Autor: Voegelin, Eric

Buch: Israel and Revelation

Titel: Israel and Revelation

Stichwort: Moses, Propheten: Pascha (Passah and Mazzoth); Rolle des Königs -> Moses (verschiedene Traditionen)

Kurzinhalt: these festival rites were brought by the immigrant tribes with them to Egypt, and could supply the form elements for expressing the historical experience of rescue

Textausschnitt: 13/12 The historical substance, especially in Exodus 1-15, finally, has been molded by the form of a cult legend which can be traced to the vernal New Year festivals of Passah and Mazzoth. Almost certainly these festival rites were brought by the immigrant tribes with them to Egypt, and could supply the form elements for expressing the historical experience of rescue from a great danger in terms of the victory of the divine forces of fertility and order over the dark forces of death and disorder.
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14/12 An element of the cult that is of special importance for our purpose has been discerned by Ivan Engnell in the legend, that is, the role of the king in the fertility rite. The characteristics of the king have been transferred to the Moses ... () "Moses is indeed the saviour-Messiah, leading the 'exodus' of his people - its 'exodus' to the Paesah celebration!" He overcomes the god's enemies in a ritual combat, represented by the plagues of Egypt. "And that combat culminates in the victory over Pharaoh who is, in his turn, a parallel figure to Kingu, the Accadian personification of the 'counter-king,' the shar puhi, Pharaoh who, exactly like Kingu, is not killed but-according to Rabbinic tradition-kept prisoner in the Red Sea (Sheol, the Underworld) during fifty days in order to be placed, immortal as he is, at the gates of Hades for ever." (387f; Fs)

15/12 The figure of Moses, thus, has been molded by more than one form. From the Paschal Legend stem the elements which place Moses in the role of the savior-king who overcomes the forces of chaos. In so far as this legend could attract variegated materials in the course of elaboration, there have entered the form elements of the prophet who opposes the King. And, finally, his figure has been overlaid by the Deuteronomic myth. (388; Fs) (notabene)