Prophet · Leader · Old Testament
The Story of Moses
Also: Musa (Kiswahili, Gĩkũyũ), Mose (Kiswahili), Moshe (Hebrew)
Prophet who led Israel out of Egypt, received the Law at Sinai and guided the people through the wilderness.
Editorial text in English. Scripture is quoted from the version you choose; references stay the same in every version.
Introduction
Moses was born to a Levite family in Egypt when Pharaoh had ordered Hebrew baby boys to be killed. Hidden by his mother and placed in a basket on the Nile, he was found and raised by Pharaoh's daughter, who named him. Exodus 1:22Exodus 2:1–10
God called him from a burning bush to bring Israel out of slavery. Through the plagues, the Passover and the crossing of the sea, the LORD brought the people out of Egypt with Moses as leader. Exodus 3:1–10Exodus 12:31–42Exodus 14:21–31
At Mount Sinai Moses received the Ten Commandments and the Law, and he interceded for the people when they worshipped the golden calf. He led Israel through forty years in the wilderness. Exodus 20:1–17Exodus 32:11–14Numbers 14:33–35
Because of what happened at the waters of Meribah, Moses did not enter the promised land. He saw it from Mount Nebo and died in Moab; Scripture says no prophet arose in Israel like him, whom the LORD knew face to face. Numbers 20:12Deuteronomy 34:1–12
Told in: Exodus · Numbers · Deuteronomy
Life at a glance
- Tribe
- Levi Exodus 2:1Exodus 6:16–20
- Parents
- Amram and Jochebed Exodus 6:20
- Siblings
- Aaron (older brother) and Miriam Exodus 7:7Numbers 26:59
- Wife and sons
- Zipporah, daughter of Jethro; sons Gershom and Eliezer Exodus 2:21–22Exodus 18:2–4
- Calling
- Called by God at the burning bush to bring Israel out of Egypt Exodus 3:10
- Places
- Egypt, Midian, Mount Sinai (Horeb), the wilderness, Mount Nebo in Moab Exodus 2:15Exodus 19:20Deuteronomy 34:1
- Age
- 80 when he spoke to Pharaoh; 120 at his death Exodus 7:7Deuteronomy 34:7
- Death
- Died in Moab and was buried in a valley there; no one knows his burial place Deuteronomy 34:5–6
Only what Scripture records. Where the Bible is silent, nothing is filled in.
Follow the life of Moses
Events in the order Scripture presents them. Expand an event to read its passage here, or open the chapter in the reader.
Birth and rescue from the Nile
Born when Pharaoh ordered Hebrew boys to be thrown into the Nile, Moses is hidden by his mother, set in a basket among the reeds, and found by Pharaoh's daughter, who raises him and names him.
More about this event
Supporting passage: Exodus 1:22
Later recollection of this event: Acts 7:20–22 · Hebrews 11:23
People: Miriam
Places named: Egypt, the Nile
Moses kills an Egyptian and flees to Midian
Grown up, Moses kills an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew. When the deed becomes known he flees to Midian, defends the daughters of Reuel at a well, and marries Zipporah.
More about this event
Supporting passage: Exodus 2:23–25
Later recollection of this event: Acts 7:23–29 · Hebrews 11:24–27
Places named: Egypt, Midian
The burning bush
While keeping Jethro's flock at Horeb, Moses sees a bush that burns but is not consumed. God reveals his name and sends Moses to bring Israel out of Egypt, giving signs and appointing Aaron to speak for him.
More about this event
Later recollection of this event: Acts 7:30–35
Places named: Horeb, the mountain of God
Related events: Return to Egypt
Return to Egypt
Moses takes his family back toward Egypt. Aaron meets him at the mountain of God, and together they tell the elders of Israel what the LORD has said; the people believe and worship.
Moses confronts Pharaoh
Exodus 5:1–23 · Exodus 6:1–13 · Exodus 7:1–25 · Exodus 8–10
Moses and Aaron ask Pharaoh to let Israel go. Pharaoh refuses and increases the people's labour; the LORD renews his promise and sends plague after plague on Egypt.
More about this event
Later recollection of this event: Psalms 105:26–36
People: Aaron
Places named: Egypt
The Passover and the departure from Egypt
Exodus 11:1–10 · Exodus 12:1–42
Moses instructs Israel to keep the Passover. After the death of Egypt's firstborn, Pharaoh sends the people away, and Israel leaves Egypt.
More about this event
Supporting passage: Exodus 13:17–22
Later recollection of this event: Hebrews 11:28
Places named: Egypt, Rameses, Succoth
Related events: Crossing the sea
Crossing the sea
Exodus 14:1–31 · Exodus 15:1–21
Pharaoh pursues Israel. At the LORD's command Moses stretches out his hand, the waters divide, Israel crosses on dry ground, and the Egyptian army is drowned. Moses and Israel sing to the LORD, and Miriam leads the women in praise.
More about this event
Later recollection of this event: Hebrews 11:29
People: Miriam
Places named: the sea
Bread, water and battle in the wilderness
Exodus 15:22–27 · Exodus 16:1–36 · Exodus 17:1–16
In the wilderness the people grumble. The LORD sends manna and quail, gives water from the rock at Massah and Meribah, and grants victory over Amalek while Moses' hands are held up by Aaron and Hur.
Jethro's counsel
Jethro brings Zipporah and Moses' sons to him, rejoices at what the LORD has done, and advises Moses to appoint able men as judges so he does not wear himself out.
God speaks at Mount Sinai
Exodus 19:1–25 · Exodus 20:1–21 · Exodus 24:1–18
At Sinai the LORD descends on the mountain, speaks the Ten Commandments, and gives the laws of the covenant. Moses goes up the mountain and receives the tablets.
The golden calf and Moses' intercession
Exodus 32:1–35 · Exodus 33:1–23 · Exodus 34:1–35
While Moses is on the mountain, the people make a golden calf. Moses pleads with the LORD for them, breaks the tablets, and later receives new tablets; his face shines after speaking with the LORD.
The tabernacle is set up
Moses oversees the making of the tabernacle as the LORD commanded and sets it up; the cloud covers it and the glory of the LORD fills it.
Leadership tested in the wilderness
Numbers 11:1–35 · Numbers 12:1–16 · Numbers 13:1–33 · Numbers 14:1–45
Moses carries the burden of the people, and seventy elders share the Spirit. Miriam and Aaron speak against him; the twelve spies return and the people refuse to enter the land, so the generation is sentenced to forty years in the wilderness.
Korah's rebellion
Numbers 16:1–50 · Numbers 17:1–13
Korah, Dathan and Abiram rise against Moses and Aaron. The LORD judges the rebels, and Aaron's staff buds as a sign of his priesthood.
More about this event
People: Aaron
The waters of Meribah
Numbers 20:1–13 · Numbers 20:22–29
At Kadesh, where Miriam dies, the people again lack water. Moses strikes the rock instead of speaking to it as commanded, and the LORD tells Moses and Aaron that they will not bring the people into the land. Aaron dies on Mount Hor.
More about this event
Later recollection of this event: Psalms 106:32–33
Places named: Kadesh, Mount Hor
The bronze serpent
When venomous snakes strike the people, the LORD tells Moses to make a bronze serpent on a pole; whoever looks at it lives.
More about this event
Later recollection of this event: John 3:14–15 (Jesus refers to this event.)
Joshua appointed to succeed Moses
The LORD shows Moses the land he will not enter and tells him to commission Joshua, who is set before Eleazar the priest and the congregation.
More about this event
Supporting passage: Deuteronomy 31:1–8
People: Joshua
Places named: the mountain of Abarim
Final words to Israel
Deuteronomy 1:1–5 · Deuteronomy 31:9–30 · Deuteronomy 32:1–47 · Deuteronomy 33:1–29
In the plains of Moab Moses retells Israel's journey and the Law, writes the Law down, teaches Israel a song, and blesses the tribes.
The death of Moses
Moses climbs Mount Nebo, sees the promised land, and dies there in Moab at 120 years old. Israel mourns him thirty days, and Joshua leads the people.
More about this event
Supporting passage: Deuteronomy 32:48–52
People: Joshua
Places named: Mount Nebo, Moab
Mentioned across the Bible
Later passages that recall, mention or interpret Moses. These are not new events in the person’s lifetime.
Later recollections of these events
- Acts 7:20–22 recalls “Birth and rescue from the Nile”
- Hebrews 11:23 recalls “Birth and rescue from the Nile”
- Acts 7:23–29 recalls “Moses kills an Egyptian and flees to Midian”
- Hebrews 11:24–27 recalls “Moses kills an Egyptian and flees to Midian”
- Acts 7:30–35 recalls “The burning bush”
- Psalms 105:26–36 recalls “Moses confronts Pharaoh”
- Hebrews 11:28 recalls “The Passover and the departure from Egypt”
- Hebrews 11:29 recalls “Crossing the sea”
- Deuteronomy 5:1–22 recalls “God speaks at Mount Sinai”
- Deuteronomy 9:7–21 recalls “The golden calf and Moses' intercession”
- Psalms 106:32–33 recalls “The waters of Meribah”
- John 3:14–15 recalls “The bronze serpent” — Jesus refers to this event.
Later recollection
- Joshua 1:1–2 — After Moses' death the LORD speaks to Joshua.
- Psalms 103:7 — God made his ways known to Moses.
- Jeremiah 15:1 — Moses and Samuel named as intercessors.
- Micah 6:4 — God sent Moses, Aaron and Miriam before Israel.
- Malachi 4:4 — Remember the Law of Moses.
- Acts 7:20–44 — Stephen's retelling of Moses' life.
- Hebrews 11:23–29 — Moses in the chapter on faith.
Direct reference
- Psalms 90:1 — The heading calls this psalm a prayer of Moses, the man of God.
- Matthew 17:1–4 — Moses appears with Elijah at the Transfiguration.
- Jude 9 — The archangel Michael disputes about the body of Moses.
- Revelation 15:3 — The song of Moses and of the Lamb.
Teaching or quotation mentioning them
- Luke 24:27 — Beginning from Moses and all the prophets, Jesus explains the Scriptures concerning himself.
- John 1:17 — The Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
- John 5:46 — Jesus: Moses wrote about me.
- 2 Corinthians 3:7–16 — Paul on the veil over Moses' face.
- Hebrews 3:2–5 — Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant.
Interpretive or typological connection (an interpretation, not a statement of the text)
- Deuteronomy 18:15–18 — The promise of a prophet like Moses, which the New Testament applies to Jesus (Acts 3:22).
Family and relationships
- AaronBrotherExodus 4:14Exodus 6:20
- MiriamSisterNumbers 26:59
- JethroFather-in-lawExodus 3:1Exodus 18:1
- ZipporahWifeExodus 2:21
- GershomSonExodus 2:22Exodus 18:3
- EliezerSonExodus 18:4
- Amram and JochebedParentsExodus 6:20
- JoshuaAssistant and successorExodus 24:13Numbers 27:18–23
- PharaohKing of Egypt who refused to let Israel goExodus 5:1–2
- CalebOne of the twelve spies he sentNumbers 13:6Numbers 14:6–9
Books associated with Moses
- Exodus Main narrative figure
- Leviticus Their story appears here
The LORD speaks the laws of Leviticus to Moses. Leviticus 1:1
- Numbers Main narrative figure
- Deuteronomy Main narrative figure
Moses' speeches to Israel in Moab. Deuteronomy 1:1
- Genesis Traditionally attributed author
Jewish and Christian tradition attributes the Pentateuch (Genesis to Deuteronomy) to Moses. The books do not name an author for most of their text, and scholars discuss how they were composed. Passages say Moses wrote down particular laws and a song.
- Exodus Traditionally attributed author
Moses wrote down the words of the LORD (Exodus 24:4); the rest is traditional attribution. Exodus 24:4
- Deuteronomy Traditionally attributed author
Moses wrote this law; Deuteronomy 34 records his death, so not every word is presented as his. Deuteronomy 31:9Deuteronomy 31:24
- Psalms Named as author in the text
Psalm 90 is headed a prayer of Moses; this does not make him an author of the Psalms as a book. Psalms 90:1
A book named after someone is not necessarily written by them. Authorship traditions are shown as traditions.
Themes and study
Study prompts written by BibleKenya editors. They are not Scripture.
DeliveranceCovenantIntercessionFaithLeadership
- What does God reveal about himself at the burning bush (Exodus 3:13-15)?
- How does Moses respond to his own reluctance, and how does God answer it (Exodus 4:10-17)?
- What do Moses' prayers for the people show about intercession (Exodus 32:11-14; Numbers 14:13-19)?
- Why did Moses not enter the land, and how does Deuteronomy 34 close his story?
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