Pharaoh Brought the Punishment Near and Sacrificed to Baal-tzefon

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 230:18

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"And Pharaoh drew near" (Exodus 14:10) - he brought the punishment near to come upon himself. When Pharaoh saw that Israel were encamped by the sea, he said, "Baal-tzefon has agreed with the intent of my decree. I had thought to destroy them by water, and it has begun to destroy them by water." He began to slaughter offerings and burn incense and pour libations and bow down to his idol. Therefore it is said, "And Pharaoh drew near" - he drew near to slaughter and to burn incense.

Themes

EgyptIdolatryDivine Justice

Continue Reading

Mekhilta DeRabbi Shimon Ben YochaiThe LORD Passing Through Egypt to Judge Its GodsOn the night of the tenth plague, the Torah has God say, "I will pass through the land of Egypt." The sages picture a king moving in person from place to place,Mekhilta DeRabbi Shimon Ben YochaiEgypt Overtakes Israel and Pharaoh Sacrifices to Baal-zephonThe Egyptian army ran a long, hard pursuit, and the midrash notices something curious: not one soldier so much as tripped along the way. This was no accident. TYalkut Shimoni on TorahThe LORD Alone Struck Egypt's Firstborn and Judged Its GodsThe sages read the verse word by word as a declaration of God's unshared hand in the final plague. "Wrath" is no mild displeasure but burning fury, the same indBook of JubileesJoseph Falsely Accused and Thrown Into PrisonBook of Jubilees turns to Joseph Falsely Accused and Thrown Into Prison. Our story picks up in the Book of Jubilees, specifically chapter 39. Now, the Book of JLetter of AristeasAlexandria and the DreamerI think it's worthwhile to share a copy of this ancient decree with you, because it really highlights the king's, shall we say, magnanimity. He was, as the textLetter of AristeasEgypt — Joseph the RulerMore often, it's a tale riddled with injustice, with power used to justify the unthinkable. The Letter of Aristeas, a fascinating document supposedly written in