The ancient texts are full of these brushes with oblivion, and the forces, both divine and human, that intervene. to a fascinating passage from Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a collection of stories and interpretations from the early Middle Ages. This particular section, Chapter 45, paints a vivid picture of divine wrath, angelic restraint, and the pivotal role of Moses.
The story begins with a dire situation. Because of the merit of the three patriarchs – Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – and the intervention of three specific angels, some of the forces of divine anger—Wrath, Anger, and Temper—were held back from harming Israel. But, alas, two remained: Destruction and Glow of Anger. Not good.
Moses, ever the advocate for his people, steps up to the plate, engaging in a direct dialogue with the Holy One, blessed be He. He pleads, "Sovereign of all the universe! For the sake of the oath which Thou didst swear unto them, keep back the angel Destruction from Israel." He's referring to an earlier divine promise, referencing the verse, "To whom thou swarest by thine own self" (implied, see Exodus 32:13). And, miraculously, Destruction was kept back. As the text points out, referencing Psalms 78:38, "But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not." A close call, averted by divine mercy and Moses's powerful intercession.
But what about that other angel, “Glow of Anger"? Moses doesn't stop there. Again, he speaks before the Holy One, blessed be He: "Sovereign of all worlds! For the sake of Thy great and holy Name, which Thou didst make known unto me, hold back from Israel the angel called Glow of Anger." He directly quotes God, reminding Him to "Turn away from thy fierce anger" (Exodus 32:12).
So what does Moses do next? This is where the story gets really interesting. He essentially performs a spiritual act of containment. He digs a large pit in the territory of Gad – almost like laying the foundation for a massive building – and he buries "Fierce Anger" within the earth, like a prisoner locked away. The text vividly describes that every time Israel sins, this buried anger rises, its mouth opening to unleash a destructive breath. But Moses, using the divine Name, forces it back down beneath the earth.
And here’s the kicker: This act, the text tells us, is the origin of the name Peor, meaning "the one who opens" – a reference to the opening mouth of the buried anger.
But the story doesn’t end with Moses's life. What happens when he's gone? When Moses died, the Holy One, blessed be He, placed his burial site directly opposite Peor. So now, every time Israel sins and that buried anger threatens to erupt, it sees the grave of Moses and retreats. The passage references Deuteronomy 34:6, "And he buried him in the valley, in the land of Moab, over against the house of Peor." The very presence of Moses, even in death, acts as a shield, a constant reminder of divine compassion and the power of intercession. It's a powerful image: the resting place of a leader, forever guarding his people from the consequences of their own actions.
What does this story tell us about ourselves? About the nature of anger, divine and human? About the power of leadership, both in life and beyond? Perhaps it’s a reminder that even when we stumble, even when we unleash our own inner "Glow of Anger," there is always the possibility of restraint, of forgiveness, and of protection – whether it comes from divine intervention, the memory of righteous leaders, or the strength of our own commitment to a better path.