Chloe Adams
Where was Moses when the candle went out? is a riddle that appears in James Joyce's Ulysses and Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The riddle is nonsensical and is set up for a jokey answer: in the dark. The joke is similar in nature to Why did the chicken cross the road? in that it suggests a profound answer but only has a banal one. The riddle also appears in the form of a song, with sexual resonances, and in a Victorian-era version. The riddle may also allude to the biblical Moses, who would have been in the dark when his candle went out, as there were no electric lights when he lived.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of reference | Joke, riddle, idiom |
| Answer | Moses was in the dark |
| Reference to | Biblical Moses, death, electricity, ignorance |
| Appearances | Ulysses by James Joyce, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Singin' in the Rain, Victorian-era song |
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What You'll Learn
The joke and its origins
The joke "Where was Moses when the candle went out?" is a nonsensical riddle with a banal answer. The answer to the riddle is "in the dark", referring to the biblical Moses, who would have been surrounded by darkness when his candle went out. The joke is similar in nature to "Why did the chicken cross the road?" in that it suggests a learned answer but only has a simple, obvious answer.
The riddle appears in James Joyce's Ulysses (1922), where Leopold Bloom finally finds the answer to the riddle after 30 years of pondering. The joke also appears in Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884), where a character named Buck asks Huck the riddle, and Huck is unable to answer. The riddle also appears in a Victorian-era song, where it is sung by a man remembering his childhood.
The joke has been interpreted in various ways, including as a reference to Moses' death, as a sexual innuendo, and as a metaphor for infinity, prophecy, and ethics. The joke has been analysed in relation to Baruch Spinoza, a philosopher mentioned in Ulysses, and his concept of the infinite void.
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The riddle and its answer
The riddle, "Where was Moses when the candle went out?" is a nonsensical joke with no relation to the biblical figure of Moses. The answer to the riddle is "in the dark". The joke is referenced in Ulysses by James Joyce, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and in a song from the Victorian era.
The riddle appears in Ulysses as one of three "enigmas" that Bloom ponders as he prepares to enter his marital bedroom. The answer to the riddle is self-evident, but Bloom takes 30 years to figure it out. The joke is on him, as he appears no better than the slow-witted Huck from Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, who is also stumped by the riddle.
The riddle is also referenced in a song from the Victorian era, which is sung by a young man in Ulysses. The song evokes sadomasochistic and sexual memories for the young man. The young man sings the song to a new woman he meets, and he eventually marries her. They have six sons together, who sing the song when their father puts out the light at bedtime.
The riddle may also allude to the biblical story of Moses and the burning bush in the Book of Exodus. In this story, Moses encounters a bush that is on fire but is not consumed by the flames. God calls out to Moses from the bush, telling him to take off his sandals because he is on sacred ground. God reveals himself as "the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob". Moses hides his face and is then given the task of leading the Israelites out of Egypt and into Canaan. This story is also referenced in the Quran and the Baháʼí Faith.
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Biblical allusions
The phrase "where was Moses when the candle went out?" is a riddle that appears in James Joyce's 1922 novel, *Ulysses*. In the novel, the character Leopold Bloom ponders the riddle, which is nonsensical and sets the listener up for a jokey answer: "in the dark". The joke is that Moses, who lived long before the invention of electricity, would have been in darkness when his candle went out. The riddle has no relation to the death of Moses or the biblical Moses.
The riddle also appears in Mark Twain's *Adventures of Huckleberry Finn*, published in the UK in 1884. In the novel, Huck is asked the riddle and is flummoxed by it, despite his presence in a candle-lit cabin in the woods. The answer is then revealed to be "in the dark".
The riddle has been interpreted as having some sexual resonances relevant to Bloom's situation in *Ulysses*. It has also been suggested that the riddle is a reference to Baruch Spinoza, who is mentioned in the "Ithaca" episode of *Ulysses*.
The phrase "where was Moses when the candle went out?" may also allude to the biblical story of the burning bush, in which Moses encounters a bush that is on fire but is not consumed by the flames. In this story, Moses is told by God to take off his sandals as the ground is sacred. This story is recounted in the Jewish Torah, the biblical Old Testament, and Islamic scripture.
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The burning bush
The story of the burning bush is a significant event in the Jewish Torah, the Old Testament of the Bible, and Islamic scripture. It is described in the Book of Exodus, where Moses encounters a burning bush on Mount Horeb (also known as Mount Sinai).
According to the biblical narrative, Moses was tending Jethro's flocks when he came upon a peculiar sight: a bush that was engulfed in flames but was not consumed by them. Intrigued, Moses decided to investigate this unusual phenomenon. As he drew closer, he was instructed by a voice, later revealed to be God (Yahweh), to remove his sandals as he was standing on holy ground.
The voice from the burning bush identified itself as "the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." Overwhelmed by this encounter, Moses hid his face. In this sacred exchange, Yahweh revealed to Moses that he had been chosen to lead the Israelites out of their captivity in Egypt and into the Promised Land of Canaan.
In Islamic scripture, the Qur'an also mentions a similar encounter between Moses (Musa) and God. During Musa's journey to Egypt with his family, he noticed a fire and decided to investigate. Upon reaching the Valley of Tuwa, God called out to him from a tree, commanding him to remove his shoes and revealing his prophetic mission.
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Literary references
The phrase "where was Moses when the candle went out" is a reference to a traditional Jewish joke, which in turn draws on biblical narratives. The joke is often presented as a riddle, questioning Moses' whereabouts when a candle suddenly extinguishes. This humorous inquiry has sparked curiosity and inspired a range of interpretations and literary allusions.
The joke itself is not directly mentioned in the Bible, but it draws on two distinct biblical stories: Moses' encounter with the burning bush and his receipt of the Ten Commandments. The burning bush story, recounted in Exodus 3, describes Moses tending his father-in-law Jethro's flock in the Horeb region. He leads the flock beyond the desert to the mountain of God, where he encounters a bush ablaze but not consumed by the fire. This unusual sight captures Moses' attention, and God speaks to him from within the bush, marking the beginning of Moses' divine mission to liberate the Israelites from Egyptian bondage.
The second relevant biblical narrative involves Moses receiving the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, as recorded in Exodus 19 and 20. According to the account, Moses ascends Mount Sinai, and God delivers to him, in the presence of the Israelites, the Ten Commandments—a set of moral and religious laws central to Judaism. This event is significant as it establishes the ethical and spiritual foundation for the Israelite community.
In Jewish humor and folklore, the joke "where was Moses when the candle went out" combines these two biblical episodes. It suggests a playful connection between the unusual phenomenon of a burning entity (in this case, a candle) ceasing to burn and Moses' presence. The implication is that Moses may have been involved in a similar extraordinary event, perhaps encountering a divine presence or receiving divine revelations, akin to his experiences with the burning bush and the receipt of the Ten Commandments.
In literature, this joke has been alluded to or directly referenced in various forms. For example, it has been used in novels, short stories, and poetry to add a layer of humor or to make a subtle biblical allusion. By invoking this phrase, authors can introduce a sense of intrigue, suggest a character's connection to divine intervention, or simply add a touch of wit to their narratives. This phrase has also found its way into titles of literary works, often sparking curiosity and inviting readers to explore the potential connections between the story and the biblical narratives associated with Moses.
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Frequently asked questions
In the dark.
Yes, it is believed to be a reference to the biblical Moses, who would have been in the dark when the candle went out as there were no electric lights during the time he lived.
The phrase is a riddle, and riddles usually deliver a stupidly literal answer. However, some believe that the phrase has suggestive meanings and sexual resonances.
The phrase appears in James Joyce's Ulysses, published in 1922, and in Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, first published in the UK in 1884.
