Moshe is the prophet, teacher, and political leader of Israel during its first generation as a nation. Moshe leads Bnei Yisrael out of Egypt and guides them to Mount Sinai where they receive the Torah. He presides over the nation for their 40 years of wandering through the desert until they arrive at the border of Eretz Yisrael. A member of the tribe of Levi, Moshe is the son of Amram and Yocheved, brother of Aharon and Miriam, husband to Tzipporah, and father to Gershom and Eliezer. Hidden in the Nile by his mother Yocheved, Moshe is found by Pharaoh's daughter, who names him.
Moshe is raised in the palace away from the oppression afflicting his brethren. When Moshe kills an Egyptian to protect a Hebrew, he is forced to flee to Midyan. There he is taken in by the high priest of Midyan, Yitro, whose daughter Tzipporah he marries. Moshe works as a shepherd for Yitro and one day God appears to him in a vision in a burning bush. God instructs Moshe to return to Egypt and lead the Israelites out of slavery. Moshe is reluctant, but God is persuasive and sends Moshe to Egypt armed with miracles to prove his divine assignment. Moshe begins his mission at age 80.
Moshe's initial request to Pharaoh is met with scorn as Pharaoh increases his slaves' work load. This discourages Moshe, but God assures him that Pharaoh's punishment will be forthcoming. (Parashat Shemot)
Moshe attempts to persuade Israel that God is about to rescue them from slavery, but they are too over-worked to believe him. Moshe and Aharon appeal to Pharaoh and threaten to bring plagues to the land of Egypt if their request is not granted. Ten plagues are eventually imposed on the Egyptians and their land before the king finally tells the Hebrews to leave. (Parashat Vaera and Parashat Bo)
Moshe's role as lawgiver begins long before the revelation at Mount Sinai. While Israel is still in Egypt, Moshe is given instructions to relay to the people for preparing and celebrating the first Korban Pesach (Paschal sacrifice) and Pesach Seder (Passover ceremony). References to calculating the new months, the prohibition of Hametz on Pesach, the sanctity of the first-born child and animal, as well as the future mitzva of Tefillin are all mentioned in Egypt.
Moshe leads Bnei Yisrael into the desert and towards Yam Suf, where God splits the sea on behalf of the nation. Following the miraculous rescue of the nation, Moshe leads the people in song - a passage known popularly as The Song at the Sea.
Amalek attacks Bnei Yisrael and Moshe appoints his apprentice Yehoshua as general to lead the ensuing battle. While Yehoshua engages the enemy on the ground, Moshe positions himself on the mountain holding his miracle staff. This posture of prayer, combined with Yehoshua's more natural approach, wins the war. (Parashat Beshalach)
The highlight of Moshe's career takes place at Mount Sinai where Moshe prepares Bnei Yisrael for revelation and mediates between God and the nation during God's pronouncement of the Ten Commandments. (Parashat Yitro)
Following revelation, Moshe ascends Mount Sinai and remains there for forty days and forty nights (Parashat Mishpatim).
During Moshe's absence, the people get anxious and force Aharon to fashion a golden calf which they worship. God informs Moshe that the people have sinned and Moshe prays to God not to destroy them. God agrees, but upon his return, Moshe sees the idolatry the people are engaged in and smashes the tablets of the law that he is carrying. Moshe burns the golden calf, grinds it into powder, mixes it with water and makes Bnei Yisrael drink the mixture. He then rallies the tribe of Levi to his side and encourages them to kill the idolators. 3000 sinners are slain.
Moshe removes his tent and pitches it outside the camp. This becomes known as Ohel Moed- the Tent of Meeting, the place where God communes with the prophet. Moshe asks God to show him His glory and God partially grants this request and shows Moshe His back. Moshe prepares a new set of Ten Commandments on new tablets to replace the originals which he broke. When Moshe returns after an additional 40 days and nights with God he is unaware that his skin is radiant (Exodus 34, 29). Moshe covers his face with a veil to make himself more accessible to the people. (Parashat Ki Tissa)
Moshe's position of leadership is challenged by Korah who also argues that Aharon should not have the position of priesthood that he holds. Moshe turns to God to defend himself, claiming that he has never wronged any of his accusers. God's response to the rebellion is to kill Korah and all his followers (Parashat Korah).
In the 40th year of the desert journey, the people find themselves without water (at a place to be called Mei Meriva) and complain to Moshe, claiming that it would have been better to die of plague or to remain in Egypt than to die of thirst. God tells Moshe and Aharon to speak to a rock and to draw water from it. Moshe hits the rock twice and water pours out. God says that their action shows a lack of faith in Him, and since they did not sanctify Him in front of Israel they will be punished by not being allowed to enter the land of Israel.
God tells Moshe to ascend a mountain to view Eretz Yisrael from a distance since he will not enter the land. This prompts Moshe to ask God to appoint a successor so that the nation will not be “like sheep without a shepherd” (Numbers 27, 17). God tells Moshe to present Yehoshua as Israel's next leader. (Parashat Pinhas)
Much of the Book of Devarim is Moshe's farewell address to the nation. As a final act, Moshe establishes three cities of refuge on the eastern side of the river in preparation for Israel's conquest of the entire land. (Parashat Vaethanan)
Moshe views the Land of Israel from Mount Nevo where he dies at age 120. He is mourned for thirty days. (Parashat Vezot HaBerakha)
The Torah ends with a declaration that Moshe was the greatest prophet of all time, a man who spoke to God "face to face" (Deuteronomy 34, 10).
Adapted from TanakhProfiles.org by HaTanakh.com Staff