More Names of Moses and Why God Called Batya His Daughter

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 428:5

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

Another interpretation: "Soco" - because he turned aside the punishment from coming into the world; "the father of Socoh" - for he was the father of the prophets who gaze [sochin] by the holy spirit; in Arabia they call a prophet "sochaya." "Jekuthiel" - because he made the children hope [mekavvin] in their Father in heaven. "The father of Zanoah" - he came and made them put aside [hizniḥan] that sin, as it is written, "And he scattered it upon the water" (Exodus 32:20). "And these are the sons of Bithiah" (1 Chronicles 4:18) - the Holy One, blessed be He, said to her: He was not your son, yet you called him your son; you too are not My daughter, yet I call you My daughter. "Whom Mered took" - this is Caleb. He rebelled [marad] against the counsel of the spies, and she rebelled against the counsel of her father; let the rebel come and take the rebellious woman. He saved the flock and she saved the shepherd. Rabbi Judah son of Rabbi Ilai says: Tobiah was also his name, as it is written, "And she saw that he was good [tov]" (Exodus 2:2). Rabbi Ishmael son of Rabbi Ami said: Shemaiah was his name, as it is written, "And Shemaiah son of Nethanel the scribe wrote them down" (1 Chronicles 24:6). Shemaiah - because God heard [shama el] his prayer. "Son of Nethanel" - a son to whom the Torah was given [nittenah] from the hand of God. "The scribe" - because he was the scribe of Israel. "The Levite" - because he was from the tribe of Levi. "Before the king and the princes" - before the King of the kings of kings, the Holy One, blessed be He, and His court. "And Zadok" - this is Aaron the priest. "And Ahimelech" - because he was the brother of a king. "Son of Abiathar" - a son on whose account the Holy One, blessed be He, forgave [vitter] the matter of the calf. Rabbi Joshua son of Korha says: Levi was also his name, after the root of his family. And Moses - behold, ten. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses: By your life, of all the names you have, I call you only by the name that Bithiah, daughter of Pharaoh, called you, "and she called his name Moses" (Exodus 2:10). Hence, "And He called to Moses."

Themes

MosesNamesWomen

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