Lev. xxiv. 10, 11.I. SHELOMITH, Salomith, or Salumith, Daughter of Dibri, of the Tribe of Dan, and Mother of that Blasphemer, who having blasphemed the Name of the Lord in the Camp, was condemned to be stoned. The Scripture tells us, that Shelomith had this Blasphemer by an Egyptian, which should be naturally understood of an Egyptian that had marry’d her: But the Rabbins explain it otherwise. They say that Shelomith was a very handsome and virtuous Woman, who having been much tempted by an Egyptian to criminal Conversation with him, one who was an Overseer of the Hebrews Labours, without complying with him in the least; he at last found an Opportunity by Night, of slipping into the House and Bed of Shelomith, in the Absence of her Husband, and so abused her Simplicity.
The Day following, when this Woman had discover’d the Injury that had been done her, she bitterly complain’d of it to her Husband, as soon as he return’d. He at first thought of putting her away from him, but he still kept her for some time, to see if she should prove with Child by the Egyptian. After some Months her Pregnancy was evident, he sent her away, and with Words he assaulted the Officer, who had done this Outrage to him. But the Egyptian abused him still further, both by Words and Blows; so that Moses coming thither by Chance, and hearing of the Injury that the Egyptian had done to the Israelite, he took up his Defence, kill’d the other, and buried him in the Sand.
The Brethren of Shelomith seeing their Sister to be put away like an Adulteress, from the House of her Husband, pretended to call him to Account for it, and to oblige him to take her again. He refus’d it, and the Quarrel grew so high, that at last they came to Blows. Moses happening to be there again, had a mind to reconcile them; but the Husband of Shelomith ask’d him, What he had to do in the Matter? Who had made him a Judge over them? and, Whether he had a mind to kill him also, as Yesterday he kill’d the Egyptian? Moses hearing this, was afraid, and withdrew out of Egypt, into the Country of Midian.
The Blasphemer that was ston’d in the Lev. xxiv. 10, 11.Wilderness was, as the Jews say, the Son of Shelomith and the Egyptian. The Officer who had the Oversight of the Hebrews Labour, is he that Moses speaks of Exod. ii. 11, 12. and the Husband of Shelomith is intimated in the same Place, Exod. ii. 13, 14. ‘Tis thus the Jews sometimes corrupt the Scriptures, by supplying the Text, and refining upon its Narrations.