Quote:Criteria of embarrassment
The problem with that is that it tends to be defined in modern terms. "Why would the jews pretend to be slaves in Egypt if it weren't true....slavery is so ICKY."
But it was common in antiquity and completely misses the message that the priests were trying to sell, which was:
"You fucked up by not listening to us tell you what yahweh wanted and you ended up as fucking slaves. You're lucky he rescued your sorry asses. Now this time LISTEN TO US."
Voila. Embarrassment gone.
