Tanakh test #3
* school tanakh1. Shemot: 2
1.1. ???
1.2. Shemot 2:23
The king died and the israelites were and they screamed to god and he heard them. Three things can happen now:
- There will be a more evil king
- There will be a better king
things will remain the same
Moses is obligated to go back to egypt to help them.
RASHI: When pharoah killed the baby boys, he bathed in their blood. He died because he ordered every baby boy to be killed
1.3. meaning of סמיכות פרשיות–PROXITIMY OF PARSHA
This is when torah parts are close together–they are related. For example: Pharoah died(Shemot 2:23) because he ordered every baby boy to be killed in Shemot 1:22.
1.4. Shemot 2:24-25
Shemot 2:24-25. God realized it was time to forgive the jews and fulfill his covenant. He noticed their suffering.
1.5. הרקע להתגלות הי למשׁה בסנה — BACKGROUND TO THE REVELATION OF MOSES IN SINAI
Moses killed an egyptian man and fled shemot 2:15 to midian. He would be killed if he stayed.
He arrived in midian where he married zipporah.
2. Shemot: 3
2.1. Shemot 3:1
2.1.1. "And drove the flock into the wilderness"
He led them into the wilderness, like how he will lead the jews.
2.1.2. אַחַ֣ר הַמִּדְבָּ֔ר Question and Answer:
Why lead them to the desert? Moses takes them far away to a different desert so the sheep do not steal other's crops. There are no cities in the desert
2.1.3. אֶל־הַ֥ר הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים Rashi, and Sforono
This mountain is also known as mt. sinai, horeb, and the mountain of god. This is foreshadowing for how the jews recieve the torah there
2.1.4. הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים חֹרֵֽבָ Rashi, Ibn Ezra
It is called horeb because it is dry. It also predicts the future.
2.2. Shemot 3:2
2.2.1. "בְּלַבַּת־אֵ֖שׁ "
RASHI: This means in the very heart of the flame. The angel appeared inside the fire. OTHER: The angel appeared in the flame of the fire–above the fire. CHIZKUNI: God wanted moses to get used to this phenomenon, so when he recieved the torah at mt.sinai he would not be frightened.
2.2.2. "וְהַסְּנֶ֖ה אֵינֶ֥נּוּ אֻכָּֽל׃"
The bush was not eaten by the fire. It did not burn. IBN EZRA: This refers to a thorned bush. mt.sinai is named because the bush grew there.
2.3. Shemot 3:3
2.3.1. "אֶת־הַמַּרְאֶ֥ה"
This is the first time in tanakh where god used his prophets. It signaled that moshe is special and they have a unique relationship.
2.3.2. " הַסְּנֶֽה"
- It was a thorned bush
- In a thorned bush, the thorns are pointed inwards. They allow birds to perch and build nest, but escaping is hard because of the thorns. This is similar to the jews experience in egypt.
2.4. Shemot 3:4
2.4.1. " סָ֣ר לִרְא֑וֹת"
Moses turned to look at the bush.
2.4.2. "יִּקְרָא֩ אֵלָ֨יו אֱלֹהִ֜ים "
He doesnt understand gods miracle. God calls him so he can explain.
2.4.3. "מֹשֶׁ֥ה מֹשֶׁ֖ה"
God says moshe's name twice to emphasize the significance. Also, abrahams name is repeated on the binding of isaac
2.4.4. "הִנֵּֽנִי"
Moses doesnt question anything and trusts god.
2.5. Shemot 3:5
2.5.1. " אַל־תִּקְרַ֣ב" "שַׁל־נְעָלֶ֙יךָ֙"
God tells him not to come closer and to take off his shoes. The idea is to inform moses of the signifiance of this event. Because the event is so special and he is standing on holy land, god asks him to take his shoes off his feet.
2.5.2. "אַל־תִּקְרַ֣ב הֲלֹ֑ם " Ramban
Ramban says that moses is not holy enough to come close.
2.6. Shemot 3:6
Moses covers his face because he is scared of god. The peak of this event is when god reveals himself: "I am god. The god of…" reminding him of the covenant of pieces(The Covenant of Pieces brit bein habtarim). Moses now understands the significance of this event.
2.7. Shemot 3:7
2.7.1. " ….רָאֹ֥ה רָאִ֛יתִי"
God noticed the suffering of the jewish peoples suffering and their screams to the egyptian supervisors.
2.7.2. "כִּ֥י יָדַ֖עְתִּי אֶת־מַכְאֹבָֽיו"
God was not hidden away when the jews were suffering. He experienced it with them.
2.8. Shemot 3:8
(Shemot 3:8) Hashem realized their pain and remembered the covenant. He remembers the covenant of pieces and promises to take them back to israel. However, there were already people there.
2.8.1. "וָאֵרֵ֞ד לְהַצִּיל֣וֹ"
God willl take the jews out of egypt
2.9. Shemot 3:9
- IBN EZRA: God hears the cries of the cries of the jews who repented.
- SFORNO: God sees that their complaints are true–they are justified. God is aware
- SFORNO: God accepts their prayer after they called on him.
- SFORNO: God also sees how the egyptians pressured them while they worked.
2.10. Shemot 3:10
(Shemot 3:10) Moses will be the leader of the jewish nation. God will send moses to egypt and nominate him as the leader. Moses didnt want to accept this position.
2.11. Shemot 3:11
(Shemot 3:11) Moses thinks he is not good enough for this role. He doesnt believe he can rescue the israelites
2.12. Shemot 3:12
God must respond. He tells moses he will be with him and calms down moses. He will give moses a sign that god is with him. One of these signs is the burning bush.
2.12.1. "לְּךָ֣ הָא֔וֹת כִּ֥י אָנֹכִ֖י שְׁלַחְתִּ֑יךָ"
- RASHI: God will be there with moses and he will succeed. He declares himself the source of Moses' power
2.13. Shemot 3:13
Moses has low self-confidence. He thinks the jews will doubt him and ask for gods name.
2.14. Shemot 3:14
God tells moses "I am that I am". This means he is the only one who can define his existence. He is not influenced by external factors and acts freely. He brings up their memory of the forefathers.
2.15. Shemot 3:15
God assumes moses is convinced. He starts to offer practical guidance: Gather the israelites and tell them HASHEM god of their forefathers apeared and will be with them because he saw what happened to them. He also says this is his name forever.
2.16. Shemot 3:16
God saw their slavery and repentance. He wants to save them. He orders moses to tell the jews everything he told them
2.17. Shemot 3:17
Hashem says he will fulfill the covenant now. He will save them from egypt and return them to the promised land. However, there are already people in israel.
2.18. Shemot 3:18
God tells moses the jews will listen to him without arguing. After the leaders believe him, he will make a delegation to pharoah: "God appeared to us. Let us go to the desert for three days to sacrifice.
2.18.1. Rashi
- This is an honest religious will. They were not trying to trick pharoah.
- They wanted to go out for sacrifice out of consideration–they didnt want to sacrifice and egyptian holy animal
2.19. Shemot 3:19
Pharoah is stubborn and cruel. He is also selfish. God says that pharoah will not listen. RASHI: Pharoah will not listen if god does not force him.
2.20. Shemot 3:20
This is the only way to take them out–force. God says he will make many miracles
2.21. Shemot 3:21
Not only will he get rid of the people, but the jews will leave with something.
3. Part 4
3.1. Shemot 4:1
(Shemot 4:1) God starts with practical guidelines. He prepares moses for a problematic situation. Moses still worries that israel will not believe him. He is scared the ywill accuse him of lying.
3.1.1. Ramban
It was a genuine mistake when god assumed moses was convinced–not an attempt to trick him.
3.2. Shemot 4:2-4
Whole stick/snake thing. God asks what is in moses' hand and he says a rod. God tells him to throw it on the ground. It becomes a snake and moses jumps back. God tells him to hold it by the tail and it will become a staff again
3.2.1. Why a snake?
Snaks symbolize lashon hara and moses speaks badly about the jews
3.3. Shemot 4:5
They will believe moses. They will see the god of their forefathers with moses.
3.4. Shemot 4:6
God tells moses to put his in arms in hims armpit. It is revealed he has leprosy. Tzara'at (צָרַעַת)
3.5. Shemot 4:7
God asks moses to put his hands back in. It comes back without leprosy.
3.6. Shemot 4:8
If they dont believe the first sign of god, they will believe the second:
3.7. Shemot 4:9
God asks moses to take some water from the nile and pour it on the ground. It will turn into blood.
3.8. Shemot 4:10
God tells moses that he cannot speak well–he has a stutter "heavy lip". This is another excuse to not do what god wants him to
3.9. Shemot 4:11
God gives people mouths and speech. He also gives them disabilities. He tells moses he will be with him, and serve as his mouth.
3.10. Shemot 4:12
Gods patience is going away. he is starting to get mad.
3.11. Shemot 4:13
Moses asks for someone else to take his role.
3.12. Shemot 4:14
God tells moses aaron will help him. God will also be with him
3.13. Shemot 4:15
God wil lserve as moses' mouth. Moses will tell everything he told him to aaron.
3.14. Shemot 4:16
- Aaron will serve moses' mouth
- Moses will serve the role of god
3.15. Shemot 4:17
God tells moses to take the rod so he can do the signs. God was dissapointed with the lack of trust moses had with him.
3.16. Problems with the Israelites
- "They will not listen to me". The jewish nation will not accept Moses' authority.
- "Israelites wil not see god and ask for his name"
- The jewish people will not believe god is with moses
3.17. Problems With Moses
- Moses thinks he is not capable "who ami ?". He has doubt in his ability.
- Israel will not believe him–he will be seen a liar
- His lips are heavy–he has a stutter.
3.18. Problems related to Pharoah
- Pharoah wouldnt take him seriously because of his stutter
- Moses thinks pharoah would refuse. He has low confidence in himself
- If the jewish nation asks for gods name, it is obv ious that pharoah will also ask for god's name.
3.19. Shemot 4:18
God and moses are done talking. He goes back to Reuel(Jether) in Midian and asks to see his brothers in egypt. He ifnally believes god.
3.19.1. " וַיָּ֣שׇׁב ׀ אֶל־יֶ֣תֶר חֹֽתְנ֗וֹ " – Why go back?
He promised to stay. He went back to ask for permission. This reveals something about moses' character: honesty. He feels obligated to tell Reuel what he is doing. Another trait we see is Loyalty. He refuses to leave his brothers in egypt behind. Reuel is impressed. As a religious person, he values loyalty and honesty. He tells him to go visit his brethren.
3.20. Shemot 4:19
God tells moses to return to egypt. The king who wanted to kill him is dead. Nobody is after his life anymore
3.20.1. Ibn Ezra, Rashi
The torah is not made in chronological order. God told him he could go back because Pharoah and his servants who knew he killed that egyptian are dead. this explains 2:23. As long as pharoah lived it was improper for moses to be a messenger for him
3.21. Shemot 4:20
Moses takes takes his wife and sons and mounts them on a donkey. They go back to egypt. Moses takes his staff with him
3.21.1. Rashi
This was the same donkey abraham rode to travel when binding isaac on mt.moriah. This is a big parallel Shemot 3:4. Abraham's name is also repeated twice like moses' and its the same donkey.
3.22. Shemot 4:21
Moses is on the way to egypt to do the three signs god told him about(leprous hand, blood/water, staff/snake). But god will stiffen pharoah's heart so he wont let them go
3.22.1. Rashi
This is not a temporary visit, it is a mission to fulfill gods will. God will do all the acts infront of pharoah
3.23. Shemot 4:22
Moses must say to pharoah: "The nation of israel(moses) is his first born son).
3.23.1. Rashi
First born=great one. They are chosen and favored by god.
3.24. Shemot 4:23
Moses clarifies to pharoah: he is someone chosen by god and represents a nation he loves, so refusal is a bad idea. The worst consequence of refusal would be the killing of first-born.
3.25. Shemot 4:24
Moses is on his way to a resting place. He meets an ngel who asks for his death.
3.25.1. Rashi
Moses' son was not circumsized, he was negligent because he didnt circumsize him on time. If moses went on the road after doing the circumsisions to the boy, he might be harmde because he is sitll vulnerable. Moses wanted to circumsize the boy at the resting spot. He also could have been busy with trip arrangements so he didnt do the brit milah
3.26. Shemot 4:25
Zipporah sharpened a stone and circumsized her son. After se finished, she threw the piece she cut off to his feet and said "you could be dead to moses"
3.26.1. Rashi
She did it to save moses from his death
3.26.2. Sforno
She understood the danger moses was in and took it upon herself to help
3.27. Shemot 4:26
The angel of god left moses so the risk of him getting hurt was gone.
3.27.1. Rashi
Moses could have been killed on account of the circumsision. She said to the angel: "you could have caused me a tragic event".
4. Elsewhere
4.1. References
4.2. In my garden
Notes that link to this note (AKA backlinks).