Is This the Grandson of Moses?

Judges 18:30

Whatever happened to the children of Moses? According to popular belief, Moses didn’t originate a dynasty of leaders, unlike his brother Aaron whose sons became the priests of the House of Cohen, still respected today. But there’s more to this assumed reality, including the likely option that they were not actual brothers but representing two very different ancient forms of leadership and historical religious options in the emerging culture of Israel. Aaron would indeed be known as the originator of the temple-based Judaism, complete with sacrifices and temple, ritual and dynastic leadership. Moses would come to represent the giving of the verbal, text-based law - abstract ideas and big notions - not temple based or even physical, without blood heirs but rather passing on the leadership mantel to the next worthy leader - from Joshua onwards. 

This surprising chapter winks at where the official story may be hiding more complexity and blurred identities, with competing values, narratives, religious centers and legacies. 

In the previous chapter  a young man from the tribe of Levi leaves Bethlehem, in the territory of Judea, traveling on to the territory of Ephraim, where he becomes the religious authority in the makeshift temple created by Micah. It appears that Levites such as this young man have the authority, as proscribed by Moses, to be the providers of spiritual substance throughout the land. But there’s a problem. In Shiloh, where the official tabernacle resides, the sons of Aaron continue to hold court, making it the first official of several sites in the promised land where Adonai presides. The tensions rise as this chapter continues the saga, and the tribe of Dan - memorable for being the tribe that Samson hails from - decide to conquer more land in the north. They send five spies who encounter the Levite at Micah’s temple, and then go on to the north to spy on the prosperous Canaanite city of Laish, well fortified, and far away from any others who may offer it protection. The spies go back to their people and organize a conquest caravan of some 600 armed men, ready to destroy the peaceful town and take it over, settler style. 

On their way north they stop at Micah’s temple, and convince the young levite in charge to hand over the sacred icons, joining them as they establish a new city on the ruins of the Canaanite  city they are about to demolish. The young man agrees, and so the sacred statue and mask, molten from stolen goods, are stolen once again, and carried up north. Micah tries to pursue but is quickly told to hold off if he’s to stay alive. 

And so it is. The tribe of Dan destroys the city and rebrands it as its own, with a new temple at the center: 

וַיָּקִ֧ימוּ לָהֶ֛ם בְּנֵי־דָ֖ן אֶת־הַפָּ֑סֶל וִ֠יהוֹנָתָ֠ן בֶּן־גֵּרְשֹׁ֨ם בֶּן־מְנַשֶּׁ֜ה ה֣וּא וּבָנָ֗יו הָי֤וּ כֹהֲנִים֙ לְשֵׁ֣בֶט הַדָּנִ֔י עַד־י֖וֹם גְּל֥וֹת הָאָֽרֶץ׃ 

“The Tribe of Dan set up the sculptured divine mage for themselves; and Jonathan son of Gershom son of Moses and his descendants, served as priests to the Danite tribe until the land went into exile.

Judges 18:30

And here is when we are told the surprising details of the Levite’s name and heritage. His name of Jonathan and he’s the son of Gershom, Moses and Zipporah’s firstborn son.

But this prominent progeny is not obvious to the naked eye. The man’s ancestor is masked.

In the actual text of this chapter, found in all Hebrew manuscripts, the Hebrew name of the man’s grandfather is not written ‘Moses’ - Moshe -but ‘Menashe’. Which is it?

In Hebrew it is just a one letter difference. The word is written with a slant and scribal traditions going back some 2,000 years indicate that it’s indeed a hidden tradition - and it is Moses who is hiding in this text.

Why was his name obscured? According to the Talmud and other sources- it was done to save the character of the great lawgiver from being identified with a grandson who became an idol-worshiping religious leader with dubious morals and loyalties. 

What’s at stake here is not just the assumed or forgotten legacy of Moses but the fact that we have here are two competing religious systems - Aaron vs. Moses, the tabernacle at Shiloh vs. the one built by the People of Dan, different forms of worship, and maybe different moralities and codes of ethics and law? 

The end of the verse citing the man’s heritage is also odd and sets the stage for the unhappy ending waiting in the wings: Whatever the religious differences between these tribes, there will be consequences for the pillaging and plunder, war and conquest, theft and lies. The land will be taken over and the people of Israel will get to experience what they committed against the Canaanites - destruction, death, and exile. 

Whoever this obscure grandson was and whatever happened to his dynasty of local priests - this too will be lost to history, only hinted at in one murky scribal marking visible only to those looking really hard for the truth, hiding below the bible belt and between the lines. 

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