| | | | | If you want to take your baby across the River Nile |
| The Children of Israel continued to multiply in the land | | | | as you swam you would put the baby in a basket or |
| of Goshen in Egypt, long after Joseph and his | | | | ark, as they are called. These special baskets were |
| brothers had died. On the throne was another | | | | made of bulrushes and smeared with a gum to keep |
| Pharaoh who had not heard about the amazing story | | | | out the water, a lid would be put keeping the baby |
| of how Joseph and his brothers came to be in Egypt. | | | | safe inside. So Jochebed took one of these baskets |
| He only saw that there were large families and was | | | | and put the baby in it. |
| worried that if there was a war they could join with | | | | |
| the enemy against him. | | | | Very quietly they took the basket down to the |
| | | | | River Nile near a pool that the Pharaoh’s |
| So he forced them to build him two cities, Pithom | | | | daughter used. Putting the basket among the reeds |
| and Rames. They had to burn clay into bricks to build | | | | which grew in the river, Jochebed took one last look |
| these great cities. Men were put in charge of them | | | | then went home. Miriam stayed close by to see what |
| called taskmasters, they worked them hard and | | | | would happen. As Miriam watched, she saw the |
| were cruel to them. Yet still the number of sturdy | | | | princess take off her robes ready to step into the |
| babies continued to be born and the numbers grow. | | | | water. Suddenly she saw the basket. She called to |
| | | | | one of her servants to fetch it and bring it to her. |
| So Pharaoh made a new rule that all the baby boys | | | | |
| must be thrown into the River Nile. It was a terrible | | | | As she lifted the lid, the baby awoke and started to |
| time for the Israelites. Then one day an Israelite | | | | cry. The princess looked at him, and said, “This is |
| named Amram who belonged to the tribe of Levi, | | | | one of the Hebrew babies – he belongs to the |
| married A women called Jochebed of the same tribe. | | | | children of Israel.” As she spoke she noticed |
| As time went on they had a little girl who they | | | | Miriam who had crept up and was watching. “Shall |
| named Miriam. She grew to be a clever and sensible | | | | I go and find a nurse for him,” said Miriam. |
| girl. | | | | “Yes.” said the princess. Miriam hurried away |
| | | | | and bought back her mother. “Take this child |
| Then Jochebed had a baby boy. He was beautiful, | | | | away and nurse it for me, and I will give you your |
| with satiny skin and little curls. His family loved him | | | | wages.” |
| especially his sister Miriam. Earnestly Miriam helped her | | | | |
| mother to hide the baby; and for three months no | | | | So now they had no need to hide the baby for |
| one knew he was in the house. There came a day | | | | everyone knew he was the adopted child of the |
| when Jochebed told Miriam that the time had come | | | | daughter of the king. When he no longer needed the |
| when they could no longer hide him and would have | | | | daily help of his mother, he went back to live with |
| to trust him to God. | | | | the princess who called him Moses. |
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