Berenice O’Shea English 356 The Bible as Literature

BornGoshenGoshen, Lower EgyptLower Egypt DiedMount NeboMount Nebo, MoabMoab NationalityIsraelite Other names משה רבנו (Moses our Rabbi), Moshe Known forProphet Spouse(s)Zipporah ChildrenGershom Eliezer Parent(s)AmramAmram (father) Jochebed (mother) Jochebed RelativesAaronAaron (brother) Miriam (sister) Miriam Moses  The chosen to lead Israel out of slavery and to present God’s commandments  The child of Hebrew Slaves  Adopted by Bithiah- the Pharaoh’s daughter  He became royal- an Egyptian Prince.  Ramses his royal Brother and the successor of the throne  His story and prophecies are found in the book of Exodus in the Old Testament of the Bible (second book of the Torah).  Jewish and Christians think Moses was the author of this Book, but some scholars think otherwise after the findings of several additions and corrections after the 19 th century.

The Birth of Moses  Moses was hid from his mother since the Pharaoh had ordered the cast of every boy into the Nile River.  It was his belief that all the Jews were growing stronger and this could lead an army of Men to arise against him.  All Jews were slaves and ruthlessly made them work very hard- as Egypt was building their massive pyramids.  Moses was put into the Nile River, only to be found by the daughter of the Pharaoh and taking him as her son.  Miriam his sister; makes sure he was safe until he was found by the Royal Princess.

Moses Flees from Egypt  Moses fled Egypt after he killed an Egyptian- he was beating a Jew. Moses felt anger since the Jews were treated badly.  Moses arrives at Midiam where he finds Zipporah, one of the seven daughters of Jethro and marries her  His wife gives birth to two sons- Gershom and Eliezer

 After Moses departures from his wife and son he started talking to a burning bush which never consumed.  A voice came from it saying “Here I am” (Exodus 3:4), God tells him to call him Yaweh (Jehovah).  Moses follows God’s orders and returns to Egypt to gather all the Jews who were in slaved (he was 80 years old).  God gives Moses powers- turns river water into blood  Moses reunites with his sister Miriam and his brother Aaron  Moses tries to convince Ramses to release all the Jews, but he is not willingly accepting.

The 10 Plagues

The release of the Jews  Ramses releases the Jews after his son dies.  In an outrage he follows them to kill them all.  The Red sea was parted by God, so they all could cross and flee from Ramses after 430 years of slavery.  Moses reunites with his wife and sons  They were guided by Moses but God always reassured he was the one providing food (Manna), drink and covered by a cloud.  God reveals the 10 commandments to Moses at Mount Sinai and he writes them in stone.  They all linger in the desert for 40 years until Moses dies at the age of 120.