The next 3 tapestries

The next three tapestries relate to the exodus of the Hebrew people from Egypt and their wandering in the desert. These episodes are part of the Book of Exodus and the Book of Numbers.
Take a walk around the room to get a good look at them.

Passage de la mer rouge
collection du Mobilier national
© I.Bideau

The first tapestry is called The Crossing of the Red Sea, after the painting by Poussin produced between 1633 and 1637 and commissioned by Amadeo del Pozzo. This painting is now housed in Melbourne.
The long journey that takes the Jewish people from Egypt to the Land of Canaan, the Promised Land, begins with this episode of Crossing the Red Sea.
The Hebrew people flee Egypt, guided by Moses. Gripped by panic they find themselves trapped between the pursuing Egyptian army and the Red Sea... Moses then takes his staff and holds it out over the sea, and its waters miraculously part.
It is through this dry space between the waters that the Israelites cross the Red Sea. When they reach the other bank, the Egyptian horsemen start to cross. Moses once more holds out his staff and the sea suddenly closes, trapping the horsemen, who are swept away by the waves. On that day, Egypt finally relinquishes its holding in slavery of the Hebrew people.
Forty years of wandering in the desert then begin for the Jewish people.

La Manne
collection du Mobilier national
© I.Bideau

On the right is Manna in the Desert, a tapestry made after Poussin’s painting produced in 1639 which hangs in the Louvre.
The route to the Promised Land followed by Moses took them around the Sinai mountains to the south, across desert regions which made getting food supplies difficult. In the face of the growing fear and impatience of his people, Moses turns to God, who promises to drop "manna" from heaven each night. The next morning, a white frost covers the ground: this is the "manna from heaven" sent by God, on which the Hebrews were able to feed on their journey.

Moïse frappant le rocher
collection du Mobilier national
© L.Perquis

In the middle of the picture rail, you can see the third tapestry, entitled Moses Striking the Rock, based on the picture painted by Poussin around 1635 which hangs in Edinburgh.
They now suffered from a shortage of drinking water. So Moses turns again to God, who tells him to strike a rock with his staff. Water springs from the rock, allowing the people to quench their thirst. The long column is then able to continue on its way, towards the north.