Free choice
According to the rabbi’s thesis that man has free choice and the Creator has no knowledge of what he will choose (but perhaps only what he is expected to choose according to his nature), how does the prophecy in Jeremiah fit in that Nebuchadnezzar will specifically come and destroy the Temple? Does he have a choice in this? And if so, then what is the prophecy for? Is the prophecy only what Nebuchadnezzar is expected to do?
Thank you Rabbi.
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You answered the question in its entirety. First, the prophecy is so that we will repent and then Nebuchadnezzar will probably not come. That is, in the body of the matter it is clear that this is not a prophecy that will necessarily come true (Chazal say in the Talmud that a prophecy of evil returns). It does depend on our own choice and not Nebuchadnezzar’s. Beyond that, it is possible that the prophecy is only what he is expected to do and not what he will do. And finally, there are situations in which God, blessed be He, takes the reins into His own hands and takes the choice from us and from him. In such a situation He is in control of the matter and then there is no reason why He should know everything.
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