New Insights About Moses Prince of Egypt

Moses Prince of Egypt is a story familiar to Christians, Muslims, and Jews. His story is found in the Bible, in the book of Exodus. We know from this account that Moses’s mother placed him in a basket in the Nile River because Pharaoh had condemned all Hebrew baby boys to death if found. (Exodus 2:3)

Pharaoh’s daughter saw the basket and sent her maid to fetch it. The child was crying, and she had compassion for him. Although Moses was a Hebrew he was raised as Pharaoh’s adopted grandson. “And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was mighty in words and deeds.” (Acts 7:22)

Antiquities of The Jews

Moses’s story really comes to life when we are able to add what ancient historians tell us about him. Flavius Josephus is a well-respected historian.

Josephus wrote Antiquities of the Jews. He had been allowed to take the sacred library from the Jewish temple before the Romans destroyed it. Josephus was with Titus’s army in 70 A.D. when Titus conquered Jerusalem. Later Josephus compiled the history of the Jews using those sacred scrolls.

Moses as a Child

According to Josephus Moses was an exceptionally beautiful baby. People would stand gazing at him for long periods of time because he was so attractive. Josephus also noted that Moses’ understanding was superior to others of his age. He had great quickness of mind.

Josephus writes the shrewd and powerful priests of Egypt watched this new development with jealousy and anger. In desperation, they tried to get the Pharaoh to kill Moses. The possibility of a Hebrew becoming Pharaoh was unthinkable.

However, Pharaoh’s love for his daughter prevailed despite the priest’s protest. Moses became the pharaoh’s heir apparent.

Moses Prince of Egypt Becomes a Famous General

Ethiopia was Egypt’s neighbor to the south. The Ethiopians waged war on Egypt. They subdued every city all the way to Memphis. The peril so frightened the Egyptians, that they asked their priests to obtain divine guidance. Drawing on the temple documents Josephus shares the priest’s plan to get rid of Moses. They proposed Moses lead the Egyptian army against the Ethiopians, hoping he would be killed.

The Ethiopians expected Moses to travel up the Nile River. Instead, Moses planned to attack over land. However, he knew there was a stretch of country that was infested with snakes and anticipated his soldiers would be too frightened to Pass over it.

Therefore Moses brought large cages containing the sacred Egyptian bird, the Ibis. These long-legged creatures were notorious for their ability to destroy serpents.

Josephus writes, “As soon, therefore, as Moses came to the land, which was the breeder of the serpent, he let loose the Ibis, and by their means repelled the serpentine kind.” (Antiquities 10:2)

By this means Moses was able to cut off the Ethiopian army.

Moses Prince of Egypt Gets Married

The Ethiopians retreated to their capital city, Cambyses. Because the city was surrounded by three Rivers it would be difficult to capture. The Royal city was also encompassed with strong walls and great ramparts making it next to impossible to attack.

Moses’s strategy was to lay siege to the city. No one could have guessed, not even Moses, what would happen next.

The king’s daughter, Tarbis saw Moses outside the wall. She instantly fell in love with Moses. She sent messengers to ask if he would marry her.

Josephus says Moses “Thereupon accepted the offer, on condition she would procure the delivering of the city; and gave her the assurance by oath to take her to his wife.”

“Duty” marriages were common practices in ancient times. Marriage between royal families was considered the best guarantee of peace between the two nations.

The only biblical reference to this marriage is found in Numbers chapter 12. Miriam and Aaron ridiculed Moses and “spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married.”

Conclusion

This closes a little-known segment of history. As a young man Moses Prince of Egypt became a national hero and married an Ethiopian Princess.

The additional information from Josephus explains why Moses feared for his life after he killed the Egyptian taskmaster. Moses knew the priests wanted him dead.