"What! Is our sorrow not great enough, burdened as we are by those who have suffered in Egypt from the very beginning? Must you add more to the land?"
Can you imagine Aaron saying this to Moses? It's a powerful moment, fraught with emotion, and it speaks volumes about the burdens they both carried.
Moses, ever the thoughtful leader, recognized the truth in Aaron's words. Ginzberg, in his Legends of the Jews, tells us that Moses then made a difficult decision. He sent his wife, Zipporah, and his sons back to his father-in-law, Jethro. He understood the weight of his mission and the sacrifices it demanded, not just of himself, but of his family.
But the story doesn't end there.
What I find truly remarkable is the magnanimity displayed by both brothers. Aaron felt no envy toward Moses, despite the younger brother's elevated status and divine commission. And Moses, in turn, didn't hoard the sacred knowledge he had received.
Immediately after his meeting with Aaron, Moses shared everything that God had taught him. Even the most awe-inspiring secret of the Shem HaMeforash (שם המפורש), the Ineffable Name of God, which had been revealed to him on Mount Horeb, was shared with his brother.
Think about that for a moment. The very name of God, the key to unlocking unimaginable power and understanding, entrusted to another. It speaks volumes about the bond between these two men, their mutual respect, and their shared commitment to the monumental task that lay before them. It's a reminder that even amidst the grand sweep of biblical events, the most powerful stories often lie in the quiet moments of human connection and selfless sharing. What does it mean for us to share our own gifts, our own Shem HaMeforash, with those around us?