"Ehyeh asher ehyeh (I will be what I will be),"

[JeffB]

Hello and thank you for allowing me to this forum. I am not versed in Hebrew so I ask that your responses will be easy for me to understand as I learn from you.

I have just started studying Shemot (I'm assuming this is Hebrew for Exodus?) and I have many questions. I do have a commentary on the Torah from Ramban Nachmanides and it has lended great insight into Holy Scripture.

So here are my questions. I have read what Ramban has to say on Ehyeh asher ehyeh (Shemot 3:14) but I feel that I am missing a piece as it relates to yud-hey-vav-hey, or vav-hey to be more precise. If somebody could explain this better I would so greatly appreciate your time.

Perhaps a better place to start though might be in verse 13, " 'What is His name?' what shall I say to them?""

My question here is, why would the elders ask Moses what G-d's name is?

I may not be able to check any responses until Monday, so thank you in advance!

Jeff

[ImAGoy]

Hi JeffB, ImAGoy, and I have some insight into what you ask. I have sat at the feet of a young Rabbi who was a direct student of the Rebbe Menachem Schneerson, and he taught me that HaShem's name (I am what I am), started at the beginning of the Torah and was a very long name that ended with the last words of Moshe. The Torah PROCLAMINED HaShem. Everything that HaShem is, is revealed in the Torah. I am on moderation, so this post may not be allowed, but if it is, I will continue to give some insight about HaShem. Blessings in The Name, ImAGoy.

[JeffB]

Hello ImAGoy,
Thank you kindly for your reply. It is not my wish or desire that you would be repremended for your reply as I do not know why you were put on moderation. As such, I pray that HaShem will guide your tongue accordingly.

I have noticed that in Genesis 1, G-d is called Elokim and when I read Genesis 1, I see that G-d Speaks (hei) and it is done. From this, I get the idea that Elokim is creator, and he creates by speaking (hei)

In Genesis 2, we see G-d's name, yud-hei-vav-hei (to which I do not fully understand) and ironically, we see for the first time in Holy Scripture where HaShem says that something is "Not Good" in relation to His Creation. We are refering to Adam not having a helper. Adam goes about his work rightly naming the animals in relation to creation and in relation to Hasheem and thus experiences suffering as he realizes that he does not have a helper. After Adam realizes this, Hashem remedies Adams suffering by giving him Eve, and they are one as Adam rightly says, "bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh".

It occured to me then, that if Elokim creates, then yud-hei-vav-hei interacts with his creation through grace and mercy.

As I read Genesis in light of the Ramban's comentary from Shemot 6:2, I began to realized that it was El Shaddai who made the promises to Abraham, and that Abraham's faith, as well as the faith of Isaac and Jacob, as well as the whole faith of those in oppression within Egypt held strong in their faith and believed that El Shaddai could and would do what he promised.

And this brings me back to Ehyeh asher ehyeh. (I will be that which I will be). I don't understand this. I have been told, and I have read that this is to mean that G-d is eternal, ever present without beginning and without end and if this is so, how is this a proper response to the Elders who would ask what HaShem's name is (Shemot 3:13)?

As I was writing this, a though just occured to me. Please, affirm or correct my words as needed either now, or what I have written above. As Adam experienced suffering, Israel also cried out to G-d because of their suffering. Was the ehyer asher ehyeh a reply to the elders a sign that G-d would destroy the gods of Egypt and set them free?

Thank you,
Jeff

[MahTovChelkeinu]

Jeff - You are asking good questions and doing good learning. I might suggest reading the commentary of Rashi as you go through Chumash because he tends to answer a lot of the basic questions whereas Ramban will get into more advanced discussions (but don't stop learning Ramban). Rashi discusses your questions about the different names in the fifth chapter of Shemos. His commentary to the entire Tanach is available in English at this link: http://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/9867

On the subject, www.Chabad.org will probably have a lot of good resources for you. So will www.askmoses.com

To answer one side question you asked - Shemos means "Names" in English, as in the verse "And these are the names of the songs of Israel who came to Egypt," which starts the book.

[JeffB]

Thank you to the reference to chabad.org. I was given that site when I was given reference to Ramban. Generally Ramban includes Rashi, so I has stopped looking at Rashi online. I'll start crossing what's online with what's included in Ramban.

Also, thank you for clarification on Shemos, that is a big help and reminds me never to assume. BTW, why Shemos and not Shemot or Shemoth? Oooy,

Chabad.org is a huge site and I have been reading articles frequently. I especially enjoy kabbala toons if that gives you more of an indication of where I am at in regard to studying Torah. If by chance you find anything that relates to my questions online, please post.

I will also visit askmoses.

One last thing if I may ask. What is Chumash?

Thank you,
Jeff

[MahTovChelkeinu]

Thank you to the reference to chabad.org. I was given that site when I was given reference to Ramban. Generally Ramban includes Rashi, so I has stopped looking at Rashi online. I'll start crossing what's online with what's included in Ramban.

Rambam frequently brings Rashi, but he does not bring every Rashi. There are plenty of important ones that he does not mention.

Also, thank you for clarification on Shemos, that is a big help and reminds me never to assume. BTW, why Shemos and not Shemot or Shemoth? Oooy,

The letter "sof" in Hebrew is pronounced by Ashkenazim as "Sof" and by Sefardim as "Tof." Some Yemenites pronounce it as "Thof" and that is regarded as the most correct by linguists - so the letter sof is often written in English as "Th." One example is the name "Nathan" which comes from the Hebrew letters Nun Sof Nun or "N" "Th" "N."

One last thing if I may ask. What is Chumash?

Comes from the word Chamesh, which is Hebrew for the number five. Refers to the five books of Moses, also known as the Torah or the Pentateuch, etc.

[JeffB]

MahTovChelkeinu,
I was coming back to this topic for a fresh look (it's good to come back to a subject one struggles with at a later time) and I realized that I did not say thank you for your help.
Thanks you!

Jeff