We often focus on the golden calf or the complaints about manna, but there’s a lesser-known, much earlier event that, according to some traditions, cast a long shadow over the whole story.
It involves the tribe of Ephraim, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, and a premature attempt to leave Egypt way before Moses ever came on the scene.
According to Legends of the Jews, Louis Ginzberg's masterful compilation of rabbinic lore, the sons of Ephraim just couldn't wait for the promised redemption. Joseph, their ancestor, had made them promise – a solemn oath on his deathbed – that they wouldn't leave Egypt until the true redeemer appeared. He knew something they didn't.
But impatience, it seems, runs deep. They ignored Joseph's adjuration and decided to take matters into their own hands. They figured, "Why wait?" And they acted.
Talk about a disaster! This first, failed attempt to leave Egypt, according to the legends, actually led to more oppression for the Israelites. The Egyptians, understandably, tightened the screws, exercising even greater force and vigilance to keep them in their place.
But the tragedy of the Ephraimites didn't end there. Their rebellion was met with fierce resistance, and they suffered a devastating defeat. Thousands perished in battle near the city of Gath.
And here’s where the story takes a particularly grim turn. Their bodies were left unburied on the battlefield for many years. Imagine the dishonor, the shame.
Now, why did God lead the Israelites on such a circuitous route from Egypt to Canaan during the actual Exodus? Why the long way 'round? According to this tradition, it was to spare them from seeing the gruesome remains of the Ephraimites.
The sight of those rotting corpses, a constant reminder of their brethren's failed rebellion, might have been too much for the Israelites to bear. It could have crushed their courage, filled them with dread, and sent them scurrying back to the perceived safety of slavery.
Think about that for a moment. The Exodus wasn’t just about leaving Egypt; it was about mental and spiritual liberation, too. It was about building a nation free from the psychological chains of slavery. Seeing the consequences of that earlier failed attempt could have been too much.
So, the long and winding road through the desert? Maybe it wasn't just about testing their faith. Maybe it was also about protecting their hope. Protecting their belief in the possibility of redemption, even in the face of past failures.
It makes you wonder about the detours in our own lives, doesn't it? Maybe some of those unexpected turns are there to protect us from something we're not yet ready to face. Maybe they're giving us the space we need to grow strong enough for the journey ahead.