Race between the Egyptians and the Hebrews

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The film the Ten Commandments (1956) depicts is the cinematic interpretation of the book of Exodus. This essay in particular will focus on the difference between the movie and the book of Exodus. In particular it will focus on the issue of race between the Egyptians and the Hebrews. The movie shows the Egyptians living a lavish life while the Hebrew slaves were mistreated. This movie shows the sharp contrast the life the Egyptians lived compared to the life of Hebrews and how the Hebrews were mistreated. This essay will argue that the accounts of race in Exodus are over exaggerated compared to the Ten Commandments. This can be seen through the movie having an emphasis of violence towards the Hebrews, the disregard of protection laws for the Hebrews, and the overemphasis of the betrayal the Egyptians felt when Moses was discovered to be a Hebrew.
The movie the Ten Commandments is about Moses life. He is an Egyptian Prince who later finds out he is Hebrew. Throughout the beginning of the movie, the viewers are able to see the contrast of how the Egyptians lived versus the Hebrews. Once Moses finds out he is a Hebrew, he goes off to be with them. The Hebrew people believe Moses is the chosen one and they follow Moses in order to find freedom from the Egyptians. Moses does exactly that and leads the Hebrews away from the Egyptians to their own land. While they are their Moses presents his people with the Ten Commandments given to him by God on Mount Sinai.
In the beginning of the movie, we see the lavish life the Egyptians live. To complete this life style they have slaves building their city. Hebrew slaves will build Ramses city. As stated in Exodus,
And he said to his people: Behold the people of the children of Israel are numero...

... middle of paper ...

... the Hebrews, having no protection laws for the Hebrews, and overemphasizing the betrayal the Egyptians felt when Moses was discovered to be a Hebrew. The movie emphasized the violence the Hebrew slaves endured from the Egyptians although this was only briefly mentioned in the book of Exodus. Unlike the book of Exodus, the movie also depicted the slaves not having any rights as the Egyptians were remorseless to kill the Hebrews. Lastly, the movie overemphasizes the Egyptians feeling betrayed by Moses being a Hebrew. This leads to the Egyptians to ridicule Moses and strip him from any of his power and legacy in Egypt.

References
DeMille, C. & Wilcoxon, H. (Producer), & DeMille C. (Director). (1956). The Ten
Commandments [DVD]. United States: Motion Picture Associates.

The Holy Bible: King James Version. Toronto, Canda: Thomas Nelson & Sons, Ltd.

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