Sunday, February 1, 2015

Two Edits

I made two changes to the Parasha. One change is that the description of Chag Matzot is moved to after the description of the Mannah. It is thus moved from E context to J context. My assumption is that a "late" editor moved it up, to right after

וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה, אֶל-מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר. קַדֶּשׁ-לִי כָל-בְּכוֹר פֶּטֶר כָּל-רֶחֶם, בִּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל--בָּאָדָם, וּבַבְּהֵמָה

where it is only hindering the flow of thought. In addition, the famous

מִי לַיהוָה אֵלָי

exclamation of Moshe, and the ensuing text about the Levite action, is moved from here to Massah uMerivah, that is, to right after the new position of Chag HaMatzot. Again, my assumption (based on Devarim 33:8,9; אֲשֶׁר נִסִּיתוֹ בְּמַסָּה תְּרִיבֵהוּ עַל-מֵי מְרִיבָה etc.) is that was moved by a "late" editor, likely the same one that moved Chag Matzot.