Moses

[Meatros]

I've often heard that Moses was the author of most of the Old Testament. It's been a while since I've read the entire bible, but I don't remember Moses taking credit for it.

So is it true?

 

[Mr.Cheese]

I think entire forests have been turned into the paoer used to argue this.
Well, he would have had to record his own death and burial for that to happen.
I believe this: Ancient Hebrew tradition was oral. So I believe that for the most part it is Mosaic. But It all got written down later.

 

[Meatros]

So basically, Moses is not technically the author (as in writing), but the information came from him (who got it from God)-and this is why Moses is consider to be the author of most of the Old Testament?

 

[BarbB]

I believe that Moses is credited with writing (as in on paper) the first 5 books of the Old Testament - the Pentateuch! The rest of the books were credited as being written by the prophets of the time.

 

[Theresa]

It is thought that Moses, perhaps using older copies, wrote Genesis and then of course, the other books in the Pentateuch, I'm not sure if Genesis is considered one of those five books.

 

[PRMan]

Moses wrote (or oversaw the writing of by scribes) Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, the first five books of the Old Testament. Obviously he didn't record his own death at the end of Deuteronomy which is why scholars think a team of scribes may have been involved and just finished it up that way after his death.

Prior to this, the traditions were most likely oral traditions. But this isn't as bad as you think, since Noah and Shem could have heard the information in Genesis SECOND-HAND, since their fathers lived such long lives pre-flood. Moses actually could have heard it THIRD or FOURTH-HAND. Not too bad as far as oral tradition is concerned.

 

[Meatros]

So why is it thought that Moses is the author? What leads you all to believe he is?

 

[Meatros]

Anyone?

 

[LightBearer]

There is no question as to who wrote the Pentateuch (First five books of the Bible). These books are referred to as “The book of the law of Moses”.Such verifying references to it are found from his successor, Joshua, onward. In fact, there are some 200 references to Moses in 27 of the later Bible books. Moses’ writership has never been questioned by the Jews. The Christian Greek Scriptures make frequent mention of Moses as the writer of “the law.”

Ex 17:14 Jehovah now said to Moses: “Write this as a memorial in the book and propound it in Joshua’s ears, ‘I shall completely wipe out the remembrance of Am´a·lek from under the heavens.’”


EX 34:27 And Jehovah went on to say to Moses: “Write down for yourself these words, because it is in accordance with these words that I do conclude a covenant with you and Israel.


Josh. 8:31 just as Moses the servant of Jehovah had commanded the sons of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses: “An altar of whole stones, upon which no iron tool has been wielded”; and they went offering up burnt offerings upon it to Jehovah and sacrificing communion sacrifices.


Dan. 9:13 Just as it is written in the law of Moses, all this calamity—it has come upon us, and we have not softened the face of Jehovah our God by turning back from our error and by showing insight into your trueness.

The crowning testimony being that of Jesus Christ himself. He confirmed that Moses wrote at God’s direct command and under His inspiration.


Luke 24:27 And commencing at Moses and all the Prophets he (Jesus) interpreted to them things pertaining to himself in all the Scriptures.
Brackets mine

Luke 24:44 He (Jesus) now said to them: “These are my words which I spoke to YOU while I was yet with YOU, that all the things written in the law of Moses and in the Prophets and Psalms about me must be fulfilled.
Brackets mine

 

[Meatros]

Thank you LightBearer, that answered my question perfectly.

(Not to take away from the other answers, just that LightBearer provided scriptual support.)