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Fulfillment of a prophecy that contains a transgression

שו”תCategory: philosophyFulfillment of a prophecy that contains a transgression
asked 8 years ago

In the SD
Hello Rabbi,
Question regarding Parashat Shavua: There is a famous disagreement between Maimonides and Ramban regarding the question of why the Egyptians were punished for enslaving the Israelites, since God decreed that there would be enslaving. Maimonides’ opinion is that because they “volunteered” to do so and God did not specifically command them to do so, they were punished, and the Ramban’s opinion is that although there is a commandment to volunteer to fulfill God’s prophecy, since they added more than was necessary and did not do so for the sake of Heaven, they were punished.
I would like to ask, according to their opinion, from the prophecy given in the Book of Amos (7:17), where the prophet Amos prophesies to Amzia: “Therefore thus says the Lord: Your wife will commit fornication in the city, and your sons and daughters will fall by the sword,” to Achur, is there a commandment for a wife to fulfill the will of the Lord and to commit fornication under her husband, for the sake of God (assuming that she knows about this prophecy)?! Even for the Rambam, here it is known about whom the prophecy was spoken, and since for the Rambam there is a commandment for everyone to go and fulfill the will of the Lord, apparently she should do so. Is there a difference?
 


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0 Answers
מיכי Staff answered 8 years ago
The Ramban, in his opinion, also says that regarding Joseph not revealing to his father that he was alive, he wanted to fulfill his dreams. And he has already been attacked for that. Indeed, these things are puzzling to me, but you assume that the woman was not supposed to fulfill the prophecy. Who told you? You assume what you want. Maybe according to the Ramban, this is really what she is supposed to do?

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NM replied 8 years ago

The meaning of the prophecy is forced and raped prostitution – she will fall into the hands of the enemy and be sold into prostitution.
(Similar to what is said in chapter 4’: And the harlot will be cast out, the word of the Lord ’).
Therefore, there is no room for questioning at all.
In the same verse: “Your wife will commit prostitution in the city, and your sons and daughters will fall by the sword” and it is clear that they are not commanded to commit suicide in order to fulfill the prophecy.
The entire verse deals with a prophecy about the future that does not depend on the person's choices at all, and rather, voluntary action misses the intention of the prophecy, which predicts helplessness.

אור replied 8 years ago

In general, why shouldn't these prophecies be subject to the same law as a bad prophecy that can be nullified?

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