The The Battle of Serpents

00:00:00 Speaker 1: Previously on the chosen people. 00:00:03 Speaker 2: Pharaoh will not let you go unless compel by a mighty hand. I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all my wonders. 00:00:17 Speaker 3: Rameses, this is not a request let my people go. 00:00:24 Speaker 4: I do not know this God of yours. 00:00:26 Speaker 3: Who is the lord that I should obey. 00:00:30 Speaker 2: I am the image of. 00:00:32 Speaker 3: Rah, the lord of the Nile. 00:00:35 Speaker 2: The sun rises and sets according to my graveness. I will not let your people go. 00:00:42 Speaker 4: Moses, I do not acknowledge this God of yours. 00:00:48 Speaker 3: Treadlightly, Rameses, The God of the Hebrews will not relent. 00:00:53 Speaker 2: Is that a threat, Moses, It is. 00:00:57 Speaker 3: Not a threat. 00:01:00 Speaker 2: Promise. 00:01:01 Speaker 1: Pharaoh did not relent. His decree stood, and the burdens of the children of Israel grew heavier. 00:01:09 Speaker 2: Things have only begun, Moses. You will see what I will do to Pharaoh. With a strong hand, he will send my children away, and with a shout he will drive them out of this land. 00:01:33 Speaker 1: Moses stood by the banks of the Nile, his sandals sunk into the wet earth, his gaze locked upon a solitary stone that jutted from the water. The river surged around it, relentless, yet the stone held its ground, defiant against the powerful current. Moses breathed in deeply the humid air, filling his lungs, and waited for the voice. The reeds whispered in the wind. He heard the voice of the Lord, rustling alongside them, deep and resonant, a sound like thunder from a distant mountain. 00:02:14 Speaker 2: It is time to confront Pharaoh again, not as man, but as God. 00:02:21 Speaker 1: Moses flinched at the words, his eyes narrowing as he tried to grasp their meaning. 00:02:27 Speaker 2: A god. 00:02:29 Speaker 1: He had always considered himself a servant, a shepherd, perhaps a prophet if the Lord so willed it. 00:02:36 Speaker 2: But a God. 00:02:37 Speaker 1: He listened, brow furrowed, his thoughts churning like the river's rapids. 00:02:43 Speaker 2: Pharaoh has refused to respond to me, but he will in time. For now I shall make you like a god to Pharaoh, an adversary. He can see and hear. Your brother Erin shall be your prophet. He shall speak and perform wonders on your behalf. He shall tell Pharaoh to let my people go. 00:03:12 Speaker 3: Will Pharaoh truly think of me as a god? He remembers me as a stammering child. 00:03:19 Speaker 2: I will harden Pharaoh's heart. I will show him signs of my power through you. Wonders shall descend upon him like fiery arrows. Yet still he will not listen. But when I lay my hand on Egypt, and the heavenly host descend upon this land, my children will be set free. They will know my name, They will know that I am the Lord. 00:03:54 Speaker 1: The divine voice faded like the wind, leaving Moses alone once more. Or with the sounds of the river. He watched the water surge around the stone, pressing and swirling, relentless in its force, And then before his eyes the stone shifted slowly, at first as if pushed by an invisible hand, and then with a sudden lurch, it rolled from its place and vanished beneath the rapids. The river did not yield, it consumed all within its bath. Once again, Moses and Aaron ascended the sandstone steps of Pharaoh's court. The palace loomed above them like a mountain carved by gods, its walls etched with tails of conquest and glory. Moses felt the weight of his staff in his hand, a familiar comfort against the dread that clung to his bones. As they neared the entrance. He turned to Aaron, his eyes hard as flint. 00:05:00 Speaker 3: Remember what we spoke about. You'll go before Pharaoh and speak to him. I'll remain behind you, discerning the lord's will. 00:05:09 Speaker 5: A slave giving commands to a god? 00:05:11 Speaker 2: What could go wrong? 00:05:13 Speaker 3: He's not God, and you are no slave. He'll learn that soon enough. 00:05:19 Speaker 5: I pray you're right. 00:05:21 Speaker 1: They climbed the final steps to Pharaoh's courtroom, and the guards parted for them, their spears crossing to a loud passage. It was clear they had been expected. Pharaoh wanted them there, but for what Moses's mind raced with possibilities? A trap perhaps? No Pharaoh needed no trap. He had armies, he had prisons. No, this was something else, Moses realized, with a cold certainty that settled over him like a shroud. Rameses wanted a challenge. It was not enough to heat more burdens upon the Israelites. He wanted to break Moses himself and prove his divinity by crashing the man who dared defy him. It was like they were children again before sebeit wooden swords poised to spa. 00:06:18 Speaker 3: I was never great at sparring. Enough, if we're to prevail, over Pharaoh. We'll have to take the fight to the ground. 00:06:27 Speaker 1: The palace halls opened before them, and the opulence of Pharaoh's court unfolded like a lavish tapestry. Dancers moved like flowing water, Musicians played flutes and harps that filled the air with haunting melodies, and nobles lounged in their fine silks, eyes sharp with intrigue. Priests and servants hurried about, muttering incantations and delivering offerings to idols. While in the center of it all sat Pharaoh upon his throne, swayethed in gold and draped in the aura of a god. Beside him stood Nebermund, the chief priest, whispering words that curled like smoke into Pharaoh's ear. Aaron stepped forward, his eyes ablaze with the fire. 00:07:17 Speaker 5: Of the divine Pherol. Hear the commands of the Lord. Let my people go. 00:07:26 Speaker 1: The words echoed through the chamber, and a hush fell over the court. All eyes turned to Pharaoh, who remained still a stone, his gaze moving from Aaron to Moses. A slight curl twisted at his lips, and he whispered something to Nebermond. The priest's lips curved into a serpentine smile as he raised his chin, addressing Aaron with a voice oiled with arrogance. 00:07:55 Speaker 4: Bold words, coming from a slave, you evoke the authority of this unknown god without any proof of his existence. 00:08:09 Speaker 1: Aaron looked back at Moses as if to ask permission to continue his bold stance against Pharaoh. Moses nodded in approval. Aaron looked forward. 00:08:19 Speaker 5: So it is a sign you seek. 00:08:22 Speaker 6: Of course, even the lesser priests east of the Nile can perform signs. You come here demanding something of Pharaoh with nothing to back up your claims. Pharaoh wishes to see power. 00:08:42 Speaker 5: Careful what you wish for, Pharaoh. 00:08:45 Speaker 1: Aaron lifted his staff, holding it out with hands that did not tremble, and leveled his gaze upon the court. 00:08:53 Speaker 5: Behold the power of the Lord. 00:08:56 Speaker 1: With a sharp motion, he threw his staff to the ground. It struck the polished floor with a clatter, and the room remained still. Then the wood began to writhe twisting and coiling upon itself. Before the eyes of all gathered, it transformed into a serpent, its scales glistening in the dim light. Its fangs bared a low hiss filled the chamber, a sound that sent shivers through those nearest to it. Some of the servants recoiled in fear, but Pharaoh and Neberman remained unmoved. 00:09:34 Speaker 4: Ah, there we have it. 00:09:37 Speaker 6: Your guard can turn twigs into serpents, an amusing trick. 00:09:43 Speaker 1: He clapped his hands, and from the shadows stepped a group of men clad in dark robes, golden scorpions hanging from their necks. Moses recognized the sect. They were magicians of the same priests, masters of the secret arts. Nebermund's smile widened, stretching across his face like a slash. His voice rose, filled with the arrogance of one who believed himself beyond reproach. 00:10:12 Speaker 6: If you dare to challenge the image of Ra, the god of the Nile, our favored Lord, Pharaoh, you should have come better prepared. 00:10:24 Speaker 3: The old slaves. But a taste of the power of Ra. 00:10:31 Speaker 1: The sorcerers stepped forward, each holding a staff of their own. They bowed low before Pharaoh, and then dropped their staffs to the floor. In their freed hands, they clutched pouches filled with dark sand. As one, they flung the sand over the staffs, chanting in low guttural tones. A cloud of black dust swirled around them, and when it cleared, each staff had become a serpent. The snakes hissed and slithered toward Aaron's their bodies coiling and twisting, ready to strike. Moses glanced at Rameses and saw a faint smile dancing. 00:11:11 Speaker 2: On his lips. 00:11:13 Speaker 1: This was what he wanted, to make a spectacle of them, to reduce them to fools in the eyes of his court. But Moses knew better. He had seen the lord's power, he had felt it coursing through the flames that fateful day they met. Pharaoh had miscalculated. 00:11:34 Speaker 6: You, slaves are outmatched. Remember that your twig guard has no authority in these howled halls. 00:11:46 Speaker 5: I wouldn't be so sure. 00:11:48 Speaker 1: All eyes turned back to the floor, where the serpents began their deadly dance. Pharaoh's serpents lunched, their fangs flashing like ivory knives, but Aaron's serpents moved with a speed and grace that belied its size. It struck with unerring precisions, crushing the heads of the other serpents one by one, swallowing the hole. As the court watched in stunned silence. Aaron's eyes met Pharaoh's. 00:12:17 Speaker 5: You may outnumber us, Pharaoh, but your numbers mean nothing to the Lord, You insolent slave, you violence. 00:12:28 Speaker 3: I've heard enough of these games. 00:12:30 Speaker 1: Pharaoh's voice shook the ground. All were silent as Pharaoh turned his chin to Moses. 00:12:38 Speaker 3: These mere tricks will not bend my will. 00:12:40 Speaker 2: Moses, I will not let your people go. Their burdens will continue to increase until their spines. 00:12:48 Speaker 5: Shatter in their whole breaks. 00:12:51 Speaker 3: They will know that I am Pharaoh, undisputed and unchangeable. 00:12:58 Speaker 4: My will is final. 00:13:02 Speaker 3: My resolve is as steady as the stones that built my empire. I am a God. I will not be morphed. 00:13:11 Speaker 5: Do not question my power. 00:13:14 Speaker 1: The hole fell into a deep, tense stillness. All eyes turned to Moses, the former prince, who now stood before Pharaoh, like a shadow of defiance cast against the brilliance of the throne. Moses stepped forward, each footfall heavy with purpose, his hand reaching down to grasp the tail of the serpent that had been Aaron's staff. In his grip, the creature transformed back into a simple rod of wood, and he returned it to his brother without a word. There was a flicker of unease among the briests. Moses could see it in their eyes, a small crack in their confidence, a shift in their posture. Nebermann's gaze darted from the staff back to Moses, his lips twitching, his hands clenching the folds of his robes. 00:14:07 Speaker 3: You only think you have power. 00:14:10 Speaker 1: Moses began to pay, slowly, circling the assembled priests and magicians like a wolf circling its prey. His steps were deliberate, his gaze never leaving Pharaoh. 00:14:23 Speaker 3: You think you have power because monuments are built in your image and servants bow at your command. You are gravely mistaken. Your chariots will fall, your swords will melt, These towers built on the backs of slaves will crumble. And when you finally realize just how powerless you are, it will be too late. 00:14:50 Speaker 2: You deadlatten he God. 00:14:54 Speaker 1: Moses stopped, turning fully to face Rameses. His voice was filled with a force that seemed to come from the very earth beneath them. 00:15:05 Speaker 3: I have met the one who alters the wind's course. Io see wonders both terrifying and glorious. I have heard the voice that separated the mountains from the sea. You think you are a god, Pharaoh, but you are about to meet the one True God, the Alohim, the Great. I am, and his name will resound through these halls like a mighty wind, tearing down every idol you have raised in your name. 00:15:33 Speaker 1: Pharaoh's eyes blazed with wrath, his knuckles whitening as he gripped the arms of his throne. Nebermann and the other priests who are visibly trembling now, but Pharaoh held his ground. 00:15:46 Speaker 2: I am the God of Egypt. I am that which was, and is and shall be. The storms of my empire are firm beneath me, and my will is unyielding. 00:16:05 Speaker 3: I will not be moved by the threats of slaves and their desert. 00:16:12 Speaker 2: God. 00:16:13 Speaker 3: Then the Lord shall make his power known to you, Pharaoh, and you will understand that your will is but a whisper in the storm. 00:16:24 Speaker 1: With those words, Moses turned his back on Pharaoh and walked away, his shoulders straight, his head held high. Aaron followed closely behind, his eyes wide with fear and awe. The court watched them go, the silence hanging heavy in the air, pregnant with unspoken questions and the lingering echo of Moses' words as they passed through the Hall's great doors. Aaron could not help but ask the question that burned in his mind. 00:16:56 Speaker 5: What will happen now, Moses? What will the Lord do next? 00:17:00 Speaker 1: Moses's face was like chiseled stone, his eyes distant. He saw something beyond the palace walls, beyond the mighty city of thieves, something beyond what any mortal man could see. 00:17:15 Speaker 3: Pharaoh's heart is as hard as the stones that built his empire. He's chosen to defy the Lord. Now the river will run red, and Egypt will tremble under the hand of I Am. 00:17:38 Speaker 1: This prey Door. Conproduction 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 Caltafianu. Characters are voiced by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Steve Van Ringwald, Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland Junior, Rosanna Pilcher, and Mitch Leshinsky. Music by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Aaron Salvato, bre Rosalie, and Chris bag You can hear more Prey dot com productions on the Prey dot Com app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. 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