There are two points of interest in Exodus 4: 10. The minor of the twocomes at the beginning of the response in which Moses expresses his feelings of his calling ofGod. The various versions range from the informal to the formal in interesting fashion. Themajor of the two comes at the end of his comment in expressing why he feels that he cannotaccept his calling.

Examine what Moses said, according to the translators, and try to determinewhat his speech problem was. After presenting the various renderings of this verse, I shallpresent an alternate interpretation in a commentary.

The various versions indicate that Moses had a physical handicap in speaking,or at least a fear of speaking to a group. Thus, Yahweh appointed Aaron to be the spokesman forMoses. Is this really what the problem was, or could there have been a different one? I shallpresent an alternative for my reader to consider.

Acts 7: 22 in the King James Version is partof a quote of Stephen in regard to Moses. It reads as follows: "And Moses was learned in allthe wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds." In theNew Century Version, it reads as follows: "The Egyptianstaught Moses everything they knew, and he was a powerful man in what he said and did."

This verse speaks of Moses as being a highly educated man, one who could workand speak well. The Alphabet Makers is more specific in his learning accomplishments.He knew the Egyptian hieroglyphics. As a diplomat in the Pharaoh's court, he would have usedBabylonian cuneiform, which was the dominant writing system for international correspondence.While in the Sinai region, he would have come upon sinaitic inscriptions, an early Semiticalphabet. He would also have come upon Canaanitic inscriptions. The tablets of the Law obtainedon Mount Sinai were written in the North Semitic alphabet. Thus, he would have been familiarwith those previously.

He was in contact with teachers, foreign emissaries, and various alphabets.Therefore, not only was he highly educated, but he also was able to speak well. He lived at atime when a Semitic authority standardized the form of the North Semitic alphabet.

He lived only a short time with his own family before the pharaoh's daughtertook him to live at the palace. In that brief time, his mother taught him about his people inthe Hebrew language. On going to the palace, where he stayed for nearly forty years, he wouldspeak in the language of the Egyptians. Then, briefly, he was with his people again. Afterkilling an Egyptian, Moses fled to Midian, where he would have learned to speak anotherlanguage. During most of the eighty years, he would have had little contact with the languageof the children of Israel.

Consider what it would be like if you were to be using languages other thanyour original language, then return to where yours would be spoken. Not only would you haveforgotten much of it, but you would find that there would be changes in the words and theirmeanings. Think also about your being called to lead a large population of people with whomyou are not familiar and having to appear before a despotic ruler of the country to seek theirfreedom.

Now think of Moses in his situation. The people were not ready to accept him.Also, he had to face an uncooperative pharaoh. His speech impediment most likely was that hedid not know the language, but his brother would. He probably also had difficulty incommunicating with Aaron at first. During the forty years in the wilderness, Moses seemed tohave no physical handicap in talking to the people. As a highly educated man, he would havebeen able to learn the language, despite his advanced age.

Was it that Moses stuttered and feared to speak to anyone publicly or did hehave a problem in being thrust into a language environment that he did not know? Weigh theevidence and make your own decision.