The Story of Passover

The story of Passover happened a long ago in the far-away country of Egypt. A mean and powerful king, called Pharaoh, ruled Egypt. He was worried that the Jewish people would one day fight against him, and leave Egypt. As a result, Pharaoh decided that these people must become his slaves.

Pharaoh decided that these people must become his slaves. As slaves, the Jewish people worked very hard every day, from morning until night. They built palaces and cities and worked without rest.

The Jewish people hated being slaves. They cried and asked God for help. God chose a man named Moses to lead the Jewish people and save them from the cruel ruler Pharaoh.

God gave Moses special powers to fight Pharaoh and save the Jewish people. Moses warned Pharaoh :“If you do not listen to God, and free the Jewish people, many terrible things, called plagues, will come to your land.”  He would not listen, and so the plagues arrived.

Each time a new plague began, Pharaoh would cry, “Moses, I’ll let the Jewish people go. Just stop this horrible plague!” But when God takes away the plague, than Pharaoh would shout: “No, I’ve changed my mind. The Jews must stay!” So God sent more plagues. Finally, as the tenth plague arrived, Pharaoh ordered the Jews to leave Egypt.

The people had not travelled far before Pharaoh commanded his army to chase after them and bring them back to Egypt. The Jews stopped when they reached a large sea. The sea was too big to swim in. They were scared that Pharaoh’s army would soon reach them. They prayed to God, and a miracle happened! The sea opened up into two big walls of water. The Jewish people walked through the sea and they were free!