Bizarre Prophetic Commands/2

Bizarre Prophetic Commands

Exegetical Approaches

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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.

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 directive or make it easier for the prophet.

Non-literal Fulfillment

Many of Hashem's commands are reinterpreted, easing their fulfillment and making them accord with