The Exodus Story

[Gregory Matthews]

I think that it can be of interest to know how other religious groups understand stories that we find in the Bible. The following is how some Jewish people understand the story of ht Exodus, one that I read on another website and was contributed by Rabbi Lowell Kronick:

Quote:

Joseph and his brothers died, and the children of Israel multiplied in the land of Egypt. They held important positions and played an important role in the political, cultural, and economic life of the country. It is not surprising that they stirred the jealousy of the native Egyptians who felt outshone by the "foreigners."

Old King Pharaoh died, too, and a new one ascended the throne. He had no sympathy or love for the children of Israel, and chose to forget all that Joseph had done for Egypt. He decided to take action against the growing influence and numbers of the children of Israel.

He called his council together, and they advised him to enslave these people and oppress them before they grew too powerful. Pharaoh limited the personal freedom of the Hebrews, put heavy taxes on them, and recruited their men into forced labor battalions under the supervision of harsh taskmasters.

Thus the children of Israel had to build cities, erect monuments, construct roads, work in the quarries, and hew stones or make bricks and tiles. But the more the Egyptians oppressed them, and the harder the restrictions imposed upon them became, the more the children of Israel increased and multiplied.

Finally, when King Pharaoh saw that forcing the Hebrews to do hard work did not succeed in suppressing their rapidly growing numbers, he decreed that all newly born male children of the Hebrews be thrown into the Nile River. Only daughters should be permitted to live.

Thus Pharaoh hoped to end the numerical increase of the Jewish population, and at the same time to eliminate a danger which, according to the predictions of his astrologers, threatened his own life in the person of a leader to be born to the children of Israel.

The only group of Jews that escaped enslavement was the tribe of Levi. Levi was the last of Jacob's sons to die, and his influence over his tribe was great and lasting. They had taken over the Torah academy Jacob had established in Goshen, and they instructed the children of Israel in the knowledge of G-d and His holy teachings.

Thus they were occupied with spiritual matters and did not mix with the Egyptians, while many of their brethren had given up their old customs and way of life. Except for their language, clothing, and names, many of the children of Israel had become assimilated into the social and cultural environment of their Egyptian neighbors, and they were the ones to arouse the wrath of the Egyptians.

Only the children of Levi were, therefore, spared the slavery and oppression which the Egyptians imposed upon the rest of Israel.

Levi's grandson, Amram, the son of Kehat, married Yocheved, and she bore him three children. Their first child was a girl by the name of Miriam, who was later to become a great prophetess of the Jewish people.

The second child was Aaron, the highest priest of G-d, famous for his extraordinary love of peace. Next to his brother Moses, he was the greatest leader of our nation in his time.

It was Amram's youngest son Moses who was destined to lead the children of Israel from Egypt and to receive for them the Holy Torah on Mount Sinai.

The day approached when, according to the Egyptian astrologers, the liberator of the children of Israel was to be born. Since they did not know whether he would be of Jewish or Egyptian descent, all male children born that day were to be thrown into the water by order of King Pharaoh.

On this day, the seventh of Adar, Yocheved, Amram's wife, gave birth to her third child, a boy. Right from the first moment of his birth, it became apparent that he was an extraordinary child, for the house was filled with a radiant light. His parents tried everything possible to prevent his falling into the hands of Pharaoh's men, who were continuously searching for newborn Jewish children.

After three months, Yocheved saw that she would not be able to conceal her child any longer. She therefore made a small, water-proof basket in which she put the child and set him down among the papyrus reeds growing on the brink of the Nile. While Yocheved tearfully returned home, her daughter Miriam remained nearby to watch the baby.

The day was hot, and King Pharaoh's daughter, Batya, came out to the river, accompanied by her maids, to take a bath in the cool waters of the Nile. Suddenly, she heard the wailing of a small child. Presently she found the basket, and in it, an infant boy.

Intrigued by the child's beauty, Batya tried to figure out a way to enable her to keep him for herself and save him from death, for she understood that this boy was one of the children born to a Jewish family, and therefore condemned to death.

The child refused to be nursed by any of the Egyptian maids-in-waiting, and continued to weep. At this moment, Miriam came over to the princess and offered to procure for the child a Jewish nurse, who would keep it as long as the princess thought necessary. Batya was glad of this solution. Miriam rushed home and brought her mother, whom she introduced as an experienced nurse.

For two years the baby was left in his mother's care. Meanwhile, Batya told Pharaoh about the boy she had found and adopted. Her father did not object, although the foundling was of Jewish descent, for his astrologers had told him that the one who, according to the constellation of the stars, had been predestined to become the liberator of the Jews and to threaten the life of King Pharaoh had already been placed at the mercy of the water.

Moreover, they said, it was the fate of this boy to die because of water. Thus, they felt sure that the danger had already been averted. Moses was taken to the royal court, where he grew up as the princely adopted son of King Pharaoh's daughter.

Once it happened that Moses was playing on King Pharaoh's lap. He saw the shining crown, studded with jewels, and reached for it and took it off.

Pharaoh, who was superstitious like all his fellow-Egyptians, and who in addition was always afraid of losing his throne, asked his astrologers and counselors the meaning of this action of the infant.

Most of them interpreted it to mean that Moses was a threat to Pharaoh's crown and suggested that the child be put to death before he could do any harm. One of the king's counselors, however, suggested that they should first test the boy and see whether his action was prompted by intelligence, or he was merely grasping for sparkling things as any other child would.

Pharaoh agreed to this, and two bowls were set before young Moses. One contained gold and jewels, and the other held glowing firecoals. Moses reached out for the gold, but an angel directed his hand to the coals.

Moses snatched a glowing coal and put it to his lips.

He burned his tongue, but his life was saved. After that fateful test, Moses suffered from a slight speech defect. He could not become an orator, but his words were to carry weight with all, for it was G-d's words that were spoken through his lips.

Many years later, when Moses had grown up, he went out to visit his people, the Israelites, and he saw how hard they were forced to work. During his visit, he saw an Egyptian beating one of the Hebrew slaves. After looking around to make sure no one was watching, Moses killed the Egyptian and buried him in the sand. The next day, as Moses was out visiting his people again, he saw two Hebrew men fighting. "What are you doing, hitting your neighbor like that?" Moses said to the one in the wrong. "Who do you think you are?" the man replied. "Who appointed you to be our prince and judge? Do you plan to kill me as you killed that Egyptian yesterday?"

Moses was badly frightened because he realized that everyone knew what he had done. And sure enough, when Pharaoh heard about it, he gave orders to have Moses arrested and killed. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and escaped to the land of Midian. When Moses arrived in Midian, he sat down beside a well.

The priest of Midian, Jethro, had once been one of King Pharaoh's foremost advisors, but because of his friendly attitude towards the Hebrews, he had to leave Pharaoh's court.

Jethro then settled in Midian, and became the highest priest of the land. A man of great intelligence, Jethro soon realized the silliness of idol-worship, and gave up his priesthood. The people of Midian began to hate their erstwhile priest and persecuted him.

Often it happened that Jethro's daughters were driven away from the communal well when they came to water the flocks of their father, and had to wait to the very last, until the other shepherds were gone.

On the day Moses arrived in Midian, he saw the rough shepherds chase the daughters of Jethro away from the well. Moses stood up for the girls, and helped them water their sheep. On that day they returned to Jethro rather early, and he was astonished to see them back so soon. His daughters told him about the unexpected help. Jethro immediately invited Moses to his house, and not long thereafter, he gave him his oldest daughter Zipporah for a wife.

Zipporah bore Moses two children. The first one he called Gershom ("a stranger there") in commemoration of the fact that he was a stranger and exile in the land of Midian, and the second he called Eliezer, (“G-d is my helper,") in gratitude for G-d's protection.

The children of Israel could no longer endure their terrible suffering and persecution at the hands of their cruel overlords. Their cries for help, their supplications and prayers, coming from the very bottom of their hearts, pierced the heavens.

G-d remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and decided to deliver their descendants from bondage.

Moses took care of the flocks of his father-in-law Jethro.

Once when he had driven his flocks far out in the desert, a small lamb got lost. After searching for it all over the hills of the desert, Moses found it near the Mount of Horeb. He took the tired little animal in his arms and set out to return to the flocks. Suddenly, an unusual sight attracted his attention.

He saw a thornbush burst out in flame, but although the flames burned continuously, the bush did not turn into ashes. His curiosity aroused, Moses stepped closer, and out of the thornbush, he heard G-d's voice calling:

"Moses, Moses!"

"Here I am," replied Moses.

G-d continued to speak to him, saying: "Do not draw closer! Take off your shoes from your feet; for the place whereon you stand is holy ground. I am the G-d of your father, of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."

Moses covered his face, for he was afraid to look up to G-d.

G-d then told Moses that He had heard the lamentations of the children of Israel in distress, and that He would deliver them from the hands of the Egyptian oppressors and bring them back into the Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey. He, Moses, would be the one to go to Pharaoh and lead the Jewish people out of Egypt.

Moses hesitated to accept this great mission. He was afraid he was neither worthy nor able to carry out such a great task. G-d assured him, however, that He would be with him. Still Moses begged to be relieved of this mission. He feared that the children of Israel would not recognize his authority to speak as their leader. If he told them that G-d had sent him, they would demand to know His name.

Thereupon G-d told Moses to identify Him to the children of Israel as the G-d of their fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Who had now come to redeem them from slavery and take them to the land He had promised their ancestors.

To further impress the children of Israel, Moses was to perform miraculous wonders for them with his staff. It was the same staff that Adam had taken out of the Garden of Eden, and that had served Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It had the inscription of G-d's Holy Name on it.

Jethro had taken possession of this wonderful staff after Joseph's death. He planted it in his garden and since that time, no one had been able to pull it out of the earth, until Moses came and removed it easily, thus proving his just claim to its ownership.

Now G-d told Moses to throw this staff on the ground. Moses did so, and the staff turned into a serpent. Moses fled in terror, but G-d ordered him to grasp it by its tail: Moses did so, and the serpent changed back into a staff.

Then G-d bade Moses put his hand into his bosom. When Moses took it out, it was stricken with incurable leprosy. Then G-d bade him put his hand into his bosom again, and when he pulled it out, it was clean as before. Finally, G-d told Moses that if he were to pour water on dry land it would turn into blood. All these signs G-d gave to Moses to be able to impress upon the children of Israel that G-d had sent him to them.\

Moses made a final attempt to be relieved of his mission, hoping that G-d Himself would bring about His people's salvation. "I am tongue-tied," Moses pleaded. But G-d told him that the One who gave the human being the ability to hear, see, and speak could surely remedy this handicap! He then told Moses that Aaron would serve as his spokesman. Then G-d ordered Moses to return to Egypt, since there was no longer any danger for him there.

Moses returned to his father-in law in Midian, and asked for his approval to return to his brethren in Egypt. Jethro gave him his blessing, and Moses set out for Egypt. G-d then ordered Aaron to meet Moses. They met in the desert by Mount Horeb, where Moses told his older brother of the great Divine mission they were to carry out.

Back in Goshen, they visited the sages and leaders of the children of Israel. Having performed the miracles as G-d had instructed Moses, they told the people of the good tidings. The children of Israel believed in the Divine mission of the sons of Amram, and new hope and faith filled their hearts.

Moses was eighty years old, and his brother eighty-three, when they entered the palace of King Pharaoh. Fearlessly, they went past the heavy guard of men and wild animals that surrounded his inner chambers, and which permitted no unbidden visitor to enter. Nobody had ever been able to see the King of Egypt in person, or speak to him, except his astrologers and counselors.

Astonished and frightened by their sudden appearance, Pharaoh asked the two brothers what they wanted. The message sounded like a command: "Thus has the Lord, G-d of Israel, said, 'Let My people go, that they may feast to Me in the desert.' "

Pharaoh haughtily refused, saying that he had never heard of the G-d of the Israelites, and that His name was not registered in his lists of gods of all nations. He further accused Moses and Aaron of a conspiracy against the government, and of interference with the work of the Hebrew slaves. The miracles they performed in his presence did not greatly impress him, for his magicians could do almost as well.

On the same day Pharaoh ordered his supervisors to increase the demands on the children of Israel and to make their burden still heavier. If they had time to think of liberty and worship of G-d and similar ideas, quite unbecoming of slaves, then they must be getting too much leisure time, Pharaoh thought.

Blood

When Pharaoh persisted in his refusal to liberate the children of Israel, Moses and Aaron warned him that G-d would punish both him and his people. First, the waters of the land of Egypt were to be turned into blood.

Moses walked with Aaron to the brink of the river. There Aaron raised his staff, smote the water, and converted them into streams of blood. All the people of Egypt and the King himself beheld this miracle; they saw the fish die as the blood flowed over the land, and they turned with disgust from the offensive smell of the sacred river.

It was impossible for them to drink of the water of the Nile, far famed for its delicious taste; and they tried to dig deep into the ground for water. Unfortunately for the Egyptians, not only the floods of the Nile but all the waters of Egypt, wherever they were, turned to blood. The fish died in the rivers and lakes, and for a whole week man and beast suffered horrible thirst. Yet Pharaoh would not give in.

Frogs

After due warning, the second plague came to Egypt. Aaron stretched forth his hand over the waters of Egypt, and frogs swarmed forth. They covered every inch of land and entered the houses and bedrooms; wherever an Egyptian turned, whatever he touched, he found there the slimy bodies of frogs, the croakings of which filled the air.

Now Pharaoh became frightened, and he asked Moses and Aaron to pray to G-d to remove the nuisance, promising that he would liberate the Jewish people at once. But as soon as the frogs disappeared, he broke his promise and refused to let the children of Israel go.

Bugs

Then G-d ordered Aaron to smite the dust of the earth with his staff, and no sooner did he do so than all over Egypt bugs crawled forth from the dust to cover the land. Man and beast suffered untold misery from this terrible plague.

Although his counsellors pointed out that this surely was G-d's punishment, Pharaoh steeled his heart and remained relentless in his determination to keep the children of Israel in bondage.

Wild Animals

The fourth plague to harass the Egyptians consisted of hordes of wild animals roving all over the country, and destroying everything in their path. Only the province of Goshen where the children of Israel dwelt was immune from this as well as from the other plagues.

Again Pharaoh promised faithfully to let the Hebrews go out into the desert on the condition that they would not go too far. Moses prayed to G-d, and the wild animals disappeared.

But as soon as they had gone, Pharaoh withdrew his promise and refused Moses' demand.

Pestilence

Then G-d sent a fatal pestilence that killed most of the domestic animals of the Egyptians.

How the people must have grieved when they saw their stately horses, the pride of Egypt, perish; when all the cattle of the fields were stricken at the word of Moses; and when the animals upon which they looked as gods died smitten by the plague! They had, moreover, the mortification of seeing the beasts of the Israelites unhurt.

Yet Pharaoh still hardened his heart, and would not let the Israelites go.

Boils

Then followed the sixth plague, which was so painful and loathsome that it must have struck the people of Egypt with horror and agony. G-d commanded Moses to take soot from the furnaces, and to sprinkle it towards heaven; and as Moses did so, boils burst forth upon man and beast throughout the land of Egypt.

Hail

Now, Moses announced to the king that a hail-storm of unprecedented violence was to sweep the land; no living thing, no tree, no herb was to escape its fury unhurt; safety was to be found only in the shelter of the houses; those, therefore, who believed and were afraid might keep in their homes, and drive their cattle into the sheds.

Some of the Egyptians took this counsel to heart; but the reckless and the stubborn left their cattle with their servants in the fields.

When Moses stretched forth his staff, the hail poured down with violence; deafening thunder rolled over the earth, and lightning rent the heavens, and ran like fire along the ground. The hail did its work of destruction; man and beast who were exposed to its rage died on the spot; the herbs were scattered to the wind, and the trees lay shattered on the ground.

But the land of Goshen, untouched by the ravages of the storm, bloomed like a garden amidst the general devastation. Then Pharaoh sent for Moses and acknowledged his sins. "The Lord is righteous," he said, "and I and my people are wicked. Entreat the Lord that there should be no more thundering and hail; and I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer."

Moses replied: "When I am gone out of the city, I shall spread out my hands to the Lord; and the thunder will cease, and neither will there be any more hail, that thou mayest know that the earth is the Lord's." And it happened as Moses had said: the storm ceased, but Pharaoh's heart remained hardened.

Locusts

The next time Moses and Aaron came before Pharaoh, he appeared somewhat relenting, and asked them who was to participate in the worship the Israelites wanted to hold in the desert.

When they told him that everyone without exception, young and old, men and women, and animals, were to go, Pharaoh suggested that only the men should go, and that the women and children, as well as all their possessions should remain in Egypt.

Moses and Aaron would not accept this offer, and Pharaoh became angry and ordered them to leave his palace. Before leaving, Moses warned him of new and untold suffering. But Pharaoh remained adamant, even though his advisers counselled against further resistance.

As soon as Moses left the palace, he raised his arms toward heaven and an east wind brought swarms of locusts into Egypt, covering the sun, and devouring everything green that had escaped the hail and previous plagues.

Never in the history of mankind had there been such a devastating plague of locusts as this one. It brought complete ruin upon Egypt, which had already been thoroughly ravaged by the previous catastrophes. Again Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron, and implored them to pray to G-d to stop the plague. Moses complied, and G-d sent a strong west wind that drove the locusts into the sea.

When relief came, Pharaoh's obstinacy returned to him, and he refused to liberate the people of Israel.

Darkness

Then followed the ninth plague. For several days all of Egypt was enveloped in a thick and impenetrable veil of darkness which extinguished all lights kindled. The Egyptians were gripped with fear, and remained glued to their places wherever they stood or sat.

Only in Goshen, where the children of Israel dwelt, there was light. But not all of the Jews were saved from this plague. There were a few who wanted to be regarded as Egyptians rather than as members of the Hebrew race, and who tried, therefore, to imitate the Egyptians in everything, or, as we call it, to assimilate themselves. They did not want to leave Egypt. These people died during the days of darkness.

Again Pharaoh tried to bargain with Moses and Aaron, bidding them depart with all their people, leaving their flocks and herds behind as a pledge. Moses and Aaron informed him, however, that they would accept nothing less than complete freedom for the men, women, and children, and that they were to take all their belongings with them.

Now Pharaoh became angry and ordered Moses and Aaron to leave and never to return. He warned them that if they were to come before him again they would die. Moses replied that it would not be necessary for them to see Pharaoh, for G-d would send one more plague over Egypt, after which Pharaoh would give his unconditional permission for the children of Israel to leave

Egypt.

Exactly at midnight, Moses continued, G-d would pass over Egypt and smite all firstborn, man and beast. Of the children of Israel, however, nobody was to die. A bitter cry would sweep Egypt, and all the Egyptians would be gripped with terror, lest they all die. Then Pharaoh himself would come to seek out the leaders of the Hebrews, and beg them to leave Egypt without delay!

With these words, Moses and Aaron left Pharaoh, who was seething with rage.

Death of the First-Born

Midnight of the fourteenth to the fifteenth of Nissan came, and G-d smote all first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of King Pharaoh, down to the first-born of a captive in the dungeon, and all the first-born of the cattle, exactly as Moses had warned.

There was a loud and bitter wail in each house a loved one lay fatally stricken. Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron during that very night, and said to them:

"Arise, go out from among my people, both you and the children of Israel; and go, serve the Lord as you have said; and take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and go, and bless me also."

At last, then, the pride of the stubborn king was broken. Meanwhile the Hebrews had been preparing for their hasty departure. With beating hearts, they had assembled in groups to eat the Paschal lamb before midnight, arrayed as they had been commanded.

The women had taken from the ovens the unleavened cakes, which were eaten with the meat of the roasted lamb. The preparations were at last concluded, and all was ready.

At the word of command, the whole nation of the Hebrews poured forth into the cool, still Eastern morning. But not even amidst their trepidation and danger did they forget the pledge given by their ancestors to Joseph and they carried his remains, with them, to inter them later in the Promised Land.

Thus the Children of Israel were liberated from the yoke of their oppressors, on the fifteenth day of Nissan, in the year 2448 since the creation of the world. There were 600,000 men over 20 years of age with their wives and children, as well as their flocks, crossing the border of Egypt that day -- a free nation.

Many Egyptians and other non-Israelites joined the triumphant Children of Israel, hoping to share their glorious future. The Children of Israel did not leave Egypt destitute. In addition to their own possessions, the terrified Egyptians had bestowed upon them gifts of gold and silver and clothing in an effort to hasten their departure. Thus G-d made His promise to Abraham, that his descendants would leave their exile with great riches, come true in every detail.

Leading the Jewish people on their journey was a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night, giving them light. These Divine messengers not only guided the children of Israel on their way, but also cleared the way before them, making the journey both easy and safe.

The shortest route for the children of Israel to the Promised Land would have been straight across the land of the Philistines.

However, G-d wanted to give the newly-born Jewish nation the opportunity to throw off the remnants of Egyptian influence, and to educate them in the new ways of a holy life, through the Divine Torah which was to be given to them on Mount Sinai.

Furthermore, the shortest way to the Holy Land would have involved the people in a war with the Philistines, and it was doubtful whether the children of Israel, who had just left centuries of continuous slavery behind, would be strong enough to fight like free men; they might decide to return to Egypt rather than face a bloody war.

Therefore, G-d led the Jewish people in a round-about way. Instead of following the coast of the Mediterranean Sea all the way to the Promised Land, they were led southwards through the desert.

After three days, Pharaoh received word of the progress of the children of Israel. The unexpected direction of their march made him think that they had gotten lost in the desert. Pharaoh now regretted that he had permitted them to leave. He immediately mobilized his army and personally took leadership of his choicest cavalry and war-chariots in hot pursuit of his former slaves. He reached them near the banks of the Red Sea and pressed them close to the water, in an effort to cut off their escape.

Fear gripped the children of Israel as they saw the pursuing hosts of their enslaver. Some groups among them were ready to fight the Egyptians; others preferred to drown in the floods of the sea than risk defeat and return to slavery. A third group of frightened and feeble people began to complain against Moses, fearing that he had lured them out of the safety of Egypt to die in the desert

"Is it because there are no graves in Egypt," they exclaimed, "that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What is this that you have done to us to take us out of Egypt? Isn't this the thing [about] which we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, Leave us alone, and we will serve the Egyptians, because we would rather serve the Egyptians than die in the desert."

But Moses, calm and firm in one of the most trying moments of his life, said: "Don't be afraid! Stand firm and see the Lord's salvation that He will wreak for you today, for the way you have seen the Egyptians is [only] today, [but] you shall no longer continue to see them for eternity. The Lord will fight for you, but you shall remain silent."

Then Moses led the Israelites onwards until they came to the very borders of the Red Sea. The pillar of cloud now changed its position; retreating from the front to the rear of the Hebrew hosts, it floated between the two armies. Over the Israelites it shed a brilliant light, while it spread a veil of darkness over the Egyptians.

But the Israelites seemed now helplessly hemmed in by overwhelming dangers: the Egyptians were close behind them, and the waves of the Red Sea were breaking at their feet.

Then G-d spoke to Moses: "Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and split it, and the children of Israel shall come in the midst of the sea on dry land."

Moses did as G-d ordered him. He raised his staff and stretched his hand over the sea, and a strong east wind rose and blew the whole night.

The waters of the Red Sea were immediately divided and gathered into a wall on either side, leaving a dry passage in the midst. The Israelites marched at once along that dry path which extended from shore to shore, and gained the opposite side in safety.

Then Moses and the entire congregation sang this Song of Praise to G-d for their miraculous rescue.

I will sing unto the Lord, for He is highly exalted; the horse and its rider has He thrown into the sea.

The Lord is my strength and song, and He is become my salvation; this is my G-d and I will glorify Him; my father's G-d, and I will exalt Him. The Lord is the lord of war, The Lord is His name.

As the last words of the song died away, Miriam seized her timbrel, and followed by a multitude of Hebrew maidens and women, went forth in procession, dancing and proclaiming:

"Sing again to the Lord, for He is gloriously exalted; the horse and its rider has He thrown into the sea."

And after 40 years of wandering in the Sinai Desert, the Jewish People finally entered the Promised Land.

[ClubV12]

Where do they come up with this stuff? Maybe some apocrypha... :)

[Gregory Matthews]

Apocrypha: No.

In Jewish tradition there is a large body of ancient writings. That is where it comes from.

These major bodies of Jewish writings consist of:

NOTE: These names may be spelled in alternative ways.

Midrash: A collection of oral stories from Jewish history.

Halakha: relligious law

Aggadeh: Ancient Jewish sermons.

Talmud: The Gemara and the Mishnah.

Mishnah: Oral tradition.

Genara: Commentary on the Mishnah.

[Gail]

Ooohh, the Midrash is interesting, too

[olger]

I love the story of the Exodus. Nancy & I just read it.

[ClubV12]

"And after 40 years of wandering in the Sinai Desert, the Jewish People finally entered the Promised Land."

Uh,,, kind of skips over that whole rebellion thing. An interesting read and look into the Jewish mind set.

[Ted Oplinger]

I don't recall the Bible saying the 4th plague on the Egyptians was "hordes of wild animals roving all over the country, destroying everything in their path"...

It is interesting to see how they do their own revision, as to what is important and not so important to them...

Blessings,

[Kevin H]

"And after 40 years of wandering in the Sinai Desert, the Jewish People finally entered the Promised Land."

Uh,,, kind of skips over that whole rebellion thing. An interesting read and look into the Jewish mind set.

Indeed ClubV, it's human nature. Even in the stories of the spys, the writings that were from the Southern Tribes have two good spys and 10 unfaithful spys. The writings from the North have all 12 spys good and the people rebelling against the message of the spys and Joshua and Caleb, instead of being the two good spys are the two people who were willing to defend the 12 spys to the people.

[Gail]

I've come to think that all history is biased. But apart from taking the Bible as truth and the primary source of our history, it is interesting to see others' take on the same events. The reason? Because people's worldview is shaped by the information they have. It is a help to me to understand how some folk come to the conclusions they do.

[phkrause]

I've come to think that all history is biased. But apart from taking the Bible as truth and the primary source of our history, it is interesting to see others' take on the same events. The reason? Because people's worldview is shaped by the information they have. It is a help to me to understand how some folk come to the conclusions they do.

I'm inclined to agree with Jewish interpretation of the Hebrew Bible, rather than other interpretations. Now that's not saying that they don't have there biases.

[CoAspen]

Sometimes we take too much time in the little details and not the whole story. What is the story trying to tell us? That is the important part. Don't forget the old time game children played of passijng on a secret to the person next to them and on around the circle. What was said by the first person and what did the last person hear? The Bible, as I see it, is about the story of God and interactions with humans. The History gives support to the time and situation, but do the remembences of who did what what or how many, change the intent of story?