# Moses — Leviathan character guide > Moses in Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes. **Role:** major **First appearance:** 0003-part-i-of-man ## Snapshot God's sole messenger and lawgiver, whose authority over Israel becomes Hobbes's template for the sovereign as the only licensed interpreter of Scripture. ## Who they are In Hobbes's reading, Moses is not merely a prophet but a civil ruler whose word from God was the law, and whose seventy elders prophesied only by a spirit subordinate to his. The Sinai boundary — approach to behold, but not to interpret — becomes the model for every Christian commonwealth, where the sovereign stands in Moses's place. This is the load-bearing analogy of the whole book: get Moses wrong, and the argument for sovereign interpretation of Scripture collapses. ## Relationships ### [Jesus Christ](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/characters/jesus_christ) _professional_ Jesus Christ and Moses are linked as lawgiver and fulfiller of the law, with Moses often serving as a prophetic forerunner to Christ. ### [Aaron](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/characters/aaron) _family_ Aaron and Moses are brothers, with Aaron serving as Moses' spokesman and high priest during the Exodus. ### [Joshua](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/characters/joshua) _professional_ Joshua is Moses' servant and successor, leading Israel into the Promised Land after Moses' death. ### [Jesus Christ](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/characters/jesus_christ) _professional_ Jesus Christ and Moses are linked as lawgiver and fulfiller of the law, with Moses often serving as a prophetic forerunner to Christ. ### [Jesus Christ](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/characters/jesus_christ) _professional_ Jesus Christ and Moses are linked as lawgiver and fulfiller of the law, with Moses often serving as a prophetic forerunner to Christ. ### [Joshua](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/characters/joshua) _professional_ Joshua is Moses' servant and successor, leading Israel into the Promised Land after Moses' death. ### [Aaron](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/characters/aaron) _family_ Aaron and Moses are brothers, with Aaron serving as Moses' spokesman and high priest during the Exodus. ## In the story ### [XII: Of Religion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xii-of-religion) Cited as a prophet whose miracles and leadership established divine politics; example of Israel's revolt during his absence. ### [Of Persons, Authors, and Things Personated](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xvi-of-persons-authors-and-things-personated) Personated the true God, governing the Israelites in God's name. ### [XX: Of Dominion Paternal, and Despotical](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xx-of-dominion-paternal-and-despotical) Referenced as the authority from whose chair the Scribes and Pharisees taught, requiring simple obedience. ### [Of Counsel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xxv-of-counsel) Referenced indirectly through the Ten Commandments, which are given as examples of commands from God. ### [Of Civil Laws](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xxvi-of-civil-laws) Mentioned in relation to the law given to Israel at the renewing of the covenant (Deuteronomy 11:19, 31:12). ### [Of Those Things That Weaken, or Tend to the Dissolution of a Commonwealth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xxix-of-those-things-that-weaken-or-tend-to-the-dissolution-of-a-commonwealth) Referenced in the context of the Jewish rejection of God for a king. ### [Of the Office of the Sovereign Representative](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xxx-of-the-office-of-the-sovereign-representative) Mentioned in relation to the Jewish sabbath and the giving of the law. ### [Part III: Of a Christian Commonwealth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/part-iii-of-a-christian-commonwealth) Cited as an example of a prophet and leader under divine authority, relevant to the discussion of religious and civil governance. ### [Of the Principles of Christian Politics](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xxxii-of-the-principles-of-christian-politics) Referenced as the mediator through whom God ruled Israel after the pact at Mount Sinai, and whose miracles were greater than those of Egyptian sorcerers. ### [XXXIII: Of the Number, Antiquity, Scope, Authority, and Interpreters of the Books of Holy Scripture](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xxxiii-of-the-number-antiquity-scope-authority-and-interpreters-of-the-books-of-holy-scripture) Moses is discussed as the traditional author of the Pentateuch, though Hobbes questions this attribution based on textual evidence such as the mention of Moses' sepulchre. ### [XXXIV: Of the Signification of Spirit, Angel, and Inspiration in the Books of Holy Scripture](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xxxiv-of-the-signification-of-spirit-angel-and-inspiration-in-the-books-of-holy-scripture) Referenced in Exodus regarding the spirit of wisdom for making Aaron's garments. ### [Of the Signification in Scripture of Kingdom of God, of Holy, Sacred, and Sacrament](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xxxv-of-the-signification-in-scripture-of-kingdom-of-god-of-holy-sacred-and-sacrament) Moses renewed the covenant at Mount Sinai, delivering God's words to the people and establishing Israel as a sacerdotal kingdom and holy nation. ### [XXXVI: Of the Word of God, and of Prophets](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xxxvi-of-the-word-of-god-and-of-prophets) Moses received the Ten Commandments from God; the people came to him complaining about unauthorized prophets in the camp. ### [XXXVII: Of Miracles, and Their Use](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xxxvii-of-miracles-and-their-use) Cited as God's lieutenant who established doctrine and performed miracles; his rod turned into a serpent and he turned waters into blood. ### [XXXVIII: Of the Signification in Scripture of Eternal Life, Hell, Salvation, the World to Come, and Redemption](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xxxviii-of-the-signification-in-scripture-of-eternal-life-hell-salvation-the-world-to-come-and-redemption) Moses is implied in the references to Genesis and the story of Adam, as well as the account of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. ### [XL: Of the Rights of the Kingdom of God, in Abraham, Moses, the High Priests, and the Kings of Judah](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xl-of-the-rights-of-the-kingdom-of-god-in-abraham-moses-the-high-priests-and-the-kings-of-judah) Renewed the covenant at Mount Sinai; acted as God's lieutenant for his time, with succession to Aaron. ### [Of the Office of Our Blessed Saviour](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xli-of-the-office-of-our-blessed-saviour) Used as a type of Christ's kingly office; Christ is likened to Moses in choosing twelve apostles and seventy elders, and in being a subordinate vicegerent of God. ### [XLIII: Of What Is Necessary for a Man’s Reception Into the Kingdom of Heaven](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xliii-of-what-is-necessary-for-a-man-s-reception-into-the-kingdom-of-heaven) Referenced as the giver of the law to the Jews; Christ expounded the law of Moses. ### [Part IV: Of the Kingdom of Darkness](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/part-iv-of-the-kingdom-of-darkness) Mentioned in the context of interpreting Scripture and the law. ### [Of Spiritual Darkness, from Misinterpretation of Scripture](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xliv-of-spiritual-darkness-from-misinterpretation-of-scripture) The kingdom of God was first instituted by the ministry of Moses over the Jews only. ### [Of Demonology, and Other Relics of the Religion of the Gentiles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xlv-of-demonology-and-other-relics-of-the-religion-of-the-gentiles) Cited as the one who set up the brazen serpent by God's command, and who removed his shoes before the burning bush on holy ground. ### [Of the Benefit That Proceedeth from Such Darkness, and to Whom It Accrueth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xlvii-of-the-benefit-that-proceedeth-from-such-darkness-and-to-whom-it-accrueth) Mentioned as a figure whose power (along with Aaron's) over the Jews is paralleled by the Pope's claimed power over Christians. ### [A Review, and Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/a-review-and-conclusion) Moses is described as God's lieutenant on earth in the kingdom of the Jews, who commanded the Levites to execute those who worshipped the golden calf, and who brought blasphemers before God for judgment. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/characters/moses - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/characters