"Moon of Israel: A Tale of the Exodus"
This is the story of the Egyptian scribe Ana, who lived in the time of the Exodus, and was an intimate of the Phararoh Seti.
Ana was the son of Meri, a scribe of the temple of Ptah, who died during the reign of Rameses III, and a grandson of the poet Pentaur. He was brought up in his father's profession. Unusually, however, he also enjoyed the honorary status of Royal Twin in Ra, a having been born at Memphis on the same day as the prince Seti, the son of Pharaoh Meneptah II and Queen Asnefert.
After his father's death and the marriage of his sisters (his mother died when he was an infant), Ana married. But his daughter died when she was two years old, and his wife ran away to Thebes with a soldier. Ana turned to writing his own stories, rather than copying those of others. These came to the notice of Prince Seti, who summoned him to Tanis, of which the prince was governor.
After some delay in actually getting past the chamberlain Pambasa into the presence of the prince, they immediately became friends. Walking through the town, followed only by a small guard, they observed a group of Israelite slaves returning from labouring on public works. The disguised prince failed to prevent a captain from stabbing an elderly Jew for killing an overseer who bet him. The Jew was Nathan, an elder of Israel, who daughter Merapi (the Moon of Israel) also sought in vain to protect her father. The Captain, not knowing with whom he dealt, not only ignored Seti's reequest to desist from stabbing the prisoner, but also struck the prince. Ana intervened - at some risk - and the guards came up as the prince revealed himself to the horrified soldiers.
As Governor of Tanis Seti holds an immediate trial of the captain Khuaka, not for striking the prince (for which the penalty would be death) but for putting Nathan to death without a trial. Merapi, daughter of Nathan, gave evidence, as did Ana. Khuaka is convicted and beheaded on the spot, and Merapi is to be sent to her uncle Jabez the Levite, at Goshen.
The Pharaoh holds a court. As they await the arrival of Pharaoh, the aged counsellor Bakenkhonsu and the magician Ki made Ana stare at the empty throne, and he saw images of pharaohs to come - including Seti, and Count Amenmeses, son of the prince's uncle, Khaemuas. Pharaoh announces that his son, the Royal Prince of Egypt (Seti) would marry the Princess Userti, his half-sister. She is in favour of the union, which would strenghten the throne, but Seti isn't happy. The prophets of Israel once again appear (one of whom is Moses - though he is not called by name at this point in the story), and call on pharaoh to let the people go; this petition is refused. They curse Egypt and Pharaoh.
Seti, who thinks that the Israelites are hard done by and should be allowed to depart Egypt, asks his divine father's permission to inquire into the grievances of the Hebrews. He leads a commission, accompanied by his cousin Amenmeses, and Ana, into the land of Goshen. However, prior to their departure Princess Userti gave Ana a sword and coat of Syrian mail, asking him to do what he can to protect her brother and now husband Seti from danger. Ana and Seti are also warned by Ki the Kherheb or chief magician, and Bakenkhonsu, that they and members of their college of priests have prophecised that Seti's life would be in danger if he went on the mission, both from external dangers and a woman's love. They also warned that this woman had been known to Seti for thousands of years, as had Ana, and that the journey might cost Seti the throne.
Seti conducted the inquiry as well as he might, also finding time to some mercy to a crippled Hebrew boy. But when he grew bored with the official tasks, Seti took Ana for a drive into the countryside at night. There they overheard Merapi praying to her God. After initially deceiving her into thinking that they were thieves or slave-dealing Bedouin, they revealed their identity. Merapi has been collecting straw for a sick neighbour, but had hurt her foot. Seti bound the wound, and carried Merapi back to her home in his chariot. On the way they met Laban, the affianced of Merapi, who was fiercely jealous, especially since Merapi seems to care little for him after having seen the prince. Seti angers the more fanatical Hebrews when he accidentally tore the curtain from the tabernacle of the temple, and was only saved from instant death by the intervention of Jabez, as a peacemaker, and the priest Kohath.
On their return journey to Pharaoh Seti followed the army at a distance. Ana secretly arranged however that their two runners should be soldiers in disguise, and that a score of men should follow in chariots at a distance. This precaution is necessary, as they are ambushed in a canyon by 30-40 Hebrews led by Laban, intent on avenging what they saw as a slight (even though Seti was known to be favourably inclined to the Israelites) - just after Merapi arrives in an exhausted state to warn them of the ambush, which she has heard of from her uncle. The two runners, and the chariot horses are killed, but Ana sent the charioteer running for the following escort just in time, and they arrive just as Ana is overwhelmed. He recovers in his apartment in the palace, recovering from his injuries. Seti is uninjured. Merapi, who not only warned the prince of the ambush but also killed a relative as he was about to stab Seti, is Ana's head nurse, and is being sheltered by the prince, since her own people would certainly put her to death for apostacy. Ana, when he recovered sufficiently to be received by Pharaoh, is rewarded for saving the prince by his foresight and courage during the ambush, by being made a Councillor and King's Companion.
Seti's report to Pharaoh is to let the Israelites go, despite the attack upon his person. Pharaoh orders the surviving attackers to be beaten to death with rods, and wants to destroy the Hebrew nation. Seti, as heir, must consent, but doesn't want to do so. He feels that a war between the gods of Egypt and the God of Israel is coming. Merapi, apparently on the orders of the elders of Israel, conveyed to her by her uncle Jabez, offers a trial of the gods. She will pray for her god to humble the gods of Egypt, and invite the gods of Egypt to destroy her. If she looses Seti (who reluctanly accepted the challenge as high priest of Amon) will acceede to his father's wishes with respect to the Israelites.
Merapi enters the sanctuary of Amon-Ra and challenges the god. A wind arises and blows her scarab, the same as was used by Seti to bind her wounded foot, into the floor. The sceptre in the hand of the god appears to move, but there is little sign that Merapi is to be destroyed. She now prays to her god to humble Amon-Ra. This prayer is soon answered, when the statue of the god collapses in ruins.
Seti sticks to his original intention of refusing to assent to his father's plan to destroy, or at least enslave, the Israelites. He is disinherited, unwillingly enough, by Meneptah, who makes Amenmeses (son of his brother Khaemuas) his heir. Seti retires to his private estates in Memphis. Almost immediately the Pharaoh has a stroke. Seti declines the plan of Userti, his sister and wife, to seize the throne (his disinheritance has yet to be publicly declared). Menemptah dies and Amenmeses became Pharaoh.
Merapi remains in the care of Seti and Ana. She is called upon to return to the the tribes of Israel, as a prophetess, but declines, although the price is her damnation by the priest who carries the message.
The coronation of Amenmeses is witnessed by Ana. This is interrupted by the Hebrew prophets, who again threaten Egypt. They cast down rods which turned into snakes, and darkness filled the hall. Ki the magician tells seti, through Ana, that he is wise to have not accepted the throne at this time. Userti tells Ana that she doesn't want to see Seti again, unless he seeks the throne.
Seti and Merapi declare their love for one another.
Ana travels on the prince's barge to Thebes, to collect and copy manuscripts. While there is sees his wife, who deserted him. She is now a street woman. He doesn't declare himself to her, but arranges for her to receive an allowance. On his way back to Memphis he is warned of the first manifestation of the curse of the Hebrews - the Nile is turning into blood.
Seti's house and estates have been blessed by Jabez, because the prince sought to help the Hebrews. Therefore, although the river above and below their palace has turned to blood, the water is pure outside their home. Other plagues come, although all spare the household of Seti. Merapi is reviled as a witch. She gives birth to a son, whom they name Seti. Bakenhonsu comes to live with them, as later does Ki also (though he is less welcome, especially by Merapi, who fears him). Ki keeps pressing Merapi to tell him her secrets, but she steadfastly denies having any magical powers. Ki is no longer chief magician, or Kherheb, having quarrelled with Pharaoh, who persists in his uncle's plan to destroy the Jews. When he first came to the house he greeted Seti as pharaoh, Merapi as Hathor and the child as one too great to be named (which Merapi interprets as an ill omen, for the dead alone are to high to be named).
The penultimate curse of darkness enveloped the land. A mob compelled Merapi to pray for relief - and to her horror she discovers that she has been dressed as Isis, and her son as Horus, for this. She greatly fears the consequence of her apparent blasphemy, although the prayer appears to work. The last curse is that of the first-born, which takes Seti junior as well as the son of Pharaoh. Amenmeses now agrees to allow the Hebrews to depart - with half the population of Egypt dead due to the curses over the past couple of years he has no choice. However, he then determines to follow them with his army, and fall upon them and destroy them.
Merapi dreams of the destruction of the army, and of the god of her people harrying the gods of Egypt, and begs Seti to overtake the army and warn Pharaoh. He does so, but his message is largely ignored. An earthquake raises a causeway in the Sea of Crocodiles, which allows the Hebrew horde to cross. The roadway collapses and the pursuing army is overwhelmed, Pharaoh Amenmeses perishing with it. Seti, Ana, and their escort escape. But as the army is overwhelmed they see an image of Merapi, calling upon Seti for help. They race back to Memphis. Ki has stirred up the mob and the priests to burn Merapi, whom he has decoyed out of the safety of Seti's palace through using Laban. Laban is cast into the flames, but they arrive in time to save Merapi. Ki himself perishes on the pyre. However, Merapi is broken in body and spirit, and dies in three days. She knew that had she lived Seti could not be Pharaoh. He becomes Pharaoh, with Userti again as his queen. After a successful reign he dies six years later, after both he and Ana saw a vision of Merapi and her son Seti.
This is an interesting an atmospheric account of a pivotal time in world history. Using real events, and interpolating where there are gaps in our knowledge, Haggard has crafted a realistic story of the Exodus. The contrast between the private emotions of the scribe Ana (doubtless in many respects Haggard himself), and the political events is most effective, making the whole much more accessible.
Unlike some modern writers - including theologians whom one might have thought would have known better, Haggard does not shy from portraying direct divine intervention. There is no question here of trying to explain everything in terms of natural cause and effect. The curses are real, the supernatural elements credible, and all those present believed in their genuineness. Indeed, who can fail to be moved by Haggard's account of the curses of the Israelites?