Difference between revisions of "Philosophy:Miracles/2"
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<li><b>"וְהָעֹרְבִים מְבִאִים לוֹ לֶחֶם וּבָשָׂר"</b> – Radak brings an opinion that suggests that the word "הָעֹרְבִים" in this verse should be translated as "merchants", pointing to similar usage in Yechezkel 27:28. As such, it was nt ravens, but human merchants who provided Eliyahu with food.</li> | <li><b>"וְהָעֹרְבִים מְבִאִים לוֹ לֶחֶם וּבָשָׂר"</b> – Radak brings an opinion that suggests that the word "הָעֹרְבִים" in this verse should be translated as "merchants", pointing to similar usage in Yechezkel 27:28. As such, it was nt ravens, but human merchants who provided Eliyahu with food.</li> | ||
</ul></point> | </ul></point> | ||
− | <point><b>Philosophical motivations</b> – What leads these sources to desire to minimize miracles? A number of | + | <point><b>Philosophical motivations</b> – What leads these sources to desire to minimize miracles? A number of philosophical issues might be at play:<br/> |
<ul> | <ul> | ||
− | <li>Immutability of | + | <li><b>Immutability of nature</b>– This desire to minimize miracles stems, in part, from a belief in the immutability of the laws of nature.<fn>See Rambam Moreh Nevuchim 2:29 where he states that, on the whole, the natural order of the world does not change. He points out that this does not mean that Hashem can not bring miracles when He wants to, only that Hashem normally does not. He adds that even when supernatural miracles occur, changing the natural order to some extent, they are temporary phenomena, usually of short duration. [It should be noted that Rambam maintains that even the resurrection of the dead in Messianic times will only be temporary.]</fn> If Hashem set the laws of nature, they should be unchanging. as He Himself says, "עֹד כׇּל יְמֵי הָאָרֶץ זֶרַע וְקָצִיר וְקֹר וָחֹם וְקַיִץ וָחֹרֶף וְיוֹם וָלַיְלָה לֹא יִשְׁבֹּתוּ" (Bereshit 8:22).<fn>See also Kohelet 1:9, " מַה שֶּׁהָיָה הוּא שֶׁיִּהְיֶה וּמַה שֶּׁנַּעֲשָׂה הוּא שֶׁיֵּעָשֶׂה וְאֵין כׇּל חָדָשׁ תַּחַת הַשָּׁמֶשׁ", which might suggest that a "new" phenomenon can never be created. See Ralbag who writes,  "הנה התבאר.. שהם יראו שלא יתכן שיתחדש על דרך המופת אם לא מה שיתכן שיתחדש על המנהג הטבעי באורך הזמן". Ralbag suggests that a miracles can't create a phenomenon that could not otherwise happen in nature; it can simply speed up the process.</fn> Moreover, since natural law attests to the perfection of Hashem's Creation, any change thereof appears to suggest that Creation was not perfect, and that Hashem had not foreseen all that was necessary.<fn>This last point would not be an issue for Ralbag, who does not believe that Hashem knows all of man's particulars regardless.</fn></li> |
+ | <li><b>Limited view of Divine providence</b> – The less one views Hashem as actively involved in running the world, the less likely one is to suggest that He intervenes all the time through miracles. Thus, Rambam and Ralbag who posit that, on the whole, the world is run via nature, are more likely to view Biblical events as being as natural as possible. Moreover, since they view Divine providence to be directly related to a person's righteousness (or how in line they are with the Active Intellect), they will be likely to reinterpret any miracle which relates to an undeserving individual.<fn>Thus, for instance, one would be motivated to suggest that Lot's wife either did not die at all or died only via natural means.</fn> </li> | ||
+ | <li><b>Purpose of miracles </b>– Abarbanel claims that the magnitude of a miracle is directly proportional to the need that prompts it.<fn>He also speaks of the merits of the people who receive it.</fn>  Thus, if a miracle seems disproportionate to the benefit that it grants, there is a reason to minimize it.</li> | ||
+ | <li><b>Superiority of Moshe</b> – Another motivating factor that relates only to several specific miracles stems from the declaration in Devarim 34:10-11 that Moshe's miracles were unsurpassed by any other prophet. As such, miracles such as the sun standing still, or reviving the dead, which might otherwise rival those of Moshe, need to be re-interpreted. See <a href="Moshe's Epitaph – Signs and Wonders" data-aht="page">Moshe's Epitaph – Signs and Wonders</a> for elaboration. </li> | ||
</ul></point> | </ul></point> | ||
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− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
<point><b>Human agency</b></point> | <point><b>Human agency</b></point> | ||
+ | <point><b>Miracles not addressed</b></point> | ||
</opinion> | </opinion> | ||
<opinion name="Reduce the Supernatural"> | <opinion name="Reduce the Supernatural"> | ||
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<p>Stories which mentions wondrous, seemingly unnatural events, happened in reality, but never violated the laws of nature. Divine intervention is noticeable only in the timing or extent of the phenomena.</p> | <p>Stories which mentions wondrous, seemingly unnatural events, happened in reality, but never violated the laws of nature. Divine intervention is noticeable only in the timing or extent of the phenomena.</p> | ||
<mekorot><multilink><a href="ArtapanusCitedinEusebiusCh27" data-aht="source">Artapanus</a><a href="ArtapanusCitedinEusebiusCh27" data-aht="source">Cited in Eusebius Ch. 27</a><a href="Artapanus" data-aht="parshan">About Artapanus</a></multilink>, R. Saadia Gaon in <multilink><a href="IbnEzraBereshitFirstCommentary3-1" data-aht="source">Ibn Ezra</a><a href="IbnEzraBereshitFirstCommentary3-1" data-aht="source">Bereshit First Commentary 3:1</a><a href="IbnEzraBereshitSecondCommentary3-1" data-aht="source">Bereshit Second Commentary 3:1</a><a href="IbnEzraBemidbar22-28" data-aht="source">Bemidbar 22:28</a><a href="R. Avraham ibn Ezra" data-aht="parshan">About R. Avraham ibn Ezra</a></multilink><fn>The citation of R. Saadia in Ibn Ezra does not match R. Saadia's own commentary</fn>, Chivi in <multilink><a href="IbnEzraShemotSecondCommentary14-27" data-aht="source">Ibn Ezra</a><a href="IbnEzraShemotSecondCommentary14-27" data-aht="source">Shemot Second Commentary 14:27</a><a href="R. Avraham ibn Ezra" data-aht="parshan">About R. Avraham ibn Ezra</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RYosefBekhorShorBereshit18-2" data-aht="source">R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a><a href="RYosefBekhorShorBereshit18-2" data-aht="source">Bereshit 18:2</a><a href="R. Yosef Bekhor Shor" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RambamMorehNevukhim235" data-aht="source">Rambam</a><a href="RambamMorehNevukhim235" data-aht="source">Moreh Nevukhim 2 35</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Maimon" data-aht="parshan">About R. Moshe b. Maimon</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RadakYehoshua5-2" data-aht="source">Radak</a><a href="RadakYehoshua5-2" data-aht="source">Yehoshua 5:2</a><a href="RadakShemuelI28-24" data-aht="source">Shemuel I 28:24</a><a href="RadakMelakhimI17-21" data-aht="source">Melakhim I 17:21</a><a href="R. David Kimchi (Radak)" data-aht="parshan">About R. David Kimchi</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RYosefibnKaspiShemot11-10" data-aht="source">R. Yosef ibn Kaspi</a><a href="RYosefibnKaspiShemot11-10" data-aht="source">Shemot 11:10</a><a href="RYosefibnKaspiShemot14-20-21" data-aht="source">Shemot 14:20-21</a><a href="R. Yosef ibn Kaspi" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef ibn Kaspi</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RalbagBereshitBeurHaMilot18-2" data-aht="source">Ralbag</a><a href="RalbagShofetim6-36" data-aht="source">Shofetim 6:36</a><a href="RalbagBereshitBeurHaMilot3" data-aht="source">Bereshit Beur HaMilot 3</a><a href="RalbagBereshitBeurHaMilot16-7" data-aht="source">Bereshit Beur HaMilot 16:7</a><a href="RalbagBereshitBeurHaMilot18-2" data-aht="source">Bereshit Beur HaMilot 18:2</a><a href="RalbagBereshitBeurHaMilot21-17" data-aht="source">Bereshit Beur HaMilot 21:17</a><a href="RalbagBereshitBeurHaMilot32-2" data-aht="source">Bereshit Beur HaMilot 32:2</a><a href="RalbagBereshitBeurHaParashah19-37" data-aht="source">Bereshit Beur HaParashah 19:37</a><a href="RalbagBereshitBeurHaParashah32-2" data-aht="source">Bereshit Beur HaParashah 32:2</a><a href="RalbagBereshitBeurHaParashah32-23-32" data-aht="source">Bereshit Beur HaParashah 32:23-32</a><a href="RalbagBemidbar22-21" data-aht="source">Bemidbar 22:21</a><a href="RalbagYehoshua4-20" data-aht="source">Yehoshua 4:20</a><a href="RalbagYehoshua10-12-13" data-aht="source">Yehoshua 10:12-13</a><a href="RalbagMelakhimIToalot17-15" data-aht="source">Melakhim I Toalot 17:15</a><a href="RalbagMelakhimIToalot18-37" data-aht="source">Melakhim I Toalot 18:37</a><a href="R. Levi b. Gershom (Ralbag, Gersonides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Levi b. Gershom</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="AbarbanelShemot7-14" data-aht="source">Abarbanel</a><a href="AbarbanelShemot7-14" data-aht="source">Shemot 7:14</a><a href="R. Yitzchak Abarbanel" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="ShadalShemot7-11" data-aht="source">Shadal</a><a href="ShadalShemot7-11" data-aht="source">Shemot 7:11</a><a href="ShadalShemot7-20" data-aht="source">Shemot 7:20</a><a href="ShadalShemot7-27" data-aht="source">Shemot 7:27</a><a href="ShadalShemot8-3" data-aht="source">Shemot 8:3</a><a href="ShadalShemot9-3" data-aht="source">Shemot 9:3</a><a href="ShadalShemot10-4" data-aht="source">Shemot 10:4</a><a href="ShadalShemot10-15" data-aht="source">Shemot 10:15</a><a href="ShadalShemot10-21" data-aht="source">Shemot 10:21</a><a href="ShadalShemot14-21-22" data-aht="source">Shemot 14:21-22</a><a href="R. Shemuel David Luzzatto (Shadal)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shemuel David Luzzatto</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RDavidZviHoffmannShemot7-18" data-aht="source">R. David Zvi Hoffmann</a><a href="RDavidZviHoffmannShemot7-18" data-aht="source">Shemot 7:18</a><a href="RDavidZviHoffmannShemot8-2" data-aht="source">Shemot 8:2</a><a href="RDavidZviHoffmannShemot9-5" data-aht="source">Shemot 9:5</a><a href="RDavidZviHoffmannShemot9-8-10" data-aht="source">Shemot 9:8-10</a><a href="RDavidZviHoffmannShemot10-22" data-aht="source">Shemot 10:22</a><a href="R. David Zvi Hoffmann" data-aht="parshan">About R. David Zvi Hoffmann</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="UCassutoShemot7-17" data-aht="source">U. Cassuto</a><a href="UCassutoShemot7-17" data-aht="source">Shemot 7:17</a><a href="UCassutoShemot7-27" data-aht="source">Shemot 7:27</a><a href="UCassutoShemot9-9" data-aht="source">Shemot 9:9</a><a href="UCassutoShemot10-14" data-aht="source">Shemot 10:14</a><a href="UCassutoShemot14-21-22" data-aht="source">Shemot 14:21-22</a><a href="Prof. Umberto Cassuto" data-aht="parshan">About Prof. Umberto Cassuto</a></multilink></mekorot> | <mekorot><multilink><a href="ArtapanusCitedinEusebiusCh27" data-aht="source">Artapanus</a><a href="ArtapanusCitedinEusebiusCh27" data-aht="source">Cited in Eusebius Ch. 27</a><a href="Artapanus" data-aht="parshan">About Artapanus</a></multilink>, R. Saadia Gaon in <multilink><a href="IbnEzraBereshitFirstCommentary3-1" data-aht="source">Ibn Ezra</a><a href="IbnEzraBereshitFirstCommentary3-1" data-aht="source">Bereshit First Commentary 3:1</a><a href="IbnEzraBereshitSecondCommentary3-1" data-aht="source">Bereshit Second Commentary 3:1</a><a href="IbnEzraBemidbar22-28" data-aht="source">Bemidbar 22:28</a><a href="R. Avraham ibn Ezra" data-aht="parshan">About R. Avraham ibn Ezra</a></multilink><fn>The citation of R. Saadia in Ibn Ezra does not match R. Saadia's own commentary</fn>, Chivi in <multilink><a href="IbnEzraShemotSecondCommentary14-27" data-aht="source">Ibn Ezra</a><a href="IbnEzraShemotSecondCommentary14-27" data-aht="source">Shemot Second Commentary 14:27</a><a href="R. Avraham ibn Ezra" data-aht="parshan">About R. Avraham ibn Ezra</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RYosefBekhorShorBereshit18-2" data-aht="source">R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a><a href="RYosefBekhorShorBereshit18-2" data-aht="source">Bereshit 18:2</a><a href="R. Yosef Bekhor Shor" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RambamMorehNevukhim235" data-aht="source">Rambam</a><a href="RambamMorehNevukhim235" data-aht="source">Moreh Nevukhim 2 35</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Maimon" data-aht="parshan">About R. Moshe b. Maimon</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RadakYehoshua5-2" data-aht="source">Radak</a><a href="RadakYehoshua5-2" data-aht="source">Yehoshua 5:2</a><a href="RadakShemuelI28-24" data-aht="source">Shemuel I 28:24</a><a href="RadakMelakhimI17-21" data-aht="source">Melakhim I 17:21</a><a href="R. David Kimchi (Radak)" data-aht="parshan">About R. David Kimchi</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RYosefibnKaspiShemot11-10" data-aht="source">R. Yosef ibn Kaspi</a><a href="RYosefibnKaspiShemot11-10" data-aht="source">Shemot 11:10</a><a href="RYosefibnKaspiShemot14-20-21" data-aht="source">Shemot 14:20-21</a><a href="R. Yosef ibn Kaspi" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef ibn Kaspi</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RalbagBereshitBeurHaMilot18-2" data-aht="source">Ralbag</a><a href="RalbagShofetim6-36" data-aht="source">Shofetim 6:36</a><a href="RalbagBereshitBeurHaMilot3" data-aht="source">Bereshit Beur HaMilot 3</a><a href="RalbagBereshitBeurHaMilot16-7" data-aht="source">Bereshit Beur HaMilot 16:7</a><a href="RalbagBereshitBeurHaMilot18-2" data-aht="source">Bereshit Beur HaMilot 18:2</a><a href="RalbagBereshitBeurHaMilot21-17" data-aht="source">Bereshit Beur HaMilot 21:17</a><a href="RalbagBereshitBeurHaMilot32-2" data-aht="source">Bereshit Beur HaMilot 32:2</a><a href="RalbagBereshitBeurHaParashah19-37" data-aht="source">Bereshit Beur HaParashah 19:37</a><a href="RalbagBereshitBeurHaParashah32-2" data-aht="source">Bereshit Beur HaParashah 32:2</a><a href="RalbagBereshitBeurHaParashah32-23-32" data-aht="source">Bereshit Beur HaParashah 32:23-32</a><a href="RalbagBemidbar22-21" data-aht="source">Bemidbar 22:21</a><a href="RalbagYehoshua4-20" data-aht="source">Yehoshua 4:20</a><a href="RalbagYehoshua10-12-13" data-aht="source">Yehoshua 10:12-13</a><a href="RalbagMelakhimIToalot17-15" data-aht="source">Melakhim I Toalot 17:15</a><a href="RalbagMelakhimIToalot18-37" data-aht="source">Melakhim I Toalot 18:37</a><a href="R. Levi b. Gershom (Ralbag, Gersonides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Levi b. Gershom</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="AbarbanelShemot7-14" data-aht="source">Abarbanel</a><a href="AbarbanelShemot7-14" data-aht="source">Shemot 7:14</a><a href="R. Yitzchak Abarbanel" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="ShadalShemot7-11" data-aht="source">Shadal</a><a href="ShadalShemot7-11" data-aht="source">Shemot 7:11</a><a href="ShadalShemot7-20" data-aht="source">Shemot 7:20</a><a href="ShadalShemot7-27" data-aht="source">Shemot 7:27</a><a href="ShadalShemot8-3" data-aht="source">Shemot 8:3</a><a href="ShadalShemot9-3" data-aht="source">Shemot 9:3</a><a href="ShadalShemot10-4" data-aht="source">Shemot 10:4</a><a href="ShadalShemot10-15" data-aht="source">Shemot 10:15</a><a href="ShadalShemot10-21" data-aht="source">Shemot 10:21</a><a href="ShadalShemot14-21-22" data-aht="source">Shemot 14:21-22</a><a href="R. Shemuel David Luzzatto (Shadal)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shemuel David Luzzatto</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RDavidZviHoffmannShemot7-18" data-aht="source">R. David Zvi Hoffmann</a><a href="RDavidZviHoffmannShemot7-18" data-aht="source">Shemot 7:18</a><a href="RDavidZviHoffmannShemot8-2" data-aht="source">Shemot 8:2</a><a href="RDavidZviHoffmannShemot9-5" data-aht="source">Shemot 9:5</a><a href="RDavidZviHoffmannShemot9-8-10" data-aht="source">Shemot 9:8-10</a><a href="RDavidZviHoffmannShemot10-22" data-aht="source">Shemot 10:22</a><a href="R. David Zvi Hoffmann" data-aht="parshan">About R. David Zvi Hoffmann</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="UCassutoShemot7-17" data-aht="source">U. Cassuto</a><a href="UCassutoShemot7-17" data-aht="source">Shemot 7:17</a><a href="UCassutoShemot7-27" data-aht="source">Shemot 7:27</a><a href="UCassutoShemot9-9" data-aht="source">Shemot 9:9</a><a href="UCassutoShemot10-14" data-aht="source">Shemot 10:14</a><a href="UCassutoShemot14-21-22" data-aht="source">Shemot 14:21-22</a><a href="Prof. Umberto Cassuto" data-aht="parshan">About Prof. Umberto Cassuto</a></multilink></mekorot> | ||
− | <point><b>Talking animals</b><ul> | + | <point><b>Talking animals</b> – This position assumes that the animals communicated to those around them, in the nammer of animals, not via human speech:<br/> |
− | <li><b>Snake in Eden</b> – An anonymous explanation brought by <multilink><a href="IbnEzraBereshitFirstCommentary3-1" data-aht="source">Ibn Ezra</a><a href="IbnEzraBereshitFirstCommentary3-1" data-aht="source">Bereshit First Commentary 3:1</a><a href="R. Avraham ibn Ezra" data-aht="parshan">About R. Avraham ibn Ezra</a></multilink> suggests that Chava understood the snake's hissing to mean what the Torah says in his name, but that the snake did not actually speak.<fn> | + | <ul> |
+ | <li><b>Snake in Eden</b> – An anonymous explanation brought by <multilink><a href="IbnEzraBereshitFirstCommentary3-1" data-aht="source">Ibn Ezra</a><a href="IbnEzraBereshitFirstCommentary3-1" data-aht="source">Bereshit First Commentary 3:1</a><a href="R. Avraham ibn Ezra" data-aht="parshan">About R. Avraham ibn Ezra</a></multilink> suggests that Chava understood the snake's hissing to mean what the Torah says in his name, but that the snake did not actually speak.<fn>In contrast, according to R. Saadia, as brought by Ibn Ezra, an angel (whom he views as being part of the natural order of the world) spoke on the snake's behalf.</fn> Abarbanel explains simiallry hat the snakes' eating fo th fruit withoutharmful affects, expressed tehmessage of the verse "לֹא מוֹת תְּמֻתוּן".</li> | ||
<li><b>Bilam's donkey</b> – <multilink><a href="ShadalShemot7-11" data-aht="source">Shadal</a><a href="ShadalShemot7-11" data-aht="source">Shemot 7:11</a><a href="ShadalShemot7-20" data-aht="source">Shemot 7:20</a><a href="ShadalShemot7-27" data-aht="source">Shemot 7:27</a><a href="ShadalShemot8-3" data-aht="source">Shemot 8:3</a><a href="ShadalShemot9-3" data-aht="source">Shemot 9:3</a><a href="ShadalShemot10-4" data-aht="source">Shemot 10:4</a><a href="ShadalShemot10-15" data-aht="source">Shemot 10:15</a><a href="ShadalShemot10-21" data-aht="source">Shemot 10:21</a><a href="ShadalShemot14-21-22" data-aht="source">Shemot 14:21-22</a><a href="ShadalYeshayahu40-3" data-aht="source">Yeshayahu 40:3</a><a href="R. Shemuel David Luzzatto (Shadal)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shemuel David Luzzatto</a></multilink> explains the speech of the donkey similarly, suggesting that Bilam understood its brays, not that it used human speech. </li> | <li><b>Bilam's donkey</b> – <multilink><a href="ShadalShemot7-11" data-aht="source">Shadal</a><a href="ShadalShemot7-11" data-aht="source">Shemot 7:11</a><a href="ShadalShemot7-20" data-aht="source">Shemot 7:20</a><a href="ShadalShemot7-27" data-aht="source">Shemot 7:27</a><a href="ShadalShemot8-3" data-aht="source">Shemot 8:3</a><a href="ShadalShemot9-3" data-aht="source">Shemot 9:3</a><a href="ShadalShemot10-4" data-aht="source">Shemot 10:4</a><a href="ShadalShemot10-15" data-aht="source">Shemot 10:15</a><a href="ShadalShemot10-21" data-aht="source">Shemot 10:21</a><a href="ShadalShemot14-21-22" data-aht="source">Shemot 14:21-22</a><a href="ShadalYeshayahu40-3" data-aht="source">Yeshayahu 40:3</a><a href="R. Shemuel David Luzzatto (Shadal)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shemuel David Luzzatto</a></multilink> explains the speech of the donkey similarly, suggesting that Bilam understood its brays, not that it used human speech. </li> | ||
</ul></point> | </ul></point> | ||
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<point><b>Prophecy and Nature</b></point> | <point><b>Prophecy and Nature</b></point> | ||
<point><b>National vs. individual miracles</b></point> | <point><b>National vs. individual miracles</b></point> | ||
− | <point><b>Motivating factors</b> – | + | <point><b>Motivating factors</b> – This position is motivated by the same factors as the above approach: belief in the immutability of nature, a limited view of Divine providence, a desire that miracles be in proportion to their need, and the need to ensure the supremacy of Moshe's wonders. See discussion above for details.</point> |
</opinion> | </opinion> | ||
</category> | </category> |
Version as of 07:28, 4 December 2018
Miracles
Exegetical Approaches
Minimized Miracles
There is an attempt to minimize the miracles mentioned in Tanakh, either by suggesting that certain seemingly supernatural phenomenon did not occur at all, or by suggesting that the events did not contravene the laws of nature.
Reduce the Number of Miracles
Certain verses in Tanakh which appear to describe a violation of the laws of nature are reinterpreted and understood not to have happened in reality.
- Bilam's donkey – According to Rambam and Ralbag, Bilam's entire encounter with the donkey and angel only took place in a prophetic dream, so here, too, no animal spoke.
- Gidon's signs – Rambam3 asserts that the signs performed for Gidon with the wet and dry fleece took place only in a dream.
- Physical manifestations of angels – According to Rambam and Ralbag, angels are incorporeal beings whose physical manifestation to man, a material being, would be a violation of the laws of nature. As such, they reinterpret many stories which mention angels appearing or speaking as being prophetic dreams.4
- Sun standing still – Ralbag5 maintains that due to the speed of the nation's victory over their enemies, there was a perception that time stood still and that the day had been lengthened, though in reality it had not.6
- Reviving the "dead" - According to one opinion brought (and rejected) by Radak,7 the boy that Eliyahu revived had never died, but was only unconscious. He was so sick, and his pulse and breathing were so faint (or non-existent) that his mother thought him dead.8 Thus, though Eliyahu only resuscitated the boy,9 it was perceived as if he miraculously brought him back from the dead.
- Sun standing still – R. Walfish10 suggests that the description of the sun's standing still is simply a metaphoric way of expressing how the forces of nature aided Israel in battle.11 For elaboration, see Stopping of the Sun at Givon.
- Miracles in the End of Days – According to Rambam, the prophecies regarding changes in nature in the end of days, such as Yeshayahu 11:6-7, should be understood metaphorically as referring to world peace, and not as actual changes in the behavior of animals.12
- Lot's wife – According to Ralbag the referent of the word "וַתְּהִי" in the phrase "וַתְּהִי נְצִיב מֶלַח" is not Lot's wife but the land. The verse shares how she witnessed the land of Sedom become a mound of salt. For elaboration, see Lot's Wife and Her Fate.
- "מלאכים" – Ralbag points out that the word "מלאך" merely means a messenger13 and thus need not refer to celestial beings who supernaturally appear in physical form to man, but might instead refer to human prophets.14
- "וְהָעֹרְבִים מְבִאִים לוֹ לֶחֶם וּבָשָׂר" – Radak brings an opinion that suggests that the word "הָעֹרְבִים" in this verse should be translated as "merchants", pointing to similar usage in Yechezkel 27:28. As such, it was nt ravens, but human merchants who provided Eliyahu with food.
- Immutability of nature– This desire to minimize miracles stems, in part, from a belief in the immutability of the laws of nature.15 If Hashem set the laws of nature, they should be unchanging. as He Himself says, "עֹד כׇּל יְמֵי הָאָרֶץ זֶרַע וְקָצִיר וְקֹר וָחֹם וְקַיִץ וָחֹרֶף וְיוֹם וָלַיְלָה לֹא יִשְׁבֹּתוּ" (Bereshit 8:22).16 Moreover, since natural law attests to the perfection of Hashem's Creation, any change thereof appears to suggest that Creation was not perfect, and that Hashem had not foreseen all that was necessary.17
- Limited view of Divine providence – The less one views Hashem as actively involved in running the world, the less likely one is to suggest that He intervenes all the time through miracles. Thus, Rambam and Ralbag who posit that, on the whole, the world is run via nature, are more likely to view Biblical events as being as natural as possible. Moreover, since they view Divine providence to be directly related to a person's righteousness (or how in line they are with the Active Intellect), they will be likely to reinterpret any miracle which relates to an undeserving individual.18
- Purpose of miracles – Abarbanel claims that the magnitude of a miracle is directly proportional to the need that prompts it.19 Thus, if a miracle seems disproportionate to the benefit that it grants, there is a reason to minimize it.
- Superiority of Moshe – Another motivating factor that relates only to several specific miracles stems from the declaration in Devarim 34:10-11 that Moshe's miracles were unsurpassed by any other prophet. As such, miracles such as the sun standing still, or reviving the dead, which might otherwise rival those of Moshe, need to be re-interpreted. See Moshe's Epitaph – Signs and Wonders for elaboration.
Reduce the Supernatural Element
Stories which mentions wondrous, seemingly unnatural events, happened in reality, but never violated the laws of nature. Divine intervention is noticeable only in the timing or extent of the phenomena.
- Snake in Eden – An anonymous explanation brought by Ibn Ezra suggests that Chava understood the snake's hissing to mean what the Torah says in his name, but that the snake did not actually speak.21 Abarbanel explains simiallry hat the snakes' eating fo th fruit withoutharmful affects, expressed tehmessage of the verse "לֹא מוֹת תְּמֻתוּן".
- Bilam's donkey – Shadal explains the speech of the donkey similarly, suggesting that Bilam understood its brays, not that it used human speech.
- Ibn Kaspi and Abarbanel explain the plagues from the plague of frogs forward to have been caused by a simple chain of effects spawned by the plague of blood. The blood spoiled the waters of the Nile, leading the frogs to invade the country; their deaths, then, invited insects in the form of "כנים" and so forth.22
- Shadal, R. D"Z Hoffmann, and Cassuto further point out that many of the plagues are known natural phenomenon that occasionally strike Egypt,23 stating that the miracle was simply in the timing and severity of the plagues. For further elaboration, see The Plagues – Natural or Supernatural?
- Manna – As early as Josephus, there have been attempts to identify the manna that fell in the Wilderness with similar natural phenomena known in contemporary times. See, for example, the opinion of Chivi brought (and rejected by) Ibn Ezra, and R. D"Z Hoffmann's exploration of the points of contact and contrast between the "manna" collected by Beduins from the Tamarisk tree and Biblical manna.25
- Selav – See Ramban, Hoil Moshe and R. D"Z Hoffmann who claim that Hashem employed nature in bringing the "שְׂלָו", with the latter referencing modern accounts of quail migrations.26 Some modern scholars27 further attempt to explain the deaths of those who gorged on the quail in Bemibar as also being (at least partially) a natural consequence of their actions rather than a miraculous Divine punishment.28 For discussion, see שְׂלָו – Fish or Fowl.
- Clothing – Ibn Ezra and Shadal suggest that the clothing of the nation lasted for forty years, not due to a miracle, but because they had left with several sets.29 For further discussion of the degree to which the nation led a miraculous existence throughout the sojourn in the Wilderness, see Life in the Wilderness.
Supernatural Miracles
Stories of miracles should be understood literally as historical accounts of what happened.
Face Value
Miracles in Tanakh are understood to have occurred as described.
- Ramban views miracles as proof that nature is not unchanging, and therefore that the belief in the eternity of the world is false.
- All miracles were preordained during creation, and the laws of nature contain specific exceptions for each and every miracle. According to Rambam, nature is immutable, and therefore all miracles must have been set in nature from the day of creation.
- According to Rambam, Avraham's did not receive any guests in reality, but rather the whole story happened in a prophetic vision. Ibn Kaspi and Abarbanel elaborate on this, explaining the angels' appearance to Lot in the following chapter as either a continuation of Avraham's vision, or a separate dream of Lot. For further detail, see the Divine Prophecy approach of Avraham's Guests – Angels or Men?
- According to Rambam, Yaakov's various encounters with angels all happened in a dream.35
Embellished
Many of the miracles described n Tanakh are embellished, and described as even more miraculous than they originally seem.