Pharaoh Searches His Register of Gods for the Living God

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Vaera 2:3

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

Rabbi Joshua ben Levi said: At that hour he brought out the register of his god, and he read out: the god of Edom, and Moab, and Sidon. He said to them: Behold, I have read, and I do not find here what you are saying. Rabbi Levi said: To what is the matter comparable? To a priest who had a slave. The priest went out from the province; his slave went to seek him among the graves. He began to cry out, "My lord! My lord!" They said to him: Who is your lord? He said to them: a certain priest. They said to him: Fool of the world, do you seek a priest in the cemetery? So did Pharaoh say to Moses, "Who is the LORD?" He brought out the register of the gods and sought him within it. He said to him: Fool of the world, the gods in your hand are dead, but our God is living and enduring, as it is said, "But the LORD is the true God, He is the living God and the everlasting King" (Jeremiah 10:10).

Themes

IdolatryMosesEgyptPriesthoodDeath

Biblical References

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