论妥拉中的“埃及”意象及其象征

On the Symbol of “Egypt” in the Torah

在妥拉中,埃及是与以色列相随并生的语词,它并非一定指代尼罗河畔地理意义上的埃及,其亦有可能标识着一种尊崇自身、注重物质享受、看重个人意志、肯定欲望满足的现世生活方式。妥拉作者通过亚伯拉罕、以撒、约瑟乃至摩西等人的生活经历,揭示出埃及生活的本质乃是奴役之路,而离开埃及则是通向上帝公义的另一道路。妥拉中的埃及是一个象征,它代表着与以色列人道路相异的另一种生活方式,其傲慢、蛮横、充满随意性,而摩西代表的则是公义、虔敬、日益坚强的正确之路。妥拉中埃及与以色列的对立代表着人类思想发展中的人法与神法、理智与启示、威权与上帝之间的冲突与对决。因此,《出埃及记》在很大程度上就是告别一种旧有生活方式而向上走的信仰寓言。

In the Torah, there is a close relationship between the words "Egypt" and "Israel". Egypt does not necessarily refer to the geographic Nile area, but may denote a secular life style, whose traits include respect for the self, attention to material enjoyment, the value of personal will, and an affirmation of the satisfaction of desire.Through the life experiences of Abraham, Isaac, Joseph and Moses,the Torah author reveals how the essence of life in Egypt is the road to enslavement, while leaving Egypt is a road towards the righteousness of God. Egypt in the Torah is a symbol, representing a divergent way to that of Israel, one that is arrogant, boorish and self-centred, while Moses is the representative of a way of righteousness, devotion, and daily selfstrengthening. The antagonism between Egypt and Israel in the Torah represents the conflict and confrontation between human law and divine law, reason and revelation, authoritarianism and God in the development of human thought. The Exodus therefore is largely a faith allegory of leaving an old way of life to progress forwards.