Do Akhenaten’s Links with Yom Kippur Traditions Shed New Light on Moses?

The holiest day of the Jewish year, Yom Kippur, means “Day of Atonement”. Marked by confession, repentance, and forgiveness, it takes place ten days after the Jewish New Year. Its origins remain to this day cloaked in mystery. I believe that Yom Kippur traditions connect all the way back to ancient Egypt and the period of religious heresy under Akhenaten and discuss some here. Let’s look at some more connections.

Ten Days, Five Prayers, One God

The numbers five and ten feature prominently during Yom Kippur. They also featured prominently in the lives of Moses and Akhenaten. For example, there are ten days of repentance between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, during which people ask forgiveness of God and their loved ones. These ten days are referred to as the “Days of Awe”.

Moses gave the Israelites Ten Commandments on which to focus their obedience, five types of offerings, and five pillars to the Tabernacle. During the days of the Jerusalem Temple, the High Priest would wash his hands and feet ten times throughout Yom Kippur, and would change outfits five times. There are five main prayers on Yom Kippur, five prohibitions for the people to follow, and confession (viddui) is said ten times.

Meanwhile, at Amarna, five and ten were important numbers as well. At the front of the Great Aten Temple, there were two sets of five flagpoles flanking the main entrance, totalling ten poles.