By Way of the Wilderness

by Gilbert, Morris

  “The same old thing,” Caleb said. “They’re all unhappy with Moses.”

  “What is it this time?”

  “It’s that Korah faction. Korah’s always seen himself as the true leader of Israel.”

  “That’s ridiculous. He couldn’t lead a sheep to water.”

  “But he can influence people. I don’t know why, but maybe because he’s wealthy, people like Dathan and Abiram, from the tribe of Reuben, listen to him, and now he’s got them all stirred up.”

  “What do they want?”

  “I don’t think they know. They just want to get rid of Moses.”

  “Get rid of Moses! That can never happen.”

  “I wish Korah knew that. They’re having a meeting with him this afternoon. You be there.”

  “All right. I don’t know what I can do, though.”

  “You love Moses. He’ll need all of his friends.”

  ****

  The meeting between Moses and the elders was a stormy one. The essence of it was that the elders wanted to take over the leadership of Israel and, of course, Korah, the most influential elder, would be, in effect, the ruler of the Hebrews.

  At one point Joshua cried out, “You elders, give heed to me. The Lord himself has chosen Moses, not you, to be the leader. You are rebelling against the Lord.”

  “We don’t rebel against the Lord!” Korah shouted. “The Lord’s curse is on us because of the sins of Aaron, who made the golden calf.”

  “Yes,” Abiram agreed, “and He commanded the Levites to kill the idolaters. Why didn’t Moses kill his brother? It was Aaron who made the golden calf.”

  “You have gone too far!” Korah went on. “The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord’s assembly?”

  When Moses heard this he fell facedown and said to Korah and his followers, “I have only done as God has directed me. Is it not honor enough for you that God has chosen you to be the elders of Israel? In the morning the Lord will show who belongs to Him and who is holy, and He will have that person come near him. The man He chooses He will cause to come near Him. You, Korah, and all your followers are to do this: Take censers and tomorrow put fire and incense in them before the Lord. The man the Lord chooses will be the one who is holy. You Levites have gone too far!”

  Bezalel murmured to Caleb, “What will happen, Caleb?”

  “Nothing very good for Korah.” Caleb’s lips were drawn in a tight, angry line. “And it is time that he discovered it is Moses, not he, who is the true leader chosen by the Lord. Tomorrow,” he said angrily, “we shall see!”

  ****

  The camp rose at dawn, and all were ready for the confrontation between the elders and Moses. Korah and his men, some two hundred fifty of them, filled their fire pans and added incense. They came to stand before the sanctuary waiting for Moses.

  As for Moses, he and Aaron stood and watched, not knowing what would happen, and then the glory of the Lord appeared to the entire assembly, and the voice of God spoke: “Separate yourselves from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once. Say to the assembly, ‘Move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.’”

  Moses rose up and moved forward, speaking stridently to the congregation. “Move back from the tents of these wicked men! Do not touch anything belonging to them, or you will be swept away because of all their sins.”

  The people who had been close to the tents of Korah, Abiram, and Dathan immediately fled, and when they were clear, the three leaders of the rebellion, with their wives and children, stood their ground, staring defiantly at Moses.

  Moses cried out with a powerful voice, “This is how you will know that the Lord has sent me to do all these things and that it was not my idea. If these men die a natural death and experience only what usually happens to men, then the Lord has not sent me. But if the Lord brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them, with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the grave, then you will know that these men have treated the Lord with contempt.”

  Even as Moses finished his speech, the ground underneath the tents of the three rebels was split, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up with their tents, all their families, and all their goods. They went down alive into the pit, screaming. Bezalel saw Korah meet his doom, screaming with a high-pitched voice like a woman, even as the earth swallowed him up.

  Terrified, the congregation scattered, crying out, “The earth is going to swallow us too!” and as they fled, a fire from the Lord came down and consumed the two hundred fifty men who had offered their incense.

  Caleb had not moved, and now he gripped Bezalel’s arm with an iron grip. “So may it be with all who rebel against the Lord God of Israel. Come! Now that those troublemakers are out of the way, perhaps we will have some peace!”

  Chapter 29

  The terrible punishment of Korah and his followers did not stop the murmurings of the people. Instead they blamed Moses for the deaths of the leaders and the elders. Many of them were bitter at what they felt was God’s refusal to honor His promise.

  A burly member of the tribe of Gad spoke plainly. “I want to live as well as my children and my grandchildren,” he cried out.

  Others joined his cry and said, “I want to have my own farm, grow my own grapes. Instead the Lord has condemned us to wander in this desert. Only our children will go into the land.”

  “Yes, and who knows whether even they will go in?” a man answered him. “The Lord might break His promise to them too, as He has to us.”

  Moses, of course, was fully aware of all of the murmuring and complaining. It had been like this since they had left Egypt. Moses was terrified that the people might turn again to idolatry, or join themselves to the desert tribes, all of whom were idolaters.

  He was constantly burdened by indecision. Where was he to lead Israel? The desert was a terrible place, and he lingered in Kadesh-Barnea as long as he dared, for the cloud had moved on. The wanderings were wearing the people down, at least the people of the older generation. Moses was desperately trying to find an answer to this when Shani came running up to him.

  “Master,” she said breathlessly, “Miriam is very sick. I think she’s dying.”

  Moses’ heart filled with anguish, and he turned at once. “I will go to her,” he muttered.

  The two hurried back to the tent, and Moses, at his first glance, saw that his sister was indeed dying. She had been ill for some time, but now the shadow of death lay on her. She opened her eyes, and her voice was weak as she said, “My brother, why are you so disturbed?”

  “I cannot bear the weight that is on me, my dear sister. It’s more than I can bear to lead my people in the desert for forty years.”

  “Moses, I put you in the basket and watched God’s hand on you. He has used you as a mighty deliverer, but now where is your faith? Think of the generations yet to come, the seed of Abraham who will multiply and live because Israel was led out of bondage.”

  “God’s judgment is always true,” Moses murmured. He took Miriam’s hand and knelt down beside her. He kissed the thin hand and began to weep.

  “I remember,” Miriam whispered faintly, “how I put you in the little basket boat and how the waters carried you over the crocodiles straight to the Princess Kali. It seemed like death at the time, but it was life. So let it be with you, my brother.”

  Miriam lived long enough to bless her family. She prayed for Aaron, for Moses, and then for Bezalel and Shani. “Love God and all will be well,” she whispered.

  Shani’s eyes were filled with tears. “You cannot leave me, Mother.”

  “I must go, but God will lead you and put His hand on you, and on you too, my son, Bezalel. God is all.”

  She passed away an hour later without saying another word, and Moses, his face contorted with agony, took her dead hand and held it to his cheek. “She was a mother in Israel and my comfort,�
� he whispered.

  ****

  After Miriam’s funeral, Shani went back to her tent. It seemed very empty without Miriam, and she knew it would be so for a long time. She was startled at the sound of her name being called. It was a woman’s voice, and when she went to the door of the tent, she saw Yona standing there. “I must speak with you,” Yona said.

  “Come in.”

  Yona stepped inside but refused to seat herself when Shani invited her. “You must forgive me for coming so soon after the burial of your mistress, but something must be settled.”

  “What is that?” Shani asked.

  “As long as Miriam was alive,” Yona said, “it was good that you lived here with her and with Bezalel. But now an unmarried maiden and an unmarried male must not live together.”

  “Of course not. I will be leaving at once.”

  Yona’s jaw sagged. She had expected an argument, and now she glared suspiciously at Shani. “It must be done at once.”

  “It will be done today, and now if you will excuse me—”

  Yona stared at Shani, who turned and was evidently packing her things. “I’m glad you have the sense to see it!” she said sharply and turned to leave. A smile touched her lips. “Now, that’s one problem out of the way,” she murmured.

  Yona went at once to Bezalel and said, “I have spoken with Shani.”

  “With Shani? About what?”

  “Why, about your new arrangements, of course,” Yona said. “Surely you know something has to be done.”

  “I don’t understand you, Yona.”

  “You can’t live with Shani. She is an unmarried woman and you are an unmarried man. It’s not fitting.”

  His anger flared. “I think I’m capable of taking care of my own affairs.”

  “Don’t be angry. I’ve already arranged it. She’s leaving today.”

  “Leaving today! Did you tell her that?”

  Yona opened her mouth, but she had no time to answer, for Bezalel whirled and ran away, leaving her standing there.

  ****

  Bezalel paused outside the tent, took a deep breath, and tried to calm himself. He was confused and angry with Yona, but did not want to let that show. He stepped inside and, in once glance, saw that Shani was packing her things. “You’re leaving?”

  Shani turned and nodded, her eyes fixed on him. “Yes. You must see I can’t stay here.”

  “Yes, you can.”

  “We can’t live together, Bezalel.”

  “Of course not. I realize that. This is your tent, Shani. It belongs to you, along with all of Miriam’s things. I’ve already been invited to stay with Caleb. He has plenty of room.”

  Shani’s eyes suddenly filled with tears. “That … that would be kind indeed.”

  “There’s no kindness to it,” Bezalel said with a shrug. He came forward and took her hand. “We’ve always been close, you and I, haven’t we, little lamb?”

  The use of the old nickname seemed to break through Shani’s emotions, and she began to sob. She was trembling uncontrollably, and without thinking, Bezalel reached out and pulled her into his arms. She began to cry with great, heaving sobs, and he stroked her hair and murmured soft words of comfort. “I know you’ll miss her, and so will I. It’s like having a limb torn off, but we must go on.”

  Slowly the sobbing ceased, and finally Shani stepped back. She wiped the tears from her eyes with a cloth she carried in her belt and said, “Thank you for your kindness.”

  Bezalel struggled to say something, but he could not think how to put it. “You and I, we are all that’s left of our family.”

  “Yes.”

  The word was short, but Bezalel could see that she was struggling not to weep anymore. “We’ll talk later. It will be all right, Shani. You’ll see.”

  ****

  Later in the afternoon Hiram came to speak to Bezalel. Even before he opened his mouth, Bezalel knew what he would say, and he had to force himself to listen.

  “I would like your permission to marry Shani,” Hiram said.

  “I am not her father. We’ve been through that,” Bezalel replied tersely.

  “I know. You’re not even her blood kin, but she says she won’t marry me unless you agree to it.”

  An incredible temptation came to Bezalel at that moment. All I have to do is say no and it’ll be over. He knew, however, that he should not do that, and he said, “I will talk to her, Hiram. Come back tomorrow.”

  “Very well.” Hiram nodded and added, “I will be a good husband to her, Bezalel. I want you to know that.”

  “I believe you, Hiram. Your reputation is good. Come back tomorrow.”

  Bezalel immediately went looking for Shani and found her by a small creek, washing clothes. He sat down beside her but could not speak.

  After a time of silence, Shani asked him, “What is it? Something’s bothering you.”

  “I’ve just had a visitor.”

  “A visitor?”

  “Yes. It was Hiram. He asked permission to marry you.”

  Shani did not look at him, seeming preoccupied with washing one of the garments. She dipped it again and again in the water, and finally she turned to face him. He noted how widely spaced and beautifully shaped her eyes were, colored with a green that seemed to have no bottom. She had a woman’s wide, clean-edged lips, and her hair had glints of gold in it from the sun. He also could not help noticing her figure as she bent over the stream. She had indeed become a woman. He thought about how homely she had been as a child, but now all that had changed. He saw in her eyes and in her lips the hint of her will and pride, and even as he watched, her lips changed slightly at the corners, becoming soft with interest.

  “What did you tell him?”

  “I told him I would talk to you.”

  “And what do you say, Bezalel?”

  “You’re too young. Wait awhile.”

  “I’m not much younger than Yona. Most girls my age are already married.”

  “I know all that, but still I … I wish you’d wait.”

  “Why, Bezalel? What is there to wait for?”

  “I don’t know.” He suddenly picked up a rock and heaved it as far as he could throw it. He watched it hit the ground and then turned to face her. “I’m confused. Miriam’s death has been a blow. It’s not the right time to make such a big decision. Will you wait for a while?”

  Something passed behind those green eyes that Bezalel could not understand, but she said softly in a whisper that he barely heard, “I will wait, Bezalel … until you know what you want.”

  “I want you to be happy,” Bezalel insisted. He took her hand and held it in both of his. “Just for a little while,” he promised.

  “All right, if that’s what you want.”

  ****

  Shani did wait—for much too long a time in Hiram’s opinion. The weeks rolled by and then the months, and still she put him off. He grew short with Bezalel, for he was confident that it was Bezalel who was holding up his marriage, but he loved Shani deeply and did not press the issue.

  During months of travel, the people of Israel dragged themselves from one end of the desert to another. Finally they came once more to Kadesh-Barnea. Despite the hardships, the young men and women of the new generation were growing stronger. Their diet was healthy, even though it was spare, but water was hard to find. They began to cry out to Moses as they had cried out before when leaving Egypt. Some of them said, “If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the Lord! Why did you bring the Lord’s community into this desert, that we and our livestock should die here?”

  Moses at once went before the Lord, and God said to him, “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.”

  Moses was weary almost to death. He gathered the people together, but then, for the first time in his life, he did n
ot obey the words of the Lord. He cried out, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” Then, instead of speaking to the rock as God had commanded, he lifted his staff and struck the rock twice. Water gushed out, and the people cried out in delight. They crowded together before the stream, filling their jugs, some falling on their faces to drink.

  But suddenly Moses heard God’s voice, and there was no gentleness in it, striking fear into him. “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”

  Moses could not speak. He knew he had heard his doom pronounced. Aaron also was included, and the two of them stood before the Lord and bowed low. Moses could not speak a word. For once he could not think of anything to say to his God.

  ****

  Moses led the people into the kingdom of Edom, but the Lord had forbidden him to do battle with the people of that land. Instead the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor, near the border of Edom: “Aaron will be gathered to his people. He will not enter the land I give the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah. Get Aaron and his son Eleazar and take them up Mount Hor. Remove Aaron’s garments and put them on his son Eleazar, for Aaron will be gathered to his people; he will die there.”

  Moses did as the Lord commanded. He took the two men up to Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation, and Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar, his son.

  Aaron stood there shivering, and Moses’ heart broke, but God had spoken. “Good-bye, my brother,” he said. He embraced Aaron, who clung to him. Finally Moses tore his arms away and fled. He could not bear to think of losing his brother on top of the barren mountain.

  Eleazar stayed, and when he came down later saying that his father was dead, all of Israel mourned for thirty days for the high priest.

  ****

  Moses wandered outside the camp during the period in which the people were mourning for Aaron. Once Bezalel brought him food and drink, and he ate a little of it, but his eyes were filled with sorrow. “I am all alone now. My brother and my sister are both gone, and I will never enter the Land of Promise.”