Page:Judaism and Islam, a prize essay - Geiger - 1898.pdf/137

 MOSES AND HIS TIME. 119

ages j therefore Muhammad adopted from it only such legends as were edifying in themselves and to which he could append pious reflections. In the period of which we are now going to treat, there is certainly still a long- array of legends, but historical facts are preserved for us with greater distinctness and clearer detail, and these facts are of greater religious importance The giving of the Mosaic Law and the eventful life and noble personality of Moses himself afford Muhammad plenty of material for his narrative. Here we will first put together the whole life of Moses as represented in the various passages of the Quran, and then we will go on to consider the details to be commented upon. Among the oppressive enactments of Pharaoh against the children of Israel was an order that their children should be thrown into the water. Moses 1 the son of Amram 2 was laid by his mother in an ark ; Pharaoh's wife, who saw the child there, saved it from death and had it nursed by its mother. When Moses was grown up he tried to help his oppressed brethren, and once killed an Egyptian ; the next day however he was reminded by an Israelite of his yesterday's deed. This made him afraid, and by the advice of a friend he fled to Midiau, 3 and married there the daughter of a Midianite. 4 When he wished to leave Midian he saw a burning bush, approached it, and received a command to go to Egypt to warn Pharaoh 5 and to perform some miracles to make him believe ; he asked for his brother Aaron as an assistant in this work. 6 He obeyed the command and accomplished his mission, but Pharaoh remained unbelieving and assembled his magicians, who

4 Suras XX. 87 44, XXVIII. 2-29.

6 Sfaas XX. 8-37, 44-51, XXVI. 9-17, XXVIII. 29-36, LXXIX.

15-20.