Moses
Led Israel out of Egypt and received the Law at Sinai (Exodus).
Awaiting theological review
Who was Moses?
A Hebrew of the tribe of Levi, saved as a baby and raised at Pharaoh's court, who fled to Madian after killing an Egyptian. At the burning bush God revealed his name and sent him to free Israel. He led the people out of Egypt, through the sea and the desert, received the Law at Sinai, and died within sight of the promised land.
The story
Hidden in a basket; adopted by Pharaoh's daughter
Kills an Egyptian and flees to Madian
The burning bush: God reveals his name
What does God's name, I AM WHO AM, mean? →Protests that he is slow of speech; Aaron is given
The Passover
How is the Passover connected to the Eucharist? →Crossing the sea
Manna in the desert
The Ten Commandments at Sinai
Intercedes for the people after the golden calf
Sees the promised land and dies on Mount Nebo
Appears with Elijah at the Transfiguration
What we know — and how
Scripture tells us
- He was of the tribe of Levi; Aaron and Miriam were his brother and sister.(Exodus 2:1–2; Numbers 26:59)
- The Lord spoke to him face to face, as a man speaks to his friend; Scripture calls him the meekest of men.(Exodus 33:11; Numbers 12:3)
- Because of his failure at the waters of contradiction he was not allowed to enter the land.(Numbers 20:7–12)
- No man knows his burial place, and no prophet arose in Israel like him.(Deuteronomy 34:5–10)
- Paul reads the crossing of the sea and the manna as figures of baptism and of spiritual food.(1 Corinthians 10:1–4)
Tradition holds
- Jewish and Christian tradition call the first five books of the Bible the Law of Moses and associate them with him.Source: Jewish and Christian tradition
- The Fathers read the Exodus as a figure of Christian salvation: Christ as the true Passover lamb, baptism as the passage through the sea.Source: Patristic typology; detailed sources pending review
Historians debate
- When the Exodus happened (proposals include the 15th and 13th centuries BC), its route, and where Mount Sinai is.
- How the Pentateuch was composed and edited over time.
Unknown
- His burial place, which Scripture itself says no one knows.
Virtues
- Meekness
- Intercession for his people
- Perseverance
- Intimacy with God
Failures
- Killing the Egyptian
- Reluctance to accept his calling
- Anger and distrust at the waters of contradiction
Why Moses matters
Moses is the great mediator of the Old Covenant: God frees his people and gives them the Law through him. The New Testament presents Jesus as the prophet like Moses and more — the one who leads a new Exodus through his death and Resurrection.
Related people
- Abraham — Heir of the promises to Abraham
Places
Egypt · Madian · Mount Horeb / Sinai · The Red Sea · The desert · Mount Nebo
Interactive map coming in a later phase.