Inventing Moses

The figure of Moses, often celebrated as the founder of monotheism and the liberator of the Hebrews, is a construction so sophisticated yet so deeply flawed that it demands a critical reevaluation. Modern scholarship, enriched by archaeology and anthropology, has compellingly argued that Moses is not a historical figure but rather a myth engineered by Jewish scholars in the late third century BCE. This myth was not only a narrative of faith but a political instrument designed to assert divine rights over Palestine and to position the Jewish people as racially and culturally superior.
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Consider the archaeological silence surrounding Moses. From the Elephantine Papyri to the Babylonian and Persian records, from the coinage of Yehud to various Aramaic correspondences like those from Hermopolis and Papyrus Amherst 63, there is a striking absence of any mention of Moses or even the Torah. Dr. Gad Barnea from the University of Haifa, after an exhaustive review of documents from the Persian period, asserts there is "zero evidence" of any familiarity with Moses or the Torah. This silence is deafening in a world where the absence of mention in such diverse records significantly undermines the historical claim of Moses' existence.
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Moses' narrative strikingly mirrors literary motifs from Greek mythology, Roman tales, Egyptian lore, and Akkadian legends. The story of Moses parallels the mythological tales of Romulus and Remus, Sargon of Akkad, and even the Greek lawgiver Solon or the philosopher-king Numa Pompilius from Roman mythology. The structure of Judaic law, supposedly given by Moses, bears a strong resemblance to Plato's "Laws," suggesting that these elements were borrowed or adapted from Hellenistic influences rather than being divinely ordained.
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The creation of Moses was not merely about religious identity but was steeped in political strategy. By crafting a narrative where Moses receives land from a divine promise, Jewish scholars provided a religious and ideological foundation for territorial claims in ancient Palestine. This was especially critical during the Hellenistic and Roman periods, where identity and land were central to cultural survival and political autonomy. The narrative served to legitimize and sacralize Jewish presence in the region, often at the expense of demonizing and marginalizing neighboring peoples, as well as all other so-called "Gentiles" within the biblical text, thereby promoting an ethnocentric and supremacist narrative that is anthema to modern sensibilities regarding racism and social justice.
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In fact, the stories of Moses include elements so fantastical and anachronistic that they betray their mythical nature. The plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, and the miraculous provision of manna are not just tales of faith but are akin to the mythologies of other ancient cultures, meant to inspire awe and obedience. The internal contradictions within these narratives, the clear anachronisms that place events in a time frame not supported by contemporaneous history, and reveal a literary rather than a historical origin.
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This myth has had real-world ramifications. Billions have lived their lives under the influence of these stories, mistaking myth for history. The result has been not only a misinformed spirituality but also a basis for territorial disputes that have persisted into modern times. The narrative of Moses has been used to justify violence and oppression, claiming divine sanction over lands that have been home to diverse peoples for millennia.
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It's imperative that we educate ourselves and others about the true origins of such religious narratives. By understanding Moses as a myth, we can appreciate the cultural and moral lessons these stories impart without the dangerous assumption of their historical veracity. This acknowledgment could help dismantle the racial and territorial claims that have fueled conflict, promoting instead a dialogue based on shared human heritage and historical truth.
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The myth of Moses is not just an ancient story but a powerful piece of propaganda that has shaped religious, political, and cultural narratives across the globe. Recognizing it for what it is - a myth - might not only liberate us from more than two millennia of misinformation but also pave the way for peace and mutual respect in understanding our collective past, so that we can progress together toward a brighter future.
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YHWH Does Not Exist
https://rumble.com/v5eap31-the-god-of-the-bible-does-not-exist.html
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Abraham Never Existed
https://rumble.com/v64l7ps-the-biblical-abraham-never-existed.html