File:Illustration-childhood-of-moses.jpg

English: Illustration in the 14th-century Kaufmann Haggadah, scenes from Moses' childhood when he was living at Pharaoh's court (f.9v). These scenes do not appear in the Bible itself but have been preserved in the rich treasury of Jewish legend. For a detailed description of these scenes we turn to Gabrielle Sed-Rajna:

Upper compartment: Moses taking off Pharaoh's crown. Pharaoh was dining one day in the company of his daughter and Moses. Pharaoh's daughter, wearing a gold diadem, is seated on the right, the crowned Pharaoh in the center and between them the young Moses wearing also a crown. During the dinner, the playful child took off the king's crown. This is the gesture which is evoked in the painting. Pharaoh's wise men interpret the gesture of the child as an evil omen. Pharaoh hence decided to call for all the wise men of Egypt in order to decide whether the child acted as an innocent infant or with wisdom, revealing his ambition to take over the kingdom from Pharaoh. The painting shows the three councillors in a lively discussion, one of them holding a scroll which might have been inscribed, but is blank at present.

Lower compartment: The test of Moses. Knowing that Moses was in danger, God sent the angel Gabriel disguised as one of the wise men. When they were asked to give their opinion, Gabriel suggested that the child should be tested: an onyx stone and a vessel of live coal should be placed before him. If he stretches out his hand to grasp the onyx, which is the symbol of power, it proves that the child acted with wisdom and he has to be killed. But if he chose the burning coal his innocence would become evident and he could live. The image depicts the test: on the right the enthroned Pharaoh with a vessel full of gold on his lap; in front of him the young Moses and Gabriel descending from a cloud guiding the child's hand toward the vessel of burning coal. The coal burned the child's hand, so he lifted it up and touched his mouth. By doing so he burned his lips and tongue. That is why he became “slow of speech” for all his life (Exodus 4:10). His life, however, was safe. Pharaoh's councillors are watching the scene on the left.