Aaron(high, mountain, mountain of light, teacher, enlightened and a name common with the name Harun, so common in the East) was the first high priest of the Jewish people and the elder brother of the prophet and lawgiver Moses (). The son of Amram and Jochebed, he came from the tribe of Levi and was three years older than his brother, Moses. Due to Moses' tongue-tiedness, he had to speak for him before the people and the king of Egypt, Pharaoh, which is why he was called God by the mouth of Moses and his prophet(); at the same time, he had to help his brother during the journey of the Jews from Egypt to the land of Canaan. Aaron took Elizabeth, the daughter of Abinadab, as his wife, and had four sons from her: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. The first two were punished by God for bringing alien fire to the Lord, and thus the priesthood was established in the family of the last two brothers remaining alive (). Aaron and his sons were called to priestly service in a special way and directly by God himself (). But even before the dedication, when Moses went to Sinai to receive the law from God, the Jews became bored with their leader’s long stay on the mountain and approached Aaron with a demand that he give them a statue of one of the pagan deities as a guidebook. Aaron, yielding to the reckless demand of the people, ordered the golden earrings of their wives and children to be brought and, when they were brought, he poured out of them a golden calf, probably on the model of the Egyptian idol Apis. The satisfied people exclaimed: Behold your God, Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt(). When Aaron saw this, he set up an altar and cried out, saying: tomorrow is a holiday to the Lord. The next day the people brought burnt offerings before him and began to eat and drink, and then play (). For such weakness, Aaron was justly reproached by Moses; but since this cowardice was soon smoothed over by repentance, even after this Aaron was not deprived of God’s favor. Moses, by the will of God, at the same Mount Sinai elevated him to the high rank of great priest, or high priest, with the right to transfer the high priesthood to the eldest in his family, and appointed his four sons as priests or priests (). However, soon after the dedication, two of Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, took their censers and offered fire before the Lord alien(that is, taken not from the altar, as was commanded by the Lord), for which they were killed by fire sent from the Lord (). The Book of Numbers () notes that this happened while the people were still in the Sinai desert. Following them, Moses went to Aaron and conveyed to him the will of the Lord regarding the priests in the following words: In those approaching Me I will be sanctified and glorified before all the people (). Shortly before the departure of the Jews from the Sinai desert, Aaron, with his sister Miriam, had the weakness to challenge Moses' right to prophecy, pointing to his marriage to an Ethiopian woman. For this reproach made to Moses, Miriam was punished with seven days of leprosy (). Aaron, after confessing his sin to the Lord, was forgiven. Being a constant collaborator with Moses, Aaron, like him, was often subject to reproaches and insults from the easily indignant Jews. Once it even came to the point of challenging his right to the high priesthood. This revolt took place under the leadership of the Levite Korah, Dathan, Abiron and Abnan with 250 people of the most prominent Israelites from other tribes. The whole community, everyone is holy and the Lord is among them! Why do you put yourselves above the people of the Lord?() - they said to Moses and Aaron. The consequence of the indignation was that the instigators of the rebellion were swallowed up by the earth, and their 250 accomplices were burned by heavenly fire. But God’s terrible punishment did not bring the rebels to their senses. The next day the people again grumbled against Moses and Aaron (): You have killed the people of the Lord, he cried, and then wrath arose from the Lord and defeat began among the people: 14,700 people died. By order of Moses, Aaron took the censer, put incense and fire from the altar into it, stood between the dead and the living, and the defeat stopped (). After this punishment of the troublemakers, the high priesthood was confirmed for Aaron by the following significant miracle: from all 12 tribes, Moses placed 12 rods in the Tabernacle overnight with an inscription on each name of the ancestor of the tribe; in the morning the rod of the tribe of Levi, with the name of Aaron, blossomed, sprouted buds, gave color and brought almonds (). This blossoming rod was kept for a long time after that with the Ark of the Covenant, as clear evidence that the priesthood was forever confirmed by God for Aaron and his sons. However, Aaron did not live to see the Israelis enter the Promised Land. For the lack of faith in the omnipotence of God, which he discovered in the Sin desert, he died before this solemn day (). In the fortieth year, after leaving Egypt, the Lord ordered him, together with Moses, his brother, and Eleazar, his son, to ascend Mount Hor and, in the eyes of the whole society, die on its top (). In the book. In Deuteronomy the place of Aaron's death is called Moser(), and Mount Or is still called among the Arabs the mountain of the prophet Aaron (Jebel Harun). It still shows the place of his burial. The people of Israel honored his death with thirty days of lamentation (). Aaron died at the age of 123, on the first day of the fifth month. In the Jewish calendar, there is a fast on this day in memory of his death. The high priesthood after him passed to his eldest son, Eleazar. In the book. Psalms call him holy Lord's(). Priests in later times were often called the house of Aaron and the sons of Aaron, in honor of their great ancestor. According to the general chronology, Aaron's birth was in 1574 BC, calling in 1491, dedication in 1490 and in 1451.
AARON
(high, mountain, mountain of light, teacher, enlightened, and a common name with the name Harun, so common in the East) was the first high priest of the Jewish people and the elder brother of the prophet and lawgiver Moses (Exodus 28:1). The son of Abram and Jochebed, he came from the tribe of Levi and was three years older than his brother, Moses. Due to Moses' tongue-tiedness, he had to speak for him before the people and the Egyptian king Pharaoh, which is why he was called God by the mouth of Moses and his prophet (Exodus 4:16, 7:1); at the same time, he had to help his brother during the journey of the Jews from Egypt to the land of Canaan. Aaron took Elizabeth, the daughter of Abinadab, as his wife, and had four sons from her: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. The first two were punished by God with death for bringing alien fire to the Lord, and thus the priesthood was established in the line of the last two brothers remaining alive (Exodus 6:23). Aaron and his sons were called in a special way and directly by God himself to priestly service (Hebrews 5:4), But even before the dedication, when Moses went to Sinai to receive the law from God, the Jews became bored with the long stay of their leader on the mountain and began to Aaron, demanding that he give them a statue of one of the pagan deities as a guidebook. Aaron, yielding to the reckless demand of the people, ordered the golden earrings of their wives and children to be brought, and when they were brought, he poured out of them a golden calf, probably modeled on the Egyptian idol of Apis. The satisfied people exclaimed: Behold your God, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt (Exodus 27:4). When Aaron saw this, he set up an altar and cried out, saying, “Tomorrow is a feast for the Lord.” The next day the people brought burnt offerings before him and began to eat and drink, and then play (Exodus 32:1-6). For such weakness, Aaron was justly reproached by Moses; but since this cowardice was soon smoothed over by repentance, even after this Aaron was not deprived of God’s favor. Moses, by the will of God, at the same Mount Sinai elevated him to the high rank of high priest, or high priest, with the right to transfer the high priesthood to the eldest in his family, and appointed his four sons as priests or priests (Lev 8). However, soon after the dedication, two of Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, took their censers and brought alien fire before the Lord (that is, not taken from the altar, as was commanded by the Lord), for which they were killed by the fire sent from the Lord (Lev. 10:1-7). The Book of Numbers (3:4) notes that this happened while the people were still in the wilderness of Sinai. Following their death, Moses went to Aaron and conveyed to him the will of the Lord regarding the priests in the following words: In those who draw near to Me I will be sanctified and will be glorified before all the people (Lev. 10:3). Shortly before the departure of the Jews from the Sinai desert, Aaron, with his sister Miriam, had the weakness to challenge Moses' right to prophecy, pointing to his marriage to an Ethiopian. For this reproach made to Moses, Miriam was punished with seven days of leprosy (Numbers 12). Aaron, after confessing his sin to the Lord, was forgiven. Being a constant collaborator with Moses, Aaron, like him, was often subject to reproaches and insults from the easily indignant Jews. Once it even came to the point of challenging his right to the high priesthood. This disturbance occurred under the leadership of the Levite Korah, Dathan, Abiron and Avian with 250 people of the most prominent Israelites from other tribes. “The whole community, all are holy, and the Lord is among them! Why do you put yourselves above the people of the Lord (Numbers 16:3). They said to Moses and Aaron. The consequence of the indignation was that the instigators of the rebellion were swallowed up by the earth, and their 250 accomplices were burned by heavenly fire But the terrible punishment of God did not bring the rebels to their senses. The next day the people again grumbled against Moses and Aaron (Numbers 16:41): “You have killed the people of the Lord,” he cried, and then anger came out of the Lord and defeat began among the people: 14,700 died man. At the command of Moses, Aaron took the censer, put incense and fire from the altar into it, stood between the dead and the living, and the defeat ceased (Numbers 16:42-49). After this punishment of the troublemakers, the high priesthood was confirmed for Aaron by the following significant miracle: from Of all 12 tribes, Moses placed 12 rods in the tabernacle at night with an inscription on each name of the ancestor of the tribe, and in the morning the rod of the tribe of Levi, with the name of Aaron, blossomed, sprouted buds, gave color and brought forth almonds (Numbers 17:8). then the blossoming rod was kept for a long time after that with the Ark of the Covenant, as clear evidence that the priesthood was forever approved by God for Aaron and his sons. However, Aaron did not live to see the Israelites enter the Promised Land. For the lack of faith in the omnipotence of God, which he discovered in the desert of Sin, he died before this solemn day (Numbers 20:12). In the fortieth year, after leaving Egypt, the Lord ordered him, together with Moses his brother and Eleazar his son, to ascend Mount Hor, and in the eyes of the whole community to die on its top (Numbers 20:28). In the book. In Deuteronomy, the place of Aaron’s death is called Moser (10:6), the agora of Or is still called by the Arabs the mountain of the prophet Aaron (Jebel Harun). It still shows the place of his burial. The people of Israel honored his death with thirty days of mourning (Numbers 20:29). Aaron died at the age of 123, on the first day of the fifth month. In the Jewish calendar, a fast is prescribed on this day in memory of his death. The high priesthood after him passed to his eldest son, Eleazar. In the book. In the Psalms he is called the holy one of the Lord (Ps. 105:16). The priests in later times were often called the house of Aaron and the sons of Aaron, in honor of their great ancestor. According to the general chronology, Aaron's birth was in 1574 BC, calling in 1491, dedication in 1490, and death in 1451.
; Exodus 6.16-23) and was 3 years older than his brother Moses (Exodus 7.7; Num. 26.59). Biblical information about A. before his calling by the Lord is very scarce: from his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Amminadab, A. had 4 sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar (Exodus 6.23).
The Lord called A. to ministry at the age of 83 (Exodus 7:7). Initially, A.’s activity was connected with the mission of Moses, who, citing his tongue-tiedness, wanted to refuse the order to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt (Exodus 4.10; 6.30). Then the Lord pointed to A. as an assistant capable of speaking: “You (Moses) will speak to him and put words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you what you should do. And he will speak for you to the people” (Exodus 4. 15-16; 6. 30-7. 2). From the mountain of God, Moses and A. descended into Egypt, where A. convinced the children of Israel, retelling to them the words spoken by the Lord to Moses (Exodus 4:29-30). Together with Moses, A. participated in a dispute with Pharaoh, frightening him with signs. He turned his staff into a serpent, and after Egypt did the same. magicians, the rod of A. absorbed the rods of Egypt. magicians (Exodus 7:10-12). A. frightened Pharaoh with 10 signs, and the first 3 - the transformation of water into blood (Exodus 7.20), the removal of frogs (Exodus 8.5-6), the appearance of midges (Exodus 8.16-17) - were performed by the hand of A. (see Egyptian executions). A. and Moses received the Passover statute from the Lord (Ex. 12. 1-20; 12. 43-49). Together with Or, A. supported the weakened hands of Moses until the final victory over the Amalekites (Exodus 17:12). Together with his sons Nadab and Abihu and 70 elders of Israel, A. accompanied Moses to the city of Sinai, where Moses alone approached the Lord, and those accompanying him from afar worshiped Him “and saw [the place of standing] the God of Israel” (Exodus 24. 1-2, 9 -eleven). During Moses' forty-day stay in Sinai, A., forced by the people, made a golden calf (Exodus 32:4). The sin of worshiping an idol almost led to the death of both the unbridled people and A. himself, saved only by the intercession of Moses (Ex. 32. 7-14; Deut. 9. 19-20).
During the period of wandering through the desert, A. was always next to Moses: they kept a record of the Israelis fit for war (Numbers 1.3); endured the murmurs and threats of the people (Numbers 14.2-10); They prayed for the forgiveness of “the whole community” (Num. 16.22) and finally shared a common fate: for their unbelief at the waters of Meribah, A. and Moses were recognized by the Lord as unworthy to enter the Promised Land (Num. 20.8-13). Only once did A., together with Miriam, reproach Moses for taking an Ethiopian wife as his wife. However, unlike Miriam, A. was not punished with leprosy (Numbers 12).
As a high priest, A. was called to serve by the Lord and ordained prophet. Moses (Ex 29. 4-21; 40. 12-15; Lev 8. 1-30; Heb 5. 4), who clothed him and anointed him with oil before entering the tabernacle of meeting, i.e. establishing the right of the Old Testament priests to perform divine services (Exodus 27.21-22, 28; 29.4-21; Lev 8.1-30). In the person of A. and his sons Dr. Israel received an institutional priesthood (see Old Testament Priesthood). A.'s activities as a high priest included not only cultic, but also judicial, as well as teaching service (Sir 45. 20-21). A.’s duties included daily liturgical activities in the tabernacle of meeting: burning incense (Exodus 30.7-8), preparing and lighting lamps (Exodus 27.20-21; 30.8). On Saturday A. placed 12 fresh loaves of bread with incense and salt on a clean table before the Lord (Lev 16:33). The priest was endowed with the rights of final judicial authority (Deut. 17.12; 19.17; 21.5; 33.10). A. and his sons had to “teach the children of Israel all the statutes that the Lord spoke to them through Moses” (Lev 10.11). For violating religious decrees, A.’s 2 eldest sons were burned “with fire from the Lord,” and A. silently endured their death (Lev 10. 1-7).
When Korah and other noble men sought an equal priesthood with A. (Numbers 16. 1-3), the Lord confirmed the election of A. and his sons: Korah, Dathan and Abiron were swallowed up by the earth, and a pestilence began among the people. By order of Moses, A. “stood ... between the dead and the living” and performed propitiatory incense, thereby ending the defeat committed by the Lord among the people (Numbers 16. 24-40). Confirmation of A.'s election was also a miracle with A.'s rod, which was placed in the tabernacle of meeting along with the rods of the 12 elders and was found miraculously blossoming (Numbers 17) (see Aaron's rod). The intercession of A., who averted the wrath of God, is glorified by later biblical authors (Wis. 18.20-25; Ps. 76.21; 105.16). A. died at the age of 123 on the top of the city of Or (according to Deut. 10.6, this happened in the area of Moser; see Aaron’s grave). Moses took off A.'s priestly clothes and clothed his son and successor Eleazar in them (Numbers 20.27-28; 33.39). The people of Israel mourned A. for 30 days.
The NT says that the family of rights goes back to A. Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist (Luke 1.5). In the message of St. Paul to the Hebrews emphasizes the transitory significance of the A. priesthood, “for the law is associated with it” (Heb. 7:11). He is replaced by “Christ, the High Priest of the good things to come” (Heb 9:11), who will rise according to the order of Melchizedek (Heb 7:11-17).
Lit.: Ephraim the Syrian, St. Interpretation of the books: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy // Creations. Serg. P., 1901; M., 1995. T. 6; Theodoret of Cyrrhus, blzh. // Creations. Serg. P., 19052. Part 1; Titov G. I. The history of the priesthood and Levitism of the Old Testament church, from the beginning of their establishment under Moses to the founding of the Church of Christ, and their relationship to the pagan priesthood. Tiflis, 1878; Savvaitsky M. I. Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. St. Petersburg, 1889; Priklonsky V. Old Testament high priesthood // PS. 1901. No. 6; Westphal G. Aaron und die Aaroniden // ZAW. 1906. Bd. 26. S. 201-230; North F.S. Aaron's Rise in Prestige // Ibid. 1954. Vol. 66. P. 191-199; Auerbach E. Das Aharon-Problem: Rome Congress Volume. 1969. S. 37-63. (VTS; 17); Cody A A History of Old Testament Priesthood, R., 1969. (AnBib; 35).
priest Vladimir Kilchevsky
Hymnography
Although in the Monthly Words adopted by local Orthodox Churches. Churches, A. does not have a separate memory; his name is mentioned together with the names of other Old Testament righteous people in the services of the Forefather and Father Weeks before the Nativity of Christ (see Forefather of Saints Week, Father of Saints Week), as well as together with the name of the prophet. Moses in the alleluia at the liturgy and in the seat of the canon of the holy prophets at Little Compline in the first week of Great Lent (see Orthodoxy Week). Some ancient Monthly Words indicate to celebrate the memory of A. on July 20, together with the memory of the prophets Moses, Elisha, Samuel and Elijah (the memorial of the prophet Elijah on July 20 is indicated in most Monthly Words, including in modern - Sergius (Spassky) Monthly Journal, vol. 2, p. 219). In service Aug 20 prophet and priest Samuel is repeatedly compared with A. (for example, “” - troparion of the 8th canon of the Matins canon - Menaion (ST). August. L. 169). In zap. In Jerome's martyrology, A.'s memory is indicated under July 1, in Copt. monthly - on March 28th. In Orthodox hymnographic and euchological texts glorify the high priestly dignity of A. (see, for example, the “prayer of offering” in the liturgy of St. Basil the Great); A.’s rod is especially mentioned, often as one of the prototypes of the Mother of God. The great canon of Andrew of Crete contrasts A. with the wicked priests Hophni and Phineas (troparion of the 5th canto: "" - Lenten Triodion. Part 1. L. 303). According to Greek manuscripts from the 14th century. (Sin. Gr. 672) 2 are known that were not included in the printed Menaions of the canon of A., placed under August 8. (Ταμεῖον. Ν 824, 825. Σ. 264-265).
Lit.: Kravetsky. Dictionary.
M. S. Zheltov
Iconography
Images of A. are known from Christian monuments. art mainly in scenes of the Exodus. One of the oldest was preserved in the paintings of the synagogue in Dura-Europos (Syria), 245-250: A. is represented as an old man in the robes of a high priest (clothed in an ephod, breastplate, subdir, with a turban on his head) inside the temple where the Ark of the Covenant was placed. Mostly early Byzantine. monuments A. appears in the guise of a young man in ancient attire (mosaics of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, 432-440). Stable iconography of A. takes shape during the era of the Macedonian dynasty (IX - XI centuries) - he is depicted as a gray-haired, long-bearded old man, in priestly vestments, with a staff and censer (or casket) in his hands. This iconography is known from book miniatures (for example, the Khludov Psalter, 9th century, fol. 98v.) and illustrations of the Octateuchs of the 11th-13th centuries, where A. is presented in a number of scenes: A.’s rod turns into a snake in front of the pharaoh and absorbs the rods Egypt sorcerers (Ex 7. 10-12) (one of the early images is on the gates of the Church of St. Sabina in Rome, c. 430); A. and Hor support the hands of Moses in the battle with the Amalekites (Exodus 17:12) and others (see Aaron's rod). In the 11th century A.'s image appears in monumental painting, his image was placed in the painting of the altar volume (St. Sophia of Kiev, mid-11th century, Anthony's Monastery of Rome, 1117-1119). This tradition in Russian. monuments remained until the 16th century. (the council of the king. The “Charter of the Community” foreshadows the coming of the “Messiahs of Aaron and Israel” (1QS 9. 11). In the Qumran texts A. is the image of the Messiah-High Priest. The “Damascus document” perhaps speaks of only one Messiah: “ The Messiah of Aaron and Israel will arise" (CD 12. 23-13. 1); "The Messiah of Aaron and Israel will cleanse their sin" (CD 14. 19), etc. The "Additions to the Charter of the Community" report on a certain messianic feast, at -rom the “sons of Aaron” have a privileged position: they sit before the Messiah of Israel (the king, in this case, apparently different from the “Messiah Aaron” - 1QSa 2. 12-14).
Rabbinic literature is distinguished by a special love for the personality of A. The rabbis describe A. as a great peacemaker, who “will not leave until he sees that there is no longer a drop of malice left in the soul ... of a person” (Avot R. Nathan 12 ). It was suggested that A.’s behavior in the story of the golden calf (Exodus 32) can be explained by his meekness: he could have punished the idolaters with death, but he took pity on them. In the 1st century BC, the famous Pharisee Hillel said: “Be a disciple of Aaron - love the world and strive for peace, love people and bring them closer to the Law of God” (Pirke Avot 1.12). According to one of the commentaries, it was for these qualities that God made A. high priest (Shemot Rabba 37.2). There was another explanation for A.’s behavior in Exodus 32: A. was afraid that he would suffer the same fate as Ora, who was killed while trying to confront sinners (Shemot Rabbah 41.9; Sanhedrin 7a).
It was reported about A.’s courage at the news of the death of his sons Nadav and Abihu (Lev 10): he saw his 2 “chicks” bathe in their blood, but remained silent (Vayikra Rabba 20.4); “The misfortune was endured by him with nobility, on the one hand, because he had great strength of spirit, and on the other, because he saw in this mountain a manifestation of the will of God” (Josephus. Ancient Jude. III 8.7). Like Abraham, who meekly agreed to sacrifice Isaac (Gen. 22), A. did not argue with God (Sifra 46a).
Tradition names A. among the few chosen ones of God, who died not as a result of their own sinfulness, but “because of the wiles of the serpent,” that is, the sin of Adam (Sifre Deut. 338-339). Tradition claimed that after the death of A. the Israelites grieved more than after the death of Moses (Sifra 45d). A.'s death is described in the midrash Petirat Aharon.
Lit.: Haggadah: Tales, parables, sayings of the Talmud and Midrash / Transl. S. G. Fruga. M., 1993; Korsunsky I. Jewish interpretation of the Old Testament. M., 1882; Gaertner B.The Temple and the Community in Qumran and the New Testament. Camb., 1965.
G. G. Yastrebov
In Muslim traditions
A. is known as Harun ibn Imran, the elder brother of Musa (Moses). The Koran reflects the biblical tradition, according to which A. was appointed assistant to the tongue-tied Moses. However, according to the Koran (20.90/87-88), the initiative to build the golden calf did not belong to A., but to a certain Samaritan. A. could not prevent the Israelites when they began to worship the calf (7. 148/146-151/150; 20. 29/30-33/34. 90/92-94/95; 28. 34-35). Mountain near Petra in South. Jordan, where, according to legend, A. was buried, is still revered by Muslims (see Aaron's grave).
Third book of the Pentateuch - Leviticus speaks of the sanctification of man, of his complete surrender to God. The main idea of the book: “Be ye holy therefore, for I am holy, saith the Lord.”
Fourth Book of Moses, Numbers, dedicated to the destinies of the Church and people of God . The Hebrew name "Vai-Edavver" ("and said"), or "Bemidbar" ("In the desert") is given from the first line “And the Lord said to Moses in the desert of Sinai...” The Latin name "Numeri", the Greek "Aritmoy" and the Russian "Numbers" are associated with the abundance of calculations of the people by tribes and clans. The Book of Numbers depicts a community centered around a shrine. Main themes: serving the Lord as necessary for the implementation of future salvation; maintaining order among God's people; a warning against misconceptions and unbelief.
Census and dedication of the Levites
After the construction of the tabernacle, at the direction of the Lord, a national census was carried out - as a sign of the proximity of the battles for the Promised Land: "And all those who were numbered of the children of Israel were by their families, from twenty years old and upward, all fit for war in Israel... six hundred three thousand five hundred and fifty."(Numbers 1:45-46) At the same time, the Levites were not counted in the general census, because their service was not military, but prayerful and spiritual. At the time, God gave the commandment to dedicate all firstborn males to Him; Now the Lord declared the representatives of the tribe of Levi to belong to Himself and to replace the firstborn from the other tribes of Israel.
“Pagan priests were considered as beings endowed with magical power, descended from the gods, possessing secret knowledge and powers. The priesthood in the Old Testament Church was understood differently. The descendants of Aaron and all the other Levites are offered to God as a sacrifice and gift , as a replacement for the firstborn, dedicated to the Creator. Since all of Israel is not yet able to be a “kingdom of priests,” a certain part of the people (Levites) replaces it in the face of Yahweh. Thereby Levites become leaders of the people of God , performers on behalf of the Church of the sacrifice-meal and other types of worship.
This understanding of the priesthood remained in the New Testament Church, but with one important change. “The royal priesthood of all Israel remained a promise.”(Arch. N. Afanasyev “Church of the Holy Spirit”). The Levites gradually turned into a closed, hereditary caste. Meanwhile, the gracious gift of the New Testament was the fulfillment of the promise. All members of the Church "living stones" her buildings (1 Peter 1.5) - her "holy priesthood" Its hierarchical structure is determined by the difference in talents (1 Cor 12:28) and the need to maintain order in the community. A priest, as the primate of the Church in the sacrament of the Eucharist, can be elected not only from a certain tribe: anyone who is appointed by the Church has the right to become one."(A. Men. Isagogy. Introduction to the Old Testament)
***
Israel leaves Sinai and hits the road
After conducting a census, consecrating the Levites and celebrating the second Passover in history, on the 20th day of the second month of the second year after (and a year after the giving) the Israelites leave Sinai and set off to wander through the desert, receiving a sign from God in the form of one rising above the tabernacle clouds of God's presence : “On the day that the tabernacle was pitched, a cloud covered the tabernacle of testimony, and from the evening over the tabernacle, as it were, fire was visible until the morning. ...By the commandment of the Lord the children of Israel set out on their journey, and by the commandment of the Lord they stopped: during all this time when the cloud was over the tabernacle, and they stood; and if the cloud was over the tabernacle for a long time, then the children of Israel followed this commandment of the Lord and did not go away."(Num.9:15-23)
The Israelites began to feel like an army: representatives of each tribe marched under their banner in a certain order, and at the head of the procession the Levites carried. "When the ark was taken up for its journey, Moses said: Arise, O Lord, and Your enemies will scatter, and those who hate You will flee from Your presence! And when the ark stopped, he said: Return, O Lord, to the thousands and thousands of Israel!”(Num. 10:35-36).
The words of this prayer of Moses in the New Testament era are repeated in the Orthodox prayer to the Honest Life-Giving Cross of the Lord: "May God rise again and the enemies be scatteredHisand let all who hate Him flee from His presence..."
Murmur against Moses
The disunited and rival tribes, as well as the foreigners who joined them, had difficulty getting used to the idea of unity and understanding of their mission and purpose, and the hardships of wandering through the desert (where they ate only one) began to cause mass discontent with Moses and grumbling against the Lord himself. The situation in the camp evokes a prayer-complaint from the soul of Moses: “Why do You torment Your servant? And why have I not found mercy in Thy sight, that Thou hast laid upon me the burden of all this people? Did I carry all this people in my womb and did I give birth to him, that You say to me: carry him in Your arms, as a nanny carries a child, to the land that You promised with an oath to his fathers? Where can I get meat to give to all this people? For they weep before me and say, “Give us meat to eat.” I alone cannot carry all this people» (Num. 11:11-14).
Even Moses' siblings, Aaron and Miriam, begin to challenge his authority: « Did the Lord speak to Moses alone? Didn’t He tell us too?”. God Himself responded to this by contrasting the prophetic gift that other Israelites could be endowed with His special closeness to Moses, the greatest among the prophets of the Old Testament: “And the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud, and stood at the entrance of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam, and they both came out. And he said: Hear my words: if there is a prophet of the Lord among you, then I will reveal myself to him in a vision, I will speak to him in a dream. him; but not so with My servant Moses - he is faithful in all My house: I speak to him mouth to mouth, and openly, and not in fortune-telling, and he sees the image of the Lord; how come you were not afraid to rebuke My servant Moses ?" ( Numbers 12:1-8)
Punishment for grumbling occurs: a fire breaks out in the camp (but the fire subsides through the prayer of Moses), then God sends a flock of quails into the desert, but the coveted meat does not benefit the people and many die. Mariam is struck by leprosy for seven days - a sign of separation from the community (according to the law, lepers were “outside the camp”).
Exploration of the Promised Land and its consequences
When the Israelites reached the Paran desert in the northeastern part of the Sinai Peninsula, Moses sent 12 scouts - leaders of each tribe - to Canaan: "The people, in the person of their most authoritative representatives - the princes, had to be convinced that really the promise is fulfilled about giving him the best, most fertile of all lands. People who constantly doubted everything had to finally see the Holy Land with their own eyes - and thank the Lord, “eating with faith” its fruits in advance. ...Exactly faith, that is, trust in God and His promises, Israel learned in the wilderness . The same applies to every believer in his earthly wanderings."(Shchedrovitsky)
Led the squad Hosea from the tribe of Ephraim (son of). Previously, he had already proven himself as a military leader in and as an assistant to Moses (the two of them climbed Mount Sinai to receive), and now Moses gave him a special blessing, changing his name from Hosea to Jesus Navin(Navin = son of Nav, or Nuna):
"Oshea, Goshva or Hosea means "liberation/salvation". To this term Moses added the name of Jehovah, "Iag", foretelling in Joshua God's instrument for the salvation of Israel . Name Jagoshea ("The Lord saves") pronounced the same as Yeshua. Our reading Jesus taken from the Greek translation. According to the mind of St. fathers and teachers of the Church, the successor of Moses, who led Israel into the land of promise, was a type of Jesus Christ Who opened the gates of the Kingdom of Heaven to those who believe in Him."(Lopukhin. Explanatory Bible).
In the Latin (and then in the Catholic and Protestant) tradition, the name of Joshua is rendered differently than the name of Jesus Christ: Iosue(English) Joshua - "Joshua" ) instead of Jesus(English) Jesus -"Jesus"), while in the Greek (and Russian) Orthodox tradition both names are pronounced as "Jesus"(Therefore, Navin or son of Navin is usually added to the name of the first, while in the Western tradition this is unnecessary). (Thanks wiki).
Hebrew transcription Yehoshua bin Nun; in Arabic Yusha bin Nun. Name for connoisseurs of Istanbul Yusha may be familiar, and here's why: "The tomb of Saint Yusha (Tur. Hazret-i Yuşa Türbesi) on top of Yusha Hill on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus is a place of pilgrimage for Turkish Sufis who believe that Yusha is Joshua. The question of how the grave Prophet Yusha ended up in Beykoz, remains open (fans of the “New Chronology” are happy, because they believe that Golgotha is located there, and Jerusalem = Constantinople.) The traditional location of the tomb of Joshua is in Palestine.
But let's return to the Israeli reconnaissance mission: “And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan and said to them: Go to this southern country, and go up to the mountain, and examine the land, what kind of land it is, and the people who live in it, whether they are strong or weak, whether they are few or many? and what kind they are? the land on which he lives, is it good or bad? and what are the cities in which he lives, does he live in tents or in fortifications? and what is the land like, is it fat or lean? are there trees on it or not? be it? be bold and take from the fruits of the earth. It was at the time of the ripening of the grapes."(Num. 13:18-21).
Forty days later the scouts returned, having inspected the southern lands of Canaan in the Hebron area, where
“they cut a vine branch with one bunch of berries, and two carried it on a pole”- this plot with a giant grape brush subsequently became popular among painters:
Nicolas Poussin, "Autumn. Gifts of the Promised Land"
The intelligence results led to confusion among the Israelis, and the intelligence officers, called upon to inspire the people, began to sow panic: “We went to the land where you sent us; it truly flows with milk and honey, and these are the fruits thereof; but the people living in that land are strong, and the fortified cities are very large...But Caleb calmed the people before Moses, saying: let's go and take possession of her because we can overcome her. And those who walked with him said: We cannot go against this people, for they are stronger than us." ( Numbers 13:28-34 ).
In other words, the people were faced with a new temptation - fear of the unknown and active action. Joshua tried to call his relatives to unconditional trust in God (which alone can drive away fear): " if the Lord is merciful to us, he will lead us into this land and give it to us - this land in which milk and honey flow; just don’t rebel against the Lord and don’t be afraid the people of this land; for he will fall to us to be devoured: they have no protection, and the Lord is with us; don't be afraid of them"(Num. 14:8-9).
The people persist, calls are made to rebel against Moses, Aaron and Jesus, to return to Egypt - after which God for the second time (after) threatens to destroy the people of little faith in order to produce a new chosen people from Moses: “How long will this people provoke me to anger? How long will he not believe Me? with all the signs that I did in the midst of it?”, and again Moses prays for the preservation of the Israelites, despite their threats to stone him: “Forgive the sin of this people according to Your great mercy, just as You have forgiven this people from Egypt until now.”
Moses' prayer answered: “I forgive according to your word; but as I live, and the whole earth is full of the glory of the Lord: all who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, you have tempted me ten times already and they did not listen to My voice, They will not see the land that I promised to their fathers with an oath; all those who provoked Me will not see it.” No one from the generation who came out of Egypt will enter the Promised Land, to which they came so close, with the exception of those under 20 years old, as well as the remaining faithful Joshua and Caleb (also a member of the intelligence from the tribe of Judah). Scouts who spread demotivational speeches among the people "they died, being slain by the Lord."
Since the people of Israel were not ready, morally and spiritually, to free themselves from the psychology of slavery, take responsibility for themselves and fight for their future, trusting in God, their Deliverer, God sets a period during which the people will have to gain this maturity and faith: "By number forty days in which you searched the earth, you will bear the punishment for your sins forty years, a year in a day, so that you may know what it means to be abandoned by Me."(Num. 14:20-34). The number forty symbolically meant “a period sufficient to accomplish something”; in fact, the wanderings lasted another 38 years, but together with the previous period from the beginning of the Exodus - just forty years.
Another interesting comment: “This night of great murmuring and resistance, the night from the 8th to the 9th of the month of Av (corresponding to July-August), God appointed for fasting and crying for all generations of the sons of Israel, until the final deliverance at the end of time. On this night, with each subsequent retreat of the people The former wrath of God was also renewed and new punishments were carried out: it was on the night of 9 Av that the first Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians (586 BC), and the second Temple (70 AD) by the Romans. Each time the temple was followed by deprivation of the people's statehood and expulsion from the Holy Land."(Shchedrovitsky)
Mentioned ten times when the people murmured against the Lord : 1) at the Red Sea; 2) in Marah (where there was bitter water); 3) in the desert of Sin (where they complained of hunger, before the appearance of manna and quails); 4) in case of non-compliance with the law about not leaving manna until the morning; 5) in case of non-compliance with the law on not collecting manna on Saturday; 6) in Rephidim (where they complained of thirst, and Moses drew water from the rock); 7) at Sinai (golden calf); 8) in Tavera (where grumbling was punished by fire in the camp); 9) in Kibrot-Gattaav (where those who ate the quails died); 10) to Kadesh-barnea (from where the spies were sent).
Since the Jews categorically did not understand the will of the Lord from the first time, they decided on a military foray towards Canaan, contrary to the direct instructions of the Lord and the warning of Moses, and without the blessing of the Ark of the Covenant (which was always supposed to accompany the Israelites); were defeated by the armies of the Amalekites and Canaanites and returned defeated.
Uprising Koreaand Aaron's rod that blossomed
A new wave of political struggle of indignation among the people and challenging the spiritual authority of Moses and the high priestly authority of Aaron began with the rebellion of the Levite Korah, who was also supported "and Dathan and Abiron... the sons of Reuben,rose up against Moses, and with them from the children of Israel two hundred and fifty men, the leaders of the congregation, those called to the assemblies, men of renown.And they gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, It is enough for you;Allsociety, everyone is holy, and the Lord is among them! why are you putting yourselfabove the people of the Lord? " ( Numbers 16:1-3 ).
""All Society, All Saints"... It is very interesting that totalitarian rulers use similar methods of propaganda from century to century: they tirelessly repeat that supposedly the people as a whole are “sinless,” “always right,” or “pleasing to God.” All this “gives them grounds” to trample on moral commandments - “in the name of the people.” The same applies to all kinds of false teachers who inspire their followers with confidence in their special chosenness and holiness...”(Shchedrovitsky)
And again, through the prayer of Moses and Aaron, God does not strike the entire people, but an emphatically supernatural punishment befalls the instigators: Korah, Dathan and Abiron fall into the ground, and their companions are consumed by fire from the censers that they burned, encroaching on the right given only to the priestly family of Aaron .
To once again clearly show that God wants to see only Aaron and his descendants as his priests, a “divine experiment” was staged: in the tabernacle in front of the Ark of the Covenant, a rod (a dry wooden staff) was placed from each tribe, and Aaron’s rod represented the Levites. The next day Aaron's rod "bloomed, sprouted buds, gave color and brought almonds", and subsequently, as clear evidence of God’s chosenness of the Aaronic family, it was kept in the Ark of the Covenant along with other shrines.
Image "unfertilized fruiting" Aaron's rod in the Middle Ages made almonds a symbol of virgin purity. The Christian interpretation of this image is interesting (and quite unexpected for me!): miraculously prosperous Aaron's rod is considered a symbol of the Virgin Mary and is often found in iconography and hymnography, being an attribute of both Aaron and Joseph the Betrothed (according to St. Jerome, Joseph was chosen as Mary’s husband by a similar lot - his rod, left in the Temple, blossomed).
Blooming rod of Aaron as a prototype of the Blessed Virgin Mary:
- the birth of the Virgin Mary from barren parents (in the Catholic tradition - through the immaculate conception): “ the growth of a dry rod indicated to Israel the election of a priest; and now the glorious birth of the Virgin from the barren one miraculously reveals the radiant dignity of those who gave birth.” “From the roots of David and Jesse, Anna now begins to grow the Divine Rod, the Vegetated Mysterious Flower - Christ, the Creator of all.”.
- birth of the Lord from the Virgin Mary through the immaculate conception from the Holy Spirit: “Sometimes Aaron’s rod vegetated, prefiguring the Pure Divine Nativity, as you conceived without seed and remained incorruptible, and after the Nativity appeared virgin, feeding the Child to all God”(Canon in honor of the introduction of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple)
- the purity of the Mother of God herself: "secret rod, unfading blossoming color", “the color of incorruption”, “the unfading color”, “the unfading branches of the rod (branch)”.
And further: "The blossoming rod - a dead tree regaining life - can be considered as the central symbol of the entire Bible. For it is a sign of the resurrection from the dead and the Messiah, and the people of God, and, finally, the soul of every person. Aaron is a type of Christ, "High Priest forever". It was his rod that blossomed, which marked the future resurrection of the Messiah."(Shchedrovitsky)
Sin of Moses and Aaron
Among the trials experienced in the area of Kadesh, Moses and Aaron themselves were touched by a lack of faith when the people again became agitated over the lack of water.
“And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Take the rod and gather the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will give forth water: And so you will bring water out of the rock for them, and give water to the congregation and their cattle.And Moses took the rod from the presence of the Lord, as He commanded him.And Moses and Aaron gathered the people to the rock, and he said to them:Listen, rebellious ones, should we bring water for you from this rock?And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice and much water flowed out, and the congregation and their cattle drank.
And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to show My holiness in the sight of the children of Israel, you will not bring this people into the land that I am giving them.”(Num.20:7-12)
At first it was not at all obvious to me why Moses, much less Aaron, was so guilty here; Below are comments that expand on this topic; in addition, we need to remember the special spiritual connection between these brother prophets, which began with the Exodus, when Aaron was the “mouth” of Moses.
"Moses is now commanded to 'speak' to the rock - as opposed to a similar event at Rephidim when he was to 'strike the rock'(Ex. 17:6). A rock flowing with water is an image of a “heart of stone,” which, under the influence of the Spirit, becomes a source of “living water.” ...However, Moses, exhausted by many years of opposition from the fathers (i.e., the generation of the Exodus), could not resist pouring out his anger on their sons (the new generation, who grew up over 40 years in the desert). In this case, it is our own anger, not God’s. This is the only time when Moses addressed the people with his own words, and not the Lord’s.”(Shchedrovitsky)
"Considered from the point of view of the manifestation of Divine Justice, the condemnation to death of the elder Moses and Aaron can be considered at the same time from the point of view of divine mercy: the influence of the mortal principle - the flesh - has already begun to take precedence in Moses over his previously indestructible spirit. The further stay of the obsolete a leader with a young, full of strength and unbridled energy, Israeli people might have been beyond the strength of the legislator, and not to the same extent beneficial for the people. The same must be said about Aaron..."(Lopukhin. Explanatory Bible).
At that time (already at the end of a 40-year wandering in the desert), the Israelites approached the borders of the kingdom of Edom (Edom, or Edom, south of Canaan and the Dead Sea, where they lived Edomites - descendants of the son of Abraham and brother of Jacob) and asked the local king for permission to pass through his territory, but he did not let them through. A parallel can be drawn with the history of the ancestors of the Israelites and Edomites; in a similar way, Jacob, returning to Canaan with his family and herds found in a foreign land, greeted his brother Esau. The Edomites could have helped the Israelites or even reunited with them, but they did not; nevertheless, they remain a brotherly people with whom war is not blessed, and the Israelites take a detour along the southeastern borders of Edom.
In these parts, Aaron ordains his son Eliazar as high priest and accepts his death. on Mount Or - according to the word of the Lord, without ever seeing the promised land. Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron, dies even earlier, in Kadesh.
Mount Or is located in modern Jordan:
(Photo: romti.livejournal.com/1644084.html)
In Islam, Aaron is revered as a prophet; she was the daughter of the priest Matthan).
According to the word ap. Pavel, Aaron as High Priest - the forerunner of Jesus Christ
; but the priesthood of Aaron, based on the law, is transitory, it is replaced by Jesus Christ - the priest "according to the order of Melchizedek"(Heb. 7).
***
Copper Serpent
At the border of the kingdom of Edom Canaanites from the city of Arad marched against the Israelites. But the Israelites defeat them by praying to the Lord and betray their cities." spell " (what was declared “sworn” was subject to destruction and could not be prey; however, according to Shchedrovitsky, the curse did not mean the destruction of the people, but expulsion from the occupied territory).
Soon rises another wave of cowardice: "And the people spoke against God and against Moses: Why did you bring us out of Egypt to die in the desert, for here there is neither bread nor water, and our souls are disgusted with this worthless food(i.e. manna from heaven!)". As is constantly emphasized in the Old Testament texts, rebellion against the will of God always leads to tragic events : this time the camp is attacked fire snakes(Heb. "ha nahashim ha seraphim" - the name may indicate fatal inflammation from the bites).
It leads to repentance : “And the people came to Moses and said: We have sinned in that we have spoken against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord that He remove the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses: Make yourself a [copper] serpent and set it out on the banner, and [if a snake bites a person], the one who was bitten, looking at it, will remain alive." ( Numbers 21:5-8 )
For many peoples, including the Israelis, the serpent was a symbol of dark demonic forces (in particular, the one who tempted Eve). The Egyptians depicted a defeated serpent as a sign of the Sun's victory over it. Perhaps the copper snake nailed to the banner was a sign of victory over the snakes, understandable to the people. Subsequently the brass serpent, Heb. "Nekhushtan", became one of symbols of Israelite wanderings in the desert and the saving action of God . It was kept in the tabernacle, and then in the Temple built in its place. At some point, the Israelites began to worship it as an idol, and under King Hezekiah it was destroyed.
In the New Testament, Christ compares His cross to a brass serpent lifted up in the wilderness, like a banner of salvation: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,so that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life."(John 3:14). Thus, The brass serpent is a type of Jesus Christ , who took upon himself the sins of humanity; snake bites represent the wounds that sin inflicts, and healing is possible only by faith, by turning to the Cross of Christ - as the Israelites received healing by looking at the copper serpent.
Fedor (Fidelio) Bruni. The Copper Serpent, final sketch for the painting of the same name (1839).
All forty years of wandering Israel by desert can be divided as follows:
- from Egypt to Sinai - 2 months
- at Mount Sinai - a little over a year
- wandering in the desert from Sinai to the steppes of Moab - 38 years,
- in the steppes of Moab on the eve of the Promised Land - about 10 months.
- Stans in Egypt : city Raamses- starting point; Succoth, a day's journey from Rameses; Etham, near the fortress of the same name; Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon and Migdol, near the Red Sea.
- Camps on the way to Sinai : Marah (where there was "bitter water"); Elim; camp by the Red Sea; camp in Desert Xing; Dofka at Egyptian mines; Alush; Refidim(where the battle with the Amolites took place); on the plain of Er-Raha at Mount Horeb/Sinai.
- Camps on the way from Sinai to the Promised Land : Kibrot-Gattaava ("coffins of lust" - where those who had eaten too many quails died); Asirof ; Kadesh (in the Paran desert).
Having settled in the northern part of the Paran desert in the oasis of Kadesh (Greek Kadesh), the Israelites, contrary to the will of Moses, undertake a military foray towards the Negev (southern Palestine), but encounter resistance from the Canaanites. After this, they return to the desert to the Gulf of Elath and from there, bypassing Edom, head to Transjordan, to the plains of Moab.
- Stans during a 38-year wandering in the desert : Timna; Rimmon-Faretz; Livna; Rissa; Kegelaf; on Mount Shafer; Harada; Makelof; Tahaf; Tarah; Mythka; Hashmona; Moserof; Bene Yaakan; Khor-Agidgad; Iotvafa; Avrona; Ezion-Geber; Kadesh
- Last camps from Kadesh : at Mount Hor, at the borders of the land of Edom; Salmon; Punon; Owof; Iim-Avarim, on the borders of Moab; Divon-Gad; Almon-Davlafayim; on the mountains Avarimskikh, before the city Nevo; on the plains Moabite, at the Jordan, against Jericho.
This entry was originally posted at
After the death of Patriarch Joseph, the situation of the Jews changed dramatically. The new king, who did not know Joseph, began to fear that the Jews, having become a numerous and strong people, would go over to the enemy’s side in the event of war. He appointed commanders over them to wear them out with hard work. Pharaoh also ordered the killing of newborn Israelite boys. The very existence of the chosen people is under threat. However, God's Providence did not allow this plan to be carried out. God saved the future leader of the people, Moses, from death. This greatest Old Testament prophet came from the tribe of Levi. His parents were Amram and Jochebed (Exodus 6:20). The future prophet was younger than his brother Aaron and sister Mariam. The baby was born when Pharaoh's order to drown newborn Jewish boys in the Nile was in force. The mother hid her child for three months, but then was forced to hide him in a basket in the reeds on the river bank. Pharaoh's daughter saw him and took him into her house.. Moses' sister, who was watching from afar, offered to bring a nurse. According to God's will, it was arranged so that his own mother became his nurse, raising him in her home. When the boy grew up, his mother brought him to the pharaoh's daughter. While living in the king's palace as an adopted son, Moses was taught all the wisdom of Egypt, and was mighty in words and deeds (Acts 7:22).
When should he turned forty years old, he went out to his brothers. Seeing that the Egyptian was beating the Jew, he, defending his brother, killed the Egyptian. Fearing persecution, Moses fled to the land of Midian and was received in the house of the local priest Raguel (aka Jethro), who married his daughter Zipporah to Moses.
Moses lived in the land of Midian Fourty years. Over these decades, he gained that inner maturity that made him capable of accomplishing a great feat - with God's help free the people from slavery. This event was perceived by Old Testament people as central in the history of the people. It is mentioned more than sixty times in the Holy Scriptures. In memory of this event, the main Old Testament holiday was established - Easter. The outcome has spiritual and educational significance. The Egyptian captivity is an Old Testament symbol of the slavish subordination of humanity to the devil until the redemptive feat of Jesus Christ. The Exodus from Egypt marks spiritual liberation through the New Testament Sacrament of Baptism.
The exodus was preceded by one of the most important events in the history of the chosen people. epiphanies. Moses tended his father-in-law's sheep in the desert. He reached Mount Horeb and saw that The thorn bush is engulfed in flames, but does not burn. Moses began to approach him. But God called to him from the midst of the bush: don't come here; take off your shoes from your feet, for the place on which you stand is holy ground. And he said: I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.(Exodus 3:5-6).
The outer side of the vision - a burning but not consumed thorn bush - depicted the plight of the Jews in Egypt. Fire, as a destroying force, indicated the severity of suffering. Just as the bush burned and was not consumed, so the Jewish people were not destroyed, but were only purified in the crucible of disasters. This is a prototype of the Incarnation. The Holy Church adopted the symbol of the Burning Bush of the Mother of God. The miracle lies in the fact that this thorn bush, in which the Lord appeared to Moses, has survived to this day. It is located in the fence of the Sinai monastery of St. Catherine the Great Martyr.
The Lord who appeared to Moses said that scream the children of Israel suffering from the Egyptians reached Him.
God sends Moses on a great mission: bring my people the children of Israel out of Egypt(Exodus 3:10). Moses humbly speaks of his weakness. God responds to this hesitation with clear and overpowering words: I'll be with you(Exodus 3:12). Moses, having accepted high obedience from the Lord, asks the name of the Sender. God said to Moses: I Am That I Am (Exodus 3:14). In a word Existing in the Synodal Bible the sacred name of God is conveyed, inscribed in the Hebrew text with four consonants ( tetragram): YHWH. The above passage shows that the prohibition to pronounce this secret name appeared much later than the time of the Exodus (perhaps after the Babylonian captivity).
During the reading aloud of sacred texts in the tabernacle, temple, and later in synagogues, instead of the tetragram, another name of God was pronounced - Adonai. In Slavic and Russian texts the tetragram is conveyed by the name Lord. In biblical language Existing expresses the personal beginning of absolute self-sufficient being, on which the existence of the entire created world depends.
The Lord strengthened the spirit of Moses two miraculous actions. The rod turned into a snake, and Moses' hand, which was covered with leprosy, was healed. The miracle with the rod testified that the Lord was giving Moses the authority of the leader of the people. The sudden defeat of the hand of Moses by leprosy and its healing meant that God had endowed His chosen one with the power of miracles to fulfill his mission.
Moses said he was tongue-tied. The Lord strengthened him: I will be at your mouth and teach you what to say.(Exodus 4:12). God gives the future leader his elder brother as an assistant Aaron.
Coming to Pharaoh, Moses and Aaron, on behalf of the Lord, demanded that the people be released into the desert to celebrate the holiday. Pharaoh was a pagan. He declared that he did not know the Lord and that the people of Israel would not let them go. Pharaoh became bitter against the Jewish people. Jews did hard work at this time - they made bricks. Pharaoh ordered their work to be made more difficult. God again sends Moses and Aaron to declare His will to Pharaoh. At the same time, the Lord commanded to perform signs and wonders.
Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent. The wise men and sorcerers of the king and the magicians of Egypt did the same with their spells: they threw down their wands, and they became snakes, but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.
The next day the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron to perform another miracle. When Pharaoh went to the river, Aaron struck the water with his rod in front of the king's face and water turned to blood. All the reservoirs in the country were filled with blood. Among the Egyptians, Nile was one of the gods of their pantheon. What happened with the water was supposed to enlighten them and show the power of the God of Israel. But this one first of the ten plagues of Egypt only hardened Pharaoh's heart even more.
Second execution took place seven days later. Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and went out frogs covered the ground. The disaster prompted Pharaoh to ask Moses to pray to the Lord to remove all the frogs. The Lord fulfilled the requests of His saint. Toads are extinct. As soon as the king felt relief, he again fell into bitterness.
Therefore I followed third plague. Aaron struck the ground with his rod, and they appeared midges and began to bite people and livestock. In the original Hebrew these insects are called kinnim, in Greek and Slavic texts - sketches. According to the 1st century Jewish philosopher Philo of Alexandria and Origen, these were mosquitoes - a common scourge of Egypt during the flood period. But this time all the dust of the earth became midges throughout the whole land of Egypt(Exodus 8:17). The Magi were unable to repeat this miracle. They told the king: this is the finger of God(Exodus 8:19). But he didn't listen to them. The Lord sends Moses to Pharaoh to tell him on behalf of the Lord to let the people go. If he does not comply, they will be sent throughout the country dog flies. It was fourth plague. Her tools were flies. They are named canine, apparently because they had a strong bite. Philo of Alexandria writes that they were distinguished by their fierceness and persistence. The fourth plague has two features. Firstly, The Lord performs a miracle without the mediation of Moses and Aaron. Secondly, the land of Goshen, in which the Jews lived, was freed from disaster so that Pharaoh could clearly see absolute power of God. The punishment worked. Pharaoh promised to release the Jews into the desert and make a sacrifice to the Lord God. He asked to pray for him and not to go far. Through the prayer of Moses, the Lord removed all the dog flies from Pharaoh and the people. Pharaoh did not let the Jews go into the desert.
followed fifth plague - pestilence which struck all the livestock of Egypt. The Jewish cattle are no longer in trouble. God also carried out this execution directly, and not through Moses and Aaron. Pharaoh's tenacity remained the same.
Sixth plague was accomplished by the Lord only through Moses (in the first three, Aaron was the mediator). Moses took a handful of ashes and threw them towards the sky. People and livestock were covered boils. This time the Lord Himself hardened Pharaoh's heart. He did this, apparently, in order to further reveal His all-conquering power to the king and all the Egyptians. God says to Pharaoh: I will send tomorrow, at this very time, a very strong hailstorm, the like of which has not been seen in Egypt since the day of its foundation until now.(Exodus 9:18). The sacred writer notes that those servants of Pharaoh who feared the words of the Lord hastily gathered their servants and flocks into houses. The hail was accompanied by thunder, which can be explained as voice of God from heaven. Psalm 77 gives additional details of this execution: they beat down their grapes with hail, and their sycamores with ice; gave up their cattle to hail and their flocks to lightning(47-48). Blessed Theodoret explains: “The Lord brought upon them hail and thunder, showing that He is the Lord of all the elements." God carried out this execution through Moses. The land of Goshen was not damaged. It was seventh plague. Pharaoh repented: this time I have sinned; The Lord is righteous, but I and my people are guilty; pray to the Lord: let the thunders of God and the hail cease, and I will let you go and will no longer hold you back(Exodus 9:27-28). But the repentance was short-lived. Soon the pharaoh again fell into a state bitterness.
Eighth Plague was very scary. After Moses stretched out the rod over the land of Egypt, The Lord brought a wind from the east, which lasted day and night. Locusts attacked all the land of Egypt and ate all the grass and all the greenery on the trees.. Pharaoh repents again, but, apparently, as before, his repentance is superficial. The Lord hardens his heart.
Peculiarity ninth plague in that it was caused by the symbolic action of Moses stretching out his hands to heaven. Installed for three days thick darkness. By punishing the Egyptians with darkness, God showed the insignificance of their idol Ra, the sun god. Pharaoh yielded again.
Tenth Plague was the worst. The month of Abib has arrived. Before the exodus began, God commanded that Passover be celebrated. This holiday became the main one in the Old Testament sacred calendar.
The Lord told Moses and Aaron that every family on the tenth day of Abib (after the Babylonian captivity this month began to be called Nissan) took one lamb and kept him apart until the fourteenth day of this month, and then slaughtered him. When the lamb is slain, they shall take some of its blood and They will anoint it on both doorposts and on the lintel of the doors in the houses where they will eat it..
At midnight on the 15th of Aviva the Lord struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, as well as all the firstborn of livestock. The firstborn Jews were not harmed. Because the doorposts and lintels of their houses were anointed with the blood of the sacrificial lamb, The angel who smote the firstborn of Egypt, passed by. The holiday established in memory of this event was called Easter (Heb. Passover; from a verb meaning jump over something, pass by).
The blood of the lamb was a prototype of the atoning Blood of the Savior, the Blood of cleansing and reconciliation. Unleavened bread (unleavened bread), which Jews were supposed to eat on Easter days, also had a symbolic meaning: in Egypt, Jews were in danger of becoming infected with pagan wickedness. However, God brought the Jewish people out of the land of enslavement and made them a spiritually pure people, called to holiness: And you will be holy people to Me(Exodus 22, 31). He must reject the previous leaven of moral corruption and start a clean life. Unleavened bread that cooks quickly symbolized that speed, with which the Lord led His people out of the land of enslavement.
Easter meal expressed general unity of its participants with God and among themselves. The fact that the lamb was cooked whole, including the head, also had a symbolic meaning. The bone shouldn't have been crushed.
