Another interpretation (of Exod. 4:27): GO INTO THE DESERT TO MEET MOSES. This text is related (to Ps. 85:11 [10]): FAITHFULNESS AND TRUTH MEET; RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PEACE KISS.¹¹⁵., Exod. 1:28; Exod. R. 5:10. RIGHTEOUSNESS: This is Moses, of whom it is stated (in Deut. 33:21): HE CARRIED OUT THE LORD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS.¹¹⁶ PEACE: This is Aaron, of whom it is stated (in Mal. 2:6): IN PEACE AND UPRIGHTNESS HE WALKED WITH ME. FAITHFULNESS: This is Aaron, of whom it is stated (in Deut. 33:8): AND OF LEVI HE SAID: LET YOUR THUMMIM AND URIM BE WITH YOUR FAITHFUL ONE. AND TRUTH ('MT): This is Moses, of whom it is stated (of Moses in Numb. 12:7): HE IS TRUSTED (rt.: 7MN) IN ALL MY HOUSE. Therefore (in Ps. 85:11 [10]): FAITHFULNESS AND TRUTH MEET. (Exod. 4:27): SO HE (Aaron) WENT TO MEET HIM (Moses) ON THE MOUNTAIN OF GOD. (Ps. 85:11 [10], cont.): RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PEACE KISS. (Exod. 4:27, cont.): AND KISSED HIM.

footnotes: ¹¹⁵ Tanh ¹¹⁶ The biblical context is Moses’ blessing of Gad. For the midrash these words form part of an aside at the conclusion of the Gad blessing. So understood, they refer to the one giving the blessing, i.e., Moses.

Another interpretation (of Exod. 4:27): AND KISSED HIM. All kisses are indecent except three, and these are the following: the kiss of departure, the kiss of greatness, and the kiss of reunion (literally: of crossroads).¹¹⁷ The kiss of departure is not silly because it is stated (in Ruth 1:14): AND ORPAH KISSED HER MOTHER-IN-LAW; the kiss of greatness, because it is stated (in I Sam. 10:1): THEN SAMUEL TOOK THE FLASK OF OIL, POURED IT UPON HIS HEAD, AND KISSED HIM….; the kiss of reunion, because it is stated (in Exod. 4:27): SO HE WENT TO MEET HIM ON THE MOUNTAIN OF GOD AND KISSED HIM.

footnotes: ¹¹⁷ Exod.R.5:1.