We all know the story of Moses striking down the Egyptian taskmaster to save a Hebrew slave. But what happens next? The Book of Jubilees, a text considered canonical by some but excluded from the Hebrew Bible, gives us a glimpse. It expands on the biblical narrative, filling in gaps and offering a unique perspective on familiar events.
So, Moses, fresh off his act of righteous anger, finds himself in a tight spot. As the Book of Jubilees 48 tells us, he's confronted by someone who challenges his authority. "Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? Thinkest thou to kill me as thou killedst the Egyptian yesterday?" Ouch. Talk about calling someone out!
These words, dripping with accusation and fear, send Moses reeling. Can you imagine the weight of that accusation? The realization that his actions, however justified in his own mind, have made him a marked man?
The text tells us, "And thou didst fear and flee on account of these words." Fear. It's a powerful motivator. And in this moment, it drives Moses to abandon his people and seek refuge.
The Book of Jubilees then matter-of-factly states: "And in the sixth year of the third week of the forty-ninth jubilee thou didst depart and dwell in the land of Midian five weeks and one year." A little over a year in the wilderness. It's almost glossed over, but think about what that year represents. A year of isolation. A year of reflection. A year of preparation, perhaps, for the monumental task that awaits him.
The idea of teshuvah, repentance and return, is central to Jewish thought. Could this period in Midian be seen as Moses' own personal teshuvah? A time to confront his actions and prepare himself for leadership?
It's easy to focus on Moses as this larger-than-life figure, the lawgiver, the prophet. But passages like this in the Book of Jubilees remind us that he was also a man. A man capable of anger, fear, and doubt. A man who, like us, had to grapple with the consequences of his choices.
And maybe, just maybe, that's what makes his story so enduring. Because in Moses' journey, with all its triumphs and failures, we see a reflection of our own.