Of Pearls and Leaves{the laws of childcare impurities in Egypt}

The categories of children in the palace, when Jochabed was brought on as a nursemaid was Pearl or Leaves. Outside the nursery there was a symbol, which at first seemed strange to her. The Pearl symbol was given to the babies who didn't spit up, in their earliest care. The spittle of infants was despised in Egypt and seen as an early sign of disrespect for their elders. Once they would become of age, they would have the opportunity to take back their early expressions, if they would.

The Leaf symbol was given to the children who had spit on their elders and they had a month to be corrected from this horrible habit and if not, they would be relegated to a service oriented away from the palace. This corrective action was taken to keep the gods happy with the Pharoah that he wouldn't be tarnished with this impurity and thus be degraded in their service.

Jochabed's prayers and heart burden was weighted as she observed these peculiar practices of the Egyptian palace culture. She thanked God that He wasn't such a God to do this to His servants. She was still rejoicing that she was allowed to see her son alive and her glory couldn't be shared with the other women in her community who were suffering. It was a lonely time and her confidants became some of the women servants in the palace, who were of different cultural backgrounds, but motherhood held them in a heart bond that was deep and earnest. She prayed for their souls to find a way to the true God.