{"id":74734,"date":"2020-05-16T09:49:21","date_gmt":"2020-05-16T06:49:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=74734"},"modified":"2020-05-16T09:49:21","modified_gmt":"2020-05-16T06:49:21","slug":"the-hubris-of-hophra","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/the-hubris-of-hophra\/","title":{"rendered":"The Hubris Of Hophra"},"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":[],"acf":{"old_id":"74734","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":33877,"related_cahpter":"481","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content":{"description":"The pharaoh who thought he was god\r\n\r\n","content":"

Our chapter begins a series of seven pronouncements by Ezekiel against Egypt and its Pharaohs. From the superscription: \u201cIn the tenth year, on the twelfth day of the tenth month\u2026\u201d we can date this prophecy precisely to January 7, 587 BCE. The pharaoh against whom Ezekiel is told by God to turn his face can be identified as Hophra, who reigned over Egypt from 589 to 570 BCE, mentioned by name in Jeremiah 44:30. In Greek historical sources, this Pharaoh is referred to as Apries (Herodotus II 161 and Diodorus I 68; in Egyptian \u201cWahibre Haaibre\u201d). In 588 BCE, Hophra attempted to defend Jerusalem from Babylonian forces sent by Nebuchadnezzar II (Jeremiah 37:5, 34:21). This unsuccessful attempt led to a mutiny of his soldiers and his eventual overthrow.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ezekiel\u2019s prophecy against this Pharaoh focuses particularly on his hubris: \u201cThus said the Lord God: I am going to deal with you, O Pharaoh king of Egypt, mighty monster, sprawling in your channels, who said, My Nile is my own; I made it for myself ” (Ezekiel 29:3). A similar outrageous boast, \u201cThe Nile is mine, and I made it\u201d is repeated in verse 9.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Midrash (Tanhuma Va\u2019era 8) elaborates on this Pharaoh\u2019s claim to divinity. The Holy One said: Because he made himself out to be a god, he was told that he was nothing in the world. Indeed, Moses was made like God to Pharaoh (Exodus 7:1). And from where do we know that Pharaoh made himself out to be a god? From his claiming: \u201cMy Nile is my own; I made it for myself\u201d (Ezekiel 29:3). Actually, Pharaoh was just one of four individuals who claimed to be gods but were punished by being sexually humiliated. Three were from the nations of the world, Hiram, Nebuchadnezzar, Pharaoh, and one was from Israel, Joash\u2026Of Pharaoh Hophra it is particularly said: \u201cThus said the Lord: I will deliver Pharaoh Hophra, king of Egypt, into the hands of his enemies, those who seek his life, just as I delivered King Zedekiah of Judah into the hands of King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon, his enemy who sought his life\u201d (Jeremiah 44:30). This was because he made himself out to be a god, as it says: \u201cMy Nile is my own; I made it for myself\u201d (Ezekiel 29:3). Therefore, the Holy One said to Moses: Because he has made himself out to be a god, go and become a god over him, as it says: \u201cThen the Lord said to Moses, \u201cSee, I make you like God to Pharaoh” (Exodus 7:1).<\/span><\/p>\n

Our chapter ends with the punishment of Egypt and its Pharaoh Hophra, that they shall be conquered and devastated by King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon. This leads to a more positive conclusion: \u201cOn that day I will endow the House of Israel with strength, and you shall be vindicated among them. And they shall know that I am the Lord\u201d (Ezekiel 29:21).<\/span><\/p>\n

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