Abraham and Moses?

Question

Is there any proof outside of religious texts that these two people ever existed? Or are they just modeled after the pagan beliefs of their preceeding religions.

Answer 1

to tell u the truth i think they do exist but they n heaven waiting for the one's that took the word seriously

Answer 2

You need to ask yourself another question. What would be the reason another ancient culture would make record of Abraham and Moses? The only time other cultures are references is through military victories. Never did other cultures record their own defeats (except the OT which is unique in this way).

There is record of the Hebrews (Apiru) in Egyptian literature. None make reference to Moses. But the following text is helpful:

Although the man Moses has not yet turned up in extra-biblical sources, it is intriguing that the name itself is from the Egyptian name "Mose," meaning "(he) is born". This name "Mose" is orginally Egyptian and not Hebrew --and in Hebrew the name is "Moshe," which is how it is used by Israelis today.

As Egyptians used the name, "Mose" was often combined with another name, resulting --for example-- in the names of a number of pharaohs, such as "Thut-mose," which means "Thut is born," --or "Ra-messes," which means "Ra is born."

The biblical account says that Moses (Moshe) was raised in the Egyptian royal court by Pharaoh's daughter, and given the name Moses (meaning "[He] is born"). Baruch Halpern notes that this story "mirrors the practice of Egyptian kings raising the children of their Semitic vassals as hostages in the court."

(ref: Baruch Halpern, The Rise of Ancient Israel, a symposium, Washington, DC: Biblical Archaeology Society, 1992, p.104)

As to your false dichotomy of choosing "external reference" or "pagan derivation" that is an elementary logical fallacy.

Answer 3

Yes. Arabs are descendants of Abraham.