Moses - (Biblical Biographies) by J Daniel Hays (Paperback)

About the Book

Through exploration of the biblical, historical, social, and cultural contexts, biblical scholar J. Daniel Hays offers a biographical account of Moses, illuminating the person that God befriended and empowered for liberation of his people.

Book Synopsis

Who was Moses, really?

From Hebrew slave to Egyptian prince to God's chosen deliverer, Moses' story is one of the most extraordinary in all of Scripture. In this book, learn how Moses finds his true identity face-to-face with God himself.

Through the exploration of the biblical, historical, social, and cultural contexts, biblical scholar J. Daniel Hays offers a biographical account of the life of Moses, illuminating the person that God befriended and empowered for liberation of his people.

Drawing from material in Exodus through Deuteronomy and rich ancient Egyptian historical background, this book brings Moses to life as a real person who lived, breathed, worked, ached, slept, rejoiced, wept, and prayed as we all do. Through Hays's careful analysis of historical, cultural, and literary contexts, you will discover fresh perspectives on Moses' extraordinary journey of discovering who he really is.

In this book, you'll find:

• A comprehensive character study spanning Moses' entire life, looking at his identities of royal Egyptian, fugitive, family man, friend of God, and more
• Insights from the best scholarship on Moses and his place in the biblical story
• Fresh biblical insights examining familiar passages through new lenses
• Informed speculation on Moses' inner life, emotions, and spiritual development grounded in biblical and historical evidence

What kind of education did Moses receive in Pharaoh's court? How did he understand his dual identity as both Hebrew and Egyptian? What was he thinking and feeling during his most pivotal moments? What was it like for him to speak directly with God? How do his experiences speak to Christians today?

Explore these questions and more with Moses. For readers who want more than a surface reading of Moses' story, this book offers a scholarly yet accessible portrait of a man whose struggles, identity, and friendship with God offer wisdom for believers today.

About the Series

The Biblical Biographies series, edited by J. Daniel Hays and J. Scott Duvall, provides dramatic biographies of some of the most colorful and influential people in the Bible. Building on the biblical text, these biographies offer insights from the best scholarship related to the historical, cultural, and literary backgrounds of the characters and their stories. With this context, these characters come alive as readers experience familiar stories in fresh ways that are biblically grounded, culturally informed, and historically sound.

Review Quotes

"Despite being a larger-than-life leader, recognized and revered by three major world religions, Moses is presented in the Old Testament as profoundly human. In this book, J. Daniel Hays captures that humanity and serves as a skilled biographer, walking readers through the historical context and narrative arc that gave rise to the man that God used to make a nation. Hays's knowledge of the Bible and ancient Egyptian context shines throughout, making this a rich contribution to any serious study on the life of Moses or the Pentateuch."

--William R. Osborne, professor of biblical and theological studies at College of the Ozarks

"Meet Moses. Not the distortions from animated cartoons and movies that remake him in our own modern image. The actual Moses. This rich biography by seasoned scholar J. Daniel Hays sets Moses in his ancient Near Eastern and biblical contexts. Readers will discover a real person with baggage who is yet the one to whom Yahweh gives a mission of redemption. Follow one saved from a child-murderer who lives an extraordinary life of victory, failure, and revelation. This is the book and now is the time to meet Moses."

--Gary Edward Schnittjer, distinguished professor of Old Testament for Cairn Theological Seminary at Cairn University and author of Torah Story and The Verses We Hate

"I highly recommend this biography of Moses. J. Daniel Hays's competence as an interpreter is evident in his attention to the historical and cultural settings of Moses' time and in his insights into the biblical text. Yet the book is more than a scholarly treatise or commentary. Hays tells Moses' story in an engaging manner and is careful to draw out its practical relevance. An added and welcome feature is the use of study questions to encourage personal reflection and to facilitate use in group Bible studies. Well done!"

--Robert B. Chisholm Jr., chair and senior professor of Old Testament studies at Dallas Theological Seminary

"This biography brings Moses and ancient Egypt to life. Biblically informed, historically grounded, and personally relevant, this book makes the complex identity, family relationships, struggles, and calling of the great prophet accessible to today's readers. If you are looking for a biblically-based biography of Moses, look no further!"

--Kevin Chen, professor of Old Testament at Gateway Seminary and author of The Messianic Vision of the Pentateuch and Wonders from Your Law

About the Author

J. Daniel Hays (PhD, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary) is professor emeritus of biblical studies at Ouachita Baptist University and senior professor of Old Testament at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author, coauthor, or coeditor of twenty books, including Grasping God's Word, The Pentateuch: Life in the Presence of God, The Temple and the Tabernacle, The Baker Illustrated Bible Background Commentary, and God's Relational Presence.

Duvall is dean and Fuller Professor of Biblical Studies and Theology of the Pruett School of Christian Studies at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.