The Torah tells us (Beshalach, Chapter 15, verses 22-26) that the very first miracle performed by God for the Jewish people after saving his people at the Red Sea occurred only three days into their wilderness journey. The unique miracle occurred when they arrived at Marah (“bitterness”) thirsty and tired. They had gone three days without water (Beshalach 15, verse 22) and were in a foul mood when the incipient nation began crying out to Moshe for water. Fortunately they came to the waters of Marah.
Unfortunately, the waters lived up to their name, “Marah” and were very bitter to the taste. Not a good combination. Moshe, as the Torah relates, cries out to God who “showed him a tree, and he cast it into the waters, and the waters were made sweet.” (Exodus chapter 15, verse 25) Thus was that problem resolved and peace restored (at least for the time being).
Historical note: The waters of Marah, one of the many lakes in the area, is located in the very arid Wilderness of Shur, tying along the coast of Red Sea, known as the Gulf of Suez. One could surmise that the notorious “bitterness” of the waters were a product of their heavy salt-water content. The waters of Marah, located at the northern tip of the sea, were fed by the Red Sea, which was and is one of the heaviest salt-water seas in the world. (On a scientific note: Lakes or ponds near the Red Sea can become salty where there is considerable evaporation and limited fresh water inflow, as per the conditions that existed by the waters of Marah. In arid regions like the area around the Red Sea, high temperatures and low precipitation can have the effect of causing water bodies, such as those at Marah, to become heavily saline, or way too bitter.)
This leads to the question that is still unanswered today: What was the type of tree or shrub tossed into the water, which acted to miraculously take the “Marah” out of the bitter waters? This question has not yet, to my knowledge, been answered. I have, however, looked into it, as this miracle at Marah has always intrigued me. I had to know the type of tree. So I looked into answering the question.
First I looked at the ubiquitous olive tree. My thought process that the olive tree provided the acidity needed to neutralize the bitter salt base of the Marah waters. However, I chose to eliminate that option upon learning that it was during the fermentation process where they develop their noticeable acidity. Here, in our biblical situation, there was no time to wait for fermentation and brining. I further learned that the unripe green olives, prior to fermentation, start off fairly neutral.
So what then was the divinely ordained tree branch that God pointed out to Moshe as the solution to neutralizing the bitter waters of Marah so as to enable its potability, suitability to drink?
Further, as to its medicinal purposes, would the Moringa tree be the agent needed to help
Moshe remedy this situation at Marah? Heck, yes.
Scientific journals agree on this without hesitation. A November 2019 article in Technology Networks stated: “Seeds from the Moringa tree have unique water purification properties…” and further, “researchers, by focusing on a particular protein, have been able to identify specific mechanisms underlying the water purification properties of Moringa seeds.” (https://bit.ly/3Q1OZh9). Also see the article at https://allaboutmoringa.info stating, “Moringa trees act as a water purification agent primarily due to the positively charged proteins found in their seeds,” and further, “it’s a natural and effective way to purify water, especially in regions where access to clean water is limited.”
It had to be the Moringa tree. God pointed it out to Moshe to teach him which tree branch to use, and no doubt it was one heavily with seeds, as the seeds seem to be the source of the water purification properties.
If that’s not enough proof, then know that the Moringa Oleifera, in vitamin and health benefit
circles, is known as the “tree of life” or “miracle tree,” classified as an important herbal plant due to its medicinal and non-medicinaI benefits (International JournaI of Molecular Sciences, Abstract dated January 20, 2023).
Still need more proof? Perhaps it comes best in the prescient and deep insights of the Zohar who first characterized the branch Moshe threw into the bitter Marah springs, nullifying their bitterness, as the “Tree of Life.” Zohar 60 (a).
