Changes

=== Prince ===

=== Prince ===

In 2433 AM (1572/1 BC), the [[Pharaoh]] of [[Egypt]] had ordered that every male newborn Hebrew be thrown into the Nile. When Moses was born, his parents hid him for three months. But they knew that they could not hide him forever. So Jochebed, Moses' mother, took a wicker basket, coated it with tar and pitch, placed Moses into it, and set the basket adrift in the Nile. Miriam followed the basket to see where the river current might take it.

In 2433 AM (1572/1 BC), the [[Pharaoh]] of [[Egypt]] had ordered that every male newborn [[Hebrew]] be thrown into the [[Nile]]. When Moses was born, his parents hid him for three months. But they knew that they could not hide him forever. So Jochebed, Moses' mother, took a wicker basket, coated it with tar and pitch, placed Moses into it, and set the basket adrift in the Nile. Miriam followed the basket to see where the river current might take it.

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.

==== The Red Sea ====

==== The Red Sea ====

Six days after the Exodus began, the Israelites were camped next to the Red Sea, and they realized that the Egyptians were now pursuing them. Moses raised his staff, and the waters of the Red Sea parted and left a dry seabed for the Israelites to walk on. After the Israelites had walked across, the Egyptians also entered the seabed to continue their pursuit. Moses raised his staff again, and the waters closed over the army and drowned every last man.

Six days after the Exodus began, the Israelites were camped next to the [[Red Sea]], and they realized that the Egyptians were now pursuing them. Moses raised his staff, and the waters of the Red Sea parted and left a dry seabed for the Israelites to walk on. After the Israelites had walked across, the Egyptians also entered the seabed to continue their pursuit. Moses raised his staff again, and the waters closed over the army and drowned every last man.

==== The wilderness journey ====

==== The wilderness journey ====

Moses continued to lead the people of Israel for forty years. In that time he equipped and trained an army, handed down judgments, and repeatedly judged the people of Israel for their [[sin]].

Moses continued to lead the people of Israel for forty years. In that time he equipped and trained an army, handed down judgments, and repeatedly judged the people of Israel for their [[sin]].

 

The most significant events during those forty years included:

The most significant events during those forty years included:

On 1 Shevat 2553 AM (6 February 1451 BC), Moses gave his last address to the people of Israel. Most of the book of [[Deuteronomy]] consists of the text of that address.

On 1 Shevat 2553 AM (6 February 1451 BC), Moses gave his last address to the people of Israel. Most of the book of [[Deuteronomy]] consists of the text of that address.

Moses died on [[Mount Nebo]], on the eastern side of the Jordan River. No one knows even today where he is buried.

Moses died on Mount Nebo, on the eastern side of the Jordan River. No one knows even today where he is buried.

== Moses as prophet ==

== Moses as prophet ==

# Moses did not write Genesis, but compiled it from pre-existing written documents handed down through the ancestors of the Israelites all the way back to Adam. Moses could have edited the text to update some information, but whilst Moses would not be the actual author of the book in this case, he would still be responsible for it in its final form, and it would therefore still be one of the "books of Moses".

# Moses did not write Genesis, but compiled it from pre-existing written documents handed down through the ancestors of the Israelites all the way back to Adam. Moses could have edited the text to update some information, but whilst Moses would not be the actual author of the book in this case, he would still be responsible for it in its final form, and it would therefore still be one of the "books of Moses".

# Moses received the basis of the [[Pentateuch]] directly from God, as is recorded in the [[Book of Jubilees]], and it was later compiled into historical form by scribes.

# Moses received the basis of the [[Pentateuch]] directly from God, as is recorded in the Book of Jubilees, and it was later compiled into historical form by scribes.

== Moses as military leader ==

== Moses as military leader ==

* [[Ten Commandments]]

* [[Ten Commandments]]

== References ==

== References ==