In Exodus 32-34 through a series of dialogues Moses persuades God to spare the Israelites
from destruction after they have made and worshipped a golden calf. The significance of this
passage was not lost on ancient interpreters. At the heart of their concerns was the
relationship between Moses and God as well as the extent to which the Divine could be swayed
by human reason and passion. For some the idea that God could be moved by human efforts was
welcome providing hope in difficult times. For others it was alarming after all God was not
only supposed to be all-powerful but immune to change. This book evaluates the ancient
reworkings of these dialogues - translations rewritten Bible Midrash and Targum - in light
of the difference in power and position between Moses and God and its influences on the form of
their communication.
