Changes

'''Moses''' ([[Hebrew]]: '''מֹשֶׁה''', ''Mōšeh''; [[Arab|Arabic]]: '''موسىٰ''', ''Mūsā''; Ge'ez: '''ሙሴ''', ''Musse'', drawn out) (7 Adar 2433 AM&ndash;m. 2473 AM&ndash;7 Adar 2553 AM) (18 February 1571&ndash;m. 1532&ndash;13 March 1451 BC)<ref name=Jones>Jones, Floyd N. ''The Chronology of the Old Testament'', Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 2004, Chart 4</ref> was the [[prophet]], legislator, [[Judge (biblical)|judge]], and leader of the [[Israel]]ites from the [[Exodus of Israel]] from slavery in [[Egypt]] to the doorstep of [[Canaan (land)|Canaan]]. He is best known for leading the Israelites out of Egypt, and for bringing the [[Ten Commandments]] down from [[Mount Sinai]]. He is also credited with writing most of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the modern [[Bible]]) ca. 1491-1451 BC.

'''Moses''' ([[Hebrew]]: '''מֹשֶׁה''', ''Mōšeh''; [[Arab|Arabic]]: '''موسىٰ''', ''Mūsā''; Ge'ez: '''ሙሴ''', ''Musse'', drawn out) (7 Adar 2433 AM&ndash;m. 2473 AM&ndash;7 Adar 2553 AM) (18 February 1571&ndash;m. 1532&ndash;13 March 1451 BC)<ref name=Jones>Jones, Floyd N. ''The Chronology of the Old Testament'', Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 2004, Chart 4</ref> was the [[prophet]], legislator, [[Judge (biblical)|judge]], and leader of the [[Israel]]ites from the [[Exodus of Israel]] from slavery in [[Egypt]] to the doorstep of [[Canaan (land)|Canaan]]. He is best known for leading the Israelites out of Egypt, and for bringing the [[Ten Commandments]] down from [[Mount Sinai]]. He is also credited with writing most of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the modern [[Bible]]) ca. 1491-1451 BC.

== Life and family ==

== Life and family ==

The basket drifted into the private bathing beach of the Pharaoh's daughter. She took the basket out of the river, found a baby boy inside, and decided to raise him as her own son. Then Miriam stepped forward and offered to find a nurse for the boy. The princess agreed, and Miriam then arranged for Jochebed to nurse her own son. The Pharaoh's daughter gave the boy the name of Moses, which means "drawn out," because she had drawn him out of the water.

The basket drifted into the private bathing beach of the Pharaoh's daughter. She took the basket out of the river, found a baby boy inside, and decided to raise him as her own son. Then Miriam stepped forward and offered to find a nurse for the boy. The princess agreed, and Miriam then arranged for Jochebed to nurse her own son. The Pharaoh's daughter gave the boy the name of Moses, which means "drawn out," because she had drawn him out of the water.

Thus Moses grew up as a prince of Egypt. In fact, [[Flavius Josephus]] suggests that Moses commanded Egyptian troops and led them to victory against the forces of neighboring [[Ethiopia]].<ref name=Josephus2>Josephus, ''Antiquities'' 2.10</ref> According to that account, the Ethiopians were raiding the Egyptians, and the Pharaoh ordered Moses to lead an army to stop the raiders once and for all. Moses then used a remarkable tactic to take the Ethiopians by surprise. The Ethiopians were expecting Moses to attack by marching along the river, rather than by land, because the land between the two armies was so thick with snakes that it was impassable. For that very reason, Moses was determined to march over land. He ordered his artificers to construct cages and to carry [[ibis]] birds (a sacred bird in Egypt) with them. The ibis is a natural enemy of snakes, and so they scattered the snakes, and the army was safe. Thus the army crossed the land, surprised the enemy, and defeated them.

Thus Moses grew up as a prince of Egypt. In fact, [[Flavius Josephus]] suggests that Moses commanded Egyptian troops and led them to victory against the forces of neighboring [[Ethiopia]].<ref name=Josephus2>Josephus, ''Antiquities'' 2.10</ref> According to that account, the Ethiopians were raiding the Egyptians, and the Pharaoh ordered Moses to lead an army to stop the raiders once and for all. Moses then used a remarkable tactic to take the Ethiopians by surprise. The Ethiopians were expecting Moses to attack by marching along the river, rather than by land, because the land between the two armies was so thick with snakes that it was impassable. For that very reason, Moses was determined to march over land. He ordered his artificers to construct cages and to carry [[ibis]] birds (a sacred bird in Egypt) with them. The ibis is a natural enemy of snakes, and so they scattered the snakes, and the army was safe. Thus the army crossed the land, surprised the enemy, and defeated them.

But Josephus goes on to suggest that Moses had to flee Egypt because a rival prince had hatched a plot to kill him in order to remove him as a rival for the throne. This contradicts the [[Bible]], which says that Moses had to flee because he killed an Egyptian, and Pharaoh found out about it.

But Josephus goes on to suggest that Moses had to flee Egypt because a rival prince had hatched a plot to kill him in order to remove him as a rival for the throne. This contradicts the [[Bible]], which says that Moses had to flee because he killed an Egyptian, and Pharaoh found out about it.

Perhaps his greatest project, other than leading the people of Israel across the Sinai desert, was the building of the [[Tabernacle]]. Every part of its furnishings and coverings is a symbol of [[Jesus Christ]] or His mission to [[earth]].

Perhaps his greatest project, other than leading the people of Israel across the Sinai desert, was the building of the [[Tabernacle]]. Every part of its furnishings and coverings is a symbol of [[Jesus Christ]] or His mission to [[earth]].

Sadly, Moses sometimes allowed the murmuring people to provoke him to anger. One one occasion this anger led him to disobey God. God had told Moses merely to speak to a rock and bring forth water. Moses had already struck a rock on an earlier occasion, a symbol of the punishment that [[Jesus Christ]] would undergo. Therefore Moses did not need to strike another rock. But he did strike the second rock. Thus he failed to honor God, and also spoiled the symbolism of the event. For that, God did not allow Moses to enter [[Canaan (land)|Canaan]] before he died.

Sadly, Moses sometimes allowed the murmuring people to provoke him to anger. One one occasion this anger led him to disobey God. God had told Moses merely to speak to a rock and bring forth water. Moses had already struck a rock on an earlier occasion, a symbol of the punishment that [[Jesus Christ]] would undergo. Therefore Moses did not need to strike another rock. But he did strike the second rock. Thus he failed to honor God, and also spoiled the symbolism of the event. For that, God did not allow Moses to enter [[Canaan (land)|Canaan]] before he died.

== Moses as author ==

== Moses as author ==

Moses is traditionally credited with being the author of the [[Pentateuch]], the first five books of the [[Old Testament]]. Jesus confirms this when he refers to Moses writing about him ({{bible ref|book=John|chap=5|verses=46}}), and although he is not specific about exactly what Moses wrote, he would have been referring to the books generally understood as being written by Moses. This body of work includes a history of the world from Creation to the moment of the death of Moses, a complete body of sacerdotal and civil law, and, most importantly, a detailed testimony of the Messiah to come, in the form of the Tabernacle.

Moses is traditionally credited with being the author of the [[Pentateuch]], the first five books of the [[Old Testament]]. Jesus confirms this when he refers to Moses writing about him ({{bible ref|book=John|chap=5|verses=46}}), and although he is not specific about exactly what Moses wrote, he would have been referring to the books generally understood as being written by Moses. This body of work includes a history of the world from Creation to the moment of the death of Moses, a complete body of sacerdotal and civil law, and, most importantly, a detailed testimony of the Messiah to come, in the form of the Tabernacle.

Concerning the manner of the composition of the Pentateuch, one striking point stands out: it ends with the death of Moses, though Moses is supposed to be its author. Scholars have advanced three theories to explain this:

Concerning the manner of the composition of the Pentateuch, one striking point stands out: it ends with the death of Moses, though Moses is supposed to be its author. Scholars have advanced three theories to explain this:

# [[Flavius Josephus]] suggests this theory: that Moses wrote about his own death before he died, for fear that the people might believe he escaped death because of his extraordinary virtue.<ref name=Josephus>Josephus, ''Antiquities'', 4.1.49</ref>

# [[Flavius Josephus]] suggests this theory: that Moses wrote about his own death before he died, for fear that the people might believe he escaped death because of his extraordinary virtue.<ref name=Josephus>Josephus, ''Antiquities'', 4.1.49</ref>

Some sceptics argue that Moses could not have written Deuteronomy, as the book records Moses' death. But that death is recorded in the very last chapter, and there is no reason not to think that a later author didn't append the final chapter. Such an occurrence does not undermine the claim of Moses' authorship of the principal work.

Some sceptics argue that Moses could not have written Deuteronomy, as the book records Moses' death. But that death is recorded in the very last chapter, and there is no reason not to think that a later author didn't append the final chapter. Such an occurrence does not undermine the claim of Moses' authorship of the principal work.

The source of the material is another open question, because obviously Moses was not alive during the events of Genesis or the first chapter of Exodus, and the second chapter begins with his birth. Two theories currently attempt to explain this:

The source of the material is another open question, because obviously Moses was not alive during the events of Genesis or the first chapter of Exodus, and the second chapter begins with his birth. Two theories currently attempt to explain this: