Difference between revisions of "The Roundabout Route and The Road Not Traveled/2"
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<p>The choice of route was aimed at ensuring the drowning of the Egyptians in Yam Suf, thereby spreading knowledge of Hashem through the miracle and/or ridding the nation of their dependence on Egypt.</p> | <p>The choice of route was aimed at ensuring the drowning of the Egyptians in Yam Suf, thereby spreading knowledge of Hashem through the miracle and/or ridding the nation of their dependence on Egypt.</p> | ||
<mekorot><multilink><a href="Josephus" data-aht="source">Josephus #1</a><a href="Josephus" data-aht="source">Antiquities of the Jews 2:15</a><a href="Josephus" data-aht="parshan">About Josephus</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RYosefBekhorShorShemot13-17-18" data-aht="source">R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a><a href="RYosefBekhorShorShemot13-17-18" data-aht="source">Shemot 13:17-18</a><a href="R. Yosef Bekhor Shor" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="SefornoShemot13-17" data-aht="source">Seforno</a><a href="SefornoShemot13-17" data-aht="source">Shemot 13:17-18</a><a href="R. Ovadyah Seforno" data-aht="parshan">About R. Ovadyah Seforno</a></multilink>, <a href="BinNun" data-aht="source">Yoel Bin-Nun</a></mekorot> | <mekorot><multilink><a href="Josephus" data-aht="source">Josephus #1</a><a href="Josephus" data-aht="source">Antiquities of the Jews 2:15</a><a href="Josephus" data-aht="parshan">About Josephus</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RYosefBekhorShorShemot13-17-18" data-aht="source">R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a><a href="RYosefBekhorShorShemot13-17-18" data-aht="source">Shemot 13:17-18</a><a href="R. Yosef Bekhor Shor" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="SefornoShemot13-17" data-aht="source">Seforno</a><a href="SefornoShemot13-17" data-aht="source">Shemot 13:17-18</a><a href="R. Ovadyah Seforno" data-aht="parshan">About R. Ovadyah Seforno</a></multilink>, <a href="BinNun" data-aht="source">Yoel Bin-Nun</a></mekorot> | ||
− | <point><b>"דֶּרֶךְ הַמִּדְבָּר יַם סוּף"</b> – This approach emphasizes not the desert aspect of the chosen route, but that it led to Yam Suf.</point> | + | <point><b>"דֶּרֶךְ הַמִּדְבָּר יַם סוּף"</b> – This approach emphasizes not the desert aspect of the chosen route, but that it led to Yam Suf.<fn>This is in contrast to the approach below, which focuses instead on the desert aspect.</fn></point> |
− | <point><b>"וְלֹא נָחָם אֱלֹהִים" | + | <point><b>"וְלֹא נָחָם אֱלֹהִים" – To where?</b> Most of these commentators assume that Hashem is speaking of the route that would lead to Israel.  Seforno, in contrast, claims that Hashem is referring to the path that would lead to Yam Suf.<fn>In this he differs from virtually every other exegete.</fn>  He assumes that the first stop was always meant to be Yam Suf, and that both the Philistine Route and the Desert Route led there.<fn></fn>  The only question was which route to prefer.</point> |
<point><b>War with whom?</b><ul> | <point><b>War with whom?</b><ul> | ||
<li><b>Prevent war with Egypt and Philistines</b> – According to R"Y Bekhor Shor Hashem wanted to prevent a war on two fronts, from both the pursuing Egyptians and the Philistines.</li> | <li><b>Prevent war with Egypt and Philistines</b> – According to R"Y Bekhor Shor Hashem wanted to prevent a war on two fronts, from both the pursuing Egyptians and the Philistines.</li> | ||
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</ul></point> | </ul></point> | ||
<point><b>וְשָׁבוּ מִצְרָיְמָה</b> – R"Y Bekhor Shor and Seforno understand the phrase to refer to the concern that the nation return physically to Egypt and servitude while Y. Bin-Nun asserts that the verse is referring to reliance on Egypt and seeking their help in the future when endangered by other enemies.</point> | <point><b>וְשָׁבוּ מִצְרָיְמָה</b> – R"Y Bekhor Shor and Seforno understand the phrase to refer to the concern that the nation return physically to Egypt and servitude while Y. Bin-Nun asserts that the verse is referring to reliance on Egypt and seeking their help in the future when endangered by other enemies.</point> | ||
− | <point><b>Double כִּי</b><ul> | + | <point><b>Double "כִּי"</b><ul> |
<li><b>Different meanings</b> – R"Y Bekhor Shor and Y. Bin-Nun understands the first "כִּי" to mean "that"<fn>R"Y Bekhor Shor does not address the question explicitly but implies this.</fn> and the second to mean "because". The Philistine route, which was shorter, was nevertheless rejected due to fear of the Israelite response to war.</li> | <li><b>Different meanings</b> – R"Y Bekhor Shor and Y. Bin-Nun understands the first "כִּי" to mean "that"<fn>R"Y Bekhor Shor does not address the question explicitly but implies this.</fn> and the second to mean "because". The Philistine route, which was shorter, was nevertheless rejected due to fear of the Israelite response to war.</li> | ||
<li><b>Identical meaning</b> – According to Seforno both appearances of the word mean "because", and there was a dual concern. The fact that the route was close to Egypt meant that it would be filled with informers who would both tell Paroh of the fleeing Israelites and, subsequently, tell the Israelites of the pursuing Egyptian army. Fear of the encounter would lead them to submissively return to their masters without even fighting.<fn>In the first part of Seforno's comments, he appears to be offering a different understanding of this part of the verse. There he implies that the first "כִּי" means that or even though and suggests that although the Philistine route was the closest path to Yam Suf (the nation's intended first stop so as to drown the Egyptians), God preferred to go there via a longer route due to the informers on the path. This suggestion does not work with our knowledge of the area's geography.</fn></li> | <li><b>Identical meaning</b> – According to Seforno both appearances of the word mean "because", and there was a dual concern. The fact that the route was close to Egypt meant that it would be filled with informers who would both tell Paroh of the fleeing Israelites and, subsequently, tell the Israelites of the pursuing Egyptian army. Fear of the encounter would lead them to submissively return to their masters without even fighting.<fn>In the first part of Seforno's comments, he appears to be offering a different understanding of this part of the verse. There he implies that the first "כִּי" means that or even though and suggests that although the Philistine route was the closest path to Yam Suf (the nation's intended first stop so as to drown the Egyptians), God preferred to go there via a longer route due to the informers on the path. This suggestion does not work with our knowledge of the area's geography.</fn></li> | ||
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</ul></point> | </ul></point> | ||
<point><b>"כִּי קָרוֹב הוּא" – Close to what?</b> According to R"Y Bekhor Shor and Y. Bin-Nun the verse is simply making a statement of fact,<fn>This fact, though, has no significance for Hashem's choice of route, and is simply a descriptive statement.</fn> that the route is close to Canaan,<fn>See above that both understand the first "כִּי" to mean "that".</fn> while according to Seforno, the verse is presenting the concern of the route's proximity to Egypt.<fn>See above note, that in the beginning of Seforno's comments he suggests that the verse is saying that the Philistine route is the closest one by which to arrive at Yam Suf.</fn></point> | <point><b>"כִּי קָרוֹב הוּא" – Close to what?</b> According to R"Y Bekhor Shor and Y. Bin-Nun the verse is simply making a statement of fact,<fn>This fact, though, has no significance for Hashem's choice of route, and is simply a descriptive statement.</fn> that the route is close to Canaan,<fn>See above that both understand the first "כִּי" to mean "that".</fn> while according to Seforno, the verse is presenting the concern of the route's proximity to Egypt.<fn>See above note, that in the beginning of Seforno's comments he suggests that the verse is saying that the Philistine route is the closest one by which to arrive at Yam Suf.</fn></point> | ||
+ | <point><b>Was the nation meant to return?/ 3 days</b></point> | ||
<point><b>"וַחֲמֻשִׁים"</b> – R"Y Bekhor Shor understands the verse to refer to food provisions. If so, one might say that the choice to travel through the desert necessitated a supply of food, and that is why the fact is mentioned here. Seforno, in contrast, understands it to refer to military arms and suggests that the verse is highlighting that despite being armed, the nation lacked the courage to fight their masters.</point> | <point><b>"וַחֲמֻשִׁים"</b> – R"Y Bekhor Shor understands the verse to refer to food provisions. If so, one might say that the choice to travel through the desert necessitated a supply of food, and that is why the fact is mentioned here. Seforno, in contrast, understands it to refer to military arms and suggests that the verse is highlighting that despite being armed, the nation lacked the courage to fight their masters.</point> | ||
<point><b>What about Sinai?</b> Seforno asserts that Mt. Sinai was always meant to be the second stop, but first, Hashem wanted to drown the Egyptians.</point> | <point><b>What about Sinai?</b> Seforno asserts that Mt. Sinai was always meant to be the second stop, but first, Hashem wanted to drown the Egyptians.</point> | ||
+ | <point><b>Biblical Parallels</b></point> | ||
</category> | </category> | ||
<category name="">Intrinsic Value in the Desert Route | <category name="">Intrinsic Value in the Desert Route |
Version as of 10:58, 29 January 2015
The Roundabout Route and The Road Not Traveled
Exegetical Approaches
Facilitate the Drowning at Yam Suf
The choice of route was aimed at ensuring the drowning of the Egyptians in Yam Suf, thereby spreading knowledge of Hashem through the miracle and/or ridding the nation of their dependence on Egypt.
- Prevent war with Egypt and Philistines – According to R"Y Bekhor Shor Hashem wanted to prevent a war on two fronts, from both the pursuing Egyptians and the Philistines.
- Ensure war with Egypt - Seforno, in contrast, suggests that Hashem feared that the nation would panic at the site of the Egyptians and flee rather than fight. Hashem wanted to ensure that they knew of the Egyptians only at the last moment when flight was no longer an option, forcing a confrontation which would lead the Egyptians to drown in Yam Suf.
- Future wars – Y. Bin-Nun asserts instead that the concern related to any future wars which might lead the nation to return to Egypt for protection. Hashem wanted to ensure a total defeat which would free the nation from mental servitude, severing their dependence on their former masters.
- Different meanings – R"Y Bekhor Shor and Y. Bin-Nun understands the first "כִּי" to mean "that"4 and the second to mean "because". The Philistine route, which was shorter, was nevertheless rejected due to fear of the Israelite response to war.
- Identical meaning – According to Seforno both appearances of the word mean "because", and there was a dual concern. The fact that the route was close to Egypt meant that it would be filled with informers who would both tell Paroh of the fleeing Israelites and, subsequently, tell the Israelites of the pursuing Egyptian army. Fear of the encounter would lead them to submissively return to their masters without even fighting.5
- Presence of sea – R"Y Bekhor Shor maintains that only on the Desert Route was there a sea in which God could drown the Egyptians. Although God could have ensured a victory even in a land battle, the miracle of the splitting of the sea would be greater.6
- Lack of spies – Seforno believes that both routes would have ultimately led to Yam Suf,7 but the Desert Route was chosen since it was empty of spies and informers. As such, the Israelites would not be aware of the chasing Egyptians until they were already upon them, leaving them no choice of flight back to Egypt. Hashem did not want to avoid a confrontation, but rather to ensure one, thus accomplishing God's primary purpose, the drowning of the Egyptians.8
Intrinsic Value in the Desert Route
The Desert Route was not just the default alternative to a rejected route, but rather had value in its own right, as it offered the nation vital opportunities that the Philistine Route could not. This approach subdivides regarding what the route had to offer:
Building Fortitude for the Conquest
The route afforded the nation both the time and atmosphere needed to lose their slave mentality and gain the confidence and independence necessary to conquer and rule Canaan.
- Growth through trials – Rambam emphasizes how the scarcity and hardships of desert life would instill courage and strength. R. Hirsch adds that the challenges encountered would teach them to trust in Hashem, which, in turn, would give them the self-confidence needed to fight. Shadal further asserts that the time in the desert provided time to learn the skills necessary for self rule.
- New generation – Rambam proposes that the forty years in the desert meant that it was a new generation that had never been enslaved which entered the land.13 This generation was not encumbered by a slave mentality, and was thus more capable of dealing with the challenges of conquest and government.14
- Miracles as morale booster – Malbim maintains that the splitting of the sea and other miracles of the desert would both instill fear in the Canaanites15 and boost the belief, and hence the courage, of the Israelites enabling a victory over their enemies.
- Time for Canaanites – Malbim adds that the extra time afforded by the Desert Route ensured that the sins of the Emorites would be complete and they would be deserving of conquest by the time the nation arrived in the land.
Spiritual Growth
The time in the desert enabled the nation to receive the Torah at Mt. Sinai and witness many more miracles, thereby deepening their belief in and connection to Hashem and His ways.
- Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael and Shadal explain that once they arrived they would disperse to their own inheritances and work, losing the opportunity to learn Torah and be guided spiritually by Moshe.
- Meshekh Chokhmah maintains that God feared the influence the idolatrous Canaanites would have on such a fledgling nation.
- Netziv stresses that the first reason given (proximity) was the primary one. He points out that as the people did desire to return to Egypt when facing war even on the longer path, this could not have been a major concern and goes as far as to suggest that God just said this because the nation would not have understood the real fear of assimilation.17
- Toledot Yitzchak, R. Hirsch, and Malbim, though, maintain that the reasons work together. Without the benefit of a long route in which to grow spiritually, the nation would lack the trust in God needed to fight wars and win.
Avoiding the Philistine Route
The choice of the Desert Route was a response to the dangers lurking on the Philistine Route. Hashem worried that the wars the nation would encounter en route would frighten them into returning to Egypt.
- Philistines – According to many of these commentators, the Philistines presently living on the route itself were the threat.22
- Past wars – Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael and the first opinion in Shemot Rabbah assert that the fear related not to the consequences of present battles, but to the remnants of past wars. Thirty years earlier members of the tribe of Ephraim attempted to make their way to Israel but fell at the hand of the Philistines. Hashem did not want the Israelites to see their fallen bodies, panic, and then return to Egypt.
- Egyptians – According to modern scholars,23 the Philistine Route might be identified with what is known in Egyptian texts as the "Wall of Horus".24 At the time of the Exodus, it was under Egyptian control and heavily fortified with Egyptian sentries and garrisons. Traveling via such a route would inevitably lead to conflict with the Egyptians, and Israelite terror of their hated masters would lead to a quick surrender and return to servitude.25
- Because – Rashi and Ibn Ezra imply that it, too, means "because." Hashem is, thus, giving two related reasons why to avert the Philistine route. Fear of war was significant specifically because the route was so close to Egypt. The proximity made it more likely for the nation to return to Egypt upon encountering war.
- Even though or that – Chizkuni maintains that the first "כִּי" means "even though", while Ramban proposes that it means "that". According to both, the verse is giving but one reason to avoid the Philistine Route. Even though it was the shorter (and thus seemingly more logical route), Hashem chose to dismiss it because of the wars it would lead to.
- According to most of these commentators, the verse is saying that the route is close to Egypt, and either despite this fact, or because of this fact, it is rejected.
- Chizkuni26 raises a more metaphoric read of the verse, suggesting that the subject of "הוּא" is the Philistines themselves (not the route) who were relatives (קרובים) of the Egyptians and thus more likely to fight against the Israelites.27
- Ramban asserts that the only wars that might have caused the nation to return were ones against settled peoples whose lands were being trespassed. Amalek was exceptional, as they attacked en route. As such, flight would have been pointless since the Amalekites would have continued to fight even as the nation ran. Ramban further proposes that once the nation went a roundabout route, they no longer knew the way back to Egypt.
- Abarbanel points out that the war against the Philistines would have been almost immediate (due to their proximity to Egypt) and as such was much more likely to lead the nation to flee back to Egypt.