Bible’s Israel: P-2.1

By Michael Huang

Return to: History 8

1. Later, the Hebrews found themselves in Egypt, where supposedly they were enslaved. According to the Bible, a great leader helped them escape into the desert and seek Canaan again. On the mountain shown here, God gave this leader what the Hebrews considered their greatest gift. Can you name the leader, the mountain, and the gift he was given?

The Leader

According to the Bible, Abraham was the founding father of the Hebrews. God promised him and delivered his people a home in Canaan, now modern day Israel. Abraham of Ur led the Hebrews, a Semitic people, from Sumer to Canaan and then, as result of famine, to Egypt. However, the Bible recounts how the Hebrews were enslaved by the Egyptians upon settling there. The legendary Moses then led the Hebrews out of Egypt, away from slavery, and back to the desert of Canaan (Manual 61). It is also possible that Moses convinced people to follow him under the rural god named Yahweh (Manual 68).

History is an Interpretation

According to the Bible, Moses "is a military man leading the Israelites in battles. He's the one who organizes Israel's judiciary. He's also the prophet par excellence and a quasi-priestly figure involved in offering sacrifices and setting up the priestly complex, the tabernacle." However such a man is highly unlikely and many believe that this legendary figure transformed into a greater than real life hero through the passing down of stories.

Also, the Moab Desert could not have supported the number of people that the Bible says Moses led, but it is more likely that Moses only led several hundred. Though the Bible may not be supported by archaeological evidence, certain truths can be derived from the sacred text.

For more information about interpreting Moses and the Exodus visit: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ancient/moses-exodus.html

The Greatest Gift

According to the Bible, on top of Mount Sinai, God gave Moses the Ten Commandments inscribed upon the Covenant in which Solomon would later put in his temple.

For a list of the Ten Commandments visit: http://biblescripture.net/Commandments.html