Parashat Sh’mot, 5774/2013 edition

Quick post composed in Word between assignments and published at home.

Basics here.

Links to my previous Sh’mot posts here.

A few thoughts, standing on one foot ('cause I didn't have time between assignments to stand on two  :) ) :

Exodus/Sh'mot, chap. 2

18 And when they came to Reuel their father, he said: 'How is it that ye are come so soon to-day?'

Chap. 3

1 Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian; and he led the flock to the farthest end of the wilderness, and came to the mountain of God, unto Horeb.

Reuel or Yitro?  2 sources?

14 And God said unto Moses: 'I AM THAT I AM'; and He said: 'Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel: I AM hath sent me unto you.'

15 And God said moreover unto Moses: 'Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel: The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you; this is My name for ever, and this is My memorial unto all generations.

2 names = 2 sources?

3 And He said: 'Cast it on the ground.' And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.

4 And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Put forth thy hand, and take it by the tail--and he put forth his hand, and laid hold of it, and it became a rod in his hand-- "

Moshe is a trusting soul.  Notice that Hashem never tells him that the snake (a) will not bite him and (b) will revert to a rod.

14 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and He said: 'Is there not Aaron thy brother the Levite? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee; and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.

How did Aharon know to meet Moshe?
וְגַם הִנֵּה-הוּא יֹצֵא לִקְרָאתֶךָ, וְרָאֲךָ וְשָׂמַח בְּלִבּוֹ.
Notice that the Hebrew is written in the present tense--the text seems to indicate that Aharon was already on his way. 

19 And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian: 'Go, return into Egypt; for all the men are dead that sought thy life.'

Why didn't Hashem tell Moshe this in the first place, instead of getting ticked at Moshe's reluctance to undertake the liberation mission?

Snuck a quick peak at Conservadox, who notes here that, according to the commentator Abarbanel, the Hebrews would ask their neighbors for precious metals and clothing because they wouldn’t be able to take their heavier possessions with them.