Difference between revisions of "Nature of the Bondage/1"
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<div><b><center><span class="highlighted-notice">This topic has not yet undergone editorial review</span></center></b></div> | <div><b><center><span class="highlighted-notice">This topic has not yet undergone editorial review</span></center></b></div> | ||
<h2>Models of Slavery</h2> | <h2>Models of Slavery</h2> | ||
| − | <p>When trying to imagine what the enslavement in Egypt was like, readers naturally look to similar experiences of oppression in modern times and read them back into the | + | <p>When trying to imagine what the enslavement in Egypt was like, readers naturally look to similar experiences of oppression in modern times and read them back into the narratives of Sefer Shemot.  Some envision barracks, emaciated figures, and concentration camp conditions.  Others picture plantation workers mercilessly being bought and sold from hand to hand, as occurred to slaves in the American South.</p> |
| − | <p>A close look at the verses in Sefer Shemot, however, suggests that such comparisons are inaccurate.  The verses indicate that Israelites had their own homes and possessions,<fn>See <a href="Shemot2-1-9" data-aht="source">Shemot 2:1-9</a>, <a href="Shemot9-6" data-aht="source">Shemot 9:6</a>, <a href="Shemot10-9" data-aht="source">Shemot 10:9</a>, and <a href="Shemot12-3-4" data-aht="source">Shemot 12:3-4</a>.</fn> their families remained intact<fn>See the description of Moshe's family in <a href="Shemot2-1-9" data-aht="source">Shemot 2:1-9</a>.</fn> and some people apparently | + | <p>A close look at the verses in Sefer Shemot, however, suggests that such comparisons are inaccurate.  The verses indicate that Israelites had their own homes and possessions,<fn>See <a href="Shemot2-1-9" data-aht="source">Shemot 2:1-9</a>, <a href="Shemot9-6" data-aht="source">Shemot 9:6</a>, <a href="Shemot10-9" data-aht="source">Shemot 10:9</a>, and <a href="Shemot12-3-4" data-aht="source">Shemot 12:3-4</a>.</fn> their families remained intact<fn>See the description of Moshe's family in <a href="Shemot2-1-9" data-aht="source">Shemot 2:1-9</a>.</fn> and some people apparently had freedom of movement and employment.<fn>Thus, Aharon meets Moshe in the wilderness in <a href="Shemot4-27-29" data-aht="source">Shemot 4:27-29</a> and Yocheved is available to nurse Moshe.  For a full discussion of who was enslaved, see <a href="Who was Enslaved in Egypt" data-aht="page">Who was Enslaved in Egypt?</a></fn>  In the Wilderness, the nation even nostalgically remembers their stay in Egypt,<fn>See <a href="Bemidbar11-5" data-aht="source">Bemidbar 11:5</a>.</fn> recalling the abundance of free fish and vegetables they had to eat!<fn>No holocaust survivor would ever have a similar reaction, asking to return to Auschwitz!</fn>  Do the nation's memories bear no resemblance to reality?  What does all this suggest about the character of the Israelite experience and the harshness of the conditions in Egypt?</p> |
| − | <h2>Taxation and Hard | + | <h2>Taxation and Hard Labor</h2> |
<p>The initial enslavement of the Nation of Israel is described in Shemot 1:11-14:</p> | <p>The initial enslavement of the Nation of Israel is described in Shemot 1:11-14:</p> | ||
<multilang style="overflow: auto;"> | <multilang style="overflow: auto;"> | ||
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<p>The above verses contain several lexical difficulties which affect one's understanding of the conditions in Egypt:</p> | <p>The above verses contain several lexical difficulties which affect one's understanding of the conditions in Egypt:</p> | ||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
| − | <li><b>שָׂרֵי מִסִּים</b> – The first stage of slavery entails the appointing of "tax officers".  Does this imply a monetary tax or a labor quota?  How does it relate to the building of cities | + | <li><b>שָׂרֵי מִסִּים</b> – The first stage of slavery entails the appointing of "tax officers".  Does this imply a monetary tax or a labor quota?  How does it relate to the building of storage cities described at the end of the verse? </li> |
| − | <li><b>וַיַּעֲבִדוּ מִצְרַיִם אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּפָרֶךְ </b>– This verse appears to constitute a worsening of the slave conditions.  How | + | <li><b>וַיַּעֲבִדוּ מִצְרַיִם אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּפָרֶךְ </b>– This verse appears to constitute a worsening of the slave conditions.  How did this work?  What does the term "פָרֶךְ" mean?  Does the word "מִצְרַיִם" refer to the Egyptian king or to the entire Egyptian nation?</li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
<h2>Additional Questions</h2> | <h2>Additional Questions</h2> | ||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
| − | <li><b>Genocide </b>– Shemot 1 discusses not only enslavement but also | + | <li><b>Genocide </b>– Shemot 1 discusses not only enslavement but also a genocide of male infants.  After the birth of Moshe in Chapter 2, however, this is never again mentioned in Sefer Shemot.  Moreover, there is never any reference to this infanticide in any other Biblical books which discuss the slavery in Egypt.  For how long was this particular decree in effect?  How significant an effect did it have on the Israelite population?</li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
| − | <li><b>Were the Children of Israel unique?</b>  Were the Israelites the only group of people enslaved or were there other | + | <li><b>Were the Children of Israel unique?</b>  Were the Israelites the only group of people enslaved, or were there other Egyptians or minorities who were similarly oppressed?</li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
| + | <notes> | ||
| + | These questions affect not only our understanding of the Egyptian bondage, but also our understanding of the messages that Hashem was attempting to convey through the Plagues and His redemption of the Children of Israel.  To examine some of the various possibilities, please proceed to <a href="2" data-aht="subpage">Approaches</a>. | ||
| + | </notes> | ||
</page> | </page> | ||
</aht-xml> | </aht-xml> | ||
Version as of 10:48, 8 May 2016
Nature of the Bondage
Introduction
Models of Slavery
When trying to imagine what the enslavement in Egypt was like, readers naturally look to similar experiences of oppression in modern times and read them back into the narratives of Sefer Shemot. Some envision barracks, emaciated figures, and concentration camp conditions. Others picture plantation workers mercilessly being bought and sold from hand to hand, as occurred to slaves in the American South.
A close look at the verses in Sefer Shemot, however, suggests that such comparisons are inaccurate. The verses indicate that Israelites had their own homes and possessions,1 their families remained intact2 and some people apparently had freedom of movement and employment.3 In the Wilderness, the nation even nostalgically remembers their stay in Egypt,4 recalling the abundance of free fish and vegetables they had to eat!5 Do the nation's memories bear no resemblance to reality? What does all this suggest about the character of the Israelite experience and the harshness of the conditions in Egypt?
Taxation and Hard Labor
The initial enslavement of the Nation of Israel is described in Shemot 1:11-14:
EN/HEע/E
(יא) וַיָּשִׂימוּ עָלָיו שָׂרֵי מִסִּים לְמַעַן עַנֹּתוֹ בְּסִבְלֹתָם וַיִּבֶן עָרֵי מִסְכְּנוֹת לְפַרְעֹה אֶת פִּתֹם וְאֶת רַעַמְסֵס. (יב) וְכַאֲשֶׁר יְעַנּוּ אֹתוֹ כֵּן יִרְבֶּה וְכֵן יִפְרֹץ וַיָּקֻצוּ מִפְּנֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. (יג) וַיַּעֲבִדוּ מִצְרַיִם אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּפָרֶךְ. (יד) וַיְמָרְרוּ אֶת חַיֵּיהֶם בַּעֲבֹדָה קָשָׁה בְּחֹמֶר וּבִלְבֵנִים וּבְכׇל עֲבֹדָה בַּשָּׂדֶה אֵת כׇּל עֲבֹדָתָם אֲשֶׁר עָבְדוּ בָהֶם בְּפָרֶךְ.
(11) Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh store-cities, Pithom and Raamses.
(12) But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And they were adread because of the children of Israel.
(13) And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour.
(14) And they made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field; in all their service, wherein they made them serve with rigour.
The above verses contain several lexical difficulties which affect one's understanding of the conditions in Egypt:
- שָׂרֵי מִסִּים – The first stage of slavery entails the appointing of "tax officers". Does this imply a monetary tax or a labor quota? How does it relate to the building of storage cities described at the end of the verse?
- וַיַּעֲבִדוּ מִצְרַיִם אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּפָרֶךְ – This verse appears to constitute a worsening of the slave conditions. How did this work? What does the term "פָרֶךְ" mean? Does the word "מִצְרַיִם" refer to the Egyptian king or to the entire Egyptian nation?
Additional Questions
- Genocide – Shemot 1 discusses not only enslavement but also a genocide of male infants. After the birth of Moshe in Chapter 2, however, this is never again mentioned in Sefer Shemot. Moreover, there is never any reference to this infanticide in any other Biblical books which discuss the slavery in Egypt. For how long was this particular decree in effect? How significant an effect did it have on the Israelite population?
- Were the Children of Israel unique? Were the Israelites the only group of people enslaved, or were there other Egyptians or minorities who were similarly oppressed?
These questions affect not only our understanding of the Egyptian bondage, but also our understanding of the messages that Hashem was attempting to convey through the Plagues and His redemption of the Children of Israel. To examine some of the various possibilities, please proceed to Approaches.
