As pragas do Egito: Rãs (Ex 7,26-8,11)
Contextualização - histórica/cultural
As rãs no Antigo Egito: dados biológicos
There is only one species of true frog in Egypt at present. This is the edible frog (Rana esculenta), which abounds on the Continent and is also an inhabitant of some parts of Southern England. Other species of the tailless amphibians found in Palestine and the regions adjoining are the green toad (Bufo viridis), and less commonly the African toad (Bufo regularis). The beautiful little tree frog (Hyla arborea) is common in Sinai and Palestine. It is well known in Southern Europe.
During their reproductive period, frogs concentrate in particular areas such as ponds and lakes; as the Nile begins to recede in September/October, they usually mass on land. In the present circumstances their habitat had become polluted by the putrefying fish, so the amphibians would have been forced to invade the land much earlier than usual. But the dead fish would have been a source of infection carried by insects, so that the frogs died en masse.
As rãs no Antigo Egito: aspecto religioso
It is possible that this plague, like the first one, was regarded as a judgment on Egyptian polytheism, for a frog-headed goddess named Heqt was the consort of the god Khnum, who was credited with having fashioned man out of clay. She was associated with fertility and was thought to assist women at childbirth. Hence, the plague may have been taken as retribution for the decree ordering the midwives to kill the newborn males at birth.
The edible frog fills the air at night with its deafening croaking in those places where there is sufficient marshy ground, as at the Dead Sea or at Tel el Milh, near Beersheba. The numbers which congregate together are most astonishing, and if after a few hours’ hopeless wakefulness one leaves the tent in despair, it is probable that the first marshy pool examined will appear almost to break up and vanish, as the frogs which filled it en masse move away in detachments. But they do not cease croaking because they are disturbed. They will surround the intruder, and croak apparent defiance on all sides and their persistent monotony is worse than either jackals, cicadas, or dogs.
Toads are not mentioned in the Bible, and there can be no question as to Rana esculenta being the animal meant in the passages referred to.
Another explanation is literary: frogs are a fertility symbol, associated with the frog-headed goddess Heqt (Heket), consort of the god Khnum, who fashioned human beings from clay. That Heqt assisted women in childbirth has been linked with Pharaoh’s command that midwives kill the Hebrew male children (Exod. 1:16); the plague would be a response to that command.
2. Frogs. Frogs were sacred animals to the Egyptians. One of their deities, Heqa, was a frog-headed goddess thought to possess creative power. Though the chief purpose of this plague was to punish the oppressors of Israel, it was also designed to cast contempt upon their many heathen gods. The great multiplication of frogs made the goddess Heqa appear not only ridiculous but even vicious. Here she was, tormenting the very people who professed to be her most ardent devotees. Their religious superstitions obliged the Egyptians to respect the creatures they now loathed and hated and would otherwise have destroyed.
Rã, uma animal impuro, segundo o costume legal de Israel
Frogs (Heb. ṣĕp̱ardēaʿ; Gk. bátrachos) lack fins and scales and thus are unclean for food (Lev. 11:9–12); they may also qualify as “swarming creatures,” also unclean (Lev. 11:41).
As ocorrências da rã na Bíblia Hebraica
Contextualização literária
All OT appearances relate to the 10 plagues. Frogs are the second plague after the Nile has been turned to blood (Exod. 8:2–14 [MT 7:27–8:10]). They are the third plague in Ps. 78:45—after the bloody Nile and flies—and 105:30—after darkness and the bloody Nile. The Wisdom of Solomon also mentions this plague (Wis. 19:10).
Contextualização literária
Contexto imediato
8:1–15 Yahweh’s second plague against Egypt brings frogs (vv. 1–6). As before, the Egyptian magicians replicate the plague (v. 7). This time, however, Pharaoh pleads with Moses and Aaron to take it away (v. 8). When the plague ends, he hardens his own heart (vv. 9–15; see note on 4:21).
Estrutura literária
All the plague stories seem to follow the same basic pattern of six parts, even though some parts are not always present in every story. The translator should be aware of this pattern, which may be outlined as follows:
a) The Lord informs Moses about the plague.
b) Moses warns Pharaoh.
c) The plague occurs.
d) Pharaoh asks Moses to remove the plague.
e) The plague is removed.
f) Pharaoh’s heart is hardened again.
8:1–15 Yahweh’s second plague against Egypt brings frogs (vv. 1–6). As before, the Egyptian magicians replicate the plague (v. 7). This time, however, Pharaoh pleads with Moses and Aaron to take it away (v. 8). When the plague ends, he hardens his own heart (vv. 9–15; see note on 4:21).
The second plague in each cycle is introduced simply by “Yahweh said to Moses, ‘Go in to pharaoh’ (bôʾ ʾel-parʿōh”)” (8:1 [7:26]; 9:1; 10:1).
8:1–15 (Q1, p. 82). SECOND PLAGUE (FROGS). (Introversion).
Q1
i | 1–4. Liberation demanded (warning.)
k | 5, 6. Plague inflicted.
k | 7. Plague imitated.
i | 8–15. Liberation refused.
Intertextualidade
2. (296) But when God saw that he was ungrateful, and upon the ceasing of this calamity would not grow wiser, he sent another plague upon the Egyptians:—An innumerable multitude of frogs consumed the fruit of the ground; the river was also full of them, insomuch that those who drew water had it spoiled by the blood of these animals, as they died in, and were destroyed by, the water; (297) and the country was full of filthy slime, as they were born and as they died: they also spoiled their vessels in their houses, which they used, and were found among what they eat and what they drank, and came in great numbers upon their beds. There was also an ungrateful smell, and a stink arose from them, as they were born, and as they died therein. (298) Now, when the Egyptians were under the oppression of these miseries, the king ordered Moses to take the Hebrews with him, and be gone. Upon which the whole multitude of the frogs vanished away; and both the land and the river returned to their former natures. (299) But as soon as Pharaoh saw the land freed from this plague, he forgot the cause of it, and retained the Hebrews; and, as though he had a mind to try the nature of more such judgments, he would not yet suffer Moses and his people to depart, having granted that liberty rather out of fear than out of any good consideration.