The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1934-11-15
M o S E S

It was the coming of a new king
'who knew not Joseph" that set in
motion a train of events eliminating
in the deliverance of the Israelites
from their Egyptian bondage. Four
hundred years these people had been
in Goshen, gradually infltering with
the flow of population to other parts
of the country, always in Egypt, but
never of it. Their aversion to amalga-
nation with the Egyptians is evil
denced by racial purity and continued
observance of tribal customs long
after they outnumbered theEgyptians.
This led the new king to make a de-
cree: Behold, the people of the chill
dren of Israel are more and mightier
than we; Come on, let us deal wisely
with them, lest they multiply, and it
come to pass that, when there falleth
out any war, they join also unto our
enemies, and fight against u.s."
Pharaoh's policy was to keep the
Israelites in ignorance and slavery,
while exploiting them in his vast
building projects, including the two
treasure cities of Pithom and Ram
eses. But the more the Israelites
were afflicted, the more they multi
piled and grew. The Egyptians there
fore made their lives bitter with hard
bondage, in mortar and in brick, and
in all manner of service in the field.
Pharaoh further decreed that all
male children of the Hebrews should
be destroyed at birth, hoping to ac-
complish by this slaughter of the in
nocents what seemed to be impossible
of accomplishment by cruelty and OPP
preston of adults.
In these troublous times Moses, the
law giver and emancipation, was born
He was of the tribe of Levi, destined
to become the priestly tribe of the
house of Israel. He was hidden for
three months by his mother, who
could not bear to destroy such a good
ly child, and when she could no longer
hide him she made for him a little
ark of bullrushes, daubed with pitch,
and put the child therein; and she laid
it in the flags by the rivers brink.
His sister, Miriam, was placed to
watch what might happen to him.
Soon came Pharaoh's daughter to the
river to battle; her maidens walking
along by the river side. When the
princess saw the ark among the flags
she sent her maid to fetch it. And
when she had opened it she saw the
child, and the babe wept. Moses never
did more timely thing, for his tears
aroused the compassion of Pharaoh's
daughter, who, though recognizing
him as one of the Hebrews children,
ordered him to be cared for Miriam
brought her mother to be Moses nurse
and at the proper time he was receiv-
ed at the kings palace and became the
adopted son of Pharaoh's daughter.
This led to his education in all the
learning of the Egyptians. However,
the early years of his teaching at his
mothers knee gave true direction to
his life and prepared him for the lead
ership of Israel in the fitness of time.
Thus it came to pass that, when
Moses was grown to manhood, he
went out from the shelter of the court
unto his brethren. At the moment
when Moses appeared among the toll
ers upon the pyramids, one of the
Egyptian taskmasters was shifting
a Hebrew, urging him thus to greater
diligence in his task. This cruelty to
one of his people so wrought upon the
sympathies of Moses that he looked
this way, and that, and seeing no man
he slew the Egyptian and hid him in