Don Isaac Abravanel (1437-1508) was a preeminent Jewish thinker, scholar, and prolific Biblical
commentator. In Exodus Chapter 1 the Bible painstakingly details the Hebrew population explosion in
Egypt, one that spooked the king and terrified his subjects.
“And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and
multiplied, and waxed exceedingly mighty. And the land was filled with
them.”
Expressing fears of the Hebrews forming a fifth column, Pharaoh took action. “And he said unto his
people: Behold, the children of Israel are more and mightier than we. Come let us deal wisely with them,
lest they multiply, and it will come to pass that when there befalls a war, they will also join themselves
with our enemies and fight against us, and leave the land.”
Abravanel notes Pharaoh’s convoluted thinking. That is, if the Jews’ numbers and strength already
reached mammoth proportions, why does the monarch phrase the problem in future tense: “And it will
come to pass…they will also join themselves with our enemies?” The problem was now.
Regarding Pharaoh’s worries, Abravanel poses a second question. “And it will come to pass…they will
join themselves with our enemies and fight against us, and leave the land.” But if the Hebrews
presented an existential problem for Egypt, why does Pharaoh state that they will “fight and leave the
land?” What stops Hebrew fighters from conquering Egypt – whether in alliance with other belligerents
or by themselves?
On this topic of Pharaoh’s strategy for internal affairs, let us call them, Abravanel concludes his line of
questioning. Why should Pharaoh fear that the Hebrews would “leave the land?” That should have been
music to the king’s ears, seeing that he viewed the Hebrews as a ticking time bomb.
Abravanel explains Pharaoh’s assessment of the Jews. When the king states, “Behold, the children of
Israel are more and mightier than we” he did not mean that, at present, the Jews were more populous
than the Egyptians. They weren’t. Pharaoh meant that the Hebrews were a sizeable nation. But, in the
muscle department, they were tough, even tougher than the Egyptians.
“Come let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply, and it will come to pass that when there befalls a
war…” Pharaoh foresaw trouble afoot. Should Egyptian enemies attack, Hebrews could very well join the
invaders, the king predicted. In such scenarios, Egypt would be defeated. At that juncture, the Jews
could disgorge Egyptians and remain, or leave the country, to wherever they decided to go.
In sum, Abravanel reframes the verses. By so doing, Bible students get a better glance into our chapter,
as well as a glimpse into Pharaoh’s thinking – and planning.
