It is quite striking how similar the Samaritan and Alexandrian interpretations of Exodus chapter 3 are. While Irenaeus argues that the god in the burning bush was 'I am that I am' (= the Father) the tradition of Samaritan Mark and Alexandrian Mark agree that it was the angel of the Lord that was present in the fire. Marqe (= Samaritan Mark) writes at the beginning of the Mimar:
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He taught Moses secrets in the bush (Ex. iii. 2), which manifest His majesty and His glory. An angel came up to him and stood before him; he discoursed with him about what had been and what was yet to be. The prophet stood submitting himself before what he saw, his limbs trembling when he saw him who was sent by his Lord [Mimar Marqe 1.1]
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Marqe goes on to say "Good is revealed to a man only if he is like Moses" and then develops a list of all the places in the Pentateuch narrative where angels visited the Patriarchs and then concludes "likewise there was an angel who appeared in the bush, sent by God with a message for the prophet."
What should be kept in mind - and that which often overlooked - is that for Marqe at least, the door is open to heavenly visitations from divine beings (see above reference to 'men like Moses' receiving angels).
Marqe goes on to pay special attention to the double mention of Moses's name by the angel (= what is and what he will be). What will be is explained as God giving divinity to Moses:
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Then He said, I am the God of your fathers (Ex. iii. 6). Take from me divinity and with it make your prophethood strong. I am He who gave (new) life to Adam after his death [ibid 1.2]
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Yet there is a clear shared interpretation of the material with respect to Exodus 3:6 - 14 being somehow related to the resurrection (cf. Matthew 22:31, Mark 12: etc). Marqe writes:
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I am who I am (Ex. iii. 1 4 ) , who was and will be, a root without a beginning.
I am who I am, the one who existed in the beginning and will be on Mount Sinai.
I am who I am, commander of the world and summoner of the creatures.
I am who I am, creator of the body and originator of the soul.
I am who I am, who set up the Garden and brought about the recompense on Sodom.
I am who I am, maker of life and establisher of death.
J am who I am, God of the Righteous and Lord of the Hebrews.
Whenever they hear from you this great name, they will all be ready to listen and obey. You will say to the Israelites, I AM has sent me to you (Ex. iii. 14) in peace. The Powerful One who covenanted with Abraham, swore to Isaac and apportioned to Jacob, this is my name for ever and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations (Ex. iii. 1 5 ; Targ.), the living one who does not die, who abides unchangingly.
By this great name I have strengthened them, but the Hebrews do not now hearken to it. [ibid]
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I have never understood the reason why the gospel writer uses Matt 12:31 to introduce the concept of humans not being married after the resurrection. The explanation, I think lies somewhere in Marqe's use of the same material.
05-06-2012, 01:46 PM
The Samaritan Interpretation of Exodus 3 and Matthew 22:31
