Why Jacob Refused Burial in Egypt and the Idol's Own Punishment

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Vayechi 5:4

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

Another interpretation: Why did he (Jacob) not seek to be buried in Egypt? So that they would not make him into an object of idolatry; for just as punishment is exacted from the worshipers of idolatry, so too is punishment exacted from the idolatry itself, as it is said (in Exodus 12:12): "And against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments; I am the LORD." And so you find with Daniel: once he interpreted the dream for Nebuchadnezzar, what is written? "Then Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid homage to Daniel, and commanded that they offer to him an offering and incense" (Daniel 2:46). But Daniel did not seek it. He said: Just as punishment is exacted from the worshipers of idolatry, so is punishment exacted from it. And so you find with Hiram: once he made himself a god, what is written of him? "Because your heart is proud, and you have said, 'I am a god'" (Ezekiel 28:2). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: "Behold, you are wiser than Daniel" (Ezekiel 28:3). Nebuchadnezzar sought to draw near to him (Daniel), and he refused; yet you have made yourself a god. What is your end? "I have cast you upon the ground" (Ezekiel 28:17), and so forth.

Themes

IdolatryDivine Judgment

Biblical References

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Apocalypse of AbrahamAbraham Sees the Idol of Jealousy in the TempleThe vision shifted. Abraham saw something that struck closer to home than the cosmic sins of Cain and Desire. He saw an idol standing inside a Temple. The idol Testament of SolomonDemons Build the Temple and Solomon Falls Through IdolatryThe thirty-sixth and final zodiac demon, Bianakith, confessed: "I lay waste houses and cause flesh to decay. But if a man writes certain holy names on the frontMidrash Tanchuma Buber, NoachThree Generations That Failed to Learn From the FloodThe Fool in the Mortar "Though you pound the fool in a mortar," says the proverb, "his folly will not leave him." Rabbi Nehemiah, son of Rabbi Samuel bar NahmanMidrash Tanchuma Buber, ShoftimRabbi Simlai Reduces the 613 Commandments Down to OneWhen the nations of the world stand for judgment, they turn upon the very gods they once served. "Come," they say to their idols, "let us bow before the Holy OnMidrash Tanchuma Buber, ShoftimGod's Throne in the Firmament and the Shaming of the Nations' Gods"In the future," taught Rabbi Hanina, "the Holy One will show His glory to all who come into the world. He will lower His throne into the midst of the firmamentMidrash Tanchuma Buber, ShoftimGod Judges the Nations and Their Gods in FireHear what the prophets sang of the end of days. When the Holy One sits to judge the nations of the world, He does not judge the nations alone. He summons their