01-03-2021, 03:17 PM
ImaHebrew,
First, you wrote - "I will try to follow your suggestion in stating my truthful understanding of the Scriptures, that it is only my view or opinion."
Don't try, just do it, thank you!
In Rabbi Fohrman's book "The Exodus You Almost Passed Over" he explains that Pharaoh "strengthened and hardened" his own heart for the first 5 plagues.
It was only during the 6th plague where G-d "interfered" and strengthened Pharaohs heart in Exodus 9:12.
You'll notice the first time Pharaoh admits to sinning in Exodus 9:27. And for the first time it mentions that Pharaoh both hardened and strengthened his heart in (9:34-35) in the same verse and "continued to sin".
So now you see Pharaoh understands he has sinned against the G-d that he now seems to understand is all powerful and not like the other Egyptian gods.
Now G-d in turn "hardens" Pharaoh's heart, after the admittance of sin and recognition of G-d.
So your question is whether it was for good or for evil.
The answer seems to be that G-d allowed Pharaoh to have free will up until the point where he admitted his sin and acknowledgement of G-d.
G-d gave him many chances and saw that Pharaoh did not repent so his chances were up so to speak.
That is the beauty of understanding what is written in Hebrew and is missed in translations.
First, you wrote - "I will try to follow your suggestion in stating my truthful understanding of the Scriptures, that it is only my view or opinion."
Don't try, just do it, thank you!
In Rabbi Fohrman's book "The Exodus You Almost Passed Over" he explains that Pharaoh "strengthened and hardened" his own heart for the first 5 plagues.
It was only during the 6th plague where G-d "interfered" and strengthened Pharaohs heart in Exodus 9:12.
You'll notice the first time Pharaoh admits to sinning in Exodus 9:27. And for the first time it mentions that Pharaoh both hardened and strengthened his heart in (9:34-35) in the same verse and "continued to sin".
So now you see Pharaoh understands he has sinned against the G-d that he now seems to understand is all powerful and not like the other Egyptian gods.
Now G-d in turn "hardens" Pharaoh's heart, after the admittance of sin and recognition of G-d.
So your question is whether it was for good or for evil.
The answer seems to be that G-d allowed Pharaoh to have free will up until the point where he admitted his sin and acknowledgement of G-d.
G-d gave him many chances and saw that Pharaoh did not repent so his chances were up so to speak.
That is the beauty of understanding what is written in Hebrew and is missed in translations.