New King
Time passed. Yosef was gone, and all of his brothers had also passed away. A new era had arisen in Egypt, and although the Jews weren't aware of it yet, it was a turn for the worse.
Although Yosef, a Jew, had ruled Egypt with wisdom and fairness for 80 years, that was all ancient history, as far as Paraoh was concerned! All he knew now was that there were too many Jews around and they were becoming more and more powerful. And Paraoh didn't like that at all.
Big Happy Families
"Look at them!" Paraoh exclaimed. "Those Jews have way too many children! Soon they will outnumber us and take over the whole country!"
Quite a Handful!
It was true: the Jews had multiplied greatly since the early days when Yaakov and his sons and grandchildren -- 70 people in all -- had first settled in Goshen. The Jewish women gave birth to six babies at a time, and before long, the Jewish population numbered in the millions! Paraoh was more than a little annoyed. He decided to put a quick stop to the Jewish population explosion.
The Evil Plan
Paraoh came up with a plan -- and it was downright rotten. "I'll turn the Jews into SLAVES!" Paraoh said to his advisors. "But how? Hmm.. AHA! I know just how to do it. First, we'll tell the Jews that.." -- he smiled slyly as he told his idea to his advisors -- "and then.." Paraoh explained the wicked scheme he had in mind, and his advisors agreed that it was a very clever plan, indeed. The very next day, Paraoh's advisors made an announcement to all of the Jews:
"Attention, all Jews! Since you are respectable citizens of Egypt, I know you will want to do your fair share to help build King Paraoh's new grain storehouses. You will be paid handsomely for your efforts, of course.." All of the Jewish men signed up to work -- except the tribe of Levi.
Paraoh's officers challenged the men of the tribe of Levi: "Why haven't you signed up?" They answered, "We can't work for you. We're Rabbis. We have a very important job to do, teaching and leading everyone else." Paraoh's men left them alone after that.
The Jews worked hard at their new jobs, building with bricks and mortar. But at least they were getting paid.. until one day, another announcement was made:
"King Paraoh has decided not to pay you anymore! But you must still work!" The Jews were in an uproar. "Without pay, we won't work! What do you think we are, your slaves?"
Work, Work, Work!
"Work.. or else!" they were told. The Jews were forced to work -- harder than ever. Paraoh figured that if they had to work so hard, they would be too exhausted to have so many children.
Paraoh appointed Jewish policemen to make sure that the workers slaved constantly. But even though they knew they would be punished for disobeying Paraoh's orders, many of the Jewish police refused to hurt another Jew! Later, these heroic Jewish policemen would be rewarded by being appointed as the Zekainim, the wise and prestigious elders of the Jewish nation.
To Paraoh's great disappointment, the Jews continued to have more and more children! So Paraoh thought of ways to make their work even harder and more exhausting. They had to make their own bricks, and they were not allowed to rest at all.
It's In the Stars
One night, Paraoh's stargazers looked up at the constellations. "Tell me.. what do you see?" asked Paraoh. "We have bad news, Your Majesty. Soon a Jewish boy will be born who will lead the Jewish people out of Egypt!" "A boy, you say? In that case, no Jewish baby boy will be allowed to live!"
Paraoh's Decree
Paraoh sent for the two Jewish midwives, Shifra and Puah. They were the ones who helped Jewish women when they gave birth to their babies. "From now on," Paraoh commanded Shifra and Puah, "whenever a Jewish boy is born, do not let him live!" Of course the mighty King Paraoh was certain that the midwives would do as he had ordered. But Shifra and Puah knew that following HaShem was more important than following Paraoh, so they completely ignored Paraoh's command!
When Paraoh asked them why there were still Jewish boys being born, they told him that they tried to do as he had asked, but the Jewish women gave birth so quickly that they weren't able to arrive in time! "Is that so?!" shouted Paraoh. "In that case, from now on, all Jewish baby boys will be thrown into the Nile!!"
Mazel Tov.. It's a Boy!
One day soon after that, Paraoh's stargazers looked up at the sky again and said to Paraoh, "Today is the day. A Jewish boy is about to be born, and he will be the one who will free the Jews and lead them out of Egypt!" A tzaddik (righteous man) named Amram and his righteous wife, Yocheved, had a new baby boy that very day. He wasn't an ordinary baby... he was special. As soon as he was born, the entire house lit up with a sparkling light!
The baby's 3-year-old brother was Aharon, and his 6-year-old sister was Miriam. (Yocheved and Miriam were really the mother-daughter midwife team known as Shifra and Puah.)
In the Water
Yocheved hid the baby in her house until he was three months old. But then she was afraid that the Egyptians would come and find him. So she made a box, coated it with tar on the outside and clay on the inside to make it waterproof, and put her baby inside. Then she went down to the Nile and floated the box in the water, hidden among the tall reeds.
Miriam, the baby's sister, hid on the riverbank to keep an eye on her baby brother. Along came Princess Batya, Paraoh's daughter, with her maids. Batya went toward the water to bathe. "Hey! What is that, floating there?" Batya said to her maids. Batya reached for the box... and miraculously, her arm stretched long enough for her to pull the box onto the riverbank. "What could be in this box?"
Out of the Water
"Oh, look! It's a baby! This must be a Jewish baby... aww... isn't he cute? Let's call him Moshe, which means, 'I drew him out of the water.'" The baby started to cry. "Oh, poor little thing. He's hungry! Quick! Run and get him a woman who can nurse him!"
The maids ran off, and returned soon after with an Egyptian nursemaid. But the baby would not nurse from her! They brought more Egyptian women to try feeding him, but Moshe would not nurse from any of them. (Even as a tiny baby, Moshe would only nurse from a Jewish woman!)
Just then, Miriam popped out from her hiding place. "Would you like me to go and get a Jewish woman to nurse that baby?" Miriam asked. "Yes, go!" said Batya. Who do you think Miriam brought? Her mother, Yocheved! Yocheved sat right down and nursed her own baby!
"Wonderful," said Batya. "Please take this baby home with you and nurse him until he is older. I will pay you for your trouble." Of course, Yocheved was more than happy to bring her own baby home and take care of him!
Two years later, Batya came to take Moshe back. She brought him to Paraoh's palace. Batya knew that Moshe was a very special boy, and she loved him like her own son -- and so did Paraoh!
Child's Play
Even though Moshe was to grow up to become the greatest Jewish leader of all time, he was not a great public speaker. In fact, he didn't speak clearly at all. Here's why:
One day, Paraoh was sitting with little Moshe on his lap. Moshe playfully grabbed at Paraoh's jeweled crown, took it off Paraoh's head, and put it on his own head!
One of Paraoh's advisors said, "Do you see what just happened? This baby wants your crown today... what's next? Your whole kingdom? He could be the one who was meant to take the Jews out of their slavery. It would be best to get rid of him now, before that prediction comes true!"
Another advisor disagreed: "Don't be silly. He's just a baby. All babies like shiny, sparkly things. What baby wouldn't reach for your golden crown?"
To settle the dispute, they set up a test. They placed two bowls in front of baby Moshe, one filled with gold coins, and the other with bright, red-hot coals. If Moshe reached for the coals, they would know that he was simply interested in eye-catching things. But if he was smart enough to reach for the gold, they would know that he also knew that a king's crown has special meaning and value. Only if Moshe reached for the coals would he be allowed to live!
Little Moshe looked at the gold. He looked at the coals. He knew perfectly well that the gold was much more valuable, and he reached right out for it...At the last second, a malach (angel), sent by HaShem, pushed Moshe's hand into the bowl of coals! The scorching heat hurt Moshe's fingers, so he tried to put the coal into his mouth and... OUCH! He burned his tongue. And that's why from then on, Moshe stuttered.
Looking Out for His People
Moshe spent his childhood in Paraoh's palace. Although he was treated like royalty and raised as if he were Paraoh's own son, Moshe knew he was Jewish.
His heart ached for his people, who were being so treated so cruelly. He watched the Jews hard at work, and he was very distressed. He longed to find a way to help them.
One day, when Moshe was 20 years old, he took a walk outside the palace. Suddenly he came face to face with a shocking sight: an Egyptian slavedriver was severely beating a Jewish slave! Moshe knew that if he did not do something fast, the poor slave would be killed.
Moshe knew that the Egyptian was an evil man... but what if one of his children or grandchildren might turn out to be good? Maybe one of his descendants might even become a Jewish convert one day?
He Didn't Know His Own Power!
Through his Ruach HaKodesh (G-dly knowledge), Moshe saw that not even one good person would ever be born through this wicked man. So Moshe blurted out the secret 42-letter name of HaShem... and the moment he finished pronouncing it, the Egyptian dropped dead.
Quickly, Moshe buried the Egyptian in the sand and said to the other Jews who were nearby, "I had to do this to save a life... don't ever speak about it to anyone!"
More Trouble
The next day, Moshe went out to the same spot. And again, trouble was brewing there. This time, it was an argument between two not-too-respectable Jews, Datan and Aviram. Datan hand raised up in the air and was about to hit Aviram.
"STOP!" Moshe called. "Don't hit your fellow Jew!"
"Look who's talking?" sneered Aviram. "You're just a spoiled kid. Who do you think you are, policing and judging us? What are you going to do... kill me? Just like you killed that Egyptian yesterday?"
When Moshe heard that, he became very frightened. He realized that word had spread about what he had done, and he feared the Paraoh would soon find out.
Sure enough, Datan and Aviram tattled to Paraoh about Moshe's crime, and Paraoh sentenced Moshe to death.
But HaShem saved Moshe through miracles. When the executioner tried to kill Moshe with a sword, Moshe's neck became as hard as rock and he was unharmed. Everyone was so astonished and frightened, they couldn't even think of what to do next... which gave Moshe enough time to run far, far away from Egypt.
Greener Pastures
Moshe walked and walked and walked, farther and farther away from Egypt. He finally settled in the land of Midyan, and set up his tent near a well. (He got that idea from Yaakov, who met Rachel at a well, and from Avraham's servant, Eliezer, who found Rivkah where else...? At a well!)
Seven sisters came to the well to draw water for their sheep. But before they could, a bunch of shepherds started teasing them and blocking their way.
Once again, Moshe quickly came to the rescue. He jumped up and put a stop to the teasing, and helped everyone draw water for their thirsty sheep.
The sisters ran home. When their father, Yitro, saw them he said, "My, you're home early today! What happened?" The sisters excitedly told their father what the kind, Egyptian stranger had done for them.
Yitro said, "What a gentleman! Go back and find him, and invite him for dinner!"
The Honest Shepherd
Moshe stayed for more than dinner. He joined the family! He married Yitro's righteous daughter, Tzipporah, and they had a son, named Gershom. Moshe also began working for Yitro as his shepherd.
But although Moshe was a simple shepherd, HaShem saw by the way Moshe tended his flocks that he was an extraordinarily compassionate and honest person. He cared about each and every little sheep in his care. If a sheep ran away, Moshe would bring it safely back to the flock. If a sheep was hurt or sick, Moshe would care for it until it was well again. And When Moshe would take the flocks out to graze, he always made sure to lead them to a faraway, wild field, where he could be absolutely sure that the sheep would not nibble any grass that belonged to someone.
HaShem saw the kind and caring way that Moshe took tended the sheep, and He knew that Moshe was worthy of leading HaShem's "flock" -- Bnai Yisrael, the Children of Israel.
And so it happened that on one of his walks with his sheep out in the wilderness one day, Moshe found himself face to face with... HaShem!
The Burning Bush
It happened while Moshe was leading the sheep past a hill. (Well, "hill" is a bit of an understatement. It was actually a very special but humble little mountain called... Har Sinai!)
Moshe noticed a bush that was on fire on the hill. But when he looked more closely, he saw that there was something strange about it. The bush was not being burned up by the flames!
When Moshe came very close to the burning bush, he heard the voice of HaShem calling to him:
"Moshe, Moshe!"
"Here I am!" said Moshe.
"Take off your shoes, because this is holy ground," HaShem said. "I am HaShem, the G-d of Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov. I know that My people are suffering in Egypt. I have come now to free them from slavery and bring them up to a land flowing with milk and honey!"
Moshe listened carefully -- but he covered his face in fear. He didn't dare look at HaShem.
"Moshe, go to Paraoh! Say to him, 'Let my people go!' You, Moshe, will lead the Jews out of Egypt!"
"Who, me? Who am I? I'm sure Paraoh wouldn't listen to me!"
"I will be with you, Moshe. You will lead the Jews out -- and they will take with them all the riches of Egypt!"
"But what if I tell the Jews that you have commanded me to lead them out of Egypt, and they don't believe me?"
The Three Signs
"They will listen, Moshe. I will give you three signs, to prove that you were indeed sent by Me. First of all, Moshe, tell me what you have in your hand."
"My staff."
"Throw your staff to the ground."
Moshe did -- and the staff turned into a snake!
"Now, for the second sign: put your hand against your chest."
Moshe did. When he brought his hand out, it had turned snow-white with leprosy. HaShem commanded Moshe to put his hand against his chest a second time. This time, it turned completely back to its normal color.
"Last but not least, I will give you a third sign, in case after the first two, the Jews still do not believe that I have chosen you as my messenger. Take some water from the Nile and pour it out on the ground. The water will turn into blood when it reaches the dry land."
"But I am not worthy to do any of this! I can't speak clearly. I stutter! I'm not a leader; my brother Aharon would be much better for this job. Please choose someone else!"
HaShem said firmly: "No, Moshe! You are the one I have chosen to lead the Jews out of Egypt. Don't worry about your speech problem. Aharon will be your spokesman, but you will be the one in charge. You'll speak in Hebrew, and Aharon will translate your words into Egyptian so that Paraoh will understand. And Moshe, bring your staff with you! With it, you will perform the miraculous signs I just showed you."
Let My People Go!
Many years later, Moshe took his wife, their older son, Gershom, and their newborn baby, Eliezer, and they all left Midyan, riding donkeys, and set out for Egypt.
When they got there, they had an emergency meeting with Aharon to tell him everything that was going on and to decide on a plan of action.
Afterwards, Aharon demonstrated the three miraculous signs for the Jewish people -- and everyone was convinced that Moshe and Aharon were telling them the truth.
Then they were ready for the next step... facing Paraoh himself.
"In the name of HaShem... LET THE JEWISH PEOPLE GO!" Moshe and Aharon demanded.
"HaShem... HaShem who? Doesn't sound familiar to me... Nope... Never heard of him," Paraoh joked.
"HaShem, the G-d of the Jewish people, has revealed Himself to us. All we ask is for three days to offer sacrifices to HaShem in the desert."
"NO WAY!" Paraoh shouted. "Go back to your work! And don't give the other Jews any big ideas, either, or they'll start to slack off in their work, too!"
After that, Paraoh became even meaner, if that was possible. He called his taskmasters and said, "You're going to have to get even tougher with those lazy Jews. I want you to stop giving them straw to make bricks. They'll have to gather their own! And make sure they keep making the same number of bricks as before... even if it means that they will not sleep!"
The taskmasters explained the new rules to the Jewish police officers who supervised the workers.
Since they were no longer supplied with the straw they needed to mix with the cement to make bricks, the Jews had to search all over Egypt to find straw themselves. Gathering enough was extremely time-consuming, and it was impossible to meet the same quotas of bricks as before.
The Jewish officers sympathized, and they didn't pressure the slaves to do more than they were able. But since they refused to hit the workers, they themselves were beaten by the Egyptian taskmasters!
Moshe saw everything that was happening, and was confused and upset.
"HaShem!" Moshe cried out. "Why have you allowed this people to suffer? Why have you brought me here? Things have only gone from bad to worse!"
HaShem answered him, "Watch what I will do to Paraoh now. He will soon be eager to let the Jews go!"
