Moshe Moshe By Reuben Kaminetzky (‘25)
2023/5783
In Parashat Shemot, Hashem calls out to Moshe twice at the burning bush. There are other times when Hashem calls out to a Navi and calls their name twice. Some examples are Avraham Avinu, Yaakov Avinu, and Shmuel HaNavi. However, in the case of Moshe the Ta’amei HaMikra are different. Here there is no Pesik, a line indicating a pause in the Pasuk, while in the other cases, there is a Pesik between two names, indicating a pause. Many Mefarshim ask why there is no Pesik here.
The Ohr HaChaim explains that Moshe Rabbeinu was a Navi from birth, and immediately recognized that Hashem was speaking to him, and therefore, a pause is not needed. Malbim similarly explains that Moshe was not like any other Navi as the Pasuk says “לֹא־כֵ֖ן עַבְדִּ֣י מֹשֶׁ֑ה בְּכׇל־בֵּיתִ֖י נֶאֱמָ֥ן הֽוּא פֶּ֣ה אֶל־פֶּ֞ה אֲדַבֶּר־בּ֗וֹ” (BeMidbar 12:7-8). This Pasuk means that Hashem spoke to Moshe differently than any other Navi. Other Nevi’im needed to prepare, but Hashem could speak to Moshe without his preparation. With the other Nevi’im, the Pesik shows the pause needed before the Navi could receive Nevu’ah from Hashem. Since Moshe didn’t need to prepare, there is no need for a Pesik in the Pasuk.
Another explanation is offered by Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik. He explained that regarding Moshe Rabbeinu there was a sense of urgency. Hashem needed someone who would lead the Jewish People, and Hashem repeated Moshe’s name because he needed Moshe to quickly save Bnei Yisrael. This situation can be compared to a house that is on fire. You will call someone repeatedly without pausing to wake them up and get them out of the house. Since Hashem did not pause when calling Moshe, there is no Pesik. The absence of the Pesik reflects the urgent situation Bnei Yisrael was in.
The Ta’amei HaMikra teach us more than how to read the Torah; it helps explain what is omitted from the Pasuk. We can learn a lot just by paying attention to the Ta’amei HaMikra.