Moses

Moses (mō`zĭs), Hebrew lawgiver, probably b. Egypt. The prototype of the prophets, he led his people in the 13th cent. B.C. out of bondage in Egypt to the edge of Canaan. The narrative in the Bible is the chief source of information on his life. His historical existence has been questioned, although there is nothing improbable about the general outline of the narrative after allowances for distortion over time are made. According to the biblical account, Moses was divinely protected as an infant, and as a young man he received a special calling at the burning bush. He lived in constant touch with God, who guided him in leading all Israel out of Egypt and across the desert. Through him God promulgated the Law, including the Ten Commandments, the criminal code, and the whole liturgical law. In his old age, when the Hebrews were at the Jordan River ready to cross, God gave Moses a view of the Promised Land from Mt. Pisgah; but he did not enter it, for he died and was buried in Moab. All this is recounted in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The authorship of these and Genesis (collectively called the Pentateuch) has been ascribed to Moses since earliest times; hence they are called the Books of Moses. The Law he promulgated is called the Mosaic law, the Torah. Few critics would argue that Moses actually authored the Pentateuch. Moses, one of the great names of Hebrew history, is referred to repeatedly in the Jewish, Christian, amd Muslim scriptures. In the Qur'an, Moses is a precursor of Muhammad, confirming God's revelation to Abraham. Among the Pseudepigrapha is a Testament of Moses.

Bibliography

See E. Auerbach, Moses (1975); G. W. Coats, Moses (1988).

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Moses

(flourished 14th–13th century BC) Prophet of Judaism. According to the Book of Exodus, he was born in Egypt to Hebrew parents, who set him afloat on the Nile in a reed basket to save him from an edict calling for the death of all newborn Hebrew males. Found by the pharaoh's daughter, he was reared in the Egyptian court. After killing a brutal Egyptian taskmaster, he fled to Midian, where Yahweh (God) revealed himself in a burning bush and called Moses to deliver the Israelites from Egypt. With the help of his brother Aaron, Moses pleaded with the pharaoh for the Israelites' release. The pharaoh let them go after Yahweh had visited a series of plagues on Egypt, but then sent his army after them. Yahweh parted the waters of the Red Sea to allow the Israelites to pass, then drowned the pursuing Egyptians. Yahweh made a covenant with the Israelites at Mount Sinai and delivered the Ten Commandments to Moses, who continued to lead his people through 40 years of wandering in the wilderness until they reached the edge of Canaan. He died before he could enter the Promised Land. Authorship of the first five books of the Bible (see Torah) is traditionally ascribed to him.

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Moses¹

1. Old Testament the Hebrew prophet who led the Israelites out of Egypt to the Promised Land and gave them divinely revealed laws

2. Ed. born 1956, US hurdler; winner of the 400 m hurdles in the 1976 and 1984 Olympic Games

3. Grandma, real name Anna Mary Robertson Moses. 1860--1961, US painter of primitives, who began to paint at the age of 75

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Moses²

Old Testament the Hebrew prophet who led the Israelites out of Egypt to the Promised Land and gave them divinely revealed laws

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Moses

led his people out of bondage. [O.T.: Exodus]

See : Deliverance

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Moses

presents God’s ten commandments to Israelites. [O.T.: Exodus 20:1–12]

See : Lawgiving

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Moses

led his people to threshold of promised land but could not enter. [O.T.: Deuteronomy 34:1–4]

See : Regret

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Moses

led his people out of bondage. [O.T.: Exodus]

See : Salvation

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Moses

led his people through the wilderness for forty years. [O.T.: Pentateuch]

See : Wandering