Background to Threads in a Tapestry

Using the film The Prince of Egypt as an Introduction to Extra-Biblical Texts

[Each scene's approximate location in The Prince of Egypt, will be found noted within brackets, such as [1:15] to indicate one hour and fifteen minutes.]

As the first few frames of The Prince of Egypt flicker on the screen, it becomes clear that the film is entertaining, but can this film be used to introduce or reinforce traditional Biblical teachings, or will educators have to spend untold class sessions unteaching its lessons?

The movie, released in the United States in December 1998, has generated more ticket sales than any previous non-Disney animated film. And it did so without the usual over-saturated marketing which recently has accompanied the most successful animated films. As people saw the film, it became clear to many where it "stuck to the story," and where it took the dramatic and historical license mentioned in the disclaimer proceeding the first scene. But those who thought that what wasn't reflecting the Bible was showcasing merely the creative minds of Hollywood's best animators and writers, might be surprised to learn otherwise. For there is midrash in this Moses-- midrash and Midrash.

The film's creative team did its homework, and tales of ancient and recent vintage (midrashim) have found their way into the movie. Sometimes these teachings provided the background to entire plot lines, while at other times, they gave inspiration to an image which flashed for but a moment. And most have gone quite unheralded. But with the release of The Prince of Egypt on VHS and DVD, teachers will be able to find any frame they wish, and present as much or as little as might serve as an introduction to some wonderful teachings, the more obscure as well as the classic. Here, then, are but a few of those teachings.

In The Prince of Egypt, Jethro (Moses' father-in-law-to-be) uses the analogy of threads in a tapestry when as he attempts to provide Moses with a new perspective on life.

"Through Heaven's Eyes"
by Stephen Schwartz

A single thread in a tapestry --
Though its color brightly shine --
Can never see its purpose
In the pattern of the grand design.

In a way, the film as a whole is a tapestry of tales; many of its interwoven threads leading to some marvelous teachings. Similarly, in his introduction to his book, The Talmud, A Close Encounter, Jacob Neusner compares the book of Jewish law and commentary to a tapestry. If the film, The Prince of Egypt, is thought of as a tapestry, then the Talmud is just one of its threads. And there are so many more...