This is where we ended last week. How would you summarize what we know so far?
- What have we learned so far about the current life of the Israelites in Egypt?
- What is the king of Egypt asking the Hebrew midwives to do?
- According the the text, why did the midwives save the Israelite boys according to the text?
- Are there any other reasons why you think the midwives saved the Israelite boys?
- Why do you think God dealt well with them but didn't set the Israelites free?
A commentary on the Torah teaches us that not only did the midwives not do what Pharaoh asked of them, they dared to do deeds of kindness for the children they saved. In behalf of poor mothers, the midwives would go to the houses of rich mothers and collect water and food, which they gave to the poor mothers.
- What do you think this commentary teaches us?
There is a Rabbinic Midrash that the midwives were Jocheved (Moses' mother) and Miriam (Moses' sister). Though she was only 5 years old, she went with her mother and helped zealously. Miriam defied the Pharaoh, saying, "Woe to this man when God comes to settle with him." Pharoah, filled with rage, was about to have Miriam put to death when Jocheved interceded saying, "Need you pay attention to her? She is only a child and doesn't know a thing!"
- What is this story about?
- What can we learn from this Midrash?
Midrashim from The Book of Legends, Sefer Ha-Aggadah. Legends from the Talmud and Midrash edited by Hayim Nahman Bialik and Yehoshua Hana Ravnitzky, translated by William G. Braude, pages 58-60
(Ib. 2, 1) And there went a man of the house of Levi. "He went for the advice of his daughter." We are taught: Amran was considered the greatest man of his generation and as soon as Pharaoh decreed that every son who is born shall cast into the river, Amram said to himself: "In vain do we get married." He therefore divorced his wife. The rest of the people following his example did likewise.
Thereupon his daughter said to him: "Father your decree is even worse than Pharaoh's; for he issued a decree against sons, but you have issued a decree against both sons and daughters; Pharaoh's decree affects merely this world but your decree will affect this world and the future world. As to the decree of Pharaoh, the wicked, whether it will endure or not, we do not know. But as to those who are righteous the decree will surely endure. Amram immediately remarried his wife, whereupon the rest of the people also remarried their wives.
- What did the daughter teach her father?
- How did Miriam's bravery lead to the birth of Moses?
- What do you think it would take to have that kind of bravery?
And his sister stood from afar...
Why did Miriam stand from afar? Rabbi Amram said in the name of Rav: Because Miriam prophesied and said "In the future, Mother will give birth to a child that will be the savior of the Jewish people." When Moshe was born, the entire house was filled with light. Miriam's father arose and kissed her on the head. He, Amram, said to Miriam: "My daughter, your prophecy has been fulfilled"...
- What do we learn about Miriam from this Rabbinic Midrash?
- This story indicates that the Rabbis think highly of Miriam. What do you see as evidence of this?
- What happened to Moses?
- Who raised Moses from birth to when he was weaned at age 3 or so?
- Why do you think the Pharaoh's daughter decides to keep Moses?
A story from the Rabbinic Midrash:
When the her handmaids saw that Pharaoh's daughter wished to save Moses, they said to her, "Our lady, in the world's practice when a king issues a decree, even if the whole world does not obey it, his own children and the members of his household do obey it. yet you would violate your father's decree!" At that, Gavriel came down and smote them to the ground [leaving the princess but one handmaid]. "
Midrashim from The Book of Legends, Sefer Ha-Aggadah. Legends from the Talmud and Midrash edited by Hayim Nahman Bialik and Yehoshua Hana Ravnitzky, translated by William G. Braude, page 60
- What are the Rabbis telling us about the risk that Pharaoh's daughter takes?
- We have not read anything in the text so far in the book of Shemot about the role of God in the life of the Israelites. What are the Rabbis telling us about how God watched over the Israelites?
The story of the Exodus is about the saving of the Israelites from slavery. It is also the story of three siblings who we will follow throughout this course, Miriam, Aaron, and Moses, and other biblical characters.
- What have we learned so far about Moses? That he is born into slavery and is raised by the Pharaoh
- What have we learned so far about Miriam? Really brave and not afraid to speak her mind, really smart, loved her brother
- What have we learned so far about Aaron? Who is Aaron?
- What have we learned about Pharaoh's daughter? She does not agree with her father and has compassion
- What have we learned about Pharaoh? He takes an opportunity to make his kingdom better and does not care who he hurts. No matter what he prioritizes his power.