We all know the story of the Exodus, the burning bush, the parting of the Red Sea. But what about the years leading up to that moment? The Book of Jasher, an ancient Hebrew text of uncertain origin referenced in the Bible itself (Joshua 10:13 and 2 Samuel 1:18), offers some fascinating glimpses. Let's dive into Chapter 71 and explore one dramatic episode.
According to Jasher, Moses was eighteen years old and living in Pharaoh's house when he decided to visit his parents in Goshen. When he arrived, he witnessed the brutal reality of his people's enslavement. He saw an Egyptian taskmaster beating a Hebrew man. And not just any beating, but a brutal act following a terrible offense. As the text tells it, the Egyptian had violated the man's wife. This detail adds a layer of complexity and horror to the scene, doesn't it?
The Hebrew man, recognizing Moses and knowing his respected position in Pharaoh’s court, cried out for help. Moses, witnessing this injustice, was filled with righteous anger. He looked around, saw no one who could stop him, and smote the Egyptian, hiding the body in the sand.
Now, this is a pivotal moment. Was it justified? Was it rash? The text doesn't judge, it simply states what happened. The Hebrew man, however, was deeply troubled. He considered divorcing his wife, because "it was not right in the house of Jacob, for any man to come to his wife after she had been defiled." This shows us the deep moral code and sense of family honor that was present even in the face of immense suffering.
The woman, in turn, told her brothers what had happened, and they sought to kill the man. Talk about a spiral of violence! The man fled, and the next day, Moses went out again to his brethren. This time, he saw two Hebrew men fighting. He intervened, asking the aggressor why he was striking his neighbor.
The response he received was not what he expected. "Who has set thee for a prince and judge over us?" the man retorted. "Dost thou think to slay me as thou didst slay the Egyptian?" The secret was out. Moses's act was no longer hidden.
And here's where things get really interesting. Pharaoh, upon hearing of Moses's deed, ordered him to be killed. But, as we find so often in these stories, divine intervention changes everything. According to Jasher, God sent an angel who appeared to Pharaoh in the guise of a captain of the guard. The angel then, in a dramatic flourish, took the captain's sword and beheaded him, all while miraculously transforming the captain's likeness into that of Moses!
Then, the angel grabbed Moses's hand and whisked him away, depositing him far beyond the borders of Egypt – a journey of forty days, no less! It's like something out of a superhero movie, isn't it?
Meanwhile, back in Egypt, Aaron, Moses's brother, was left to prophesy to the Israelites. He urged them to reject the idolatry of Egypt. "Thus says the Lord God of your ancestors, Throw away, each man, the abominations of his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt." But the people, alas, didn't listen. As Jasher tells it, the children of Israel rebelled and wouldn't hearken to Aaron at that time.
God, in his anger, considered destroying them all. Only the memory of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob stayed his hand. As we find in numerous places like the Mishnah and Midrash, the covenant between God and the Jewish people is a central theme.
Pharaoh's oppression continued to worsen, crushing the Israelites until God finally took notice and sent forth his word.
So, what do we make of this story? It's a thrilling tale of violence, divine intervention, and moral dilemmas. It shows us a young Moses, wrestling with his identity and his responsibility to his people. It highlights the internal conflicts within the Israelite community, even as they suffered under Egyptian rule. And it reminds us that even in the darkest of times, the covenant between God and his people remains a powerful force. It's a reminder that even before the burning bush, before the plagues, before the Exodus, there was a story unfolding, full of human drama and divine purpose. What do you think?