THE PLAGUE OF THE FIRST-BORN EGYPTIANS IN RABBINIC TRADITION, PHILO, PSEUDO-PHILO, AND JOSEPHUS
In slaying the first-born in Egypt (Exod 11,5, 12,29), G-d was apparently killing innocent people and animals. According to one rabbinic tradition, the first-born of the slaves deserved to die because they so hated the Israelites that they rejoiced when the Pharaoh decreed their persecution. As to t...
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
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| Published: |
Peeters
2002
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| In: |
Revue biblique
Year: 2002, Volume: 109, Issue: 3, Pages: 403-421 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | In slaying the first-born in Egypt (Exod 11,5, 12,29), G-d was apparently killing innocent people and animals. According to one rabbinic tradition, the first-born of the slaves deserved to die because they so hated the Israelites that they rejoiced when the Pharaoh decreed their persecution. As to the animals, since the Egyptians worshipped animals, when G-d punishes a nation he punishes its gods. Philo remarks that the first-born were true children of their parents and embodied their vices. As to the animals, they were created solely for he sake of men; and once G-d had decided that humans should be killed, the animals were destroyed with them. Pseudo-Philo gives no details about the plague of the first-born. His interest is not in the suffering but in obedience to G-d. Josephus clearly bypasses the problem of the infliction of punishment on apparently innocent people and animals. Like the rabbis, he say that many of the Egyptians urged the Pharaoh to allow the Israelites to leave. En faisant mourir les premiers-nés d'Égypte (Ex 11,15; 12, 29), Dieu apparemment faisait périr des personnes et des animaux innocents. Selon une tradition rabbinique, les premiers-nés des esclaves devaient mourir parce qu'ils haïssaient tant les Hébreux qu'ils se réjouissaient de leur persécution par Pharaon. Quant aux animaux, puisque les Égyptiens les vénéraient, quand Dieu punit une nation, il punit ses dieux. Philon note que les premiers-nés étaient véritablement les enfants de leurs parents, en ayant hérité de leurs vices. Quant aux animaux, ils n'ont été crée que pour les hommes; et puisque Dieu a décidé de supprimer les humaines, de même les animaux. Le Pseudo-Philon ne donne pas de détail sur la plaie du premier-né. Son intérêt n'est pas dans la souffrance, mais dans l'obéissance à Dieu. Josephe néglige le problème de la punition d'innocents. Comme les rabbins, il dit que nombreux furent les Egyptiens qui implorèrent Pharaon de laisser partir les Hébreux. |
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| ISSN: | 2466-8583 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Revue biblique
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