Prophetic Actions Without Explicit Divine Sanction/1/en
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Prophetic Actions Without Explicit Divine Sanction
Introduction
Prophetic autonomy?
How much autonomy do prophets have? Must they consult with Hashem regarding their every deed, lest they veer from the Divine will, or may they act even without Divine sanction? Can a prophet declare a miracle on his own, and expect that nature will be overturned at his word? These questions are raised by the many instances where prophets seem to act, and even declare supernatural phenomena, without having previously received a Divine directive to do so :
- Moshe and the plagues – In Shemot 8, Moshe tells Paroh to sets a time for the plague of frogs to end, promising that it will terminate as requested.1 No where, though, does the text share that Hashem directed him to do so. How, then, could Moshe be certain that Hashem really wanted the plague to end, and that He would agree to do so?
- Moshe and meat – In Shemot 16, in the aftermath of the nation's complaints of hunger, Hashem promises to provide them with bread. When speaking to the people, however, Moshe adds that Hashem will provide them not only with bread, but also with meat.
- Moshe and Korach – During Korach's rebellion, Moshe appears to independently devise an incense test to prove whom God has chosen (Bemidbar 16:1-7), and later declares that the rebellions' leaders will die an unnatural death (Bemidbar 16:23-31). How could Moshe trust that Hashem would agree to his test and bring a miracle on his demand, especially considering that both were to bring death upon others?
- Moshe and the petition of Reuven and Gad – When Reuven and Gad negotiate to settle the land east of the Jordan (Bemidbar 32), Moshe grants them permission to do so, without first consulting with Hashem.
- Yehoshua and the sun – In Yehoshua 10, Yehoshua makes the famous declaration "שֶׁמֶשׁ בְּגִבְעוֹן דּוֹם", resulting in the sun standing still. The narrative concludes " And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a man", suggesting that in this incident Hashem really did change nature at the bidding of man, but also that this was unique and not replicated elsewhere.
- Shemuel and rain – When Shemuel rebukes the people for requesting a king in Shemuel I 12, he tells them that as a sign of their sinful behavior, he will cry out to Hashem and bnig a storm in the dry season.
