14 myths
One of the delegates at the gate held a boy by the wrist. Rams, jars of oil, a firstborn son if that was the price. The boy was looking at the fire.
Moses made twelve logs of sacred oil in the wilderness. It anointed priests, vessels, and kings for centuries and never diminished by a drop.
Every time Aaron approached the altar as high priest, the shape of the Golden Calf appeared at its corner. Moses had to talk him through it each time.
Moses crossed the camp to tell his brother Aaron he would wear the High Priest's robes, and Aaron, who shunned distinctions, wept and said no.
Twelve tribal princes walked toward the Tabernacle, each carrying a silver plate, a silver bowl, a gold spoon. None weighed a feather more than another.
Moses bent to tunic each son of Aaron, painted blood on ear and thumb, and centuries later Simon still stood ringed by priests like willows at the brook.
Moses takes ram's blood to Aaron's right ear, thumb, and toe. Three bloods, three measures, one brother made high priest.
Before all Israel, Moses set fat and bread on Aaron's palms, waved them to the four directions, then took them back for the altar fire.
Moses set his own hands to the laver at the door of the Tent, and the water he poured over his brother paid for every Day of Atonement still unborn.
Balaam stacked seven altars and offered rivers of oil. Heaven wanted Israel's small gifts and Aaron's public priesthood.
The high priest wore twelve gemstones on his chest, each engraved with a tribe's name. When someone asked a question, letters glowed to spell the answer.
Not everyone wanted to leave Egypt. The midrash says four-fifths of Israel died during the plague of darkness, hidden so Egypt would not rejoice.
The Ark traveled three days ahead of the camp and burned the snakes out of the road. The gold cherubim on its lid had the faces of boys.
The Hebrew alphabet was etched across the garment, black fire on white fire. Adam saw from one end of the world to the other by it, until it was hidden away.
