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The Birth of Moses

¹ Now a ^(F1)man of ^(C1)the house of Levi the priestly tribe went and took as his wife a daughter of Levi. ^(VR1)2 The woman conceived and gave birth to a son; and when she saw that he was especially ^(C1)beautiful and healthy, she hid him for three months to protect him from the Egyptians. ^(VR1)3 When she could no longer hide him, she got him a ^(C1)basket (chest) made of papyrus reeds and covered it with tar and pitch making it waterproof. Then she put the child in it and set it among the ^(C2)reeds by the bank of the Nile.^4 (C1)And his sister Miriam stood some distance away to find out what would happen to him.

⁵ Now the ^(F1)daughter of Pharaoh came down ^(C1)to bathe at the Nile, and she, together with her maidens walked along the river's bank; she saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid to get it, and she brought it to her.⁶ When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby was crying. And she took pity 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 ^(F1)wet-nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?"⁸ And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Go ahead." So the girl 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 give you your wages." So the woman took the child and nursed him.¹⁰ And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter and ^(C1)he became her son. And she named him ^(F1)Moses, and said, "Because I drew him out of the water."

¹¹ One day, ^(C1)after Moses had grown into adulthood, it happened that he went to his countrymen and looked with compassion at their ^(C2)hard labors; and ^(C3)he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his countrymen.¹² He turned to look around, and seeing no one, he ^(C1)killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.¹³ He went out ^(C1)the next day and saw two Hebrew men fighting with each other; and he said to the aggressor, "Why are you striking your friend?"¹⁴ But the man said, "^(C1)Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?" Then Moses was afraid and said, "Certainly this incident is known."

Moses Escapes to Midian

¹⁶ Now ^(C1)the priest of Midian had seven daughters; and ^(C2)they came and drew water from the well where Moses was resting and filled the troughs to water their father's flock.¹⁷ Then shepherds came and drove them away, but ^(C1)Moses stood up and helped them and watered their flock.¹⁸ When they came to ^(F1)(C1)Reuel (Jethro) their father, he said, "How is it that you have come back so soon today?"¹⁹ They said, "An Egyptian saved us from the shepherds. He even drew water from the well for us and watered the flock."²⁰ Then he said to his daughters, "Where is he? Why have you left the man behind? Invite him to have something to eat."^21 (C1)Moses was willing to remain with the man, and he gave Moses his daughter ^(C2)Zipporah to be his wife.²² She gave birth to ^(C1)a son, and he named him Gershom (stranger); for he said, "I have been ^(C2)a stranger in a foreign land."

²³ Now it happened after a long time about forty years that the king of Egypt died. And the children of Israel (Jacob) ^(C1)groaned and sighed because of the bondage, and they cried out. And ^(C2)their cry for help because of their bondage ^(F1)ascended to God.²⁴ So ^(C1)God heard their groaning and God remembered ^(C2)His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel). ^{(VR1)25 (C1)}God saw the sons of Israel, and God took notice of them and was concerned about them knowing all, understanding all, remembering all. ^(VR1)