The Book of Jasher, an ancient Hebrew text referenced in the Bible itself (Joshua 10:13 and 2 Samuel 1:18), fills in some of those gaps. It's like a behind-the-scenes look at the lives of biblical figures. Let's dive into Chapter 79 and explore a particularly rich segment of the Moses narrative.
The story picks up with Moses tending the flock of his father-in-law, Reuel, who is also called Jethro, beyond the wilderness of Sin. According to Jasher, the staff Moses carries isn't just any stick; it's specifically the one he received from Reuel. One day, a kid goat wanders off, and Moses, in pursuit, finds himself at Mount Horeb, the mountain of God. It's here that he encounters the burning bush, a sight that leaves him utterly astonished because, as the text emphasizes, "the fire had no power over the bush to consume it."
God speaks to Moses from the fire, commanding him to return to Egypt and free the Israelites. "Go, return to Egypt," God says, "for all those men who sought thy life are dead." He instructs Moses to perform signs and wonders to convince Pharaoh and his people that God has sent him. Moses, obedient, returns to Reuel, who blesses him, saying, "Go in peace."
Now, here's where things get really interesting. Moses, with his wife Zipporah and their sons, sets out for Egypt. They stop at an inn, and suddenly, an angel of God seeks to kill Moses. Why? Because Moses hadn't circumcised his firstborn son, thus violating the covenant God made with Abraham. The text tells us that Moses had listened to his father-in-law, Reuel, who had advised him against circumcising his son.
Zipporah, realizing the danger, acts swiftly. She takes a sharp rock, performs the circumcision herself, and saves her husband and son from the angel. This is a powerful, albeit brief, scene of female agency and quick thinking.
Meanwhile, in Egypt, Aaron, Moses' brother, is walking by the river. God appears to him and instructs him to go into the wilderness to meet Moses. Aaron obeys, meets Moses at the mountain of God, and kisses him. However, when Aaron sees Zipporah and her children, he's troubled. He questions Moses about them, and after hearing that they are his wife and sons given to him in Midian, Aaron suggests that Moses send them back to her father's house. Moses agrees, and Zipporah returns to Reuel with her children, remaining there until the Exodus. What does this say about the pressures and expectations on leaders and their families?
Moses and Aaron then journey to Egypt and gather the Israelite community, delivering God's message. The people rejoice. The next day, they go to Pharaoh's house, carrying the stick of God. The entrance to Pharaoh's palace is guarded by two lions restrained with iron. But when Moses raises his stick, the lions are released and, astonishingly, follow Moses and Aaron into the palace, behaving like joyful dogs.
Pharaoh, understandably terrified, asks their purpose. Moses and Aaron deliver God's demand: "Send forth my people that they may serve me." Pharaoh, shaken, dismisses them for the day but immediately summons his magicians, including Balaam, Jannes, and Jambres (we find these names echoed in other traditions, like the New Testament's 2 Timothy 3:8). The magicians are perplexed by how Moses and Aaron bypassed the lions.
Balaam suggests a test, proposing that Moses and Aaron demonstrate their power. The next morning, Moses and Aaron return to Pharaoh, reiterating God's command. Pharaoh demands a sign. Aaron throws down his rod, and it transforms into a serpent. Pharaoh's sorcerers mimic the feat. But Aaron's serpent swallows their serpents.
Balaam, ever the skeptic, dismisses this as a common trick, suggesting Aaron restore his rod, and they will do the same. If Aaron's rod then swallows theirs, they will concede divine power. The contest unfolds as Balaam describes, with Aaron's rod ultimately triumphing.
Pharaoh, unmoved, consults his records, seeking the name of God but finds nothing. He declares his ignorance of this God and refuses to release the Israelites. Moses and Aaron then explain God's power and might, His role as creator and sustainer, even of Pharaoh himself. This only angers Pharaoh further. He increases the severity of the Israelites' labor.
Moses, disheartened, turns to God, questioning why He has made things worse for His people. God assures Moses that Pharaoh will eventually release the Israelites, driven by overwhelming plagues. The chapter concludes with Moses and Aaron remaining among their brethren in Egypt, enduring the Egyptians' harsh treatment.
What a story! It's full of details that add depth and complexity to the familiar Exodus narrative. From the miraculous staff to Zipporah's courageous act to the showdown with Pharaoh's magicians, The Book of Jasher provides a fascinating glimpse into the world of Jewish folklore and the enduring power of these ancient stories. It reminds us that even the most well-known tales have untold layers waiting to be explored.