What were Moses, Joachabed, Aaron, and Miriam like? Why did they play the parts they did in the history of the Jews? Orson Scott Card uses imagination and careful research to fill out the part of the story that is NOT in the Bible. Card chooses to set Moses in a particular time in Egyptian history that explains why Egyptian history never mentions Moses or the Jews. This is historical fiction - it MIGHT have happened this way. The characters MIGHT have had this motivation. A compelling story in the Bible, Card's novel brings more flesh to the story. Card's Latter Day Saint interpretaion foreshadows the coming of Jesus as the Messiah, even as Moses obeys God to bring the people of Israel out of captivity. A well-written and fascinating read.