Moshe and Eliyahu at Sinai/0
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Moshe and Eliyahu at Sinai
Introduction
Content Parallels
- Appearance of an angel – An angel appears to Moshe (Shemot 3:2), causing him to approach the burning bush. An angel also appears to Eliyahu (Melakhim I 19:5-7), giving him food and directing him to Sinai.
- Forty days without food – Moshe spends forty days and nights on Mt. Sinai without eating (Shemot 34:28). Eliyahu also spends forty days and nights walking to Mt. Sinai, all fueled by a single cake eaten before the journey (Melakhim I 19:8).
- Cave in the mountain – During Hashem's revelation to Moshe, Moshe was to be hidden inside a crevice in the cliff ("נִקְרַת הַצּוּר", Shemot 33:22). Similarly, when Eliyahu arrives at Sinai, he sleeps in a cave ("הַמְּעָרָה", Melakhim I 19:9). The Bavli identifies these as the same exact cave.
- Revelation on the mountain – Hashem passes (עבר) both Moshe (Shemot 33:19,22, 34:6) and Eliyahu (Melakhim I 19:11), with some sort of physical manifestation of His glory appearing to both of them (Shemot 33:18-23, Melakhim I 19:11-12).
- Hiding one's face – Both Moshe (Shemot 3:6) and Eliyahu (Melakhim I 19:13) hide their faces after Hashem's revelation.
- Requesting death – In response to the nation's sins, both Moshe (Shemot 32:32) and Eliyahu (Melakhim I 19:4) request death.
Literary Allusions
- God's mountain at Chorev – In both cases (Shemot 3:1, Melakhim I 19:8), Mt. Sinai is referred to as "הַר הָאֱלֹהִים חֹרֵבָה/חֹרֵב".
- Forty days and forty nights – Both cases (Moshe in Shemot 24:18, 34:28, Devarim 9:9,11,18,25, 10:10; Eliyahu in Melakhim I 19:8) refer to sets of forty days and forty nights ("אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם וְאַרְבָּעִים לַיְלָה").
Analysis
- Degree of similarity –
- Distinctive phrases –
- "הַר הָאֱלֹהִים חֹרֵבָה/חֹרֵב" – These two occasions are the only times where this name is found.
- "אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם וְאַרְבָּעִים לַיְלָה" – Of the ten appearances of this phrase, seven refer to Moshe's ascent to Mt. Sinai, and one to Eliyahu's journey. The other two (Bereshit 7:4,12) refer to the length of the flood.
