Was Moses Writing in Hebrew or an Ancient Semitic Script?

The identity of the language Moses used to write the first five books of the Bible, known as the Torah, is a subject of much debate among scholars. Traditional beliefs suggest that he wrote in Hebrew, the native language of the ancient Israelites. However, modern archaeological and linguistic evidence provides a more nuanced understanding. This article explores the arguments supporting Hebrew and ancient Semitic scripts as the languages behind the Written Torah.

Hebrew: The Language of Moses?

The traditional view holds that Moses wrote the Torah in Hebrew, the language of the ancient Israelites. The Hebrew language used during his time would be an early form of Biblical Hebrew. However, scholars have raised questions about the historical accuracy of this claim. There is a lack of evidence that supports the existence of Hebrew during the period of the Exodus.

No Archaeological Evidence for Early Hebrew

The absence of Hebrew archaeological evidence between 1200 BCE and 1500 BCE has led some to question the historical accuracy of Hebrew as the language of the Torah. Additionally, the lack of Egyptian historical evidence and the absence of archaeological findings that Moses ever existed further complicate the narrative. Despite the search and research by scholars, no concrete evidence has been found to support the existence of Moses as described in the Bible.

Digging Deeper: The Early Semitic Scripts

One of the key arguments suggesting an alternative language is the presence of early Semitic scripts. The proto-Sinaitic inscriptions discovered by Egyptologist Flinders Petrie in 1900s provide evidence of an alphabetic writing system used in the Sinai Peninsula. These inscriptions date back to approximately 1600 BCE and are written in a form of proto-consonantal script.

Proto-Sinaitic Script: Key Discoveries

Flinders Petrie's discovery of the proto-Sinaitic inscriptions brought to light the earliest forms of alphabetic writing. The inscriptions were not written in the Egyptian hieroglyphic language but rather used hieroglyphs as a script for an early Semitic alphabet. Alan Gardiner, a famous Egyptologist, was the first to decipher this script, identifying it as the name of a Semitic female deity Baalat. This discovery aligns the script with the North Semitic alphabet and suggests a relationship with the South Semitic alphabets of the Arabian Peninsula dating back to 1900-1800 BCE.

Newer Discoveries in Wadi El Hol

More recent discoveries by archaeologists Dr. John and Deborah Darnell from Yale provide further evidence of ancient Semitic scripts. These inscriptions found in Wadi El Hol date back to approximately 1900-1800 BCE and are similar to the proto-Sinaitic script. As reported by The New York Times, these discoveries help to establish the origin of the alphabet as one of the most significant innovations in human civilization.

Implications for Moses and the Torah

Given these early Semitic scripts, it is plausible that Moses could have used this ancient Semitic alphabet to write the Torah. This script would have been available in Egypt during the period of the Exodus, allowing Moses to benefit from its use. He likely acquired this knowledge while growing up in the Egyptian palace and receiving a highly educated upbringing. The Semitic script would have allowed him to write the Torah in a more manageable length and with greater efficiency compared to hieroglyphs.

Dr. Douglas Petrovich's Claims

Dr. Douglas Petrovich further proposes that the proto-consonantal script is Hebrew. His argument is based on systematic evidence and the context of the inscriptions. Petrovich claims to have discovered evidence for Israelite presence in Egypt during the 15th century BCE, the time of the supposed Israelite exodus. His research suggests that the inscriptions are written in Hebrew, and this language is behind the proto-consonantal script.

While scholars continue to debate the authenticity of these claims, the existence of early Semitic scripts such as the proto-Sinaitic and the inscriptions from Wadi El Hol provide new perspectives on the language and script used by Moses to write the Torah. This debate highlights the complex and evolving nature of historical understanding and sheds light on the rich linguistic heritage of the Hebrew language and its development.