Legends of Old Testament characters, from the Talmud and other sources

by S. Baring-Gould

[451]. Koran, Sura xxxviii. v. 43.

[452]. Tabari, i. c. lxvii; Abulfeda, p. 31.

[453]. The early portion of the life of Moses has been elaborated from Rabbinic sources by Dr. B. Beer. Unfortunately he died before the work was completed, and it has been published as a fragment by his friend, G. Wolf. It extends only as far as his marriage with Zipporah. (Leben Moses nach Auffassung der Jüdischen Sage, von Dr. B. Beer; ein Fragment. Leipzig, 1863.) It is, for the most part, compiled from the Sepher Hajasher, or Book of Jasher.

[454]. Yaschar, pp. 1241-53. The history of Zepho is quite a romance, too long for insertion here.

[455]. Yaschar, pp. 1248, 1249; 1253, 1254.

[456]. Ibid., p. 1255.

[457]. Midrash, fol. 51; Yaschar, p. 1157.

[458]. Midrash Jalkut, fol. 52; Yaschar, pp. 1257-9.

[459]. The curious passages, Isaiah vii. 15, 22, may allude to this tradition.

[460]. Moses’s life was shortened because he brought water out of the rock contrary to God’s command (Numb. xxvii. 14), striking the rock instead of speaking to it.