ABSTRACT

The agent of this hardening is occasionally specified. Sometimes it is man himself, as in the case of Pharaoh (Ex 7:13, 14, 8:15, 9:35; Dt 29:18; Ps 95:8; Jer 7:24, 9:13, 11:8; Zec 7:11f.). However, the originator is often YHWH, who may bring it about for the purpose of punishment (1 Sm 2:25; 1 Kgs 12:15), but also of salvation (Ex 4:1, 7:3, 22, 9:12, 10:1, 20, 27; 14:4, 8, 17).