Page:Judaism and Islam, a prize essay - Geiger - 1898.pdf/140

 122 JUDAISM AND ISLAM.

and Korah 1 are mentioned as counsellors of Pharaoh and persecutors of the Israelites. The latter is alluded to in this capacity by the Eabbis, 2 who say : " Korah was the chief steward over Pharaoh's house." As to the former, Muhammad must at some time have heard him mentioned as the Jew's enemy, 3 and therefore have put him in here, although later Arabians do not thus designate the Haman 4 who lived in the time of Ahasuerus. The Rabbis also say a good deal about Pharaoh's advisers, amongst whom they sometimes mention Balaam, Job and Jethro. Of these the first agreed with Pharaoh and for this reason he was afterwards killed by the Israelites; the second remained silent, therefore he had to endure sufferings; the third fled, and so the happiness of being the father-in- law of Moses fell to his lot. The two chief magicians, 5 who are also mentioned in a letter of the apostle Paul, are specially named as abettors. Fear on account of some dream 6 is given as the greatest cause of persecution ; and this is in accord with the statement of the Eabbis that it was foretold to Pharaoh by the magicians 7 that a boy would be born who would lead the Israelites out of Egypt ; then he thought, if all male children were thrown into the river, this one would be thrown with them.8 The finding

i ^jjjj Siiras XXIX. 8, XL. 25. 2 Midr. Eabb. on Numbers, par, 14.

rfo-ig ba? in^b Di,Tbinp_ n;n nip 3 W

page 143, line 9 of the first edition).
 * Not (.jUCfe but 0j*jA. (compare Makarizi in De Sacy's Chrest. Arabe,

' Pirke Rabbi Bliezer, Section 48.
 * N1B& and lani'' 6 Sfira XXVIII. 5.

8 M^^ ssini nb^nb -153 rns? n^-is 1 ? a^-pn sna^ on^i> Trbtite wim Tibvn bs n^D-tn