Purposes of the Egyptian Bondage

Points of Dispute

These are some of the central points of dispute (נקודות המחלוקת) between the various exegetes:

Religious identity of the Israelites in Egypt
- Completely righteous – Ran, R. Chasdai Crescas, Tzeror HaMor, Malbim
- Needed to be taught belief in Hashem – Ralbag, Ma'asei Hashem
- Assimilated and idolatrous – Radak, Nimmukei Yosef, Sforno, Netziv
Does Hashem punish children for the sins of fathers?
- Yes – Three Amoraic opinions in Bavli Nedarim, Vayikra Rabbah, Targum Yerushalmi (Yonatan), Tanchuma, R. Yochanan b. Zakkai in Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer (Higger), Ramban, Mishnat Rabbi Eliezer, Opinion cited (and rejected) by Akeidat Yitzchak, Abarbanel (Approach #1)¹
- No – Akeidat Yitzchak, Abarbanel
Collective punishment
- Yes – Abarbanel (Approach #1)
- No – Akeidat Yitzchak
Afflictions without sin?
- Yes – Rashi, Ran, R. Chasdai Crescas
- No – Ramban
Why in Egypt?
- Ma'aseh Avot Siman LeBanim – Ramban
- Measure for measure – Abarbanel (Approach #1)
- Egypt was the world's leading center of idolatry – R. Chasdai Crescas, Abarbanel (Approach #2)
- The Egyptians were xenophobic and this prevented assimilation – Zohar, Sforno, R. Hirsch, Immanueli