Moses: Powerful in his words and deeds

[SacramentoBrother]

(Acts 7:22) So Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians. In fact, he was powerful in his words and deeds.

 

According to Roman-Jewish scholar, historian and hagiographer Flavius Josephus of Moses he writes in the Antiquities of the Jews - Book II, Chapter 10 and 11 that Moses became a general in Pharaoh's army.

 

Here's what it states. The grammar and run-on sentences have been cleaned up a bit.

 

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The Ethiopians, who are neighbors to the Egyptians, invaded their country and carried off the Egyptian's belongings. In rage the Egyptians fought against them in revenge because of the offense this caused. However the Egyptians were overpowered in battle. Some of them were slain and the rest retreated in a cowardly manner. The Ethiopians pursued them and thinking that it would be cowardice if they did not conquer all Egypt went on to subdue the rest with great passion. When the Ethiopians had tasted the valuable things of the country they did not end the war. They proceeded as far as Memphis and the sea itself without any opposition.

 

Under this oppression the Egyptians visited their oracles and prophecies and when God had given them counsel to use Moses the Hebrew the king commanded his daughter, Thermuthis, to bring him and make him the general of the Egyptian army. In addition she rebuked the priest, who, when they had before recommended the Egyptians kill him was now not ashamed to admit they needed his help.

 

So at the persuasion of both Thermuthis and the king himself Moses cheerfully undertook the business. The sacred scribes of both nations were glad. Of the Egyptians so that they should overpower their enemies by Moses' bravery while at the same time he would be slain in battle. Of the Hebrews that they should escape from the Egyptians because Moses was now their general.

 

Now the Egyptians, after they had been saved by Moses, entertained a hatred against him. They suspected he would use his successes to incite a rebellion and bring change to Egypt. To this end the Egyptians eagerly orchestrated a plot against him. On this they told the king that he ought to be slain. The king himself also had plans for the same purpose, though his was out of envy at Moses' celebrated journey at the head of his army. Out of fear of being dethroned the king was ready to kill Moses, but when Moses had learned beforehand the plots that were now against him he fled in secret. Because the public roads were watched he fled through the deserts where his enemies would not suspect he could travel.

 

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This is why in Exodus 4:19 it reads, "After that Jehovah said to Moses in Midian: "Go, return to Egypt, because all the men who were seeking to kill you are dead.""

 

I only posted this because the works of Josephus are quoted many times in our publications.

 

Anyhow I thought the information was very cool. It might shed some light on scenes in the Exodus trailer where it shows Moses in some sort of war likely during a time before he became God's messenger.

Edited November 13, 2014 by SacramentoBrother

[Beggar for the Spirit]

Hi Brother Ryan,

 

That was interesting information from Josephus that you posted.

I guess this movie coming out will have some interesting scenes in it,

probably some imaginative Hollywood scenes that are not in the Biblical accounts.

I am not saying that this Josephus account is untrue just wondering about

another movie "based on" the Bible.

 

Anyway I thought this article below would interest you.

Who knows? Maybe 1 day an archeologist in Egypt might

uncover an artifact that reveals more about Moses' earlier years as an Egyptian?

 

 

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*** g04 4/8 pp. 6-7 Moses—Man or Myth? ***
Now that he had been adopted, would Moses’ Hebrew heritage be kept from him as a dark secret?

Some Hollywood films have made it appear that way.

The Scriptures indicate otherwise. His sister, Miriam, cleverly arranged for Moses to be nursed by

his own mother, Jochebed.

Surely this godly woman would not have concealed the truth from her son!

And since children in ancient times were often breast-fed for several years, Jochebed had ample

opportunity to teach Moses about ‘the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ (Exodus 3:6)

Such a spiritual foundation served Moses well, for after being handed over to Pharaoh’s daughter,

“Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians.”

The claim of historian Josephus that Moses rose to the rank of general in a war with Ethiopia cannot be verified.

However, the Bible does say that Moses “was powerful in his words and deeds.”—Acts 7:22.
By the age of 40, Moses was likely poised to become a prominent Egyptian leader. Power and wealth

could be his if he remained in Pharaoh’s household. Then an event took place that changed his life.
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