LogFAQs > #971041406

PiOverlord posted...

I always thought as a kid, that it was metaphorical. Like, Pharoah got mad at God for daring to defy him as the one supreme ruler, and it made him double-down on his ruthless nature.

My own personal theory, so bear with me.

I've been of a mind that the earliest versions of the story of Exodus, there were no plagues. The key to this is that Exodus was originally an oral story.

Moses started with killing Egypt's first born and Pharoah relented. At that time it was considered reasonable because in the story the Jew's firstborn had all been killed.

Then as time went on, Yahweh was depicted as less of a war god and more a just and merciful god. Audiences thought that was too harsh too start with by punishing innocent Egyptians. The plagues were added to show that God gave ample warning.

Then even later traditions tried to fill the plot hole that Pharaoh didn't just relent after the first couple of plagues. So they said God hardened his heart because God was primarily just and wanted to make an example out of the Egyptians. Which just circled back around to God being an outright lawful evil asshole again. Eventually, this became the version that was written down.