Minios, Prince of Egypt

These first four chapters are only a taste of my novel. Thank you for stopping by; please leave me a note as to what you liked or disliked with my story so far.

PART I

Abram (Abraham) is the father of the Hebrew nation the people of this story. Jehovah (yeh-ho-vaw’ the self-Existent, or Eternal one) spoke to him; he told Abram to leave the land where he was born and his father’s household. He could take his wife Sarai and all his possessions with him, but they were to journey to a land God would show them. He wanted to bless them and make him and all his descendants into a great nation. He would become a blessing to all that blessed him, and to all the families of the earth. He was seventy-five years old when God talked with him.

After a few pleasant years a grievous famine raged in the land of Canaan where Abram had taken his family. Their food supply ran low and they had to travel to the land of Egypt where they heard there was sustenance to keep them alive. Sarai was a very beautiful woman, and Abram feared Pharaoh would kill him and take her to wife, so he set out to deceive the king. Pharaoh did indeed find Sarai desirable and took her into his palace for the purpose of making her one of his wives. God was with Abram and his wife and sent plagues upon Pharaoh’s household and servants because of Sarai. They were asked to leave Egypt once the deception had been discovered. Pharaoh sent Hagai, Sarai’s Egyptian handmaiden, along with them as a gift to her.

They went back to their home in Canaan after the famine was over which was located at the foot of a mountain, between Bethel and Hai. The time was near for God to show his faithfulness to Abram and his family; he had not forgotten his promise to make Abram a great nation nor had he stopped blessing them.
When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord God appeared unto him and said, “I am El-Shadday (shad-dah’-ee, God Almighty)”.

Jehovah introduced himself to Abram as the passive, impregnable one, which would deal with him like a mother. He taught Abram as a child and raised him up to obedience.

El-Shadday made a covenant with Abram; he changed his name to Abraham, he explained:  “for a father of many nations I have made you”. He opened Sarai’s womb when she was ninety years old. Her name was changed to Sarah; she is referred to in scripture as the mother of many nations. By adding ‘ha’ to each of their names God confirmed that they were now his holy people, and their people would be his people forever.

God said to him that he would make him exceedingly fruitful; a nation would be made of him and kings would come out of him. The covenant would be established between Abraham and God and from there between Abraham and his seed after him, from generation to generation, for an everlasting covenant; he would be a God to him and to his seed after him. They were to be strangers in the land of Canaan, and it would become an everlasting possession to them; he would be their God.

God said, “This is my covenant which is to be kept between you and me and your seed after you.  Every man child among you shall be circumcised. To make a token of the covenant between you and me you must first circumcise the flesh of your foreskin. A baby eight days old shall be circumcised and everyone that is in your household whether he is born into it or bought. Therefore my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. And, any male that is not circumcised in your household shall be cut off from his people for he has broken my covenant.”

When God told Abraham that Sarah would bare him a son and that his name would be Isaac he fell on his face and laughed. Sarah reacted much the same way when she heard that she was to bare Isaac; they were too old to have children by the time God decided they should.

Sarah tried to help God along twelve years earlier because it was taking God so long to fulfill his promise. She figured God intended for them to have a son in order for his promise to be carried out. So, she gave Hagar to Abraham for a wife. She bore him a son and named him Ishmael.

Abraham argued with God that he was too old to have another son and wanted him to make Ishmael his promised heir. God insisted Sarah would be the mother of the promised son and that it would happen in the following year. This is when Abraham laughed because he would be one-hundred and Sarah would be ninety years old. It looked rather absurd to him that God should do such a thing. But, what he didn’t realize is that God wanted this child to be a product of his doings and not that of man. This is exactly the way it has been viewed by everyone from that time forward.

At Isaac’s weaning feast, thrown for him by his father, Sarah saw Ishmael ridiculing Isaac. She was not about to let him get away with this, so she went to Abraham and insisted he get rid of this bondwoman and her son; she didn’t want Ishmael to be heir with her son. He was very sorrowful over having to drive him out of his household, but he did because God told him to listen to what his wife said; his son Isaac was the one chosen to carry out the covenant between God and Abraham’s seed. Ishmael became a great nation also because he was of the seed of Abraham. When God explained this to Abraham he relaxed and let Ishmael and his mother leave.

God didn’t forget Abraham’s desire to make Ishmael great. He made of him twelve tribes and his descendants are spread throughout the Middle Eastern countries.

Isaac is the father of Jacob; Jacob had twelve sons that are the twelve tribes of Israel. His name was changed to Israel when God met him in a dream when he was journeying toward his estranged brother Esau, in an effort to be reconciled with him. He feared for the lives of his family and God reminded him of the covenant his great grandfather Abraham, had made together. It was a promise that involved the lives of all Abraham’s descends.

History repeats itself and another draught brings Jacob and his brethren to Egypt for survival. This time though, they do not leave at the end of the famine. They stay and are enslaved by the Egyptians for a total of 430 years. The scriptures say, “too the very day…”. It is not clear when the enslavement started. It might have begun with Abraham and Sarah’s first trip to Egypt, or when Ishmael taunted Isaac, or maybe it started with Joseph (Jacob’s favorite son) who was sold to Pharaoh of Egypt, and ended up as his vicar.

Ishmael and Isaac both came from Abraham; they both had twelve sons, and their descends separately became great nations. Isaac, not Ishmael, and his descendants are the people that received the promise of the covenant made between God and Abraham; they are called 'His people'. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob’s descendants are known as the Israelite people. They form the twelve tribes which bear the names of Jacobs sons. Joseph is divided into two tribes after his two sons; there is not a tribe bearing Joseph's name. They are called by different titles:  the tribes of Israel, the children of Israel, Israelites, and the Hebrews.

Throughout the years of the Hebrew captivity the many pharaohs realized their rapid growth. Their populace easily became a threat to Egypt. The kings worried that they would join an invading country wanting to win a war against them. Therefore they did many things to discourage Israel’s growth. They even killed their male babies to insure a future decline in their growth. Everything failed and the slaves kept spreading in size. As our story opens Pharaoh has issued a decree to have all the male babies drowned in the River Nile. But as usual God continues to protect Israel from this terrible edict by an adamant king.


Chapter 1

The gray-haired third ruler of Egypt’s eighteenth dynasty Thutmose I, found it increasingly disturbing that the Hebrew slaves kept increasing their population by half again every twenty years, according to reports given him by his faithful and studious Chief advisor Khu-oer, who had showed him a plan that would surely work. He was anxious to put his advice into action. He was desperate and had no scruples about the severe measures he had to take in order to control the tribes of Israel. They were a welcomed commodity to the wealth and survival of his kingdom in a way that no other entity could be. They were comfortable living in Egypt and Egypt had found them to be a fixed surplus to their economy, but their growing size had become a certain threat to Egypt’s welfare in terms of power by numbers.

The edict was sent into the community of slaves and instructions given to the two Hebrew midwives, which bound them to Pharaoh’s law. Shiphrah and Puah attended the birthing chairs of the Hebrew women as they gave birth. They were instructed to take all the male babies they delivered directly to the river and drown them, but Shiphrah and Puah feared the Hebrew’s God. They were also Hebrew slaves. They did not obey the command of Pharaoh for their obedience was to God Almighty.

Thutmose found the midwives severely lacking in the job he had assigned them. When he questioned them they told a lie, but they did not get punished for their disobedience. He instead dismissed them from his services with understanding. He put out another decree, only this time it was to his own people. They were to find and drown all the male babies of the slaves. His law must be carried out if he was to keep these people from increasing in size.

The baby cried louder every day and his mother knew his life was in peril and liable to be discovered by the Egyptian people at any moment. She could see her little three month old baby boy was worthy of life and she would do all in her power to make sure he survived the pharaoh’s cruel command which sought to kill her child.

She knelt before the Lord her maker, and prayed seeking his wisdom to be made known to her. She was at a loss to know how to proceed with keeping her child safe. She ached in her heart and wished within her spirit that Israel were its own nation and that things for her people could be different.

Tears escaped down her fair cheeks as she pled with her God to show her the way to get through another day with the precious life of her beautiful baby.

“Comfort all the dear families that have lost their children,” she prayed, “and favor my son…”

She swiped the back of her hand across her tear-wet face and blew her nose into the soft material of the yellow flax cloth she had tucked between the folds of her garment earlier that morning. Strands of faded course rust-colored hair tickled her nose as she bent forward on her hands and knees in an effort to rise off the floor. Raising her hind quarters, very unladylike, to get her feet in a better more fathomable position to rise, she stood upright. Her baby lay in his crib fast asleep. She bent down and kissing her finger placed a kiss over his pale brow. She thought about how his bright red hair covered his little head like greenish moss on a river rock.

Thinking of the river gave her an idea and she called to her twelve year old daughter, Miriam to come with her; she was going out back to the river to fetch some died reeds, which were so plentiful along the river’s edge. The young auburn-haired, brown-eyed Miriam came immediately to her mother’s bidding.
“Is Aaron still down for his nap?”

“He is sound to sleep I don’t think he will be awake any time soon.”

“We will not be gone very long, the reeds are trampled and broken this time of year. You know how it is. We need to only gather them. Your help will be enough to make only one trip.”

They walked the fifty feet to the river’s edge and brought back the reeds in less than a half hours time.
 
“Can I help with the basket, Mother? I can fashion a cover the size of the bottom you are making. I think this is a great idea; I hope the baby will be safe inside and not heard by the neighbors. The Egyptians will probably not notice him at the river’s edge because our houses are so close they never come down here. How, in the world, did you happen to think this up, Mama?”

“Our Heavenly Father gave me the idea. He helped me think of it when I looked at your brother after I finished my prayer this morning. I knew he would help me. He answered almost before I ask him. He loves to make us happy, Miriam. Never fail to trust his judgment. Always seek his wisdom.”

When the little boat was woven Miriam and her mother sealed it inside and out with slime and pitch from the river’s rich soil. It was waterproof and ready to be afloat upon the water of the Nile. They knew it was a risk to float it in water but it was more dangerous to not do this thing and let the baby be discovered in their house. This way at least he had a better chance at life. The Lord had given her the idea and she felt comforted in that very fact.

In the evening just before the last meal of the day Miriam, Aaron and their mother walked a ways along the river with the baby in the basket boat until she found the spot she knew to be right for her plan. Miriam questioned her judgment as it was too close to where she had knowledge of the princess coming down to the river for her morning baths.

“What are you thinking, Mama? He will be discovered here. The princess comes here every day to bathe.”

“That is what I am hoping, little one, who is better to care for our baby than the princess? She will keep him from being killed. She will bring him up as her own child.”

“But, Mama, he is our baby; I don’t want someone else to have him. We will miss him. He won’t be taught about our God, either. How can this be right…”

“Remember, Child, what I have told you about God’s wisdom. He knows how to take care of our baby better than we do. Someday he might be the one that helps us become a nation all our own. He could become a ruler of the Egyptian kingdom and then he will remember his people and give favor to us. We do not know what God has in store for us. We must trust that he will do the right thing for us.”

“I see, Mama, I do not much like the sound of it, but I understand. I will stay here and watch and make sure he is safe. I will come and tell you when the princess finds him and let you know just how it goes. She may not want to save him. You may be mistaken, Mother. I hope you are right. I will pray to our Heavenly Father as I wait.”

“Thank you, Miriam, you are a good daughter. I know this is not easy for you. You must be brave. Our God will help you. I must get back now. The house will seem so empty without my poor little baby.” Jockabed shed tears as she said this and turned away so Miriam wouldn’t have to see her face; but Miriam heard the tears in her words and began to weep herself.

When Pharaoh’s young daughter, Hatshepsut…for she was only fifteen, came to the river to bathe, she had a surprise awaiting her. Her usual group of maid servants attended her. Three stood near the water’s edge conversing while six others walked along the rivers bank for a short stroll. When the princess finished bathing her personal maid held her outer garment as she finishes pulling on her silky under clothing.

She was not a plain looking girl, nor was she a raving beauty. The girls straight black shoulder length hair made her fair skin appear sullen with ashen highlights, along with her slender form reminded Miriam how alike all Egyptian women appeared. She tried not to watch the princes as she bathed, but she was curious how her maid would assist her. “She is, surely, pampered,” thought Miriam.

Miriam knew the way of a slave and she also knew that the Egyptian people were privileged to own slaves. The poor of Egypt served the rich, and the royal house of Pharaoh employed servants and used slaves as they saw fit. She felt shy and had not desire to be discovered. She slapped at a mosquito. Her arms and legs were a mass of bites. She itched and she felt starved, nearly to death The baby cried loudly inside the covered float; no doubt thought Miriam, “He is hunger, too.” She hoped the princess would leave before long; her mama needed to feed the child soon.

Hatshepsut held up a hand motioning for quiet; she had heard a muffled crying of what sounded like a baby. Looking around for the first time, she noticed the basket that Jockabed had placed among the flags along the river’s edge. She instructed her handmaiden to fetch the ark out of the water and bring it to her. Peeking inside she found the most precious baby she has ever seen. His weeping brought compassion to her tender heart and she took the baby out of his bed and cradled him in her arms, all the while cooing to him, trying to hush his piteous cries.

“This is a Hebrew’s child,” she proclaimed, looking around to see if there was evidence nearby of his family.

Miriam came out of her hiding place and faced the princess with her mission. The princess was charmed by the direct manner in which Miriam approached her. Full of bravery she did not waver as she neared.

“What is it, Child, that brings you to the river this morning at such an early hour?”

Miriam, without hesitation, clearly eluded her inquiry; using the princesses’ native tongue she speaks, “Shall I go into the Hebrew settlement and fetch a nurse to feed the child for you?”

With dark brown eyes twinkling in the early morning light, Hatshepsut responds, “Yes, go now; fetch a nurse for him.” She had speculated the girl was the sister, and knew instinctively that she would bring her mother to care for her baby brother.

Miriam turned with a sigh of relief, and ran directly home to bring her mother to the princess as a nurse.

“Mama, Mama, the princess has the baby. She heard him crying and looked around till she spotted his hiding place. You were right she wants to keep him. I suggested a Hebrew nurse for him and she agreed. So, come quickly; she is waiting.”

Jockabed gathered up three year old Aaron, and went with Miriam to see if the princess would indeed use her as the nurse. She was excited and could hardly believe the turn of events. She would get to be with her child for a few more years. This was a blessing she had not been able to be hopeful of. “God is good,” she thought, “to bring his favor upon me and my family so graciously.” She closed her eyes and lifted her face heavenward in silent praise.

The princess walked back and forth trying to calm the hungry baby as Miriam and Jockabed approached.

“Here, Princess Nephru_Re (Hatshepsut), is a Hebrew nurse to care for the baby as you wished.” Miriam moves away so her mother and the princess can converse.

“I need you to take this little Hebrew boy into your home to care for him? When he is weaned you can bring him to the palace, and deliver him to be my son. I will pay you the wages at that time; I have no other nurse to do the service for me.”

“Oh, Princess Nephru_Re, you are most gracious and kind to allow me to care for this child until he is strong enough to come to you. I thank you...I,” At that moment Jockabed clearly hesitated before going on. “…what if they should come to kill him while he is in my care; I will not be able to stop them?”

“Hang this insignia on the post of your door and the baby will be safe in your house.”

Hatshepsut handed Jockabed the insignia, which was a thin circle of dark stained wood with a falcons head carved into it, and it had a huge eye in its forehead. The insignia had come from an ancient code of arms affiliated with the kings of Egypt. Hatshepsut always carried her insignia whenever she left the palace.

She placed the baby in the waiting arms of his old but spry mother, and planted a gentle kiss upon the babies forehead as she bid them farewell.
When the young child was weaned*4 his mother took him to the palace and introduced him to his Egyptian mother. She received her wages and without saying a word turned her back upon the child and walked out of his life.

Hatshepsut had counted out Jockabed’s wages and told her, “I shall call his name Minios (Moses) because I have drawn him out of the water.”

Moses was seven when his mother gave him up to be the son of Hatshepsut, and as they are left standing alone the new mother ruffles the prince’s hair; she compares its rich hue to the rust which cleaves to the old hinges on the wagon gate used to bring meal and other supplies to the palace kitchens. His eyes matched the color of the green hills off in a distance where the cattle grazed. His skin was as pink and tender as the under-paws on the mau’s (cat’s) she'd observed roaming inside the palace. His small tunic come down to his ankles, bore the scent of his mother, which caused the Princess to sniff back a tear as she realized the love that tore at their hearts when duty replaced bond with separation.

Young Minios looked down at his bare feet, and there appeared one tiny wet spot on his dust laden toes as a single tear dripped off the end of his stubby nose. He tried very hard not to cry as his mother had instructed him. It took every ounce of inner might to keep his tears to himself. He would wait till he was alone and then he would let them go. “I will never stop crying,” he determined.

Hatshepsut knelt before Minios and dries his tear stained face with a soft cloth she’d pulled from the belt around her waist that held snug her gorgeous sun bleached garment.

“There, there little darling, Mama Neff will help you find some refreshment then you will feel better.”

He did enjoy his bread and cheese and berries very much. He never before remembered eating such nice food. The goat milk was familiar to him and he’d always loved drinking his milk, it was so very smooth and tasty at home. He thought of his sister Miriam, his older brother Aaron, his daddy and his precious mother. He would miss them all, living here with his Mama Neff. Another big tear escaped his eyes; a huge lump formed right where his food was trying to go down to his stomach. He couldn’t eat the last few bites it would not go down. He felt nauseous and began making gagging noises. Then, oh no…he couldn’t have…but he did.

“Come quick, Hsia, the child has lost his meal all over himself and the floor. Quickly bring a cloth and gather it up. Hush, Son, it is okay, do not fret so.”

Moses clung to the words of Mama Neff and looked hard toward the kitchen maid as she brought a bowl of water and a rag to wipe him first and then the floor. He felt much better since it was all over, and especially since his Mama Neff had so understood.

She took his hand and led him toward the nursery; they walked through a long torch lit passage made of large white brick. The floor was creaky like the limbs of the old orchard tree down by the river rubbing together during a wind storm. His legs were tired by the time they come to a large square room of smooth satin walls the color of the brown spots he’d seen on his father’s goats. He counted four arched doorways inside the room. They turned to the left and moved down another short hall which emptied into a room that was lit by the sunshine. He liked the brightness of the room; he wondered if this is where he would sleep. He couldn’t help but think of his cozy little mat in the corner of the large room where his whole family slept together. Another tear threatened to roll down his cheek as his eyes got blurry and his nose began to sting between his eyes. He wiped the back of his free hand across his face to try and keep the tears away. Again Mama Neff pulled out her soft white cloth as she knelt before him with comfort. She gathered him into her arms and kissed his rusty head. He felt strangely quiet in his spirit as she held him close. She smelled of jasmine flowers, but he couldn’t quite make out what the scent was called, he’d never smelled it before, and he decided it was something he enjoyed. When she released him he found they were not alone in the room.

“Minios, this is your nurse Ramla; she will be a mother to you when I am not with you. I have to go now, and I want you to listen to Ramla, and obey her. I will see you at the evening meal where you will meet the rest of the family, before you retire for the night. Farewell Son.”

Hatshepsut turned and strolled away from him, never looking back. "Everyone keeps leaving me,” he perceived. But the tears were far from forming this time.
Ramla smiled when he finally looked up into her pleasant round face. She was an elderly woman and mother-like in her appearance; her hair was black with silver tones woven throughout, and it lay back over silvery white temples. She wore a neat bun at the back of her head. She had beautiful clear brown eyes that sparkled in merriment the moment she focused them upon the child.

He felt her love even before she addressed him with, “My little wonder. I have been waiting a long time to meet you”

Her quiet, but strong, voice sounded like something Moses imagined to be of heaven itself, for it made him think of his own dear Grandma Leah whom he had not even thought of all day. He felt akin to this Ramla person.

Shyly he looked around the room. He saw shelves of toys; scrolls were placed on other shelves. The light came through the top of the walls where long slits were cut out of the  wall near the ceiling. It was the strangest thing he had ever seen. Along one wall were two tables with two stools. He could see a doorway leading into another room or hallway he was not sure.

“Come, Minios,” Ramla said as she reached for his hand. “I will take you to your bedroom so you can see where you will be sleeping tonight.”

She led him through the doorway he had noticed, and there was a comfortable looking mat lying on the floor. Garments hung on pegs above the mat. They were rich colored garments and looked like something he could wear. There was a tall table in one corner across from where the bed lay. A basin with a pitcher beside it, set on the tabletop. He recognized it as a bath for freshening up. An oil lamp set on a lower table just inside the doorway. The bed-mat had a thick blanket spread over it; he had never seen such thickness to a blanket. It was also a bright color; he would have to ask how it got to be so blue. The wall at the back of the room had a hanging on it. It was a huge bird, which looked a lot like an eagle, but the head was different with only one eye right in the middle of its forehead.

Ramla explained, “this is the god-bird:  Pharaoh gives every sleeping room in the palace a god-bird so the dreams that fly high of his family and servants will come down to us on the birds wings and give much rest to his palace. The god-bird protects us as we sleep so we awake safe and well every morning."

Moses felt a strange prickly sensation down his spine as he heard this. At home they never used the god-bird to protect them. He wondered why. He knew his parents prayed to God every morning when they arose and every evening before they went to bed. They were always asking God to keep them safe. He didn’t understand, but he didn’t want to ask Ramla why.

“You can get acquainted with your new toys if you like, Minios. They are in this first room here. Come I will show you the shelves. You probably already noticed them when you first came.”

She said this as they walked hand in hand from the smaller room. Moses was glad she decided to let him inspect the toys; he had wanted to touch them the moment he had spotted them. She dropped his hand and he run over to the shelves and started his examination. First he picked up a brightly colored, foot long wooden alligator. The jaw moved open and shut. He had a tiny alligator at home his Uncle Caleb had carved for him, but the jaw did not move, nor was it colorful. He liked this alligator; it was so very big. He touched a round object that was about the size of his closed fist. “What is this he wondered?” Before he thought to ask Ramla told him it was a ball.

“Bring it here I will show you how it works”

When he picked it up it nearly slipped out of his hand. He could tell by the feel that it was solid rock. He handed it to Ramla and she put the ball on the floor and gave it a hard shove. Moses watched as the ball rolled across the floor toward the nine pegs standing eight inches tall in the corner of the room. Each peg was carved out of wood and looked like elongated bird-shaped forms. When the ball reached the pegs they all fell over. “Whoops!” He exclaimed. Then he laughed.

“That’s okay, this is a new-game that has recently been invented. Mama Neff wanted you to have one because it is so much fun to play. I will set the pegs up for you, and you can see how many you can knock down. Stand here so you are not too close." She pointed to an imaginary line on the floor at her feet.

As She set the pegs in place Moses fetched the ball that had rolled back along one wall. He ran back to where she told him to stand; when she was ready he rolled the ball toward them. The ball didn’t hit even one peg because it stopped short. Ramla rolled the ball back toward him and he tried a second time. He tried to push it harder like Ramla had pushed it to him. It rolled right up to the pegs, but it rolled off to the side instead of into them.

“Let’s play this another time,” she suggested, “why not, go and look at what else you can find to play with.”

He found the neatest vehicle; it had wheels that moved and everything. This was also something new to him. He had to push his toy cart around while he pretended the wheels moved. His uncle, also, had carved it for him. He was very impressed with these new toys of his. “But, were they his toys?” He questioned. Surely if he was going to live here they were going to be his. He would pretend they were anyway. He had forgotten that his nurse had told him to go and see his new toys.
Moses suddenly realized he had to go potty. He went and told his nurse and asked her to take him outside.

“We do not go outside to use the potty, Minios, come I will show you what is needed.”

She led him out the door and back toward the huge white room he had come through with Mama Neff. She led him toward one of the arched doorways. It was a small room with drab walls. A slender stand had a lighted lamp upon it, which gave the room brightness for the lack of a window. On one side of the room set a tall urn that reached nearly as high as the top of his legs. There was another urn about the same height but bigger around at the top which contained a flat ring shape that had some width to it and fit over the lip of the urn. The smell in the room was objectionable, but tolerable. He did not like this room much. Ramla explained about the urinal and the toilet seat. After this she pulled a curtain closed over the doorway and stood just outside it while he used the facility. When he was finished he went out to her; she opened the curtain again and they returned to the nursery.

Mama Neff was waiting for them when they arrived. She had come to take him to his evening meal. She could have sent a servant to gather him, but she wanted him to feel like he had someone he could depend on this first time. On the way to the dining room she explained what to expect from now on.

“In the morning when you awake, Sinuhe our man servant, will come for you. He will bring you to breakfast. Afterward he will take you back to the nursery. Ramla will care for you till it is time for you to have your lessons. Every day your teacher will come to help you learn what it is like to be a prince of Egypt. Ramla will help you with your lessons so you can remember them each day.”

Moses found his evening meal very pleasant and this time his stomach didn’t rebel. He liked the fresh fruit and veggies that were set before him. He also got to meet Queen Anmsi Netari and Hatshepsut’s father, Pharaoh of Egypt. They were very pleasant and greeted him with kindness. He also met another daughter, Neerukub and their sons, Wigmose and Ra_mose who were grown up like his Mama Neff.

“Minios,” Ra_mose addressed his new little nephew, “Do you like your nurse and all the new toys you found on your shelves? I was in there just this morning and noticed how unique they all looked. I only wish I had owned such an array when I was growing up. I was lucky to own a simply carved pasture animal when I was little. Wigmose was the one that gave me my most prized carving. He knew I liked the house mau’s which run around the palace. He learned from my father how to handle a knife and a piece of wood. So, on my eighth birthday he surprised me with a momma mau and four little baby maus. I played with them till they simply wore shapeless. He made me many toys from then on but nothing like the alligator you have, and that ball and pins are rather the talk of the palace. How about a game of it soon? I will come around one day and we can try our hand at it.”

“I would like that, Ra_mose”

“Father called me Ra_mose because Mother was always in the river cooling off and when I was born she was there trying to get cool and I didn’t have a chance on breathing till she brought me out of the water. He says that image just stuck with me.”

“What is the reason Wigmose was named what he is named?”

“Well, that is another story and I will let him explain it to you. Wigmose do you mind giving the little guy a big explanation of your name?”

“Mose, was added to my name Wiggumhit when I was two years old. My sis here, your new Mama, found she liked to bathe in the river. Unless her nurse was with her she was allowed only to sit on the bank and dangle her feet in the water while the other girls, which were taller and much older than her, got to go out into the water. So, when she was six years old she decided to carry me to the river to show the other girls that she was big enough to take care of her little brother; in doing so she felt like she would earn the right to get into the water instead of having to sit on the bank. Well, because she was so busy talking to the other girls she didn’t see me slipping down into the water behind her. She had her back turned to the girls and the water because they were making fun of her idea about taking care of a two year old. When I hit the water I disappeared beneath the surface for a few seconds. One of the girls screamed and this caught my sister’s attention. She turned around and asked what the screaming was about. Then she noticed I was nowhere to be seen and the girls were rushing to the spot where I’d disappeared, and I was told Hatshepsut understood what happened, so she jumped in and saved me as I bobbed up to the surface. She snatched me up and scrambled out of the water and carried me home; never again did anyone question her ability to care for herself in the river.”

“That is quite a story, the way you tell it brother”

“I liked that story. Mama Neff, called me Minios because I was taken out of the water when I was a baby. She liked me at that time and must have thought all this time about naming me that.”

“Wow! You, can talk can’t you? I was wondering there for a little bit. You seem to have a bright mind, Minios. Is it true your folks are Hebrew slaves?”

“Now, look, Ra_mose, I really wish you wouldn’t get into that discussion with him. He is having a hard time with the separation today, especially, since this is his first day with us.”

“You are right big sis, I am being incentive. Forget that question, Minios. I will figure it out for myself.”

Moses noticed all the figurines around the room on the walls and in cabinets. Huge statutes stood in the four corners of the room. They looked like animals but had bird heads with man faces. He had never seen anything like them before.

After Mama Neff left him in the nursery he asked Ramla about the figurines. “They are gods of Egypt, Minios, they bring happiness and good fortune to all that eat in their presence.” That is why they are in the dining room.”

Moses accepted her explanation with unease in his heart; even at his young age he realized things were practiced much differently here than what he was used to at home.

Rashui another servant, reminded Moses of an Egyptian friend his daddy brought home sometimes for an evening meal. He came to light the lamp in the bedroom. Moses was sleepy and looked forward to crawling into the snug looking mat. Ramla helped him dress for bed. She gave him a garment that hung on the wall to change into; it was a simple linen cloth fashioned from the stem of the flax plant grown in Egypt. He noticed this garment was not the pretty white like his Mama Neff’s clothing had been. The color was more yellow than white for it had not been bleached by the sun. He was soon tucked into his bed and fast asleep. He was too tired to keep the vow he had made with himself earlier when Mama Neff brought him to the palace. He lay peacefully asleep instead of doing all the crying he’d planned to do once he was alone.

The next morning after breakfast, Mama Neff took him outside to the palace gardens where he discovered a beautiful pool surrounded on three sides by wooden benches built especially for the enjoyment of the pool. There were lotus flowers among the lush leaves floating on the surface of the water. He only had to breathe deeply to fill his nostrils with their delightful fragrance. There were both white and blue water lilies, mingled together, giving the pool a look of impeccable beauty. He also noticed bright colored fish swimming beneath the plants.

He wanted to ask where these fish had come from, for he had never in his short life, ever, seen such splendid specimens. Mama Neff, as if reading his mind, relayed the story to him about how her father had found them displayed along the riverside several years back.

“He was on his back to the palace when he spotted a group of merchants alongside the riverbank. A sail boat in full mask seemed to be an attraction with the people who were shopping the site. He commanded his servants to dock the boat so he could see the obvious wonder inside. When he discovered the Koi the merchant carried he couldn’t imagine leaving them behind. So, he made arrangements to have them delivered to the palace pool, which had not yet been constructed.”

“But, Mama Neff, where did the sail ship find them?”

“Oh, I heard tell that the merchants had brought the fish a long distance, all the way from the orient. China I believe it was. The Koi are native to pools. They are sold all over the world for a handsome price. Father, was extra fortunate he happened along when he did. Of course, eventually someone would have brought them to us, but we got to enjoy them a little sooner this way. In face we have had visitors here inquiring about whether we wanted some Koi brought to us for our enjoyment. We always end up showing them ours and they always agree with us that they are a specialty sight.”

“Have they all lived since you got them or have some died?”

“They are hearty fish and they have had some babies. We lose an old fish ever so often. I believe about six have died over the past fifteen years. The gardener takes very good care of the pool. He cleans out the scum that tends to grow in it and he makes sure the plants do not grow completely over the surface so the fish will have the full sun in part of their pool. You will get to meet Rashui, he usually cares for the gardens during the day and attends to palace duties during the evening hours. He lights lamps, perhaps you saw him last night lighting your lamp before you went to bed. Do you remember seeing him?”

“Yes, I did see him, I didn’t know his name. He looks like someone I had met once. I am glad to know, I will know him the next time I see him. Thank you, Mama Neff, for telling me about the fish in the pond. I liked that story. I wanted to know about them when you began to tell me.”

“I thought you would like that story. I love the pool so much that I often come out here in the garden just to sit and watch the beauty for a while. I know you will enjoy it just as much, and you can come out here anytime you feel like taking a break from you studies or just need something different to do.”

“Oh! I will! I have never seen such things before. Can I sit out here for a while when you go back into the palace? I want to see the fish play in the sunlight. See that one there…he is chasing that little baby fish. Oh, no…he has it in his mouth. Will he hurt it?”

“Yes, he will. He is eating him. Rashui, gives the Koi little minnows to eat every day. That is what they eat. Don’t look so dismayed, Minios. That is the way it is with life. We kill animals so we can eat their meat, and animals kill other animals to have meat to eat. We live and we die. That, like I said, is the way with all life on this earth.”

“Oh, I have never thought about life that way before, Mama Neff. I think that is a hard way to live.”

“Well, I don’t know if it is a hard way to live, but it is the only way to live.”

Looking around the palace yards for the first time gave Moses a thrill he had never experienced before. The gardens along the white brick fenced boarder lay in bright contrast wherever his eyes focused. Blue, pink, yellow, and crimson colored the surface of the ground thoroughly hugging the green lawn at every meeting. He recognized Rashui from the night before; he was busy among the gardens watering, cleaning out dead leaves from among the plants, and giving the yard its daily care. Moses figured since he hadn’t seen much grass, and never had he seen such green grass anywhere, that the man’s work was the reason for such apparent success with the yard.

Mama Neff motioned for him to walk alongside her as she strolled along the stone path decorated on both sides in pink and white chrysanthemums. The path led from the palace entrance to beyond the gate of the palace yard and crossed the village path that led to the market. They crossed over the village path and walked in the direction of the Nile River The path had several bends and picturesque spots where palm trees dotted the landscape and marsh grasses and spiny acacia trees were plentiful. Flowers of all kinds and Mulberry trees among olive and sycamores spread their low branches over a variety of bountiful ground cover plants. It was all so lush and beautiful.

She led him down through this magnificent show of splendor and came out at a nature sanctuary, which was situated near a huge pond with fish that lived in the wild. She explained about the trees in this sanctuary.

“These trees harbor the Goddess Wadjet. She lives among the shrub and brush in this clearing and uses the pond to catch her daily diet of fish. She appears as a mongoose during the day and a shrew mouse during the late evening hours. Today is a feast day to her. We have come to give her our respect and honor. Kneel here with me and bow your head. I usually say a prayer silently to her seeking her protection for the coming year. She is called, ‘The August One, the Mighty One’. Her main job is to protect Pharaoh from birth to death; he is the god Horus, a god that rules Egypt from century to century.”

Moses looked at the image of a cobra’s head made from a gold plated Sycamore carving, which stood in the center of the circle of stone path that served as a platform to keep the figurine upright. There in front of the carving was a straight path made of red pebbles. A raised wooden bench protruded from the pebbles and was only large enough for two worshipers to kneel upon it at one time. She encouraged Moses to kneel with her, which he did obediently. She bowed her head and begins to utter the words which stuck in Moses’ head for days as he began his training in the ways of Egypt’s many gods and strange beliefs.

“Wadjet, Goddess of all might and power. Protect our house by your eternal blessing…” Mama Neff finished her prayer with “amen and amen.”
As she arose she lifted her hands over her head and shook them in the air as she pronounced Wadjet’s name over and over again in a low grave voice loud enough for Moses to hear. She meant for him to mimic her actions this day (April 21) and also in future years.

He looked wide eyed and concerned as he wished with all his might he were back home with his family, enjoying the time he had always experienced with his brother and sister as they played among the tree groves outside their house, making believe they were adults tending to a family of six or more children. Often he ended up playing the baby with Miriam and Aaron playing his parents. If only he could go back again, he would never complain when they asked him to pretend to be the baby.

Mama Neff smiled down upon Moses as she turned around and exited the realm of the Goddess Wadjet, in all her golden glory. She took his hand in hers and headed back the way they had come.


Chapter 2

Israel’s descends wanted to stay in Egypt and were willing to work their land and gave to Pharaoh their due portion as the law stated. They gave their service when asked; they were grateful to live in the prosperous land of Egypt. One hundred and fifty years after Joseph’s death there came a ruler to the throne of Egypt’s upper region that knew nothing of Joseph’s fame. He received the Hebrew citizens with delight and happily accepted their willingness to work for the land they had occupied in the Delta section from the time of the great famine. They helped build Egypt’s economy by contributing  greatly to many improvements throughout the inner regions of northern Min-Nefer (Memphis), Pharaoh’s capital city, which housed over fifty-two thousand peasants and middle class citizens. They helped build the canals and drainage systems in the 12th dynasity and build the great waterworks which transported river water to the palace gardens and running water to the palace itself. The waterworks spread over the city and supplied needed water to the citizens, which also helped make the life of the people less grave.

The ancient irrigation ditches were always in need of repair and new dikes added. It was a daily job during the flooding of the Nile to keep the water running into distant fields. Every farmer in Egypt was responsible for keeping the waterworks on their own land repaired and flowing freely.

Another ruler arose to power, which was not so kind to the Hebrew people; their willingness to earn their keep was ignored. He enslaved them with forced labour over and above their comprehension. He employed his own people to be taskmasters over them. They were to comply or suffer the consequence of the whips each taskmaster carried. Officers were chosen among the Hebrew people and given positions over their own people, helping relieve the burden upon the taskmasters.

Two hundred years into their enslavement a pharaoh chose to manage the slaves as if they were an enemy of the state. With each successive ruler forcing more and more rigor upon them and having no regard for their homage or wellbeing; the Israelites lost any former hope of some day leaving the territory of Egypt. They were fated and had no country to call their own.

Advisors of this latest king told him he should do something to stop the rapid growth they were observing in the slave community. They suggested he give them additional work to occupy their time. They would spend more time away from home and longer hours making brick at a brick yard. It became a tradition among the slaves to be overworked. But the plan to stop their rapid growth failed; they increased in population even faster.

At the present time, three hundred and fifty years into the Hebrews entrapment the advisors to the king worried that the slaves would join any band of warriors coming to occupy their country and easily overcome their government. So it is that the decree to kill all the Hebrew’s new-born males came into circulation.

They built cities for Pharaoh and the one called Pithom was a disaster in which many of the Hebrew workers lost their lives when one of the buildings fell in upon them.

Benjamin never worked at building the city that killed his older brother, nearly fifty years ago. Life for him had gone on and now he had a family of his own. He still missed his brother Jarvis.

He and his wife, Amira, had a family of two girls and three boys. One son had been drown in the river because of Pharaoh’s dastardly decree. He was the twin of his youngest daughter. The eldest, a daughter, was named Binah; she was married and had two babies of her own. Their two living sons were seventeen year old Zuhar, and fifteen year old Abner. Amalia, the youngest, was the pride of her father's heart.

Amira was making plans to return to the fields; she had to resume her duty as Pharaoh’s slave.  Amalia was already seven and ready to be weaned from a mother’s constant presents in her life. She would not have to go work in the fields with her mother until she turned eight the coming year.

Amira set about fixing her meal of vegetable stew and flat bread, which was a stable these days. She, also, worked with her sourdough bread, another staple, which was always a delight along with a meal of veggies and goat milk and cheese. She rarely had butter on hand, but today was different. Benjamin had surprised her at last nights’ supper with a half liter of cream he’d found at the market located near the palace on his way home from the brick grounds.
She had churned it immediately after their supper was cleared away, to keep it from souring. It was warm from the heat of the long day. The churning finished before midnight and as she scrapped the sweet butter from the blade Amalia awoke and came into the kitchen wanting a drink of water…Amira startled at the appearance of her daughter’s flushed face. After placing her hand over the child’s forehead she exclaimed:

“Dear child, you must go immediately back to your bed, you are burning up.”

“I am very thirsty, Mama, and my arms and legs hurt terribly…,” She complained to her mother about a sore throat and chills she had been experiencing also, but the night was hot and still. The water her mother gave her, to quench her thirst, did not stay down. Amalia felt so badly that she begun to weep, which made her head throb, agonizingly.
 
Amira poured some tepid water into a wooden bowl to sopped Amalia’s body and help rid it of its terrible heat. When she was been satisfied with her progress she covered her with a light blanket, and Amalia slept until morning. She awoke with the fever, so Amira kept her quiet all day, but by the time supper was ready and her family was seated to eat Amalia still was not feeling anywhere near well enough to stomach food.

Amira had expected her daughter to be too sick to join them and so prepared a broth from the stew veggies to give to her so she would have something warm upon her stomach.

For several days Amira continued to nurse her back to health with additional cooling baths and liquid offerings. She encouraged her to drink as much water as possible, and before long Amalia began to feel the effects of her sickness dissipate.

It was already a week past Amira’s expected return to the fields. Binah took care of Amalia during the day while Amira worked. She was glad for the extra help. Mara was eithteen months old and Nathaniel three. Nathaniel loved his Auntie Milly and tugged at her sleeve for attention.

“What is it Nathan? You are such a big boy.”

“I…me want’a play in the yard.”

“You should go ask mama. Want to take sister along, too?”

“No, go wiv oo.”

“Fine, go, ask mama."

“Mama, Mama, me go wiv Milly?”

“You want’a go outside? Yes, I guess, Amalia will take you out if you ask her.”

“Goody, Goody me, go.”

Amalia laughed along with him and led him out to the sandy dirt laden yard, which was patchy with green weeds resembling grass. He found the little wooden animals he had played with since he was barely two. He had recently gotten a horse and chariot given to him by his neighbors, Ruth and Othniel that lived in the house behind theirs. They were both retired from the fields and brick grounds. They love children but had none of their own. Pharaoh probably would have enjoyed meeting these people since they never could help populate the Hebrew community; they suffered greatly because of it.

Lunchtime brought Amalia and little Nathaniel indoors and a nap kept him there until early afternoon. Mara awoke in time for lunch, and Amalia enjoyed watching her as Binah cleaned up after the meal. They built blocks together, and rebuilt them when Mara knocked them over with her chubby little hands. She was a happy baby and could walk as well as any toddler. They went out into the yard for a while and walked around until they were both tired, and Mara was ready for another nap. Amalia was glad to sit awhile and rest her legs as she helped Binah pick through a bunch of green beans and snap them for supper. Amalia ate a few as she loved to eat them raw, she liked them better that way than cooked. But, she would be going home before supper.

That evening when she went to the well with her mother, on the outskirts of the settlement, she met Dendera, a seven year old Egyptian girl, and her mother.

“Hi, my name is Amalia, I live in the Hebrew settlement.” Even at her young age she knew the difference between her people and the Egyptians.

“Hi,” I’m Dendera, I live in the Farina district, it’s just a short distance down the path.” She pointed in the correct direction a place where Amalia knew existed but had never visited. “I have a cat. I will bring her to show you next time I come with mama, if you would like to see her.”

“Oh, that would be nice,” said a very enthusiastic Amalia. “I have always wanted to have a kitten. Is she very small?”

”No she is pretty big she is a two years old.”

“Do you have any brothers and sisters?”

“I have two brothers; they are younger than me. I have to watch them with the maid when mama goes to the market or helps daddy with his practice.”
“What do you mean by practice?”

“My daddy is a physician. If you ever need one he is near. His name is Chsisi. Everyone in our village knows us, just ask around.”

“I have a sister and two brothers. You will have to come visit my house sometime. Look our mothers are talking together, now we can ask them to let us get together sometime.”

“Are your brothers and sister older or younger than you?”

“I am the youngest; my brothers work at the brick grounds with my father. My sister is married and has a boy and a girl of her own.”

“Do you work in the fields, too?”

“No, I am only seven, when I am eight I will start I am looking forward to it.”

“Who takes care of you during the day?”

“Oh, I go to my sister’s house until Mommy comes for me.”

“Amalia, who is your little friend, will you introduce her to me?”

“This is Dendera, Mommy. She lives in the neighborhood just down the path. Her mama is the lady over there.” She pointed toward a pretty Egyptian woman with a beautiful black kimono trimmed in shaggy gold fringe.

She turned around at that moment and walked toward them balancing a pitcher of water on her shoulder.

“I see you are all ready to leave, Herneith.”

“I have met your daughter Dendera, Herneith, I want to introduce my daughter to you, her name is Amalia. This is Dendera’s mother Herneith… Amalia.”

“Hi” ventured Amalia shyly.

On their way back to the settlement, Amalia told her mother all the things her and Dendera had discussed.

“She sounds like a really nice girl for you to make friends with. We will invite her over the next time we see her at the well.”

“Oh can we, Mommy? I love you; you are so good to me. I really do like Dendera. She is very nice.”

As they reach their dwelling Amira placed the jug of water on the counter top where it belonged. She had transported it on her shoulder just the way she had been taught by her mother. When the men came home at dusk they all sit down to the pleasant meal Amira and Amalia had prepared together.

“I ate lunch with Bezaleel the son of Uri, and his young apprentice Aholiab, son of Ahisamach from the tribe of Dan. They told me how they had been working together in Bezaleel’s blacksmith shop experimenting with different metals and woods. He is teaching Aholiab the trade. Aholiab works with carving of timber and the cutting, polishing, and setting of precious stones, he is sharing this with Bezaleel. He plans to expand his business to include all manner of workmanship.

Baruch and his cousin Immanuel were also there; they were curious as to how many more years we were going to let the Egyptians enslave us till we finally rebelled. They couldn’t understand why we were not already freed.”

“Wouldn’t it be wonderful if God would send a savior to us and help us get away from Egypt, Daddy.”

“Yes it would indeed, Daughter.”

“But I was not finished. The best news of the day is there is a feast day coming soon. May 8 will be in three weeks time.”

“Do you know the name of the god that gets the honor of this feast?” asked Abner who professed to being the expert of the family on Egyptian gods and their feasts. “Min is his name and he is the god of fertility. The Egyptians require us Hebrews to join in this feast as Pharaoh will be cutting the first sheaf of grain for the harvest that morning, and expects us to know that the day after we are to be working in his fields, again.”

“Tell me about the god Min and his feast, Abner, please.”

The tall, muscular golden-haired youth looked at his little sister and began to tell his story, “Here is the way it all began, Amalia. Min is the god of making babies. He is pictured naked by the early Egyptian artists, in all his glory. I don’t want to tell you any more than that about the body of the god. A hymn was written to be sung about Min. It goes like this:

... Min, Bull of the Great Phallu,
~You are the Great Male, the owner of all females.
The Bull who is unites with those of the sweet love, of beautiful face and of painted eyes,
Victorious sovereign among the Gods who inspires fear in the Ennead.~
The goddesses are glad, seeing your perfection.
-- Hymn to Min

He is a god that watches over the fields and is said to give Pharaoh and other men the power to father a child. He also watches over the festival of the pharaoh, which is called the Sed (jubilee). The pharaoh festival is like this…Pharaoh has to run around a certain place the priests tell him too, while carrying different objects, like a spear or bow and arrows. These things represent what Pharaoh needs for a long life plus a huge number of children his own. We have to go to the fields to watch him cut the first sheaf of grain to begin the first of the harvest season.”

“How can you remember so much about the gods of Egypt?” inquired Amira.

“Yeah!” exclaimed Amalia.

“I don’t know, I guess it’s because it is something I have taken a liking to. When a person is really intrigued by something, he really enjoys studying it. I know more stuff about Min but I don’t feel like going into very much detail right now. May I be excused; I need to get going? I have to go to Ira’s house to get something; I will be back shortly.”

“Would you like company?”

“Sure, you may come along if you want. It’s getting dark out there and the boogiemen might try to get me if I am alone,” he said teasing his older sibling.

The evening was hot and the boys hurried to their friend’s house, which was approximately six kilometers away.

“Greetings, Lowt, we are here to speak to Ira for a few minutes?”

“He isn’t here, Abner, he said he needed to go to Micah’s next door, he will be right back, I’m sure. Come sit on the bench while you wait. He…oh, here he is now; farewell, Boys, give your father greetings for me.” Nodding to him, he turned and left the boys to discuss their business.

“Well, do you have it, Ira?”

“Sure, I told you I would. Micah’s father just finished it tonight. He even gave me this fancy tie to go along with it.”

Micah held up the perfectly round object by its woven flax thread tie. The delicate figure of a dove perched on a tree branch was carved out of the glistening white surface. It was encased in the rim of the smooth ivory, which formed the frame of the necklace.

“Oh! This is beautiful; he does such fine work. Amalia will cherish this greatly. Thanks, friend; I am so glad you told me about this opportunity. I can hardly wait to give it to her and see her expression when she receives it.”

“It is a fine piece, Micah; Amalia will be surprised, that is for sure,” resounded Zuhar.

“Yes, it did turn out wonderfully. I am having one made for Sarai, my girl. Her birthday is next month. I’m having a deer in a meadow carved out of it. She loves deer in the worst way,” offered Micah.

“Be sure to tell your neighbor thanks for us. We really appreciate his time,” said Abner.

Back home Amalia was teasing her mamma for an extra helping of the fig pudding.

“I am so hungry for something sweet we hardly ever have any desserts. Oh, please, Mamma, the boys won’t know and Daddy said he was full, to the top, at supper. I will share it with you if that is what you want Mamma. Please-e-e…”

“Oh, Amalia, you do suffer so when it comes to sweets. Maybe, just a half bowl more. I declare you are the most when it comes to teasing. I am glad to see you have such a good appetite for a seven year old ready to turn eight in five days now. Can you wait? I am impatient myself. I am anxious you see your face when I give you your gift this year.”

“That is right; it is my birthday soon, now you got me to wondering, Mamma, why do you want me to wonder like this?” she giggled.

Amira had worked hard on the material she’d sacrificed to buy so she would be able to make Amalia’s birthday gift. It had cost her three weeks of work at Bastet’s home. She was an upper class Egyptian lady that needed help with some house work, she’d found her by asking around at the fields. She baked her bread and churned her butter and did anything else she could to give the elderly lady the help she needed. She could only work for an hour after work each day before she had to get Amalia from Binah’s. She was always in a rush, it seemed. Suppers had been the main problem. She had to work late every evening preparing the next days’ meals so she would have enough time after gathering her daughter to get it on the table by the time the men came home starved each evening.

When she’d finished earning her material money she used the extra hour to make the garment. She had enough to buy material for a shawl to put over her head too. It had turned out very nicely; she had to admit this to herself.

It was bedtime and the boys were not home yet. Both she and Benjamin worried about them anytime they were not where they thought they should be. They liked knowing where their children were at all times.

Benjamin strolled outdoors and Amira joined him as soon as she was sure Amalia was in her bed.

“Do you realize it is Amalia’s birthday in five days?”

“Oh, I hadn’t thought on it any; I think I leave these things to you for a reason. If I had to remember she wouldn’t get a birthday. Do you think the boys are in trouble? They should have been home a long time ago. They better show up soon or I am going to go looking for them.“

“Oh, how you do worry! They shall be along now any moment you just relax and see.”

No more had she said these words than they heard voices close by; they saw both boys enter at the wooden gate on the mortar and brick wall.

“Mom, Dad, did you hear about the fall old man Elkanah had this morning. He is dead. We found a group of people standing outside his house. Seems his daughter had been weeping loudly and her neighbors on either side and in the row before and behind her house heard her. They come to see what the matter was and when we come along they were carrying his body to the mortuary.”

“The poor dear, is she still weeping? Does she need a place to stay for she is all along now. She and her dad were all by themselves."

“Orpha, took her on home for the night. She is still pretty broken up.”

“Deborah, is such a sweet thing; maybe she can find a husband. She has been a faithful caregiver for her ageing father. How old is he now, must be near one-hundred and thirty, wouldn’t you think. Bertha passed away at age one-hundred and three. They were nearly twenty years difference wouldn’t you say? She passed in the middle of planting season last year.”

“Let’s get to bed it is past time, thanks to you boys being so late,” said Benjamin coolly.

“You worry too much folks; you ought to know us better than that. You know we wouldn’t get into mischief. We like good times, but we would not put others in harm’s way.”

“Yes, we know son, it is just hard to not know where you are all the time. You are good boys, we appreciate both of you. Now get inside and go to sleep; morning comes quickly.”

Morning did indeed come quickly. They rolled out of bed before dawn as was their practice. Amira already had the bread and milk on the table and the porridge water heating; she was getting dressed when she heard the rest of her family stirring.

“I wish this were my birthday, I am counting down the days there are only four more. Hurray!”

“What is it you wish for, sis? I have a little money don’t you Zuhar.”

“Yeah, I guess I have a little stashed away. I hope we have time to find a nice gift for her.”

“You boys stop teasing her and get yourselves to the table for breakfast.”

“Okay, okay, we are coming,” ducking he teased, “do not hit us.”

“Hit you, I’m going to kiss you”

“Oh-oo, please anything but that; we do not like them either,” wailed Abner before he finally sit down on his floor-mat to eat."

“Doesn’t anybody want to hear what I want for my birthday? You asked and then you ignored me.”

“Sure, sis, give us an idea.”

“Well, I would like a kitten; Dendera my new friend, has a cat. I would love to have one too.”

“A cat! Is that all you want?” Benjamin said with surprise.

“Well, I haven’t really thought much about it. I don’t know; I suppose if I think about it all day I might have a long list for you this evening.”

“You do that little mite, I need good ideas.” said Zuhar.

That day at Binah’s, Amalia found it hard to concentrate on anything but her birthday wish list. Binah became worried that she was coming down with something because she took her quietness to mean she was not feeling well.

“Are you feeling okay, today, darling?”

“Oh, yes, I am busy making up my mind what I want for my birthday; I told Zuhar I would have a list for him and Abner tonight.”

“Oh, that is right you do have a birthday coming up in…let’s see…four days. I better get that list from you before you leave tonight.”

The day finally arrived for her birthday. She is at the well with her mother when Dendera and her mother come along the path from her village.

“Hi, Dendera, guess what. Today is my birthday. I can hardly wait till after supper tonight, to celebrate. I am so anxious to know what everyone has gotten me. I can hardly wait.”

“Happy Birthday, Amalia, what do you want most of all?”

“I want a kitten like you have. I have wanted one forever.”

“Kittens are nice, mine is almost three years old, now. She is hardly a kitten, anymore. This is also your weaning birthday isn’t it?” You will be going to the fields to work by this time next month.”

“Yes, I can hardly wait till then, either. I think I will like working with mamma in the fields. I have been looking forward to it a long, long time.”

That night after supper, Amalia got to open all her gifts. She adored the garment her mother fashioned for her and the shawl was perfect. She could hardly wait to fashion it before her family. But, for now she must wait. Benjamin had found a bracelet at the market and presented it to her next. She accepted it with gratitude and gave both parents a huge hug and kisses. She was happy with her gifts.

Her brothers teased her mercilessly about not having time to get a gift.

“I couldn’t find one thing on your list Amalia and besides I was so tired every night I couldn’t drag myself out to look for anything. I wish I’d had more time. I am sure I would have found you a lovely gift I will try to find something over the next few days. You don’t mind having a late gift do you? I’m sure I’ll find something. Just give me a little time.”

Zuhar, chocked down a laugh and got away with a smile that told the older folks that he and his brother had a gift, but they were going to make it as hard on Amalia as the could.

Abner chimed in as well, ”I bet if we pool our money, Zuhar, we can find a decent gift by the weekend if we look extra hard. Maybe a basket of fruit from the market would be nice. Do you think she would baulk at that? I believe birthday girls have to like whatever they get because they have no other choice. If they don’t like their gift they make the giver feel really badly. What kinds of fruit do you like best, Amalia?”
At this point Amalia couldn’t hold back her tears any longer. She slid off her bench and went to the sleeping chamber and flung herself down rather hard on her mat.

“Okay, boys don’t you think you have carried this a bit far? Now look what you have done, she is all upset. And, on her birthday,” scolded Amira.

“Come here Amalia,” called Abner affectionately, ”we were only teasing, we have a lovely gift for you, come and see.”
Amalia, arose from her mat and slowly walked to the kitchen. She had tears in her eyes and a runny nose, which Amira wiped on her soft cloth that was kept for wiping the tears or blowing the nose.

“What do you think this is?” Abner held up a small package wrapped in a piece of flaxen cloth.

“A kitten?” teased Amalia.

Everyone roared. This made her feel all warm inside because she was able to make the situation pleasant when she had messed it up so.

“No, silly, it is your birthday gift. Here open it. Zahur and I pooled our money to get this for you.”

She took the gift and slowly unfolded the yellowish cloth. When she saw the necklace she was in awe. Her expression satisfied the boy’s expectations. They rejoiced with her and were glad to see her at a loss for word.

She got up from her seat and flings herself at the boys and gave each a big hug and a sound kiss on their cheeks.

“Oh, thank you, thank you!” she exclaimed. “I love it so much, where did you ever find such a lovely piece?”
Amira wide eyed and astonished gave the boys a big smile and so did Benjamin.


Chapter 3

Ramla helped Moses learn his lessons daily; he studied passionately to be worthy of the royal homage given to him by penchant. The past six years, living in the palace, afforded him a rewarding training program which was very interesting and immeasurably satisfying to his growing confidence. The astute talent to memorize his lessons was observed by his teacher and manifest worthy praise.

Moses stood up to stretch his legs. His hours of morning studies ended, which prompted him to disengage his sedentary pose supporting a change of scenery. He walked quietly down the hall and out into the great room and headed toward the gardens in the palace yards. Today he sat by the pool and thought about the lessons he had studied during the week. He had learned the names of twenty more Egyptian gods this week. Next week he would learn a little about each one, but for now he was determined to get them named for the first time without looking at the list…he counted them off on his fingers as he recalled them slowly and accurately:

“Satet/Satis, Sekhmet, Selket (Serket), Seshat, Seth, Shay, Shezmu, Shu, Sia, Sobek, Sokar, Sopdet/Sothis, Tatenen, Taweret, Tayet, Tefnut, Thoth, (Djehuty), Wadjet (Uto/Edjo), Wepwawet, …w”

Just then he saw Rashui carrying a basket of clippings from the yard. He was headed in his direction.

“Greetings, kind sir,” spoke Moses as he got up to shake the servant’s hand.

Rashui looked around quickly to see if anyone was around that could observe them. He constantly moved his eyes nervously whenever they met. When Moses inquired about this he’d explained, “—if anyone see’s us talking we could be reprimanded and never be able to talk again”. He wanted, if at all possible, to guard against such exposure. He went on to explain that royalty and servants were not in the same social class, and it was unthinkable for one class to casually talk to another class.

Moses knowingly, shrugged this off and vowed he would do as he pleased. If he got caught he would deal with it. Rashui on the other hand worried about it and always turned his back upon Moses during their conversations to prevent being observed in this transgression. Moses did not fault him for his
caution, and respected Rashui’s wishes.

“What have you been up to today, Rashui? Did you have time to ask Nubit to go with you to the ceremony yet?”

”Yeah, she is going to go to the Feast of the Opet with me next week. She was happy I ask her, she said she’d been wondering when I would get around to talking to her. I guess she likes me, too. I sure like her.”

“Wonderful Rashui, I am glad you got up the courage. You and Nubit are going to have a wonderful time. Will you get to be with her every day of the feast? That is almost a month.”

“Pretty, much.”

Rashui advanced toward the gate with his basket over his shoulder and headed toward the dump site. The clippings mulched the area of dense growth off the beaten path.

When he returned to the palace yards, Moses was not by the pool where he’d left him. He resumed gathering up more clippings and as he turned to look for
some on either side he spotted his young friend watching the back entrance to the yards along the massive east side of the palace. Rashui wondered if Moses might have observed an intruder passing through the grounds.

“Minios, what is the matter? Why are you staring at the back entrance? Did you see someone go through the yards that did not have the right?”
Without adverting his eyes from the gate he spoke of his observances to Rashui.

“You will never guess whom I just saw. I had to follow them a ways to make sure myself.”

“Tell me young friend. I am anxious to understand.”

“Why do you think a taskmaster from the brick grounds would be walking through here with a Hebrew slave?”

“Now, that is curious. I do not have any idea; do you think they were trying to sneak through without anyone seeing them?”

“It appears that way. They saw me sitting by the pool; I am sure of it, but I was so engrossed in my thoughts they probably thought they could get away without me unobserving them.”

The next morning when Nuferu_Re and Moses were on their morning walk, he mentioned the taskmaster and the slave walking through the palace yards. Nuferu_Re didn’t say much to Moses about her concern over the news. She waited to discuss it with her father.

That afternoon Pharaoh listened intently as she gave him her thoughts on the subject.

“We can’t have just anyone thinking he can walk through our private domain; now can we? Minios is out in the garden daily. It could be any hour. He must be able to wander the grounds shielded for his own self dignity. I want this taskmaster found and disciplined.”
This said she turned and stormed out of her father’s presence.

Pharaoh, now, aware of the doings of this taskmaster swore to find him and give him a warning. He was taken aback to think any such thing should happen in his palace yards. He summoned Moses to come to him immediately.

“Son, tell me of the observance in the palace yards yesterday. I need you to be very specific and give me a straight answer.”

“Yes, sir, I was sitting at the pool observing the fish and watching their fine colors as they dodged in and out among the Lotus plants. I was deep in thought as usual about my studies. They are very interesting to me, you know, and I go through them in my mind often while I sit at the pool.”

“Yes, yes get on with the story. I don’t have all day. I have a council meeting shortly with the priest. Then, what happened with the taskmaster and the Hebrew?”

Moses took a deep breath; he wondered what was so important that he had to explain the entire happening to Pharaoh.

“I looked up for I’d heard a noise; it sounded like a foot fall on the path. The taskmaster and his slave were gone past me already and had just reaching the corner of the palace. I remember thinking how surprised I was for not noticing them sooner. I arose from my seat and followed them cautiously so as not to let them notice me. They evidently were trying to sneak past me in the first place.”

Moses stopped for a short breath before going on.

“I reached the corner where the palace makes an angled turn and then goes on to another corner. Well I did not see them again till I turned the next corner. They had just reached the gate on that side of the palace.”

Moses stopped a second then remembered something else about the scene.

“They didn’t seem to be opposed to each other. They seemed more like friends. The taskmaster let go of the Hebrew’s arm and they were talking to each other like they knew one another very well. I couldn’t imagine that, so I stood there observing them for a good while. They walked to the far edge of the tree line and turned down the path that leads to the adjacent neighborhood.”

“Can you tell me how they were dressed?”

“The taskmaster had his usual yellow waist skirt and a black straight hair wig. The slave had on his short tunic like garment like they are always in. He had short curly blond hair. They both wore sandals on their feet."

“Thanks, Minios, you may go now, you did a great job. I want to warn you though, don’t ever strike up a conversation with a Hebrew slave nor the taskmasters. Do you understand me, Son?”

“Yes, Sir, I understand. You need not worry about me; I will obey you. But, if I may ask, Sir…how is it that the Hebrew’s are here in Egypt in the first place; where did they come from?”

“I am not going to answer that question just now as I need to get going to my meeting, but in good time, I will give you a reasonable answer, now, run along and let me get along.”

“Yes, Sir, good day, Sir.”

Moses left and went back to his room to continue the game he had been playing before Pharaoh called him into his presence, but Ramla was ready to help him recall his week-long studies by drilling him on the gods of Egypt one last time before dismissing him from his studies for lunch.

Pharaoh called his Chief of Police the next morning, bright and early, to his court and settled on a plan of action.

“Yes, I am an able body at detective work. I have solved the biggest mystery this side of the Nile. Just last year I was called upon by the citizens of Set Society to find the missing statute of Set. It was quite an undertaking. You see, Your Highness, the statute was not really missing at all, it had been totally reconstructed and no one could recognized it. I tell you there are some pretty odd cases out there. Now what is the problem here? You must be in some danger or you wouldn’t have called me. I will set up twenty-four hour guard around the palace if need be.”

“Not anything so drastic, Chief, I only require your expertise in finding a person for me.”
Pharaoh explained the happenings and gave the inspector the minute details, just as Moses and the princess had described it, all so vividly, to him the previous day.

“The taskmaster could have been any of a few thousand men. This was an Egyptian of course…he is evidently a good judge of actions, too I trust, as he had nabbed the slave for some reason. I won’t tell you how to do you investigation, but be sure to ask every taskmaster you can if they saw anything.”

“You have it right, Your Highness; I intend to do plenty of that. Now, if you will excuse me I will get right on it.”

“Yes, Chief, by all means go and get started. I am anxious to get this settled.”

On the third day following their meeting the chief entered the brick grounds for the second day in a row.  He had set up his investigation in the food kitchens’ porch and had summoned all the Taskmasters, one by one, to question them on their knowledge, if any, about taking a slave through the palace yards. He worked each of five days that week and into the next and still had talked to only about a fifth of the taskmasters.

On the seventh day he was more than exasperated and tired of the whole business. He had gotten absolutely nowhere.
He decided on his next strategy. He would visit the neighborhood behind the palace to the left. There were roughly 1500 homes in this district. So, he gathered his whole department of fifteen men and gave them each an assigned section to cover each day for the next few weeks, but still come up empty handed.

He being exhausted of ideas goes to the palace to request an audience with Pharaoh.

“Sir, I have investigated the total of 30,000 prospects and have come away empty handed. What do you want me to do, now?”
Pharaoh resigned himself to forget the incident; the chief though frustrated vowed to keep working the case if anything ever came to mind that might help his investigation.

In the meanwhile the taskmaster and the Hebrew slave heard about the investigation. The taskmaster conveniently became sick the days the investigation took place at the brick grounds. He had nothing to offer the chief. His actions were altogether justified. He had helped his fellow Hebrew’s over and over again when trouble had arisen between the taskmasters and the slaves. The taskmasters physically abused and threaten the slaves and were harsh with them putting them into submission. They were cruel to the point of imprisoning the slaves up to three day and beating them upon release.

When the chief investigated his neighborhood he was back at work doing his job of intersession for the Hebrew slaves and saving them from prison and a beating.

He wondered just how long he could get away with this sort of thing. He was dark haired and appeared to be an Egyptian when he was in fact a Hebrew married to an Egyptian woman with children by her. They were model citizens of their community and ready to give their friends all the help they needed whenever they asked anything. No one knew he was a Hebrew. Not even his wife or his children or his wife’s family. When he brought a man home to stay with his family for three days he told his wife he needed a place to stay until he could find his own place. She never questioned his authority, and he never told her what he was doing.


Chapter 4

Amira was raised in the home of Nathaniel, son of Jonas, who was a smith for the tribe of Judah. She was one of four daughters and five sons that grew up as slaves in the service of Pharaoh.

Her Mother and sisters and all her brothers worked the fields until the boys became old enough to transfer to the men’s labor camps where important work was being carried out of building two treasure cities for Pharaoh. Brick production and iron works were massive in her earlier days and many workers suffered strain and stress due to the heavy load forced upon them by the taskmasters in charge; they enforced long hours of back breaking labor.

Benjamin, thirty-nine, became aware of sixteen year old Amira when he was invited to partake of supper with his best friend Judah and his family. Several months and visits later he finally ask her to come and meet his mother and father. It didn’t take many months thereafter before they were wed.

They lived in a small one room house located on the property of her father’s land.  As the children began to come along, the first few years of their lives together, Benjamin added another large sleeping and entertaining room to their house. The kitchen was outside as that is where they cooked the bread and meals that needed a hot fire. They didn’t eat meat very often because poor storage caused spoilage, and waste was not a thing to be tolerated by any
Hebrew family.

Later the kitchens were added to the interior of the homes. They built a roof over the entire kitchen except where the fire was made.

By the time their fourth child was born, Pharaoh had passed a law over the land of the Hebrew settlement that stated all newborn males were to be drowned in the river, Nile. They became very concerned because they didn’t want this fate to follow the birth of the child she carried in her womb. When Amira went into labor the midwife was called to help her.

She assured them she would not drown their baby if it happened to be a boy because she feared God more than man and would not kill a baby for the Pharaoh’s satisfaction. This is the information they received from the midwife. Their little girl was born and they all relaxed because there was no problem having a baby girl. She was accepted into their home with much joy.

Amira got to stay with her baby for the first six years until one day the harvest fields called her away. Then she went to work and her daughter Binah, who was nineteen at the time, watched Amalia all day until her mother came to take her home. She had two little babies of her own.

When Amalia turned eight, just before the harvest season of that year, she too found working in the fields a challenge from day to day, five days a week. Her work involved holding the sheaves of grain while her mother tied them with thin strips of reed she brought to the field from home. She would make the ties at home in the evenings. It made her enslavement to Pharaoh even more rigorous. She needed to spend her time at home enjoying her family not doing work for Pharaoh.

Amalia hurried along the path leading to the palace yards. She thought of the good bargain she’d found at the marketplace not more than a half hour ago. Persimmons were ripe and beautiful and within her price. How Zuhor and Abner loved the fruit. It was her favorite also. Just thinking about them was not enough she lifted up the basket to her nose and took a deep sniff.  Devine was the word that came to her mind. Their taste was beyond description; she could hardly wait until the evening meal.

The path ahead leading from the palace yards was occupied by two individuals about to cross over the path she walked where the two paths met. As she came closer she could hardly believe her eyes. She was sure of it; Princess Hasheput and her son were out for a stroll. She knew their identity for sure the minute she saw the red hair of the Prince. He was the Hebrew boy the Princess had gathered from the river; she was raising him as her own son. He was born the same year as her, and was living in a palace, which made him thirteen now, she reasoned.  How fortunate she imagined him to be because he lived in the palace. The Hebrews called him Prince Moses. The Princess called him Minios because she had drawn him out of the water.

As she drew closer to the two, she heard bits and pieces of their conversation; their words were muffled; she wasn’t paying any attention until she heard the word, Hebrew. It set her to wondering just exactly what this boy had been talking about. Why would they be discussing her people?

As she come to the path that Princess Hasheput and Prince Minios were walking on, she looked in the direction they had been headed to see if she could get another glimpse of them. They were out of sight. Then she looked toward the palace. She didn’t see anyone else around, but the palace yards were beginning to appear very beautiful as the spring flowers and bushes were blossoming. The weather had been rather warm for this time of year, and she had hesitated earlier, not knowing which wrap to take to market with her. She finally chose the light one; she was glad she had for the morning proved to be rather sultry.

The wall around the palace yards was ten feet tall and constructed of large whitewashed bricks. She thought the design on the top to be rather unique. It began with two half size bricks mortared together; the next stack of two bricks were missing; two more bricks lay beyond them and a two brick expansion lay across the open space between them. This pattern ran all the way to the side of the palace. The wall picked up across the path from where she stood and ran perpendicular to the other wall; she was crossing at that moment and went along the wall bordering the path.

She was not in a hurry to get home and the song of a yellow canary tickled her ears along the way. Her eye caught movement beneath the bush where he had perched to sing his song. She hoped it was not a snake; she abhorred them, and Egypt had some really poisonous ones. To her relief she saw a tiny rodent moving in and around the trunk of the bush as it gathered what she imagined to be his meal.

Everything along the path showed God’s handiwork, she marveled at the thought. I will have to take another walk soon, just for pleasure, when I am not carrying a basket of fruit. She left the path at the second row of houses and continued on to her house.

When she reached her home she set about preparing the evening meal and thought no more about her strange encounter until Zuhar and Abner her older brothers came in from their labor of the day to announce their father, Benjamin, had been arrested along with seven others from the brick grounds.
Their mother gave a cry of despair that brought all three children to her side with support and concern.

“Don’t cry so, Mother, everything will be okay.  Father is only an innocent bystander; we were there, and he was shouting, but he didn’t have any other part in the upheaval. Isaac the tanner, that lives by the two pools, was arguing with Gariaus and his brethren when the taskmasters tried to break them apart and force them to separate, and get back to work. Simeon one of the brothers struck Big Tom. He is a huge Egyptian who goes around poking anyone and everyone he pleases. I guess Simeon had a death wish because he got knocked over the head by Big Tom’s staff and on his way down was kicked and beaten by two other taskmasters that had come over when they heard the commotion.”

“That’s right mother,” Chimed in Zuhar. “A few of the men stood around to shout their disapproval and they were all rounded up together along with the angry brothers and hauled off to the prison at the palace’s underground caves.”

“Philemous assured us that he would be released after three days, but they won’t let him leave…ah, before they find out why they were shouting instead of working,” said Abner changing his story slightly to keep from giving his Mother too much distressing news.

“Praise be to God Almighty for his provision and safety!” spoke Amira quietly. “I was so worried; I thought your Father was headed for a prison term of several months like Sarah’s husband received when he spit in the face of Antacus the Furious. She almost perished from anguish when it was told her of his doings at the brick grounds.”

Amalia, kissed her mother on the top of her head before helping her to her feet.

“You go and rest in the yard, Mother, you look very tired and you never sit out there anymore to enjoy the sunset. I will tend to cleaning up; you never mind about it.”

Amalia needed to be alone with her thoughts. This was the cause of the prince’s conversation with his mother, and she was concerned that her father might have been paraded through the palace grounds on his way to the dreary dungeon. If so, then perhaps this was the reason the prince and his mother had mentioned the Hebrews. They were being rather careless, weren’t they, she wondered. Surely their normal procedure wouldn’t involve any of the palace family; they shouldn’t have to be bothered with such things. She was almost certain that the guards responsible would be reprimanded.

Amalia assumption was not far off. When the princess complained to her father that evening, at the evening meal, he almost choked on a grape; he was taken with anger. He got up immediately from the meal and summoned the guards to find out who was in charge at that time of day.

Amalia met with Dendera during the week after the incident and discussed the happenings.

“I have never observed a prisoner being taken to the caves in my life,” expressed Dendera with discuss. “How could that be what the prince and his mother were discussing?”

“I am not sure that was the case, but it had to have happened that day before I heard them mention the Hebrew name. It’s all I could think about once my brothers told us about my father’s capture. He will be home again this evening if they truly do let he go after three days. I suppose he will be whipped and have gaping wounds on his back when he gets home. There’s no telling what they will do too him. I am worried.”

Dendera put her arms around Amail and hugged her close, “Don’t worry; I’m sure he will be okay. He wasn’t doing anything but watching, they are just going to keep him long enough to give him a lesson so he won’t be doing any watching from now on where trouble stirs. I am sure of it. They might sound tough but the Egyptian men are really nice people. They have to see to it that the workers respect them. My father is always talking about respect. I think that is the case here. But just in case he is beaten…” she trailed off not wishing to imagine further the hurt her friend’s fathers’ beating would leave upon Amail’s mind. She didn’t even want to go there.

“Well, one thing I know for sure is that my people seem to like living here and don’t act like there is any other way of life for them. This is our life, we live in Egypt. We are slaves and that seems to be the only way it is going to ever be. I thought working in the fields would be wonderful before I was old enough to work them. But once I had a taste of the back breaking duty I have changed my mind. I can only look forward to a time when I can be free of such labor. I do not understand why my people do not see their way beyond this state of slavery. Why don’t they seek to be a free people? Do they want to be slaves forever? I do not accept this way of life as something I can live with. I want freedom; I want to find out why we are still here in Egypt and why my people can’t seem to break free. Will you help me, Dendera? I must find an answer. I want to help my people to be free.”

“Oh, Amalia! Of course I will help you. This is exciting; I can’t wait to find out the answer, too. There must be others that want the same thing as you do. How long have your people lived in Egypt?"

“Dendera, I have heard that we have been here somewhere around three-hundred and three score and seven years. I have heard that someday a leader will come to Egypt and help my people leave our home here and become a nation of our own. Three hundred years are a lot of years to be in one place. I have an idea that our people have forgotten that promise. Maybe I already know the answer. I want to find out for sure, and of I am right then I want to find a way to help our people remember.”

Without knowing the full impact of truth, her words were little more than a wish she wanted to fulfill. Amalia however is plagued by her dream of freedom to the point of aggravation, and she begins her long trek through several decades in search of the one factor that has evaded her people for hundreds of years, and discovers the real reason why the Hebrew nation, dwelling in Egypt, was still in captivity.