batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l24397-l24462
---
record_id: batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l24397-l24462
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
passage_locator:
label: CHAPTER XIX. / IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. / CHAPTER XX. / IN THE
NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.; lines 24397-24462
start: '24397'
end: '24462'
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: 'The passage recounts traditions and Qur''anic narration concerning Moses:
his journey near Mount Sinai, sight of fire at a mountain bush, the rod-serpent
sign, a childhood explanation for his speech impediment, his infant placement
in an ark on the river and return to his mother, his trials and selection by God,
and the command that he and his brother go mildly to Pharaoh with signs and demand
the release of the children of Israel.'
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: A commentary note says Moses departed from Midian with his family toward Egypt,
came to the valley of Towa where Mount Sinai stands, lost his way, and saw a fire
by a mountain burning in a green bush.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: A commentary note describes Moses' rod as useful for tending the flock, carrying
a water bottle, and supporting a garment for shade.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: A commentary note says the rod became a serpent that swelled to a prodigious
size.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: Moses is described as terrified when the serpent moved, but after God's words
he took it by the jaws.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: A commentary note explains Moses' speech impediment through a childhood test
involving a live coal and a ruby, in which he put the coal in his mouth and burned
his tongue.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: God says Moses' mother was instructed to put him into an ark and cast him
into the river, which would throw him onto the shore.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:7
text: God says an enemy of God and of Moses would take Moses and bring him up, and
that God bestowed love on Moses so he might be bred up under God's eye.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:8
text: Moses' sister offered to bring someone to nurse the child, and Moses was returned
to his mother so her mind might be eased.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:9
text: God says Moses slew a soul, was delivered from trouble, was proved by several
trials, dwelt among the inhabitants of Madian, and then came according to divine
decree.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:10
text: God says he has chosen Moses for himself and commands Moses and his brother
to go with God's signs and remember him.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:11
text: God commands Moses and his brother to go to Pharaoh because Pharaoh is excessively
impious and to speak mildly to him.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:12
text: Moses and his brother fear Pharaoh's violence, and God replies that he is
with them and will hear and see.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: obs:13
text: The commanded message to Pharaoh identifies Moses and his brother as messengers
of Pharaoh's Lord and asks Pharaoh to send the children of Israel with them.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: obs:14
text: The passage states that punishment will be inflicted on one who charges the
messengers with imposture and turns back.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
- id: obs:15
text: When Pharaoh asks who Moses' Lord is, Moses answers that the Lord creates
all things and directs them by providence.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:14
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Moses
description: Central figure who journeys near Sinai, receives signs, recalls infant
rescue, is chosen by God, and is sent to Pharaoh.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:12
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: God / LORD
description: Divine speaker who reveals instructions, protects Moses, chooses him,
gives signs, commands the mission to Pharaoh, and promises presence.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:11
- ev:14
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Moses' mother
description: Recipient of a revelation to place Moses in the ark and the mother
to whom Moses is later returned for nursing.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Moses' sister
description: Figure who offers to bring someone to nurse the child, leading to Moses'
return to his mother.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Pharaoh
description: Ruler described as excessively impious, feared for violence, and addressed
by Moses and his brother.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
- ev:12
- ev:14
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Moses' brother
description: Companion commanded to go with Moses to Pharaoh with God's signs.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:12
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Children of Israel
description: People whom Moses and his brother are commanded to ask Pharaoh to send
with them and not afflict.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Moses' wife
description: In the commentary, she gives birth to a son in the valley of Towa during
a dark snowy night.
role_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Shoaib or Jethro
description: Named in commentary as Moses' father-in-law who gave Moses leave to
visit his mother.
role_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
roles:
- id: role:1
label: chosen messenger
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: God says he has chosen Moses and commands him to go with signs to Pharaoh.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:12
- id: role:2
label: protected infant
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Moses is placed in an ark on the river, taken up, loved by God, and returned
to his mother.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: role:3
label: bearer of signs
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The passage connects Moses with divine signs and commentary describes the
rod-serpent sign.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:9
- ev:12
- id: role:4
label: divine protector and commissioner
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: God instructs, protects, chooses, sends Moses and his brother, and promises
to hear and see.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:9
- ev:11
- id: role:5
label: mother of exposed child
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: She is told to place Moses in the ark and later receives him back for nursing.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: role:6
label: mediating sister
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: She offers to bring a nurse for the child, enabling his return to his mother.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:7
label: impious ruler and opponent
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Pharaoh is called excessively impious, feared for violence, and receives
the demand to release Israel.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
- ev:12
- id: role:8
label: mission companion
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: God commands Moses and his brother to go with divine signs and address Pharaoh.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:12
- id: role:9
label: afflicted people to be released
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: The message to Pharaoh asks him to send the children of Israel with the messengers
and not afflict them.
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: fire at the mountain
literal_form: A fire seen by the side of a mountain, found burning in a green bush.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: mountain / Mount Sinai
literal_form: The valley of Towa, wherein Mount Sinai stands, and the mountain beside
the fire.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- mountain
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:3
label: green bush
literal_form: A green bush in which the fire is found burning.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:4
label: rod becoming serpent
literal_form: Moses' rod changes into a serpent that swells, moves, and is taken
by the jaws.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- serpent
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: sym:5
label: ark
literal_form: The ark into which Moses is placed before being cast into the river.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:6
label: river
literal_form: The river into which the ark is cast and which throws it onto the
shore.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:7
label: live coal and ruby
literal_form: Objects placed before the child Moses in the commentary's test of
discernment.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Journey to Sinai and sight of fire
summary: In commentary, Moses leaves Midian with his family, reaches the valley
of Towa near Mount Sinai, loses his way, and sees fire by a mountain in a green
bush.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:8
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Rod-serpent sign
summary: Commentary describes the rod's ordinary uses and its transformation into
a large serpent that frightens Moses before he takes it by the jaws.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:3
label: Childhood coal and ruby test
summary: A commentary note explains Moses' speech impediment through a test involving
a live coal and a ruby, after which he burns his tongue and is pardoned.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: Infant Moses in the ark
summary: God recalls revealing to Moses' mother that she should put him into an
ark and cast him into the river so he would be brought ashore and taken up.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: scene:5
label: Return to mother through sister's intervention
summary: Moses' sister offers to bring a nurse, and Moses is returned to his mother
to ease her distress.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: scene:6
label: Trials, selection, and commission
summary: God recalls Moses' killing of a soul, deliverance, trials, residence in
Madian, arrival by decree, and selection for a mission with his brother.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:6
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: scene:7
label: Mission to Pharaoh
summary: God sends Moses and his brother to Pharaoh, instructs them to speak mildly,
reassures them against fear, and gives them a message demanding release of the
children of Israel.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
- ev:12
- ev:13
- id: scene:8
label: Question about the Lord
summary: Pharaoh asks who Moses' Lord is, and Moses answers that the Lord creates
all things and directs them by providence.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:5
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:14
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Infant placed in ark on water and recovered
taxonomy_refs:
- ark_vessel
basis: The passage says Moses' mother was told to put him into an ark, cast him
into the river, and that the river would bring him to shore where he would be
taken up.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: The passage uses the word ark and river directly; broader comparative
implications are not inferred here.
- id: motif:2
label: Protected or divinely favored child
taxonomy_refs:
- miraculous_child
basis: God says he bestowed love on Moses, arranged that he be bred under God's
eye, and returned him to his mother through his sister's intervention.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage emphasizes divine protection and favor, but does not describe
a miraculous conception or birth for Moses.
- id: motif:3
label: Rod transformed into serpent
taxonomy_refs:
- serpent
basis: Commentary describes Moses' rod becoming a serpent of prodigious size, frightening
Moses before he takes it by the jaws.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: This extraction treats the serpent as a literal sign in the passage commentary,
not as an allegorical interpretation.
- id: motif:4
label: Divine commissioning of a messenger against an impious ruler
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: God chooses Moses, sends him and his brother with signs to Pharaoh, and instructs
them to speak mildly and demand release of the children of Israel.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:12
confidence: high
cautions: No available taxonomy family exactly names this commission pattern.
- id: motif:5
label: Trials before chosen mission
taxonomy_refs:
- initiation
basis: God says Moses was delivered from trouble, proved by several trials, dwelt
in Madian, came by decree, and was chosen.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
confidence: medium
cautions: The text mentions trials but does not present a formal initiation rite.
- id: motif:6
label: Punishment for rejecting divine messengers
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: The passage states that punishment is revealed for one who charges the messengers
with imposture and turns back.
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
confidence: high
cautions: The passage states the punishment generally and does not narrate its fulfillment
in this excerpt.
- id: motif:7
label: Theophanic fire at mountain
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Commentary says Moses sees fire by a mountain and finds it burning in a green
bush near Mount Sinai.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
confidence: medium
cautions: The excerpted lines provide commentary context for the fire and mountain,
but the available motif taxonomy has no exact theophany category.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The commentary explicitly identifies the coal-and-ruby childhood episode
explaining Moses' speech impediment as a Jewish story in altered form.
claim_level: same_motif
target: Jewish childhood story of Moses tested with a live coal and a ruby
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The claim rests on the commentator's note within the passage and does
not supply an independent Jewish source text beyond the cited reference.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 24397-24404
quote_or_summary: Commentary says Moses left Midian with his family toward Egypt,
reached the valley of Towa where Mount Sinai stands, his wife bore a son in a
dark snowy night, he lost his way and cattle, and saw fire by a mountain burning
in a green bush.
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 24407-24410
quote_or_summary: 'Commentary lists uses of Moses'' rod: driving away wild beasts
from the flock, carrying a water bottle, and holding up a garment for shade.'
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 24411-24412
quote_or_summary: Commentary says the transformed creature was at first no bigger
than the rod and afterward swelled to a prodigious size.
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 24413-24416
quote_or_summary: Commentary says Moses feared the serpent as it moved nimbly and
swallowed stones and trees, then recovered courage at God's words and took it
by the jaws.
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 24418-24427
quote_or_summary: 'Commentary explains Moses'' speech impediment through a childhood
episode before Pharaoh: a coal and ruby are set before him, he puts the coal in
his mouth, burns his tongue, and is pardoned; the note calls it a Jewish story
altered.'
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 24436-24440
quote_or_summary: God recalls revealing to Moses' mother to put him into the ark
and cast him into the river; the river would throw him on shore, an enemy would
take and raise him, and God bestowed love on him so he might be bred up under
God's eye.
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 24441-24443
quote_or_summary: Moses' sister asks whether she should bring someone to nurse the
child, and Moses is returned to his mother so her mind may be eased and not afflicted.
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 24443-24446
quote_or_summary: God says Moses slew a soul, was delivered from trouble, was proved
by several trials, dwelt among the inhabitants of Madian, and came according to
divine decree.
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 24446-24448
quote_or_summary: God says he has chosen Moses and commands him and his brother
to go with God's signs and not be negligent in remembering him.
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 24449-24451
quote_or_summary: God commands Moses and his brother to go to Pharaoh because he
is excessively impious and to speak mildly so he may consider or fear the threats.
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 24452-24454
quote_or_summary: Moses and his brother say they fear Pharaoh's violence or transgression;
God replies, 'Fear not,' and says he is with them, hearing and seeing.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized with brief public-domain phrase.
- id: ev:12
type: summary
locator: lines 24455-24459
quote_or_summary: God instructs them to tell Pharaoh they are messengers of his
Lord, to send the children of Israel with them, not afflict them, and that they
have come with a sign.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:13
type: summary
locator: lines 24460-24461
quote_or_summary: The passage says it has been revealed that punishment will be
inflicted on one who charges the messengers with imposture and turns back.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:14
type: summary
locator: lines 24461-24462
quote_or_summary: After Pharaoh asks who Moses' Lord is, Moses answers that the
Lord gives all things, creates them, and directs them by providence.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: medium
notes: Literal extraction is strong for major figures, objects, and scenes. Motif
assignments are limited to available taxonomy labels and kept cautious. The comparison
claim is based only on the passage's own commentator note.
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: |-
Only the supplied passage and metadata were used; commentary material and Qur'anic narration are both represented as passage evidence.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg__l24397-l24462
passage_sha256=c298fbd2ecd5674dcf4153a49d4b49fdef02340b14dbee8d63d1a32da4e6c9e0