The Teachings of Mark (Mimar Marqe Book I Chapter 4)

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.

They entered Egypt without being unduly expectant about anything, but the Good One was with them in the unseen and the invisible. They slept that night and arose the next morning and hastily assembled the Elders of the congregation (Ex iv. 29). Aaron revealed to them the name which his Lord had disclosed to Moses (Ex. iv. 30). Their hearts were gladdened when they heard that; they said to one another, "This is a sign showing us that deliverance/redemption is near."

After that Aaron performed signs in their presence, and they all believed (Ex. iv.31) that God had sent them that day. When the chiefs heard, they reported to the whole congregation, and they too believed and gave thanks. They uttered words of praise, as on the day when Pharaoh the king died. They sighed and they cried aloud; they proclaimed, "God remembers! He does not forget anything." They bowed their heads and worshipped (Ex iv. 31. Targ.) the God of their fathers.

Now after the people had dispersed to their various occupations, the two prophets went to Pharaoh (Ex v. 1; Targ) the king, first seeking permission before entering his presence. He replied favourably to them and when they entered they stood in front of him - Good on their right side. Favour on their left. Aaron said, "By your leave, O King, mayt I speak one word in your presence?" Pharaoh said, "Say on." Aaron spoke as follows: "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, Let my people go (Ex v. 1; Targ.) to worship me."

Pharaoh was astonished when he heard what was said, and looked at them greatly enraged. He said, "Who is this king in whose name you have come? (Ex. v. 2). I have heard of all the world's kings, but of the name of this king I have not heard. Were it not that there would be censure in me, I would order your execution before you leave! You have revealed nothing. If I were to kill you, I would be blamed. If you have homes in Egypt, go to them, before my anger against you becomes extreme. If the kings of the world were to assemble to take Israel from me, they would not succeed! Woe to you! You Hebrews are weak, despicable to behold, limited in intelligence. Do you imagine that I shall say to you, Go take Israel and depart?"

When they realized that Pharaoh adopted an compromizing attitude towards them, they departed obediently to the congregation. The two prophets had no sooner left than the Egyptians made proclamations throughout Egypt, "Let every teacher get on with what he does in his school."

They [the Hebrews] were given no straw for the manufacture of bricks. In addition, the rate of their manufacture of bricks was in no way reduced for them (Ex. v. 8), but in fact they were hard pressed, more than ever. Their servitude was stepped up more than previously. In the morning they rose early to endure burdens bitter for them to bear, so much so that there were tears in their eyes. They went about in the land of Egypt engaged in gathering stubble for straw to make bricks (Ex. v. 12). The task masters were even more overbearing towards them than before and their zeal was extreme (cf. Ex. v. 13). "Woe to us, for what has happened to us," said they to one another. "Very great hardship has been unleashed upon us. Would that we had never seen Moses and Aaron. We had looked for deliverence/redemption, but have instead fallen into great affliction. They come! They persecute us."

The people said, "We have not experienced such affliction since the day they (their forefathers) came and fell into oppression."

The sages said, "There is no hardship that does not have an end! IF they have been oppressed today, there is no oppression that has no limit."

They arose and went to Moses and Aaron and stood before them, their expressions troubled (Ex. v 20). They said to them, "The Lord look upon you and judge (Ex. v. 21; Targ.) you, for all this affliction you have procured for us. We were quite content to manufacture bricks but ever since you came our hardship has been increased. We are as though slain at your hands, for you have restricted our ease throughout the land of Egypt. Surely it would be a matter of great censure on the King of Egypt if he were to let six hundred thousand go for the like of you, because of the speech your made! If a sword were found in his hand, he would slay us in a flash."

When Moses and Aaron heard what they had said, they were in great distress. Moses said to the Lord, his heart full of fear, "O Lord, tell me what this mystery is. For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he has done evil to this people (Ex. v 23; Targ), great evil. The people are in torment, with greater and greater distress upon them than even before, and hardship is renewed every day more than the day before."

The Lord said to Moses (Ex. vi. 1; Targ.), "My prophet, there will be no warning. Soon you will see great wonders in him, for I shall harden his heart and at the end memory of him will be cut off. I will reveal to you my great name YHWH. I did not reveal it to the Righteous of the world (Ex. vi. 3). EL-SHADDAI was the name by which I revealed myself to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But this great name I did not reveal to them. It is a glorious name which fill the whole of creation. By it the world is bonded together and all the covenants with the Righteous are bound by it for ever. I shall not forget it as long as the world exists. Since you are with the Most High of the whole world, I have revealed to you my great name.

See, I make you as God to Pharaoh; and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet (Ex. vii. I; Targ)
See, I make you as God to Pharaoh, so that you will exact vengeance on him for the congregation.
See, I make you as God to Pharaoh, that he and all his people may be destroyed.
See, I make you as God to Pharaoh, through the rod which I gave you to reveal wonder.
See, I make you as God to Pharaoh by my will. Destroy all the Egyptians in a twinkling of the eye.
See, I make you as God to Pharaoh, I shall put him in your power, and you will slay him in judgement.
See, I make you as God to Pharaoh. You are the redeemer of the blood of the sons of the Righteous.
See, I make you as God to Pharaoh. Be not afraid of him, for I have put him in your power.
See, I make you as God to Pharaoh, He is defeated before you and you have no need of any assistance.

It is set out in the schoolhouse - and you are the teacher.

Begin to teach therin the judgements on Pharaoh. Hearken to me and repeat to Aaron, that he may interpret before Pharaoh king of Egypt. Arise, go, Moses the son of my house, for I intend to teach you wonderful things.

The first of the wonderful things you are going to do before Pharaoh the king:

Go, you and Aaron, to him and throw the rod in front of him. It will become a serpent, just as it turned into a serpent in front of yourself and you fled from it in great fear. In the same way it will soon happen, and Pharaoh and all his servants will be petrified by it. Through you he will see wonders, and whenever he hardens his attitude, the judgement will be all the greater on him.

Let us hear from Moses and Aaron the secrets written down!

He was saying to Aaron, "Steel yourself! Take the rod which is in my hand and go with me to Pharaoh the king, that you may make it a serpent before him (Ex. vii.9)." The two of them rose in great haste and went to the gate of the king, requesting permission to enter his presence. "Greetings now, O servants of the king. We ask you to get permission for us." When the doorkeepers saw them standing at the gate, they quickly went in. They themselves got permission to enter. They said to him, "O King, permit us (to speak to you) now on behalf of those two who came to you recently, and spoke to you that you may release Israel. The day they came to you, their heads were lowered and they addressed you in great fear, but today they stand at the gate of the king, their heads raised, like a lion and lioness. They request permission from you to enter your presence. If you will, grant them permission."

The king said to the counsellors, "Why should we grat them permission to enter? I know them. They are two brothers who will address a speech to me that is beyond their station."

His counsellors said, "Permit them to enter and listen to what they have to say." He made reply to them, "O doorkeepers, tell them to come in, that we may hear what they have to say." The servant went out to them quickly and told them, "Come in to the king. Enter in peace, O brothers, and tell the king all you want."

How good it was to see them entering the king's presence - goodness and favour encompassing them. When they reached him and stood before him, they gave him and all his counsellors the greeting. Pharaoh raised his eyes and saw them standing with uplifted expressions - more so than they had been before. He said to them, "Speak, brethren, that all the counsellors may hear." When the counsellors saw them, they were greatly astonished at them and said, "There is none like them here. Among the Egyptians there is none like them. We are sure that they are good men; there is no harm in them, for their appearance shows their inner state. They are young men; they are like to lights in your presence."

(Pharaoh said to them), "Yes it is as you believe, for their speech is beyond their status. Now you will hear them and you will know whether they are harmful or not! I permit them to speak now all they want to say to me. Say what you wish, O brothers, and if it is easy for me I will do it."

They said to him, "O King, we only want you to hear from us what our Maker has said. Thus has He spoken, Let Israel go! just as He said in the first occassion (ref. to Ex. v 2). We are sent to you now by Him, that you may let our congregation go with us. We know that in your eyes we are nothing, but we are the emissaries from the Lord of all."

Pharaoh answered and said, "This king, in whose name you have come as emissaries - what wonders has he now in your hands? Who is he? Is there is sign or wonder from him in your hand, let the like of it be performed before you as is fitting.' (Ref. to Ex vii. 9).

(Moses and Aaron) said, "He has not sent us to you without a sign and wonder, in order that you may believe that He is true God. He would not have sent requesting this people from you had He not known that truth is not with you. They are pledged by His hand by a word, and the time for it (i.e. the redemption of the pledge) has arrived. Their Lord desires the redemption of the pledge now, and He desires to take His own property."

Pharaoh said, "If there is a sign or wonder, manifest them here and now. Show whether your mysteries are true or not."