Moses and the ass
Allison notes the frequent ancient association of Moses with asses. According to Diodorus Siculus, “When Antiochus . . . made war against the Jews he entered the sacred shrine of the god, where only the priest is allowed to go. In it he found a stone image of a thick bearded man seated on an ass and holding a book in his hand. He assumed it was a statue of Moses who founded Jerusalem.” And Tacitus claims that Moses discovered water by following “a herd of wild asses.”
Two thoughts: First, is it thinkable that the MHP would contain a statue of a man? Second, the Tacitus comment suggests some sort of connection with Saul, who comes to a well in the process of searching out his father’s donkeys.
Peter Leithart
Peter J. Leithart is President of Theopolis Institute. He is the author of numerous books on theology, literature, and culture, including Theopolitan, Defending Constantine, and Baptized Body.
In Medias Res
Your weekly digest for all things Theopolis.