Moses and the Torah

1. Moses and the Torah Unit 3 Moses and His Call

2. At the beginning of the book of Exodus: • People have been in Egypt since time of Joseph • People are now slaves to Pharaoh (= title of the King of Egypt) • Pharaoh orders Hebrew males to be killed to control population • Remember, in “real life” Israel did not exist as a nation yet, so some of the unity of the tribes is being projected backwards from the time when the story was written down. • Exodus is both the name of an EVENT (the Israelites leaving Egypt) and the BOOK of the Bible which contains the story of that event. Moses and His Call

3. Historical and cultural notes on the Birth of Moses • Wet nurse = a woman hired to breast feed a baby because the baby’s mother has died or is ill. • An ancient literary symbol that a person was chosen for something special: a miraculous escape from death at the time of birth. • Moses was born Hebrew, raised Egyptian Moses and His Call

4. Historical and cultural notes on the Flight to Midian and Call of Moses • YHWH = “I am who am” = God’s name as given to Moses. Our Bible writes this as LORD, because “Adonai” was later substituted out of reverence for God’s sacred name. How is it that this name has been used for God in the stories before the burning bush if this is the first time that God tells someone God’s name? • Ancients believed that to see the face of God meant certain death. • Read Exodus 2:11 – 3:22 Moses and His Call

5. Moses’ Excuses • I’m not worthy . . . • I don’t know Your name . . . • They won’t believe me . . . • I don’t speak so good . . . (I = Moses) Moses and His Call

6. God’s Responses • I will be with you . . . • I give you my name . . . • I give you my power . . . • I give you my voice . . . (I = God) In other words, “Hey Moses, it’s not about what you can do alone, but what I can do through you if you let me!” Moses and His Call

7. Religious truths of Exodus 1-4 • Moses was a whining fugitive murderer with a speech impediment who tried to weasel out of doing what God asked of him. He became the most honored person in all of Jewish history. SO . . . God can achieve God’s will through ANYONE! (even me . . .) Moses and His Call

8. God calls us from birth to do great things. SO . . . I shouldn’t wait until tomorrow or next year or when I “grow up” (or whenever) to allow God to work through me! • God is enough to make up for any shortcomings I have! SO . . . No more excuses! Moses and His Call

9. Journal Reflection “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It’s not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” (Timo Cruz in Coach Carter) Think about Moses’ response to God’s call from the burning bush. How does this quote relate? Moses and His Call

10. Reflection questions • At this point in his life, how is Moses “playing small?” • Why might it be scary for Moses to have God’s power and voice? • Describe a time when someone was brave enough to try something first, and because they did, other people were free to try it too. Moses and His Call

11. Historical and cultural context for the Ten Plagues • Area of Egypt where the Israelites lived had • Periodic anthrax infestations • Infrequent hailstorms • Frequent sandstorms and locust plagues • Passover=Jewish feast commemorating the 10th plague, which won the Israelites their freedom. • In our Bibles, the Yahwist author’s story of the last plague is mixed with the Priestly author’s description of how the Passover came to be observed in the Jewish culture. The Exodus Event

12. The Ten Plagues • All the “magic trick” signs are able to be duplicated by Pharaoh’s magicians. (Why do you think God gave these signs to Moses if the magicians could do these things? What can we guess about the maturity of Moses’ faith at the burning bush?) • Only the first two plagues are able to be duplicated by the magicians. (Why would the first 2 be easy to duplicate?) The Exodus Event

13. The first 6 plagues are the usual steps in an anthrax infestation: • Red water (algae that carries anthrax) kills fish → • Frogs become numerous because there are no fish to eat many of the frog eggs, but there is not enough food for that many frogs, so they die → • Gnats and → • Flies feed on the bodies of the dead frogs who have been in the anthrax-infested water → • The bugs bite livestock which become infected with pestilence → • The bugs also bite humans, who become afflicted with boils. The Exodus Event

14. The next 3 plagues are connected to natural disasters that occur in that area of the world: hail, locusts, and darkness (sun blotted out by sandstorms). • The tenth plague (death of (only) the first born) has no natural explanation, though it is possible that the deaths are connected to anthrax. • Pattern of each plague • “Let my people go.” • Pharaoh says no. • Plague happens • Pharaoh remains obstinate The Exodus Event

15. Historical and cultural context for the Exodus Event • Red Sea: a better translation is Sea of Reeds = marshy area in the area where the Suez Canal now cuts through. • In a marsh near large bodies of water, the water level is dependent on tides and wind strength. When dry, the ground is navigable, but when wet, it is impassible. • Chariots were made of iron. They were HEAVY! • Quail migratory routes cross the Sinai peninsula. Read Exodus 17, 18:1-12, 19 The Exodus Event

16. Wandering in the Desert • Whiny Israelites • The people constantly complain to Moses (Compare to Moses’ complaints at the burning bush . . .) • Moses always turns to God for help (Is he still complaining? Reflect on how his faith is maturing . . .) • Help always comes Ex: Quail, Manna, Water from the rock, battle with Amalek, advice from Jethro • Arrival at Mt. Sinai • Mountain of God and site of the covenant with Israel • Israel will become God’s chosen people if they agree to follow God and obey God’s laws • The Great Theophany (theophany= appearance by a god to (a) human(s)) takes place, but the people are afraid and ask Moses to speak for them Mt. Sinai & the Covenant

17. The Ten Commandments • In the oldest manuscripts, the commandments are not numbered. Different groups divide the commandments differently: • I am the Lord your God. You shall not have other gods beside me. (Catholics interpret “do not carve idols” as a specific way to not have other gods and do not count it as a separate commandment.) • You shall not take the name of the Lord in vain. • Keep holy the Sabbath. These 3 (4 if you count “no idols” as separate) are about our relationship with God. Mt. Siani & the Covenant

18. Honor your father and mother • You shall not kill • You shall not commit adultery • You shall not steal • You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor • You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife • You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods. (Catholics separate “wife” and “goods” into 2 commandments. Those who separate “idols” from the first commandment put “wife” and “goods” together in one commandment, as in Dt 5:6-21) These last 7 (or 6) commandments are about our relationships with each other. Mt..Sinai & the Covenant

19. What is the purpose of the Law? • People today often view law as restrictive (takes away freedom). • Keeps me from doing something I want to do • Focus on consequences of breaking it often results in law being followed only to avoid punishment • The ancient Israelites viewed the law as a loving response to God that freed them to live unafraid. • Allows me to live as best I can • Focus on benefits of following law often resulted in people willingly followed the law. • The spirit of Jewish law is recorded in Jesus’ Beatitudes in Mt 5. Mt. Sinai & the Covenant

20. The Rest of the Book of Exodus • The part of Exodus from the time the people leave Egypt to the time Moses receives the 10 Commandments is a “patchwork quilt” of the works of all 4 authors. • Most of the rest of Exodus was written by the Elohist and Priestly authors • In general, explanations of social laws and stories with plots (such as the story of the Golden Calf) are by the Elohist • In general, anything that has to do with worship is by the Priestly author In the Desert: Leviticus, Number, Deuteronomy

21. Cross Reed Sea Fresh Water at Marah Quail & Manna Water from the Rock Defeat Amalek The Exodus and Journey to the Holy Land In the Desert: Leviticus, Number, Deuteronomy

22. Leviticus • There is only the one author, the Priestly author. • The laws/regulations developed over hundreds of years after the Israelites returned to the Holy Land, but the author writes as if everything was in existence since the time of Moses. • The Jewish Day of Atonement in Lev 16 is the basis for the modern celebration of Yom Kippur • Our modern term scapegoat ( = one who takes the blame for someone else) also comes from Lev 16. • The laws were written down during the Babylonian exile. • There is no “plot” or story line in the book. In the Desert: Leviticus, Number, Deuteronomy

23. Numbers • Mostly written by the Priestly author, though large chunks are a patchwork or the Yahwist and Elohist. • Two parts of the book • Census: brings up an interesting translation issue! One Hebrew word (we’ll call it *****) could be translated as “thousand” or “battalions totaling.” So does “fifty-nine ***** three hundred” mean Fifty-nine thousand three hundred = 59,300 people OR Fifty-nine battalions totaling three hundred = 300 people There are good reasons to pick each translation. Our Bible chooses “thousand” 2)Wandering Stories: the plot takes the Israelites from Mt. Sinai to their arrival in Canaan In the Desert: Leviticus, Number, Deuteronomy

24. Stories from the Book of Numbers • Priestly Blessing (Num 6:22-27) • Jealousy of Aaron and Miriam (Num 12:1-8) • Spies in Canaan (Num 13-14) • Sin of Moses and Aaron at Meribah (Num 20:6b-13) • Balaam (Num 22) In the Desert: Leviticus, Number, Deuteronomy

25. Other interesting things in Numbers • Pentecost (28:26-31) • Stages on the Journey (Num 33) • Moses tells the Israelites how to divide up the land once they reach Canaan. (Num 34-35) In the Desert: Leviticus, Number, Deuteronomy

26. Deuteronomy • Written mostly by the Deuteronomist • Repeats many of the events and stories found in Exodus and Numbers • Also includes sections of Levitical laws • Last book in the Torah, but it’s also the first book of the Deuteronomic History, which contains Joshua, Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel, and 1 and 2 Kings. • The name Mt. Horeb is used for Mt. Sinai. In the Desert: Leviticus, Number, Deuteronomy

27. Structure of Deuteronomy • Beginning with Moses, the important leaders of the Israelites give long sermons before they die. These sermons tend to retell the story of the covenant up to that point in history. • Moses actually gives 3 sermons: • 1st Sermon (Chapters 1-4) • Retelling of journey from Horeb to Moab (an area of grassy plains east of the Jordan River) • Moses blames the people for his punishment rather than admit his own fault • God lets Moses see Canaan from a mountain, but identifies Joshua as the one who will lead the people there. Moses and His Call

28. 2nd Sermon (Chapters 4-11) • 10 commandments are repeated with some differences (coveting wife and coveting goods are separated into 2 commandments.) • Deuteronomy 6:4-9 is part of the Jewish confession of faith called the Shema. This is like the creed is to Christians. Part of Jesus’ “Greatest Commandment” is here also. • This sermon also repeats (with some differences) other laws and reminds Israel of God’s love for the lowly • 3rd Sermon (Chapters 12-33) • Moses calls the people to be faithful to the law • He reminds the people that the covenant is for everyone (not just adult males) • Then Moses dies and is “buried” in Moab (ch 34) In the Desert: Leviticus, Number, Deuteronomy