Old Testament Notes
Moses
Moses is the prophet, whom God entrusted to save the Hebrews from slavery
in Egypt. Many years have passed after Joseph
invited his people to Egypt. During this time they gradually became slaves.
Moses was born in Egypt. The Pharaoh found out about the birth of a Hebrew
savior and ordered the massacre of all newly born Jewish babies. Moses’
mother saved him, by putting him in a basket, which she floated down the
Nile. The Pharaoh’s daughter found him and brought him to the palace. Josephus
Phlavius in his Antiquitatis Judaicae, tells that the Pharaoh’s
daughter presented the child to her father. The Pharaoh, playing with him,
placed his crown on the baby’s head. Moses threw the crown to the ground,
so that it broke. The high priest, recognized the boy as the one who had
been prophesied to overthrow the Pharaoh, and rushed to kill him. But the
appeal of women saved Moses. Moses was raised in the palace as an Egyptian
prince. (Ex.2:3-10)
See: Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema The Finding of Moses.
Hogarth Moses Brought to Pharaoh's Daughter.
Nicolas Poussin. Pharaoh's Daughter Finds Baby Moses, Baby Moses Trampling on the Pharaoh's Crown, The Baby Moses Saved from the River. Baby Moses Saved from River, Baby Moses Saved from the River.
Jacopo Robusti, called Tintoretto. Moses Saved from the Waters of the Nile.
Paolo Veronese. Moses Saved from the Waters of the Nile.
When he grew up Moses found out that he was
a Jew, and he tried to defend his people. He killed an Egyptian, though
unintentionally, but had to flee into the desert. He was taken into the
house of Jethro and became his son-in-law. While Moses was guarding the
flock God came to him as a Burning Bush and ordered him to return to Egypt
and save his people.
The first thing to become a leader of Israelites was to convince his
own people that he was chosen by God. Moses' elder brother, Aaron,
came to his side and convinced the people that God had sent them a deliverer.
Though not only the words of Aaron convinced the people, they were supported
by some miracles: thus, Moses, by God's sign, turned Aaron's staff into
a serpent and back.
See: Nicolas Poussin. Moses
Turning the Aaron's Staff into a Serpent.
Moses came to Pharaoh and asked him to let
his people go. The Pharaoh refused and God sent different punishments to
the people of Egypt, known as the Ten Plagues of Egypt (Ex. 12:3-11). Egypt
suffered severely, and the Pharaoh let them free.
The Jews left Egypt in Exodus, crossing the Red Sea, which had divided
by Moses’ plea and God’s will. Moses led his people; when it was intolerably
difficult Moses asked for God’s help and He always helped: gave manna for
food and fresh water from the rock to drink (Exodus 17:3-7).
Dieric Bouts the Elder Gathering
Manna.
Agnolo Bronzino. Moses
Striking the Rock and the Gathering of the Manna.
Nicolas Poussin. Gathering
of Manna, Moses Striking the
Rock for Water.
God also made himself known to Moses on the
summit of Mount Sinai and spoke to him, and instructed him for a long time
(Ex.19-31). "When Lord had finished speaking with Moses on Mount sinai,
the Lord gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, stone tablets written
with the finger of God." (Exodus 31:18)
The people, however, had again rebelled and made a golden
calf, and prayed to it. (Ex. 32:1-6). God wanted to put an end to these
stubborn people and start a great nation from Moses, but Moses pleaded
Him not to do this. As Moses " approached the camp, he saw the bull-calf
and the dancing, and in a burst of anger he flung down the tablets and
shattered them at the foot of the mountain." (Exodus 32:19). Then Moses
"took the calf they had made and burnt it; he ground it to powder, sprinkled
it on water, and made the Israeites drink it." (Exodus 32:20)
Rembrandt Moses Smashing
the Tables of the Law.
Jacopo Robusti, called Tintoretto. The
Worship of the Golden Calf.
God tired of people’s constant complaints and
improper behavior sent on them numerous poisonous snakes. Moses prayed
for his people, then on His command made a serpent of brass, which he fixed
to the top of the shaft. All those who gazed on it were safe from the snake
venom.
See: Botticelli Scenes
from the Life of Moses.
Giorgione Moses'
Trial by Fire.
Frederick Leighton. Moses Views the Promised Land.
Michelangelo Moses.
Anthony van Dyck Moses
and the Serpent.
Mikhail Vrubel. Moses.
