Monday, August 08, 2011

Housekeeping: Why did Moshe change the facts?

Correction to this earlier post below in red:


Deuteronomy opens with Moshe's farewell oration. As many have observed, Some fo the facts as relates do not coincide with the accounts given in the earlier books: For example

Deut 1:9
At that time I said to you, “You are too heavy a burden for me to carry alone.

Only in Exodus 18:17 it is Yisro, not Moses who speakes those words:
Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.

Duet 1:15 [Moshe tells the people] Choose some wise, understanding and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will set them over you."

Only in Exodus 18:24 ff Moshe, not the people, selects the judges:
Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens

Duet 1:37
"Because of you the LORD became angry with me also and said, “You shall not enter it, either."

Only in Numbers we're told that Moshe was barred from the Promised Land due to his own sin, and not because of anything the people did.

Why is this man Moshe taking credit for what he did not do, and placing blame where it is not deserved? This is the sort of thing we might expect a human leader to do, during his last days, but Moshe? And why was this made part of the Torah?


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