We know the story of the Exodus, the parting of the Red Sea, and the giving of the Torah at Sinai. But what about those missing years? Jewish tradition is filled with fascinating stories that fill in the gaps – stories that take us far beyond the familiar narrative.
One such tale, found in Ginzberg’s Legends of the Jews, tells of Moses becoming a king in Ethiopia. Imagine that!
According to the legend, word reached Aram and the "children of the East" that Kikanos, the King of Ethiopia, had passed away. Seeing an opportunity, these nations rose up in rebellion against the Ethiopians. But Moses, ever the leader, stepped forward. He gathered a mighty army and marched against these rebellious nations, subduing them first the "children of the East," and then Aram.
And so, Moses continued to flourish in his adopted kingdom. He ruled with justice, righteousness, and integrity. The people, in turn, loved and respected him. For forty years, he reigned as their king, a stranger in a strange land, yet a beacon of fairness and strength.
But the story doesn't end there. In the fortieth year of his reign, a challenge arose from within. Adoniah, the queen, seated before Moses on his throne, addressed the court. Her words, as recorded in Legends of the Jews, were a direct challenge to Moses's rule.
"What is this thing which you, the people of Ethiopia, have done these many days?" she questioned. "Surely you know that during the forty years this man hath reigned over you, he hath not approached me, nor hath he worshipped the gods of Ethiopia."
A tense moment, wouldn’t you say? The queen, it seems, had been watching, waiting. She continued, her voice ringing with conviction: "Now, therefore, let this man reign over you no more, for he is not of our flesh. Behold, Monarchos my son is grown up, let him reign over you. It is better for you to serve the son of your lord than a stranger, a slave of the king of Egypt."
Wow. After forty years of devoted service, Moses's position was suddenly precarious. The queen’s words cut to the heart of the matter: he was an outsider, a foreigner. Would the people remain loyal to their adopted king, or would they turn to their own, to the queen's son, Monarchos? What happens next? Well, that's a story for another time. But this glimpse into Moses's "lost years" reminds us that even the greatest figures in our tradition have complex, multifaceted stories. And that the themes of belonging, leadership, and loyalty are as relevant today as they were then.