Mi Yodeya is a question and answer site for those who base their lives on Jewish law and tradition and anyone interested in learning more. It only takes a minute to sign up.
Sign up to join this community
In the Talmud - Mas. Mo'ed Katan 16a, Pharaoh is called The author of ‘commotion’.
As it is written: They called there, Pharaoh the king of Egypt [the author of] ‘commotion’; he hath let the appointed time pass by.
Was this a common title or term for Pharaoh and , 'As it is written' - where is this written? Is there a specific text that is referenced here?
The commotion is part of a verse in Jeremiah 46:17.
קָרְא֖וּ שָׁ֑ם פַּרְעֹ֤ה מֶֽלֶךְ־מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ שָׁא֔וֹן הֶעֱבִ֖יר הַמּוֹעֵֽד׃
There they called Pharaoh king of Egypt: “Braggart (or: Master of commotion) who let the hour go by.”
Though not everybody agrees that it refers to Pharaoh making a commotion, Rashi and the Metzuda David do explain the verse in Jeremiah 46:17 as referring to commotion.
The commotion that Pharaoh makes is his loud bragging about his army's strength.
Hat tip to Shokhet for finding the passage you refer to (Moed Katan 16a).
Rashi:
פרעה מלך מצרים שאון . שהיה מגביה קול שאונו תשואות להתהלל בחיילותיו
Metzuda:
קראו שם. במעדכת צבא כשדים הכריזו לומר אשר פרעה מלך מצרים המרים קול שאון בגאוה ובגודל לבב הנה עתה העביר המועד ר״ל לא בא להלחם מערכה מול מערכה ביום המיועד והקבוע כי בא מורך בלבבו:
