How did Moses know he was an Israelite?

Answer 1

Moses started out his life in miraculous deliverance! While other babies all around him were dying at the hand of Pharaoh, he was being hidden in a basket, floated down a river and saved by the Pharoah's own daughter! I am sure he knew of this story at an early age, so from the very beginning he was aware that God had delivered him personally for some reason! Then he was raised as an Egyptian Prince! He learned their culture and their traditions. At the same time God made it possible that he spent time with his family of origin where he learned all about the same things of the Hebrew people, to whom he actually belonged. And God made it clear early on that he had delivered Moses through divine intervention.

Answer 2

Moses was nursed by his mother (Exodus ch.2), so he spent his first couple of years at home. Afterwards, he was raised by the daughter of Pharaoh (ibid), who (according to tradition) was sympathetic to Judaism and undoubtedly discussed it with him. Also, Moses used to go out and visit his people (ibid). Still later, Moses lived with Jethro (ibid), whose interest in Judaism we see from Exodus ch.18.

Answer 3

When he was being nursed in his own home (Exodus ch.2), his parents and his sister Miriam repeatedly told him the truth. He remembered this his whole life, and was always careful not to be influenced by the people around him. In those days, nursing continued for the first 2-4 years of the child's life.

Also, Moshe (Moses) was not locked away in Pharaoh's palace. He was free to come and go; and he used that fact to visit his Israelite brothers (ibid).

Answer 4

In those days, Israelite custom was to nurse babies for up to four years. Since it was his own mother who nursed him (Exodus 2:8-9), his family had plenty of time to teach him before he was returned to Pharaoh's daughter (Exodus 2:10) to live in the palace.

Answer 5

Moses supposedly met his sister in the slums of the city when he was alone and she convinced him that they came from the same mother... He later asked the Pharoh (his adopted father) if this was true he responded yes.

Answer 6

1) In those days, Israelite custom was nurse babies for up to four years. Since it was his own mother who nursed him (Exodus 2:8-9), his family had plenty of time to teach him before he was returned to Pharaoh's daughter (Exodus 2:10) to live in the palace.
2) Moses was not a prisoner in the royal palace. He came and went as he pleased (Exodus 2:11 and 2:13) and sought out his people (ibid).

Answer 7

1) In those days, Israelite custom was to nurse babies for up to four years. Since it was his own mother who nursed him (Exodus 2:8-9), his family had plenty of time to teach him before he was returned to Pharaoh's daughter (Exodus 2:10) to live in the palace.
2) Moses was not a prisoner in the royal palace. He came and went as he pleased (Exodus 2:11 and 2:13) and sought out his people (ibid).

More about Moses:

Moses was an Israelite, a great-great grandson of Jacob. He was born 245 years after the death of Abraham. The time when Moses was born was when the Pharaoh had ordered his people to kill all Israelite male infants because he (Pharaoh) was afraid that the Israelites would become too strong for him (Exodus ch.1-2).

Moses' mother didn't want him to die. So she made a basket for him and put him in it to float in the Nile reeds. He was found by Pharaoh's daughter, who took pity on him (Exodus ch.2) and raised him as her own son.

Link: How did Moses know he was an Israelite?

Moses was forced to flee after killing a cruel Egyptian taskmaster, and went to Midian, where he wedded the daughter of Jethro.

He eventually achieved the highest level of prophecy (Deuteronomy ch.34) and was called upon by God (Exodus ch.3). He brought the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery (Exodus ch.12). He received the Torah from God (Exodus 24:12) and later recorded it in writing (Deuteronomy 31:24). He went up on Mount Sinai for 40 days and nights (Deuteronomy ch.9-10) and brought down the Two Stone Tablets with the Ten Commandments (Exodus 31:18). He brought the Israelites into the covenant with God (Exodus ch.19 and ch.24), and he oversaw the building of the Tabernacle (Exodus ch.35-40). He was the humblest of men and the greatest of prophets (Numbers ch.12).

See also the other Related Links.

Link: Timeline of Jewish history
Link: Archaeology

Answer 8

1) He was nursed by his mother (Exodus ch. 2).

2) He was raised by the daughter of Pharaoh (ibid), who according to the Talmud converted to Judaism.

Answer 9

The genealogy begins with Shem son of Noah until it gets to Eber whose name is where the Hebrew comes from and his mother or his sister told him the history behind the Hebrew Israeli.

Answer 10

He found out as an adult, when he encountered his brother and sister, working as slaves.