Was this really a Biblical account or a rabbinical writing?

[Itiswell]

I was listening to Dr. Laura today (okay, I hear the groans already) and she was giving advice to a caller based on, according to her, what Aaron, Moses' brother did...I was not familiar with this story and was wondering if it is in the Bible. If not, I wonder if it is from a rabbinical teaching. Here goes...

Two folks were constaintly disputing, and Aaron needed to intervene. So when he saw the first guy (I'll call him Moe), he said to Moe, "Hey Moe, the last time I saw Manny (made up name for guy #2), he said you were really a great guy."

Then the next time Aaron saw Manny, he said, "Hey, Moe was telling me how much you helped him last week."

Then the next time Moe and Manny met, instead of fighting they embraced. So Aaron supposedly told two lies, although they were complimentary, in order to create peace between the two men.

It didn't sound Biblical to me because the Bible typically does not tell about someone sinning (lying) with profitable results.

Thanks.

[Wildcat81]

It's not in the Bible, no.

[Zaphnathpaaneah]

I think it was in National Geographic.

[tom_roberts]

whenever you hear a claim of something in the bible

Always ask for the verse:)

[Obadiah]

It's a traditional story, although I'm not sure where in the literature it appears.

The rabbis look at Aaron as the consummate peacemaker. Hillel said, "Be disciples of Aaron, loving peace and pursuing peace, loving people and drawing them near the Torah." The rabbinic take is based on Malachi 2:6 (where peacemaking is actually predicated of Levi) and from the overall presentation of Aaron in the Torah.

As for lying... that's a bit more complex than you've made it out to be. There are a number of what might be called sanctified lies in Scripture.

[A Berean]

It's a traditional story, although I'm not sure where in the literature it appears.

The rabbis look at Aaron as the consummate peacemaker. Hillel said, "Be disciples of Aaron, loving peace and pursuing peace, loving people and drawing them near the Torah." The rabbinic take is based on Malachi 2:6 (where peacemaking is actually predicated of Levi) and from the overall presentation of Aaron in the Torah.

As for lying... that's a bit more complex than you've made it out to be. There are a number of what might be called sanctified lies in Scripture.

God is not a man that He should lie! What are you talking about "sanctified lies"?????? :twitch

[antsinmypants]

I have never ever heard that, though there have been allegories taught about how well of a peace maker Aaron was.

[icebear]

i know the part in Joshua where Rahab hides the two men under flax piles, and tells their pursuers that she dosen't know where the men went....


that gets brought up as a lie here and there....

[Itiswell]

Icebear,

That brings up an interesting point, and makes me think of my daughter's homework assignment. Now I am going to derail my whole thread. My daughter is reading a book at school (co-op that meets twice a week for homeschoolers) called "Witch at Blackbird Pond". Although the title is alarming, it is kind of misleading. It takes place in colonial days, and a widow is considered a witch because she is a loner, although she is not a witch at all.

The main character of the story, a young girl, goes against her parents wishes, and befriends the woman, and ends up bringing her back into the community. Next Monday, my daughter's class will debate whether or not the girl did the right thing by disobeying her parents in order to be kind to a widow. The teacher is encouraging Scripture to defend one's position in the debate. Even though the girl was not honoring her parents, the reason the woman was ostracized was because of unfounded gossip...it should make for an interesting discussion.

[antsinmypants]

That is such a good book, I get so frustrated reading it because of how the main character and the widow were treated.

Btw, Gossip is character assasination and is condemned many many times in Scripture. One cool thing I have heard taught is that gossip (slander) is as bad as actually harming the person (as if physically or murder) yourself, because when you think about it - you've done such harm to them as an individual and how others perceive them.