Literary Devices – Shemot 32/0

From AlHaTorah.org
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Literary Devices – Shemot 32

This topic has not yet undergone editorial review

Structure

Parallels and Contrasts

Key Words

Character Titles

Moshe

  • Moshe – Throughout most of the chapter, Moshe is referred to by his proper name.
  • "This person Moshe" – In verses 1 and 23, Moshe is uniquely referred to by the nation as "this person Moshe". Ramban suggests that this epithet proves that the people did not consider Moshe a god, and did not intend for the calf to be a god either. Abarbanel, by contrast, understands the epithet to reflect the people’s recognition  that Moshe was vulnerable due to being a human being, and their desire to replace him with a being that was divine and immortal.