Difference between revisions of "The Exodus Narrative and the Four Children/2"
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<point><b>Purpose of the bondage</b> – The bondage (as opposed to the exile) had an educational objective. By experiencing slavery themselves, the Children of Israel learned to feel empathy and care for the downtrodden and less fortunate members of society. The shared experience of suffering further fostered unity, strengthening them as a nation.  See Nechama Leibowitz and R. Hirsch in <a href="Purposes of the Egyptian Bondage" data-aht="page">Purposes of the Egyptian Bondage</a>.</point> | <point><b>Purpose of the bondage</b> – The bondage (as opposed to the exile) had an educational objective. By experiencing slavery themselves, the Children of Israel learned to feel empathy and care for the downtrodden and less fortunate members of society. The shared experience of suffering further fostered unity, strengthening them as a nation.  See Nechama Leibowitz and R. Hirsch in <a href="Purposes of the Egyptian Bondage" data-aht="page">Purposes of the Egyptian Bondage</a>.</point> | ||
<point><b>Nature of the bondage</b> – This approach can view the experience of slavery as either very harsh, with the people being slaves to both the State and individual Egyptians under severe conditions, or as a somewhat  milder experience in which the people worked only in shifts and were able to return home periodically.</point> | <point><b>Nature of the bondage</b> – This approach can view the experience of slavery as either very harsh, with the people being slaves to both the State and individual Egyptians under severe conditions, or as a somewhat  milder experience in which the people worked only in shifts and were able to return home periodically.</point> | ||
| − | <point><b>Who was enslaved?</b> The Levites might have been granted exemption from slavery due to their status as religious leaders in merit of their great Torah learning.  See Shemot Rabbah in <a href="Who was Enslaved in Egypt" data-aht="page">Who was Enslaved in Egypt</a> and <a href="Selection of the Priests and Levites" data-aht="page">Selection of the Priests and Levites</a>.</point> | + | <point><b>Who was enslaved?</b> The Levites might have been granted exemption from slavery due to their status as religious leaders and in merit of their great Torah learning.  See Shemot Rabbah in <a href="Who was Enslaved in Egypt" data-aht="page">Who was Enslaved in Egypt</a> and <a href="Selection of the Priests and Levites" data-aht="page">Selection of the Priests and Levites</a>.</point> |
| − | <point><b>Why request only a three day journey?</b> The ruse might have been necessary to deceive Paroh who otherwise would have never agreed to let the nation leave, and might have even killed Moshe for the impertinence of his request.  Paroh's refusal for even such a short reprieve from work further served to demonstrate to all just how intransigent | + | <point><b>Why request only a three day journey?</b> The ruse might have been necessary to deceive Paroh who otherwise would have never agreed to let the nation leave, and might have even killed Moshe for the impertinence of his request.  Paroh's refusal for even such a short reprieve from work further served to demonstrate to all just how intransigent he was and why he deserved the punishments he received. See "Egyptians were misled" in <a href="A Three Day Journey" data-aht="page">A Three Day Journey?</a></point> |
| − | <point><b>Were the vessels gifts or loans?</b> Since the Egyptians assumed that the Israelites were | + | <point><b>Were the vessels gifts or loans?</b> Since the Egyptians assumed that the Israelites were not leaving for good, it is likely that they gave the vessels as loans and expected them to be returned.  The Israelites, however, were justified in keeping the objects as partial compensation for years of servitude. See <a href="Reparations and Despoiling Egypt" data-aht="page">Reparations and Despoiling Egypt</a>.</point> |
| + | <point><b>The plagues</b> – The plagues were punitive in nature, taking vengeance on the Egyptians for the enslavement.</point> | ||
| + | <point><b>Who was affected by the plagues</b> – There was both a geographic and ethnic differentiation in all the plagues.  As the Israelites lived alone in Goshen, they were all spared the hardships of the plagues which struck only outside its borders. See <a href="Whom and Where Did the Plagues Strike" data-aht="page">Whom and Where Did the Plagues Strike?</a></point> | ||
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Version as of 03:11, 2 April 2017
Bondage and Exodus of the Four Sons
Exegetical Approaches
The Wise Son: A Righteous Nation
The Israelites were righteous believers in God who had maintained a unique identity throughout their sojourn in Egypt. They were eager to leave Egypt and follow Moshe, their spiritual leader.
Purpose of the Exile – The initial exile was aimed at preventing the assimilation of Yaakov's descendants in Canaan. In Egypt, where the inhabitants were xenophobic and would not even eat with the Hebrews, let alone marry them, the chances of assimilation were small. This would allow the family to grow into a nation with its own unique identity. See Seforno and R. Hirsch in Purposes of the Egyptian Bondage.
Initial settlement in Goshen – Yaakov's family settled in Goshen so as to avoid mingling with the Egyptians and to ensure that they did not acculterate into the surrounding society. See R. Saba, R. Hirsch, and Netziv in Why Live in Goshen.
Did the Israelites stay in Goshen? The nation stayed in Goshen, segregated from the rest of the Egyptians, throughout their sojourn. See the second opinion brought by R. D"Z Hoffmann in Where in Egypt Did the Israelites Live?
Purpose of the bondage – The bondage (as opposed to the exile) had an educational objective. By experiencing slavery themselves, the Children of Israel learned to feel empathy and care for the downtrodden and less fortunate members of society. The shared experience of suffering further fostered unity, strengthening them as a nation. See Nechama Leibowitz and R. Hirsch in Purposes of the Egyptian Bondage.
Nature of the bondage – This approach can view the experience of slavery as either very harsh, with the people being slaves to both the State and individual Egyptians under severe conditions, or as a somewhat milder experience in which the people worked only in shifts and were able to return home periodically.
Who was enslaved? The Levites might have been granted exemption from slavery due to their status as religious leaders and in merit of their great Torah learning. See Shemot Rabbah in Who was Enslaved in Egypt and Selection of the Priests and Levites.
Why request only a three day journey? The ruse might have been necessary to deceive Paroh who otherwise would have never agreed to let the nation leave, and might have even killed Moshe for the impertinence of his request. Paroh's refusal for even such a short reprieve from work further served to demonstrate to all just how intransigent he was and why he deserved the punishments he received. See "Egyptians were misled" in A Three Day Journey?
Were the vessels gifts or loans? Since the Egyptians assumed that the Israelites were not leaving for good, it is likely that they gave the vessels as loans and expected them to be returned. The Israelites, however, were justified in keeping the objects as partial compensation for years of servitude. See Reparations and Despoiling Egypt.
The plagues – The plagues were punitive in nature, taking vengeance on the Egyptians for the enslavement.
Who was affected by the plagues – There was both a geographic and ethnic differentiation in all the plagues. As the Israelites lived alone in Goshen, they were all spared the hardships of the plagues which struck only outside its borders. See Whom and Where Did the Plagues Strike?
