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Tag Archives: Ancient Near East
Look Who’s Talking (Shemot)
Preview: Why would Hashem choose a leader with a “heavy tongue and heavy mouth” to act as His spokesman to Pharaoh? For a clue, let’s look to an unlikely source: the “Tale of the Eloquent Peasant,” a very popular ancient Egyptian story about a man of great oratory skills who advocated for justice before the Pharaoh. Plus, other approaches.
The Motive Clause (Mishpatim)
Preview: Last week, the Torah explained Shabbat as follows: כי ששת ימים עשה ה את השמים ואת הארץ. This week, the Torah explains it differently: למען ינוח שורך וחמורך וינפש בן אמתך והגר. Why the difference? A case study in “motive clauses.”