Editing Moses (section)

=== Judaism ===
{{Main|Moses in rabbinic literature}}
[[File:MosesStrikingTheRock GREBBER.jpg|thumb|''Moses striking the rock'', by [[Pieter de Grebber]], 1630]]
Most of what is known about Moses from the Bible comes from the books of [[book of Exodus|Exodus]], [[Leviticus]], [[book of Numbers|Numbers]], and [[Deuteronomy]].{{sfn |Van Seters |2004|p=194}} The majority of scholars consider the compilation of these books to go back to the [[Yehud Medinata|Persian period]], 538–332&nbsp;BCE, but based on earlier written and oral traditions.{{sfn|Finkelstein|Silberman|2001|p=68}}{{sfn|Ska|2009|p=260}} There is a wealth of stories and additional information about Moses in the [[Jewish apocrypha]] and in the genre of [[rabbi]]nical [[exegesis]] known as [[Midrash]], as well as in the primary works of the Jewish [[oral law]], the [[Mishnah]] and the [[Talmud]]. Moses is also given a number of bynames in Jewish tradition. The [[Midrash]] identifies Moses as one of seven biblical personalities who were called by various names.<ref>Midrash Rabbah, Ki Thissa, XL. 3–3, Lehrman, p. 463</ref>{{clarify|Unclear what this source is|date=May 2022}} Moses' other names were Jekuthiel (by his mother), Heber (by [[Amram|his father]]), Jered (by [[Miriam]]), Avi Zanoah (by Aaron), [[Avigdor (name)|Avi Gedor]] (by [[Kohath]]), Avi Soco (by his wet-nurse), Shemaiah ben Nethanel (by people of Israel).<ref>Yalkut Shimoni, Shemot 166 to Chronicles I 4:18, 24:6; also see Vayikra Rabbah 1:3; Chasidah p. 345</ref> Moses is also attributed the names Toviah (as a first name), and Levi (as a family name) (Vayikra Rabbah 1:3), Heman,<ref>Rashi to Bava Batra 15s, Chasidah p. 345</ref> Mechoqeiq (lawgiver),<ref>Bava Batra 15a on Deuteronomy 33:21, Chasidah p. 345</ref> and Ehl Gav Ish (Numbers 12:3).<ref>Rashi to Berachot 54a, Chasidah p. 345</ref> In another [[exegesis]], Moses had ascended to the first heaven until the [[Seven Heavens|seventh]], even visited [[Paradise]] and [[Hell]] alive, after he saw the [[burning bush|divine vision]] in Mount Horeb.<ref name="Ginzberg1909">{{cite book |last=Ginzberg |first=Louis |year=1909 |url=http://www.swartzentrover.com/cotor/e-books/misc/Legends/Legends%20of%20the%20Jews.pdf |title=The Legends of the Jews |volume=II: The Ascension of Moses; Moses Visits Paradise and Hell |translator-first=Henrietta |translator-last=Szold |location=Philadelphia |publisher=Jewish Publication Society}}</ref>

Jewish historians who lived at [[Alexandria]], such as [[Eupolemus]], attributed to Moses the feat of having taught the [[Phoenicia]]ns [[Phoenician alphabet|their alphabet]],<ref>[[Eusebius]], ''[[Praeparatio evangelica]]'' ix. 26</ref> similar to legends of [[Thoth]]. [[Artapanus of Alexandria]] explicitly identified Moses not only with Thoth/[[Hermes]], but also with the Greek figure [[Musaeus of Athens|Musaeus]] (whom he called "the teacher of [[Orpheus]]") and ascribed to him the division of Egypt into 36 districts, each with its own liturgy. He named the princess who adopted Moses as Merris, wife of Pharaoh Chenephres.<ref>Eusebius, l.c. ix. 27</ref>

Jewish tradition considers Moses to be the greatest prophet who ever lived.<ref name="Ginzberg1909" /> Despite his importance, Judaism stresses that Moses was a human being, and is therefore not to be worshipped.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}} Only God is worthy of worship in Judaism.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

To [[Orthodox Jews]], Moses is called ''Moshe Rabbenu, 'Eved HaShem, Avi haNeviim zya"a'': "Our Leader Moshe, Servant of God, Father of all the Prophets (may his merit shield us, amen)". In the orthodox view, Moses received not only the Torah, but also the revealed (written and oral) and the hidden (the ''{{'}}hokhmat nistar'') teachings, which gave Judaism the [[Zohar]] of the [[Rashbi]], the Torah of the [[Isaac Luria|Ari haQadosh]] and all that is discussed in the Heavenly Yeshiva between the [[Ramhal]] and his masters.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

Arising in part from his age of death (120 years, according to Deuteronomy 34:7) and that "his eye had not dimmed, and his vigor had not diminished", the phrase "[[Live until 120|may you live to 120]]" has become a common blessing among Jews (120 is stated as the maximum age for all of [[Noah]]'s descendants in Genesis 6:3).