Moses

Moses was a very important prophet in many religions, including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and others. He is known for leading the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. According to the stories about him, Moses was born at a time when the Egyptian Pharaoh wanted to kill all newborn Hebrew boys. His mother hid him, and he was found and raised by the Pharaoh's daughter.

When Moses grew up, he stood up for his people and fled to a place called Midian. There, he met an angel who told him to go back to Egypt and ask for the Israelites to be freed. With the help of his brother Aaron, Moses returned and, after many hardships, led the Israelites out of Egypt and through the Red Sea. He guided them for many years in the desert, where he received important laws known as the Ten Commandments. Moses died before reaching the land promised to his people, but he remains a central figure in many religious traditions and has been featured in many artworks and stories.

Etymology of name

Moses' name might come from an ancient Egyptian word. In Egyptian, "msy" means "child of," and many Egyptian leaders had names ending in "mose," like Thutmose and Ramose.

The Bible tells a story about how Moses got his name. It says that when Moses was a baby, the daughter of the Pharaoh pulled him out of the water and named him "Moses," saying, "I drew him out of the water." This story connects his name to a Hebrew word meaning "to draw out." Some thinkers believe this name shows that Moses would one day help people leave Egypt.

Biblical narrative

Further information: The Exodus

The Israelites lived in the Land of Goshen during the time of Joseph and Jacob. A new Pharaoh came to power and made life very hard for them. Moses was born to a Hebrew woman named Jochebed and was placed in a special box by the river to protect him from the Pharaoh's order to drown Hebrew boys. He was found and raised by Pharaoh's daughter. As an adult, Moses learned of his true heritage and decided to help his people.

God appeared to Moses in a burning bush on Mount Horeb and told him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt to the Promised Land. After many challenges, including ten terrible events that changed the Pharaoh's mind, Moses guided the Israelites through the Red Sea Crossing to safety. At Mount Sinai, Moses received important laws, including the Ten Commandments, from God. He also set up ways for the people to follow God’s rules and built a special place called the Tabernacle for worship.

Moses led the Israelites through many years in the desert. They faced fears and doubts, but Moses continued to guide them. Eventually, Moses saw the Promised Land from afar but did not get to enter it himself. He passed on his leadership to Joshua and delivered important teachings for the people to follow.

Further information: Law of Moses, Mosaic authorship, Deuteronomist, Book of Deuteronomy § Deuteronomic code, and 613 Mitzvot

Moses is honored as a very important teacher of laws for the Jews. He shared many rules and guidelines for the people to live by, which are part of the Torah, the first part of the Hebrew Bible.

Historicity

Scholars have different ideas about whether Moses really lived. Some think he was a real person who may have existed in the southern area called Transjordan around the middle to late 1200s BCE, but they also say that archaeology cannot prove this one way or the other. Others believe Moses might not have been a real person at all, while some think he played a big role in the religion of the Israelites and that parts of his story might be true along with parts that are like stories from long ago.

The story of Moses is similar to stories from ancient times about leaders who started from simple beginnings. For example, the story of Sargon of Akkad tells of a mother who put her baby in a basket and set it floating on a river. Moses is also mentioned in old books such as the Book of Jeremiah and the Book of Isaiah.

There are many theories about Moses. One idea is that Yahweh, a god worshipped by the Israelites, was introduced to them by Moses, who had a father-in-law named Jethro, a priest from Midian. Another theory suggests that the story of Moses might be based on a real person named Amenmose, an official in Egypt who lost his job and had his name changed to something like Mose. However, most scholars think it is hard to know for sure what is true about Moses because many details in the stories about him seem more like myths than facts.

Hellenistic literature

Writings from outside the Bible about Jews, including stories about Moses, began around 323 BCE. These writings show great respect for people from the East, especially certain groups among them.

Many writers talked about Moses. These included Jewish writers like Artapanus, Eupolemus, Josephus, and Philo, as well as non-Jewish writers such as Hecataeus of Abdera, Alexander Polyhistor, Manetho, Apion, Chaeremon of Alexandria, Tacitus, and Porphyry. Moses is also mentioned in later religious texts like the Mishnah and the Midrash.

In stories, Moses is sometimes shown as a priest named Osarseph who led people with skin diseases against a ruler and was driven out of Egypt, later changing his name to Moses.

Hecataeus

The earliest Greek writing about Moses comes from Hecataeus of Abdera in the fourth century BCE. What we know comes from Diodorus Siculus, who says Hecataeus described Moses as a wise and brave leader who left Egypt and settled in Judaea. Hecataeus said Moses founded cities, built a temple, created religious practices, and gave laws to his people.

Artapanus

Artapanus of Alexandria, a Jewish writer from the second century BCE, showed Moses as a great hero. He told stories of Moses fighting in Ethiopia, teaching people about useful animals, and introducing important customs. After returning to Egypt, Moses taught people about farming and religious practices. Artapanus also said Moses escaped danger and later led his people out of Egypt.

Strabo

Strabo, a Greek writer, talked about Moses in his book Geographica. Strabo thought Moses was an Egyptian who did not like how things were in his country, so he led many people to Judaea. Strabo said Moses taught that God cannot be shown as an image and that everyone should live by virtue and justice.

Tacitus

Tacitus, a Roman writer, mentioned Moses when he talked about the Jewish religion. Tacitus said the Jewish religion believed in one God and did not use images. He told the story of how Moses led the Jews out of Egypt after a ruler decided to banish them because of a problem in the land.

Longinus

Longinus, a writer known for his book on great writing, admired the way the Bible talked about God. He did not name Moses but called him "the Lawgiver" and compared him to famous Greek leaders.

Josephus

In his book Antiquities of the Jews, Josephus talked about Moses a lot. For example, Josephus described how Moses helped build Solomon's Temple and moved the Ark of the Covenant there. Josephus also said Moses was wise, brave, fair, and just, and that he worked hard and did not accept gifts to change his decisions.

Numenius

Numenius of Apamea, a Greek thinker, studied Moses and the Hebrew scriptures. He called Moses "the prophet" and compared him to great Greek writers and leaders.

Justin Martyr

Justin Martyr, an early Christian leader, said Moses was older and more trustworthy than Greek thinkers. He began his discussions with Moses, calling him the first religious teacher.

Abrahamic religions

Judaism

Most of what we know about Moses comes from the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Jewish stories and teachings about Moses are found in many books and traditions. Moses is seen as the greatest prophet in Judaism, but he is also remembered as a human being, not someone to be worshipped—only God deserves worship.

Christianity

For Christians, Moses is very important. He is often seen as a symbol of God’s rules, which Jesus later taught about. Moses appeared with Jesus in important moments in the Bible. Many Christian churches honor Moses as a holy prophet and remember him special days.

Mormonism

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also called Mormons, respect Moses like other Christians. They also have additional writings about Moses in their holy books.

Islam

In Islam, Moses is mentioned more than any other prophet in the Quran. His life and teachings are shared in many stories. Moses is seen as both a prophet and a messenger who brought important messages and laws to his people.

Baháʼí Faith

In the Baháʼí Faith, Moses is one of God’s most important messengers. He is remembered for freeing his people from slavery and giving them important laws. Baháʼí teachings say Moses prepared the way for later important messages.

Druze faith

In the Druze faith, Moses is one of the important prophets who appeared throughout history.

Legacy in politics and law

In the Christian tradition, leaders who help people overcome hard times are sometimes called a "Moses." Several Presidents of the United States, including Harry S. Truman, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama, have used this idea.

The Ten Commandments have been linked to the early ideas of democracy. Pope Francis spoke to the United States Congress in 2015, saying that fair laws help people stay united, and that Moses shows us how to respect others.

Early leaders in United States history, like John Carver, the first governor of Plymouth Colony, were called "Moses" for guiding people seeking freedom. After John Carver died, William Bradford used the idea of Moses to give hope to the remaining settlers.

After the Declaration of Independence in 1776, leaders like John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin chose Moses as a symbol for the new United States. After George Washington died, many called him "America's Moses."

Harriet Tubman, who helped enslaved people escape to freedom, was called "Moses." Leaders like Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr. were also called "Moses" for fighting for freedom and equality.

Cultural portrayals and references

Art

Moses is a popular figure in Christian art. The Sistine Chapel has a famous set of paintings showing the life of Moses, painted by artists like Sandro Botticelli and Pietro Perugino. Because of an old mistranslation, Moses is sometimes shown with small horns on his head in old paintings.

One of the most famous statues of Moses is by Michelangelo. It is located in the Church of San Pietro in Vincoli in Rome. The horns on this statue came from the same mistranslation.

Moses is also shown in important places in the United States. For example, there is a large statue of Moses in the Library of Congress. He is one of the lawgivers shown in carvings in the U.S. House of Representatives chamber. Moses also appears many times in the Supreme Court Great Hall, including on the building’s outside design.

Literature

Several famous writers have told stories about Moses. Thomas Mann wrote a story called The Tables of the Law, and Orson Scott Card wrote a novel called Stone Tables. These books retell the story of Moses and the Exodus from Egypt.

Film and television

Moses has been a main character in many movies and TV shows. In 1923 and again in 1956, a movie called The Ten Commandments told his story. In 1998, an animated movie called The Prince of Egypt showed Moses’ life, with Val Kilmer providing his speaking voice. Many other actors have played Moses in different films and TV programs over the years.

Criticism of Moses

In the late eighteenth century, writer Thomas Paine talked about Moses and his rules in his book The Age of Reason. Paine had strong negative feelings about Moses and pointed to a story from the Bible where Moses gave orders after a battle. Some people think this story shows important lessons about staying faithful and strong in one's beliefs.

Different thinkers have looked at this story in various ways, some seeing it as a warning and others discussing its meaning deeply.