The Israelites

Lore & Background

The turning point came when Moses, raised as an Egyptian prince but discovering his true heritage, returned to them with divine authority. Initially skeptical due to centuries of hardship, the people rallied behind him and his brother Aaron after witnessing the plagues that struck Egypt. Unlike the Egyptians who suffered directly from these calamities, the Israelites were spared their effects. Their journey was not just a physical escape from slavery but a spiritual rebirth, culminating in the miraculous parting of the sea which allowed them to cross safely while their pursuers were swallowed by the waters.

Reader's Guide

The Israelites function as the oppressed underclass within the narrative structure of 'The Prince of Egypt', representing resilience and faith against overwhelming tyranny. Their primary goal is liberation from forced labor and the establishment of a sovereign existence in the land promised to their ancestors. Membership encompasses a massive, multi-generational group including men, women, children, and elders, all bound by shared ancestry and suffering.

Key figures include Moses, who acts as their spiritual and political leader, and Aaron, who serves as his vocal advocate before both Pharaoh and the people. In the conflict with Egypt, they are the catalyst for divine intervention. Their collective cry for freedom triggers the sequence of events that leads to the downfall of Pharaoh's power structure. By the story's end, their role shifts from victims to a free people embarking on a pilgrimage, marking the birth of a new civilization.

Did You Know?

• Their first appearance in the film is the chronological prologue showing their enslavement, not a flashback, as the story begins with their oppression before Moses' birth.
• The group includes a diverse mix of ages, emphasizing that liberation was a necessity for everyone from infants to the elderly.
• While the Israelites were spared from harm, it was the Egyptians who directly witnessed and suffered the devastation of the plagues, though the film's montage does not explicitly enumerate or show all ten individually.