Parasha* Shemot Shabbat Quiz
Shemot: (Shemot/Exodus, 1:1 to 6:1)
Summary (to be read in tandem with the Quiz)
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Transition between the end of the generation of Jacob’s sons and the development of
Bnei Yisrael (the Children of Israel);
Pharaoh stirs up hatred against Bnei Yisrael;
Pharaoh commands the midwives to kill Jewish boys. The midwives show
outstanding courage;
Moses’ birth and development;
Moses identifies with the oppressed Bnei Yisrael. He kills an Egyptian taskmaster
and is then forced to flee;
Moses ends up in the land of Midian and gets married;
God decides that the time has arrived to start the Exodus process. God calls to Moses
at the burning bush to start Moses on his mission;
After dialogue between God and Moses, Moses starts on his mission and returns to
Egypt;
Moses’ wife circumcises their son;
Moses and his brother Aaron approach Pharaoh. They are rebuffed and the slavery
intensifies;
The Jews complain to Moses and Aaron. Moses turns to God who reassures Moses
that He will deal with Pharaoh’s objections so that Bnei Yisrael will leave Egypt. For
how, see next week’s Parasha, Vaera!
Quiz
If you want to look up the answers in a Chumash (Pentateuch), you will find the relevant
chapter and verse references after each question.
1. What were the names of the two Hebrew midwives who Pharaoh instructed to kill the first
born Hebrew boys? (1:15)
2. What was the basket in which Moses was placed in covered with? (2:3)
3. Where did Moses flee after Pharaoh sought to kill him? (2:15)
4. What was the name of Moses’ wife? (2:21)
5. Why did Moses hide his face from the burning bush? (3:6)
6. The land that God promised Moses he would take the Hebrews to was flowing with what
two things? (3:8)
7. What actions did God say he would take to force the Egyptians to finally set the Hebrews
free? (3:20)
8. What did Moses’ staff turn into after he threw it on the ground? (4:3)
9. What did Moses’ Father in Law Jethro say to Moses before he returned to Egypt? (4:18)
10. Moses and Aron asked Pharoah to allow the Hebrews’ to go on a journey in the
wilderness to bring offerings to God. How many days was the journey supposed to last? (5:3)
*Parasha (aka “Parashat Hashavua” – weekly reading – or “Sidra”) means a
“section”. It is normally used to refer to the weekly Torah reading in the annual
cycle. The word “Parasha” also refers to a paragraph in the Sefer Torah.
Answers: 1) Shifrah & Puah 2) Clay & Pitch 3) Midian 4) Zipporah 5) He was afraid to stare
at God 6) Milk & Honey 7) God would stretch out his hand and strike Egypt with all his
wonders 8) A Snake 9) “Go in peace” 10) Three days