By Teresa Konopka
SAN DIEGO — As with any event, one’s experience will be colored by societal and cultural surroundings. It is all too easy for writers to take their historical contexts for granted and not explain every reference, which can leave future readers scratching their heads. While most Americans in 2021 understand the political meaning behind a “Make America Great Again” hat or the religious meaning behind a Christmas tree, readers 2000+ years from now in nations far away may have no idea what those represent.
When it comes to the Exodus from Egypt, there are countless references—both implicit and explicit—that add depth beyond the plain meaning of the text. Take for instance the exchange between Moses and Pharaoh where Moses asks to sacrifice in a distant land.
“Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron. ‘All right! Go ahead and offer sacrifices to your G-d,’ he said. ‘But do it here in this land.’ But Moses replied, ‘That wouldn’t be right. The Egyptians detest the sacrifices that we offer to the LORD our G-d. Look, if we offer our sacrifices here where the Egyptians can see us, they will stone us.’” – Exodus 8
Why would the Egyptians stone the Hebrews for their sacrifice? One plausible reason is because the Egyptians worshipped animals and considered certain creatures sacred. Ancient Egyptian historian Herodotus explains that different pagan denominations in Egypt would sacrifice certain animals while worshipping others. For instance, some honored sheep and sacrificed goats while others honored goats and sacrificed sheep [1]. Based on prohibitions mentioned in the Torah, it appears at least some Hebrews were raised in the Egyptian denomination that worshipped goats.
“The people must no longer be unfaithful to the LORD by offering sacrifices to the goat idols. This is a permanent law for them, to be observed from generation to generation.” – Leviticus 17
Regardless of which livestock the Egyptians honored vs slaughtered for religious purposes, scientific analysis of mummies shows that Egyptians favored a vegetarian diet [2]. Beyond killing a potentially sacred animal god, the Hebrews would have been adding insult to injury by eating said animal(s). In other words, the Hebrews performing their religious duties in full view of Egyptians would be tantamount to someone eating a hamburger in India (it is common practice for Hindus to worship cows [3]).
As for the ten plagues themselves, one has to wonder the significance behind why they specifically were chosen. Why a plague of boils and not diarrhea? Why a plague of frogs and not lizards? Why a plague of flies and not ants? The answer may lie in the ancient Egyptian religion, particularly their deities. Due to the prohibition of mentioning the specific names of other gods, the gods are written in generic form with their proper names omitted (Exodus 23). Bible scholars note which particular god(s) each plague was directed towards:
- Water to Blood symbolized victory over the god of the Nile;
- Frogs symbolized victory over the god of fertility;
- Lice symbolized victory over the god of the earth;
- Flies symbolized victory over the flying insect god;
- Death of Livestock symbolized victory over the gods of bulls and protection;
- Boils symbolized victory over the gods of medicine, magic, and healing;
- Hail symbolized victory over the sky goddess;
- Locusts symbolized victory over the god of crops;
- Darkness symbolized victory over the sun god; and
- Death of the Firstborn symbolized victory over the man-god Pharaoh himself. [4]
Reading the Torah, it can be easy to gloss past the animals chosen and their symbolism. However, to the Hebrews living the Exodus, the specific actions and animals used carried meaning from their Egyptian lives. From sheep to goats to cows, each animal represented an Egyptian deity. When sinning at Mount Sinai, it is no coincidence that the Hebrews made a golden calf. Unlike other animal gods that merely provided a link to the divine, the cow god was believed to host god as an earthly incarnation [5]. As seen earlier, it is common for G-d to destroy the specific gods holding His rightful place in man’s heart. Some scholars go so far as to say that the reason why the red heifer is the animal of choice used for purification is to rectify the sin of The Golden Calf at Mount Sinai [6].
For those told the Exodus story year after year, it can be easy to just accept the wondrous tale without asking some basic questions. Why did G-d send ten plagues? Why did G-d need to send any plagues at all? Why did G-d send Moses to *ask* for Pharaoh’s permission to “let my people go”? A force as powerful as the Creator of the Universe can surely do whatever He pleases. Just like how Noah spent years building the ark, there are questions there. Couldn’t G-d have just protected Noah supernaturally or miraculously provided a boat? A contemporary author, Rabbi Tovia Singer, suggests the reason for this and other similar biblical events is linked to G-d’s patience. G-d desires that people turn from their wickedness and come to Him. So much so that He is willing to delay punishment and give people time to repent.
“Do you think that I like to see wicked people die? says the Sovereign LORD. Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live.” – Ezekiel 18
While G-d’s mercy is great, it should not be taken for granted. Eventually the clock runs out. The ark’s construction is complete, the last plague has come, and the last warning has past.
“Remember your Creator now while you are young, before the silver cord of life snaps and the golden bowl is broken. Don’t wait until the water jar is smashed at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well. For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to G-d who gave it.” – Ecclesiastes 12
Like the Hebrews leaving Egypt, it is all too easy to turn to idols instead of G-d. When G-d is silent to our prayers and suffering—or when Moses tarries on the mountain—impatience gives way to idolatry.
“G-d withdrew from Hezekiah in order to test him and to see what was really in his heart.” – 2 Chronicles 32
“When the people saw how long it was taking Moses to come back down the mountain, they gathered around Aaron. ‘Come on,’ they said, ‘make us some gods who can lead us. We don’t know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt.’” – Exodus 32
“For My people have done two evil things: They have abandoned Me— the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!” – Jeremiah 2
Unlike Christians who believe the purpose of sacrifice is for blood to physically atone for sin, maybe the reason is simpler than that. Maybe the purpose of sacrifice is simply to destroy one’s idols and understand that the gods of man’s creation are not gods at all. With that in mind, one can’t help but wonder if the true slavery of our ancestors was the physical labor of building pyramids or the spiritual loneliness of idolatry.
“The poor, deluded fool feeds on ashes. He trusts something that can’t help him at all. Yet he cannot bring himself to ask, ‘Is this thing in my hand a lie?’” – Isaiah 44
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REFERENCES
- Godley, A.D. Herodotus, The Histories – 2. Tufts University. 23 June 2021. http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0126%3Abook%3D2&force=y
- “Ancient Egyptians Had Vegetarian Diet, Mummy Study Shows,” Inside Science. 10 May 2014. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/egyptians-vegetarian-mummy-study_n_5297691
- “Why do Hindus Worship Cows?” Hindus Info. 23 June 2021. https://www.hindusinfo.com/why-do-hindus-worship-cows/
- Lyman, Dave. “Why did G-d perform the Ten Plagues?” Sermon Follow Up. 23 June 2021.
- “Ancient Egypt Bull” Ancient Egyptian Facts. 23 June 2021. https://ancientegyptianfacts.com/ancient-egypt-apis-bull.html
- Newman, Stephen. “Understanding the Mystery of the Reed Heifer Ritual” Jewish Bible Quarterly. 23 June 2021. https://jbqnew.jewishbible.org/assets/Uploads/432/jbq_432_newmanredheifer.pdf
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Teresa Konopka is a freelance writer based in San Diego. She may be contacted via teresa.konopka@sdjewishworld.com