Literary Devices – Shemot 12/0

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Literary Devices – Shemot 12

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Structure

Parallels and Contrasts

Key Words

Character Titles

Symbolism

Blood is an important symbol in the story of the Exodus, related to both punishment and covenant / redemption. 

  • Blood appears twice in Shemot 4, first in the context of the miracle of turning water to blood and then in the story of the circumcision of Moshe’s son. 
  • Later in the narrative, the plagues begin with blood.
  • In Shemot 12, the Israelites smear the blood of the Passover offering on their doorposts, leading into the actual exodus from Egypt.1
  • Blood, thus, represents Hashem’s violent confrontation with Paroh and the culture of Egypt. Moreover, the alternating symbols of blood as punitive plague and blood as symbol of the covenant (both circumcision and the Paschal sacrifice) hint to the underlying theme of the Exodus as representing the transition from being slaves of Paroh to being servants of Hashem.