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Rachel A Listener's avatar

Yaakov said (past tense) “did not know”.

Pharoah said (present tense) “do not know”

With Jacob, it was an apology, like oh my goodness! Amazing. I had no idea this was here!

Whereas, with Pharoah, it was contempt, scorn, ridicule. Like who is that! It doesn’t matter to me! I’m the ruler! I control everything!

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Rabbi Shnayor Burton's avatar

Without a doubt, the righteous Yaakov is far from the wicked Pharaoh!

I meant to merely bring out a connection through a gezerah shavah of sorts and show that unknowledge is characteristic of exile.

Although the translation of the two statements differs, the original Hebrew is identical, in the perfect tense - "לא ידעתי".

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Rachel A Listener's avatar

Perhaps you could explain Yishayahu 12, v. 1?

I found it so moving—I memorized it but it’s only four or five words.. I’m trying to retranslate from the Hebrew for my own understanding:

I think I had been reading the RaMChal . “I will thank you, oh G_D, although you showed me anger.” I see the word for anger (af) the same as in the second paragraph of Shemah. “Cie” is although? But does the word “show” belong as translated? Did the prophet see G_D’s Face? Then die? Because He was angry?

Does it mean “because Your Face showed anger to me”??

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