Historical Testimonies about Moses and His People

Between Egypt and Palestine, where the two branches of the Red Sea fork, is found the mountainous Sinai Peninsula. This land was sacred for both the Egyptians and the Semites. From times immemorial, the Egyptian Pharaohs dug mines there, from which they extracted copper and turquoise. Also, they built a temple dedicated to the goddess Hathor – the goddess of turquoise who the Egyptians worshipped by the raising of a statue with the head of a cow.

Mount Sinai became famous in history through Moses. Here, he received the Ten Commandments written by the Hand of God and so it is not a surprise that in modern times this has often been the target of numerous scientific expeditions. Thus, in 1905, an English expedition led by Flinders Petrie traveled to Mount Sinai. His destination was the tableland at Serabit-el-Halim, where the ruins of the temple of the goddess Hathor were found, as well as the copper and turquoise mines abandoned by the Egyptians.

Because of the fact that the territory was under Egyptian domination, the English researchers .were expecting to find Egyptian antiquities, namely inscriptions with hieroglyphics and objects of Egyptian art. When Flinders Petrie and his team started to search the ruins of the temple and the mines, they found a lot of objects, which were fundamentally different from all Egyptian antiquities that had been discovered up until that time.

Inside the temple they found sculptures with a style more primitive than the Egyptian style and the inscriptions from them were made with signs, which represented an incontestable similarity with Egyptian hieroglyphics, but these signs were fundamentally different. Also in a gallery of the mine Petrie’s wife discovered, among numerous stones, a fragment of stone which had the same undecipherable signs.

“I am Hashepsowe-mos (in Egyptian language ms means “child” – child of Hatshepsui), administrator of ore and of the holy district, scribe of the enslaved people from Sinai. (It was supposed that here is a soul that is hopeless). You drew me forth from Nile, and I relied on somebody, which was my enemy.” (Translation by Hubert Grimmer, 1937)

In the following years, the scholars established that this is about the oldest alphabetical writing from what had previously been known. The oldest inscriptions with alphabetical writing known, until the discoveries from Sinai, were found in the area where the Semites lived. They were written on old Phoenician stones dating back to 800 B.C. The symbols of writing from Sinai are, without a doubt, borrowed from Egyptian writing, according to the opinion of Hubert Grimmer, not from hieroglyphics, but from hieratic. They do not have the same phonetic value. Because of this, deciphering them seemed impossible at the beginning. But when the idea was suggested to try naming the symbols represented by these signs with Hebraic names and to equate the phonetic value of them to the first letter of the respective Hebraic word, the mystery began to unravel.

Indeed, it seemed that a Semite who knew the Egyptian writing wanted to use this knowledge to write in his mother tongue so that the Egyptians could not decipher what he wrote, even if they knew the basic symbols. Is this the writing of a man who wanted to communicate with his people without foreigners being able to read his writing? And who is this person? Where must we search? To find an answer to these questions, first the age of inscriptions must be established. The age of these inscriptions was estimated in 1500 BC.

Queen Hatshepsut (Hashepsowe) and her kingdom in history

Hatshepsut was the first female Pharaoh of Egypt, who reigned in 1503-1483 B.C. and until 1458 she reigned together with Thutmose III who reigned in name only. She makes part of the 18th dynasty.

She was the daughter of Thutmose I and Queen Ahmose and later the wife and half-sister of Thutmose II. Because of his advanced sickness, Thutmose II, in the time of an official service at the temple in Thebes (dedicated to the god Amon), proclaimed a young boy of his as Pharaoh – Thutmose III (probably in 1503 B.C.). After the death of Thutmose II, his widow and half-sister, the daughter of Thutmose I, namely Hatshepsut, took control of the country as regent, letting Thutmose III be Pharaoh in name only.

Because of Thutmose IPs poor health and lack of leadership skills, Hatshepsut assumed much of the power during his reign. Hatshepsut considered Tuthmose III to be a bastard son and believed him to be unworthy of being Pharaoh because he had no royal blood in him. Since Thutmose II and Hatshepsut hadn’t had any sons, Thutmose III would be the heir to the throne.

She had herself crowned as Pharaoh, and reigned in her own right until 1483 B.C., when she proclaimed herself Queen and Pharaoh, upholding the fact that her father would proclaim her as Queen. Her nominal co-ruler was Thutmose III, who ruled alone after her death.

Of course the appearance of a woman in the front of a military state, who led in an active mode the war of conquest, was an unusual event. Her favorite person was the architect Senmut, the son of parents without any high social position. He created, as a memorial of the Queen, the marvel of Egyptian architecture, which was the temple from Thebes, built in terrace (near presentday Deir-el-Bahri). This dignitary who was, among other things, the priest of the god Amon, concentrated in his hands the administration of the personal household of Pharaoh and the household of the god Amon. Under the reign of Hatshepsut, the high priest of this god was also the supreme dignitary. Like no one else from her predecessors and successors, Hatshepsut derived her power from the god Amon. Except for the temple for her remembrance, the Queen dedicated to the god Amon the commanding buildings, built in the official temple, among which contained colossal obelisks from monolith blocks, up to 30 meters in height. She restored also other temples, which remained in ruins from the time of the Hyksos domination. Also in the time of her reign, Egyptian commerce blossomed. She is the first Pharaoh of Egypt, who, besides having commerce relations with regions from Mesopotamia, also established commerce relations with regions from the south of Egypt, Nubia and Punt. At one time an extremely large military-trading expedition was made to the Land of Punt, near present-day Somalia. In the remembrance of this expedition the semi-grotto temple from Thebes, Deir el-Bahri, near Luxor in the Valley of the Kings was built. On the walls of this jple are painted the memories from is expedition to Punt and a big fleet of ships equipped to transport the wealth from this region.

The queen’s artists immortalized the homecoming in murals on the walls of the temple, which depict the goods brought from the region of Punt: many valuable woods, ivory, gold, silver, frankincense, eye salves, monkeys, dogs, aborigines and their children etc.

Nothing was brought that was similar to anything that a former Pharaoh in Northern Egypt had possessed. Almost all of this treasure was given to the god Amon from Thebes. This powerful and admirable woman, Hatshepsut, mysteriously disappeared in approximately the 21st year of the reign of Thutmose III, 1458 B.C., when he regained his title as Pharaoh. Her mummy has never been found, and her name, images and also the names of her closest relatives were forever lost as they were obliterated by Thutmose III.

Rising up of Moses

“… administrator of ore and of a holy district, scribe of the enslaved people from Sinai” reminds us of the image of Hebrew slave workers, who wept and called out to God, and the image of a man who, tthnoouugghn he had an Egyptian name, Hatshepsut-mos, and he was the administrator of ore and scribe of an enslaved people, was still Hebrew. Otherwise he would not be forever fixed in the writings and language of the Hebrew people.

In 1555 B.C. the Hyksos (Semite conquerors from Syria- Palestine, who took up residence in the eastern Nile Delta and eventually ruled northern Egypt for some 108 years – 1663 to 1555 B.C.), were driven out of Egypt by Ahmose I. Under their domination another Semite tribe was emigrating, Israelites or Hebrews, and they settled in the Gosh’en region (Genesis 47:27). After that the Egyptians destroyed the Hyksos power (Hyksos period) and they began to oppress the Hebrew people (Exodus 1:11,14).

“The king and his counselors had hoped to subdue the Israelites with hard labor, and thus decrease their numbers and crash out their independent spirit. Failing to accomplish their purpose, they proceeded to more cruel measures.” (E. G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets p.242) And what’s more, the Pharaoh ordered that all the newborn male children be killed (Exodus 1:22).

“While this decree was in full force, a son was born to Amram and Jochebed, devout Israelites of the tribe of Levi. The babe was “a goodly child;” and the parents, believing that the time of Israel’s release was drawing near, and that God would rise up a deliverer for his people, determined that their little one should not be sacrificed. Faith in God strengthened their hearts, ‘and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.’ Heb. 11:23.” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 242,243) The only child who survived was Moses. He was “drawn forth… from Nile” by the daughter of Pharaoh, Hatshepsut (Hashepsowe) in 1520 B.C., the period in which Thutmose I reigned. (Exodus 2:5-6)

He was raised by his mother until he was twelve years old and then “he was taken to the royal palace, to the daughter of Pharaoh, and he became her son.”

“At the court of Pharaoh, Moses received the highest civil and military training. The monarch had determined to make his adopted grandson his successor on the throne, and the youth was educated for his high station. “And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.” (Acts 7:22). His ability as a military leader made him a favorite with the armies of Egypt, and he was generally regarded as a remarkable character. Satan had been defeated in his purpose. The very decree condemning the Hebrew children to death had been overruled by God for the
training and education of the future leader of his people…

“By the laws of Egypt, all who occupied the throne of the Pharaohs must become members of the priestly caste; and Moses, as the heir apparent, was to be initiated into the mysteries of the national religion. This duty was committed to the priests.” (Patriarchs and Prophets p.245)

In that period the cult of Amon was very popular. In Middle Egypt, when Thebes became the political center of Egypt, the local god, Amon became the official supreme god of Egypt. This cult of Amon assimilated a lot of local cults, especially of the sun, together with the most popular cult from Egypt, the cult to the god Ra. The hymns composed to honor the new god Amon-Ra, represented him as a supreme god of the beginnings, who created the whole universe. The Pharaoh was considered the strongest and the biggest among kings, and the god, Amon-Ra was declared the biggest among all kings. This is shown by his titles: “The Master of all gods,” “The king of all gods,” “The Strongest among gods”. One of his charges was to care for the education of all youth that ‘would become Pharaoh. They were taught at the temple about everything from culture and art to military and leadership techniques. It is most probable that Moses received education from Amon-Ra and this was the reason whv the Lord had Moses remain in the desert for forty years. He needed to be liberated from the idolatrous influence, which had left a deep impression upon his developing mind.

“But while he was an ardent and untiring student, he could not be induced to participate in the worship of the gods. He was threatened with the loss of the crown, and warned that he would be disowned by the princess should he persist in his adherence to the Hebrew faith. But he was unshaken in his determination to render homage to none save the one God, the Maker of heaven and earth. He reasoned with priests and worshipers, showing the folly of their superstitious veneration of senseless objects. None could refute his arguments or change his purpose, yet for the time his firmness was tolerated, on account of his high position, and the favor with which he was regarded by both the king and the people.” (Patriarchs and Prophets p.245)

“By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.” (Heb. 11:24-26) Moses was fitted to take pre-eminence among the great of the earth, to shine in the courts of its most glorious kingdom, and to sway the scepter of its power. His intellectual greatness distinguishes him above the great men of all ages. As
historian, poet, philosopher, general of armies, and legislator, he stands without a peer. Yet with the world before him, he had the moral strength to refuse the flattering prospects of wealth and greatness and fame, ‘choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasure of sin for a season…’

“Moses remained at court until he was forty years of age. His thoughts often turned upon the abject condition of his people, and he visited his brethren in their servitude, and encouraged them with the assurance that God would work for their deliverance.” (Patriarchs and Prophets p.245,246)

The Liberation of the Hebrew people from the powerful Egyptians in the time of Thutmose III

After spending forty years in the desert, far away from his people, the moment came for Moses to return to Egypt to liberate his people from the powerful Egyptians. The Lord revealed to him that all his enemies had died – Hatshepsut “and I relied on somebody, which was my enemy’.

“Moses was forewarned that Pharaoh would resist the appeal to let Israel go. Yet the courage of God’s servant must not fail; for the Lord would make this the occasion to manifest his power before the Egyptians and before his people. ‘And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof; and after that he will let you go’.” ((Patriarchs and Prophets p.252).

In history, Thutmose III appears as a brilliant general, an administrator, a statesman and a warrior. Amon was the person who educated him in the palace of Karnak.

He regained the political losses of his predecessors and also undertook campaigns of conquest in Palestine, Syria and Nubia. In the time of his reign he conducted seventeen wars in Syria and never lost a battle and this is the reason why he is called in history “The Napoleon of Egypt”. He was a very ambitious man. In his time the Lord liberated His people. After 430 years from the promise given to Abraham and after 215 years in Egypt, finally the Hebrew people were free. (Exodus 12:41)

The date of the death of Thutmose III in 1450 B.C. corresponds with the Biblical date for the Exodus. According to Scripture, the Pharaoh during the time of the Exodus perished in the Rea Sea, near the Pi-hahiroth (Exodus 14:5-9, 18,28; 15:4,7).

“That day completed the history revealed to Abraham in prophetic vision centuries before: ‘Thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; and also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge; and after ward shall they come out with great substance1 (Genesis 15:13- 14). The four hundred years had been fulfilled.” (P.P. p. 281,282).

Lavinia Stanculeasa, Romania
Student at History and Classic Languages University

Bibliography:

Elisabeth Hering, The story of Writing, Bucharest, 1942.
I. P. Frantev, I.M. Diakonov, G.F. Iliin, S.V. Kiseliov, V.V. Struve, Universal History, vol. I, Bucharest, 1959.
V.I. Avdiev, The history of Antique Orient, Bucharest, 1951.
E.G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets.