{"id":69892,"date":"2020-02-09T23:08:47","date_gmt":"2020-02-09T21:08:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=69892"},"modified":"2023-09-04T17:32:04","modified_gmt":"2023-09-04T14:32:04","slug":"theodicy-turned-sideways","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/theodicy-turned-sideways\/","title":{"rendered":"Theodicy Turned Sideways"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[281],"tags":[366,460,506],"acf":{"old_id":"69892","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":34243,"related_cahpter":"412","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content":{"description":"Putting God on trial\r\n\r\n","content":"

Jeremiah opened this chapter with what appears to be a continuation of the previous one, referring to the people of Anathoth, when he replies to God: <\/span><\/p>\n

You will win, O LORD, if I make claim against You, yet I shall present charges against You: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are the workers of treachery at ease? (1). <\/span><\/p>\n

Indeed, it was so understood by the secondary interpretation (<\/span>yesh omrim<\/span><\/em>) proferred by Rashi, \u201cHe is calling out complaining about the people of Anathoth.\u201d Rashi\u2019s initial interpretation had identified the complaint as concerning Nebuchadnezzar, calling into question his successful conquest of Jerusalem and destruction of the Temple.<\/span><\/p>\n

Shadal,* ingeniously\u2014and characteristically\u2014turned the interpretation sideways to achieve not another condemnation of the people, but an attempt at their absolution.<\/span><\/p>\n

After God told Jeremiah, \u201cDo not pray to Me on behalf of this people\u2026. who offer incense to Baal,\u201d the prophet figured out how to defend his countrymen, saying: \u201cWhy does the way of the wicked prosper?\u201d In other words, why do You allow the small number of wicked people in Israel to prosper, when that prompts others to learn from them and imitate their wicked ways? \u201cI will present charge against You\u201d despite my knowing that You are righteous and that I am incapable of disputing You, I wish to present charges and to question Your actions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Indeed, our verse opened with Jeremiah lodging a \u201cclaim\u201d against God, using the Hebrew word <\/span>riv<\/span><\/em>, which has the predominant meaning of contention (as in its use throughout Psalms and Proverbs), but frequently is a technical legal term denoting a court case (as in Exodus and Deuteronomy). Shadal also pointed out that \u201cpresenting charges\u201d (<\/span>ledaber mishpat<\/span><\/em>), likewise a legal term, which appeared in Jeremiah 1:16, and 4:12, and recurs, later, in 39:5 and 52:9.<\/span><\/p>\n

*For an explanation of our objectives in studying Shadal\u2019s commentary, <\/span>see our introduction<\/span><\/a> in Jeremiah chapter 1.<\/span><\/p>\n

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