View source for Structure – Shemot 6:2 - 7:7/0

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<h1>Structural Analysis – Shemot 6:2 – 7:7<br/>Introduction: "Dual Mission"</h1>


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<div style="text-align:center; font-weight:bold" class="header"><aht subpage="Text" class="btn" style="color:#832525">Open Structure in Stages</aht> &#160; <aht subpage="Outline" class="btn" style="color:#832525">Open Outline</aht><br/></div>

<category name="">Broader Context
	<p>Shemot 6 is part of the larger unit "The Road to Redemption" which encompasses Chapters 6–15 in Sefer Shemot.<fn>See <aht page="Structure – Sefer Shemot">Structure of Sefer Shemot</aht> and the discussion below for a critique of the alternative possibility that Chapter 6 is connected to the chapters which precede it.</fn>  For elaboration and various possible subdivisions of this bigger unit, see <aht page="Structure – Sefer Shemot">Structure of Sefer Shemot</aht>.</p>
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<category name="Boundaries of the Unit">Step 1 – Boundaries of the Unit
<p><aht-sis color="black" weight="bold" step="1">Introduction: "Dual Mission" (6:2 – 7:7)</aht-sis></p>
<ul>
	<li>After Moshe's earlier mission ends in failure and dismay, Chapters 6:2 - 7:7 renew the dual mandate with which he is entrusted: to prepare the Israelites for the Exodus and to instruct Paroh to release them.<fn>These two aspects are both present also in the earlier failed mission of Shemot 3–5.</fn>  These two tasks are flip sides of the same coin, and they are explicitly linked in Moshe's response to Hashem.<fn>See 6:12 "הֵן בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לֹא שָׁמְעוּ אֵלַי וְאֵיךְ יִשְׁמָעֵנִי פַרְעֹה".</fn>  They are also described in parallel language,<fn>See Division of the Unit below.</fn> thereby creating a unitary whole.</li>
	<li><b>Characters</b> – This scene shines the spotlight only on Hashem and Moshe,<fn>The lone exception is Shemot 6:9 which conveys, almost in passing, that the Israelites paid no heed to Moshe's words.</fn> whereas in the surrounding units Moshe interacts also with Paroh, the Egyptians, and the Israelites.</li>
	<li><b>Plot</b> – Hashem's words to Moshe here serve as an introduction which foretells what will occur in each of the following stages of the redemptive process.<fn>For more, see <aht page="Structure – Sefer Shemot">Structure of Sefer Shemot</aht>.</fn>  The unit therefore consists almost entirely of dialogue, while the adjacent stories detail Moshe's shuttling back and forth between the various parties and the actions which accompany his words.</li>
	<li><b>Literary markers</b> – The units opens with the proclamation of "אֲנִי ה'&#8207;"&#8206;<fn>This new introduction makes it difficult to say that 6:2 is merely a continuation of the preceding dialogue in Chapter 5 – see below.</fn> and the heralding of a new chapter in Hashem's relationship with the Children of Israel.  The end of the unit provides closure by recording that Moshe and Aharon fulfilled their mission precisely as they were commanded.<fn>The final verse of this unit also provides the only time marker in the first eleven chapters of Sefer Shemot.</fn></li>
	<li><b>Timing</b> – It is unclear if any and how much time elapses between this unit and the previous one,<fn>It is also uncertain if they take place in the same location.  While Chapter 5 takes place in Egypt, the setting of Chapter 6 could be back at Mt. Sinai (like Chapters 3–4).  [Although 6:28 mentions Egypt, it is unclear to which section of the chapter it refers.]</fn> and if the dialogue here between Hashem and Moshe is a continuous part of their conversation from Chapter 5.<fn><multilink><aht source="CassutoShemot6-2">U. Cassuto</aht><aht source="CassutoShemot6-2">Shemot 6:2</aht><aht parshan="Umberto Cassuto">About U. Cassuto</aht></multilink> assumes that there was a hiatus, but Nechama Leibowitz, עיונים חדשים בספר שמות (ירושלים, תש"ל): 86 הערה 2 maintains that it was one continuous conversation.  The Akeidat Yitzchak, who interprets "לָהֶם" in 6:3 as referring back to the Israelites mentioned at the end of 6:1, apparently also assumes that there is only one dialogue.  Cf. Moshe Greenberg, Understanding Exodus (New York, 1969): vii-viii, who connects Chapter 6 to the preceding chapters and entitles the unit of Shemot 3:1 – 7:13 "Moses' Commissioning."</fn>  For more, see <a href="SHE$">Chronology of Shemot 2–5</a> and <a href="SHE$">Chronology of Shemot 6</a>.</li>
	<li><b>Masoretic markers and the chapter division</b> – Both the annual and triennial Torah reading divisions as well as the Masoretic parshiyot markers split between the rest of Chapter 6 and 6:1, as per the structure suggested here.  In contrast, the chapter division links the first verse of Chapter 6 with the remainder of the chapter.<fn>As 6:1 is clearly a response to Moshe's complaint at the end of Chapter 5, the chapter division effectively links all of Chapter 6, not just with 6:1, but also with Chapter 5.  See the note above regarding the timing of the two chapters.</fn></li>
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<category name="Division into Scenes">Step 2 – Division into Scenes
<p><aht-sis color="black" weight="bold" step="2">I. "Mission to the Israelites" (6:2-9)<br/>
II. "Mission to Paroh" (6:10 – 7:7)</aht-sis></p>
<ul>
	<li><b>Plot</b> – The unit of Shemot 6:2 – 7:7 splits into two very similar parts: Moshe's mission to the Israelites to inform them of the impending redemption and his mission to Paroh to demand that he let the people go.<fn>The sets of verses which constitute the two missions are roughly similar in size.  This is not readily apparent because the second section is inflated by the parenthetical genealogy (6:14-28) and the resultant resumptive repetition (6:29-30).</fn></li>
	<li><b>Parallels</b> – There are a number of points of similarity between the two sections:
		<ul>
			<li>Each describes Hashem's instructions to Moshe, Moshe's faithful execution of the mission, and the respective addressees not listening to Moshe's message ("וְלֹא שָׁמְעוּ", "וְלֹא יִשְׁמַע").&#8206;<fn>See also 6:12 where Moshe links the two.</fn></li>
			<li>Each uses the language of "וְהוֹצֵאתִי אֶתְכֶם... בִשְׁפָטִים גְּדֹלִים".</li>
			<li>The goal of each is to bring about a recognition of Hashem (&#8207;"וִידַעְתֶּם כִּי אֲנִי ה' אֱלֹהֵיכֶם", "וְיָדְעוּ מִצְרַיִם כִּי אֲנִי ה'"&#8207;).</li>
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<category name="Subdivision of Scene I">Step 3.1 – Subdivision of Scene I
<p><aht-sis color="black" weight="bold" step="3" scroll="1">A. "A Retrospective Account" (6:2-5)<br/>
B. "Message for the Israelites" (6:6-8)<br/>
C. "Israelites Don't Listen" (6:9)</aht-sis></p>
<ul>
	<li>"Mission to the Israelites" is comprised of the backdrop verses which delineate Hashem's motivations, the promise to be transmitted to the Israelites, and the results of the mission.</li>
	<li><b>Parallels</b> – Each of the backdrop and the message sections make mention of the two reasons for the Exodus:  Hashem's covenant with the Patriarchs and his seeing the suffering of the Israelites.<fn>For discussion of the possible chiastic structure, see <aht page="Literary Devices – Shemot 6">Literary Analysis</aht>.</fn></li>
	<li><b>Timing</b> – The background verses describe past events, the promise to the Israelites looks toward the future, while the conclusion speaks of the present situation.</li>
	<li><b>Literary markers</b> – Both the backdrop and the message open with the proclamation &#8207;"אֲנִי ה'"&#8207;, and the message section ends with it as well.</li>
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<category name="Subdivision of Scene II">Step 3.2 – Subdivision of Scene II
<p><aht-sis color="black" weight="bold" step="3" scroll="2">A. "Message for Paroh" (6:10 – 7:2)<br/>
B. "A Prospective Plan" (7:3-5)<br/>
C. "Moshe and Aharon Obey" (7:6-7)</aht-sis></p>
<ul>
	<li>"Mission to Paroh" consists of Hashem's instructions to Paroh, His reassurance of Moshe, and Moshe and Aharon's carrying out of their mission</li>
	<li><b>Resumptive repetition</b> – 6:29 – 7:2 recap the contents of 6:10-13, as there was an intervening genealogy in 6:14-28.</li>
	<li><b>External parallels</b> – 7:3-5 encapsulate the themes of the three stages of redemption.  For more, see <aht page="Structure – Sefer Shemot">Structure of Sefer Shemot</aht>.</li>
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<p style="text-align:center;">Click <aht page="Literary Devices – Shemot 6">here</aht> to continue to Literary Analysis.</p>

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