Prophetic Actions Without Explicit Divine Sanction/2
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Prophetic Actions Without Explicit Divine Sanction
Exegetical Approaches
All Divinely Commanded
The miracles and deeds performed by a prophet are done via Divine command. Despite Hashem's instructions not being explicitly mentioned, it can be assumed that they were communicated to Moshe.
Sources:Josephus, R. Saadia Gaon, R. Yehuda ibn Balaam, Rashbam, Tosafot, Radak,1 Ramban #2, R. Yosef ibn Kaspi,2
Prophetic autonomy – According to this approach, prophets do not have the power to change nature on their own. All miracles that a prophet performs are done only at Hashem's command.3
Biblical cases
- Incense Test – Many of these sources4 point to Moshe's falling on his face after Korach's initial complaint as evidence that Moshe received a prophecy at that point in which Hashem told him how to proceed during the rebellion and directed him to propose the incense test. Rashbam further claims that Moshe's later words "בְּזֹאת תֵּדְעוּן כִּי י"י שְׁלָחַנִי לַעֲשׂוֹת אֵת כׇּל הַמַּעֲשִׂים הָאֵלֶּה" refer to the nation recognizing that the test was devised by Hashem, and not made up by Moshe.5
- Earth opening – Ramban maintains that in Hashem's words, "הֵעָלוּ מִסָּבִיב לְמִשְׁכַּן קֹרַח דָּתָן וַאֲבִירָם" He hinted that the earth was to swallow the leaders, so here, too, Moshe was not declaring a miracle on his own.
- Yehoshua and the sun – These sources would likely explain that Yehoshua was not decreeing that the sun stand still, but rather praying to Hashem for aid, hoping that He would acquiesce.
- Eliyahu's miracles
- Elisha's miracles
Why is Hashem's command not explicitly stated?
"מֵקִים דְּבַר עַבְדּוֹ"
Prophetic fallibility
Speaking/ Acting in Hashem's name
Moshe versus other prophets
Evaluation of Prophetic ability
Prophet's Own Initiative
A prophet is granted the ability by Hashem to act and perform wonders on his own initiative.
Prophetic Prayer
When a prophet declares that a miracle that was not Divinely commanded is to happen, he is in effect praying that Hashem will fulfill his words and risks the possibility that Hashem will not accede to his request.
Uniqueness of Moshe
