Moses

Moses, the Founder and Lawgiver of Israel. According to the Pentateuchal narrative, he was born in Egypt and owed his life to being hidden and rescued by Pharaoh's daughter. He received a Divine commission to rescue the Hebrews from their bondage and eventually led them out of Egypt. During the journey across the desert they often rebelled against him, but by his intercession they were given manna for food and the Ten Commandments to guide their common life. He was granted a sight of the Promised Land and died in Moab.

Opinions on the reliability of this account range from those who regard the narrative about Moses as substantially true to those who deny his existence. Most scholars agree that some such commanding figure as Moses is presupposed by the unity of the Israelite tribes and that it is unlikely that the Hebrew people would have sought their beginnings in bondage unless such had been the fact.

Moses figures prominently in Christian tradition. At the Transfiguration scene he appears as the Representative of the Law. He was the subject of various legends.