The Bible ascribes similar miraculous powers to the Rod of Aaron and to the staff of Moses, while the [[Haggadah]] identifies them as one and the same. The [[Midrash]] Yelamdenu states that: "''the staff with which [[Jacob]] crossed the Jordan is identical with that which [[Judah]] gave to his daughter-in-law, Tamar ([[Genesis]] 32:10; 38:18). It is likewise the holy rod with which Moses worked (Exodus 4:20-21), with which Aaron performed wonders before [[Pharaoh]] (Exodus 7:10), and with which, finally, [[David]] slew the giant [[Goliath]] (1 Samuel 17:40). David left it to his descendants, and the Davidic kings used it as a scepter until the destruction of the [[Temple]], when it miraculously disappeared. When the Messiah comes it will be given to him for a scepter in token of his authority over the heathen." | The Bible ascribes similar miraculous powers to the Rod of Aaron and to the staff of Moses, while the [[Haggadah]] identifies them as one and the same. The [[Midrash]] Yelamdenu states that: "''the staff with which [[Jacob]] crossed the Jordan is identical with that which [[Judah]] gave to his daughter-in-law, Tamar ([[Genesis]] 32:10; 38:18). It is likewise the holy rod with which Moses worked (Exodus 4:20-21), with which Aaron performed wonders before [[Pharaoh]] (Exodus 7:10), and with which, finally, [[David]] slew the giant [[Goliath]] (1 Samuel 17:40). David left it to his descendants, and the Davidic kings used it as a scepter until the destruction of the [[Temple]], when it miraculously disappeared. When the Messiah comes it will be given to him for a scepter in token of his authority over the heathen." |