27 This is the record of Terah’s descendants: Terah’s sons were Abram, Nahor, and Haran and Haran had a son named Lot.

12 Then Yahweh said to Abram, “You must leave your land and your relatives and your father’s house and go to the land that I’ll show you.[ref] 2 I’ll bless you and make you into a great nation. I’ll make you famous and you’ll be a blessing to others. 3 I’ll bless everyone who blesses you, but I’ll curse anyone who curses you. All the families on the earth will be blessed because of you.[ref]

4 So Abram left there just as Yahweh had told him, and Lot also went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left the city of Haran. 5 He took his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot and all their possessions that they had accumulated and the people who they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan.

When they arrived in the Canaan region, 6 they continued travelling as far as the city of Shekem, to Moreh’s oak tree. (The Canaanites were still living in that region at that time.) 7 Then Yahweh came to Abram and told him, “I’ll give this land to your descendants.” So Abram built an altar there and made a burnt offering to Yahweh, who had appeared to him.[ref] 8 Then from there he went on to the hills to the east of Beyt-el (Bethel) and pitched his tents, with Beyt-el on the west and Ai on the east. He built an altar to Yahweh there, and sacrificed and prayed to Yahweh 9 before continuing south down toward the Negev desert.

21 In due course, Yahweh visited Sarah just as he’d said and he did for her exactly what he’d said, 2 so that Sarah conceived and gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age at the very time of the year that God had told him.[ref] 3 Abraham named their son Yitshak,

46 So Yisra’el started his trip, taking everything he had. When they stopped in Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Yitshak. 2 During the night, God spoke to Yisra’el in visions sayings, “Yacob, Yacob.”

“I’m listening,” he answered. 3 Then God told him, “I’m God, the God of your father. Don’t be afraid to go down to Egypt, because I’ll make you into a great nation there. 4 I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I myself will also surely bring you back here. And Yosef will be there with you when you die.”

5 Then Yacob departed from Beersheba, and his sons carried their father and their little ones and their wives in the carts that Far’oh had sent to carry him. 6 They had also brought along all their livestock and their possessions that they had acquired in Canaan. Then they arrived in Egypt—Yacob and all of his offspring with him:[ref] 7 his sons and his sons’ sons with him, and his daughters and his sons’ daughters. So he brought all his offspring with him to Egypt.

3 One time Mosheh (Moses) was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Yetro (or Jethro, the priest at Midian), and he led the flock beyond the wilderness and came to a hill. (This was later known as the mountain of God at Horev). 2 While he was there. Yahweh’s messenger appeared to him in a flame coming from the middle of a bush, and as Mosheh looked, to his surprise he saw that the bush was burning in the fire yet not actually being burnt up.[ref] 3 “I’ve got to go and see this amazing sight,” Mosheh said to himself. “How come the bush isn’t burning up?”

4 When Yahweh saw that he’d left his path in order to look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Mosheh, Mosheh.”

“I’m here,” he replied.

5 “Don’t come any closer,” Yahweh said. “Take off your sandals because the place where you’re standing is HOLY ground. 6 I’m the God of your father and the God of Abraham, Yitshak, and Yacob.” So Mosheh covered hid his face because he was scared to look at God.

7 “I’ve certainly noticed the suffering of my people in Egypt,” Yahweh continued, “I’ve heard their cries as the slave drivers oppress them—I’m unmistakingly aware of their pain. 8 So I’ve come down to set them free from Egyptian control and to bring them up from there to a good and wide land—a land flowing with milk and honey. It’s currently the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Yebusites. 9 Yes, the cry of the Israelis has now reached me and what’s more, I’ve seen how much the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 So go now and I’ll send you to Far’oh (Pharaoh) and bring my people—Yisra’el’s descendants—out from Egypt.”

11 “Who am I, that I should go to Far’oh,” Mosheh asked God, “and that I should be the one to bring out the Israelis out from Egypt?”

12 “I’ll certainly be with you,” God replied, “and this will be your sign so that you’ll know that I have sent you: when you bring the people out from Egypt, you all will serve God on this very hill.”

13 “But listen,” Mosheh told God, “If I’m about to go to the Israelis and if I told them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you.’ then they’d ask me, ‘Oh yeah, what’s his name?’ then what would I tell them?”[ref]

14 “I AM WHO I AM,” God told Mosheh. “You’ll tell them this: ‘I AM sent me to you.’ ”[ref] 15 Then he continued, “This is what you need to tell the Israelis: ‘Yahweh, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Yitshak, and Yacob, sent me to you. This is my name forever, and this is my memorial from generation to generation.’ 16 Go and gather the Israeli elders, and tell them, ‘Yahweh, the God of your ancestors, appeared to me, the God of Abraham, Yitshak, and Yacob, to say, “I’ve certainly noticed you all and how you’re all being treated in Egypt, 17 and I’ve promised to take you all from your mistreatment in Egypt, away to the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and the Yebusites are currently living—to a land flowing with milk and honey.” ’

18 Then the people will listen to what you tell them, and you and the Israeli elders will go to the Egyptian king and you’ll all tell him, ‘Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. So now, please let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness, so we can sacrifice to Yahweh, our God.’ 19 But I know that the Egyptian king won’t let you go until he’s forced to. 20 So I will use force and I’ll strike Egypt with several supernatural acts, and after those, he’ll let you all go.

21 Then I’ll make the Egyptian people favour you all in such a way that when you go, you won’t leave empty-handed.[ref] 22 For example, an Israeli woman will ask her Egyptian neighbour (or from someone staying where she lives) for gold and silver items and for clothing. Then you’ll put them on your sons and daughters, and in this way you’ll all plunder the Egyptians.”

4 “But listen,” Mosheh responded, “they won’t believe me and won’t listen to what I say, because they’ll say, ‘Yahweh never showed himself to you.’ ” 2 “Well, what’s that in your hand?” Yahweh asked.

“My shepherd’s staff,” he said. 3 “Throw it on the ground,” Yahweh said. So Mosheh he threw it onto the ground and it became a snake, and he quickly moved back away from it. 4 “Pick it up by its tail.” Yahweh told him. So Mosheh picked it up by the tail and it became a staff in his hand again. 5 “That’s so that they’ll believe that I appeared to you: Yahweh—the God of their ancestors—the God of Abraham, Yitshak, and Yacob.”

6 “Now put your hand on your chest—inside your robe.” Yahweh added. So Mosheh did that, and when he pulled it out again, his hand had gone totally white with disease. 7 Then Yahweh said, “Now, put your hand back in again.” So Mosheh did it again, and when he pulled it out, wow, it had returned to normal. 8 “So, if they don’t believe you, and if the first miracle doesn’t convince them, then they’ll believe that second miracle. 9 And then, even if they don’t believe those two miracles and won’t believe what you tell them, then you should take some water from the river and pour it onto the dry land. Then the water which came from the river will turn into blood there on the dry land.”

10 “Oh my master,” Mosheh responded, “I’m not very good at speaking to others—I never have been and still aren’t. I seem to get tongue-tied easily.”

11 “Who was it that made people’s mouths?” Yahweh said. “Who makes someone mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Isn’t it me, Yahweh? 12 So get going now, and I’ll look after your mouth and show you what you to say.”

13 But Mosheh replied, “Oh master, please send someone else.”

14 Then Yahweh got angry with Mosheh and told him, “Isn’t Aharon (Aaron) a fellow Levite and your brother? I know that he can speak well, and what’s more, he’ll come from Egypt to meet you, and when he does, he’ll be very happy. 15 He’ll become your speaker and you’ll be able to talk to him and tell him what to say. I’ll be helping both of you speak and I’ll teach you both what you should do. 16 So in that way, he’ll be like a mouth for you and speak to the people for you, and you’ll be like God to him. 17 In addition, you’ll have that staff with you in order to do those miracles.”

18 Then Mosheh went back to his father-in-law Yetro (Jethro), and told him, “Can I please leave so I can return to my relatives in Egypt and see whether they’re still alive.”

“Go in peace,” Yetro answered.

19 Meanwhile Yahweh had told Mosheh in Midian, “Leave here and return to Egypt because all those who wanted to kill you are now dead.” 20 Then Mosheh took his wife and sons and put them on a donkey and returned towards Egypt with them, and Mosheh took the staff that God had turned into a snake.

21 On the way, Yahweh said to Mosheh, “When you return to Egypt, all those miracles that I gave you, you’ll be able to demonstrate them in front of Far’oh (Pharaoh), but as for me, I’m going to make him stubborn so that he won’t let your people leave. 22 But tell Far’oh, ‘Yahweh has stated that Yisra’el is like his oldest son 23 and he asked you to let that son go so that he can serve him. But you refused to let Yisra’el go, so Yahweh will kill your oldest son.’ ”[ref]

24 One night as they were overnighting at a lodging place near the road, Yahweh confronted Mosheh and would have killed him, 25 but his wife Zipporah took a flint knife and cut off her son’s foreskin and threw it at Mosheh’s feet saying, “You’re definitely a bloody husband to me.” 26 (That was referring to circumcision.) So then Yahweh left them alone.

27 Meanwhile Yahweh had told Aharon, “Go out into the wilderness to meet Mosheh.” So he went and met him at the hill of God, and he kissed him. 28 Then Mosheh told Aharon everything that Yahweh had told him and how he had sent him, and all the miracles that he commanded him to demonstrate.

29 Then Mosheh and Aharon went to Egypt and they assembled all the Israeli elders 30 and Aharon told them everything that Yahweh had spoken to Mosheh. Then Mosheh did the miracles in front of them, 31 and the people believed. Then they heard how Yahweh had paid attention to the Israelis and that he had seen their suffering, and they bowed and prostrated themselves in thankfulness.

5 After that, Mosheh and Aharon went in and said to Far’oh, “This is what Israel’s God Yahweh says: ‘Let my people go, so they can celebrate me out in the wilderness.’ ”

2 But the king said, “Who’s this ‘Yahweh’ that I should listen to him telling me to let Israel go? I don’t know Yahweh, and what’s more, I won’t let the Israelis go anywhere.”

3 “The God of us Hebrews has met with us,” they replied, “Please, let us go three days into the wilderness so we can sacrifice to our God Yahweh, because we don’t want him to strike us with the plague or with war.”

4 “Mosheh and Aharon,” the king of Egypt answered, “why are you causing the people to slacken off from their tasks? Get back to your work.” 5 And Far’oh continued, “Listen, there’s many of you and you two have caused them to rest from their duties.”

6 Then on that very same day, Far’oh ordered the people’s slave masters and supervisors, 7 “Don’t give straw to the people to make bricks with as you’ve done up till now. They can go and gather straw for themselves. 8 But keep the same quota of bricks as before—don’t decrease it because they must be idle if they have time to say, ‘Let us go—let us sacrifice to our God.’ 9 Give the men more work so they’ll be too busy to worry about deceptive words.”

10 So the slave masters and supervisors of the people went out and told them all, “The king has said that he won’t give you any more straw, 11 so you’ll all have to go and get your own straw from wherever you can find it, because there’ll be no reduction to your quota.” 12 So the people dispersed throughout all of Egypt to gather stubble for straw, 13 and the taskmasters were hassling them, saying, “Hurry up and finish your day’s work, the same as when you were given straw.” 14 Then the Israeli foremen that Far’oh’s slave masters had appointed were beaten and told, “Why haven’t you met your required brick making quota yesterday or today? It’s just the same as in the past.”

15 So the Israeli foremen went and complained to Far’oh, “Why are you treating your servants like this? 16 We haven’t been given any straw and yet they’re telling us to keep making bricks. And see, we your servants get beaten, but it’s your people’s mistake.”

17 “You’re all lazy—plain lazy!” the king responded. “That’s why you’re saying, ‘Let us go sacrifice to Yahweh.’ 18 So go now! Back to work! And you won’t be given straw, but you still have to meet the quota of bricks.”

19 When the Israeli foremen heard that the quota wasn’t going to be reduced, they realised how serious their problem was, 20 so when they left Far’oh they confronted Mosheh and Aharon who were waiting to meet them, 21 “May Yahweh see what you’ve done and judge you for it because you’ve raised a big stink in Far’oh’s mind and with his servants. Now they have their excuse to kill us!”

22 Then Mosheh went back to Yahweh and asked, “My master, why have you taken it out on our people? Was this why you sent me? 23 Ever since I went to Far’oh to deliver your message, he’s made these people suffer and you clearly haven’t rescued them.”

6 Then Yahweh said to Mosheh, “Now you’ll see what I’ll do to Far’oh. I’ll use my power to force him to let them go, and then using my power again he’ll actually drive them out of his country.”

2 Then God spoke to Mosheh again, “I am Yahweh[ref] 3 and I revealed myself to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Yacob as El Shaddai (God the provider) but they didn’t know me by my name Yahweh. 4 What’s more, I made an agreement with them: to give them the Canaan region—the area which they had been staying in. 5 Furthermore, I’ve heard the complaints from the Israelis who have been enslaved by the Egyptians, and I have remembered my agreement. 6 Therefore, tell the Israelis, ‘I am Yahweh and I will help you escape from the control of the Egyptians and rescue you from their slavery. I’ll buy you out of slavery using my power and by punishing the Egyptians for this injustice. 7 I’ll take you all to be my own people, and I’ll be your God. Then you’ll know that I am Yahweh your God—the one rescuing you all from the Egyptian oppression. 8 Then I’ll take you all to the land that I promised to give to Abraham, to Yitshak, and to Yacob, and I’ll give it to you as your own. I am Yahweh.’ ” 9 So Mosheh passed all that on to the Israelis, but they wouldn’t listen to Mosheh, because they were both discouraged and worn out from the slavery.

10 Then Yahweh told Mosheh, 11 “Go and speak to the Egyptian king Far’oh and tell him that he needs to let the Israelis leave his country.” 12 And Mosheh said in front of Yahweh, “Look, the Israelis haven’t listened to me, so why would Far’oh listen? And I have difficulty speaking.” 13 Then Yahweh spoke to Mosheh and Aharon, and he gave them a command to pass on to the Israelis and to the Egyptian king Far’oh: to take the Israelis out of Egypt.

14 The following were the leaders of the clans:

The sons of Reuben (Yisra’el’s eldest son) were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Karmi, and they headed the clans of Reuben.

15 Simeon’s sons were Yemuel, Yamin, Ohad, Yakin, Zohar, and Shaul—the son of a Canaanite woman, and they headed the clans of Simeon.

16 Levi’s sons were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Levi was 137 years old when he died.[ref] 17 Gershon’s sons were Libni and Shimei, and they headed their clans. 18 Kohath’s sons were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. Kohath was 133 years old when he died. 19 Merari’s sons were Mahli and Mushi, and all of those headed the clans of Levi. 20 Amram married his aunt Yochebed, and she gave birth to Aharon and Mosheh. Amram lived to be 137 years old. 21 Izhar’s sons were Korah, Nefeg, and Zichri. 22 Uzziel’s sons were Mishael, Elzafan, and Sithri.

23 Aharon married Elisheba, Amminadab’s daughter and the sister of Nahshon, and she gave birth to Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 24 Korah’s sons were Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph, and they headed the clans of Korah. 25 Aharon’s son Eleazar took a wife for himself from the daughters of Putiel and she gave birth to Finehas.

All of those headed the clans of Levi.

26 It was to Aharon and Mosheh that Yahweh had said, “Bring the Israelis out of Egypt by their tribes.” 27 They were the ones who spoke to the Egyptian king Far’oh, to bring the Israelis out of Egypt.

28 On the day that Yahweh spoke to Mosheh in Egypt, 29 he said, “I am Yahweh. Tell the Egyptian king Far’oh everything that I tell you.”

30 “Please listen to me,” Mosheh responded. “I’m not a good speaker, so why should Far’oh listen to me?”

7 Yahweh answered, “Listen, I’ve made you like God to Far’oh, and your brother Aharon will be your prophet. 2 You’ll quietly say everything that I tell you to and then your brother Aharon will relay it to Far’oh and tell him that he must let the Israelis leave his country. 3 But I’ll make Far’oh stubborn and so I’ll increase the signs and miracles that I’ll do in Egypt.[ref] 4 Far’oh won’t listen to you so I’ll pressure Egypt, and I’ll use severe judgements to ensure that I bring my armies—my people the Israelis—out Egypt. 5 The Egyptians will know that I am Yahweh when I demonstrate my power to Egypt by taking the Israelis out from the middle of them.” 6 So Mosheh and Aharon did everything that Yahweh told them to do. 7 (Mosheh was eighty and Aharon was eighty-three when they were interacting with Far’oh.)

8 Then Yahweh told Mosheh and Aharon, 9 “When Far’oh tells you to perform a miracle as a sign, then just tell Aharon to take his[fn]staff and throw it down in front of Far’oh so it turns into a snake.” 10 So Mosheh and Aharon went in to Far’oh’s court and did what Yahweh had told them: Aharon threw his staff down in front of Far’oh and his servants and it turned into a snake. 11 Then Far’oh also called for his wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians did the same thing using their magic— 12 each of them threw down his staff and they became snakes, except that Aharon’s staff swallowed up their staffs. 13 But Far’oh’s mind was made up and he took no notice of them as Yahweh had said earlier.

14 Then Yahweh told Mosheh, “Far’oh is very stubborn and he’s refused to let the people go. 15 So go to Far’oh. Listen, every morning he goes down to the river, so station yourself to meet him on the bank. Take the staff with you that turned into a snake, 16 and tell him, ‘Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, previously sent me to you to say, “Let my people go so they can serve me in the wilderness.” But listen, until now you haven’t done it 17 so Yahweh says, “Now you will know that I am Yahweh because of this: See, I’m about to use my staff to strike the water in the Nile and it will turn to blood[ref] 18 and the fish in the river will die and the river will stink. Then your people will gag to drink the water from the river.” ’

19 “Tell Aharon to take his staff and stretch out his hand over the waters of Egypt: over their streams, their canals, and their pools, and over every reservoir of their water, and the water will become blood. Then there’ll be blood in the entire country—even in wooden or stone containers of water.”

20 So And Mosheh and Aharon did exactly what Yahweh had commanded: Aharon raised the staff and struck the river, while Far’oh and his servants watched, and the entire river turned to blood. 21 Then the fish in the river died and the river stank, so the Egyptians couldn’t drink water from the river, and the blood was all over Egypt. 22 But the Egyptian sorcerers did the same with their magic, and so Far’oh stayed stubborn and wouldn’t listen to them, just as Yahweh had said earlier. 23 The Far’oh turned around and went back to his house, and he put all of that out of his mind. 24 Meanwhile, all the Egyptians dug holes around the river to get water to drink, because river water was undrinkable.

25 So a week went by since Yahweh had struck the river 8 and he said to Mosheh, “Go to Far’oh and tell him, ‘Yahweh says that you must let my people go so they can serve me.[fn] 2 But if you refuse to let them go, then look, I’m about to pound your entire territory with frogs. 3 The frogs will swarm in the river, then they’ll climb out and go into your house and in your bedroom and onto your bed. They’ll go into your servants’ houses and among your people, and in your cooking bowls and into your ovens. 4 They’ll climb on you and on your people and on all your servants.’ ”

5 Then Yahweh said to Mosheh, “Tell Aharon: Hold your staff out over the canals, the streams, and the pools, and cause the frogs to come up onto the land of Egypt.” 6 So Aharon reached out his hand over the Egyptian water supplies and frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. 7 But the sorcerers did the same with their magic, and they too brought up frogs over the land of Egypt.

8 Then Far’oh called for Mosheh and Aharon, and told them, “Ask Yahweh to take the frogs away from me and from my people. Then I’ll let your people go, and they can sacrifice to Yahweh.”

9 Mosheh answered, “I’ll pray for you and your servants and your people, praying that the frogs will keep away from you and your homes and only be left in the river. And I’ll give you the honour of specifying when it’ll happen.”

10 “Tomorrow morning,” the king replied.

“Just as you say,” Mosheh responded, “so that you’ll know that there’s no one else like our God Yahweh. 11 Tomorrow the frogs will leave you and go away from your houses, and from your servants and your people. They’ll only be left in the river.” 12 Then Mosheh and Aharon left Far’oh and Mosheh called out to Yahweh concerning the retraction of the frogs that he’d sent against the king. 13 So Yahweh did what Mosheh had requested and the frogs died off from the houses and the courtyards, and from the fields. 14 The people collected them into many piles and the whole country stank. 15 But when Far’oh saw that there was relief from the frogs, he firmed his resolve and didn’t listen to Mosheh and Aharon, just as Yahweh had said previously.

16 Then Yahweh said to Mosheh, “Tell Aharon: Stretch out your staff and strike the dust on the ground, and it will turn into lice[fn] all over Egypt.” 17 So Aharon held out his staff and struck the dust with it, and the dust became lice on the people and on the animals. All over Egypt, the dust turned into lice 18 and the sorcerers tried to do the same with their magic but they were unable to. So there were lice on people and animals 19 and the magicians said to Far’oh, “This is God’s finger.” But Far’oh was stubborn and he didn’t listen to them, just as Yahweh had said previously.[ref]

20 Then Yahweh said to Mosheh, “Get up early in the morning and when you see Far’oh coming down to the river, station yourself in front of him and tell him, ‘Yahweh saw that you must let my people go so they can serve me. 21 Certainly if you don’t release my people immediately, then take note: I’m about to send the swarm[fn] at you and your servants and at your people and into your houses. The Egyptians’ houses will be full of the swarm and even the ground that they’re on. 22 But when it happens, I’ll distinguish the Goshen region where my people live so the swarm won’t be there, so that you’ll be able to see that I’m Yahweh and I’m right here in this land. 23 This sign will happen tomorrow and you’ll see how I plan to set my people free from your people.’ ” 24 So Yahweh did what he’d said and a heavy swarm came to Far’oh’s house and the houses of his servants and all the Egyptians—the country was ruined by the arrival of the swarm.

25 Then Far’oh called for Mosheh and to Aharon and told them, “Go and sacrifice to the God of you all, but here in Egypt.”

26 “It wouldn’t be right to do that,” Mosheh replied, “because our sacrifices to Yahweh our God would be offensive to Egyptians. Listen, if we made sacrifices in front of the Egyptians that are repulsive to them, wouldn’t they throw rocks at us to try to kill us? 27 We need to travel into the wilderness for three days, then we’ll sacrifice to our God Yahweh there, just like he’s telling us to.”

28 So Far’oh relented, “I’ll let you all go into the wilderness and sacrifice to Yahweh your God—except you definitely can’t go very far. Now, ask God for me for the plague to stop.”

29 “Listen, I’m about to leave now,” Mosheh responded, “and I’ll pray to Yahweh and he’ll withdraw the swarm from Far’oh tomorrow, and from his servants and his people. But may Far’oh not be dishonest again and fail to let our people go to sacrifice to Yahweh.”

30 Then Mosheh left Far’oh and prayed to Yahweh 31 and Yahweh did what Mosheh asked him and he withdrew the swarm from Far’oh, and from his servants and his people. Not one remained. 32 But Far’oh changed his mind and remained stubborn and he wouldn’t let the Israelis leave.

9 Then Yahweh said to Mosheh, “Go in to Far’oh and tell him: ‘This is what the God of the Hebrews. Yahweh, says: Let my people go so they can serve me. 2 Certainly if you’re unwilling to release them and if you keep holding onto them, 3 then listen. Yahweh is about to inflict a very serious plague on your livestock which are in the fields—on the horses, the donkeys, the camels, the cattle, and on the flock. 4 But Yahweh will distinguish between the livestock of the Israelis and the Egyptians—none of the Israelis’ animals will die.’ ” 5 Then Yahweh said when it would happen, “Yahweh will do this to Egypt tomorrow.”

6 So the next day Yahweh did what he’d said and all of the livestock of the Egyptians died, yet none at all from the livestock of the Israelis died. 7 Far’oh sent people to investigate, and wow, not even one of the livestock of the Israelis had died. But Far’oh was strong-willed and wouldn’t let the people go.

8 Then Yahweh told Mosheh and Aharon, “Take handfuls of ash out of a furnace, then Mosheh should toss it up in the air in front of Far’oh. 9 It will become a powder over all Egypt and then it will turn into boils—bursting blisters—on people and on animals all over Egypt.” 10 So they took some ash from a furnace, and standing in front of Far’oh, Mosheh tossed it up into the air and it turned into boils with bursting blisters on the people and the animals.[ref] 11 Because of the boils, the sorcerers weren’t even able to stand there with Mosheh because the sorcerers suffered with them along with all the Egyptians. 12 But Yahweh caused Far’oh to remain stubborn and he didn’t listen to them, just as Yahweh had told Mosheh previously.

13 Then Yahweh told Mosheh, “Get up early in the morning, and stand in front of Far’oh and say to him, ‘This is what Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let my people go so they can serve me 14 because this time, I’m about to send all my plagues to you and your servants, and your people. You’ll all be deeply distressed by them, in order that you might know that there is no one else like me in all the world. 15 By this time, I could have reached out and struck you and your people with such a plague that you would all have been obliterated from the land. 16 However, I’ve kept you for this reason: to show you my power and in order to proclaim my name all over the world.[ref] 17 You’re still considering yourself to be greater than my people by failing to release them. 18 Now listen: I’m about to cause extremely heavy hail to rain down at this time tomorrow. It’ll be hail like which has never been seen before in Egypt from the day it was founded until now. 19 So send for your livestock and everything you own in the country now, and bring it in under cover because the hail will come down on every person and animal that is found in the countryside and not sheltering under a roof, and they will die.’ ” 20 Some of Far’oh’s servants who believed what Yahweh said, quickly brought their slaves and their livestock back into their houses, 21 but those people who didn’t believe Yahweh just left their slaves and their animals out in the countryside.

22 “Raise your arm up toward the sky,” Yahweh told Mosheh, “and hail will strike all over Egypt—on the people and animals and on every plant in the Egyptian countryside.” 23 So Mosheh lifted his staff to the sky, and Yahweh sent thunder and hail, and lightning caused fires on the land, and so Yahweh rained hail down onto Egypt. 24 There was hail, and also fire coming down in the middle of the hail. It was very heavy, such as had never been in all of Egypt since it became a nation.[ref] 25 The hail struck everything in Egypt—everything that was in the countryside, from people to animals. It also struck every plant and broke every tree out in the countryside. 26 Only in the Goshen region where the Israelis were, was there no hail.

27 Then Far’oh sent for Mosheh and Aharon and told them, “I’ve sinned this time. Yahweh is righteous, and me and my people are guilty. 28 Pray to Yahweh to stop it, because the thunder of God and hail are too much. Then I’ll release you all—you won’t have to remain here.”

29 “As I’m leaving the city,” Mosheh replied, “I’ll spread my palms out to Yahweh. The thunder will stop and the hail won’t continue so that you will be able to see that the earth belongs to Yahweh. 30 But as for you and your servants, I know that you still don’t fear Yahweh God.”

31 (Now the flax and the barley were flattened by the hail because the barley was full grown and starting to fill out and the flax was in bloom. 32 But the wheat and the spelt weren’t destroyed because they come later in the season.)

33 So Mosheh left Far’oh, and as he was leaving the city, he spread his palms out to Yahweh and the thunder and hail ceased, and the rain stopped pouring down on the land. 34 But when Far’oh saw that the rain and hail and thunder had stopped, he added to his sins and he firmed his resolve—he and his servants. 35 And so Far’oh remained stubborn and didn’t let the Israelis leave, just as Yahweh had said through Mosheh previously.

10 Then Yahweh told Mosheh, “Go in to Far’oh because I’ve made him and his servants stubborn in order to be able to demonstrate these miracles of mine among them, 2 and so that in the future you’ll be able to tell your descendants that I made Egypt look foolish, and my miracles which I demonstrated among them—and so that you will know that I am Yahweh.”

3 So Mosheh and Aharon went in to Far’oh and told him, “This is what Yahweh, God of the Hebrews says: how long before you’ll submit to me? Let my people go so they can serve me, 4 because if you refuse to release them, then listen, I’ll bring locusts into your territory tomorrow. 5 They’ll cover the ground so that no one will even be able to see it, and they’ll devour whatever remains after the hail. Plus they’ll devour every tree growing in the countryside. 6 They’ll fill your houses and the houses of all your servants and the houses of all the Egyptians. It’ll be nothing like anything which your parents generation ever saw, nor anything seen by the previous generations from the day they came to be on the earth until today.” Then Mosheh turned around and went out from Far’oh with Aharon.

7 Then Far’oh’s servants asked him, “How much longer is this going to cause trouble for us? Let the men go and they’ll worship their God Yahweh. Don’t you understand yet that Egypt is being destroyed?”

8 So Mosheh and Aharon were brought back to Far’oh, and he told them, “Go and worship your God Yahweh. Who are the ones who’ll be going?”

9 “We’ll take our children and our old folks,” Mosheh answered. “We’ll go with our sons and daughters, and with our flocks and herds, because the festival of Yahweh is for all of us.”

10 “You’d need Yahweh with you if I ever let you and your children go together,” Far’oh responded. “You’re clearly plotting an evil trick! 11 Well that won’t happen! The men may go and worship Yahweh since that’s what you’ve been wanting.” Then he drove them out of the room.

12 Then Yahweh told Mosheh, “Extend your hand over Egypt and let the locusts rise up over the land, and let them devour all the plants—everything which the hail had spared.” 13 So Mosheh stretched his staff out over Egypt, and Yahweh sent an east wind over the land all that day and all night. Then morning came, and the east wind had brought the locusts. 14 The locusts covered across all the land of Egypt and came to rest everywhere within the country’s borders. They were extremely numerous—never before were there so many locusts, and it’ll never be repeated again.[ref] 15 The cloud of locusts blocked the sun and prevented people from being able to see very far. They devoured all the plants on the land and all of the fruit on the trees that the hail had left, and no piece of greenery remained on any tree or plant in the entire Egyptian countryside.

16 Far’oh quickly summoned Mosheh and Aharon and said, “I’ve sinned against your God Yahweh and against you. 17 So now just this once, please overlook my sin and pray to your God Yahweh and just let him take this deathly plague away from me.” 18 So Mosheh left Far’oh and went out and prayed to Yahweh, 19 and Yahweh caused a very strong sea wind. The wind carried away the locusts and drove them into the Red Sea—not a single locust remained anywhere in Egyptian territory. 20 But Yahweh caused Far’oh to remain stubborn and he wouldn’t release the Israelis.

21 Then Yahweh told Mosheh, “Raise your hand up toward the sky and let it become dark over all Egypt—darkness that can be felt.” 22 So Mosheh stretched his hand out towards the sky, and a thick darkness was in all Egypt for three days.[ref] 23 No one could see anyone else, and for three days no one was able to go anywhere, yet there was light in the region where the Israelis lived.

24 Then Far’oh summoned Mosheh and told him, “Go serve Yahweh. Your children can go with you all, but your flocks and your herds must remain behind.”

25 “On top of that,” Mosheh responded, “you must also give us the sacrifices and offerings to be burnt when we will sacrifice to Yahweh our God. 26 And even our livestock needs to go with us. Not a hoof will be left behind because we’ll choose from them to serve Yahweh our God. You see, we won’t know what we must sacrifice to Yahweh until we arrive there.”

27 But Yahweh caused Far’oh to strengthen his resolve and he wouldn’t agree to let them go. 28 “Get out of here!” Far’oh shouted. “And watch yourself! You’ll never see me again, because if I ever see you again, I’ll have you executed!”

29 “Yes,” Mosheh responded. “It’s just as you say: I’ll never see you again!”

11 Then Yahweh told Mosheh, “I’ll send one more plague to Far’oh and Egypt. After that he’ll let you all go from here. What’s more, when he does he’ll actually chase you all right out of here. 2 Go and quietly tell the people that both men and women should ask their Egyptian neighbours for items of gold and silver.” 3 Then Yahweh gave the Israelis favour in the eyes of the Egyptians. What’s more, Mosheh was very prestigious in the eyes of Far’oh’s servants and in the eyes of the Egyptian people.

4 Then Mosheh told Far’oh, “This is what Yahweh says: Sometime around the middle of the night I’ll go out around Egypt, 5 and every oldest son in Egypt will die, from the oldest son of Far’oh who sits on his throne, to the oldest son of the slave girl who lives behind the mill, as well as every oldest male offspring of your livestock. 6 Then there’ll be loud wailing right across Egypt which will be nothing anything that’s ever happened before, and nothing like it will ever happen again. 7 But amongst the Israelis, the dogs won’t growl at any person or animals so that you’ll know that Yahweh distinguishes between Egypt and Israel. 8 Then all your servants will come down to me, and they’ll bow to me, pleading, ‘Go, you and all the people who follow you.’ And after that I’ll leave Egypt.” Then Mosheh left Far’oh in a fiery rage.

9 Then Yahweh told Mosheh, “Far’oh refused to listen to you, so that I’m able to multiply my miracles in Egypt.” 10 Mosheh and Aharon had done all those miracles in front of Far’oh but Yahweh had made Far’oh stubborn so he hadn’t let the Israelis leave his country.

12 Then Yahweh told Mosheh and Aharon Egypt,[ref] 2 “This month is to become the beginning of the months for you all—from now on it will be the first month of the new year. 3 Assemble the people and tell them that on the tenth of this month, every man who’s the head of the household must select a lamb or young goat for his family. 4 But if the household’s too small to cook a whole animal, then neighbours can combine and share—budgeting on how much each person eats. 5 You all can choose either a sheep or a goat, but it must be a perfect, one-year-old male—without any defects. 6 You all must take special care of those animals until the fourteenth day of this month, then every Israeli household will slaughter their animal early that evening. 7 Then they must take some of the blood and put it on both doorposts and on the lintel of the houses that they’ll be in when they eat it. 8 They must roast them on the fire and eat the meat that night, along with flat bread and bitter herbs. 9 Don’t eat any of the meat raw and don’t boil it in water—it must be roasted over the fire with its head, legs, and internal organs. 10 Nothing must be left by morning—anything that’s not eaten must be burnt in the fire. 11 And this is how you all must eat it: with your belts fastened on your waists, your sandals on your feet, and your staffs in your hands. You all must eat it in a hurry. It is the Passover to Yahweh.

12 Then during that night, I will move throughout Egypt and I will kill all the oldest males—both people and animals. I will execute judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am Yahweh. 13 That blood on the doorposts and lintel will be your sign on the houses which you are all in. I will see the blood and will pass over above you all, and the plague won’t affect you all with destruction as I strike against Egypt. 14 Then this day will become a memorial for you all, and you’ll celebrate it as a festival to Yahweh for future generations—a statute that you’ll all celebrate forever.[ref]

15 For seven days you all must only eat flat bread made without yeast. Yes, on the first day you all must remove any yeast from your houses, because anyone who eats bread with yeast during those seven days, that person must be permanently driven out of Israel. 16 On the first day, you all must gather for a sacred assembly, and similarly on the seventh day. No work can be done on those days other than meal preparation. 17 You all must regularly observe the Flat Bread Celebration, because on this very day I will have brought your divisions out from Egypt. You all must observe this day throughout future generations—a statute that you’ll all celebrate forever. 18 Starting on 14th of the first month in the evening, you all must eat only flat bread until the 21st day of the month in the evening. 19 For seven days you all must have no yeast in your homes, because anyone who eats bread with yeast in it, that person must be driven out from the Israeli people whether they’re a foreigner or a native. 20 You all mustn’t eat anything made with yeast. Wherever you live, you all must only eat flat bread.

21 Then Mosheh summoned the Israeli elders and told them, “Go ahead and select a lamb or young goat for each family and slaughter it. 22 Then you all must take a bunch of leafy hyssop stalks, and dip it in the basin with the blood from the sacrifice and paint the blood onto the lintel and both doorposts. After that, absolutely no one should go out the door of your houses until morning. 23 Then Yahweh will pass throughout Egypt to strike the Egyptians and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, he’ll ‘pass over’ that doorway and won’t permit ‘the destroyer’ to enter into your houses to strike.[ref] 24 All of you and your descendants must maintain this as a law and celebrate it forever, 25 so when you all enter into the land that Yahweh will give to you just as he promised, then you must observe this ceremony. 26 Then when it occurs, your children will ask, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’ 27 you all must tell them, ‘It’s the sacrifice of ‘pass-over’ to Yahweh, who passed over the houses of the Israelis in Egypt when he struck the Egyptians and rescued our families.’ ”

And the people bowed their heads and prostrated themselves, 28 and the Israelis went and did just as Yahweh had commanded through Mosheh and Aharon.

29 Then, in the middle of the night, Yahweh struck all the oldest males in Egypt, from the oldest son of Far’oh who sat on his throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner in the dungeon and all oldest male offspring of the animals.[ref] 30 During the night, all the Egyptians got up, including Far’oh and all his servants. There was tremendous wailing throughout Egypt because it was a very rare house where there wasn’t someone dead. 31 Far’oh called for Mosheh and Aharon in the night and told them, “Pack up and get out from among my people—you two and all the other Israelis. Go and serve Yahweh as you’ve said. 32 Also take your flocks and your herds as you’ve said, and go. And bless me as well.

33 The Egyptians urged the Israelis, hurrying to let them go from the land because they said, “We’re all dying.”

34 So the people carried their bread dough before it could rise. Their bread-making bowls were wrapped in their clothes on their shoulders.

35 The Israelis did everything that Mosheh had instructed them, including asking for items of gold and silver, and clothing from the Egyptians.[ref] 36 Yahweh gave the people favour in the eyes of the Egyptians, so by their requests, they were able to strip the Egyptians of their wealth.

37 Then the Israelis walked from Rameses toward Succoth—about 600,000 strong men on foot, not counting women and children. 38 A large assortment of other people also went with them, along with large numbers of sheep and goats, and cattle.

39 They baked the dough that they brought from Egypt into flat bread since it hadn’t had time to rise,[fn] because they were driven out of Egypt in a hurry and hadn’t had time to prepare food to take.

40 The descendants of Yisra’el (Yacob) had lived in Egypt for 430 years[ref] 41 to the day, because that very day was when all the various divisions of Yahweh’s people left Egypt. 42 It was a time when they stayed awake all night as Yahweh took them out of Egypt—a night to be observed in that same way by every future generation.

14 Then Yahweh told Mosheh, 2 “Tell the Israelis that they should turn and camp in front of Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-Zephon. You all are to camp by the sea opposite it. 3 Then Far’oh will say, ‘They are confused and lost—the wilderness has boxed them in.’ 4 I’ll strengthen Far’oh’s resolve and he’ll chase after them. Then because of Far’oh and all his army, I’ll be honoured and the Egyptians will know that I am Yahweh.” So the Israelis camped where they were instructed.

5 When the king of Egypt was told that the Israelis had fled, he and his servants started thinking about their own people and they asked, “What have we done by letting the Israeli slaves go free?” 6 Then he hitched up his chariot and took his army with him. 7 He took 600 of the best chariots as well as all the other Egyptian chariots and officersto supervise them. 8 Yahweh strengthened the Egyptian king’s resolve and so Far’oh pursued after the Israelis after they had confidently marched out of Egypt. 9 The Egyptians pursued them and all of Far’oh’s horses and chariots, along with his mounted soldiers and his foot army, overtook them camping above the sea above Pi Hahiroth, across from Baal-Zephon.

10 As the Egyptians approached, the Israelis looked back, and to their horror, saw the army coming after them. They were extremely afraid and cried out to Yahweh. 11 They complained to Mosheh, “Is it because there weren’t any graves in Egypt that you brought us here to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us? Why did you bring us out from Egypt? 12 Isn’t this exactly what we told you in Egypt when we said, ‘Just leave us alone and let us serve the Egyptians’? Because serving the Egyptians sounds a lot better to us than dying out here in the wilderness.”

13 Then Mosheh told the people, “You mustn’t be afraid. Stand still and see how Yahweh saves you all—he’s going to do it today, because any Egyptians that you see today, you’ll never, ever see them again. 14 Yahweh himself will fight for you all—all you need to do is to remain calm.” 15 Then Yahweh scolded Mosheh, “Why are you still here crying out to me? Talk to the Israelis and get them moving forward. 16 As for you, raise your staff and stretch your arm out over the sea and divide it. Then the Israelis will go on onto dry ground through the middle of the sea. 17 Yes, watch me! I’ll strengthen the resolve of the Egyptians and they’ll enter between the sea after them. Then I’ll be honoured because of what will happen to Far’oh and all his army, and his chariots and his horsemen. 18 Because of that, the Egyptians will know that I’m Yahweh.”

19 Then God’s messenger who travelled ahead of the Israelis, moved and went behind them. Also the pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and stood behind them 20 and so it was then between the coming Egyptians and the Israelis. Then the cloud became darkness on the Egyptian side, yet it lit up the other side, and no one could approach it all night. 21 Then Mosheh stretched his arm out over the sea and Yahweh sent a strong east wind. It blew all night and divided the sea on each side and dried the strip of land in the middle. 22 So then the Israelis entered through the middle of the sea on dry ground with a wall of water on each side of them.[ref] 23 However, the Egyptians pursued after them. Every one of Far’oh’s horses and chariots and his horsemen also entered into the middle of the sea. 24 By now morning was coming and Yahweh looked down through the pillar of fire and cloud, and he caused confusion for the Egyptian army. 25 He caused the wheels of their chariots to turn unevenly so they became difficult to drive, and the Egyptians complained, “Let’s retreat from following the Israelis, because Yahweh is fighting against Egypt and for them.”

26 On the other side, Yahweh told Mosheh, “Stretch your arm out over the sea and the waters will flow back onto the Egyptians and onto Far’oh’s chariots and his horsemen.” 27 So Mosheh stretched his arm out over the sea, and as the day broke, the sea began to return to its normal place. The Egyptians turned and fled before its impact but Yahweh shook the Egyptians off their horses and chariots in the middle of the sea. 28 So the sea returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen—even Far’oh’s entire army that had entered into the sea after the Israelis. Not even one of the pursuers remained. 29 But the Israelis had walked through the middle of the sea on dry land with a wall of water on each side of them.

30 So Yahweh saved Israel from Egypt’s power that day, and the Israelis saw the Egyptians’ bodies washed up on the shore. 31 All of Israel saw the incredible power that Yahweh had used against the Egyptians, and the people revered Yahweh, and put their trust in him and his servant Mosheh.

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16 Yahweh met with Bileam and gave him a message and told him, “Go back to Balak, and give him that message.” 17 So he returned to him where he was standing with the leaders from Moab beside the altar, and Balak asked him, “What did Yahweh say?”

18 Then Bileam gave his speech,

“Look here, Balak, and listen.

≈Pay attention to me, son of Tsipor.

19 God doesn’t lie because he’s not a human being,

≈and he’s not a mortal who might change his mind.

Whatever he’s said, he’ll do it.

≈Anything he promised, he’ll make it happen.

20 Listen, I’ve received a command to bless.

≈Yes, he’s decided to bless and I can’t reverse it.

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6 Now Yericho city was shut-up tightly because of the Israelis, so no one was coming out and no one could go in. 2 Then Yahweh told Yehoshua, “Listen, I’ve given you victory over Yericho and its king, and their mighty army warriors. 3 All your soldiers must go around the city once every day for six days 4 with seven priests blowing ram’s horns going ahead of the sacred box. On the seventh day, you all must go around the city seven times while the priests are blowing the horns. 5 Finally, with a long blast of the horn, when you all hear that then all the people must shout loudly and the wall around the city will fall down flat, and all the soldiers should go straight in from where they’re standing.”

6 So Yehoshua summoned the priests and told them, “Carry the box with the agreement, and have seven priests hold up seven rams’ horns ahead of Yahweh’s box.” 7 Then he told the people, “Go across in front and go around the city, with the soldiers going ahead of Yahweh’s box.”

8 After Yehoshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests with their seven rams’ horns went across in front and blew the horns, and the box with Yahweh’s covenant was carried along behind them. 9 The soldiers walked ahead of the priests blowing the horns, with the rear guard walking behind the box. So they were walking and blowing the horns, 10 and Yehoshua told the people, “Don’t shout or even speak or make a noise until the day I tell you all to shout—then you all should shout loudly.”

11 So Yahweh’s box was carried once around the city, then the people went back to the camp and stayed the night there.

12 Yehoshua got up early the next morning, and the priests picked up Yahweh’s box 13 and the seven priests holding the seven rams’ horns went in front of it—blowing the horns as they kept walking. The soldiers walking in front of them, and the rear guard walked behind Yahweh’s box while the horns were being blown. 14 They went once around the city on that second day and then returned to their camp again—doing that for six days.

15 Then on the seventh day they got up early at dawn and went around the city as before, except this day they went around seven times. 16 After that seventh time around, the priests blew a long blast on the rams’ horns and Yehoshua told the people, “Shout, because Yahweh has given you all the city! 17 However, everything in the city is sacred to Yahweh. Only the prostitute Rahab and those who’re in her house will be allowed to live, because she hid the spies that we sent in. 18 But for all of you, everything inside the city is forbidden—if any of you take anything out of the city then our camp would also then be marked for destruction and it would cause a lot of trouble. 19 All the silver and gold, bronze and iron is dedicated to Yahweh and must go into his treasury.

20 So the people shouted when that horn blew—as soon as they heard it the people shouted loudly and the wall fell down on itself and the people went up and over into the city from wherever they were standing and captured the city.[ref] 21 They killed every living thing in the city with their swords, including men and women, young and old, even cattle, sheep, and donkeys.

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