There are entire books dedicated to filling in those gaps, offering tantalizing glimpses into the lives of our ancestors. One such book is the Book of Jasher, a work referenced in the Bible itself (Joshua 10:13; 2 Samuel 1:18), lending it an air of mystery and intrigue. Today, we're diving into Chapter 77, a passage brimming with hardship, divine remembrance, and a very special stick.
The story opens with Adikam, a young and, shall we say, aesthetically challenged Pharaoh. The text tells us that Adikam was only 20 years old when he ascended the throne in Egypt, four years after the Israelites arrived. While his father, Melol, reigned for 94 years, Adikam's rule was destined to be shorter. The text in Jasher points out that the Egyptians would call each Pharaoh, well, Pharaoh. It was a custom similar to calling every Caesar by that title, so the wise men nicknamed Adikam Ahuz, meaning "short" in Egyptian, possibly referencing his brief reign or, perhaps, his diminutive stature–described as being "a cubit and a span" tall with a beard reaching his feet!
But Adikam wasn't just short in stature; he was also short on compassion. He surpassed even his wicked father in cruelty, intensifying the Israelites' suffering. He personally oversaw their backbreaking labor in Goshen, demanding they meet impossible quotas and threatening dire consequences for failure.
What were these consequences? A horrifying decree: when the Israelites fell short of their daily brick quota, Pharaoh's taskmasters would seize their infants, forcibly removing them from their mothers' arms, and using them as… building materials. Can you imagine the sheer horror? The text paints a grim picture of parents weeping as their children were entombed alive within the very structures they were forced to build. Two hundred and seventy children were killed in this way.
The Israelites cried out to God, and the text explicitly states: "God heard the voice of the children of Israel and their cry, in those days, and God remembered to them his covenant which he had made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob." (Book of Jasher 77:24) This is a crucial moment. It's not just about suffering; it's about divine remembrance, a theme that resonates throughout Jewish history. God remembers the covenant.
Meanwhile, where is Moses in all of this? He’s languishing in a dungeon, imprisoned by Reuel, the Midianite. For ten long years, he’s been sustained in secret by Reuel's daughter, Zipporah, who provides him with food. After a decade, Zipporah convinces her father to check on Moses, reminding him of the power of the Hebrew God. "Surely thou hast heard that the God of the Hebrews is great and awful, and does wonders for them at all times," she says (Book of Jasher 77:32).
Reuel relents, and Moses is freed. He emerges, shaves, changes his clothes, and goes to the garden to pray. And it's here, in the garden, that things take a truly legendary turn.
Moses sees a sapphire stick planted in the ground. It’s no ordinary stick. Engraved upon it is the name of God. He reaches out, effortlessly plucks it from the earth, and suddenly possesses an object of immense power and history.
This stick, according to the Book of Jasher, is no less than the staff used by God in creation! It was held by Adam after his expulsion from Eden, passed down through generations to Noah, Shem, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jacob even took it by force from his brother Esau! It eventually came into the possession of Joseph, and then, somehow, ended up in the hands of Reuel the Midianite, who planted it in his garden.
Many tried to retrieve the staff, but none could.
The text explains that the staff remained planted in Reuel's garden until "he came who had a right to it." (Book of Jasher 77:50) When Reuel sees Moses holding the stick, he understands. He knows that Moses is destined for greatness, and he gives him his daughter Zipporah in marriage.
What are we to make of this chapter? It’s a blend of historical narrative, harrowing suffering, and fantastical elements. It underscores the brutality of slavery in Egypt, yet also offers a glimmer of hope through divine intervention and the enduring power of faith. The story of the sapphire stick adds a layer of mystique, connecting Moses to a lineage of patriarchs and bestowing upon him a tool of cosmic significance.
The Book of Jasher, while not part of the canonical Bible, provides a compelling narrative that enriches our understanding of the Exodus story. It reminds us that even in the darkest of times, hope can emerge, and that sometimes, the most extraordinary power can be found in the most unexpected places... like a sapphire stick planted in a garden.