Category: Seder-Masochism

Exodus 16-19: A Stiff-Necked People

Music: “Reach Out I’ll Be There” by the Four Tops
Animation, design, direction, everything else: Nina Paley

Exodus 16: 1 And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt.

Exhausted Hebrews wander the desert, led by MOses, Aharon, and a Pillar of Fire
Exhausted Hebrews wander the desert, led by MOses, Aharon, and a Pillar of Fire

2 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:

Hebrews murmur against Moses
Hebrews murmur against Moses

3 And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.

Ungrateful Hebrews miss "food"
Ungrateful Hebrews miss “food”

4 Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.

Manna from Heaven
Manna from Heaven

*****
Exodus 17: And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the Lord, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink.

Thirsty Hebrews charged on by increasingly frustrated Moses
Thirsty Hebrews charged on by increasingly frustrated Moses

2 Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the Lord?

3 And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?

Ungrateful Hebrews miss "water" and goddesses.
Ungrateful Hebrews miss “water” (and goddesses).

4 And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me.

5 And the Lord said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go.

6 Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

WaterFromRock
Water from a rock

*****

Moses smashes idols (in this case Canaanite Asherah figures)
Moses smashes idols (in this case Canaanite Asherah figures)

Exodus 19:20 And the Lord came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the Lord called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.:

Moses prepares to ascend Mt. Sinai, setting the stage for the "Golden Calf" episode to follow.
Moses prepares to ascend Mt. Sinai, setting the stage for the “Golden Calf” episode to follow.
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