Friday, January 24, 2020

Rashi, Ibn Ezra, and George R.R. Martin


Ex. 6:2 - 9:35

PrĂ©cis: God reiterates His intention to free the Israelites from bondage and to create a covenant with them. Moses goes back to Pharaoh to seek release of the Israelites. Pharaoh refuses and we see the first seven of the fabled plagues: blood, frogs, fleas, beetles, cattle disease, boils, and hail. Pharaoh relents after each plague begins, deciding to let the people go, but then God “hardens Pharaoh’s heart” and he refuses to allow them to leave.


Ex. 9:24 “So there was hail, and fire flashing up amid the hail.”
            The Sages Rashi and Ibn Ezra opine that this was a “double” miracle, because the Hebrew phrase may be read fire “in the midst” of the hail, or “inside of the hail.”
            How can there be fire inside of ice? Fans of the epic television drama and novels, Game of Thrones, know that the real title of the series is the “Song of Ice and Fire.” Whether or not George R.R. Martin was aware of Jewish Midrash when he composed his masterwork, those familiar with Midrash know that in relation to this verse, it is suggested that the fire was indeed inside of the hail, with the fire breaking out only when the ice was split as it hit the ground.
            The Rabbis suggest that this is a parable about humans: we are comprised of fire (passion within) and ice (cold distance).  When we balance these factors, we can achieve a sort of stability. There are times when fire is required in self-defense or in seeking justice, and there are times a “cold shoulder” to those who pursue inappropriate ends is also required.
            Thinking about it a bit more, perhaps Martin knew something about Midrash when he began his saga.