Ta Ha (Ta Ha)
Verses 92-94 GROUP_771 20.92-94
92
قَالَ يَا هَارُونُ مَا مَنَعَكَ إِذْ رَأَيْتَهُمْ ضَلُّوا
Moses said to Aaron, ‘What prevented you, when you saw that they had gone astray,
93
أَلَّا تَتَّبِعَنِ أَفَعَصَيْتَ أَمْرِي
from following me? Why did you disobey my command?’
94
قَالَ يَا ابْنَ أُمَّ لَا تَأْخُذْ بِلِحْيَتِي وَلَا بِرَأْسِي إِنِّي خَشِيتُ أَن تَقُولَ فَرَّقْتَ بَيْنَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ وَلَمْ تَرْقُبْ قَوْلِي
Aaron said, ‘Son of my mother! Do not seize me by my beard nor by my head. I was afraid that you would say, “You have caused dissension among the Children of Israel and did not pay heed to my words.”’
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Commentary
(a) Moses took his brother severely to task. Aaron explained that it was not that he had not tried to reform the people, or that he had reconciled himself to their ignorance. On the contrary, he had tried with all the force at his command to dissuade them from adopting such idolatrous practices. However, the problem was that the majority of the people had been influenced by Samiri’s guile and had become his supporters. When Aaron persisted, they were ready to fight and shed blood. Therefore, he was afraid that if he continued his efforts, there would be strife and bloodshed within the community. Aaron said that when matters had reached this stage, he had to choose between two alternatives: either internal strife or postponement of the issue till Moses’ return. Aaron adopted the second alternative as being the more advisable. In many instances, to avoid bloodshed, remaining non-commital is a better option, for the other option may prove to be greater evil.