Difference between revisions of "Prophetic Actions Without Explicit Divine Sanction/2"
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<category>All Divinely Commanded | <category>All Divinely Commanded | ||
<p>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.</p> | <p>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.</p> | ||
| − | <mekorot><multilink><a href="JosephusAntiquitiesoftheJews813-2-4" data-aht="source">Josephus</a><a href="JosephusAntiquitiesoftheJews813-2-4" data-aht="source">8 13:2-4</a><a href="Josephus Antiquities of the Jews" data-aht="parshan">About Josephus Antiquities of the Jews</a></multilink>, R. Saadia Gaon,  <multilink><a href="RYehudaibnBalaamBemidbar16-4" data-aht="source">R. Yehuda ibn Balaam</a><a href="RYehudaibnBalaamBemidbar16-4" data-aht="source">Bemidbar 16:4</a><a href="R. Yehuda ibn Balaam" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yehuda ibn Balaam</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RashbamBemidbar16-4" data-aht="source">Rashbam</a><a href="RashbamShemot11-1" data-aht="source">Shemot 11:1</a><a href="RashbamBemidbar16-4" data-aht="source">Bemidbar 16:4</a><a href="RashbamBemidbar16-28-29" data-aht="source">Bemidbar 16:28-29</a><a href="R. Shemuel b. Meir (Rashbam)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shemuel b. Meir</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="TosafotSanhedrin89b" data-aht="source">Tosafot</a><a href="TosafotSanhedrin89b" data-aht="source">Sanhedrin 89b</a><a href="Ba'alei HaTosafot" data-aht="parshan">About Ba'alei HaTosafot</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href=" | + | <mekorot><multilink><a href="JosephusAntiquitiesoftheJews813-2-4" data-aht="source">Josephus</a><a href="JosephusAntiquitiesoftheJews813-2-4" data-aht="source">8 13:2-4</a><a href="Josephus Antiquities of the Jews" data-aht="parshan">About Josephus Antiquities of the Jews</a></multilink>, R. Saadia Gaon,  <multilink><a href="RYehudaibnBalaamBemidbar16-4" data-aht="source">R. Yehuda ibn Balaam</a><a href="RYehudaibnBalaamBemidbar16-4" data-aht="source">Bemidbar 16:4</a><a href="R. Yehuda ibn Balaam" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yehuda ibn Balaam</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RashbamBemidbar16-4" data-aht="source">Rashbam</a><a href="RashbamShemot11-1" data-aht="source">Shemot 11:1</a><a href="RashbamBemidbar16-4" data-aht="source">Bemidbar 16:4</a><a href="RashbamBemidbar16-28-29" data-aht="source">Bemidbar 16:28-29</a><a href="R. Shemuel b. Meir (Rashbam)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shemuel b. Meir</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="TosafotSanhedrin89b" data-aht="source">Tosafot</a><a href="TosafotSanhedrin89b" data-aht="source">Sanhedrin 89b</a><a href="Ba'alei HaTosafot" data-aht="parshan">About Ba'alei HaTosafot</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RadakMelakhimI18-21" data-aht="source">Radak</a><a href="RadakMelakhimI18-21" data-aht="source">Melakhim I 18:21</a><a href="RadakMelakhimI18-36" data-aht="source">Melakhim I 18:36</a><a href="RadakMelakhimII4-16" data-aht="source">Melakhim II 4:16</a><a href="R. David Kimchi (Radak)" data-aht="parshan">About R. David Kimchi</a></multilink>,<fn>Radak also raises the possibility that prophets act on their own, trusting that Hashem will fulfill their words.</fn> <multilink><a href="RambanBemidbar16-5" data-aht="source">Ramban</a><a href="RambanShemot10-2" data-aht="source">Shemot 10:2</a><a href="RambanShemot11-1" data-aht="source">Shemot 11:1</a><a href="RambanShemot14-15" data-aht="source">Shemot 14:15</a><a href="RambanShemot16-4" data-aht="source">Shemot 16:4</a><a href="RambanShemot32-27" data-aht="source">Shemot 32:27</a><a href="RambanVayikra9-2" data-aht="source">Vayikra 9:2</a><a href="RambanVayikra10-3" data-aht="source">Vayikra 10:3</a><a href="RambanBemidbar16-5" data-aht="source">Bemidbar 16:5</a><a href="RambanBemidbar17-6" data-aht="source">Bemidbar 17:6</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Nachman (Ramban, Nachmanides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Moshe b. Nachman</a></multilink> #2, <multilink><a href="RYosefibnKaspiMelakhimI17-1" data-aht="source">R. Yosef ibn Kaspi</a><a href="RYosefibnKaspiMelakhimI17-1" data-aht="source">Melakhim I 17:1</a><a href="R. Yosef ibn Kaspi" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef ibn Kaspi</a></multilink>,<fn>Ralbag brings two possibilities, suggesting that the prophet might always act under Divine orders, but also allowing for the possibility that a prophet might bring a miracle through prayer.</fn></mekorot> |
<point><b>Prophetic autonomy</b></point> | <point><b>Prophetic autonomy</b></point> | ||
<point><b>"מֵקִים דְּבַר עַבְדּוֹ"</b></point> | <point><b>"מֵקִים דְּבַר עַבְדּוֹ"</b></point> | ||
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<category>Prophet's Own Initiative | <category>Prophet's Own Initiative | ||
<p>A prophet is granted the ability by Hashem to act and perform wonders on his own initiative.</p> | <p>A prophet is granted the ability by Hashem to act and perform wonders on his own initiative.</p> | ||
| − | <mekorot><multilink><a href="RambamCommentaryontheMishnaIntroduction" data-aht="source">Rambam</a><a href="RambamCommentaryontheMishnaIntroduction" data-aht="source">Commentary on the Mishna, Introduction</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Maimon (Rambam, Maimonides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Moshe b. Maimon</a></multilink>, Ramban #1, <multilink><a href="RYosefAlboSeferHaIkkarim4-22" data-aht="source">R. Yosef Albo</a><a href="RYosefAlboSeferHaIkkarim4-22" data-aht="source">R. Yosef Albo Sefer HaIkkarim 4:22</a><a href="Sefer HaIkkarim" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef Albo</a></multilink>, ?R. Avraham b. Shelomo,<fn>According to R. Avraham b. Shelomo the prophet intuits the will of God.</fn> Abarbanel<fn>This is how Abarbanel presents the miracles of prophets in his comments to Melakhim 8.  In his commentary on Devarim, in contrast, he emphasizes how prophets must pray to Hashem to elicit a  miracle.</fn></mekorot> | + | <mekorot><multilink><a href="RambamCommentaryontheMishnaIntroduction" data-aht="source">Rambam</a><a href="RambamCommentaryontheMishnaIntroduction" data-aht="source">Commentary on the Mishna, Introduction</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Maimon (Rambam, Maimonides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Moshe b. Maimon</a></multilink>, Ramban #1, <multilink><a href="RYosefAlboSeferHaIkkarim4-22" data-aht="source">R. Yosef Albo</a><a href="RYosefAlboSeferHaIkkarim4-22" data-aht="source">R. Yosef Albo Sefer HaIkkarim 4:22</a><a href="Sefer HaIkkarim" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef Albo</a></multilink>, ?R. Avraham b. Shelomo,<fn>According to R. Avraham b. Shelomo the prophet intuits the will of God.</fn> ?Abarbanel<fn>This is how Abarbanel presents the miracles of prophets in his comments to Melakhim 8.  In his commentary on Devarim, in contrast, he emphasizes how prophets must pray to Hashem to elicit a  miracle.</fn></mekorot> |
</category> | </category> | ||
<category>Prophetic Prayer | <category>Prophetic Prayer | ||
<p>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.</p> | <p>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.</p> | ||
| − | <mekorot> | + | <mekorot><multilink><a href="RYosefKaraYehoshua10-12" data-aht="source">R. Yosef Kara</a><a href="RYosefKaraYehoshua10-12" data-aht="source">Yehoshua 10:12</a><a href="RYosefKaraShemuelI12-17" data-aht="source">Shemuel I 12:17</a><a href="R. Yosef Kara" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef Kara</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="IbnEzraShemotSecondCommentary8-8-9" data-aht="source">Ibn Ezra</a><a href="IbnEzraShemotSecondCommentary8-8-9" data-aht="source">Shemot Second Commentary 8:8-9</a><a href="IbnEzraBemidbar16-4" data-aht="source">Bemidbar 16:4</a><a href="IbnEzraSefatYeter84" data-aht="source">Sefat Yeter 84</a><a href="R. Avraham ibn Ezra" data-aht="parshan">About R. Avraham ibn Ezra</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RadakMelakhimI18-21" data-aht="source">Radak #1</a><a href="RadakMelakhimI17-1" data-aht="source">Melakhim I 17:1</a><a href="RadakMelakhimI18-21" data-aht="source">Melakhim I 18:21</a><a href="RadakMelakhimI18-36" data-aht="source">Melakhim I 18:36</a><a href="R. David Kimchi (Radak)" data-aht="parshan">About R. David Kimchi</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="אוותנפשפירושעלראבעבמדברכ-חמוגהעפציטוטחלקיבפירוששדל" data-aht="source">Avvat Nefesh</a><a href="אוותנפשפירושעלראבעבמדברכ-חמוגהעפציטוטחלקיבפירוששדל" data-aht="source">Avvat Nefesh, Commentary on Ibn Ezra Bemidbar 20:8</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RalbagShemuelI12Toelet23" data-aht="source">Ralbag</a><a href="RalbagShemuelI12-6" data-aht="source">Shemuel I 12:6</a><a href="RalbagShemuelI12Toelet23" data-aht="source">Shemuel I 12, Toelet 23</a><a href="RalbagMelakhimI17-1" data-aht="source">Melakhim I 17:1</a><a href="RalbagMelakhimI18-32-36" data-aht="source">Melakhim I 18:32-36</a><a href="RalbagMelakhimIToalot18-36" data-aht="source">Melakhim I Toalot 18:36</a><a href="R. Levi b. Gershom (Ralbag, Gersonides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Levi b. Gershom</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="AkeidatYitzchakBemidbar78" data-aht="source">Akeidat Yitzchak</a><a href="AkeidatYitzchakBemidbar78" data-aht="source">Bemidbar 78</a><a href="AkeidatYitzchakBemidbar80" data-aht="source">Bemidbar 80</a><a href="R. Yitzchak Arama (Akeidat Yitzchak)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yitzchak Arama</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="AbarbanelDevarim34-11" data-aht="source">Abarbanel</a><a href="AbarbanelShemot8-8" data-aht="source">Shemot 8:8</a><a href="AbarbanelShemot9-2910-14" data-aht="source">Shemot 10:29, 11:1, 4</a><a href="AbarbanelShemot16-9" data-aht="source">Shemot 16:9</a><a href="AbarbanelShemot16" data-aht="source">Shemot 16</a><a href="AbarbanelShemot16-23" data-aht="source">Shemot 16:23</a><a href="AbarbanelShemot32-27" data-aht="source">Shemot 32:27</a><a href="AbarbanelVayikra9-5-6" data-aht="source">Vayikra 9:5-6</a><a href="AbarbanelVayikra10-3" data-aht="source">Vayikra 10:3</a><a href="AbarbanelBemidbar16-3" data-aht="source">Bemidbar 16:3</a><a href="AbarbanelDevarim34-11" data-aht="source">Devarim 34:11</a><a href="AbarbanelMelakhimI17-1" data-aht="source">Melakhim I 17:1</a><a href="AbarbanelMelakhimI18-36" data-aht="source">Melakhim I 18:36</a><a href="AbarbanelMelakhimII2-22" data-aht="source">Melakhim II 2:22</a><a href="AbarbanelMelakhimII8-6" data-aht="source">Melakhim II 8:6</a><a href="R. Yitzchak Abarbanel" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel</a></multilink></mekorot> |
<point><b>Uniqueness of Moshe</b></point> | <point><b>Uniqueness of Moshe</b></point> | ||
</category> | </category> | ||
Version as of 03:36, 16 July 2017
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
"מֵקִים דְּבַר עַבְדּוֹ"
Biblical cases
Why is Hashem's command not explicitly stated?
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
