Bulrushes’ and young boys on the Nile

In this Series of pictures [Click here]

I mentioned I would embellish about the young boys beside our boat.

These youngsters, and there were many such young boys, had small boats that

were not the best made. There were usually two in each tiny boat; the second one

would continually bail out the excess water. The endearing quality was their

singing. As they attached themselves to the side of the boat, angel like voices sang:

“Row, row your Boat…” …IN PERFECT English.

Also on this [and the post sited above] please note the lovely CLEAR waters of the

Nile and most important the Bulrushes’.

Papyrus, or bullrush, (Cyperus papyrus) is a member of the nutsedge family.

It’s an aquatic plant that grows along slow-moving streams like the Nile

throughout north and central Africa.

Plants grow 4-8 feet tall and have dense clumps of thumb-sized stems emerging

from a below-ground clump of rhizomes.

The above-ground stems are crowned with an umbrella-shaped inflorescence

consisting of up to 100 cylindrical rays that, while technically part of the flower,

perform most of the photosynthesis for the plant.

The flowers are not ornamental in the classic way, but the plant is very graceful

and is commonly used as a tender plant in water gardens.

To the ancient Egyptians, papyrus served the same purpose as pine pulpwood

does today.

It provided paper.

The first papyrus scrolls appear to have been made in the late Old Kingdom about

2500 to 2200 BC.

The spells and incantations depicted in the Book of the Dead scrolls were copied

from the hieroglyphic symbols carved on the tomb walls of rulers during this

period.

The scrolls on display in Memphis are from the New Kingdom (1550-1070 BC)

and beautifully depict the passage of the soul from a mortal life to the eternal

afterlife.

http://www.arhomeandgarden.org/plantoftheweek/articles/papyrus_bullrush.htm

To think as we touched these plants the actual realization of the stories of Moses

had a closer meaning.

We hear about Jocheved and her daughter Miriam, and son Aaron.

However, Pharoah has decreed that all new-born male Hebrews are to be killed by

throwing them into the river Nile, so Jocheved's new-born baby, Moses is in great

danger.

In desperation, she hides him in a basket in the bullrushes of the Nile, with

Miriam keeping watch.

Baby Moses is found by Pharoah's daughter, who takes pity on him, and takes him

back to the palace to live.

Miriam offers the services of Jocheved to the princess as a wet-nurse, and Moses is

saved.

He grows up as Pharoah's son, unaware of who he is. http://www.shopjudaica.co.uk/ericas_corner_pesach.htm