Moses: Life and Greatness
The life, character, offices, and greatness of Moses as lawgiver, pontiff, prophet, general, wonder-worker, and type of Christ, who for thousands of years was the greatest man under the sun. His three periods of forty years encompassed royal education, contemplation in Midian, and leadership of the people.
Preface and Praise of Sacred Scripture
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Moses's Three Periods of Forty Years
— Moses's three periods of 40 years: raised in the royal court and educated in Egyptian wisdom; contemplation in Midian; leading the people as pontiff, commander, lawgiver, teacher, prophet.
"from his tenderest years was raised in the royal court, as a king's son and destined heir, educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, for a full 40 years: then denying that he was the son of Pharaoh's daughter... he fled to Midian; here, pasturing sheep, having spoken with God in the burning bush, he drew all divine wisdom by contemplation for a full 40 years; finally, chosen as leader of the people"
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The Virtues of Moses
— Moses was a musician and psalmist (Jerome testifies he composed 11 psalms), deemed worthy to receive the tablets of the law, guided by a pillar of cloud.
"he was a musician and psalmist: St. Jerome testifies, volume III, epistle to Cyprian, that Moses composed eleven psalms"
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The Virtues of Moses
— Moses stood twice for 40 days fasting and conversing with God on Sinai; God spoke to him mouth to mouth, openly, not through enigmas.
"My servant Moses," says the Lord, Numbers 12:7, "is the most faithful in all My house: for I speak to him mouth to mouth, and openly, and not through enigmas and figures does he see the Lord."
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Praises of Moses from Scripture and the Fathers
— Sirach: "Beloved of God and men was Moses, whose memory is in blessing. He made him like unto the glory of the saints."
"Beloved of God and men was Moses, whose memory is in blessing. He made him like unto the glory of the saints"
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Moses and Christ: Nineteen Parallels
— Philo: "This is the life, this is the death of Moses, king, legislator, pontiff, prophet."
"This is the life, this is the death of Moses, king, legislator, pontiff, prophet"