We know he didn't exactly stroll into the afterlife. He ascended, shrouded in mystery. But what about the forces of darkness? Did they just sit back and let it happen?
Not according to some stories.
The tale goes that Samael – often identified as the angel of death, a complex figure who is sometimes seen as an adversary – was determined to find Moses after his passing. According to Legends of the Jews, Samael, in his pursuit, "hastened to Paradise," eager to confront Moses or perhaps claim his soul.
Imagine the scene: Samael, powerful and imposing, arrives at the very gates of Gan Eden, Paradise itself. But the angelic gatekeepers were having none of it. "Wicked one! Wicked one!" they cried, quoting Psalm 118:20, "’This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter into it.’" He was barred from entry, deemed unworthy to pass through those sacred portals.
Undeterred, Samael tries a different tactic. He flies over the gates – talk about trying to find a loophole! – and asks Paradise itself, "Hast thou perchance seen Moses?" Now, Paradise isn't just a place, but almost a sentient entity in these stories. Paradise responds, "Since in Gabriel's company he visited me to look upon the reward of the pious, I have not seen him." Moses had been there, but he was gone now.
So, where does Samael go next? He heads for the Etz Chaim, the Tree of Life. But even from a distance of three hundred parasangs (an ancient unit of distance), the Tree cries out, "Approach me not." It's a clear rejection. Again, Samael tries to weasel information: "Hast thou seen the son of Amram?" The Tree replies, "Since the day on which he came to me to cut him a staff, I have not seen him." This refers back to Moses' staff, a symbol of his authority and divine connection, a staff that performed miracles during the Exodus.
What does this all tell us? Maybe it speaks to the unique status of Moses. Even in death, the forces of darkness couldn't touch him. He was protected, elevated, beyond their reach. Or perhaps it's a reminder that even the most powerful beings are bound by certain rules and limitations. Samael couldn't simply barge into Paradise or approach the Tree of Life without permission.
These stories, found in works like Ginzberg's Legends of the Jews, aren't just historical accounts. They're imaginative explorations of faith, morality, and the eternal struggle between good and evil. They invite us to ponder the mysteries of life, death, and the ultimate destiny of the righteous.