# Flight Into Midian explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper.

## What happens

Moses, witnessing the brutal oppression of his people under Pharaoh, kills an Egyptian taskmaster who was abusing an old man. After his act is discovered by fellow Hebrews, he flees to Midian and becomes a shepherd for the priest of Midian.

## Themes in this chapter

### Social Injustice and Class

The chapter vividly portrays the brutal oppression of Hebrew slaves by Pharaoh's officers, highlighting class-based cruelty.

### Resilience and Sacrifice

Moses sacrifices his safety to defend an aged Hebrew, showing resilience against tyranny.

## Character check-ins

### Moses

Moses witnesses the oppression of Israel, kills an Egyptian taskmaster, and flees to Midian.

### Pharaoh

Pharaoh is building a pyramid and oppressing Israel with cruel tasks.

### Pharaoh's Officers

Pharaoh's officers exact labor and smite the feeble and aged.

### The People

The Hebrew laborers are oppressed, aged, and hopeless, but some harbor secret wrath.

### Two Brethren Striving

Two Hebrew brethren are seen striving for mastery, and they rebuke Moses.

## Key lines

> The love of Moses for his race soon found A stern expression.

Moses' deep affection for his people quickly led to a forceful action.

_Introduces Moses' motivation for intervening against the Egyptian._

> I will go unto the fields where Pharaoh’s Officers exact their labors, and see If these things be so⁠—if they smite the feeble At their tasks, and goad the aged on to toils Beyond their strength.

Moses decides to personally witness the mistreatment of Hebrew slaves by Pharaoh's overseers.

_Moses seeks firsthand evidence of the oppression._

> Then Moses’ wrath o’erleaped the bounds Of prudence, and with a heavy blow he felled The smiter to the earth, and Israel had One tyrant less.

Moses' anger overcame his caution, and he struck down the Egyptian taskmaster, reducing the number of oppressors.

_Describes the killing of the Egyptian._

> Then Moses knew the sand had failed to keep His secret, that his life no more was safe In Goshen, and he fled unto the deserts Of Arabia and became a shepherd For the priest of Midian.

Realizing his act was discovered, Moses fled to the Arabian desert and became a shepherd for Midian's priest.

_Moses escapes to Midian after his secret is revealed._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_7_se/chapters/iii-flight-into-midian
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_7_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_7_se/chapters