Literary Devices – Shemot 33/0

Literary Devices – Shemot 33

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Key Words and Wordplay

פנים

• The Tanakh Lab demonstrates that various forms of the noun "פָּנִים" appear ten times in this chapter.  The word first appears in the statement that an angel, rather than Hashem, will guide the people; it then comes up in the context of the revelations to Moshe and his requests that Hashem's face (and not an angel) accompany them.  This key word reflects the chapter’s theme of seeking Hashem’s presence and revelation after the sin of the calf.  

עדי

• The Tanakh Lab demonstrates that forms of the word “עדי” appears most frequently relative to the rest of Sefer Shemot and the rest of Tanakh.  Cassuto suggests that this word, which is associated in the verses with Mount Sinai (verse 6), is a play on words with “ed” (witness), reminding the Israelites that they were witnesses to the revelation at Sinai.  Daat Mikra suggests that “ohel moed” (verse 7) constitutes a play on words with “adi,” conveying to people that the ohel moed is their real national treasure.