 |
 |
| Mandaean Oral Traditions and Folklore LEGENDS OF CREATION, THE FLOOD, ETC. 1 G. Another Version of the Red Sea Story |
 |
| Para Melka was obstinate, and was punished for his obstinacy. The people of Egypt were of our religion, and Musa (Moses), who was brought up with Para Melka, learnt something of our knowledge. The Jews in general worshipped Ruha and her children, especially Yurba, and knew nothing of the Light or the teachings of the children of Light. And even to-day the Jews worship Yurba, who is of the Sun. Yurba is to the sun-ship what a captain is to an earthly ship-he controls it, but he himself is under the orders of the Lords of Light, for the children of dark- ness and those who are of the portion of Ruha serve the children of Light. So it was that Shamish gave Musa power. The people of Musa (i.e. the Jews) and the people of Para Melka (the Egyptians) quarreled, and Para Melka made it so difficult for the Jews that they wished to escape from the country and pass over the Sea of Suf. When they came to it, they went to the ferry, which belonged to Para Melka, and said to the ferryman, 'Ferry us over in your ship'. The ferryman replied, 'I have no orders to ferry you across', and, try as they might, they were unable to persuade him. Now Musa had a staff, and knowledge of secret names. This staff had been given him by Ruha and opened into two parts and was called g"s (?). Musa took this wand and struck the water and uttered names, and the water became solid like the ground, so that people could walk upon its surface like dry land. . . . Then the Jews passed over the Sea, but Musa himself remained standing in the middle and did not remove from it, for, had he come out, the power of the names would have gone with him, and his people been drowned. When the last of them had passed over, he followed them. Then Para Melka and his people came in pursuit of them. Para Melka asked the ferryman how the Jews had passed over, and he said, 'They did not use my ship, nor did they compel me to give it to them. But Musa struck the water with his staff and spoke secret words over the water and it became dry land.' Para Melka said 'Strange!' And he knew whence Musa had this secret knowledge, for they had both studied together when children. Then Para Melka (having the same knowledge) struck the water with his marghna (ritual staff) and it became land. But the powers on high, who hate killing and the shedding of blood, saw [and disapproved], for war and killing are forbidden amongst the children of light. Therefore, when Para Melka passed over, he did not stop in the middle, but crossed over before all his army. Then, as soon as he had reached the other side, the waters closed upon those who were following him, and and they sank beneath the surface. |
| The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran By E.S. Drower Clarendon Press, Oxford,1937 (Reprint Leiden:E.J. Brill 1962) pages254-265 Narrator: Hirmiz bar Anhar |