Why was Pharaoh Punished?
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Rabbi Shaya Gopin
Jan 8, 2010, 10:49:26 AM1/8/10
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B"H
As we study the Jewish enslavement in Egypt,
The Torah describes how Pharaoh refuses to "let the Jews go" after three of the plagues.
G-d hardened Pharaoh's heart, taking away his choice to allow the Jewish people to be freed.
The question is how can G-d punish someone who didn't do something out of free choice?
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Jerry Krasnow
Jan 8, 2010, 5:26:28 PM1/8/10
to Rabbi Joseph Gopin
On the surface the answer is that Pharaoh appears not to have free choice as "G-d hardens Pharoah's heart." But what if the phrase really means that a life of wrong choices (enslaving peoples, killing first born, etc.) creates a habit of wrong choices. Pharoah cannot break with his habit. It is the will of HaShem that evil's persistence happens unto the third and fourth generations of those that reject or hate HaShem's law. It is that proclivity that is described by G-d hardens Pharoah's heart."
On the otherhand, taken literally, the problem of free will and justice are put on trial. When Josef tells his brothers not to feel guilty for selling him into slavery (HA), because it was G-d's will to send him ahead to save the family. The low life actions of the brothers to sell Josef, lie to the father, and maintain that lie while Jacob suffered, clearly would not endear them as role models. But if as Josef says it was G-d's actions, and they did not have free will, then they cannot be blamed for the deed, only the callousness and insensitivity toward their father. That insensitivity that habit is the character that Pharoah exhibited which would be described as G-d hardened Pharoah's heart. Could it not be said and G-d hardened the sons of Jacob's hearts?
It is not an easy question to answer, thank HaShem.
From: rabbi...@chabadhartford.com
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 2010 10:49:26 -0500
Subject: [E-Torah] Why was Pharaoh Punished?
To: e-t...@googlegroups.com
On the otherhand, taken literally, the problem of free will and justice are put on trial. When Josef tells his brothers not to feel guilty for selling him into slavery (HA), because it was G-d's will to send him ahead to save the family. The low life actions of the brothers to sell Josef, lie to the father, and maintain that lie while Jacob suffered, clearly would not endear them as role models. But if as Josef says it was G-d's actions, and they did not have free will, then they cannot be blamed for the deed, only the callousness and insensitivity toward their father. That insensitivity that habit is the character that Pharoah exhibited which would be described as G-d hardened Pharoah's heart. Could it not be said and G-d hardened the sons of Jacob's hearts?
It is not an easy question to answer, thank HaShem.
From: rabbi...@chabadhartford.com
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 2010 10:49:26 -0500
Subject: [E-Torah] Why was Pharaoh Punished?
To: e-t...@googlegroups.com
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