Testament: La storia di Mosè

One can't properly discuss this 3-part series without discussing scriptural accuracy and Biblical concepts.

The story of Moses and the exodus from Egypt is one of the most basic, clear-cut, black and white accounts in the Bible. So one may rightly wonder how "learned" professors, religious leaders and "Bible scholars" can't get it right, can't answer the most basic questions, and that film makers seem mentally incompetent to get the account correct-- especially in a self-proclaimed "documentary".

This is supposedly a docu-drama, part presentation and part oration by educated authorities. So it's reasonable to wonder why one guy says, "Why did God kill innocents in Egypt? We don't have a good answer to that." Seriously?

While the documentary lightly touched on this, is this authority unaware that just 80 years prior the Egyptians showed no mercy in slaughtering babies of the Israelites for at least several months (perhaps years)? Is he unaware of the scriptural law of "An eye for an eye, tooth for tooth, life for life"? So how is it that this "scholar" says we don't really have an answer for God's decisions in these things? The Israelite babies were "innocents" too. "Whatever you sow, this you will also reap." Universal judgement and consequence does not alter and deviate according to individual human whims, opinions and perceptions.

The Egyptians could have spread blood on their doorposts and been spared as well. They were surely aware of what the Israelites were doing. News travels fast; all of the Israelites knew these things-- and they vastly outnumbered the Egyptians. But the Egyptians showed no respect for God's authority (even after 9 plagues had already happened), and so paid the price of their stubborn arrogance.

How did that supposed Bible scholar not understand any of these things? Pharaoh and indeed all of Egypt were taught a lesson that would reverberate throughout history, even thousands of years later: don't mess with God.

That is just one fallacy of this "documentary"... and there are many similar issues.

This poorly-conceived series presents Moses as someone who is clueless, who is at times very haughty and who regularly "argues" with and denies God. That is not what the Bible presents. Yes, Moses is presented in scripture as having a temper and at times erred, even seriously, as we all do. It also states that he followed God's directions to the letter, that he was the greatest prophet in the history of Israel, and calls Jesus himself the "greater Moses". This is not a title that would be given if Moses were haughty, rebellious and clueless.

People can choose to agree with the Bible or not, believe it or not... but if one is going to make a supposed documentary of a prominent Bible figure, they should get it right, according to the Biblical account.

They state that Moses "never reached the Promised Land", which is true. But they left out what lay ahead for him in the resurrection that is spoken of all through the Bible. From Moses' standpoint, he closed his eyes in death and immediately reopens them in a "Promised Land" far superior to that of the ancient Israelites. Yet all those religious authorities and the documentary itself totally omitted that significantly important point. It made it look like Moses' life was useless, that his death was the end for him, and only his offspring benefited from his faithfulness. What a pitiful account.

They talk about the Egyptian Army and Pharaoh-- who were stupidly charging through the Red Sea, totally determined to wipe out the Israelites. Then someone's daughter asks, "Weren't they God's children too?" and her father says, "What an amazingly astute observation." His failure to reply and explain the matter to her was not so astute.

Were these "God's children too?" No! They were Israel's enemy, bent on genocide even after personally witnessing the ten plagues. They worshiped false gods and were intent on wiping out God's chosen people to the last man, woman and child. How more ungodly could that army have been? That is the answer he should have given his daughter.

It seems these authorities were too busy focusing on the meanings of Hebrew words to understand the basic principles of Biblical justice and the simple concepts of good and evil.

The filming of this was rather nice, and it was refreshing to see actual miracles for once (rather than attempted "scientific explanations"). But this 3-part series is just as inaccurate and senseless as any Hollywood presentation to date. Although claiming to be a documentary, it doesn't accurately stick to the Biblical account and seems quite oblivious to concepts of faith and divine justice. They present Moses as an unfaithful, incompetent bungler who was just stumbling along. In reality he was the person who God used to bring the Israelites out of bondage from the most powerful nation on Earth, and is considered Israel's most prominent prophet in history.

They just never get it right. Frankly, if all you want is a fictional rendition of this account, I'd stick with Charlton Heston. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS is shorter and more entertaining. ;D.

Found this series highly realistic, informative and thoughtful, explaining in detail the story of Moses and adding context for that time in history. Almost like an "Inside the Episode." It really helped add meaning to some of the symbolism of the 10 plagues of Egypt, and how they were meant to refute the Egyptian gods to establish the supremecy of the Hebrew God. While some didn't care for it, I enjoyed the commentary from the various religious and historical scholars, and exploring their interpretations from the Christian, Jewish, Muslim and feminist perspectives. They key takeaway for me is that Moses represented multiple peoples and beliefs, but his success was grounded in being the driving force in bringing people together and establishing a moral code that still exists to this day. A bit disappointed that it didn't delve into the Ark of the Covenant, as that is also a topic of interest that would have been great to get perspective on and is still a mystery today. Well worth the time IMHO.

I rather enjoyed all the episodes of this film. I have read the story of Moses many times. This version of Moses is based on interpretations from Islamic, Christian, and Jewish sources. Therefore, if you are familiar with only one of those interpretations you may find it somewhat off-putting.

They only cover the main story beats of Mose's life. For example, they don't talk about him striking the rock twice to get water which is found in the Bible. This was the event the kept him from the promised land according to Biblical sources.

In this film they never reveal why he is kept out of the promised land. They also don't talk about the snake on a pole, Miriam catching leprosy, or the earth swallowing up people who defy God.

They cover just enough to keep it short and sweet. I recommend this film to anyone.

So whether you like this or not really depends on why you are watching. Are you watching just to be entertained or are you watching To learn something about the Bible? If you were watching for entertainment then I think most people will be entertained by this because it's a story that we all are familiar with. If you are someone who has studied the story, you may be slightly frustrated in certain parts. It's not that it's bad by any means but I find that one of the experts that speak on the subject, An older lady, really tries to romanticize the whole story and seems to add a lot of her own details. If you were one that studies the Bible, you would know that a lot of these details aren't even in the story, but she is adding them in which can be a little bit frustrating and can cause inaccuracies in the storytelling. Generally, the story is correct, but like most Netflix shows, they take artistic liberty. I really wish this lady would just speak about the scriptures the way they were written rather than give her interpretation. It's all right there.

With that said, I was entertained. The story and the show in itself is decent and I think it's worth a watch.

Testament: The Story of Moses aspires to be a captivating blend of historical drama and religious narrative. However, it falters on both fronts. The visuals fail to impress, appearing more like a mediocre TV movie than a high-budget miniseries. Moreover, the show's portrayal of the biblical tale strays from accuracy in ways that may frustrate viewers seeking a faithful adaptation.

But the most glaring misstep lies in Testament's attempt to reinterpret the classic story through a contemporary social justice lens. This forced approach feels entirely out of place within the ancient Egyptian setting. Instead of enriching the narrative, it justructs the story's emotional impact and undermines its timeless themes.

If you're looking for a visually stunning and faithful portrayal of the Moses story, Testament: The Story of Moses is a disappointment. It might hold some appeal for those seeking a heavily dramatized reimagining with a modern twist, but even for that audience, the execution falls short.