에스겔 20:5의 인용 해설

And from the fact that they are not combined, and “you shall not do” is stated twice. We can say that each sin is itemized by itself, and Scripture criticizes Israel for seeking to establish permanent settlement in Egypt, as I explained above at the end of Parshat Vayigash (47:27) on the verse And Israel dwelt in the land of Goshen. It speaks of Israel’s guilt, and God blamed them for seeking to establish permanent settlement in a place where God had told them they would be sojourners and not residents. They did all this because they were attached to the idols of Egypt, as it says in Ezekiel (20:5-8), And I made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt, etc., but they rebelled against Me, etc., and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt, etc. Similarly, Rashi explained in Parshat Bo (10:23) that there were wicked people in that generation who did not want to leave Egypt and they died during the three days of darkness. Regarding this, it is stated here, You shall not do according to the practices of the land of Egypt — like those practices that you did in the land of Egypt. And what was the evil practice that you did? In which you dwelt — that you sought permanent settlement there because your souls desired their idols and their abominations. You shall not do such things again — do not seek permanent settlement among a rebellious people who walk in a way that is not good, lest you learn from their deeds, as happened to you in Egypt.

and...transgressor from the womb Since you were in Egypt, as it is related in Ezekiel (20:5): “And I made Myself known in the land of Egypt, etc. (v. 7) and I said to them, [Cast away, each man the abominations of his eyes, and do not contaminate yourselves with the idols of Egypt].”

And behold, the words of the commentators are true, that the Israelites in Egypt were wicked and sinful as it says in Ezekiel (Ezekiel 20:5-7) And I made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt, etc. Let each man cast away the detestable things of his eyes, etc. However, in the Torah we do not find a hint at the time of the event to this. Therefore, it seems to me that this verse which says, Come, let us deal wisely with them refers to the cunning they used against them, to cause them to sin. And they put taskmasters over them to oppress them with their burdens — to levy a tax for the priests of idolatry, which is similar to actually worshiping idolatry, as Rashi explained in the portion of Ki Tavo on the verse And there you shall serve other gods (Deuteronomy 28:64). Therefore it says, in order to afflict him with their burdens, which is very similar to what is said: And the Egyptians treated us badly and afflicted us, meaning that by making us wicked and sinful, they found a way to afflict us because then they could overpower us. So it says here, And they put tax officers over him to give taxes to idolatry in order to afflict him, because from this it followed that they were able to afflict them with their burdens, since their divine protection was removed when they turned away from following God. And perhaps this is what is meant by And the Egyptians made the children of Israel serve with rigor. For this entire verse seems superfluous. It could be that it hints that by imposing tax officers over them, it was as if they made them serve idolatry. Therefore it says, And the Egyptians made the children of Israel serve with rigor [be-farech] — that they made them serve idolatry at first with a soft mouth [pe rach] through incitement and enticement, and afterwards with rigor [be-farech] for actual service through compulsion. Therefore they made their lives bitter, for regarding the Holy One, blessed be He, it says, For He is your life, etc. (Deuteronomy 30:20). And because they turned away from following God, they made their lives bitter with hard work [avodah kashah], meaning with idolatry which is difficult [kashah] and evil. And afterwards with mortar and with bricks, and with all manner of work in the field — thus general work in the field is mentioned, and afterwards it says, all their work, meaning also work in the city. So how do I interpret they made their lives bitter with hard work? Rather, it hints that they defiled them with their idols through strange and difficult forms of worship, as mentioned. And because they were among those who cause the masses to sin, for whom no opportunity is provided to repent, therefore God hardened the heart of Pharaoh and his servants. And with this, the question which the early commentators struggled with regarding the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart is resolved.

גם מתמול וגו׳ NEITHER FROM YESTERDAY [NOR FROM BEFORE YESTERDAY] — This teaches us that for an entire period of seven days God had been endeavouring to persuade Moses at the thornbush to go on his mission, for the terms מתמול and שלשום and מאז דברך imply three days, and the three-fold גם which is mentioned here point to three extensions of the period, making six in all, and therefore he had now reached the seventh day when he further said to him, (Exodus v. 13) “Send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom Thou wilt send” — until God became angry with him (Exodus v. 14), and he accepted the mission (cf. Leviticus Rabbah 11:6, and Seder Olam ch. 5). All this reluctance was because he was unwilling to assume any dignity that would make him superior to his brother Aaron who was older than he and was also a prophet, as it is said (I Samuel 2:27) that the man of God spoke to Eli, the high-priest, in God’s name, “Surely I revealed myself unto the house of thy father when they were in Egypt” — thy father means Aaron. Similary in : (Ezekiel 20:5, 7) “And I made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt … and I said unto them, “cast ye away every man the detestable things of his eyes”, and that prophecy was spoken to Aaron (Exodus Rabbah 3:16; and cf. ברייתא דל"ב מדות).

On the day of your planting you mingled Heb. תְּשַׂגְשֵׂנִי, an expression of mingling. Your branches became mingled with sorts of grasses and mixtures that spoil the branches of the vine. That is to say that in the place where I planted you for Me as a vineyard, there you corrupted your deeds. That is what Ezekiel said to them (20:5): “On the day I chose Israel, and I lifted My hand to the seed of the house of Jacob, and I became known to them in the land of Egypt.” And it says further (verse 8): “And they rebelled against Me and they refused to obey...” Here, too, תְּשַׂגְשֵׂנִי, you became mingled with the abominations of Egypt.