Aaron's Role in The Golden Calf
When the Jews left the land of Egypt they were on the 49th level of Tuma. When the Jews came to Mount Sinai, they had reached the 49th level of purity. So how can The Jews descend to the level of The Golden Calf? How is it possible that Aaron the high priest was capable in leading these people to make a golden calf? In addition how come Aaron wasn't punished like the rest of the people who were involved in this worship?
The Bible states (Exodus 32:1-6) that The people saw that Moses had delayed in descending from the mountain, and the people gather around Aaron. Make for us a god. This was caused due to the error in counting the days in which Moses would return back to the Jews after he accepted the two tablets. Thus the Jews approached Aaron to make them a god, because they believed Moses wasn't coming back.
So in response to this request Aaron the high priest, told all of the Jews to bring the gold and the bring it to him so that he may form this "Golden Calf". Rashi states (32:6) that since Aaron saw Hur killed. Aaron knew that is he stalled the Jews he would be able to allow Moses to descend from the mountain and a crisis would have been adverted. Aaron also assumed the fact that he asked for the gold of the woman, which this would stall because people are always resistant to give up their valuables.
The Talmud in Sanhedrin states (7a) What did Aaron see? He saw that Hur was slaughtered before him on that day, and if I don't listen to them I will fulfill the Prophecy that a Navi and a Priest shall not be killed on one day. Therefore, he foresaw that it was easier to be forgiven for this sin then the other sin.
Many commentaries see this action of Aaron as an action, which should be praise while others see it as a disgrace and that we shouldn't give Aaron any credit here. Rav Jeremiah suggests that when Aaron saw the people bring the gold he stated the fist sentence of psalm 123.
The Midrash Rabbah states that when Moses came down from Sinai he was upset at Aaron.
At that time God said to me, [Moses]: 'carve out for yourself two tablets of stone, like the first ones, and come up to me to the mountain, and make for yourself an ark o...
When God first approaches Moses in the form of a burning bush, God says “I have witnessed the affliction of my people in Egypt and have heard their cry of complaint against their slave drivers, so I know well what they are suffering. Therefore I have come down to rescue them from the hands of the Egyptians and lead them out of that land into a good and spacious land,” (Exodus 3:7). Moses however, questioned God’s judgement, saying, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and lead the Israelites out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11). Moses continues to question God throughout the rest of the chapter, but eventually begins his journey to rescue his
The mighty act of lord had two interpretations, the first one that were, that they were attacks against the deities of Egypt and the second one being that they were meant to teach Israel that the God of Creation was the God who had delivered them from Egypt.
In Exodus chapter 3, Moses is instructed by God to bring his people out of Egypt and be a key figure in God’s redemptive plan. This would require Moses to approach Pharaoh and demand the release of his people (Ex.6:10-11). God hardened the Pharaohs heart, this may not seem logical but it gave opportunity for God to show is power and glory. (Ex.10:1-2) As a result, God sent ten terrible plagues attacking Egyptian deities, economics and agriculture.
Moses says that God also became angry with him and condemned him to die in the desert by not allowing him to fulfill the dream of knowing the longed-for Promise Land (Deut 1: 37 – 38). God 's anger was so great that He, thirty-eight years later, when they arrived in Canaan, and all the Israelites had already been punished, Moses attempted to ask God to let him in, thinking that his anger had passed, but God answered with a definite no. God said to Moses, "‘Let it suffice you; speak no more to me of this matter" (Deut. 3: 23 – 28). He could not convince God to allow him to put a foot in the Promised Land. The question here is: why was God angry with Moses? What did he have to do with this story? Scholars have come with different theories, but they do not find a definitive answer. Some of them attempt to find something to blame Moses for, but apparently their attempt is inconclusive. Other think that this consisted of sending the spies to explore the country instead of trusting in God. Other believe that it was not to have accompanied the explorers. Another group thought that it was because he did not know how to pacify the Israelite rebellion as a good leader would
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Following the creation story of the book of Genesis is the book of Exodus. In Genesis, God promised Abraham a “great nation from which all nations of the earth will be blessed (Gen 12:1-3)” and in Exodus God completes this promise through the creation of the holy nation, Israel. Exodus tells the story of the God who rescued his people out of Egypt because of the promise he had made to Abraham. God calls to Moses to complete his promise. God’s call to Moses is not only important because he liberates the Israelites but also because God reveals His name(s) along with His true Nature. God calls upon Moses and tells him that He’s back to help the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and that Moses is to lead them. God then gives him full instructions on what to tell the Pharaoh and, more importantly, the Israelites, who are promised, land “flowing with milk and honey”.
Moses was a Hebrew who was raised with Egyptian upbringing and education. As he grew he either knew that he was an Israelite or simply sympathized with Israelites in bondage. We know this by the action he took when he saw an Egyptian guard beating on a Hebrew slave. Moses interfered, killed the guard, and buried him. So Moses fled Egypt to Mount Sinai out of fear. This is the location in which God revealed his personal name to Moses and called upon him to lead his people out of the land of Egypt.
Moses convinced the Pharaoh to let his people go giving the Hebrews the chance to escape and showed his people the wonders of God.
When Moses turns to God's promises, he is in essence saying, “God we are not worthy of your blessings, we are here because of you, and we depend on you.” God acted as a parent towards a child. He wanted the best for his children. He, out of love for his children, responded to them in different ways. At times he was tough, at other times gentle.
Like Odysseus, Moses was at one with the gods. In Moses' case it was only
The Mosaic Covenant from exodus is a promise made between God and the nation of Israel at Mount Sinai. To begin with, the pattern of the covenant is very similar to other ancient covenants of that time because it is between God and his people. In the textbook, it explains how the Hebrews have struggled with the pharaoh around 1250 B.C.E. Moses, who was a prince that grew up in the household of the pharaoh, ran away. After returning he led the Hebrew slaves at the bottom of Mount Sinai. God spoke to the Hebrews who he freed them and explained the Ten Commandments. In addition, a quote form the readings “ I am the lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt.” (Judaism, pg. 397) This quote is the first commandment stating that he,
However, there are few differences in the accounts of his life between the Quran and the Bible. One is the adoption of Moses into the palace. In the biblical account, pharaoh’s daughter adopted Moses but in the Quran, the wife of the pharaoh adopted him. Similarly, the order of plagues and the nature of plagues that afflicted the people of pharaoh in the Quran and the Bible differ. In conclusion, despite these minor differences, the Quran and biblical accounts of the role, life, purpose, and figure of Moses are similar with several lessons, which can help us become better people in our society.
Even though God saw people as evil, he wanted to show his grace. He wanted to separate certain people in the world as His chosen people. “He wanted a chosen people: 1. To whom He might entrust the Holy Scriptures. 2. To be His witness to the other nations. 3. Through whom the promised Messiah could come” (Mears 47). This covenant is made between God and Abram. This covenant marks the beginning history of Israel, God’s chosen people.
The covenant relationship between God and his people began with Abraham. Abram received a call from God asking him and the Lot to go to Canaan. God said he would make them a great nation, but then when he arrives to Canaan, Abram separates from the Lot by God’s request. In Chapter 15 of Genesis, God begins the covenant with Abram promising him descendants, a child, and land. Abram and God then sealed the covenant by Abram walking through the animal halves. When Abram agreed to the covenant with God, God renamed him Abraham.