Using the Children and Property as Implements of Abuse – page 7 of Scriptures Describing Abuse

Using the children

Ex. 10:8-11  So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. And he said to them, “Go, serve the Lord your God. But which ones are to go?”  Moses said, “We will go with our young and our old. We will go with our sons and daughters and with our flocks and herds, for we must hold a feast to the Lord.” But he said to them, “The Lord be with you, if ever I let you and your little ones go! Look, you have some evil purpose in mind. No! Go, the men among you, and serve the Lord, for that is what you are asking.”

Like the abuser who says, “You’ll never make it without me!”, Pharaoh spoke words of cursing over the Israelites’ proposed separation. Then he changed his mind, and was prepared to let the men go, but not the women and children. He was holding the children hostage to make sure the men would return. Often women victims report that the abuser keeps the children (or threatens to keep the children) as hostages. One man would let his wife go out with some of the children, but never let her take them all out at once. The day he ‘slipped up’ and let her take them all out, she left him for good.

Micah 2:9  The women of my people you drive out from their delightful houses; from their young children you take away my splendor forever.

Using Property

Ex. 10:24  Then Pharaoh called Moses and said, “Go, serve the Lord; your little ones also may go with you; only let your flocks and your herds remain behind.”
“I’ll let your have the kids but I’ll fight you over property.”

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