The mysterious grimoire that claimed to hold the secret magical powers of Moses
In short: The Sixth and Seventh Books of Moses is a legendary magical text that purports to reveal the spells used to part the Red Sea. Despite its ancient claims, the work is a 19th-century compilation of European occult traditions that became a global phenomenon, influencing everything from Appalachian folk magic to Rastafarianism.
While it claims to be a lost portion of the Hebrew Bible handed down from Moses to Solomon, no manuscripts older than the 1849 printing by Johann Scheible exist. The text is a patchwork of European occultism, drawing heavily from sources like Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa’s 1531 Three Books of Occult Philosophy and 18th-century translations of Hebrew magical texts. It contains seals, incantations, and instructions for tasks ranging from controlling the weather to contacting the dead.
The book’s rise to prominence was fueled by the 19th-century expansion of the popular press. After circulating among Pennsylvania Dutch communities, where it was considered a dangerous tool for 'hexmeisters,' it gained widespread popularity in the United States through mail-order suppliers in cities like Chicago and Memphis. By the early 20th century, it had become a foundational text for diverse spiritual movements, including Jamaican Obeah, the Zion Revivalist movement, and the Nigerian Church of the Lord (Aladura). In West Africa, it was often viewed as a sophisticated 'western' form of magic, sought after by educated individuals.
The structure of the work is largely additive; in the 1880 English edition, the titular books occupy only 23 of 190 pages. The remainder consists of appendices, astrological treatises, and magical cures derived from various Talmudic and occult sources. Despite its lack of genuine Kabbalistic influence, the book’s enduring appeal lies in its promise of secret, authoritative knowledge. Its reach was so vast that it was even referenced in 1963 by the Jamaican musical group Toots and the Maytals, cementing its status as a significant, if spurious, artifact of global folk spirituality.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Sixth and Seventh Books of Moses
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/culture-sixth-and-seventh-books-of-moses.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in US culture · More in Cultures · Latest · A–Z · All topics
