The Mimar offers a fascinating glimpse into Samaritan theology as articulated by Marqe. We see here an intricate interplay of elements, forms, and divine power—a vision rooted deeply in the mystical traditions of the Samaritans and their interpretation of sacred texts. The passage ties the elemental composition of humanity back to Moses, the prophet, who speaks of the “Rock that begot you” in Deuteronomy. For Marqe, this Rock serves as both a foundation and a metaphor for the divine presence and action in the world.
What stands out is Marqe’s emphasis on the primacy of the Form of Adam. This is not a mere physical body; it is a glorified form empowered by God, an archetype composed of four elements—water, dust, wind, and fire. These elements are not randomly assembled but carefully chosen to reflect the cosmic order. Marqe insists that Moses, in his wisdom, begins with water, the most fundamental of elements, necessary for all life. He then moves to dust, signifying the earth from which humanity is formed. The two other elements—wind and fire—complete this picture, symbolizing divine breath and the transformative power of creation.
Marqe’s theological narrative unfolds with a clear hierarchy: water is primary, the dust is shaped with skill, and wind and fire are called forth as elements sustaining the cosmos. This structured understanding of creation echoes ancient philosophical traditions that sought to categorize and order the world’s material components, but it remains deeply rooted in scriptural interpretation.
The most striking part of the Mimar is how it integrates these elements into a theological framework. Water and dust are associated with life’s sustaining force, while wind and fire are tied to the sanctity of the divine service. The fire from the altar, which Aaron tends, is portrayed as an eternal, divine flame, not to be confused with any earthly fire. This distinction underscores the purity required for the divine presence—only the fire directly linked to the heavenly altar is acceptable.
The imagery here is rich, pulling from the sanctuary and its sacred elements to illustrate a cosmic order. The fourfold division of each element—four kinds of water, four kinds of dust, four winds, and four fires—aligns with the idea of a structured and ordered creation, each element playing a specific role in the divine plan. It’s an approach that resonates with other ancient cosmologies, which often divide the world into fundamental components, but Marqe’s framework is deeply theological, tying every element back to divine intent.
What Marqe seems to emphasize is the sanctity and perfection of God’s creation, manifested in the human form. For him, the “Rock” is not just a symbol of God’s strength but a representation of the wisdom and perfection underlying all creation. He speaks of the human form as a perfected body, set apart from other creatures, and Moses’s use of “perfect” (Tamim) signifies this completeness. The use of Hebrew letters, like placing the “T” and “Y” in the text, is a way of encoding theological messages, emphasizing the divine imprint on creation.
It is here that we see Marqe’s theological artistry at its peak—blending scriptural exegesis with a mystical vision of creation. The invocation of Moses’s words, “Give ear, O heavens,” and the call to the earth highlights the comprehensive nature of divine authority, calling upon both the celestial and the terrestrial. For Marqe, Moses is the great mediator who bridges heaven and earth, uniting these realms through the divine Word.
In Marqe’s theology, the human form is the culmination of this divine craftsmanship. The Mimar reflects a worldview in which every element of creation, every word of the sacred text, is interwoven with the presence of the divine. To stray from this vision is to misunderstand the profound unity and structure that Marqe, and by extension the Samaritan tradition, upholds.
What is fascinating about Marqe’s interpretation is how it places Moses not just as a prophet but as a philosopher-theologian. The use of the phrase “The Rock” and its conjunction with “Perfect” is not just about praising God but about revealing the philosophical and theological order underlying the world. Marqe’s exegesis turns Deuteronomy’s words into a key for unlocking the mysteries of existence, tying the human form back to the divine structure and cosmic elements.
The depth of Marqe’s vision is remarkable, particularly in its insistence on God’s omnipresence and the unity of creation. Everything is interconnected—water, dust, wind, and fire are not just physical elements but manifestations of divine power, each serving a role in the sacred order. The Mimar reminds us of the ancient wisdom embedded in Samaritan tradition, a wisdom that sees the divine in every aspect of creation and finds in Moses’s words the blueprint for understanding the cosmos.
