Icon of the Archangel Michael, late 10th–first half of 11th century, silver-gilt, gold cloisonné enamel, stones, pearls (now missing), glass, 44 x 36 cm, likely made in Constantinople (Treasury of the Basilica of San Marco, Venice)
Dear Reader:
Please join us for a 12 week study during the Michaelmas Season 2023. We will turn to legends about St. Michael which take us back in time and to different phases of the development of the consciousness of humanity. St. Michael is being portrayed in these legends in different ways and with differing task. Please feel free and encouraged to join the conversation by posting in the comments section (see below).
With greetings and the hope for courage for the Michaelmas Season 2023 --- Conrad Rehbach
Please join us for a 12 week study during the Michaelmas Season 2023. We will turn to legends about St. Michael which take us back in time and to different phases of the development of the consciousness of humanity. St. Michael is being portrayed in these legends in different ways and with differing task. Please feel free and encouraged to join the conversation by posting in the comments section (see below).
With greetings and the hope for courage for the Michaelmas Season 2023 --- Conrad Rehbach
Study Material for the Michaelmas Study 2023 (Week 4)
Moses' Death
The evil angel Semael, the foremost of all accusers, could not wait for Moses to die and spake incessantly: "When will come his end? When will come the moment when he will have to die and I can dive down and fetch his soul?" It is Semael whom David meant when he said: "The godless is on the watch for the righteous and tries to strangle him." There is no greater evil-doer than Semael and none more righteous than Moses, who has stood before God's Countenance. Semael was longing for Moses' death like unto a man who has been bidden to a wedding and awaits the feast full of impatience. And Semael spake: "When will Michael shed tears and my mouth be full of laughter?"
Thereupon said Michael unto him: "Thou godless one rejoicest while I must weep? Mayest thou not rejoice, oh mine enemy, that I languish on the ground. I shall arise anew. Even though I am sitting in darkness, the Lord is my light. Even though I have been hurled down through Moses' death, I shall arise anew through Joshuah's might, who is going to slay thirty and one kings. Even though I shall sit in darkness at the time when the first and second Temples will be destroyed, the Lord shall be my light in the days of the Messiah."
And Moses spake unto the Lord: "Oh Ruler of the Universe! Even though Thou hast decreed that I may not come into the land of Israel, let me remain in the world and live."
Thereupon spake the Lord: "If I do not let thee die on earth, how should I resurrect thee in the Beyond? Doest thou want to turn into falsehood the word I have said: There is none who shall be saved from My hand!?"
And Moses went on, saying: "Oh Lord of Lords! If Thou wantest not that I should come into the land, let me abide like unto the savage beasts which feed on grass and drink water and live on in the world."
The Lord spake: "Let Me be!"
Moses said: "Then let me abide like unto a bird which flies in the air, searches for his food during the day, and finds peace in its nest at night."
But the Lord answered: "Enough of all this!"
And when Moses saw that he could not escape death, he said these words: "He is like unto a rock. All that He does is blameless."
When the hour of Moses' death was come, the Lord spake unto Gabriel: "Go down and fetch Me the soul of Moses."
The archangel said: "Oh Lord of Lords! Shall I look on at the death of one whose worth equals ten thousand others?"
Then said the Lord unto Michael: "Go down and fetch Moses' soul."
Michael answered: "Oh Lord! I was his teacher and he was my pupil. I cannot be witness to his death."
Thereupon said the Lord to Semael, the evil-doer: "Fly down and grasp Moses' soul." And the fearful one girded himself with his sword, covered himself with grimness and cruelty, and came unto Moses. But Moses sat there, writing the Holy Name into his scroll and his countenance gleamed like unto that of the sun, and he seemed withal like unto an angel.
Thereupon Semael was beset by fear and said unto himself: "Never can the angels catch the soul of this man."
Moses knew that Semael was approaching ere the evil-doer had come nigh unto him. The evil one was grasped by fear and shuddering like unto a woman about to give birth to a child. He ventured not to accost Moses. But Moses said unto him: "The godless, sayeth the Lord, know not peace. What art thou seeking here?"
Semael answered: "I am come to fetch thy soul." Said Moses: "Who has sent thee?"
The angel of death answered: "I am the messenger of Him Who has created all that liveth in the world."
Yet Moses refused to deliver his soul unto Semael and said: "My might is greater than that of all other creatures." When Semael asked of what this might consisted, Moses answered: "I am the son of Amram and have come into the world from my mother's womb without foreskin. It was not needful to circumcise my flesh. On the day that I was born, I opened my mouth and spake. I walked upright on my feet. And I was no nursling sucking milk. When I was three years old, I prophesied that I would receive the Thora out of the fire. And then I invaded the palace of a king, took the crown from his head, and placed it upon mine. When I grew up, I performed miracles in Eypt. I led a people numbering six hundred thousand out of the land of the Egyptians. I tore the ocean into twelve parts. I sweetened the bitter water and dug footpaths in the ocean. I interfered in the battles between the angels. I dwelled underneath the throne of God. And my roof was the pillar of fire. I talked with God from countenance to countenance. I defeated the heavenly hosts and revealed their secrets to mankind. I wrought warfare against Sihon and Og, the two giants, whose ankles are washed by the waters of the great flood. I commanded the sun and the moon to stand still and, while they did so, slew the enemies. Who among the living has done likewise? Get thee hence, thou evil-doer! Demand not my soul, for thou shalt not get it."
Thus departed Semael and told the Almighty what Moses had said. But the Lord said unto Semael: "Thou must catch Moses' soul." Thereupon Semael unsheathed a sword and rushed up to Moses. But Moses grasped his staff on which was inscribed the Ineffable Name and struck the evil-doer with all his might. When Semael fled, Moses pursued him after taking the rayed horn placed between his eyes into his hand. With this horn he pierced the nefarious one's eyes and blinded him. Moses succeeded in doing such deeds.
Then resounded a voice, saying: "Thy life is concluded. Death is come!" Moses spake unto the Lord: "Ruler of the earth! Think of the day on which Thou didst appear to me in the burning bush and didst say to me: Go hence! I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that he may let the people of Israel depart from Egypt.
Think of the time when I dwelled on Mount Sinai. Think of the forty days and forty nights. Grant my prayer and do not deliver me unto death."
And the Lord answered: "Fear not! I Myself will provide for thy death and thy burial."
Then arose Moses and became pure like unto a Seraphim. But the Lord came down from heaven to take Moses' soul to Himself. Three serving angels accompanied Him: Michael, Gabriel and Zagzagael. Michael set down a bier for Moses. Gabriel spread a byssos cloth thereon, and Zagzagael stood at the head of the bier. Then spake the Lord unto His servant: "Oh Moses! Look with one of thine eyes across the other." Moses did so. Then spake God: "Place thy hand on thy breast." Moses followed the command. Then the Lord went on: "Put one of thy feet on top of the other." This too was done. Then the Lord called unto Moses' soul, which was still in the body, and said: "My daughter! I gave thee a hundred and twenty years to dwell in the body of Moses. Now is come the hour when thou shalt forsake it. Come forth and tarry not."
But the soul answered: "Lord of Lords! I know that Thou art the God of all the spirits and all the souls. The souls of the living and the dead are in Thy hand. Thou didst create me and hast let me dwell in Moses' body for a hundred and twenty years. But is there a body purer than his? A body not pestered with a bad smell? A body that will not be devoured by worms and maggots? Therefore I love him and will not forsake his body."
But the Lord spake: "Thou soul of Moses! Go forth from the body. No longer dwell therein. I will lift thee up to the highest of all the Heavens and will let thee dwell, underneath the Throne of My Glory, together with the Cherubim, the Seraphim, and the other heavenly hosts."
But the soul went on: "Lord of Lords! Once upon a time two of Thine angels, Aza and Azael, came down from heaven to earth. They desired the daughters of men and ruined their path on earth. And for this Thou didst let them be suspended between heaven and earth. But this son of Amram has not known his wife since Thou didst appear to him in the burning bush. I implore thee: Let me abide in his body." In this hour, the Lord pressed a kiss on Moses' lips and took away his soul with the kiss of His Mouth.
And God wept and said: "Who will help me against the godless and stand by My Side against the evil-doers?"
The Holy Spirit cried: "No prophet like unto Moses has arisen."
The Heavens wept and said: "No more pious men are in the land."
Joshuah looked for his teacher and found him not. Thereupon he wept, saying: "The Saints have dwindled and there are but few of the faithful among men."
The hosts said: "He has done justice."
And Israel said: "He has protected the rights of Israel."
And the ones and others said: "Those who walk before Thee in righteousness, they will attain peace and rest on their couches."
The memory of the righteous is a blessing and to their souls life eternal will be granted.
- Hebrew Legend
Thereupon said Michael unto him: "Thou godless one rejoicest while I must weep? Mayest thou not rejoice, oh mine enemy, that I languish on the ground. I shall arise anew. Even though I am sitting in darkness, the Lord is my light. Even though I have been hurled down through Moses' death, I shall arise anew through Joshuah's might, who is going to slay thirty and one kings. Even though I shall sit in darkness at the time when the first and second Temples will be destroyed, the Lord shall be my light in the days of the Messiah."
And Moses spake unto the Lord: "Oh Ruler of the Universe! Even though Thou hast decreed that I may not come into the land of Israel, let me remain in the world and live."
Thereupon spake the Lord: "If I do not let thee die on earth, how should I resurrect thee in the Beyond? Doest thou want to turn into falsehood the word I have said: There is none who shall be saved from My hand!?"
And Moses went on, saying: "Oh Lord of Lords! If Thou wantest not that I should come into the land, let me abide like unto the savage beasts which feed on grass and drink water and live on in the world."
The Lord spake: "Let Me be!"
Moses said: "Then let me abide like unto a bird which flies in the air, searches for his food during the day, and finds peace in its nest at night."
But the Lord answered: "Enough of all this!"
And when Moses saw that he could not escape death, he said these words: "He is like unto a rock. All that He does is blameless."
When the hour of Moses' death was come, the Lord spake unto Gabriel: "Go down and fetch Me the soul of Moses."
The archangel said: "Oh Lord of Lords! Shall I look on at the death of one whose worth equals ten thousand others?"
Then said the Lord unto Michael: "Go down and fetch Moses' soul."
Michael answered: "Oh Lord! I was his teacher and he was my pupil. I cannot be witness to his death."
Thereupon said the Lord to Semael, the evil-doer: "Fly down and grasp Moses' soul." And the fearful one girded himself with his sword, covered himself with grimness and cruelty, and came unto Moses. But Moses sat there, writing the Holy Name into his scroll and his countenance gleamed like unto that of the sun, and he seemed withal like unto an angel.
Thereupon Semael was beset by fear and said unto himself: "Never can the angels catch the soul of this man."
Moses knew that Semael was approaching ere the evil-doer had come nigh unto him. The evil one was grasped by fear and shuddering like unto a woman about to give birth to a child. He ventured not to accost Moses. But Moses said unto him: "The godless, sayeth the Lord, know not peace. What art thou seeking here?"
Semael answered: "I am come to fetch thy soul." Said Moses: "Who has sent thee?"
The angel of death answered: "I am the messenger of Him Who has created all that liveth in the world."
Yet Moses refused to deliver his soul unto Semael and said: "My might is greater than that of all other creatures." When Semael asked of what this might consisted, Moses answered: "I am the son of Amram and have come into the world from my mother's womb without foreskin. It was not needful to circumcise my flesh. On the day that I was born, I opened my mouth and spake. I walked upright on my feet. And I was no nursling sucking milk. When I was three years old, I prophesied that I would receive the Thora out of the fire. And then I invaded the palace of a king, took the crown from his head, and placed it upon mine. When I grew up, I performed miracles in Eypt. I led a people numbering six hundred thousand out of the land of the Egyptians. I tore the ocean into twelve parts. I sweetened the bitter water and dug footpaths in the ocean. I interfered in the battles between the angels. I dwelled underneath the throne of God. And my roof was the pillar of fire. I talked with God from countenance to countenance. I defeated the heavenly hosts and revealed their secrets to mankind. I wrought warfare against Sihon and Og, the two giants, whose ankles are washed by the waters of the great flood. I commanded the sun and the moon to stand still and, while they did so, slew the enemies. Who among the living has done likewise? Get thee hence, thou evil-doer! Demand not my soul, for thou shalt not get it."
Thus departed Semael and told the Almighty what Moses had said. But the Lord said unto Semael: "Thou must catch Moses' soul." Thereupon Semael unsheathed a sword and rushed up to Moses. But Moses grasped his staff on which was inscribed the Ineffable Name and struck the evil-doer with all his might. When Semael fled, Moses pursued him after taking the rayed horn placed between his eyes into his hand. With this horn he pierced the nefarious one's eyes and blinded him. Moses succeeded in doing such deeds.
Then resounded a voice, saying: "Thy life is concluded. Death is come!" Moses spake unto the Lord: "Ruler of the earth! Think of the day on which Thou didst appear to me in the burning bush and didst say to me: Go hence! I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that he may let the people of Israel depart from Egypt.
Think of the time when I dwelled on Mount Sinai. Think of the forty days and forty nights. Grant my prayer and do not deliver me unto death."
And the Lord answered: "Fear not! I Myself will provide for thy death and thy burial."
Then arose Moses and became pure like unto a Seraphim. But the Lord came down from heaven to take Moses' soul to Himself. Three serving angels accompanied Him: Michael, Gabriel and Zagzagael. Michael set down a bier for Moses. Gabriel spread a byssos cloth thereon, and Zagzagael stood at the head of the bier. Then spake the Lord unto His servant: "Oh Moses! Look with one of thine eyes across the other." Moses did so. Then spake God: "Place thy hand on thy breast." Moses followed the command. Then the Lord went on: "Put one of thy feet on top of the other." This too was done. Then the Lord called unto Moses' soul, which was still in the body, and said: "My daughter! I gave thee a hundred and twenty years to dwell in the body of Moses. Now is come the hour when thou shalt forsake it. Come forth and tarry not."
But the soul answered: "Lord of Lords! I know that Thou art the God of all the spirits and all the souls. The souls of the living and the dead are in Thy hand. Thou didst create me and hast let me dwell in Moses' body for a hundred and twenty years. But is there a body purer than his? A body not pestered with a bad smell? A body that will not be devoured by worms and maggots? Therefore I love him and will not forsake his body."
But the Lord spake: "Thou soul of Moses! Go forth from the body. No longer dwell therein. I will lift thee up to the highest of all the Heavens and will let thee dwell, underneath the Throne of My Glory, together with the Cherubim, the Seraphim, and the other heavenly hosts."
But the soul went on: "Lord of Lords! Once upon a time two of Thine angels, Aza and Azael, came down from heaven to earth. They desired the daughters of men and ruined their path on earth. And for this Thou didst let them be suspended between heaven and earth. But this son of Amram has not known his wife since Thou didst appear to him in the burning bush. I implore thee: Let me abide in his body." In this hour, the Lord pressed a kiss on Moses' lips and took away his soul with the kiss of His Mouth.
And God wept and said: "Who will help me against the godless and stand by My Side against the evil-doers?"
The Holy Spirit cried: "No prophet like unto Moses has arisen."
The Heavens wept and said: "No more pious men are in the land."
Joshuah looked for his teacher and found him not. Thereupon he wept, saying: "The Saints have dwindled and there are but few of the faithful among men."
The hosts said: "He has done justice."
And Israel said: "He has protected the rights of Israel."
And the ones and others said: "Those who walk before Thee in righteousness, they will attain peace and rest on their couches."
The memory of the righteous is a blessing and to their souls life eternal will be granted.
- Hebrew Legend