Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Lloyd Barre <barre AT c-zone.net>]

Dear List Members:

Freud's arguments that Moses was actually an Egyptian have recently been
expressed again by Jon Assman and myself.  Moses' alleged Hebrew identity
rest upon the episode of baby Moses' trip down the Nile.  However, it is
well-known that this storyline is folkloristic, most famously illustrated
by the Legend of Sargon.  Thus the historical discrediting of the basket
episode leaves a fully Egyptian Moses, including his name, which is
Egyptian as everybody knows and not Hebrew as the popular in the tale
etymology claims.  Indeed, the function of the story seems intent on
transforming Moses' ethnic identity from Egyptian to Hebrew.

Submitted for your consideration and comments,

Lloyd Barre