Genesis and Exodus also contain references to the Philistines, a group that would not appear in that region for hundreds of years after Moses is purported to have lived.
There was no written Hebrew language during the time Moses is purported to have lived.
The five books show signs of much later compilation, revision and redaction that probably took place during the Babylonian exile.
Legends were brought down to Judah from Israelite refugees after Israel was destroyed by the Assyrians. These stories were then all woven together. That’s why there are many stories that take place more than once, there’s two creation accounts, two flood accounts. Characters keep getting their names changed. God goes from El to Yahweh, Jacob gets his name changed to Israel.
The name Moses is an Egyptian name that lacks a theophoric element. There are Egyptian names like Tutmoses and Rameses. These names mean Child of Tut and Child of Ra. Moses just means Child of…It’s interesting to imagine that his name may originally have had an Egyptian theophoric element that was removed to avoid embarrassment.
There is so much good and interesting scholarship out there on this that doesn’t rely on believing these obvious legends and myths.
There was no written Hebrew language during the time Moses is purported to have lived.
The five books show signs of much later compilation, revision and redaction that probably took place during the Babylonian exile.
Legends were brought down to Judah from Israelite refugees after Israel was destroyed by the Assyrians. These stories were then all woven together. That’s why there are many stories that take place more than once, there’s two creation accounts, two flood accounts. Characters keep getting their names changed. God goes from El to Yahweh, Jacob gets his name changed to Israel.
The name Moses is an Egyptian name that lacks a theophoric element. There are Egyptian names like Tutmoses and Rameses. These names mean Child of Tut and Child of Ra. Moses just means Child of…It’s interesting to imagine that his name may originally have had an Egyptian theophoric element that was removed to avoid embarrassment.
There is so much good and interesting scholarship out there on this that doesn’t rely on believing these obvious legends and myths.