The Story of Passover

Every year, we retell the Story of Passover to remember the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt. You can find our illustrated version of this story below. Click here to print our Passover Story Coloring Pages.

The story goes like this

Moses, a Hebrew child, was born at a time when his people were enslaved in Egypt. The Pharaoh (King of Egypt) commanded that all Hebrew boys be killed when they were born. To save his life, his mother hid him in a basket by the Nile River. 

Pharaoh's daughter heard the baby crying when she went to wash in the Nile. She took the baby home and raised him as her own.

Moses grew up in Pharaoh's palace. One day, Moses witnessed an Egyptian slave driver beating two Hebrew slaves. Moses became so angry that he killed the slave driver. Moses then ran away from his home in fear of what might happen to him. One day after Moses fled, God appeared to him in a burning bush! God told him that he must return to Egypt and free the Jewish people.

Moses returned to Egypt and did as God asked. He told Pharaoh, "Let my people go!" and his staff turned into a snake to prove he was sent by God.

Pharaoh responded: "No, no, no! I will not let them go!"

This happened over and over. Each time Pharaoh refused, God sent down another horrible plague on the Egyptian people. There were ten plagues in all. The last one was 'the plague of the first born.' The eldest son in the home of every Egyptian family suddenly died, including that of the Pharaoh. The Israelites were protected by marking their doorposts with the blood of a lamb. God 'passed over' their homes, which is where the name Passover comes from. 

Finally, Pharaoh gave up. He allowed the Israelites to leave. Quickly, the Israelites gathered their families and some food for the journey. They knew that Pharaoh could change his mind. There was no time to let the bread rise, so they took unleavened bread (matzah) instead as food. 

Pharaoh did indeed change his mind and chased after the Hebrew slaves. Pharaoh's army cornered the Hebrews at the banks of the Red Sea. Then, a miracle happened! Moses lifted his rod and the waters magically parted, enabling the Hebrews to cross safely to the other side. 

Pharaoh’s army, however, was not so lucky. The water closed back down and they drowned as they followed the Hebrews in. The Israelites were free! God had saved them! Now they journeyed to the promised land—Israel.