The God of the Jehudaee Has Sent Me to Release My People

Midrash Aggadah Targum Pseudo-Jonathan on Exodus 7:16 View source

Curated by The Jewish Mythology Team · Published January 9, 2025

When Moses delivers the demand at the Nile, the Hebrew has him speak in the name of the God of the Hebrews (Exodus 7:16). Targum Pseudo-Jonathan on Exodus 7:16 updates the phrase with startling directness: the Lord God of the Jehudaee — the God of the Jews.

The meturgeman, writing in late-antique Aramaic for a Jewish audience scattered across Babylonia and the land of Israel, is collapsing the distance between the Israel of Egypt and the Israel of his own synagogue. The slave who stood before Pharaoh, the shepherd who spoke at the bush, the listener hearing the Targum on a Shabbat morning — all of them, Jehudaee. The same people. The same God. The same demand: Release My people, that they may serve Me.

And Pharaoh, the verse reminds, has not hearkened. The meturgeman leaves the rebuke understated. Moses has said his line once; Pharaoh has answered with silence. Every plague that follows is God's patience running out one warning at a time.

The takeaway: the God of Israel is not a regional deity who retires when the Israelites leave Egypt. He is the God of the Jews wherever they are, and the demand He made at the Nile echoes in every tyranny that has ever tried to silence Jewish service to Him.

Themes

Moses Prophecy Divine justice

Biblical References

Exodus 7:16

Continue Reading

Ginzberg Three-Year-Old Moses Grabbed Pharaoh's Crown Off His Head To his right sits Queen Alfar'anit, and to his left, his daughter Bithiah. But it's not just family; Balaam, yes that Ba... Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael and provisions, too, they could not make for themselves" The Torah records a striking detail about the Israelites' departure from Egypt: "and provisions, too, they could not mak... Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael "And it was, when G–d sent ("shalach") (Exodus 13:17) (Exodus 13:17) "And it was, when G–d sent ("shalach") the people": "sending" in all places is accompaniment, viz. (Genes... Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael and I will be honored through Pharaoh" — Scripture here "and I will be honored through Pharaoh": Scripture here apprises us that when the L–rd exacts punishment of the nations,... Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael Others say — The faith that they had in Me suffices for Me Others say: The faith that they had in Me suffices for Me to split the sea for them. They did not say to Moses: How can ... Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael The "morning" of Jacob—(Ibid The "morning" of Jacob—(Ibid. 28:18) "and Jacob rose early in the morning, etc." The "morning" of Moses—Exodus 34:4) "an... Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael The Holy One Blessed be He heals all who enter the world, viz The Holy One Blessed be He heals all who enter the world, viz. (Exodus 15:26) "for I am the L–rd who heals you", (Jeremi... Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael And (this obtains) not with Egypt alone, but with all who And (this obtains) not with Egypt alone, but with all who afflict Israel throughout the generations. As it is written (P... Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael "And the L–rd said to Moses — Stretch forth (Exodus 14:26) (Exodus 14:26) "And the L–rd said to Moses: Stretch forth your hand over the sea": It will not stand against you and it ...