[Avodah] (Neviim & Possible Mistakes); Akeidah & Yizchak

[Yitzchok Zirkind]

On Thu, Jun 11, 2009 at 10:55 AM, David Riceman <driceman at att.net> wrote:

> I hate to keep coming back to this, since we've both set out our opinions
> very fully.


I hope this time around I can explain my position better, and add/modify it
for clarity.


> The Rambam says that when a prophet receives a prophecy he also receives
> its explanation.  You claim that the Rambam is describing a property of
> every prophecy, and I claim, no, he's describing the standard procedure, but
> there are a group of

exceptions.


The issue really is to understand what is the purpose of prophecy, AIUI it
is that HKBH communicates with us and guides us (see 7:7, and also to make
him more knowledgable), if so it is imperitive that (1) it be understood
(2)  it be accurate, so that the right thing is done, and the right message
is related.

RDR continues:
We considered two of those exceptions in some detail.  The first is Daniel's
prediction of the date of the redemption, which he says explicitly he didn't
understand.  In this case I think you agree with me that he didn't receive
the explanation, but you exonerate the Rambam on the grounds (IIUC) that
this is a unique property of the redemption.

YZ responds:
In addition this was all part of the same prophecy IOW he understood exactly
the entire purpose and message of the prophecy. (which means the purpose of
prophecy was not violated)

RDR continues:
The second exception is the Akeidah....
But why isn't that a counterexample for the Rambam? The prophecy had been
phrased ambiguously, but it did have a precise meaning, which was revealed
several days later.  That means that Avraham did not receive the explanation
instantly when he received the original vision!  And that contradicts the
words of the Rambam!

YZ responds:
Since the Kavana of this Nvuoh was to show that "Yurei E-lokim Atoh" it was
neccessery for Avrohom Avinu to think that he is going to scarifice his son,
and that could only be done by actually "ha'aleihu" with the full intent of
"shachteihu", from that perspective the Pisron he got was the correct one,
and he acted on it perfectly (which is the purpose of Nvuoh).

Yet from the other side, since it was only in ADDING meaning and WRT action
(which is the purpose of Nvuoh) nothing would be done wrong, it is not a
violation of the purpose of Nvuoh, and HKBH could do it.

In addition as this was a private Nvuoh which has different Gdorim where
according to some opinions even a Havtacha Ltova can be reversed, (as
previously pointed to Lechem Mishne on Rambam 10:4). so taking all of these
perspectives LAN"D it exonerrates the Rambam.

Kol Tuv,
Yitzchok Zirkind
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