parsha bit: Va'eira
Jan. 26th, 2006 09:10 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cellioThe rabbis are troubled by God hardening Paro's heart after each plague.
How, Rabbi Yochanan asks, did Paro have free will and thus warrant
punishment? Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish (Resh Lakish) answers that after the
first five plagues Paro hardened his heart and then after the
next five God did so. The plagues were warnings and Paro was
given five chances to relent. When he didn't, God sent five more as
punishment. (Exodus Rabbah 13:3)