Shownotes Transcript
Hey everyone, welcome to Mythology Explained. In today's video, we're going to discuss an interesting story that features in the Chronicles of Jerahmeel, a work produced in the 14th century that compiles a multitude of apocryphal works, culminating in an extensive biblical history that spans from the creation of the universe by God to the death of Judas Maccabee. One of the stories tells of heaven being assailed by two Egyptian sorcerers, two of the sorcerers who opposed Moses when he returned to Egypt to demand of the Pharaoh that he release the Israelites from bondage. We're going to start off with a quick summary of Moses' return to Egypt, his contest against the sorcerers of the Pharaoh, and the affliction of the 10 plagues upon Egypt. Following that, we're going to go through the story that tells of the two sorcerers who take to the air - their witchcraft granting them the power of flight - and fly to heaven, there doing battle against the Archangels Michael and Gabriel. Let's get into itAfter fleeing Egypt, travelling to Midian, and marrying Zipporah, Moses became a shepherd. One day while watching over his father-in-law's flock, he came across a burning bush, a most peculiar sight because, while the bush was on fire, it wasn't being consumed by the fire. A voice projecting from the bush spoke to Moses, saying that he had been chosen to deliver the Israelites from bondage. Initially, Moses was resistant to this, producing an array of reasons that explain why he was either certain to fail in this task or was ill-suited to this task. These reasons were overcome, and God assured Moses that He, his divine presence and power, would be with Moses in this great task appointed to him. Moses returned to Egypt, convinced the Israelites that God was with them, and, with Aaron at his side, went before the Pharaoh. What followed was a sort of wizard's duel between Moses, backed by the power of God, and the wise men, sorcerers, and magicians of the Pharaoh, their number armed with all manner of trick and enchantment. Aaron placed his staff before the Pharaoh and it transfigured into a serpent, but this was not to impress the pharaoh; for likewise, his servants also turned their staves into serpents.