When the Pharaoh ordered all newborn Hebrew boys to be killed in order to reduce the population of the Israelites, Moses’ mother Jochebed saw that he was a fine child and hid him for three months, till she couldn’t hold on to Moses, so wrapped him in papyrus and place in the Nile…

Source: MUBI

Pharaoh Ramses II, who enslaved the Israelites, ordered the death of all the male children of the Hebrews, captives in Egypt, to prevent the growth of their race. At the time when the persecution raged with the greatest intensity, Jokebed, wife of Amran, of the tribe of Levi, gave birth to a son of extraordinary beauty. Unable to make up her mind to see him perish, she keeps him hidden, thanks to her admirable faith, for three months. But despairing of deceiving the surveillance of the persecutors any longer, she exposes him, crying, in a basket on the banks of the Nile. With her daughter Marie, she stands a short distance away, behind a clump of trees, contemplating what is to come. At this time, the Pharaoh's daughter; named Thermuthis, descending to the sacred river for her ablutions, sees the basket in the reeds and sends one of her servants to look for it. Moved with compassion, at the sight of the little crying child: “It is doubtless a child of the Hebrews,” she said. And Jokebed, having then shown herself, offered to serve as nurse. Not suspecting that God intended this child to be the liberator of Israel, Pharaoh allowed his daughter to adopt him, under the name of Moses, that is to say “Saved from the waters”.

Source: Pathé Freres - Translated

Scene from Holy Scripture
Color cinematography by Pathé Fréres

This film, to which our color cinematography communicates its magic and its relief, is executed with the keenest touch of accuracy, follows the sacred texts, and recounts their poetic legend scrupulously. The Pharaoh, Ramses II, who reduced the Israelites to slavery, ordered the death of all the male children of the Hebrews, captives in Egypt, to prevent the growth of their race. At the time when the persecution rages most intensely, Jokobed, wife of Amran, of the tribe of Levi, puts in the world a daughter of extraordinary beauty. Unable to make up her mind to see him perish, she keeps him hidden, thanks to her admirable faith, for three months. Despairing of deceiving the surveillance of the persecutors any longer, she exposes him, crying, in a basket, on the banks of the Nile... With her daughter Marie, she stands at a short distance, behind a clump of trees , considering what is to come. At this moment, the Pharaoh's daughter, named Therauthis, a descendant of the sacred river for her ablutions, sees the basket in the reeds and sends one of her servants to look for it. Moved with compassion at the sight of the small crying child: "He is undoubtedly a child of the Hebrews", she said. And Jokebed, having then shown herself, offers to serve as nurse. Not suspecting that God destined this child to be the liberator of Israel, Pharaoh allowed his daughter to adopt him, under the name of Moses, that is to say "Saved from the waters."

Source: BnF archives - Translated