Saint Two Face

        Maria Prophetissa. Known also as Mary the Jewess, this lady was the
        sister Miriam, the sister of Moses. It was Miriam, who suggested that
        his mother set the child into the Nile and then later be Moses wet nurse.
        Miriam followed to watch her brother's fate on the river Nile. The Egyptian
        Princess had come to the Nile for her ritual bathing. She was without child
        and was barren. Upon opening the basket, the Princess was moved by the
        child's beauty. Miriam watched as the Egyptian Princess proclaimed the
        child Moses, "From the water." Miriam was brought to the Egyptian Princess
        by the slaves that had brought her the basket. Miriam suggested that Moses'
        mother, Jochebed, be his wet nurse. The Egyptian knew that she was adopting
        a Hebrew slave for her own. This was a violation of the Pharaoh' edict,
        every first born Hebrew of Moses' generation was to be killed. The Pharaoh's
        Priests had warned that a great leader was to be born to the Hebrews.

        Moses was educated as a Prince of Egypt. The Pharaoh believed Moses was
        a surrogate son from an Egyptian slave. Moses became a great general and
        conquered many lands enriching Egypt. Moses was not aware of his Hebrew
        family. Miriam remained as the Egyptian Princess hand maiden. Jochebed
        told Moses she was his mother. Moses chose to live with his Hebrew family.
        It was clear to the Pharaoh that Moses was Hebrew. Moses was banished.
        In the dessert Moses found a Cushite tribe. They were Arab. Moses fell in
        love with a Cushite woman and married her. Miriam objected to this break
        with the Hebrew line. "Has the Lord spoken only to Moses? Has he not spoken
        only to Hebrews?" (Numbers 12:2) Miriam claimed to be equal to Moses.
        Furious Jahovah chastised Miriam with leprosy, turning her white.

              "WITH HIM I SPEAK MOUTH TO MOUTH, CLEARLY, AND NOT
              IN DARK SPEECH; AND HE BEHOLDS THE FORM OF THE LORD."
              (Numbers 12:8).
 
        Moses prayed that Miriam be healed. The Lord commanded that she be
        kept outside the city and that she endure the punishment for seven days.
        Moses blessed his sister upon her return. Miriam would become a great
        prophet and worked in the library of Alexandria. She designed a special
        furnace for spagyric experiments. The term 'brain-Maria' is still used in
        chemistry and cooking owes its origin to her.

        Reflections: Was Moses two faced? How did he pass as an Egyptian?
                          Why would he marry an Arab woman?



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