If the Egyptians..
By kukaisiton
@kukaisiton (702)
Philippines
February 23, 2010 6:11am CST
my curious brother asked a question that made me think.
During the biblical times, if the Egyptian people were African or dark-skinned, how come they didnt recognize Moses as a Jew and was even considered a royal ruling with them. Jews at that time were all considered as inferiors.
My answer to him was that, they were in the desert and I suppose Moses got burnt by the scorching sun. But would anyone provide a more enlightening answer
2 people like this
7 responses
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
23 Feb 10
It depends what you call 'dark-skinned'. The Egyptians and the Israelites were (and are not) negroes. Their complexions were (and are still) very similar. As a baby, Moses would have looked very similar to many Egyptians and would have been raised in the court and speaking the language as a native.
1 person likes this
@jimeny (640)
• Israel
23 Feb 10
Yes, as a jew I am sure of it.
Moses wasn't a jew because he did not belong to the judea tribe, and the judaism religion did not exist yet.
If he was anything- then he was an Israeli, or Israelite as you call it, which is a decendant of Jacob who was also named Israel.
@jimeny (640)
• Israel
23 Feb 10
Well Jew in Hebrew= Yehudi... Judea in Hebrew= Yehuda, do the math please.
Also, when talking about a Jew, "a Jew" can be either a person who belongs to the Judaism religion, or someone who belongs to the Jewish nation. Jews today are the decendants of Judea and Benjamin. (the majority are Judea, and minority are Benjamin)
In the first 5 books of the bible (aka Torah)- we are named Sons of Israel, Sons of Jacob ect... but never 'Jews'... When talked about Jews in these books- it was a refferance to the decendants of Judea, the same as Levys were decendants of Levy, and so on. Only later on the word 'Jews' were to describe those who practiced 'Judaism' WHICH was named Religion of Israel (Dat Israel in Hebrew) till then.
And Abraham being Jew? lol. In Abraham's time there were only the 7th Commandments of Noah, or w/e it's named in English... so he didn't even belong to the Judaism religion. (hence- it did NOT exist yet?)
Being a Rabbi, you have to check a LOT before giving an answer, because if you are wrong- you might make other mistake.
Btw- being a Rabbi at age 24- it either means you are REALLLLLLLLLY smart, or that you are Reform Jew... _
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
23 Feb 10
The Egyptians were not Negro, that is the old term for the dark skinned peoples who lived south of the Sahara in Africa. The Egyptians belonged to the same stock as the Italians, etc. only they were considered the Southern branch of that ethnic group. In old terms they were considered Caucasian, that is so called white people, but of the Southern branch. Also the Egyptian Pharaoahs had many wives and some of the wives may have been of the Semitic group that the Hebrews were apart of, therefore many of the Egyptians had Semitic features (shape of the nose, etc.) so therefore they would assume that Moses was an Egptian whose one of his ancestors came from Syria or Canaan.
Moses was really of the house of Levi, that is one of the twelve tribes. And the Hebrews, Syrians, Egyptians, Arabians, etc. were considered members of the Caucasian branch rather then the Negro branch of the Human Race.
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
25 Feb 10
I have an auntie who is Egyptian and her skin is olive more so than really dark as the one of African Americans. I don’t think Moses was a Jew, I always thought he was 'Israeli' and I presume his skin was slightly darker because he lived in a country where races were mixed. I am not really sure I just know that Egyptians are not that dark and that Moses was not a Jew!
@achilles2010 (3051)
• India
24 Feb 10
According to the Book of Exodus, Moses was the son of Amram, A member of the Levite tribe of Israel. Amram had descended from Jacob. All those who had descended from Jacob are Jews.
Moses's skin might have been tanned since he had lived in Egypt since his birth. His skin might have acquired a darker shade that is how Egyptians did not know that Moses was a Jew.
@Christmas2006 (1661)
• United States
24 Feb 10
When Pharaoh's daughter found Moses in the basket she said "this is one of the Hebrew babies" Exodus 2:6 so they knew Moses was a Hebrew. He grew up in the Egyptian Palace.
@AmbiePam (85522)
• United States
23 Feb 10
I have a doctor who is Egyptian. He can trace he roots back very far. He is not black, and has more of a dark olive tint. His skin is more olive than Jewish people I know, but back then, I believe Jewish people were probably slightly darker too, considering their bloodlines hadn't been AS mixed as they are today. Back then, different races married. So in Egypt, there was not just one skin color. There was a mix. This is my own theory, as I've also heard more educated people than I discuss it as well.
