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When Pharoah decided he would kill all new born Jewish sons, Miriam’s father felt it was better not to have any more children, and so he separated from Miriam’s mother.  Miriam became angry with her father, accusing him of being no better than Pharoah by behaving this way – Miriam’s father hadn’t just decreed against sons, but against all future children by refusing to live with his wife.  Her father was convinced and soon after he was the father of a new son. 

Miriam predicted that this son would free Israel from bondage and deliver them out of the hands of the Egyptians.  However in order for that fate to be fulfilled, they realized they needed a plan to save Moses.  So, they put him in a basket and pushed him out into the river.

Miriam hid in the reeds by the riverside and followed the basket as it floated down the river.

Pharoah’s daughter – another important woman in this story - was bathing in the river when the baby drifted by.  She rescued him, named him, and became Mother to raising him as her own.

Miriam, seeing that Pharoah’s daughter had saved Moses Miriam asked Pharaoh’s daughter if she (Miriam) should go find an Israelite woman who could nurse the baby. Pharaoh’s daughter said yes and Miriam brought her own mother – who was also Moses’ mother – to fulfill the task. The point is still well taken, that Miriam played a key role in saving Moses, but she is never mentioned as being a nanny to him.

Moses had a very good life until the day he killed an Egyptian for beating a Jewish slave.  Destined to be punished for killing the Egyptian, Moses ran away and became a shepherd.

While tending his sheep Moses came upon a bush that was on fire; a bush that kept burning, and burning but did not turn to ash.  The fire did not go out.  Tradition says that God spoke to Moses through this bush, telling him to return to Egypt and free the Jews from slavery. 

One interpretation of the burning bush is that Moses came to understand that he was not alone in his understanding of injustice and knowing that gave him the courage to confront the perpetrators of injustice.  Even Moses needed to know he was a part of something greater than himself in order to have the strength to pursue justice

Moses returned to Egypt and met with Pharoah, asking him to release the Jews.  Pharoah refused.  


haggadah Section: -- Exodus Story