Moses Is Born
1 Anda man of the house of Levi went and tookaswifea daughter of Levi.
2 So the woman conceived and bore a son. Andwhen she saw that hewasa beautifulchild,she hid him three months.
3 But when she could no longer hide him, she took an ark ofbulrushes for him, daubed it withasphalt andpitch, put the child in it, and laiditin the reedsby the river’s bank.
4 And his sister stood afar off, to know what would be done to him.
5 Then thedaughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river. And her maidens walked along the riverside; and when she saw the ark among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it.
6 And when she openedit,she saw the child, and behold, the baby wept. So she had compassion on him, and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.”
7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call a nurse for you from the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for you?”
8 And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go.” So the maiden went and called the child’s mother.
9 Then Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will giveyouyour wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him.
10 And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he becameher son. So she called his name Moses, saying, “Because I drew him out of the water.”
Moses Flees to Midian
11 Now it came to pass in those days,when Moses was grown, that he went out to his brethren and looked at their burdens. And he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren.
12 So he looked this way and that way, and when he saw no one, hekilled the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.
13 Andwhen he went out the second day, behold, two Hebrew menwere fighting, and he said to the one who did the wrong, “Why are you striking your companion?”
14 Then he said,“Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?”
# So Mosesfeared and said, “Surely this thing is known!”
15 When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he sought to kill Moses. ButMoses fled from the face of Pharaoh and dwelt in the land ofMidian; and he sat down bya well.
16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters.And they came and drew water, and they filled thetroughs to water their father’s flock.
17 Then theshepherds came anddrove them away; but Moses stood up and helped them, andwatered their flock.
18 When they came toReuel their father,he said, “Howisitthatyou have come so soon today?”
19 And they said, “An Egyptian delivered us from the hand of the shepherds, and he also drew enough water for us and watered the flock.”
20 So he said to his daughters, “And whereishe? Whyisitthatyou have left the man? Call him, that he mayeat bread.”
21 Then Moses was content to live with the man, and he gaveZipporah his daughter to Moses.
22 And she borehima son. He called his nameGershom, for he said, “I have beena stranger in a foreign land.”
23 Now it happenedin the process of time that the king of Egypt died. Then the children of Israelgroaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; andtheir cry came up to God because of the bondage.
24 So Godheard their groaning, and Godremembered Hiscovenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
25 And Godlooked upon the children of Israel, and Godacknowledgedthem.