LIST605d (C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03
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The 8 verses containing the phrase GOD TOOK YOU OUT OF
EGYPT THE HOUSE OF SLAVES. Rashi only compares Ex20-02
and Dt07-08. Such a comparison is indeed justified.
But such a comparison is enriched when we review all
8 verses. For indeed Dt07-08 is the only verse in 8
that has its unique phrases (FROM PHAROH KING OF
EGYPT). Thus by reviewing 8 verses vs 2 Rashi becomes
more straightforward and palatable.
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VERSE
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Go Out
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Redeem
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Egypt
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SlaveHouse
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Pharoh
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Ex13-03
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Go out
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EGYPT
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SlaveHouse
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Ex13-14
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Go out
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EGYPT
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SlaveHouse
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Ex20-02
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Go out
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EgyptLand
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SlaveHouse
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Dt05-06
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Go out
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EgyptLand
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SlaveHouse
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Dt06-12a
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Go out
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EgyptLand
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SlaveHouse
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Dt07-08
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GO out
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REDEEM
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SlaveHouse
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From Pharoh of Egyp
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Dt08-14
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Go out
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EgyptLand
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SlaveHouse
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Dt13-06b
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Go out
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REDEEM
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EgyptLand
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SlaveHouse
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Dt13-11
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Go out
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EgyptLand
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SlaveHouse
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Differs
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*1
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*2
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*3
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*4
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*5
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COMMENTS
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*1 The same in all verses
*2 The word REDEEM occurs only twice. Why?
Dt07-08
-------
In Dt07-08 the God mentions the OATH to the Patriarchs
This oath included two promises(Gn15-14)
- The promise to JUDGE the Slave-owners(Egypt)
- The promise to give us a GREAT WEALTH
These two promises correspond to the two items in Dt07-08
- God showed great force on Egypt(=Judged slave owners)
- God REDEEMED us from Slavery (The GREAT WEALTH)
Dt13-06b
--------
The chapter is talking about a false prophet who demands
servitude to idols. This is punishable by death.
Why? It is not just that we dont recognize the God who
took us out of Egypt. Rather it is the fact that even
in Egypt God REDEEMED US---Slavery in Egypt was about
the economy---Egypt needed slave labor so they made
up the concept of slave classes (From which you couldnt
get out).
God REDEEMED us--yet this false prophet wishes to
make us slaves to idols not even for the sake of money
but just to deprive us of our religious freedom. So
in a certain sense the false prophet is worse than
Egypt--Egypt did it for money and we could be bought
out---but the false prophet did it for spite. Hence
he is put to death.
*3 In Ex13 the Jews had left EGYPT but not the LAND OF EGYPT
Why? Because they were still afraid of the Egyptians.
Indeed the Egyptian army pursued them. It was only
after the RED-SEA miracle that the Jews could be said
to have truly left Egypt.
*4 The same in all verses. Rashi (Dt13-06b) explains
that the SLAVE-HOUSE means the PLACE/LAND of slaves
In other words Rashi is identifying HOUSE as meaning PLACE
This equation (HOUSE=PLACE) can be justified both from
Rashi and Radack.
Radack in his book Biblical Roots shows that HOUSE
can refer to any special PLACE. House can mean
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VERSE HOUSE=PLACE
------- ------------
Ps84-05 Nest
Is14-17 Grave
Is14-16 Prison
Es07-08 Palace
Ex37-14 Clasps
Jb08-17 Rocky place
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Rashi similarly lists many meanings of HOUSE See
http://www.RashiYomi.com/gn45-02a.htm
*5 Rashi (Dt20-02b) explains the subtle nuances in
TAKEN OUT OF EGYPT vs REDEEMED FROM PHAROH KING OF EGYPT
Rashi points out that there are two types of slaves
- Slaves in the Royal house
- Slaves that work under supervisors that are slaves
So the Torah emphasizes that we werent just tramps--
rather we were ROYAL SLAVES.
This has implications---a King would tolerate certain
things that slave bosses would not tolerate.
This is consistent with the statement that the Jews
in Egypt preserved their Hebrew names and their dress
Only a king would tolerate such expressions of
individuality from slaves -- a slave slaveowner would
stifle them.*10
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LONGER FOOTNOTES
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*10 Technically we use here the following rule of
Rabbi Ishmael
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Rabbi Ishmael Rule Application to this case
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If a class of items (Such as verses with SlaveHouse)
has one different item (Such as FROM PHAROH KING OF EGYPT)
Then that item (slaves to Pharoh)
teachs on ALL items (slaves to Pharoh;not slave slaves)
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