God Promises Deliverance

1But the LORD {YHWH} said to Moses (drawn out), “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh (great house), for because of My mighty hand he will let the people go; because of My strong hand he will drive them out of his land.”

2God also told Moses (drawn out), “I am the LORD {YHWH}. 3I appeared to Abraham (father of many), to Isaac (he laughs), and to Jacob (he grasps the heel) as God Almighty {El-Shaddai},a but by My name the LORD {YHWH} I did not make Myself known to them. 4I also established My covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan (lowland), the land where they lived as foreigners. 5Furthermore, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites (God prevails), whom the Egyptians (land of bondage) are enslaving, and I have remembered My covenant.

6Therefore tell the Israelites (God prevails): ‘I am the LORD {YHWH}, and I will bring you⁺ out from under the yoke of the Egyptians (land of bondage) and deliver you⁺ from their bondage. I will redeem you⁺ with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. 7I will take you⁺ as My own people, and I will be your⁺ God {Elohim}. Then you⁺ will know that I am the LORD {YHWH} your⁺ God, who brought you⁺ out from under the yoke of the Egyptians (land of bondage). 8And I will bring you⁺ into the land that I swore to give to Abraham (father of many), Isaac (he laughs), and Jacob (he grasps the heel). I will give it to you⁺ as a possession. I am the LORD {YHWH}!’”

9Moses (drawn out) relayed this message to the Israelites (God prevails), but on account of their broken spirit {ruach} and cruel bondage, they did not listen to him.

10So the LORD {YHWH} said to Moses (drawn out), 11“Go and tell Pharaoh (great house) king of Egypt (land of bondage) to let the Israelites (God prevails) go out of his land.”

12But in the LORD’s {YHWH} presence Moses (drawn out) replied, “If the Israelites (God prevails) will not listen to me, then why would Pharaoh (great house) listen to me, since I am unskilled in speech \I have uncircumcised lips/?b”

13Then the LORD {YHWH} spoke to Moses (drawn out) and Aaron (light bringer) and gave them a charge concerning both the Israelites (God prevails) and Pharaoh (great house) king of Egypt (land of bondage), to bring the Israelites out of the land of Egypt.

Genealogies of Moses and Aaron

14These were the heads of their fathers’ houses:

The sons of Reuben (behold a son), the firstborn of Israel, were (he wrestles with God) Hanoch (dedicated) and Pallu (distinguished), Hezron (surrounded by a wall) and Carmi (my vineyard). These were the clans of Reuben.

15The sons of Simeon were (heard) Jemuel (day of God), Jamin (right hand), Ohad (united), Jachin (He will establish), Zohar (Zerah),c and Shaul (desired), the son of a Canaanite woman. (merchants) These were the clans of Simeon.

16These were the names of the sons of Levi according to their records: Gershon (exile), Kohath (assembly), and Merari (bitter). Levi (joined to) lived 137 years.

17The sons of Gershon were (exile) Libni (white) and Shimei (renowned), by their clans.

18The sons of Kohath were (assembly) Amram (exalted people), Izhar (shining oil), Hebron (association), and Uzziel (my strength is God). Kohath lived 133 years.

19The sons of Merari were (bitter) Mahli (sick) and Mushi (yielding).

These were the clans of the Levites (joined to) according to their records.

20And Amram (exalted people) married his father’s sister Jochebed (YHWH is glory), and she bore him Aaron (light bringer) and Moses (drawn out). Amram lived 137 years.

21The sons of Izhar were (shining oil) Korah (bald), Nepheg (sprout), and Zichri (memorable).

22The sons of Uzziel were (my strength is God) Mishael (who is what God is), Elzaphan (Elizaphan),d and Sithri (protection of YHWH).

23And Aaron (light bringer) married Elisheba (my God has sworn), the daughter of Amminadab (my kinsman is noble) and sister of Nahshon (enchanter), and she bore him Nadab (generous) and Abihu (he is my father), Eleazar (God has helped) and Ithamar (coast of palms).

24The sons of Korah were (bald) Assir (prisoner), Elkanah (God has possessed), and Abiasaph (Ebiasaph).e These were the clans of the Korahites (one of Korah).

25Aaron’s (light bringer) son Eleazar (God has helped) married one of the daughters of Putiel (afflicted of God), and she bore him Phinehas (mouth of brass).

These were the heads of the Levite families by their clans.

26It was this Aaron (light bringer) and Moses (drawn out) to whom the LORD {YHWH} said, “Bring the Israelites (God prevails) out of the land of Egypt (land of bondage) by their divisions.” 27Moses (drawn out) and Aaron (light bringer) were the ones who spoke to Pharaoh (great house) king of Egypt (land of bondage) in order to bring the Israelites (God prevails) out of Egypt.

28Now on the day that the LORD {YHWH} spoke to Moses (drawn out) in Egypt (land of bondage), 29He {YHWH} said to him (drawn out), “I am the LORD; tell Pharaoh (great house) king of Egypt (land of bondage) everything I say to you.”

30But in the LORD’s {YHWH} presence Moses (drawn out) replied, “Since I am unskilled in speech, why would Pharaoh (great house) listen to me?”