batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l16406-l16502
---
record_id: batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l16406-l16502
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
passage_locator:
label: CHAPTER VI. / IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. / CHAPTER VII / IN THE
NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.; lines 16406-16502
start: '16406'
end: '16502'
translation: The Koran (Al-Qur'an), Sale translation
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: 'The passage warns that earlier cities rejected apostles and were punished
despite signs and covenant obligations. It then recounts Moses confronting Pharaoh
with signs: his rod becomes a serpent and his hand appears white. Pharaoh''s chiefs
call Moses a magician and summon magicians, who compete with him. By revelation
Moses throws down his rod, which swallows the false serpent-forms, and the magicians
prostrate themselves and profess belief in the Lord of Moses and Aaron.'
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The passage states that city inhabitants would have received blessings from
heaven and earth if they had believed and feared God, but they rejected apostles
and were punished for guilt.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The passage asks whether city inhabitants were secure from punishment arriving
by night while asleep or by day while sporting.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: The passage says God can afflict later inheritors of the earth for sins and
can seal up their hearts so that they do not hearken.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Moses is sent with signs to Pharaoh and his princes, and Moses identifies
himself as an apostle from the Lord of all creatures.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: Moses asks Pharaoh to send the children of Israel away with him.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: When Pharaoh asks Moses to produce a sign, Moses casts down his rod and it
becomes a visible serpent.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: Moses draws his hand from his bosom, and it appears white to the spectators.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: The chiefs of Pharaoh's people call Moses an expert magician and say that
he seeks to dispossess them of their land.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:9
text: The chiefs advise delaying Moses and his brother while summoning expert magicians
from the cities.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:10
text: The summoned magicians ask Pharaoh whether they will receive a reward if they
overcome, and Pharaoh promises reward and nearness to his throne.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:11
text: The magicians cast down their rods, enchant the eyes of the men present, terrify
them, and perform a great enchantment.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:12
text: By revelation, Moses is told to throw down his rod; it swallows the rods that
had falsely appeared changed into serpents.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:13
text: After the contest, truth is confirmed, Pharaoh and his magicians are overcome,
and the magicians prostrate themselves and profess belief in the Lord of Moses
and Aaron.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: God / the Lord of all creatures
description: The divine speaker and actor who sends apostles, gives signs, judges
cities, reveals instruction to Moses, and is named by the magicians as the Lord
of Moses and Aaron.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:9
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Inhabitants of the cities
description: People of earlier cities who rejected apostles, failed in covenant
observance, and were subject to punishment.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Apostles to the cities
description: Messengers who came to the cities with evident miracles and were charged
with falsehood.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Moses
description: An apostle sent to Pharaoh with signs; he casts down the rod, displays
the white hand, and is instructed by revelation during the contest.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:9
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Pharaoh
description: Ruler addressed by Moses; he demands a sign, receives advice from chiefs,
promises reward to magicians, and is overcome in the contest.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Pharaoh's princes and chiefs
description: Royal associates who treat Moses's signs unjustly and call Moses an
expert magician seeking to dispossess them.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:6
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Children of Israel
description: The people whom Moses asks Pharaoh to send away with him.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Summoned magicians
description: Expert magicians assembled for Pharaoh; they perform enchantment, are
overcome, prostrate themselves, and profess belief.
role_refs:
- role:8
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Aaron
description: Named with Moses in the magicians' confession; also alluded to as Moses's
brother by the chiefs.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:9
roles:
- id: role:1
label: divine judge and sender of signs
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: God sends apostles, punishes rejecting cities, seals hearts, sends Moses
with signs, and reveals the instruction to cast the rod.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:9
- id: role:2
label: warned and punished communities
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The city inhabitants reject apostles and are described as subject to divine
punishment and vengeance.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:3
label: apostolic messenger
assigned_to:
- fig:3
- fig:4
basis: The passage describes apostles sent to cities and Moses calling himself an
apostle from the Lord of all creatures.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: role:4
label: bearer of evident signs
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Moses produces the rod-serpent sign and the white-hand sign and receives
revelation during the contest.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:9
- id: role:5
label: opposing ruler
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Pharaoh demands a sign, receives counsel against Moses, rewards opposing
magicians, and is overcome.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: role:6
label: royal advisers and accusers
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The chiefs identify Moses as a magician, interpret his aim as dispossession,
and advise summoning magicians.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:7
label: people to be released
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Moses asks Pharaoh to send the children of Israel away with him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:8
label: rival wonder-workers
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: The magicians perform enchantment with rods before Moses throws his rod by
revelation.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: role:9
label: converts after defeat
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: After being overcome, the magicians prostrate themselves and confess belief
in the Lord of Moses and Aaron.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:10
label: brother and named prophetic associate
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: The chiefs mention Moses's brother, and the magicians name Aaron together
with Moses in their confession.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:9
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: rod becoming serpent
literal_form: Moses casts down his rod and it becomes a visible serpent.
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs:
- serpent
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:2
label: white hand sign
literal_form: Moses draws his hand from his bosom and it appears white to spectators.
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:3
label: false serpent-forms swallowed
literal_form: Moses's rod swallows the rods that the magicians caused falsely to
appear changed into serpents.
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs:
- serpent
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: sym:4
label: sealed hearts
literal_form: God seals up the hearts of unbelievers so that they do not hearken.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:5
label: prostration
literal_form: The magicians prostrate themselves in worship after the contest.
associated_figures:
- fig:8
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: sym:6
label: covenant not observed
literal_form: The greater part of the former peoples are said not to have observed
their covenant.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Warning from earlier cities
summary: The passage describes earlier city inhabitants who rejected apostles, failed
to heed evident miracles and covenant obligations, and were subject to divine
punishment.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Moses before Pharaoh
summary: 'Moses tells Pharaoh he is an apostle from the Lord, asks for the children
of Israel to be released, and produces signs: the rod becoming a serpent and the
white hand.'
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:3
label: Pharaoh's advisers summon magicians
summary: Pharaoh's chiefs call Moses a magician, warn that he seeks to dispossess
them, and advise delaying him while expert magicians are assembled.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:8
- fig:9
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: scene:4
label: Contest of rods and confession of the magicians
summary: The magicians perform enchantment with rods, Moses throws his rod by revelation,
the false serpent-forms are swallowed, Pharaoh's side is overcome, and the magicians
prostrate themselves and profess belief.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:8
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: divine judgment on rejecting communities
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: Earlier cities reject apostles and are punished; the passage warns that divine
punishment may arrive unexpectedly by night or day.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
confidence: high
cautions: The passage frames this explicitly as divine punishment; no further comparative
linkage is asserted.
- id: motif:2
label: broken covenant
taxonomy_refs:
- covenant
basis: The passage states that most of the former peoples did not observe their
covenant and were wicked doers.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
confidence: high
cautions: The covenant is mentioned briefly and not narrated in detail in this passage.
- id: motif:3
label: serpent sign from a prophet's rod
taxonomy_refs:
- serpent
basis: Moses's rod becomes a visible serpent before Pharaoh, and later his rod swallows
the serpent-forms produced by the magicians.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:9
confidence: high
cautions: The transformation is presented as a sign; the passage does not elaborate
an independent serpent myth beyond the contest.
- id: motif:4
label: miracle contest against magicians
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Pharaoh summons expert magicians; they enchant the spectators, but Moses's
revealed action defeats their false display and confirms the truth.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
confidence: high
cautions: No supplied taxonomy family precisely names this contest pattern.
- id: motif:5
label: release and departure of an oppressed people
taxonomy_refs:
- departure
basis: Moses asks Pharaoh to send the children of Israel away with him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
confidence: medium
cautions: The actual departure is requested but not narrated within this passage.
- id: motif:6
label: recognition and conversion after defeat
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: After the contest, the magicians are overcome, prostrate themselves, and
state belief in the Lord of Moses and Aaron.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage records the conversion gesture and speech but does not provide
later consequences here.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 16406-16417
quote_or_summary: If the city inhabitants had believed and feared God, blessings
would have opened from heaven and earth; because they charged apostles with falsehood,
punishment and vengeance came upon them, including the possibility of punishment
by night or day.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 16418-16431
quote_or_summary: 'Later inheritors are told that God can afflict them for sins
and seal their hearts. Stories of cities are introduced: apostles came with evident
miracles, but many rejected them; most did not observe their covenant and were
wicked doers.'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 16432-16439
quote_or_summary: Moses is sent with signs to Pharaoh and his princes; Moses says
he is an apostle from the Lord of all creatures and asks Pharaoh to send the children
of Israel away with him.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:4
type: quote
locator: lines 16439-16441
quote_or_summary: "“he cast down his rod; and behold, it became a visible serpent.”"
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation from supplied passage.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: after translator note f; subsequent passage lines within 16406-16502
quote_or_summary: Moses draws his hand from his bosom, and it appears white to the
spectators.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: after white-hand sign; subsequent passage lines within 16406-16502
quote_or_summary: Pharaoh's chiefs call Moses an expert magician, say he seeks to
dispossess them of their land, and advise delaying him and his brother while expert
magicians are brought from the cities.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: verse marker 110 within lines 16406-16502
quote_or_summary: The summoned magicians ask Pharaoh if they will receive a reward
if they overcome; Pharaoh says yes and promises that they will be near his throne.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: following verse marker 110 within lines 16406-16502
quote_or_summary: Moses lets the magicians cast first; when they cast, they enchant
the eyes of those present, terrify them, and perform a great enchantment.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: final lines of supplied passage, within 16406-16502
quote_or_summary: By revelation Moses is told to throw down his rod; it swallows
the rods falsely made to appear as serpents. Truth is confirmed, Pharaoh and the
magicians are overcome, and the magicians prostrate themselves and profess belief
in the Lord of Moses and Aaron.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Extraction is based only on the supplied Sale translation passage. Some line
subranges are approximate because the provided excerpt contains embedded footnotes
and verse markers. No external comparisons are asserted.
reviewer_status:
status: needs_review
reviewer: ''
reviewed_at: ''
notes: Machine-generated draft from OpenAI Batch; not human-reviewed.
extracted_by: openai_batch:gpt-5.5
extracted_at: '2026-04-28'
notes: |-
Translator footnotes were present in the supplied range, but the extraction prioritizes the main translated passage; no historical or folkloric claims from the notes were used as independent comparison evidence.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg__l16406-l16502
passage_sha256=d919eb7dea21c0d521ee1a06b91d13dfe169781b4220536bc1553fc409b5590f