Chapter XXVIII. Ezekiel Concerning the Same

‘WITH regard to Moses being exposed by his mother in the marsh, and taken up and reared by the king’s daughter, Ezekiel the tragic poet gives an account, taking up the narrative from the beginning when Jacob and his family came into Egypt to Joseph. And he tells it as follows, bringing Moses forward as the speaker: [1]

“When Jacob from the land of Canaan down To Egypt came, with threescore souls and ten, He there begat a multitudinous race, Who much endured and long, by wicked men And tyrant’s hand to this our day crushed down. For when he saw our people had waxed strong, The king with subtle craft our fathers ruled, And some in making bricks ho sore oppressed, And some in raising heavy stones to build His lofty towers, for their despite contrived. Next he commands that all the Hebrew race Cast every man-child in the Nile’s deep flood. And I have often heard my mother tell, How at that time she hid me for three months: Fearing detection then, she wrapped me close In rough attire, and laid me secretly ‘Mid the thick rushes by the river’s bank. My sister Miriam close at hand kept watch, Till Pharaoh’s daughter with her maids came down To bathe her shining limbs in the cool stream. She saw the babe, and straightway took it up, And knew its Hebrew birth. My sister then Ran up, and to the princess thus she spake: ‘Wilt thou I find as nurse for this fair child Some Hebrew wife?’ The princess bade her speed, And to her mother quick she told the tale, Who came with speed, and took me in her arms. Then spake the Pharaoh’s daughter, ‘Take this child To nurse, good dame, and I will pay thy wage.’ ‘Moses’ the name she gave, to mark the fact That from the river’s brink she drew me forth.”

‘To this farther on in the tragedy Ezekiel adds more on the following points, bringing Moses forward as speaking:

“So when my time of infancy was past, My mother led me to the princess’ home, But first she told me all the tale, my birth And kindred, and God’s gifts of old. The princess then through all my boyhood’s years, As I had been a son of her own womb, In royal state and learning nurtured me. But when the circle of the days was full, I left the palace, urged to lofty deeds By my own soul, and by the king’s device. Then the first day I saw two men at strife, Egyptian one, and one of Hebrew race. And when I saw that we were quite alone, None else in sight, I to the rescue came, Avenged my kinsman, and the Egyptian slew, And buried in the sand, that none might see What we had ventured, and lay bare the deed. But on the morrow’s dawn again I saw Two of our kin in deadly strife, and cried, ‘Why smitest thou thy weaker brother thus?’ But he replied, ‘And who made thee a judge, Or ruler here? Me also wouldest thou slay, As that man yestermorn?’ Then to myself In fear I said, ‘How came that deed abroad?’ All this was quickly carried to the king. And Pharaoh sought to take away my life. His plot I learned, and from his hands escaped, And now to other lands am wandering forth.”

‘Then, concerning the daughters of Raguel he adds this:

“But here, behold! some seven fair maids I see.”

‘And on his asking them what maidens they were, Zipporah replies:

“The land, O stranger, bears the common name Of Libya, but by various tribes is held Of dark-skinned Aethiops: yet the land is ruled By one sole monarch, and sole chief in war. This city has for ruler and for judge A priest, the father of myself and these.”

‘He then describes the giving drink to the cattle, and adds the account of his marriage with Zipporah, bringing forward Chum and Zipporah as speaking in alternate verses:

“Ch.’Yet this thou need’st must tell me, Zipporah.’ Z.’My father gave me for this stranger’s wife.’”