초록 열기/닫기 버튼
Exodus 4:1-9 is a first example of Moses' protest concerning Israel's disbelief and YHWH's signs to assure him Israel's belief. Moses is worrying that Israel will not believe him and say YHWH does not appear to him. These worries are about Moses' delivering the words of YHWH to Israel. They include the aural elements and the visual elements together. In his protest, Moses actually asked YHWH to give him a visual evidence that could make Israel believe in his words. In YHWH's response to Moses' protest, three sings were given. First, the staff changed into a snake. This sign shows 100% of the visual elements. The second sign was to make his hand infected with a skin disease. However, Moses had to put his hand into his bosom, so he could not see the process of change. That is why this sign has only 50% of the visual elements. The last sign was told to Moses and he could not experience it because he had to take some water from the Nile and pour it upon the land. It is supposed to change into blood. He will be able to try it when he actually goes to Egypt. So this third sign shows 0% of the visual elements. What these three signs mean is that the aural elements are more important than the visual elements. Moses has to deliver the words of YHWH through his mouth, that is, the aural elements. Also the identity of ‘they’ in the protest of Moses in 4:1 has to reveal because the text does not say anything about them. Traditionally, the scholars have thought that ‘they’ are ‘the people of Israel.’ However, this study shows that not only the people of Israel but also the king of Egypt could be included in the category of ‘they.’ In order to realize Exodus, Israel had to get a permission from the Egyptian king. Moses needed to have signs to persuade him to make Exodus happen. The awkward connection between v. 8 and v. 9 proves that the third sign was prepared for the king of Egypt. As the three signs deliberately shows the importance of the words, here again the text indicates that only aural elements could make the people of Israel and the king of Egypt believe what Moses said in the name of YHWH.
키워드열기/닫기 버튼
Sign, Exodus, Israel, Aural Elements, Visual Elements
