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| Author: Gabriel |
The stories due to the theme of traveling (mainly books of Exodus and Numbers) were written by known to us J-, E-, P-, R- authors. We'll make an accent on Elohist (E) and Pristley (P) authors. In particular those authors sown the confusion in relations between Moses, Aaron and roles of Moses and Aaron made by God. You see, E- and P- authors have the specific point of view concerning the importance of Moses and Aaron in Jewish nation. And just those differences in views create confusion in comprehending OT- stories.
From the first verses of the book of Exodus we meet four authors. Hardly but not mistakenly, we can see the style of each author. There are only some verses by Redactor which are the links which compose the stories by others. E-stories are with female mood and female way of thinking (Ex. 3:22). We put our attention to P- and E- authors.
And so, after some time Israelites live in Egypt there come harsh times for themthe pharaoh being afraid of numerous foreign Jews starts to oppress poor ones (Ex.1) . At that particular time Moses, the son of Levite woman is born (Ex.2). Don't ask how and don't ask why, grown-up Moses arrives in the scene on the mountain of God, Horeb (Ex.3:1) (by the way, the story Water From the Rock (Ex.17:1-7) takes place on Horeb). After hearing the groaning of Jews God remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob about Promised Land. By the way, the misery of Israelites probably was greatwe have triplet of God's claiming that he heard the groaning (Ex.2:24, 3:7, 6:5). The task of Moses is to go to Egypt and be a messenger and take out Jews to the Promised Land. It's the great mission for a man who even did not know the name of God, isn't it? Plus Moses is the humblest man in the world (Num. 12:3) and is slow of speech and tongue (Ex.4:10). And here we meet Aaron the Levite who'll be Moses' tongue and hands (Ex.4:15,16; 7:2). Reading about men's deeds in P- and E- stories, treating the roles problem comes. We see Moses passing all the obstacles without mentioning Aaron or vice versadependent trivial Moses. By the way, a question arisesare Moses and Aaron the brothers? According to P-author, they are (Num.26:59, Ex.6:20). E-author thinks that they are not brothersbrother, the Levite Aaron may be treated as fellow countryman and Ex.15:20 by E-author name the prophetess Miriam the sister of Aaron (without mentioning Moses).
Let's go on. Moses, Aaron come to pharaoh and ask to let Israelites go. Who knows when the pharaoh is ready to free themthe planned by God plagues must take the place in the history. Maybe God from the beginning knew that the Israelites will be free only after death of pharaoh's firstborn son (Ex.4:21-23,7:3,9:14-17). Who knows, maybe pharaoh could free Jews after staff-snake miracle (Ex.7:8-13) or after the every next plague the God sent to Egypt (Ex.7:22; 8:15,19,32; 9:12,34,35;10:20,27; 11:10). Probably it was not pharaoh's greed or unwillingness but all the part of God's planto show his power in all the earth (Ex.9:14-17). And through all of the plagues we see Moses and Aaron as God's messengers: - Moses speaks with God and then retells Aaron the instructions for actions. It's evident that the only man speaking with God is Moses. What the fools Aaron and Miriam are when they talk against Moses (Num.12). Actually, Snow White Miriam story is tricky and pretty ironicalbeing taking the offence at Moses because he's the one God talks to, Aaron and Miriam start to accuse Moses' marriage with not Jewish dark woman. What kind of people they are? Children' And God punishing dissatisfied makes only Miriam white as snow.
There are several doublets we readthe doublet about Water From the Rock and Manna one. The difference met in those doubletsthe roles of Moses and Aaron. In E-stories it's only Moses who's mentionedspeaks with God, with people; does the all miracles (Num.11, Ex.17:1-8). And in P-stories Moses and Aaron are together (Ex.16, Num. 20:1-13). The thing I'm confused withthe location of Israelitesin E-story the whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin (Ex.17:1) and then there comes the Water From the Rock story; in Numbers, the community comes to the Desert of Zin.
There's interesting literal comprehension of God's words to Moses that Aaron will assist Moses in all his deeds (Ex.4:15 E-author). The Amalekites Defeated story tells us that during the battle the Israelites power depends on whether Moses holds up his hands or not. Moses is human, isn't he? It's impossible for the feeble old man to hold up hands for the whole day. Smart mind Aaron hasholding Moses' hands.
The story about Korah, Dathan and Abiram (Ex.16) is alike the one about Snow White Miriam. But here 250 Israelite men headed by Korah, Dathan and Abiram accuse Moses and Aaron and are punished severely for that. The story is full of fairytale detailsabout the mouth of the earth and the fire from the above. God is described as the one without temper (I see him not the Jews' God but the Italians' one)being mad for the situation raised, he's willing to destroy all of the community. There are some tempt notes in Moses' words (Num.16:28-30) just like the ones when people tested the Lord in the story Water From the Rock (Ex.17:7).
The thing is very important to in Jewish religion is the role of priests and before that the claiming of ones. The question ariseswho exactly must be a priest? In P-chapters 25-31 where the God's temple is described it's told that Aaron, his sons and his descendants are brought to serve God as priests (Ex.28:1,43, Lev.8). And the priesthood is theirs by a lasting ordinance (Ex.29:9). According to P-author theory, the Levites are not to be all priests but Aaron's descendants. At the same time Levites are to assist Aaron (Num.3:6-9) (the Levites were not even counted with the Israelites, are not with the land but are appointed to be in charge of the tabernacle of the Testimony (Num.1:49-53)). They join Aaron after his staff budded (Num.17). And according to E-author, any Levite could be a priest. So, here we have the difference.
The Ten Commandments are established by P-author, where the first and the second ones are much alike (Ex.20). There are a lot of supplemental laws and restrictions in the book of Leviticus by P-author. Some of them are full of humor (remember the strict instruction for making the altar (Ex.20:22-26)). The main motivation for Israelites to live righteous life is fear (Ex.20:20) which shows us rude and tyrannous God. Remember Him asking Levites to kill their brothers, friends and neighbors just being mad at not perfect people (Ex.32). Remember Him making Egypt suffer just for revealing His power among people (Ex.7-13) or His rudeness in the story about Moabite and Midianite women (Num.25). Or God's claiming Israelites stiff-necked people and the possibility to destroy them just because of God's intolerance (Ex.33:3-5). Is this God is yours one? Are you tending for perfection, which is God, who's at the same time isn't perfect? And don't have such. Old Testament is more historical for me and most of the priorities actual during those times are not such nowadays. There must live the belief in God who is love and light and the commandment which Jesus gave at his timeto love. |
Author Bio:
Gabriel Rise is an expert writer at Essay writing service and a writing couselling department expert at dissertation writing service. The assistance of their writers is an invaluable input in your future professional growth.EssayCapital.com is dedicated to providing a custom essay writing service that is both top-quality and affordable. |
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