The Teachings of Mark (Mimar Marqe Book I 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.

The angel of the Lord was in the bush proclaiming, while Moses listened to him like a child paying attention to the words of his teacher. 'O great prophet Moses, illuminer of the whole family of mankind, turn from your present affairs. You are no longer as you were. Remove your shoes from your feet (Ex. iii.5), for you are required to tread this day on a holy path. Return the sheep which are in your charge to their owner, for you are about to govern the stars of Abraham."

We now set forth an important and reverent section dealing with divinity and prophethood.

Then He said, I am the God of your fathers (Ex iii.6 SP). Take from me divinity and with it make your prophethood strong. I am He who gave (new) life to Adam after his death and treated him with pity - when he said I heard the sound of Thee in the garden, and I was afraid and I hid myself (Gen iii.10 Targ) - for the second time, because it was necessary.

I delivered Enosh and made him an object of commemoration who will never be forgotten as long as the world lasts.
I saved Noah and formed of him a root, and I made him the inheritor of the world. I found him to be worthy of it.
I rescued Abraham and made of him a root, revealing to him a faith to teach his descendants after him.
I delivered Isaac through a ram and gave him three momentous blessings.
I saved Jacob from his brother and changed their enmity into love.
I rescued Joseph and dealt with him lovingly; I made all the people submit to him.

I kept you too in the river of Egypt, bringing you up safely in your enemies' house. You are the last of the world's Righteous. I wish to reveal through you their favoured status. By my goodness I established a covenant with their fathers, which I shall not forget as long as the world exists.

Their descendants have been living in Egypt so long, by reason of a command which Abraham disregarded in Ur of Chaldaea. I covenanted with him that he should go up as far as a certain boundary, but now the time has come for deliverance from distress. Be ready for me now! Be resolute to deliver for the Jubilee approaches. They (Israel) were pledged, and their crying-out has been reaching me along with their sighing. They have three great covenants, communicated through your good predecessors.

Surely I know about the anguish. Exact revenge on Pharaoh and all his people!
Surely I know about the distress. My viceregent is going down to Egypt secretly.
Surely I know about the distress. Go and destroy the assembly of the rebellious!
Surely I know about the anguish. It is not fitting that i should forget what my loved ones have done!
Surely I know about the anguish. The eyes of Abraham are between the lion and the lioness.
Surely I know about the distress. Sarah's offspring are in submission to an enemy.
Surely I know about the distress. The garden of Isaac is forsaken without a cultivator.
Surely I know about the anguish. The possession of Jacob is wasting and perishing away.
Surely I know about the anguish. The crown of Joseph is cast away and there is none to inherit it.
Surely I know about the distress. The land of Canaan is deserted with none to proclaim.
Surely I know about the anguish, for I remember my covenants with my beloved.

Come, I will send you to Pharaoh (Ex iii.10 Targ.) with this weapon which is in my grasp; I shall show it to you. Make your feet firm; let no weakness come near them, for their strength lies in me, a strength greater than anything on earth. Let your heart be exceedingly bold! Let it not sink, for its direction, just like that of the sun and moon is in me. Make your tongue bold! Let the silence never be near it, for its power, just like that of the waves of the sea, lies in me. Open your ears and I will fill them with understanding, for the opening of them lies in me, just like the opening of Waste and Void (Gen i.2).

Your enemies are going to obey your commands, and there is not one among them who will be able to oppose you. Those who are hostile towards you are to submit before you - they have no future.

I intend to produce a sign this day and raise your status from now on. You are the one who will exact vengeance for the whole congregation, and deliver them in my name with exceedinly great power."

Hear, what the prophet Moses replied to his Lord when he heard these words. Who am I O my Lord and Lord of the whole world, that I should go to Pharaoh (Ex iii.11 Targ.) the king? I cannot see myself before him at all, for I am of little status and weak, while he is greater than I. How can a calf, soft and tender, prevail before the lion when victory is with him in battle? At the mere mention of him all the kings of the earth are in terror. I do not have it in my to confront him."

Hear the reply his Lord made to him. "I know that you are of little status and weakhearted, but I can change your weakness into strength. I am about to reveal to you a rod out of the fire, and for your sake I will change it into any sort of thing you like. You will see it with your eyes, but its inner significance must be within your heart. You are going to manifest wonders from it.

This will be a wonder to you - a rod from the fire bringing revelation for you.
This will be a wonder to you - in it is great and powerful rulership.
This will be a wonder to you - a sword with which you will slay unbelievers.
This will be a wonder to you - with it you will make the Egyptians drink the water of the pit.
This will be a wonder to you - by it you will exact vengeance on the Egyptians with impunity.
This will be a wonder to you - by it you will do all kinds of miracles.
This will be a wonder to you - by it you will smite the pleasant river Gihon.
This will be a wonder to you - by means of the river (Nile) is about to be smitten.
This will be a wonder to you - by it the very dust of the earth will be bewitched by power.
This will be a wonder to you - the heavens are about to be shaken because of it.
This will be a wonder to you - no one shall stand before you while it is in your hand."

When Moses saw the rod he was emboldened and his fear of Pharaoh vanished from his heart. He received it from his Lord and carried it in the presence of all. He took the rod in his hand and lifted it up in his right hand: he stood up boldly. "At your command, O Lord, I will speak. When I enter Egypt by your command, and explain in safety to the congregation what you have said, I shall say to them, The God of your fathers has sent me with a message to you (Ex iii.13; Targ.). I know that they have been brought up as Egyptians and that it is in their power to say to me, What is his name. What shall I say to them?' (Ex iii.13; Targ.).

The mighty Powerful One answered him: He said "Still your heart, my prophet. Receive answer. All your deeds be perfected in goodness! Lo, I shall declare to you the name, that they may know. There is in their possession a sign which has been inherited from Abraham. This name which I reveal to you, my prophet, is the sign that they may know of deliverance. Consider and hear now from me what it is, and do not be too eager to proclaim it in their presence."

The world and all the creatures in it trembled when God said to Moses,

I am who I am (Ex iii.14), who was and will be, a root without beginning.
I am who I am, the one who existed in the beginning and will be on Mount Sinai
I am who I am, commander of theworld and summoner of the creatures.
I am who I am, creator of the body and the originator of the soul.
I am who I am, who set up the Garden and brought about the recompense of Sodom.
I am who I am, maker of life and establisher of death.
I am who I am, God (Elohim) of the Righteous and Lord (YHWH) of the Hebrews.

Whenever they hear from you this great name, they will all be ready to listen and obey. You will say to the Israelites, I AM has sent me to you (Ex iii.14) in peace. The Powerful One who covenanted with Abraham, swore to Isaac and apportioned to Jacob, this is my name for ever and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations (Ex iii.15; Targ), the living one who does not die, who abides unchangingly. By the great name I have strengthened them, but the Hebrews do not hearken to it.

Take the rod in your hand and go to Egypt, that they may know that you are an apostle sent by me. When you arrive, gather the elders of Israel together (Ex iii.16 Targ.). When they have been summoned and they are ready, present my message to them, and say everything I have told you at the bush. You will be quite safe if you speak to them most emphatically then (as follows):

This is the beginning of the address, O Elders. The Lord, the God of your Fathers (Ex iii.16; Targ), has revealed Himself to me in His own light and by His mighty will.

The Lord, the God of your fathers, has revealed Himself to me in his abundant favour and mighty truth.
The Lord, the God of your fathers, has revealed Himself to me in a most awesome vision and in majestic glory.
The Lord, the God of your fathers, has revealed Himself to me in His own favour and in His own glory.

There is no origin to His power, no offshoot of His sovereignty. He Himself is the origin of the world and the offshoot of His creation. No beginning is known to Him. He is eternal. He has no beginning and no end. He it is who knows what has been and knows what is yet to be. He reveals Himself in majesty, but is concealed from all. He is never observed.

He called to Abraham and he walked after him. Let none forget Him as long as the world exists.
He sought Isaac and he bound his body before Him. Nothing is concealed from Him throughout all generations.
He apportioned to Jacob magnificent gifts. None can circumvent Him or prevent them from reaching him (ed. note Jacob = Israel the nation).

Therefore I surely remember the congregation, and I will not leave them to be an object of the Egyptians' cursing. The end draws near and there is to be no long-windedness at it. I am sent on your behalf. He will bring you out of Egypt to the land which He appointed to the Three Perfect Ones.

When you proclaim these words before them, they will certainly hearken to what you say (Ex. iii.18). Perhaps the wise will cry out, saying, "Were it not for the Covenant, we would have perished, for we have secrets and signs from Abraham; because they are yet with us, deliverance is near."

After you proclaim before the Elders these words which I have proclaimed to you, take the Elders, and go to Pharaoh the king (Ex iii.18). Stand before him and say to him, "The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, appoints you to journey in the desert for three days (Ex iii.18). He commands you to let His people to go at once to sacrifice to Him there with devotion."

I know, my prophet, that he will not release them unless mighty wonders are done (Ex iii.19); for his heart is hardened, his judgement high-handed, and nothing can be dislodged from his mind. If he does not believe in me, since he is weak in mind, then out of his gripping fear he will say, "I will not release." I shall harden his heart and he will not be moved. He has no enmity towards me that he should refuse to believe in my name. The first of the wonders which you are about to perform: I will give the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians (Ex iii.21; Targ.), and they will plunder them of their possessions. They will set forth in safety, depriving them of what belongs to them (Ex. iii.21-22)."

Moses answered his Lord, after all this address which he had heard, "If they do not believe me and do not accept what I say, what is the sign that I shall show them, when in fact they do not understand my speech, since they will say, The Lord did not appear to you? (Ex iv.1; Targ).

The Lord said to him, "Blessed is the hearer who is worthy to hear all this from the Lord! Let your heart be strong, my prophet, for I will manifest to you the signs which you are to perform before the congregation. What is in you hand? (Ex iv.2; Targ).

Let the speaker be praised and the hearer glorified, for he answered and said,

"A rod (Ex iv.2; Targ) out of fire has been given to me by Thy goodness, with great sovereignty."

"Cast it now from your hand on the ground (Ex iv. 3; Targ.), that you may see, my prophet, what is going to happen straightway."

So he cast it on the ground (Ex. iv. 3; Targ) immediately at the command of the Lord, at His good intent. Moses had no sooner thrown it from his hand that it became a serpent (ibid), the sight of it terrifying! He quaked and backed away; then out of the sheer intensity of his fear Moses fled from it (ibid) and was in great alarm. There was never anything like it, nor the extreme alarm of his heart. He was quite unable to approach it at the time. His heart was full of confusion; he said then, "This is a mighty marvel. I cannot comprehend this great power in dry wood. It becomes a serpent, moving about in front of me, terrifying my mind. I cannot comprehend such an exceedingly extraordinary thing. Yet the earth is nothing. Anything that comes from it is barren. No one looks for a mighty, alarming deed from it! I am in consternation because of it, for I simply cannot comprehend it. Had it not been for the glorious Lord, I would have fallen and would have been unable to rise and face it for a moment, but I had to flee so that I might not see it. The quaking of my heart and the weakness of my sight are terrible, arising from seeing its form."

Moses had no sooner said finished talking to himself than he was answered by the great Subduer, with whom there is no other god. "Do not be frightened of it, O prophet of the world! In my great power I can create something more powerful than it. Strengthen your heart, my prophet, in the face of all wonders, for you will be required to face even greater than this. Put out your hand, and take it by the tail (Ex. iv.4; Targ.) for you will now behold a wonder out of my power. Lift it up in your hand!" It turned back to what it was, no more, no less!

Then the great prophet Moses marvelled and said, "All great things belong to the mighty Power, who does all that He wills and changes His acts by His tremendous power."

"This miracle I have just shown you is done that they may believe that I am their Maker and the God of their fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Ex. iv. 5; Targ.), the Three Perfect Ones with whom I made covenants. I have shown you, my prophet, the first wonder and you marvelled at it and were exceedingly afraid. Begin now to see the second miracle presented."

Again the Lord said to him - great is the Powerful One who thus spoke! Blessed is the hearer and what he heard from his Lord! Put your hand into your bosom (Ex iv. 6; Targ.), and do not, my prophet, delay haste in carrying out your action."

He heard what his Maker said to him, and he put his hand speedily into his bosom, not knowing what was going to happen to it. He brought his hand out after that, as his Lord had commanded him, and saw that it was dead, without any flesh (cf ibid). He stood there in great consternation, studying his hand, unable to speak with his tongue. He could have fled, but he could not stop his heart from its terrible fear resulting from his action in fleeing from the rod. He saw in his right hand something more terrible than it. He looked at his right hand and the sight of it was terrifying; he was unable to flee, nor could he (continue to) look at it. He could not cast his right hand from him, for he was to do wonders with it.

When his Lord saw him standing in considerable distress, He caused the fear in him to subside. He said, Put your hand back in your bosom (Ex. iv. 7; Targ.), and let all this dread be removed from your heart. When you insert your hand, let it not remain in your bosom. Bring it out immediately, for your amazement will be great."

The prophet did this as his Lord had commanded him. He inserted his hand and withdrew it, and lo, it was just as it had been before! Then his heart was relieved of that fear, and he praised the Lord of the world, the doer of every wonder. He said to him, "These exceedingly wonderful signs are beyond the mind, for it cannot credit all Thy deeds. There is no end to Thy power, O King of the world."

"O my prophet, take these two signs, If they will not believe (Ex. iv. 8; Targ.) in them, I will bring them about one greater than these. Perform the first before them, and then the second, just as I did before you. If they will not believe even these two signs (Ex. iv. 9; Targ.), then with my wonders their iniquity will be prevented from reaching you. You shall take some water of the Nile and pour it upon the dry land (ibid.), that it may become blood by my sovereign power - mighty wonders terrifying all hearts! No one will be able to do them except you, for you are my second in the lower world."

When Moses heard these words, he answered with mounting fear, "I am Thy servant, O Lord of the world. I will never, never disobey Thy words, but I wish to say before you. 'What is the explanation I should have?' I know within my own mind all that you say to me, but I can comprehend so little of it. My tongue is defective in speaking and I have no practice in this sphere that make it easy for me both to speak and listen to you at once. I cannot speak and listen to Pharaoh the king, who is not, in my opinion, greater than Thou, I did not say, however, 'I cannot speak and listen to you.'

A long time ago I left Egypt for Midian. In Pharaoh's house I forgot whatever secrets of theirs I possessed. I was fostered and weaned and went out a young man. I did not continually speak with an evil tongue, nor had I any acquaintance with it, for I was inexpert in speaking and defective in tongue (cf Ex. iv. 10).

We now set out a large section and record the words of God and His prophet.

The Lord spoke to him with mighty power, and the world was filled with dread of Him. "Who has created the body and its structure and enclosed the spirit within it? Who has founded the intellect with spirit? Who has made the soul along with the heart? Who has brought into being thought with reason? Who has set the tongue in the mouth? Who has made utterance come forth from sound? (cf Ex. iv. 11). Is it not I, the Lord? (Ex. iv. 11; Targ.) O my servant, since you know that I have done all these things, why have you answered me with all this talk? Were it not for my will with you from the beginning, my anger would have reached you.

I send your brother to you to meet you since his tongue is more practiced than yours (cf. Ex iv. 14). Listen to my words and repeat them to your brother (Ex. iv. 15). He will address the Egyptians and the congregation. You will be my viceregent and he will be your prophet (Ex. iv. 16). You two are the messengers of righteousness, about to reveal the ruination of Egypt. Two great lights, Aaron and Moses, you will illumine the congregation of Israel. You will take the divine rod in your hand (Ex. iv. 17); you are not to stop, for the time of deliverance/redemption draws near."