The Teachings of Mark (Mimar Marqe Book I Chapter 10)

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.

When all the Egyptians found their firstborn slain, they went in a body to Pharaoh the king, and cried out before him in great anguish; they said to him, "Let this people go." Now Moses and Aaron were outside praying, standing in intercession before their God. When they turned round they saw the messengers hastily sent to them by Pharaoh. (They accompanied the messengers to Pharaoh). Moses and Aaron stood before him; his domination was subdued and his burdens reduced when they entered within the gate! The light from their appearance filled his palace. Pharaoh said to them in a cowed manner, "Go forth from among my people," went proclaiming to the assembly of Israel, "Arise, set forth in safety. He has not a longsuffering spirit." The Egyptians were greatly incensed against them at the speed of their release from the land. The Israelites seized from them everything they desired, and set forth clad in it! (Ex. xii. 35)

An exceedingly harsh pillage of burning and scattering, interest on which still remains.
An exceedingly harsh pillage, which deprived the lender and brought the downfall of the plunderer.
An exceedingly harsh pillage for the plunderer and the lender alike.
An exceedingly harsh pillage which brought emptiness to the abode of the lender.
An exceedingly harsh pillage for the lender - a debt which is not wiped out!

From it came the deprivation of the Egyptians; from it also came the descent of Israel and the denudation of the Egyptians. It was said concerning the demander, "He entrusted debts to them. Cursed is this pillage for ever which renews upon us an ineffaceable wrong."

And the people of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth (Ex. xii. 37; Targ.), the cloud above them, the fire before them - six hundred thousand, apparelled in humility, goodness and grace supporting them there. Succoth was situated on a highway, a place to which all travelers went.

They were graceful, Abraham's stars, and brightly shining, Sarah's offspring.
Crowned were Isaac's young men, perfect were Rachel's young.
Beautiful were Jacob's cypresses, arrayed Leah's ranks.

Succoth was like the Garden of Eden, and the Israelites were the trees in it.
It was like Bethel (i.e. Gerizim), completely filled with an ark, and Sarah's offspring were in its baskets.
The memory of Isaac permeated it, goring with his horns all who would smite them.
A crop were they which filled the house of the Lord, reaped, bound and pressed together.
By the power of the Good One, assembled by three glorious ministers, hedged in by three great fence -
Cloud, fire, and holy spirit - one leading, one illumining, one protecting -
And excellent crop which has no bound to its greatness,
Sown in Palestine and reaped in the land of Egypt;
And it remained cultivated after having been sown four hundred and thirty years before (cf. Ex. xii. 40).
The years are weighed in accurate scales, half of them in the land of Egypt and half of them in the land of Canaan.
At the end of these years they were gathered together (Ex. xii. 41) and became a grain store in the plain of Succoth.
Excellent were these favoured servants, whose greatness was glorious among the creatures of the world.

The Red Sea was calling them silently, "Pass through in safety. I will not be a barrier."
The water of Marah was calling them silently, "Come quickly, for I am sweetened."
It was as though the Manna was addressing them silently, "Make haste, for I will descend to sustain you."
The rocks were calling them silently, "Come over me in strenght. I shall not be in the way."
The valley was calling them silently, "Come forth. Do not fear, for great victory will be won on me."
Mount Sinai was calling them silently, "You have come rejoicing, O favoured children."
The Jordan was calling them silently, "Cross over gladly. I shall be dried up."
The Goodly Mount was calling them silently, "Come up in safety, you who proclaim the Blessing."
The hills were calling them silently, "Approach now, O favoured ranks."
The plain of beauty was calling them silently, "Come across with rejoicing, O pure lights."

All these were seeing to see them and desiring to mingle with them.

In Rameses they made sacrifice and they journeyed to Succoth. They sought to leave it, but were unable. The pillar of cloud and of fire had stopped in front of them, so that they could not get away from the outskirts of Succoth. Moses and Aaron were watching afraid, and all the congregation were in consternation, wondering what was the meaning of this strange matter. Moses said to Aaron, "I believe some vile deed has been done in the congregation."

"Let us call the Elders," they said to one another, "That we may enquire into this happening." The Elders came to Moses and Aaron, their minds full of alarm. (Moses said to them) "Go in peace, O Elders of the congregation, and enquire of every tribe what is the meaning of this strange event. I do not believe that the sorcerers are able with their sorcery to spellbind the sons of the Oath (i.e. the children of Jacob). This is but something we do not yet understand. Nevertheless the truth is near; it will be revealed in good time."

The Elders went off separately among the congregation and began to question every single tribe. When they shouted to the tribe of Asher, Serah came out of them at once (and said), "You have (done) nothing wrong. I shall explain to you what the meaning of this strange event is."

They put their trust in her then and brought her to the great prophet Moses. She stood before him - and he was like the moon in its fullness - and she said, "Greetings to you, Moses. O most glorious of men, hear from me about this matter about which you enquire."

Praise to those who illumine the blind!

"You would have forgotten him, had not the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire stopped still. You would have gone forth and he would have been left behind in Egypt. I remember the day on which he died, when he bound all the people by oath to go up with their leaders from here."

The great prophet Moses said to her, "Blessed are you, Serah, most enlightened of women. From today onwards your greatness will be recounted!"

Declaration was made among the congregation that they were told, "Joseph is going to leave here with us."

Serah went away, the whole tribe of Ephraim round about her. Moses and Aaron followed them, till they reached the place where he was buried. She stopped there and they uncovered the ark and lifted it up there and then. Serah left Moses and Aaron. The great prophet Moses opened the ark with his right hand. Prostrating himself on it, he kissed it. He wept and began at that very moment to eulogize him. He said, "Your spirit is very pleasing, O most honoured of the household of his father."

All the congregation stood eulogizing him and saying, "Your spirit is pleasing, O Joseph, patron of freedom." The great prophet Moses raised his voice and said to him, "O Joseph your spirit knows that you will be borne by the hands of me and six hundred thousand who extol you. The cloud and the fire will lead the way in front of you, and your descendants will become your bearers. After the passing of a hundred and forty years buried in the land of Egypt - now after all these years your are going to ascend to the land which was apportioned to you. Your spirit is pleasing, O Fruitful Bough (Gen. xlix. 22), O Joseph the king who was vested with freedom, for whom was wrought mighty and magnificent greatness, as well as glory and praise both during your life nad after your death. In your lifetime you were praised with salutations, and the sons of two wives made obeisance to you. After your death you are praised even more than then.

When the great prophet Moses stopped eulogizing him, he said to the house of Ephraim, "You will carry him."

Joshua went in front and carried him. He called out and said, "Your spirit is pleasing, O Father, most honoured of his father's house." As soon as he was lifted up by his children the cloud and the fire went before them.