Texts in Conversation
In Numbers, Aaron’s staff sprouts buds and almonds as a sign confirming the priesthood. The Protoevangelium of James echoes this scene with Joseph, whose staff produces a dove that perches on his head, marking him as Mary’s chosen guardian.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Numbers 17:8
Hebrew Bible
7 Then Moses placed the staffs before the Lord in the tent of the testimony. 8 On the next day Moses went into the tent of the testimony—and the staff of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted, and brought forth buds, and produced blossoms, and yielded almonds! 9 So Moses brought out all the staffs from before the Lord to all the Israelites. They looked at them, and each man took his staff.
Protoevangelium of James 9
Gospel of James
Pseudepigrapha
9 And Joseph, throwing down his axe, went out to meet them; and when they had gathered, they went to the high priest, each bringing their rods. The high priest, taking all their rods, went into the temple to pray; and after he finished, he took the rods and returned them to the men, but no sign appeared in any of them. Joseph took his rod last, and behold, a dove emerged from it and flew onto Joseph’s head. The priest said to Joseph, “You have been chosen by lot to take into your care the virgin of the Lord.” But Joseph protested, saying, “I have children, and I am an old man, while she is a young girl. I’m afraid I’ll become a laughingstock among the sons of Israel.” The priest replied, “Fear the Lord your God, and remember what the Lord did to Dathan, Abiram, and Korah, when the earth opened and swallowed them because of their rebellion. Now, Joseph, fear lest the same thing happen in your house.” Joseph, fearful, accepted her into his care. He said to Mary, “Behold, I have received you from the temple of the Lord; now I leave you in my home while I go to build my buildings, and I will return to you. The Lord will protect you.”
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Notes and References
... An important detail in the description of the messenger’s instructions for finding an appropriate husband for Mary is the image of the staff (ῥάβδος). This detail evokes Numbers 17, whereby a staff (ῥάβδος) is also used to determine the priestly line worthy to serve and be responsible for the Temple (Numbers 17:1-5). In other words, the selection of Mary’s husband is described in a manner that recalls the selection of Aaron’s line as the caretakers and servants of the Temple ... The selection of Mary’s husband unfolds in this sequence: heralds are sent forth to all widowers of the people living in the surrounding countryside of Judea; instructions are sent to have all widowers assemble before the high priest; each man is told to bring a staff; after collecting the rods, the high priest enters the temple again and prays; after returning the rods to their proper owners, a dove appears from Joseph’s rod and perches upon his head (Protevangelium of James 8:9-9:6). ... Not surprisingly, then, just as Aaron’s staff buds in Numbers 17:8, so Joseph’s staff too receives a sign–in this case, in the form of a dove (περιστερά). ...
Vuong, Lily
Accessing the Virgin: Gender and Purity in the Protoevangelium of James
(pp. 170-171) McMaster University, 2010
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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