Moshe Flees to Midian

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  1. The Two Consecrations of Moshe

    Prof. Jonathan Grossman

    Why is Moshe sent on his mission to Egypt twice? The second consecration includes a new and important element: God's covenant with the forefathers. The covenant is mentioned here, and not previously, because of the change in Moshe's attitude toward the redemption of Bnei Yisrael. He now understands that the reasons behind the redemption involve more than morality: they are embedded in a historical - national covenant.

  2. The Young Moshe

    Rabbi Mosheh Lichtenstein

    Moshe's young adult life in Midyan is a mystery to us. The Torah does not tell us very much about Moshe's life there; the next mention of his life is when he returns to Egypt at the age of eighty. Why is the Torah strangely silent about all those years of Moshe's life, mid-narrative? The lack of noteworthy events is itself an event - one of withdrawal and seclusion. Moshe's disappearance and silence following his escape to Midyan tell us that he secluded himself in a crisis of morality and justice. It is only following this seclusion that Moshe is able to be extracted from his solitary existence and returned to the sphere of action on the historical-national level.

  3. From Egyptian Prince to Israelite Redeemer

    Rabbi Ezra Bick

    It is a commonplace of rabbinic commentary that Bereishit is the story of individuals - the avot - and Shemot is the story of a people. 

    Obviously, there is one outstanding personality in Sefer Shemot; however, while Bereishit can be fairly characterized as the history of individuals, it would not be correct to say that the central theme of Shemot is the life-story of Moshe.  Nonetheless, as we examine the stories in Parshat Shemot, we see that there can be no question that the individual personality of Moshe is an important focus of the story of the exodus, as it is a crucial link in the development of the people of Israel. 

  4. Two Chapters - Two Perspectives

    Rabbi Dr. Tamir Granot

    The transition from Chapter 1 to Chapter 2 of sefer Shemot is the change from a general, historiographical overview to a personal, biographical one.

    We may describe the same chronicle on two different levels. On one hand, the national process; on the other hand, we see the private story of Moshe.  The descriptions parallel and complement one another. Each contains that which the other fails to convey. Here lies the crux of the introduction to Sefer Shemot: the realization that both chapters are taking place at the same time, in parallel; that these are not events that are following one another, but rather occurring simultaneously – this changes our understanding of the relationship between slavery and redemption, between anguish and salvation.

  5. Tzippora

    Rabbanit Sharon Rimon

    Why does Moshe agree to stay with Yitro in Midyan, and to marry his daughter Tzippora? Is his settling in Midyan motivated solely by his fear of Pharaoh's sword? What is the meaning of his being cut off from Bnei Yisrael for such a lengthy period?

    Through a close examination of the text we learn that Tzippora’s connection with Moshe expresses the special spiritual bond between Moshe and Yitro, a bond that nurtured spiritual growth (for both of them).

    It is Tzippora who underlines, through her actions, the importance of the covenant between God and Israel, as an essential element in redemption.  It is also she who is prepared to pay a personal price – to separate from her husband – in order that he will be able to "meet God," and to fulfill his mission.

  6. The Chizkuni — R. Chizkiya ben Manoach

    Dr. Avigail Rock

    The Chizkuni wrote a comprehensive commentary on the Torah, and his style is very clear and accessible.

    It appears that the Chizkuni had three aims in composing his commentary on the Torah:

    ·       To collect all the explanations in keeping with the peshat from the works of the commentators who preceded him.

    ·       To explain Rashi’s’ commentary by adding or changing to Rashi's words, by resolving difficulties in Rashi, and by pointing out inconsistencies in Rashi’s commentary.

    ·       To write an independent commentary on the Torah. Despite the fact that the Chizkuni utilizes many commentaries for the purposes of writing his work, there are more than a few original commentaries to be found in its lines, characterized mainly by his attempt to understand reality and the psychological motivations of the characters in each narrative.

  7. Parshat Shemot Part 2: Moshe: Birth and Maturation

    Dr. Yael Ziegler | 35 minutes

    Shemot perek 2 introduces us to Moshe and his maturation from a young child to an adult. We see him grappling with the immorality he witnesses, and striving to forge a sense of identity as a universal arbiter of justice. 

    Courtesy of www.tanachstudy.com