וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶל הָאֱלֹהִים הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי בָא אֶל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמַרְתִּי לָהֶם אֱלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם שְׁלָחַנִי אֲלֵיכֶם וְאָמְרוּ לִי מַה שְּׁמוֹ מָה אֹמַר אֲלֵהֶם. וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים אֶל מֹשֶׁה אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה וַיֹּאמֶר כֹּה תֹאמַר לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶהְיֶה שְׁלָחַנִי אֲלֵיכֶם.
And Moses said unto God: ‘Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them: The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me: What is His name? what shall I say unto them?’ And God said unto Moses: ‘I AM THAT I AM’; and He said: ‘Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel: I AM hath sent me unto you.’
What is the name that God reveals to Moshe?
Why does Moshe request a name?
What do you think this name means?
וַיְדַבֵּר אֱלֹהִים אֶל מֹשֶׁה וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו אֲנִי יְהוָה. וָאֵרָא אֶל אַבְרָהָם אֶל יִצְחָק וְאֶל יַעֲקֹב בְּאֵל שַׁדָּי וּשְׁמִי יְהוָה לֹא נוֹדַעְתִּי לָהֶם.
And God spoke unto Moses, and said unto him: ‘I am the LORD; and I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, as El Shadai (God Almighty), but by My name the Lord was not known to them.
אמר רבי אבא בר ממל: אמר ליה הקדוש ברוך הוא למשה: שמי אתה מבקש לידע, לפי מעשי אני נקרא. פעמים שאני נקרא באל שדי, בצבאות, באלהים, בה'.
כשאני דן את הבריות אני נקרא אלהים.
וכשאני עושה מלחמה ברשעים, אני נקרא צבאות.
וכשאני תולה על חטאיו של אדם, אני נקרא אל שדי.
וכשאני מרחם על עולמי, אני נקרא ה', שאין ה' אלא מדת רחמים, שנאמר (שמות לד, ו): ה' ה' אל רחום וחנון.
הוי, אהיה אשר אהיה, אני נקרא, לפי מעשי.
(Shmot Rabbah 3:6)
What does the text from Shmot Rabbah suggest is meant by the name "I AM THAT I AM" given in the source number one?
What is the new name given in verse 6:3?
What does Nechama Liebowitz Suggest is the meaning behind this second name?
God appeared to the Patriarchs as the Prime Mover behind all natural events. His miracles were apparent to them without recourse to violating the natural order. In times of famine He redeemed them from death and in war from the sword and provided them with wealth and honor and every good thing.... But the reward and punishment alluded to in the Torah in this world are in the nature of miracles, hidden ones which the onlookers regard as the workings of nature....God said to Moses: I appeared to the Patriarchs as One who assists His chosen ones through the might of my hand (but without violating nature). By My ineffable name expressing the essence of all existence (I AM THAT I AM) I was not known to them to introduce innovations changing the natural course of events. Therefore tell the Children of Israel that I am the Lord and let them know My great name (El Shaddai) through which I shall perform for them wonders that they may know that I am the Lord who does these things.
According to Ramban why was this new name, El Shaddai, revealed at this moment in the story of Israel?
Why now, when the Israelites are in slavery, does God reveal a new name that suggests that God is a "fulfiller of promises"?"I appeared unto Abraham": Said the Holy One blessed be He to Moses: Alas for those who are gone, never to be replaced (in reference to the Patriarchs)! Many times I revealed myself to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as God Almighty (El Shadai), but I did not make known to them that My name is the lord as I have told thee and they did not question my ways. I said to Abraham: (Gen 13) "Arise and go forth in the land the length and breadth...for to thee shall I give it" - He sought to bury Sarah and did not find where, until he purchased a place with money - yet he did not question my ways." I said to Isaac (Gen 26): "Dwell in this land...for to thee and thy seed shall I give all these lands" - He sought to drink water and did not find, "And the shepherds of Gerar strove with the shepherds of Isaac" - yet he did not question my ways. I said unto Jacob (Gen 29): "The land which thouh liest on, to thee will I give it and unto thy seed" - He sought a place to pitch his tent and did not find until he acquired it for a hundred kesitah - yet he did not question my ways, and did not ask Me what was My name as you have asked....
Why does this text keep repeating "yet he did not question my ways"?
What is this midrash suggesting about how God views Moshe's asking for a name?