<b>What is written prior to the episode in which Moses was keeping the flock?</b> Many things are designated for certain purposes even before they are introduced into the world.<sup class="footnote-marker">14</sup><i class="footnote">This is hinted at by the word “was.”</i> Death was designated to enter the world, as it is said: <i>And darkness was on the face of the deep</i> (Gen. 1:2). This refers to the angel of death, who darkens the countenances of all creatures. Yet it is written: <i>And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good</i> (ibid., v. 3), even though death already existed, as it is said: <i>Now the earth was unformed and void, and darkness was on the face of the deep</i> (ibid., v. 2).

The Holy One, blessed be He, introduced death through the serpent, which had been predestined for that purpose, as it is said: <i>Now the serpent was more subtle</i> (ibid. 3:1). It was foreseen by the Holy One, blessed be He, that Adam would eat the apple and would die because of its subtlety, as it is written: <i>For in the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt die</i> (ibid., v. 3). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to her (Eve): This is no mere parable. He was already destined for that end, as it is written: <i>Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil</i> (ibid., v. 22). In the future, a flood will descend upon the world, but Noah and his sons will escape, as it is written: <i>Noah was a just man in his generation</i>, etc. (ibid. 6:9). He foresaw that a righteous man would arise, and that the world would be preserved through him, and that after him Abraham would come, as it is written: <i>Abraham was one</i> (Ezek. 33:24).

Punishments were to be imposed in the future, and Job was preordained in order that they might be introduced through him, as it is written: <i>There was a man in the land of Uz</i> (Job 1:1). Israel was destined to be sold in the days of Haman, but Mordecai was predestined to save them. Israel was destined to descend into servitude in Egypt, but Joseph was predestined to help them, as it is written: <i>And Joseph was in Egypt</i> (Exod. 1:5). Israel was ultimately to be redeemed from Egypt, and Moses was predestined to deliver them from bondage, as it is written: <i>And Moses was keeping the flock</i>.