Moses In Machiavelli's The Prince

In Chapter 6 of The Prince Machiavelli utilizes Moses as one figure of his “greatest examples” (Machiavelli 22) in order to propose that religion serves as a vehicle to form principalities “that are altogether new” (21). Machiavelli suggests that in order for a new prince to settle a new state he must lead out of necessity with virtue and force to maintain the utmost compliance of his “lukewarm defenders” (23), who ultimately becoming believers of the new prince’s new order. Machiavelli’s proposal poses the question if it is possible to forcefully create believers, while remaining virtuous? In a Machiavellian frame, religion, such as the dialogue between the prophet Moses and the Lord in The Exodus, serves as the very vehicle that enables …show more content…
Machiavelli describes the uncertainty of a new prince’s followers as: “fear of adversaries who have the laws on their side and partly from the credulity of men” (23). Moses’ followers disbelief in his new order can be seen throughout The Exodus: “Let us be, and we will serve the Egyptians, for it is better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness?” (Exodus 14.13). However, the Israelites carry on with Moses’ commands and “defend lukewarmly [Moses’ new order] so that one is in peril along with them” (Machiavelli 24) insofar the Israelites triumph forcefully over their adversaries and celebrate with songs to the Lord. Machiavelli suggests a dichotomy of potential paths for followers: “whether these innovators stand by themselves or depend on others;... whether to carry out their deed they must beg or indeed can use force” (24). The Israelites, in their “lukewarmness” (23), fluctuate between each division of the dichotomy: empowered by Moses and the Lord and in pathetic disbelief of