We often think of the burning bush, the plagues, the parting of the Red Sea. But what about the years before all that?
Ginzberg, in his Legends of the Jews, paints a fascinating picture of Moses's early life, one filled with unexpected turns. He tells us that while fleeing Pharaoh, Moses found himself amidst a siege. Not just any siege, but one led by a king named Kikanos.
Can you imagine young Moses, fresh from the courts of Egypt, stumbling into a war camp? It’s a scene ripe with possibility. And according to the legends, Moses immediately captivated everyone he met. It wasn't just his lineage or his intellect. The text tells us he possessed an undeniable charisma. He was "slender like a palm-tree," radiating light "as the morning sun," and possessed "the strength equal to a lion's.” Quite the description, isn't it?
This magnetic presence wasn't lost on Kikanos. So taken was the king with Moses that he elevated him to commander-in-chief of his entire army! Think about that for a moment. A fugitive, a foreigner, suddenly in charge of a military force. It speaks volumes about Moses's inherent leadership qualities, even before he fully understood his destiny.
What kind of battles did he lead? What kind of strategies did he employ? The legends don't delve into those details here, but the implication is clear: this was a period of intense learning and growth for Moses. He was honing his skills, developing his confidence, and perhaps even grappling with the moral complexities of warfare – all experiences that would undoubtedly shape his leadership in the years to come.
The story takes a somber turn, though. After nine years, Kikanos succumbed to illness and passed away. His servants honored him in the traditional manner, embalming his body and constructing a magnificent memorial over his grave. On the walls of this structure, they inscribed all of Kikanos's mighty deeds and battles.
It makes you wonder, doesn't it? Was Moses's name among those inscribed? Did the people remember his contributions to Kikanos's reign? Did this experience of witnessing a king's rise and fall, of being intimately involved in matters of power and governance, impact Moses's understanding of leadership when he eventually led the Israelites? The Legends of the Jews offers us these glimpses, these tantalizing possibilities, reminding us that even the greatest figures have formative experiences that shape their path.