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1. The Little Goat

A father buys a goat for two zuzim.

2. The Cat

A cat comes and eats the goat.

3. The Dog

A dog comes and bites the cat.

4. The Stick

A stick beats the dog.

5. The Fire

The fire burns the stick.

6. The Water

The water extinguishes the fire.

7. The Ox

The ox comes and drinks the water.

8. The Butcher

The butcher kills the ox.

9. The Angel of Death

The angel comes to kill the butcher.

10. God

God then comes and exiles the Angel of Death.

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The poem shows Mount Zion's sacredness, which is similar to Moses' encounter with God at the burning bush on Mount Sinai. This allusion shows sacred spaces and duality in nature: they are sites of divine connection but also witness human struggles. The shepherd’s search for his goat symbolizes the ongoing quest for meaning and belonging with the divine.

"And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly." Exodus 19:18 KJV

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The shared setting of Mount Zion sheds light on Isaac and Ishmael, whose descendants are Jews and Arabs. This allusion reflects on these groups' shared ancestry and historical divisions, emphasizing the possibility of unity despite cultural and political conflicts. The shepherd and narrator's coexistence on the same mountain shows hope for reconciliation.

"And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre;" Genesis 25:9 KJV

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The story of Abraham’s near-sacrifice of Isaac resonates with the shepherd’s search for his goat, representing devotion and perseverance. Amichai reimagines this to highlight universal human emotions and resilience going above cultural and religious boundaries. The image of searching and safeguarding reflects a shared human experience of cherishing what is most precious.

"And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am." Genesis 22:1 KJV