Why Moses, Noah, and Abraham Had Their Names Doubled at the Bush

Midrash Aggadah, Exodus 3:3

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

"And Moses said: I will turn aside now and see this great sight" (Exodus 3:3). He stepped three steps. Another interpretation: he did not step except for the trouble [he took]. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: Moses, you troubled yourself to see; by your life, you are worthy that I should reveal Myself to you. "And God called to him out of the midst of the bush" (Exodus 3:4). Immediately Moses answered, "Here I am." The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: You said "favor me"; by your life, a time will come when you will pray on behalf of Israel, and I will say to you: I have already answered you. And this is what is said: "Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and He will say: Here I am" (Isaiah 58:9). Another interpretation: "Moses, Moses," and he said, "Here I am." Everyone whose name is doubled in this world is assured that he is a son of the World to Come, and these are they: Noah, Noah; Abraham, Abraham; Jacob, Jacob; Moses, Moses; Samuel, Samuel; Terah, Terah — for Abraham our father did not die until he received the good news that Terah his father had repented. This is what is written: "And you shall come to your fathers in peace" (Genesis 15:15). Abraham said: Master of the worlds, because I asked for good deeds, shall I go to my fathers who stand in Gehinnom? At that hour the Holy One, blessed be He, gave him the good news and said to him: By your life, your father has repented. Therefore the name of Terah was doubled. "And he said: Here I am" — "Here I am" for kingship, "Here I am" for priesthood.

Themes

Divine RevelationRepentanceWorld To ComeMoses

Biblical References

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