Director Cecil B. Demille's epic classic revolves around the story of Moses (Charlton Heston) as the divine guide of Israel in its escape from Egypt. As a young man Moses is adopted by the Pharoah's sister after escaping the edict of death upon all Israelite males by being floated down the river where he is discovered by Bithiah and raised as her own son. As a grown young man he is placed in a position of responsibility and takes the opportunity to prove lenient to the Israelites. Because of this he is outcast when the new Pharoah believes he is planning a revolt by currying the favor of the enslaved Israelites. Several years later as he witnesses God speaking to him out of the burning bush he is called back to Egypt to aid the Israelites in their escape from Israel and arrival in the promised land. The first thing he must do is convince the new Pharoah Rameses II (Yul Brynner) to let his people leave Egypt peacefully. After that the only problem he faces is the Israelites themselves, in the end Moses may not end up reaching the promised land with the people that he was called upon to lead.