: | ||
<opinion>Literal Fulfillment | <opinion>Literal Fulfillment | ||
<p>Hashem's commands are understood literally, without an attempt to soften the directives or make life easier for the prophet.</p> | <p>Hashem's commands are understood literally, without an attempt to soften the directives or make life easier for the prophet.</p> | ||
| + | <mekorot><multilink><a href="RYosefibnKaspiYeshayahu20-2" data-aht="source">R. Yosef ibn Kaspi</a><a href="RYosefibnKaspiYeshayahu20-2" data-aht="source">Yeshayahu 20:2</a><a href="RYosefibnKaspiHoshea1-2" data-aht="source">Hoshea 1:2</a><a href="R. Yosef ibn Kaspi" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef ibn Kaspi</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="AbarbanelYeshayahu20-1" data-aht="source">Abarbanel</a><a href="AbarbanelYeshayahu20-1" data-aht="source">Yeshayahu 20:1</a><a href="AbarbanelYechezkel5-1" data-aht="source">Yechezkel 5:1</a><a href="AbarbanelHoshea1-2" data-aht="source">Hoshea 1:2</a><a href="R. Yitzchak Abarbanel" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="MalbimHosheaBeurHaInyan1-2" data-aht="source">Malbim</a><a href="MalbimHosheaBeurHaInyan1-2" data-aht="source">Hoshea Beur HaInyan 1:2</a><a href="R. Meir Leibush Weiser (Malbim)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Meir Leibush Weiser</a></multilink></mekorot> | ||
</opinion> | </opinion> | ||
<opinion>Non-literal Fulfillment | <opinion>Non-literal Fulfillment | ||
<p>Many of Hashem's commands are reinterpreted, easing their fulfillment and making them accord more with the standards of behavior expected of a prophet.</p> | <p>Many of Hashem's commands are reinterpreted, easing their fulfillment and making them accord more with the standards of behavior expected of a prophet.</p> | ||
| + | <mekorot><multilink><a href="ShadalYeshayahu20-2" data-aht="source">Shadal</a><a href="ShadalYeshayahu20-2" data-aht="source">Yeshayahu 20:2</a><a href="ShadalYechezkel4-4" data-aht="source">Yechezkel 4:4</a><a href="ShadalYechezkel4-12" data-aht="source">Yechezkel 4:12</a><a href="R. Shemuel David Luzzatto (Shadal)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shemuel David Luzzatto</a></multilink></mekorot> | ||
</opinion> | </opinion> | ||
</category> | </category> | ||
Version as of 05:14, 2 October 2018
Bizarre Prophetic Commands
Exegetical Approaches
Prophetic Vision
The bizarre actions commanded to prophets and their fulfillment took place only in prophetic visions. They were meant to act only as analogies, not to be active public displays.
Prophetic standards – These sources find it unfathomable that Hashem would command his prophets to act in ways which would cause others to view them as unstable or mad. If a prophet walks around naked, marries a prostitute, or lies on his side for months on end, how can he earn the respect of the people and have his rebukes to be heard?
Transgressions
No mention of vision
Intended audience
Efficacy of prophecy
Symbolic Action
Hashem's commands were actively fulfilled, despite the embarrassment or pain they might have caused the prophet. This position subdivides, with some commentators assuming that all the commands were fulfilled to the letter and others re-interpreting Hashem's words to mitigate the difficulty their fulfillment might pose for the prophet.
Literal Fulfillment
Hashem's commands are understood literally, without an attempt to soften the directives or make life easier for the prophet.
Non-literal Fulfillment
Many of Hashem's commands are reinterpreted, easing their fulfillment and making them accord more with the standards of behavior expected of a prophet.
Sources:Shadal
