~ 6. Pharaoh and the Newborns ~


Pharaoh's astrologers predicted the night of Moses's conception, and nine months later, Pharaoh summoned the Israelite mothers and their newborns.
"Bring your babes," Pharaoh proclaimed, "and I will give you golden gifts."
Then, when the women came, Pharaoh's soldiers executed every male child.
Moses's mother was more cautious. She didn't go to Pharaoh, and when soldiers came looking for her, she hid Moses in the oven.
"God protect him!" she prayed as she threw Moses into the fire.
The soldiers came, and they did not find the child.
By God's grace, Moses survived the fire: it did not burn him.



Inspired by: The English prose version of Rumi in Tales from the Masnavi by A. J. Arberry.
Notes: This is story 68 in the book. You can read more about the Islamic legends of Moses at Wikipedia.



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