Editing Moses (section)

=== Artapanus ===
[[File:The Knesset Menorah P5200010 Moses.JPG|thumb|right|Depiction of Moses on the [[Knesset Menorah]] raising his arms during the battle against the Amalekites]]
The Jewish historian [[Artapanus of Alexandria]] (second century&nbsp;BCE) portrayed Moses as a cultural hero, alien to the Pharaonic court. According to theologian John Barclay, the Moses of Artapanus "clearly bears the destiny of the Jews, and in his personal, cultural and military splendor, brings credit to the whole Jewish people".<ref>{{cite book |last=Barclay |first=John M. G. |title=Jews in the Mediterranean Diaspora: From Alexander to Trajan (323&nbsp;BCE – 117&nbsp;CE) |publisher=University of California Press |year=1996 |page=130 |isbn=0-520-21843-4}}</ref>

{{Blockquote | Jealousy of Moses' excellent qualities induced Chenephres to send him with unskilled troops on a military expedition to [[Ethiopia]], where he won great victories. After having built the city of [[Hermopolis]], he taught the people the value of the [[ibis]] as a protection against the serpents, making the bird the sacred guardian spirit of the city; then he introduced [[circumcision]]. After his return to [[Memphis, Egypt|Memphis]], Moses taught the people the value of oxen for agriculture, and the consecration of the same by Moses gave rise to the cult of [[Apis (deity)|Apis]]. Finally, after having escaped another plot by killing the assailant sent by the king, Moses fled to [[Arabia]], where he married the daughter of [[Jethro (Bible)|Raguel]] [Jethro], the ruler of the district.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=830&letter=M&search=moses#3 |title=Moses |encyclopedia=Jewish Encyclopedia |access-date=2010-03-02}}</ref>}}

Artapanus relates how Moses returns to Egypt with Aaron and is imprisoned but miraculously escapes through the name of [[YHWH]] to lead the Exodus. This account further testifies that all Egyptian [[Egyptian temple|temples]] of [[Isis]] thereafter contained a rod, in remembrance of that used for Moses' miracles. He describes Moses as 80 years old, "tall and ruddy, with long white hair, and dignified".<ref>{{cite web |author=Eusebius of Caesarea |title=Praeparatio Evangelica |trans-title=Preparation for the Gospel |translator-first=E. H. |translator-last=Gifford |year=1903 |at=Book 9 |url=http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/eusebius_pe_09_book9.htm |via=tertullian.org |access-date=30 April 2021}}</ref>

Some historians, however, point out the "[[apologetic]] nature of much of Artapanus' work",{{Sfn|Feldman|1998|p=40}} with his addition of extra-biblical details, such as his references to Jethro: the non-Jewish Jethro expresses admiration for Moses' gallantry in helping his daughters and chooses to adopt Moses as his son.{{Sfn|Feldman|1998|p=133}}