Biblical Parallels Index – Shemot 3/0

Biblical Parallels Index – Shemot 3

This topic has not yet undergone editorial review

Moshe and Yehoshua

There are many parallels between the stories of Moshe and Yehoshua, as many of Yehoshua's deeds reflect those of his teacher.  One such parallel emerges from comparing our chapter to Yehoshua 5. In each, Hashem reveals Himself to the leader, telling them to remove their shoes.

Tools

• Tanakh Lab¹ demonstrates that one of the chapters most linguistically similar to Shemot 3 is indeed Yehoshua 5.   Compare the two chapters here.
• See the concordance² and Makbilot Bamikra that both the concept of removing shoes on holy ground and the exact language of "שַׁל נְעָלֶיךָ מֵעַל רַגְלֶיךָ כִּי הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה עוֹמֵד עָלָיו... קֹדֶשׁ הוּא" appear in only these two stories, strengthening the parallel.

Primary Sources

• Se Bavli Bava Batra which compares Moshe and Yehoshua, likening Moshe to the sun and Yehoshua to the moon.

Articles

• See Moshe and Yehoshua for an exploration of the parallels between the prophecy and leadership of these two leaders, and the meaning of these connections.  

Initiation Prophecies

It is fruitful to compare and contrast Moshe’s initial prophecy (נבואת הקדשה) with that of others, such as Gidon (Shofetim Chapter 6), Shemuel (Shemuel I Chapter 3), Yeshayahu (Yeshayahu Chapter 6), Yirmeyahu (Yirmeyahu Chapter 1), and Yechezkel (Yechezkel Chapter 1), in order to note the similarities and differences that reflect the unique personality and mission of each prophet.

Articles

• See Shemuel’s Consecration Prophecy by R. Amnon Bazak for comparison of Moshe’s and Shemuel’s consecration prophecies.
• See Before I Formed You in the Belly I Knew You: Yirmiyahu’s Prophecy of Consecration, by R. David Sabato, for analysis of the essential components of prophecies of consecration, with a focus on Yirmeyahu. 
• Among the most salient aspects of Moshe’s initial prophecy is his great reluctance to accept his mission (a feature which is common to several of the initiation prophecies). Several of Nechama Leibowitz’s gilyonot on this chapter focus on understanding Moshe’s reluctance.³ 

¹ In the Tanakh Lab click on the Torah  icon for a list and links to the chapters which are most linguistically similar to the one being displayed.

² In the advanced mode of the concordance, input "נשל" (verb) in the first field, and "נַעַל" (noun) in the second.

³ See also Moshe: The Reluctant Leader for exploration of different approaches to understanding this reticence.