batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l16504-l16585
---
record_id: batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l16504-l16585
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 16504-16585
start: '16504'
end: '16585'
translation: The Koran (Al-Qur'an)
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: Notes and translated verses recount signs associated with Moses, a contest
involving magicians' apparent serpents and Moses' rod-serpent, Pharaoh's threats
against believing magicians, renewed oppression of Moses' people, Moses' counsel
to rely on God, and punishments sent upon Pharaoh's people including scarcity,
flood, locusts, lice, frogs, and blood.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: A tradition says Moses' hand became extremely white and splendid when he drew
it from his bosom; the note also mentions a sign involving water turned into blood.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Arabian writers name several magicians and say many disciples attended them.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: The magicians used thick ropes and long pieces of wood contrived to move and
twist so that distant beholders took them for real serpents.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: A serpent associated with Moses swallowed the rods and cords, frightened the
assembly, and then became a rod in Moses' hand again.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: Sadr and Ghadr, described as brothers and sons of a dead magician, went to
their father's tomb, received advice from him, and learned that Moses and Aaron's
rod became a serpent and guarded them while they slept.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: Pharaoh accused the believing magicians of plotting in the city and threatened
to cut off hands and feet on opposite sides and crucify them.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:7
text: The magicians answered that they would return to their Lord, said vengeance
was taken because they believed in the Lord's signs, and prayed for patience and
to die Moslems.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:8
text: Chiefs of Pharaoh's people asked whether Pharaoh would let Moses and his people
go; Pharaoh answered that male children would be slain while females would be
allowed to live.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:9
text: Moses told his people to seek God's assistance and be patient, saying the
earth belongs to God and may be inherited by whom God pleases.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:10
text: The people of Pharaoh were punished with dearth and scarcity of fruits; when
evil befell them they attributed it to Moses and his companions.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:11
text: A flood, locusts, lice, frogs, and blood were sent as distinct miracles, but
the people behaved proudly and wickedly.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Moses
description: Prophetic figure associated with the white-hand sign, the rod-serpent,
counsel to his people, and signs shown to Pharaoh's people.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:9
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: God / LORD
description: The divine being invoked by the believing magicians and by Moses; described
as owner of the earth and sender of punishments and miracles.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Pharaoh
description: Ruler who threatens the believing magicians and orders renewed killing
of male children among Moses' people.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Magicians
description: Performers who used ropes and wood to imitate serpents; some believe
after the signs and answer Pharaoh's threats with a prayer to the Lord.
role_refs:
- role:5
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Sadr and Ghadr
description: Two named magicians, brothers and sons of a dead magician, whose inquiry
about Moses' rod is described as a first step toward conversion.
role_refs:
- role:5
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Dead father of Sadr and Ghadr
description: A deceased magician who answers his sons at his tomb and gives a test
for distinguishing enchantment from divine power.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Aaron
description: Companion of Moses mentioned in the note where their rod becomes a
serpent and guards them while they sleep.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Moses' people
description: The people addressed by Moses, described as afflicted by the slaying
of male children and counseled to patience.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Chiefs of Pharaoh's people
description: Leaders who urge Pharaoh not to let Moses and his people go.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: People of Pharaoh
description: The group punished with dearth, scarcity, and later distinct miracles
including flood, locusts, lice, frogs, and blood.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
roles:
- id: role:1
label: sign-bearing prophet
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Moses is associated with miraculous signs including the white hand and rod-serpent.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- id: role:2
label: divine sender and ultimate owner
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The passage has believers appeal to the Lord, Moses state that the earth
is God's, and punishments/miracles come from God.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: role:3
label: oppressive ruler
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Pharaoh threatens mutilation and crucifixion and plans the killing of male
children.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: role:4
label: leader and counselor of afflicted people
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Moses tells his people to ask assistance of God and suffer patiently.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:5
label: magical practitioner
assigned_to:
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
basis: The passage identifies magicians and describes their enchantment or expertise.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: role:6
label: convert or believer under threat
assigned_to:
- fig:4
- fig:5
basis: The magicians believe in the Lord's signs and accept threatened punishment;
Sadr and Ghadr's inquiry is described as a first step toward conversion.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: role:7
label: dead adviser
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The father answers his sons from the tomb and gives them diagnostic advice.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:8
label: companion guarded during sleep
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Aaron is mentioned with Moses when the rod becomes a serpent and guards them
while they sleep.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:9
label: afflicted community
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: Moses' people state they were afflicted by the slaying of male children before
and after Moses came.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: role:10
label: royal counselors
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: The chiefs question Pharaoh about letting Moses and his people go.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:11
label: punished opponents
assigned_to:
- fig:10
basis: Pharaoh's people are punished with scarcity and distinct miracles.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: white hand sign
literal_form: Moses' hand becoming extremely white and splendid after being drawn
from his bosom
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: rod-serpent
literal_form: A rod becoming a serpent, swallowing rods and cords, and later returning
to a rod
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs:
- serpent
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: sym:3
label: false serpents of ropes and wood
literal_form: Thick ropes and long pieces of wood made to twist so that they appeared
to be serpents
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs:
- serpent
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:4
label: tomb consultation
literal_form: The tomb of the dead father where Sadr and Ghadr seek advice
associated_figures:
- fig:5
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:5
label: flood
literal_form: A flood sent among the distinct miracles against Pharaoh's people
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:10
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: sym:6
label: blood sign
literal_form: Water turned into blood is mentioned in the note; blood is also listed
among the distinct miracles
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:10
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:11
- id: sym:7
label: opposite-side mutilation and crucifixion
literal_form: Hands and feet cut off on opposite sides followed by crucifixion
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Signs and serpent contest
summary: Moses' signs are discussed; the magicians imitate serpents with ropes and
wood, while Moses' serpent consumes their rods and cords and returns to rod form.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:2
label: Brothers consult a dead father
summary: Sadr and Ghadr seek counsel at their father's tomb and are told to test
whether the rod-serpent acts while its masters sleep; they learn it guards Moses
and Aaron during sleep.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:3
label: Pharaoh threatens believing magicians
summary: Pharaoh accuses the magicians of plotting and threatens mutilation and
crucifixion; they answer that they return to their Lord and pray for patience
and faithful death.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: scene:4
label: Renewed oppression and Moses' counsel
summary: Pharaoh's chiefs object to letting Moses' people go; Pharaoh orders male
children slain, and Moses counsels his people to seek God's aid and wait for God
to grant inheritance of the earth.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:8
- fig:9
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: scene:5
label: Punishments on Pharaoh's people
summary: Pharaoh's people experience scarcity and then distinct miracles including
flood, locusts, lice, frogs, and blood, yet remain proud and wicked.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:10
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Serpent sign defeats magical imitation
taxonomy_refs:
- serpent
basis: The passage contrasts the magicians' apparent serpents made from ropes and
wood with Moses' serpent, which swallows their rods and cords.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The serpent material is in translator's notes and expository tradition
within the supplied passage, not only in the translated verse text.
- id: motif:2
label: Divine signs overcome enchantment
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The magicians' devices are described as contrived illusion, while the rod-serpent's
behavior leads some to judge it not to be enchantment but divine power.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: The phrase 'divine power' appears in the explanatory note, not as a formal
taxonomy term.
- id: motif:3
label: Believers threatened by tyrant accept martyrdom
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Pharaoh threatens mutilation and crucifixion, and the magicians respond that
they return to their Lord and pray for patience and faithful death.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: The passage does not narrate the actual execution within this range.
- id: motif:4
label: Divine judgment through plagues and scarcity
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: God punishes Pharaoh's people with dearth and scarcity and sends flood, locusts,
lice, frogs, and blood as distinct miracles after their refusal to believe.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
confidence: high
cautions: The passage frames these as warnings and miracles; broader plague-cycle
interpretation should be reviewed in context.
- id: motif:5
label: Afflicted people promised succession in the land
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Moses tells his afflicted people that the earth belongs to God and that God
may destroy their enemy and cause them to succeed him in the earth.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage states a possibility rather than narrating its fulfillment
in this range.
- id: motif:6
label: Dead ancestor or master gives counsel
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Sadr and Ghadr's dead father answers their call at his tomb and advises them
how to distinguish enchantment from divine power.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: This episode occurs in an explanatory tradition cited in the note, and
only two named magicians are involved.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The note explicitly connects Moses' hand sign and the water-to-blood sign
with Exodus iv. 8-9.
claim_level: same_motif
target: Exodus iv. 8-9
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The comparison is supplied by the translator's note; this extraction
does not verify the external Exodus passage.
- id: claim:2
claim: The note points readers to another Qur'anic account for the rope and serpent
episode.
claim_level: same_motif
target: Kor. c. 20
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The claim is limited to the cross-reference present in the passage
and does not compare wording outside the supplied text.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 16504-16514, note g
quote_or_summary: Moses' hand becomes extremely white and splendid; the note refers
to scriptural signs including water turned into blood and cites Exodus iv. 8-9.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 16515-16519, note h
quote_or_summary: Arabian writers name magicians including Simeon, Sadr and Ghadr,
Jaath and Mosfa, Warn and Zamn, with many disciples.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 16520-16524, note i
quote_or_summary: The magicians use thick ropes and long pieces of wood, contrived
to move and twist so distant spectators take them for true serpents; the note
points to Kor. c. 20.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 16525-16531, note k
quote_or_summary: The serpent swallows rods and cords, terrifies the assembly, and
is taken up by Moses, becoming a rod again; magicians say this cannot be enchantment
because their rods and cords disappeared.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 16532-16548, note l
quote_or_summary: Sadr and Ghadr consult their dead father at his tomb; he advises
testing whether the rod-serpent acts while its masters sleep; they learn the rod
becomes a serpent and guards Moses and Aaron while they sleep.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 16555-16561, verse 120
quote_or_summary: Pharaoh accuses the magicians of believing without permission
and plotting in the city, and threatens opposite-side amputation and crucifixion.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 16562-16566, verses 121-122
quote_or_summary: The magicians say they will return to their Lord, that Pharaoh's
vengeance is for their belief in the Lord's signs, and pray for patience and to
die Moslems.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 16567-16573
quote_or_summary: Chiefs ask whether Pharaoh will let Moses and his people go; Pharaoh
says their male children will be slain and females spared so that his side prevails.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 16574-16580
quote_or_summary: Moses tells his people to ask assistance of God and be patient;
the earth is God's and may be inherited by whom God pleases; he says God may destroy
their enemy and make them successors.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 16581-16584
quote_or_summary: Pharaoh's people are punished with dearth and scarcity of fruits;
they claim good as their own and attribute evil to Moses and his companions.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: lines 16585, verse 130
quote_or_summary: Flood, locusts, lice, frogs, and blood are sent as distinct miracles,
but the people remain proud and wicked.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: medium
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: medium
notes: Extraction is based only on the supplied line range, which mixes translated
Qur'anic verses with Sale's notes and cited exegetical traditions. Motifs from
notes are marked with cautions.
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: |-
All observations and motifs are limited to the supplied passage and available taxonomy references.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg__l16504-l16585
passage_sha256=534a25bdd227f35bd3f57729e4a282eecb874c509e8c146c0cf8f776f102eab4