Conflict of an Antagonist

Pharaoh struts back and forth over the polished stone floor of the hallway connecting his bed chamber to his private setting room. Mulling over the stressful situation created by the Hebrew slave community had his stomach tied in knots. So far, he figured, his two best solutions had major flaws that could cause him even further distress.

Of late, he’d wished daily that he had never heard of the twelve tribes. Why were they allowed entrance into Egypt in the first place, and welcomed with much favor? Did every Sovereign along the way refuse to curb their growth, which resulted in the magnitude of their present state?

Continuing his memorabilia he recalls the condition for the Hebrew invasion of his territory. Ahh…the great famine brought not only the Hebrew but other undesirables as well.

“Had our forefather’s had any sense, they would have refused help from these Hebrew dogs; even if it meant only the survival of a few, we would be better off today. Cursed are my forefathers for bringing their stench upon my shoulders; blessed be the gods of my people. I ask, only for ruin and damnation upon the Hebrew Nation, in my dominion!”

And, with that, he set down to further the work on the plan forming in his mind. He drew up an official decree readying it to be read to the tribes shortly before they were to go out to the brick building grounds and other various work locals. Having finished his plans he retires directly to his bed chamber and crawls into his side of the bed, beside his beautiful queen.

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“I will harden Pharaoh’s heart so he will not let my people go. He has his agenda and his gods to please. I will make thee a god to Pharaoh, Moses, and Aaron shall be thy prophet.”

“How will I speak seeing my mouth is not strong in speech?”

“Aaron will be thy mouthpiece. Pharaoh will tremble before thee when the time is fulfilled for thy journey out of Egypt”

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Pharaoh’s decree did go out the next day as planned. It was read in the presents of the household of the tribe of Judah first and then to the other tribes, one by one, until all twelve had heard the decree. The news stirred up, no little, concern when it was known that no more straw would be given to them to make the bricks, and upon that was added another stipulation. The same amount of brick is to be produced by the end of the week as always. Not meeting the Pharaoh’s demands meant physical consequences from the taskmaster’s swift whips.

They would have to scrounge around and hunt straw. They had no spare time to go hunting straw. Meeting the Pharaoh’s demands was as near impossible as it was to reason with the taskmasters over them. Their own officers had it better then the workers, at least they got to stand around most of the time. They would pitch in to help only if the load for the day got behind and finishing ran over into late evening hours without supper. Now, even they would have to help meet the rigorous acts of cruelty placed upon them.

Pharaoh’s personal servant places his double headed crown upon his head, which symbolized his rule over both the upper and lower realms of Egypt. He is scantily dressed in a jade colored waist cloth accenting his skin tones and enhancing his manly form; wide wrist bracelets grace both his forearms and a silver chain dangles from his neck; speaking loudly of the vast treasure in his storehouse.

A thick, velvety crimson, goose down mat imported form Persia, covers the hard ivory seat of his gold plated throne, which is several sizes larger that the man seated upon it. Its lion headed arms are spread out on both sides of the Pharaoh like twin beast ready to bring his subjects under swift obedience.

Five steps ascended the throne and they are covered by a three foot wide royal blue tapestry, woven on the looms by lower class Chinese citizens. Silk threads of gold, jade and scarlet are interwoven into an intricate pattern of fancy design, giving the steps a royal appearance by gracing the throne room of a mighty king.

He held his scepter and raised it slightly to summon his guest closer to him. Moses and Aaron offered Pharaoh a slight nod of their heads as to respect his Lord-ship, and give him no other obedience; they worshiped the one and only true God and dared not give their obedience to mere man.

Aaron spoke to Pharaoh and asked him to let his people go for a three day journey into the wilderness so they could make sacrifices to their God. Pharaoh refused them again; this was the second time they have approached his throne to make the same request, which was the cause of his anguish several evenings before.

Aaron brought frogs into the Land of Egypt out of the River Nile. Pharaoh needed to see how much havoc his gods would wreck upon his land when produced in droves. In a week Pharaoh became tired of the frogs and asked Moses to entreat his God to remove them from off his land; he also promised to let their people go into the wilderness with the stipulation that they must leave their livestock behind in good faith of returning. Moses entreated God and the frogs all died in the land, which produced a great stench. This angered Pharaoh and he reneged upon his promise to let the people go and worship their God.

As Pharaoh sit in his setting room that evening his thoughts take him into the past and to a time when another decree had been published by a former Pharaoh…it had gone out over the land and stated that all the Hebrew newborn boys were to be drowned in the River Nile; the two Hebrew midwives were ordered to do this assault to their own brethren. His concern was that anyone could see they had lied to Pharaoh, and they did him disservice by not obeying his decree; they were not reprimanded, but were believed.

He recollects it has been a full eighty years since the decree had gone out; Moses birth had taken place after the fact. Pharaoh’s daughter rescued him from his decreed death; having feelings of motherhood over him, she raised him as her own son, and when he had come to full maturity, instead of claiming the throne for his own, he decided to mingle with his brethren. The princess chose to ruled in his place and sought to slay him if ever he set foot in Egypt again.

“What a wasted life she’d raised and an enemy of the state, at that!” Pharaoh marveled…“such utter carelessness allowed by Pharaoh, the son of Ra.”

His thoughts, further, angered him against Moses and Aaron. They must take him for little more than a fool to believe he would let them go a full three days journey into the wilderness. Even if they did leave all their livestock behind and manage to return again, which he strongly doubted, it would mean a loss of the slaves respect and obedience. Their yearning would reward him with constant pleas to be released every season. No! They had to understand he was no pawn; they were his slaves, and they would conform to his will. They had never known a god in the wilderness before; why should they, all of a sudden, know one now? They were just trying to flee from their slavery, and he would have nothing of it.