Aggada -- Translations into English; Bible. Old Testament -- Legends; Jewish legends; Midrash -- Translations into English
The last judgement executed upon the Egyptians corresponded to the
wicked designs harbored against Israel by the three different parties
among them when they set out in pursuit of their liberated slaves. The
first party had said, "We will bring Israel back to Egypt;" the second
had said, "We will strip them bare," and the third had said, "We will
slay them all." The Lord blew upon the first with His breath, and the
sea covered them; the second party He shook into the sea, and the third
He pitched into the depths of the abyss. [51] He tossed them about as
lentils are shaken up and down in a saucepan; the upper ones are made
to fall to the bottom, the lower ones fly to the top. This was the
experience of the Egyptians. And worse still, first the rider and his
beast were whisked high up in the air, and then the two together, the
rider sitting upon the back of the beast, were hurled to the bottom of
the sea. [52]
The Egyptians endeavored to save themselves from the sea by conjuring
charms, for they were great magicians. Of the ten measures of magic
allotted to the world, they had taken nine for themselves. And, indeed,
they succeeded for the moment; they escaped out of the sea. But
immediately the sea said to itself, "How can I allow the pledge
entrusted to me by God to be taken from me?" And the water rushed after
the Egyptians, and dragged back every man of them.
Among the Egyptians were the two arch-magicians Jannes and Jambres.
They made wings for themselves, with which they flew up to heaven. They
also said to Pharaoh: "If God Himself hath done this thing, we can
effect naught. But if this work has been put into the hands of His
angel, then we will shake his lieutenants into the sea." They proceeded
at once to use their magic contrivances, whereby they dragged the
angels down. These cried up to God: "Save us, O God, for the waters are
come in unto our soul! Speak Thy word that will cause the magicians to
drown in the mighty waters." And Gabriel cried to God, "By the
greatness of Thy glory dash Thy adversaries to pieces." Hereupon God
bade Michael go and execute judgement upon the two magicians. The
archangel seized hold of Jannes and Jambres by the locks of their hair,
and he shattered them against the surface of the water. [53]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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