What is the evidence that Moses was illiterate as described in the Bible?

In fact, in Exodus 4:10-12, Moses tells God that he is not eloquent in speech and that he is slow of speech and tongue. This suggests that Moses may have struggled with communication and possibly literacy as well.

There is evidence in the Bible that suggests Moses was illiterate. The lack of mention of Moses having any formal education or ability to read and write in the Bible is a strong indicator of his illiteracy.

Moses is famously known for leading the Israelites out of Egypt and receiving the Ten Commandments from God on Mount Sinai. However, throughout the biblical accounts of Moses' life, there is no mention of him being able to read or write. In fact, in Exodus 4:10-12, Moses tells God that he is not eloquent in speech and that he is slow of speech and tongue. This suggests that Moses may have struggled with communication and possibly literacy as well.

Furthermore, in Deuteronomy 34:10-12, the Bible describes Moses' death and burial, stating that no one knew where his grave was. This is often interpreted as a symbolic way of saying that Moses' legacy was not in physical monuments or writings, but in the importance of his leadership and the laws given to him by God.

In addition, Moses' interactions with God and the reception of the Ten Commandments also point to his illiteracy. In Exodus 31:18, it is said that God wrote the Ten Commandments on tablets of stone and gave them to Moses. This indicates that Moses did not write the commandments himself, further suggesting his illiteracy.

Some biblical scholars argue that Moses may have been educated in the Egyptian court as a prince, and therefore would have been literate. However, there is no direct evidence in the Bible to support this claim. In fact, Moses was raised by his Hebrew mother and knew his true identity as an Israelite. It is unlikely that he would have received a formal education in the royal court of Egypt as a Hebrew slave.

Overall, the evidence in the Bible strongly supports the idea that Moses was illiterate. His lack of education or mention of any writing abilities, coupled with his own admission of struggling with speech, suggest that Moses was not literate.

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Jamie Larson
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