The Treatise of Mark (Mimar Marqe Book 2 Chapter 2)

A continuation in our series from John MacDonald's (1963) translation of the most important book in the Samaritan tradition after the Pentateuch. The central 'revelation' - not merely a midrash but a revelation given around the beginning of the second century - from which 'Samaritanism' itself is derived.

Ever commemorate well the great prophet Moses, who opened for us the Garden of Eden of the law, when for its sake he freed the tribes of Jacob, the sun of Isaac, the stars of Abraham who underwent misery during the third part - one hundred and forty years - of four hundred years, for four hundred years is their calculation. But at the end of the period they were to go forth as kings!

When they realized that the years were over, they sighed and cried out, seeking relief (Ex. ii. 23), and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob (Ex. ii. 24). Similarly the son of Lamech cried out after the passing of one hundred and fifty days (i.e. Noah cf. Gen. viiii. I. 3 but the tradition is not biblical), and God remembered him, the eighty year old prophesied the son of Amram, in His perfect intellect and His perfect knowledge.

There are three ultimates in his prophethood which revealed: the glorious name of the Lord; the miracle; the role of priest.

THREE TIMES they believed in the Lord are in Lord and in Moses, but they were in worthy in their belief.

The FIRST: when he performed three wonders in Egypt in the sight of them all, they believed, but they did not remain steadfast. No, they apostasized and said (to Moses and Aaron), "The Lord look upon you and judge." (Ex. v. 21; part Hebrew, part Targ.).

The SECOND: when they beheld the wonders which he did in Egypt, they did not believe, but apostasized whole-heartedly and said, "You have taken us away to die in the wilderness" (Ex. xiv. 11).

The THIRD: they saw more wonders in the Red Sea than they had ever seen, the like of which had never been produced.

Great are the holy congregation who went forth from the iron furnace, guided by the righteous prophet with mighty wonders to keep the perfect law, which descended from the holy habitation.