The Exodus Narrative and the Four Children/2

The Exodus in Light of the Four Sons

Exegetical Approaches

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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 – according to this position, the 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.  Living as a secluded minority in exile 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 intentionally 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 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.  Since the Israelites were isolated in Goshen, they were spared the effects of the plagues which struck outside of Goshen's borders.  This position likely would assume that even in the plagues where the text is silent about differentiating between Egypt and Goshen, there is an assumption that the Israelites were not harmed. This strengthened the people's belief in Hashem's justice in punishing the wicked and sparing the innocent. See Purpose of the Plagues and Whom and Where Did the Plagues Strike?

Purpose of the Pesach – This approach might view the Pesach as a thanksgiving offering, given by the joyous nation as they embarked on their journey to freedom and worship of Hashem.  It might have further served as an educational tool for the Egyptians, showing them the worthlessness of their gods. See R. D"Z Hoffmann and R. Bachya respectively in Purpose of the Pesach.

The roundabout route

The Wicked Son: An Idolatrous People

The Israelites were idolatrous in Egypt and were reluctant to leave Egypt to follow Moshe and an unknown God.

Initial settlement in Goshen – Yaakov's family settled in Goshen not for its spiritual benefits but for its economic advantages, as it provided good grazing land for their cattle. See Why Live in Goshen?

Did the Israelites stay in Goshen? As the years passed, the Israelites moved out of Goshen in their desire to mingle with Egyptian society. Netziv emphasizes how the move promoted the assimilation of the nation, leading them to worship idolatry like their neighbors. See Where in Egypt Did the Israelites Live.

Purpose of the bondage – The enslavement came either as punishment for the nation's idolatry, or as a means to prevent their assimilation from progressing further.¹  See Seforno and the Netziv respectively in Purposes of the Egyptian Bondage.

Nature of the bondage – This approach might assume that the enslavement in Egypt constituted state slavery, which though harsh, still allowed people to own their own homes and cattle and maintain intact families. It is possible that they even had positive relations with some of their Egyptian neighbors. See Nature of the Bondage.

Who was enslaved? It is possible that only the able-bodied were enslaved, while the frail, elderly, women, and children were exempt.  In addition, as Ralbag suggests, it is possible that those who were wealthy enough could pay a monetary tax in lieu of work.  If so, for some groups of people, the conditions in Egypt were not as uncomfortable as often imagined. See Who was Enslaved in Egypt?

Why request a three day journey? Many of the Israelites would not have been enthusiastic about leaving Egypt. They had no desire to adopt monotheism, did not fully trust Hashem or Moshe, and might not have wanted to forego relations forged with their fellow Egyptians.  If some had positive work conditions, there was not even the incentive of freedom to drive them.  As such, the three day ruse might have been aimed, not at the Egyptians, but at the Israelites themselves who would otherwise have opted to stay put.  See A Three Day Journey.

The plagues – The plagues had an educational goal, to help the Israelites see Hashem's omnipotence and begin to believe in Him. The stated objective, "בְּזֹאת תֵּדַע כִּי אֲנִי י"י" was aimed at Israel as much as at the Egyptians.

Who was affected by the plagues – It is possible that the Israelites were not even spared. If the differentiation mentioned in the plagues was only geographic, then all Israelites outside of Goshen (a considerable amount) would have been affected.  These nonbelievers might have needed a concrete taste of God's power, and not just a show as it affected others.  See Purpose of the Plagues and Whom and Where Did the Plagues Strike?

Purpose of the pesach – The Pesach rite was meant to highlight the worthlessness of Egyptian gods.  In observing the Egyptian god killed and unable either to defend itself or wreak punishment, the people would learn to reject idolatry. See Ralbag on the Purpose of the Pesach.

Chased out – Hashem ensured that the nation was actively chased out of Egypt, since otherwise they might not have left.

The roundabout route

The Simple Son: The Unknowing Masses

The Israelites wavered in their beliefs and desires.  Though they were tired of slavery, they were equally frightened of change and the unknown.

Initial settlement in Goshen – This position might suggest that the family opted to live in Goshen mainly due to its proximity to Yosef and the protection he could afford them, though it is also possible that they were motivated by the economic advantages its grazing land provided. See Why Live in Goshen?

Did the nation stay in Goshen? It is possible that out of inertia and due to the comfort of the familiar, the Israelites remained mainly in Goshen, but that with time Egyptians moved in and they were no longer segregated.

Purpose of the exile and bondage – This position might view the experience as crucial to the formation of the Israelite nation.  Only through shared experiences of suffering could they extinguish class distinctions and unite as a people. See Purposes of the Egyptian Bondage.

Nature of the bondage – This position might suggest that the people were slaves to the State and not to individuals. Though the work was hard, they owned their own homes and were not separated from their families. They likely had some Egyptian neighbors with whom they maintained cordial or even friendly relationships.

Desire to leave – Though the people desired freedom from slavery, they were much more hesitant about the idea of leaving Egypt.  Change is difficult, and no matter how difficult life was, the unknown is potentially worse. Unsure of where they were going, and what Hashem was to expect of them, the decision to follow Moshe was not automatic.

Why request a three day journey? It is possible that the request for a three day journey was not a ruse at all.  Hashem originally planned a staged redemption, in which the Children of Israel would gradually become accustomed to Hashem's commandments and the concept of freedom.  They would leave for three days to worship God, sense what it was like to be independent and then return.  Only later, when they were religiously and mentally prepared, would they leave for good. [Alternatively, this position could say, as above, that the request was a ruse intended to deceive the Israelites who otherwise might not have left.]  See R. Bachya and Ramban in A Three Day Journey?

Borrowing of vessels – As the initial plan was really to return, it is likely that the Israelites had every intention of giving back the borrowed items. When the Egyptians attacked on Yam Suf they were the one who forfeited their claim to the vessels.  See Reparations and Despoiling Egypt.

The plagues – The plagues likely served both an educational and utilitarian role.  The Israelites needed  to learn more about Hashem's power to be convinced to follow Him.  Yet, since their ties to Egypt were also related to the comfort afforded by the known and familiar, Hashem needed to ensure that there was nothing in Egypt to remain for.  The plagues devastated Egypt so that there was nothing left, removing any idea that it was "home" or had the potential to provide for anyone.

Who was affected? This position might assert, as does Ibn Ezra, that there was only differentiation in the five plagues where it is explicitly mentioned and that the Israelites were affected by the other less harmful  plagues.  They, as much as the Egyptians, needed to learn from the plagues, but since they were not particularly sinful and deserving of punishment, they were not meant to unduly suffer.  In addition, the gradual differentiation served to teach them that, in contrast to what they might have convinced themselves, they were not part of Egyptian society.  See Whom and Where Did the Plagues Strike?

Purpose of the pesach – It is possible that the Pesach rite served a dual role.  The smearing of blood allayed the fears of the masses caused by the Plague of Firstborn, and in so doing teaching them both that they were distinct from the Egyptians and protected by God.  The killing of the lamb, on the other hand, helped them realize the futility of Egyptian gods.

The roundabout route – The choice of traveling via the Wilderness Route might have had both an immediate and long term goal.  In the short term, the route was selected, not to avoid a confrontation with the Egyptians, but in order to ensure that they would drown in the Sea.² This would sever the Israelites' remaining bonds of servitude, thereby enabling them to then proceed to Israel.  In addition, however, the longer route bought the nation time before entering and conquering Canaan.  These extra months³ would help them come together as a people, discard their slave mentality and gain extra confidence and independence essential to conquer and rule Canaan. See The Roundabout Route and The Road Not Traveled.

¹ The same explanation can no be given for the reason for the initial exile, which preceded their idolatry.  This position could say that the exile resulted from other sins, in particular the sale of Yosef.

² According to Seforno, the Wilderness Route was chosen since it was devoid of spies and informers. As such, the Israelites would be unaware of the pursuing Egyptians until it was too late to flee.

³ Though in the end this turned into 40 years, had the nation not sinned they should have arrived in Egypt soon after the revelation at Sinai.