the biblical personage Moses
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Why did Moshe and Aaron need to use a staff in initiating the plagues?
Why did Moshe and Aaron need to use a staff in initiating the plagues?
Such as in שמות פרק ז פסוק יט:
יט. וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה אֶל משֶׁה אֱמֹר אֶל אַהֲרֹן קַח מַטְּךָ וּנְטֵה יָדְךָ עַל מֵימֵי ...
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What would have happened if the sin of the spies never occurred?
If the spies had not given a bad report about Eretz Yisroel or the people had not accepted their bad report, how would history have been different?
I have heard speculation that upon entering the ...
8
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3answers
79 views
In front of Moshe, why not all of Klal Yisrael?
We say in Tefillas Maariv
בוקע ים לפני משה
that the sea split before Moshe.
Why does it say "lifnei Moshe" (in front of Moshe) wasn't it lifnei (in front of) all of Klal Yisrael (the Jews)?
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Why is Moshe (mostly) absent from the haggadah?
Somebody asked at my seder this year why Moshe is largely absent from the magid. I have heard that the reason is because we're supposed to focus on God, and also that Moshe was very humble and there ...
3
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1answer
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Who dropped Moses from the Hagaddah?
Moses is not mentioned in the Hagaddah (with one minor exception), presumably to show that the exodus happened entirely by G-d's power and to not deify Moses.
Presumably, though, the maggid during ...
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2answers
74 views
What are the earliest sources of Oral Law irrespective of Jewish denomination like Kariate Samaritan etc
I read Oral laws were forbidden to be written down by MOses and then due to a threat people started to write it down , Hence curious to know which is the first manuscript on Oral law , most probably ...
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1answer
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How did the Non Bani Israel became the followers of Prophet Moses
What does the Tanach say on How non bani israelites embraced the religion of Prophet Moses at the time of Prophet Moses.
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What happened to the second אהי-ה?
Before going to redeem the Jews Moshe asks God what his name is. God says to Moshe in the pasuk (shemos 3:14) that he should be referred to as אֶהְיֶ-ה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶ-ה. To which Moshe responds (see ...
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1answer
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How did foreign biblical people became the followers of their respective prophets [closed]
How did the foreign people enter the fold of believers in biblical times of Moses and prior.
One scenario to better understand this question:
In biblical times, A foreign person would have entered ...
4
votes
1answer
90 views
How can R' Yochanan derive from Moshe that wealth is needed in order for someone to have G-d's presence rest on him?
The Talmud (Nedarim 38A) says:
אמר ר' יוחנן אין הקב"ה משרה שכינתו אלא על גבור ועשיר וחכם ועניו וכולן ממשה
R' Yochanan said, G-d only rests his presence on one who is strong, rich, wise, ...
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1answer
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Which part of Tanach did Moses give the people in Dt. 31?
I read in the below verses that Moses himself wrote the Torah and gave it to his people with the ark. The book given by Moses seemed to be very important since he propheisized that people would ...
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1answer
70 views
How and exactly when was the Torah canonized and by whom
I had read in the bible that Prophet Moses received the 10 commandments on a tablet and there was also some other revelations which were not nailed on the tablet which constitute the Torah. Hence I ...
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2answers
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How and when does a prophet know that it's God who's speaking to him?
When God addressed Moshe there was an accompanying miracle (and there's midrash about Avraham's case being special too), so it was pretty clear what was happening, but how did the other prophets come ...
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2answers
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Did Moshe Rabbeinu See God?
Did Moshe Rabbeinu see God? Doesn't Maimonides assert that all references to the physicality of God are metaphorical? If so, how did Moses see God?
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1answer
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What became of Moshe's sons and their descendants?
After Yisro brings Tzipora and Moshe's sons back to him at Exodus 18:2-5, they are not mentioned by name again in the Torah. Divrei Hayamim (Chronicles I 23:14 et seq.) lists their male descendants ...
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1answer
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Why does Yisro tell Moshe that he came with Moshe's wife “and her sons” rather than “your sons”?
At Exodus 18:6, Moshe's father-in-law, Yisro, tells Moshe that he had come with Moshe's wife and "her sons." Why didn't he say to Moshe that she had come with "your sons"?
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1answer
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Is there Moses Seat in Synagogue?
Is there a Moses seat in Synagogue ? I know about the Chair of Elijah but I came to know there is also Moses Seat please confirm.
3
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1answer
107 views
Who is speaking in Ex. 3:17?
Sh'mos 3:15–18 reads:
15 וַיֹּאמֶר עוֹד אֱלֹהִים אֶל מֹשֶׁה…. 16 לֵךְ וְאָסַפְתָּ אֶת זִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם יהוה אֱלֹהֵי אֲבֹתֵיכֶם נִרְאָה אֵלַי… לֵאמֹר פָּקֹד ...
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6answers
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Wording in Torah when Moshe is commanded to appear before pharoh
This shabbos, the parasha, Bo, starts with Moshe being told to "Bo El Paroh", "Come to Pharaoh". I don't understand this wording, should it have said "Lech El Paroh", "go to Pharaoh"? Is there a ...
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2answers
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When was Moshe conceived?
We know that Amram and Yocheved (Moshe and Miriam's parents) divorced so as not to give birth to baby boys and Miriam explained to them that they should get remarried because not only are they killing ...
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1answer
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Does Judaism believe that Moshe (Moses) is the last Prophet?
Does Judaism believe that Moshe (Moses) is the last Prophet? Is this suggested in the Torah? If he was not the last prophet, but the Torah seems to suggest it, what does that mean?
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Why “Moshe Moshe”?
When Hashem appeared to Moshe at the burning bush in parshot shamot perek gimil why did he call Moshe's name twice? He could have just said "moshe" ONCE!
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1answer
100 views
Moshe being called Moshe Rabbeinu
We refer to Moshe as "Moshe Rabbeinu". (It's interesting about the avos as well that we say, for example, Avraham Avinu; however, I'll keep that for a separate question.)
When was the first time (and ...
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3answers
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Why can't Moshe hit the water?
As a kid I learned that Moshe wasn't allowed to hit the water because it saved him when he was a child and he had to show hakaras hatov (similar answer for why he couldn't hit the sand that saved him ...
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3answers
484 views
Moshe's age and the timeline of the exodus
Moshe was 80 when he first approached Par'o and the makos lasted a year, so he turned 81 in the Adar before the Jews left Mitzrayim. As he turned 120 in the Adar before the Jews entered Israel, the ...
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0answers
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A Mashal of HaShem as a crazy king and Moshe as His weak-kneed friend?
The Gemara (Ber. 32a) quotes R' El'azar that when HaShem wanted to destroy Bnei Yisrael and Moshe intervened, it is comparable to a king who beat his son terribly, and the king's friend was at his ...
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1answer
144 views
Moshe's Mask and Purim?
Is there a connection between Purim masks and the mask Moshe begins wearing at the end of Parshat Ki Tisa?
It seems too much of a coincidence that it's read near Purim for there to be none.
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2answers
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Nusach of Tefilas Geshem
In Tefilas Geshem we say "Al HaSela Hach Vayeitzu Mayim"
translated by Artscroll as:
Remember the one [Moses] drawn forth in a bulrush basket from the
water. They said, 'He drew water and ...
1
vote
1answer
57 views
Ohr HaChaim on Redemption because of Torah
I've heard that the Ohr HaChaim quotes the Zohar Chadash that we will be redeemed because of the merit of Mosheh and learning Torah.
Does such a comment exist in the Ohr HaChaim? If so, can someone ...
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2answers
82 views
Why did Pharaoh try to kill Moshe?
Moshe Rabbeinu was raised in Pharaoh's house. Yet when Dasan and Aviram claimed that Moshe killed an Egyptian taskmaster, Pharaoh tried to kill him (Shemot 2:13-15).
Why would an all powerful tyrant ...
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2answers
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Why does Moshe have a shalshelet?
The "shalshelet" trop appears 4 times in the Torah:
(Vayeira, Gen. 19:16) Lot has a shalshelet, because he was hesitating to leave S'dom.
(Chayei Sarah, Gen. 24:12) Eliezer has a shalshelet, because ...
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3answers
144 views
Moshe after t'chiyas hamesim
After the resurrection of the dead, will Moshe have any particular role? If so, what will it be? Sources, please.
(The question was inspired a popular song whose lyrics include "Moshe rabenu will ...
8
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1answer
116 views
Moshe's entering Israel — later
Does anyone know of a source that discusses everyone's entering Israel at t'chiyas hamesim and the ban on Moshe's entering Israel in light of one another (and, preferably, attempts to reconcile them)?
...
3
votes
2answers
152 views
Kriyas Yam Suf and Naḥshon ben Amminadav
By Kriyas Yam Suf it says that the first one to Jump in was Naḥchshon ben Amminadav. My question is: why didn't Moshe Rabbenu jump in first?
8
votes
3answers
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Moshe Rabbeinu's knowledge of future events
If Moshe Rabbeinu was taught the entire Torah on Mt. Sinai (Rashi on Vayikra 25:1, Rambam), how do we explain events such as the incident involving the Bnos Tzelafchad (Bamidbar 27:1-11), or the tamei ...
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1answer
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What was Moshe's “masveh”?
The Torah relates that Moshe donned a מסוה to hid the luminescence of his face, when addressing the community. What was the nature/appearance of this "masveh"?
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Mitzvos on Mount Sinai?
Was Moshe Rabbeinu obligated in mitzvos during the two periods of 40 days that he spent on Mount Sinai? Did he keep mitzvos (whether obligated to or not) during that time?
I ask because the Torah ...
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4answers
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Why does Yisro appear to have higher standards for judges than Moshe does?
First Yisro says:
וְאַתָּה תֶחֱזֶה מִכָּל הָעָם (1)אַנְשֵׁי חַיִל (2)יִרְאֵי אֱ־לֹהִים (3)אַנְשֵׁי אֱמֶת (4)שֹׂנְאֵי בָצַע וְשַׂמְתָּ עֲלֵהֶם
Then when He selected it says he got:
...
3
votes
1answer
53 views
Moshe's change of looks on the mountain
When Moshe ascended heaven to receive the commandments there is a tradition that Hashem changed his appearance to that of someone else. Why was he changed and to whom was he changed? Is there a ...
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2answers
95 views
Why does the Torah repeat that the nation believed in Moshe?
In Yisro it says:
וְגַם בְּךָ יַאֲמִינוּ לְעוֹלָם
Earlier it says:
ויאמינו בה' ובמשה עבדו
Why Both?
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votes
3answers
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Moshe and the Red-Hot Coals
A midrash that myself and I'm sure many others have heard in grade school is that when Moshe was a baby, still crawling, his "grandfather" Pharaoh, incited by an incident in which Moshe took off ...
7
votes
3answers
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Moshe's speech impediment(s)
In Sh'mos 4:10, after Hashem instructs him to speak to the Jews, Moshe describes himself to Hashem as not an "אִישׁ דְּבָרִים", literally "man of words", and as "כְבַד פֶּה", literally "heavy of ...
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4answers
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Did Moshe have an earlier name?
Moshe was given his name by Pharaoh's daughter after she drew him from the water. However, Moshe was already three months old when this happened. Did he have a name before Pharaoh's daughter found ...
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2answers
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Why did Moshe ask for a “free gift?” (Rashi on Parashas Va'eschanan)
Parshas Va'eschanan starts off with Moshe's Prayer to Hashem. Rashi comments that he asked for a free gift. Why was he asking for a free gift?
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1answer
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Whose stick was it that hit the Nile?
שמות יז ה has:
ומטך אשר הכית בו את היאור
Moshe did not hit the Nile river, Aharon did. (See שמות ז יט, with Rashi.) Why does the Torah say otherwise?
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Moshe's divorcing Tzipora
Moshe refrained from marital relations with Tzipora for almost forty years, so as to be able to receive prophecy at any moment (Shabas 87:1). 1. Did he divorce her? 2. If not, why not?
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Why did Moshe complain about the Spies in Bamidbar if he thought it was a good idea?
The Posuk says:
וַיִּיטַב בְּעֵינַי, הַדָּבָר; וָאֶקַּח מִכֶּם שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר אֲנָשִׁים, אִישׁ אֶחָד לַשָּׁבֶט
Transalation: It was good in his eyes
What was Moshe's complaint if it was good ...
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votes
3answers
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Moses lived 120 years, and tradition says no one can live longer, so why do they?
Genesis 6:3: And the LORD said: 'My spirit shall not abide in man for ever, for that he also is flesh; therefore shall his days be a hundred and twenty years.'
In Deut. 34:7 the age of Moses upon his ...
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6answers
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Why was Moshe buried alone?
Why did Hashem bury Moshe in an unknown place, and did not do so with other great Tzadikim like Avraham, Yitchak and Yaakov?
