Have you ever heard the
idea that ‘The high priest tied a rope around his ankle
so that others could drag him out of the Holy of Holies in case God struck him
dead,’ mention either in a sermon of from someone? Is it an urban myth or true?
Now an urban myth has been described as,
“a story or statement that is not true but is often repeated,
and believed by many to be true.”[1]
So, where do you sit on this idea regarding the rope around the
ankle of the high priest? Do you see it as true or false?
On this matter, it has
been said that,
“There is no evidence for the claim in the Bible, the
Apocrypha, the Dead Sea Scrolls, Josephus, the Pseudepigrapha, the Talmud,
Mishna or any other source.”[2]
Neither is it mentioned
in the New Testament, yet we hear it over and over again. So, if it is not true,
where did this idea come from in the first place? It seems to have first
appeared in the 13th century Spain, in the Zohar (mystic writings of
Jewish Kabbalah, which is a form of mystical Judaism) and was written by a
Jewish mystic rabbi named Moses de León. It has repeated since then until today.
For example, it has bee said in the Zohar states that,
“Rabbi Yitzchak said, A
chain was tied to the feet of the High Priest, when he entered THE HOLY OF HOLIES,
so that if he dies there, they will take him out, SINCE IT IS FORBIDDEN TO
ENTER THERE. How did they know WHETHER HE WAS ALIVE OR NOT? By a crimson coloured
strap. If its colour did not turn WHITE, it was known at that time that the
priest was there in sin. And if he came out in peace, it was known and
recognized by the crimson strap that turned white. Then there is joy among the
higher and lower beings. If not, they were all in sorrow, and all knew that
their prayer was not accepted.”[3]
As Christ-followers we
need to be perceptive, as the book of Proverbs says,
“The wise of heart is called discerning, and sweetness of speech increases
persuasiveness” (Prov 16:21 ESV).
We need to be wise and perceptive, not believing everything
that we hear. However, many a time, the gullible can swallow tidbits of
information that are not the truth.
Pause
in His presence for a moment and think this over…
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