Thank you for the question on quotations from the Quran and the Bible, “In the Quran pharaoh said “O Haman build me a high tower that I may attain the means of reaching the heavens, so that I may see the god of moses, though I think he is a liar”. Why similar verses don’t exist in the Bible?”
As a Christian, I want to sensitive to the religions of other people and my sharing is not meant to be offense to the Quran or to Muslims.
Here are some thoughts for one’s considerations based on the citation of the Quran.
A. The Quran is correct in its citation that Pharaoh didn’t believe in the God of Moses.
Egyptian Pharaohs viewed them as deity. When Moses confronted the Pharaoh, Pharaoh’s heart was stubborn in refusing to acknowledge the God of Moses. He said that he didn’t know the God of Moses and felt that the God of Moses was inferior to the Egyptian gods/goddess even himself.
Exodus 5:2 says this, “Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD and I will not let Israel go” (NIV).
B. The various viewpoints for the different quotations of Pharaoh:
- The Quran’s source could be an extra-biblical verbal source other than the Bible.
- The Quran’s source could be an extraordinary direct revelation from God.
- Moses may have thought that it was not necessary for him to cite all the words of Pharaoh in the Book of Exodus.
- Moses didn’t record those words for he may have felt that it was incorrect in its statement.
There may be other reasons why the differences between the Quran and the Bible.
C. The analysis of the citation:
As I look at the citation, these are my personal thoughts. The thoughts do not represent any other Christian, Church or Christian organization.
- Is it plausible for Pharaoh to see the god of Moses? I am uncertain whether Pharaoh thought that he can “see” the Egyptian gods/goddess except for their statues or representation of them. If he couldn’t see the Egyptian gods/goddess, how could he see the god of Moses?
- Is it truly necessary for Pharaoh to build a tower to see the god of Moses. The Egyptian pyramids were among the highest buildings in Egypt. If Pharaoh thought that he could see the god of Moses, would it make more sense to climb up to top of one of the pyramids of Egypt?
- If the plagues by Moses were genuine and true, wouldn’t Pharaoh know by the plagues and the parting of the Reed Sea that the god of Moses is real and not a liar? The Israelites left Egypt without engaging on an all out assault on the Egyptian army. The Egyptian army should have or could have easily defeated or capture the Israelites. The plagues testified that the god of Moses is real and not a liar.
- Lastly, did the words of the god of Moses fail at all? The words spoken by Moses became true. If the words of Moses were proven false or didn’t come true, then Pharaoh could say that the god of moses is a liar. The Bible records that the words of the god of Moses became true. The Egyptian magicians acknowledged that the plagues were from God, not by trickery. Exodus 8:19 says this, “Since the gnats were on people and animals everywhere, 19 the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart was hard and he would not listen, just as the Lord had said” (NIV).
Thus as one compares the Quran and the Bible, it would be helpful if one reads both the Quran and the Bible on the text. This is a comparative study.
I leave it to the reader to make his/her own conclusion of the Quran’s citation of Pharaoh to Moses.
-Kingston