Because of an editorial error, this column appeared previously on Dec. 14.
Shemot
Exodus 1:1 – 6:1, 27:6 – 28:13
Isaiah 29:22 – 23
“And it came to pass in those days when Moses was grown that he went out to his brothers and saw their burdens. And he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brothers. And he turned this way and that and when he saw that there was no man he smote the Egyptian and buried him in the sand.” (Exodus 2:11, 12)
After this seemingly heedless, impulsive act, Moses was forced to leave his position as an Egyptian prince and to flee to Midian, where he became a shepherd. It is striking and troubling to see that by doing this drastic action Moses appeared to be willfully throwing off his power of influence for the good. Brought up in Pharaoh’s palace as a prince of Egypt, Moses was potentially in an unparalleled position to help his downtrodden, enslaved brothers, to lighten their load and perhaps to intercede on their behalf. Yet all of this potential power for the good was apparently surrendered in a moment of rage. In that moment, Moses forfeited all of the privilege and opportunities of his unique position to become a fugitive with a price on his head.
Certainly a closer look is required. Could Moses, the greatest of all prophets, really have been so lacking in self-restraint that he relinquished the greater good for the immediate satisfaction of his anger? Rashi actually tells us that when the verse says “and when he saw that there was no man,” it indicates that this action was indeed deliberate and carefully thought out. Moses’ prophecy told him that no good was ever to come from this Egyptian and so he decided to kill him.
Still, we do not fully appreciate Moses’ calculations in casting off so much power. Seen against the background of the Purim story, it is perhaps even more difficult to understand. The influence that Esther could exert on behalf of her people by becoming queen of Persia is seen as the entire purpose of Esther’s rise to power and as a great favor from the Almighty. The Midrash (Esther Rabbah 6:10) says, “Mordecai said, ‘Is it possible that so righteous a woman should be married to this heathen king unless she were meant to use her position to bring salvation to her people?'” There appears to be a distinct difference in approach as to the benefit and necessity of holding on to power in order to do good.
To understand Moses’ approach we must first understand the reason that the affliction of slavery fell on the Jewish nation, what deficiency brought it about and how could this deficiency possibly be repaired.
We are taught that, although the faith of our father Abraham in the Almighty was incomparable, he did slip. When G-d promised him that his descendants would inherit the land of Israel, Abraham asked for a sign. “How will I know that my seed will inherit the land?” (Genesis 15:8). This failure (minuscule by our standards) had to be expiated by 210 years of suffering. It was a lack of faith, of trusting in G-d’s word, that was the root cause of the exile and this could not be repaired by Moses’ political power or influence with royalty. Only by making good the inadequacy within themselves could the Jews end their slavery.
It is for this reason that Moses threw off every trace of worldly power. By killing the Egyptian, he was removing from Israel any possible rationale for their eventual delivery. Any reliance on worldly power would have been for them a step in the wrong direction for it would diminish their total faith and reliance upon Divine salvation. It would not be political power or the influence of an intermediary that would save them. Only their trust in G-d, which would remain steadfast, could ultimately bring about their redemption.
So, far from being a rash impulse, Moses’ killing of the Egyptian who was threatening the life of a fellow Jew, was an act of deliberation and purpose: to strengthen the faith of the people in their Deliverer and to remove all false props. In this he succeeded as it says in Shemot (Exodus 4:30, 31): “And Aaron spoke all the things that G-d had told Moses and he performed the signs and the people believed.”
The people saw wondrous signs that they could have chosen to explain away rationally as has often been attempted throughout Jewish history. Instead, they chose to believe. In this merit, they were saved. In these challenging and often anxiety-ridden days, we can all remember the faith exhibited by our forefathers and we can renew our own faith and find strength and comfort in it.
Shabbat Shalom