Divine Plans and Egyptian Free Choice/1/en
Divine Plans and Egyptian Free Choice
Introduction
Introduction
In Tanakh, exile, subjugation, and salvation are almost always Divinely directed processes, and Hashem's role in bringing them about is generally made explicit.1 The redemption from Egypt is no exception to this rule, as Shemot 3–15 depict in great detail Hashem's active intervention in redeeming the Israelites and punishing the Egyptians.2 In contrast, though, the first two chapters of Shemot are totally silent about any role Hashem may have played in facilitating the exile3 and bondage.4 Did Hashem play a role behind the scenes in the events that led to the enslavement of the Israelites, and the text merely preferred not to emphasize it? Or did Paroh and the Egyptians have free reign to do as they wished to the Children of Israel, while Hashem just watched from the sidelines?5
Divine Foreknowledge
Active Intervention
The clearest indication that Hashem played an active part in initiating the slavery comes from a verse in Tehillim 105:25
הָפַךְ לִבָּם לִשְׂנֹא עַמּוֹ לְהִתְנַכֵּל בַּעֲבָדָיו.
He turned their heart to hate His people, To deal craftily with His servants.
This verse appears to imply that Hashem manipulated the Egyptians and caused them to hate the Israelites and plot against them. But why would Hashem take away Egyptian free will? And if Hashem caused the slavery, why should the Egyptians have to pay the price? In sum, what would be the point of forcing the Egyptians to punish the Israelites, just so the Egyptians, in turn, could be punished themselves? These vexing problems have prompted some commentators to attempt to offer solutions, while motivating others to try to reinterpret the words of the Psalmist.
