Due Feb 11
Biblical Epic 2
Reading: Exodus 1-20, 32-34—a Nation Founded (HebrewScripture3.pdf)
Writing: Respond to ONE of the following prompts. Keep your response short, posting as a reply under the appropriate heading in the comments section:
- Oddities: quote a line or cite a plot event that strikes you as strange and offer a comment or insight about it.
- How does Moses compare with the patriarch/heroes we encountered last class? Focus on trait grounded in specific events or actions by these characters.
- The first 15 books of Exodus tell the tale of Israel’s struggle with a far greater power, Egypt. Focusing on a moment that specifically references Israel or its leader Moses, how does this national origin story present the Israelites, as a people?
- The remainder of Exodus tells the tale of Israel’s forty-year journey through the wilderness. Focusing on a moment that specifically references Israel or its leader Moses, how does portion of the narrative present the Israelites, as a people?
Oddities
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One moment I found very odd was in chapter 4 when God tries to kill Moses. I find it very odd because God was the person who chose Moses to be the chosen liberator of Egypt. This was due to Moses not having his son circumcised, meaning he was rejecting the covenant sign from God, while leading his people.
I completely agree with you. The quote I believed encompassed this was, “And it happened on the way at the night camp that the Lord encountered him and sought to put him to death”(Chapter 4). This felt like God’s choice was a little abrupt. It comes after God sent Moses to be his messenger. I agree that this highlights the importance of covenant obedience in their society.
Something I found odd is when God is asked to reveal his name he responds with “Ehyeh-’Asher-’Ehyeh, I-Will-Be-Who-I-Will-Be” (Chapter 3). To me it strikes me as idiosyncratic or potentially cryptic, to not just say his name is “God”, he is implying something with this response. To me it seems the vague answer is in correct characterization to how God wants to be perceived, a figure who can’t be pinned down, something that can’t be described in words alone. The answer allows God to convey the message that his existence is defined by his actions. Another peculiar detail is that the name “Ehyeh” is linguistically similar to “Yahweh”, an interesting detail I noticed.
A line I found strange was, “…I am the Lord your God, a jealous god…” (Chapter 20). I thought it was odd that a god in a monotheistic culture who is seen as all-knowing and all-powerful would openly admit to having a flaw.
I agree that it’s strange to have a god admit to being jealous, although I do think it’s certainly intentional. I think that giving God that jealous trait and attaching him to a human emotion is meant to humanize him and make him more relatable to his followers. It creates this personal relationship between God and his followers that couldn’t be replicated if he was a divine being with no flaws or emotions. I also think that the emotion being jealousy specifically is meant to define the relationship you are meant to have with God. God is jealous because he is asking for you to be faithful to him and only him, similar to how a partner may ask for your loyalty in a romantic relationship. It further strengthens the personal relationship created by the emotion and also aligns well with the fact that Christianity is a monotheistic religion.
A striking moment in Exodus is when “…the Lord encountered him and sought to put him to death” (Exodus 4). The lord is trying to kill Moses suddenly on the journey, being a favor to God from Moses directly. It paints the picture that the Lord is unpredictable and dangerous which is odd to me. If I were Moses, I would expect divine protection.
A moment that I found as odd was when the new king of Egypt says “The people of the sons of Israel is more numerous and vaster than we. Come, let us be shrewd with them lest they multiply and then, should war occur, they will actually join our enemies and fight against us and go up from the land.” (Exodus 1) I found this to be odd because I was unable to tell whether the king of egypt was stating that these people should be befriended or turned into enemies. Shrewd as a word does not have an inherently polarizing connotation, however the plan for the people of the sons of Israel to join the opposing army confused me even more. I read them to be allies of sorts but the people of Egypt wanted to weaken them to take their power and forces.
Moses contrasted with the Patriarchs
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I think the main difference is about confidence and ambition. Abraham followed divine commands with total obedience, and Jacob used his tricky ways to get the power; Moses seems to have resistance and self-doubt. When God calls Moses from the burning bush, Moses finds many excuses, such as, “Please, my Lord, send, pray, by the hand of him You would send” (Chapter 4 ). Unlike the earlier characters who are chosen, Moses is more reluctant. His leadership is not based on his own natural power, but on being a medium for divine power.
Israel’s Struggle with Egypt
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From the onset of the story, it’s apparent that there is a power struggle between the Israelites and the dominating Egyptian force. The Israelites are facing persecution and slavery and discrimination from the Egyptian rulers, and as such they have to turn to god for a way to ease their pains. This is explained in the excerpt, “and the Israelites groaned from the bondage and cried out, and their plea from the bondage went up to God. And God heard their moaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God saw the Israelites, and God knew” (Alter 2). What this tells me is that because of the covenant that god offered Abraham and his sons, there is a special protection placed upon the Israelites. It seems as though the Israelites in this story are part of God’s chosen people–and as such are given a liberator in Moses who will heed the call of justice.
40 Years in the Wilderness
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