Child of the Nile

00:00:00 Speaker 1: Previously on the chosen people. The cruel pharaoh who enslaved them. Rameses the First had passed. The Israelite scars told the tale of his legacy, a legacy of brutality, conquest, and oppression. His son SETI took his place. Both drank from the same well of hatred and pride as their forebears. 00:00:26 Speaker 2: These Hebrews are like rats breeding in the shadows. They already out numbered, as soldiers who must caught the Hebrowes off before they become unmanageable. 00:00:44 Speaker 1: Sifra and Poor kept their heads low and their gaze fixed on the door. The tension in the room was thick as they awaited the pharaoh's words. 00:00:54 Speaker 3: When you are on the birth stall and you see a son born to a Hebrew woman, you shall kill him without a second thought. If it is a daughter, then the baby shall live. This is the decree of Pharaoh, the image of raw, the lord of the Nile, the Morning and the evening Star. 00:01:29 Speaker 4: We tell him that Hebrew women are stronger than the Egyptians and are giving birth before we have a chance to attend them. 00:01:37 Speaker 5: It's only a half life. 00:01:40 Speaker 1: The Hebrews continue to multiply and thrive the whips of Pharaoh wouldn't remove their hope. His cruel decrees wouldn't quell their love. The children lived and grew strong. 00:01:55 Speaker 6: Gushan when wait with the whales of mothers, as I tell their sons from their breasts, take every sun under the age of two and cast them into denial. 00:02:11 Speaker 4: They're marching towards Goshen. We have to beat them there and warn the others. 00:02:16 Speaker 1: She for a turn toward the battalion of soldiers. She steadied her breath and marched toward them. She halted their steps and stretched her arms out. She had no plans to fight, She only needed to buy more time. Just once she for a fell into the dust, the soldiers trembled over our body. On the way to Goshen, Poor was far ahead, desperate to warm the women so the children could be saved. Poua's legs burned with every step as she navigated the treacherous path leading to Goshen, the jagged rocks beneath her sandals biting into her souls. The weight of her mission pressed down upon her, heavier than the scorching sun overhead. She had to reach the women before the first wave of soldiers descended upon them. Her breaths came in laboured gasps, her legs quivering with exhaustion, but still she pressed on. When the familiar gates of Goshen loomed before her, she slid into the city, her voice roar and desperate as she shouted her warning to the wind, might. 00:03:39 Speaker 4: Hide your children, quickly, hide. 00:03:42 Speaker 1: The boys poor. 00:03:44 Speaker 2: What's happening? 00:03:46 Speaker 4: Pharaoh commanded his men to throw every baby boy into the nile. 00:03:51 Speaker 2: They're on their way. 00:03:52 Speaker 1: Without waiting for a response, she burst into the nearest hung, the house of Amram, a man of the tribe of Levi. She found Amram and his wife Jokobed amidst their daily routines, unaware of the storm that was about to break over their heads. 00:04:09 Speaker 4: Amrama, Yukabed, hide the baby, hide him now? 00:04:15 Speaker 2: Who what's going on? 00:04:18 Speaker 4: Take your son and hide now. Pharaoh's men are coming. 00:04:22 Speaker 3: They'll have to get through me. 00:04:24 Speaker 4: Don't be a fool, Amram. If you confront them, they'll know you're hiding something. Let Yukobed hide. You stay here with Miriam and Aaron and act normal. I have to warn the others. You're the first home i've come to. I don't have much time. 00:04:43 Speaker 1: Jokobed needed no further urging. She slipped out the back door with her baby, her hands trembling as she clutched the precious bundle to her chest. Inside, Amram gathered his older children, Miriam and Aaron, and pulled them in close. His eyes were dark. 00:05:00 Speaker 5: Worry, stay near me, children, and don't say a word. 00:05:04 Speaker 1: Poora stepped out into the street once more, her voice rising in a frantic cry that echoed off the mud brick walls. Soon the entire city of Goshen was alive with chaos. Mothers and fathers scrambled to hide their sons, but the sound of hooves and the rhythmic clatter of armor grew ever nearer, an ominous herald of the doom that approached. When Pharaoh's men arrived, they did so with the violence of a summer storm. The streets that had buzzed with life now rang with the screams of mothers as soldiers tore their children from their arms. Men who dared to resist were cut down without musty, their blood mingling with the dust at the soldiers feet. If you run, you die. 00:05:50 Speaker 6: If you fight, your lives and families will die. 00:05:55 Speaker 2: Wis is the will of Pharaoh. 00:05:59 Speaker 1: Those who resisted were met with fire. Homes were reduced to ashes. The air became thick with the smell of smoke and the cries of the dying. Yet, amidst the chaos, hidden in the shadowed the cesses of the river bank, his joker bed. Her heart pounded in her chest as she waded into the reeds, The water cool and biting against her skin. She held her infant sun close, pressing his small face against her chest to muffle his cries. As she sank deeper into the water, her breath hitched with every step until only her head and the babies were above the surface. 00:06:41 Speaker 4: Pleased off, Hush, my child, I will protect you, I will. 00:06:46 Speaker 1: But then she heard it, the unmistakable sound of footsteps crunching through the reeds. Her soldier, with torch and sword in hand, drew near. Through the dense screen of reeds, she could see his silhouette, his figure dark and menacing against the twilight. She held her breath, forcing herself to remain still, though every muscle in her body screamed with the effort. The water around her felt like ice, but she dared not shiver. The soldier moved closer, the glow of his torch casting eerie shadows on the water. He was near enough for her to reach out and touch, Yet somehow he did not see her. Her baby, as if sensing the danger, remained silent, as still as death. For a long moment, the soldier lingered, his gaze sweeping over the river bank. Then with a grunt, he turned and left. Jokobed remained submerged, her heart pounding in her ears as the distant screams of her people filled the night. She waited, scarcely, daring to breathe, until the sounds of the soldiers had faded into the distance, leaving only the crackling of embers and the soft whimpering of mothers who had lost everything. Slowly, Jakobed emerged from the water, her legs numb and unsteady. Beneath her, the baby in her arms was cold and still, but alive. She pressed him close, his small body warming against her own, and began the long, painful journey back up the hill to her hovel. She crawled through the window at the back of the house, where Amram and the children waited, their faces etched with fear. 00:08:39 Speaker 5: Jokobed, I thought they had killed you. 00:08:44 Speaker 4: Totally safe for now. You please take your brother Arin, Please boil some water. 00:08:52 Speaker 1: Jokobed placed the baby into Miriam's waiting arms, her own hands shaking uncontrollably, am wrapped a blanket around her. Aaron hurriedly brought a cup of hot water to his mother, along with a few warm stones wrapped in cloth. He pressed them gently against Tove's tiny chest, his young face set with grim determination. 00:09:17 Speaker 3: Miriam and Aaron. 00:09:18 Speaker 1: Held the baby close, the weight of their responsibility heavy on their small shoulders. They both knew this might be the last time they saw their little brother. Amram's voice was low, almost a growl, as he voiced the fear that gnawed at him. 00:09:36 Speaker 5: What do we do when they returned? 00:09:38 Speaker 4: We were hidden by the reeds. If they return, I can slip into the banks again. 00:09:43 Speaker 5: The baby is lucky to still be breathing after being in the water that long. 00:09:47 Speaker 4: We can make a basket to protect him from the water. When they return, I can slip in there with him. 00:09:53 Speaker 5: I'm not sure what other choice we have. We can't take him beyond the borders. The taskmasters will notice. 00:10:00 Speaker 1: Can we hide him in here? 00:10:01 Speaker 4: Miriam, bring me some bulrushes from the shore. Aaron, bring me pitch from the building sites. 00:10:07 Speaker 5: Make sure no one sees you. 00:10:09 Speaker 4: Do you understand? 00:10:11 Speaker 1: The children nodded and dashed off into the night. Jokobed knew they had little time. The men would return with the dawn, and they had to be ready when the children returned. The family worked together in silence, weaving the basket with trembling hands. They filled the gaps with pitch and bitumen, sealing it against the water. It was their last hope, their ark. As the night deepened, Jakobed cradled the baby in her arms, his tiny heartbeat of fragile rhythm against her own. She whispered to him, her voice tender despite the fear that choked her. 00:10:52 Speaker 4: This is your vessel of salvation. 00:10:54 Speaker 3: Your ark. 00:10:56 Speaker 1: Tears slipped down her cheeks as she held him close, her heart breaking with the knowledge that she might soon have to let him go. She did not sleep that night, her ears attuned to every sound, every whisper of the wind. When the night grew cold, Amram held her, his arms wrapped around her and the baby, while Aaron and Miriam curled up beside them on the mat. For a brief, fleeting moment, they were a family, but Jokobed knew it would not last. Pharaoh's wrath was relentless, and it would not be long before it reached them. Dawn broke, but the light was dim and gray, filtered through the ash and dust that hung heavy in the air. Jokobed had finally drifted into a restless sleep when the sound of a woman's shriek shattered the morning stillness. She woke with a start, clutching toes to her chest. Outside the scream was a abruptly silenced the sickening sound of a blade slicing through flesh. Following in its wake, the familiar, dreaded sound of marching feet echoed through the streets. Wake up, everyone, wake up their back. 00:12:14 Speaker 5: Aaron reinforced the doors quickly. Miriam, grab the basket and follow your mother to the shore. 00:12:20 Speaker 1: Aaron's small legs dashed to the door. He shimmered a few pieces of wood near the hinges, and slid their tools at the doorstep. Jokobed swaddled tove and wrapped into her chest. She pointed to the basket and shouted to Miriam. 00:12:36 Speaker 4: Miriam grabbed that basket and follow me. 00:12:38 Speaker 1: Miriam held the basket close and rushed after her mother out the back and toward the coast. Just as they had disappeared from sight, the doors burst open and guard stormed through. 00:12:50 Speaker 2: Where's the baby? We heard you've been hiding a boy from Pharaoh. 00:12:56 Speaker 1: Amram stepped forward, pulling aaron close. 00:12:59 Speaker 5: This is my only son. He is well above the age of execution. My only other child is my daughter, who is with her mother, visiting her sister. 00:13:09 Speaker 1: The general narrowed his eyes, the point of his spear pressing against Amram's throat until a thin line of blood trickled down his chest. 00:13:18 Speaker 2: Search them for any signs of a baby. 00:13:22 Speaker 1: The soldiers tore through the hovel, overturning every piece of furniture that found. They left as quickly as they had come, moving on to the next home. 00:13:36 Speaker 5: Hurry Miriam quickly. 00:13:37 Speaker 1: Now dear Jocobed and Miriam hurried to the shore, their feet slipping on the wet reeds. The baby was nestled in the basket, his tiny face serene despite the danger that surrounded him. Jokobed's hands trembled as she placed the basket into the water, her heart breaking with each breath. 00:14:00 Speaker 4: I sweet boy, my child, I pray that our God will protect you. 00:14:06 Speaker 2: I feel I can't anymore. 00:14:08 Speaker 4: I have to believe there's something greater for you, my son. 00:14:12 Speaker 2: I have to believe. 00:14:14 Speaker 1: The sound of soldiers drawing closer urged her on. She looked out over the river, the morning breeze lifting her hair and sent the basket a drift. The water carried it away, its precious cargo cradled within. She turned to Miriam, her voice cracking with emotion. 00:14:37 Speaker 4: Follow him down the shore, Miriam, Ollow him, and see what comes of him. 00:14:42 Speaker 1: Miriam moved with quick feet along the shores of the nile, trudging through waste deep marshes and scurrying atop jagged shore stones. She kept her gaze fixed on the basket as it bounced up and down with the water's wakes. In the distance, she saw croc sun bathing on the shores opposite her, Past them, fishermen with large nets and spears. The nile was full of perils, yet the baby passed through all of them. The basket was a vessel of salvation. Although chaos raged around him, the baby was safe inside. Miriam watched the basket flow into the banks near Pharaoh's palace, where a group of women were bathing in the morning sun. Miriam remained low, watching the basket gently glide over the water, harboring just within reach of the women. One stood among them with servants at attention. Her silk bathing gown was adorned with gold fringed lace and purple trim. She wore an amulet around her neck the signet of Pharaoh. Miriam's eyes widened. Her baby brother had just drifted into the arms of the royal family. Certainly she would report him to Pharaoh at once. Miriam's bottom lip quivered. She thought it would have been more merciful if he had been taken by the crocs. Princess Bitcher ran the water through her fingers and smiled. She turned her cheek to the mild morning sun, welcoming its warmth against the chill of the morning. She breathed in deeply and sighed in satisfaction. 00:16:26 Speaker 4: The water is best in the morning, wouldn't you say. 00:16:29 Speaker 3: Yes, my lady, crisp and refreshing. 00:16:32 Speaker 4: Would you fetch me that cloth and some oil? I shall do my hair to day. 00:16:36 Speaker 1: Bitcher drew another breath and submerged herself in the water. She emerged and drew her hair back, laughing as the droplets twinkled in the morning light. Her laughter was cut by the high pitched cries of a baby in the distance. 00:16:52 Speaker 4: Do you hear that. 00:16:53 Speaker 5: Cling, Yes, my lady, book, it seems to be coming from over there. 00:16:59 Speaker 1: Gen Flowing downstream toward them was a basket woven from bulrushes. It's a child, Princess Bitcher waded toward the basket and brought it back to the steps. She looked inside to see a crying baby, face damp, and called, from his long journey down the nile. 00:17:18 Speaker 7: What is a child doing here on the nile? 00:17:21 Speaker 1: Has someone lost too? 00:17:23 Speaker 4: No, look at these blankets. This child is a Hebrew. Whoever placed her in this basket was trying to spare him from my father. 00:17:33 Speaker 5: I shall alert the guards immediately. 00:17:35 Speaker 4: You will do no such thing. 00:17:36 Speaker 1: Bitch's voice was commanding the maternal She brought the baby in close and looked him in the eyes. She hushed him to sleep and cradled him close in her arms. She looked forward, scanning the distance for any sign of where the baby came from. She looked down again and placed a finger on the child's nose. He cooled at her touch, and a wave of euphoria came over. 00:18:01 Speaker 4: He should have perished from Goshen to hear, but he didn't. He must be a scene from happy himself. Why else would he drift right here to me? Then you plan to keep him, my lady, Yes, he will be mine, a child from the nile. He will bless my father's dynasty. How so, all the newborn sons in Goshen have been thrown into the nile, yet this boy remained. He is a gift, a symbol of victory. 00:18:34 Speaker 1: What will you name him? 00:18:36 Speaker 4: His name shall be Moses, because I drew him out of the water. 00:18:40 Speaker 5: A Hebrew name, Why not an Egyptian one. 00:18:43 Speaker 4: He isn't high born, but he is mine. Now it is time to fetch some one who can nurse him. 00:18:52 Speaker 1: The princess turned swiftly to see a little girl stumbling out of the reeds and into the water. The girl sprang up and gasped. Some of the guards jumped to action, pointing their spears directly at Miriam. The girl shivered in place with her hands held high. 00:19:08 Speaker 4: Were you spying on me, slave, No, my lady, not at all. I was a. I spit it out. Girl, do you know this child? 00:19:16 Speaker 1: Miriam's eyes widened with panic. She quickly regained control of herself and came up with a lie. 00:19:23 Speaker 7: I was gathering bulrushes for the maidens down the way when I heard the baby's cries. I followed the basket until I reached you, my lady. I didn't mean to spy. I just wanted to make sure this baby was all right. 00:19:37 Speaker 4: Yet you've trespassed in the process. Guards remove her. 00:19:41 Speaker 7: Wait, I heard you say you needed someone to nurse the child. I know someone who could. She's quite respectful you. You wouldn't have to worry about her saying anything. 00:19:51 Speaker 4: Very well, bring her to me at once. My guards will go with you. 00:19:55 Speaker 1: Miriam held back her smile and bowed her head. She led the back to her home, where Jakobed was soaking the floor with her tears. Later, in the echoed halls of Princess Bitcha's palace, Jokobed walked with her head bowed, her hands clasped tightly distill their trembling. When they reached the courtyard, she saw Tove swaddled in silk and cradled in the princess's arms. It took all her strength not to rush forward and claim him as her own, but she held herself back, forcing herself to remain calm and composed. As the princess turned her gaze upon her. 00:20:38 Speaker 4: The girl tells me you can nurse my child until he is weaned. 00:20:42 Speaker 1: Jokobed winced at the words the princess had already claimed tove as hers. 00:20:47 Speaker 4: Yes, my lady, I am able to nurse the child. Mine was taken from me, but my milk still flows. 00:20:55 Speaker 1: Bitcher nodded, her expression unreadable. 00:20:59 Speaker 4: Very well, you shall take my son. I will pay you a fair wage and house you nearby so he doesn't sleep in squalor. You will bring him back to me the moment he is weaned, and no later. Am I clear, crystal clear, my lady. My maid servants will be back and forth to attend to the child. They will report back to me with how the baby's growing and if he's taken care of. 00:21:22 Speaker 1: Jocobed nodded, her heart aching as Bitcher smiled down at the baby, then handed him to the maid servant, who placed him gently in Jocobed's arms. The moment the baby felt her warmth, he began to squirm, seeking the comfort only a mother could provide. Jocobed bowed deeply, holding her son close as she was escorted to her new quarters. When Moses was weaned, he was returned to Princess Bitcha and raised as a prince of Egypt. He grew up alongside Rameses, the son of Pharaoh Setti, the future ruler of the land. But despite the opulence of the palace, a shadow hung over Moses, a lingering scent of the Hebrews that clung to him like a second skin. While Rameses embodied the glory of ra Moses remained a figure suspended between two worlds. He was neither fully Egyptian nor entirely Hebrew, neither slave nor free. He was Moses, the stray Hebrew pup raised in the heart of Pharaoh's court. This prey Dog comproduction is only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Katina, Max Bard, Zach Shellabager, and Ben Gammon are the executive producers of The Chosen People, narrated by Paul Coltefianu. Characters are voiced by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvado, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwald, Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland Junior, Rosanna Pilcher, and Mitch Leshinsky. Music by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Aaron Salvato, bre Rosalie and Chris Baig. You can hear more Prey dot Com productions on the Prey dot Com app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. If you enjoyed the Chosen People, please rate and leave a review,