Passover Meaning

The holiday of Passover was named Pesach in Hebrew since the word translates to "Passing Over."

When the 10 plagues were thrown upon the Egyptians, the last plague, "The Slaying of the First Born," was directed only to the Egyptians. Pharaoh's first born son was killed when G-d commanded this order.

For the plague to not kill the Jewish first born males, the Jews took the shankbone's blood and spread it on their doorpost. This allowed the Jewish homes to be passed over.

The Beginning

The Passover story begins with the Pharaoh of Egypt ordering a decree that all male born Jewish babies be killed. He feared the Israelites were taking over Egypt and wanted to ensure this could not happen.

This happened around the same time Moses was born. Yocheved, Moses's mother, placed him in a basket on the Nile River and he floated away.

Pharaoh's daughter found Moses floating and took him home to raise him as her own. Little did they know, Yocheved was hired to be Moses care taker in the castle and continued to teach Moses about the Jewish religion.

Moses was raised in Pharaoh's castle as an Egyptian.

The 10 Plagues

The 10 Plaques were thrown upon Pharaoh and the Egyptians after Moses confronted Pharaoh about holding the Jewish people as slaves.

Moses warned Pharaoh G-d would punish the Egyptian people but Pharaoh did not heed his warning.

Upon Pharaoh not letting the Jewish people go, G-d brought 10 plagues to the Egyptians.

1)Blood

2)Frogs

3)Lice (vermin)

4)Wild Beasts(flies)

5)Cattle Disease

6)Boils

7)Hail

8)Locusts

9)Darkness

10)Slaying of the First Born

Moses and the Burning Bush

When Moses was told he was born a Jew and raised by Pharaoh's kingdom, Moses had to make a decision about his future.

Did he continue to watch the Jewish people as slaves under Pharaoh or did he help the Jewish people become free from slavery?

The answer came to Moses one day when he was herding the sheep. One sheep got away from the pack and Moses went after it.

While Moses was alone, he heard the voice of G-d as a bush was burning blue flames. It said to Moses he was chosen to free the Jews from slavery.

The burning bush is said to have been G-d speaking to Moses. Moses is considered a prophet since G-d chose to speak to him.

Parting of the Red Sea

When Moses commanded Pharaoh to, "Let my people go," Moses told the Jewish people to grab their things and run.

During the Exodus from Egypt of 40 days and 40 nights, Moses and the Jewish people reached the Red Sea.

How would the Jewish people be able to cross the large sea?

Moses took his staff, stuck it in the water, and as the Jewish people began to walk into the water, the sea split apart, allowing all to walk through.

As Pharaoh and the Egyptian army approached this miraculous display, the water began to cease. Pharaoh and his men were drowned by the water and the Jewish people were never slaves of Pharaoh again.