As one of the most recognizable religious figures in the Bible, Moses appears in the Hebrew Bible as a leader, lawgiver, and prophet. In this article, you will learn about Moses, including details on his birth and how he was raised.
1. Narratives of Moses
The narratives of Moses are featured in the Hebrew Bible , found in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. The Book of Exodus states that Moses was a son of Amran, who was a member of the Levite tribe of Israel. This group of people descended from Jacob and Jochebed. The bloodline meant that Moses had become part of the second generation of Israelites born during their time in Egypt.
2. Birth of Moses
The Book of Exodus states that the birth of Moses took place during a time that an Egyptian Pharaoh commanded that all male Hebrew children would be sent to death by drowning in the Nile River. Because of this, when Jochebed gave birth to Moses, she kept him a secret for three months. When it became too difficult to keep the infant hidden, she placed him in a crafted vessel and set him adrift on the Nile River.
3. Reunited with Mother
As Moses traveled on the river, his sister Miriam watched until it reached a place where the Pharaoh’s daughter was taking a bath with her handmaidens. It is said that the daughter spotted a baby in a basket and told her handmaidens to get it for her. Miriam stepped forward and asked the daughter if she would like a Hebrew woman to nurse the baby. This is how his own mother, Jochebed was hired to nurse the child.
4. The Child of a Pharaoh
When Moses had grown up, he was brought to the Pharaoh’s daughter. He was made her son, which meant that he was the younger brother to the future Pharaoh of Egypt. As the youngest, non-blood child, he would not be able to assume the position of Pharaoh.
5. His Speech
Religious texts suggest that Moses may have stuttered when he spoke because it is said that he admitted he was “slow of speech.”
6. Moses and Murder
As an adult, Moses went to see how his real family was doing. He encountered an Egyptian beating a Hebrew. Upon seeing the cruelty, he killed the Egyptian and buried the body in the sand. The next day, Moses found two Hebrews in an argument and went about separating the individuals. One of the Hebrews taunted Moses for his role in killing the Egyptian. Until this point, he believed that no one knew of his indiscretion. Because of his act, it was most likely that the Pharaoh went call for Moses’ death. To escape death, Moses fled over the Sinai Peninsula.