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出埃及記 11-20
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
出埃及記 11-20
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
滅長子之災
11 耶和華對摩西說：「我給法老和埃及再降下一場災難，之後他必放你們走，甚至是迫不及待地趕你們走。 2 你要告訴以色列人，不論男女，去向鄰近的埃及人索取金器銀器。」 3 耶和華使埃及人恩待以色列人，法老的臣僕和百姓極其尊重摩西。
4 摩西說：「耶和華說，『今晚半夜，我要走遍埃及。 5 埃及境內，從坐王位的法老的長子到推磨的女奴的長子，以及所有頭生的牲畜，都必死亡。 6 那時整個埃及必充滿悲慘的哭號聲，慘況空前絕後。 7 但在以色列人中，連狗也不會向人或牲畜吠叫，這樣你們就知道耶和華將把埃及人和以色列人分開。 8 到那天，你所有的臣僕都要來俯伏在我面前，求我和跟隨我的百姓離開這裡。那時我才會離開。』」摩西說完便怒氣沖沖地離開法老。 9 耶和華曾對摩西說：「法老一定不肯聽你的話，因此我要在埃及多行神蹟。」 10 摩西和亞倫在法老面前行了這一切的神蹟，但耶和華使法老的心剛硬，他不讓以色列人離開他的國土。
逾越節
12 耶和華在埃及對摩西和亞倫說： 2 「從現在開始，你們要以這個月為一月，為一年之首。 3 你要向以色列全體會眾宣佈，本月的第十日，每家都要預備一隻羊羔，一家一隻。 4 倘若家人太少，吃不了一隻，可以跟最近的鄰居共享一隻，你們要按人數和各人的食量預備羊羔。 5 羊羔必須是毫無殘疾、一歲的公綿羊或公山羊。 6 全體會眾要把羊留到本月十四日，在黃昏時分宰殺， 7 然後取點血塗在房子的門框和門楣上，全家要在房子裡吃羊肉。 8 當晚，你們要用火把羊肉烤熟，與無酵餅和苦菜一起吃。 9 不可吃生羊肉，也不可煮著吃，要把整隻羊，連頭帶腿和內臟一併烤著吃。 10 不可把肉留到早晨，留到早晨的肉要燒掉。 11 你們吃的時候，要束腰、穿鞋、手中拿杖，要趕快吃，這是耶和華的逾越節。
12 「因為那一夜我要巡遍埃及，把境內所有長子和頭生的牲畜全都殺掉，也要嚴懲埃及所有的神明。我是耶和華。 13 塗在你們房屋上的血是一個記號，我見到這血就會越過你們。我擊打埃及的時候，那災禍不會落到你們身上。 14 你們要記住這一天，守為耶和華的節期，作為世世代代永遠的定例。
除酵節
15 「七天之內你們都要吃無酵餅。第一天，要清除家中所有的酵。任何人若在這七天當中吃有酵的餅，要將他從以色列人中剷除。 16 在節期的第一天和第七天，你們都要招聚百姓舉行聖會。這兩天所有人都不得工作，除了預備各人要吃的以外，不可做任何工。 17 你們要守這無酵節，因為我在這天把你們大隊人馬從埃及領了出來。你們要守這節期，作為世世代代永遠的定例。 18 從一月十四日晚上開始，直到二十一日晚上，你們都要吃無酵餅。 19 在這七天內，你們屋裡不能有酵。任何人若吃了有酵的東西，不論他是寄居者還是本地人，要將他從以色列會眾中剷除。 20 無論你們住在哪裡都要吃無酵餅，不能吃有酵的食物。」
21 於是，摩西召集以色列的眾長老，對他們說：「你們家家戶戶都要挑選羊羔，把這逾越節的羊羔宰了。 22 拿一把牛膝草蘸盆裡的血，把血塗在門框和門楣上。天亮前，你們不可踏出門外。 23 因為耶和華要巡行各地，擊殺埃及人，祂看見你們的門框和門楣上有血，就必越過你們的家門，不讓滅命者進你們家殺人。 24 這是你們世世代代都要遵守的定例。 25 你們進入耶和華應許給你們的地方以後，要守這逾越節。 26 你們的兒女問你們守這節期的意義時， 27 你們就說，『這是獻給耶和華逾越節的祭，因為我們從前在埃及時，祂擊殺埃及人，卻越過以色列人所住的房子，救了我們各家。』」百姓聽了摩西這番話，都低頭下拜。 28 耶和華怎麼吩咐摩西和亞倫，以色列人就照樣遵行。
29 到了半夜，耶和華把所有埃及人的長子都殺了，包括坐王位的法老的長子、牢中囚犯的長子和一切頭生的牲畜。 30 晚上，法老及其臣僕和所有埃及人都驚醒了，到處都是哭號聲，因為沒有一家不死人的。 31 法老連夜召見摩西和亞倫，對他們說：「你們和以色列人走吧，離開我的人民。就照你們的要求，去事奉耶和華吧！ 32 照你們的要求，把所有的牛羊都帶走吧！也要為我祝福。」 33 埃及人催促以色列人趕快離開埃及，因為他們說：「我們都要死了。」 34 於是，以色列百姓就把沒有酵的麵團放在揉麵盆裡，用衣服包起來扛在肩上， 35 又遵照摩西的吩咐向埃及人索取金器、銀器和衣服。 36 耶和華使埃及人恩待以色列人，他們要什麼，埃及人就給什麼。這樣，以色列人奪取了埃及人的財富。
37 以色列百姓從埃及的蘭塞啟行，前往疏割，婦女孩童不算在內，單是步行的男子就有六十萬， 38 同行的還有許多外族人和大群的牛羊。 39 他們用從埃及帶出來的麵團烤成無酵餅，麵團沒有酵，因為他們被催促離開埃及，沒有時間準備食物。 40 以色列人在埃及共住了四百三十年， 41 正好滿了四百三十年的那一天，耶和華帶領以色列大隊人馬離開了埃及。 42 那天晚上是耶和華把祂的子民帶出埃及之夜，因此以後世世代代的以色列人都要在那日守夜，以尊崇耶和華。
43 耶和華對摩西和亞倫說：「以下是逾越節的條例。
「所有外族人都不可吃逾越節的羊羔， 44 但那些買來的奴隸若接受了割禮，就可以吃。 45 寄居的外族人和雇用的工人不可吃。 46 你們吃的時候，應當在房子裡吃，不得把肉帶到外面去，也不可折斷羊羔的一根骨頭。 47 以色列全體會眾都要守這節期。 48 跟你們住在一起的外族人如果想為耶和華守逾越節，他全家的男子都必須接受割禮，這樣才可以像以色列人一樣守逾越節，但沒有接受割禮的人絕不可吃逾越節的羊羔。 49 本地人和在你們中間寄居的外族人都要遵守這規矩。」
50 耶和華怎樣吩咐摩西和亞倫，以色列百姓都遵命而行。 51 就在那一天，耶和華帶領以色列大隊人馬離開了埃及。
奉獻頭胎
13 耶和華對摩西說： 2 「以色列人中的長子和頭生的牲畜都屬於我，因此要把他們分別出來，使他們聖潔，歸給我。」
3 摩西對百姓說：「你們要記住離開埃及的這一天，因為耶和華用大能的手把你們從受奴役的地方解救出來。不可吃帶酵的食物。 4 你們是在亞筆月[a]的這一天從埃及出來的， 5 將來耶和華帶領你們進入迦南以後，你們每逢此月都要為祂守節期。那裡現在住著迦南人、赫人、亞摩利人、希未人和耶布斯人。耶和華已經向你們祖先起誓，應許賜給你們那奶蜜之鄉。 6 在節期的七天之內，你們只可以吃無酵餅，到了第七天，你們要為耶和華守節期。 7 七天之內要吃無酵餅，你們境內不得有酵或是帶酵的東西。 8 那時，要告訴你們的子孫，『這節期是紀念我們離開埃及時耶和華為我們所做的一切。』 9 這節期就好像在你們手上或額上作的記號，叫你們記得耶和華的律法，祂曾經用大能的手把你們帶出埃及。 10 因此，每一年你們都要按時守這節期。
11 「將來耶和華成就祂起誓給你們祖先的應許，領你們進入迦南人的土地，把那裡賜給你們以後， 12 你們要把所有長子和頭生的公畜歸給祂。 13 所有頭生的公驢必須用羊羔贖回，不然就要打斷牠的脖子。要贖回你們所有的長子。 14 將來你們的子孫問起這件事的意義，你們就回答，『耶和華曾經用大能的手把我們從受奴役之地——埃及領出來。 15 當時法老硬著心不肯放我們走，所以耶和華就把埃及人的長子和頭生的牲畜全都殺了。因此，我們把所有頭生的公畜當作祭牲獻給耶和華，只把長子贖回來。』 16 這事就像在你們手上作記號，額上作標記，以牢記耶和華曾用大能的手領我們離開埃及。」
雲柱和火柱
17 法老讓以色列人離開埃及後，上帝沒有帶領他們穿越非利士地區，雖然那是條捷徑。因為上帝說：「如果他們遇上戰爭，就會改變主意，返回埃及。」 18 所以，上帝領他們繞道而行，走曠野的路，前往紅海[b]。以色列人離開埃及時都帶著兵器。 19 摩西把約瑟的骸骨一起帶走，因為約瑟曾叫以色列人鄭重發誓，對他們說：「上帝必眷顧你們，把你們帶出埃及，那時你們要把我的骸骨也一起帶走。」 20 以色列人從疏割啟程，來到曠野邊緣的以倘安營。 21 耶和華走在他們前面，白天用雲柱為他們指示道路，晚上用火柱照亮他們，這樣他們可以日夜趕路。 22 白天的雲柱和晚上的火柱從不離開他們。
過紅海
14 耶和華對摩西說： 2 「你吩咐以色列人改變方向，在比·哈希錄附近的海邊紮營，在紅海和密奪之間，對面是巴力·洗分。 3 法老必定以為你們走迷了路，被困在曠野。 4 我要使法老的心剛硬，使他派兵追趕你們。我要在法老和埃及軍兵身上得到榮耀，好叫埃及人知道我是耶和華。」於是，以色列人依言而行。
5 有人向埃及王報信，說以色列百姓逃走了。法老和他的臣僕便改變主意，說：「我們怎麼可以讓以色列人就這樣離開我們，不再服侍我們呢？」 6 法老便吩咐人預備戰車，他親自領軍， 7 率領埃及所有的戰車，包括六百輛最精銳的戰車，每輛車上都有戰車長。 8 耶和華使法老的心剛硬，法老就追趕毫無懼色地離開埃及的以色列人。 9 埃及大軍的戰車騎兵傾巢而出，沿著海邊追趕，在巴力·洗分對面的比·哈希錄附近追上了正在那裡安營的以色列人。
10 以色列人看見法老大軍追了上來，非常害怕，便呼求耶和華。 11 他們對摩西說：「難道埃及沒有墳地，要你帶我們出來死在曠野嗎？為什麼要帶我們離開埃及呢？ 12 我們對你說過，別管我們，就讓我們服侍埃及人吧。服侍埃及人總比死在曠野好啊！」 13 摩西對百姓說：「你們不用害怕，站穩了，看耶和華用什麼方法解救你們。你們再也看不到你們今天看到的埃及人了。 14 耶和華必為你們爭戰，你們要保持鎮靜。」 15 耶和華對摩西說：「為什麼向我呼求呢？吩咐以色列人往前走吧。 16 你舉手向海伸出手杖，把海水分開，以色列人可以從中間的乾地走過去。 17 我要使埃及人的心剛硬，他們會緊追不捨，跟著你們走進海底。我要在法老及其大軍、戰車和騎兵身上得到榮耀。 18 當我在法老及其戰車和騎兵身上得到榮耀時，埃及人就知道我是耶和華。」
19 這時，在以色列人前面領路的上帝的天使，轉到百姓後面，雲柱也隨著移到後面立住。 20 雲柱停在埃及軍隊和以色列人的中間，埃及軍隊這邊一片黑暗，以色列人那邊卻有光，雙方整夜都無法接近對方。
21 摩西向海伸出手，耶和華便整夜用強勁的東風吹退海水，將海底變成乾地。海水分開後， 22 以色列人踏著乾地走入海中，海水如兩道牆立在他們左右。 23 法老的軍兵車馬緊追不捨，都跟著下到海中。 24 到了破曉時分，耶和華從雲柱火柱中俯視埃及軍隊，擾亂他們的隊伍。 25 祂使他們戰車的輪子脫落，難以前行。於是，埃及人說：「我們逃命吧，因為耶和華在幫助以色列人對付我們！」
26 耶和華對摩西說：「你向海伸出手，使海水回流，淹沒埃及軍隊。」 27 天剛亮的時候，摩西向海伸出手，海水便復原。埃及人紛紛向岸上逃命，耶和華卻使大水把他們捲回海中。 28 海水回流，法老的戰車和人馬都淹沒在大海之中，全軍覆沒。 29 全體以色列人卻在乾地上走過紅海，海水在他們兩邊築成水牆。 30 那天，耶和華就這樣從埃及人手中拯救了以色列人。後來，以色列人還看見埃及人的屍體橫在海邊。 31 以色列百姓親眼看見耶和華怎樣以大能對付埃及人，他們就敬畏耶和華，又信服祂和祂的僕人摩西。
摩西頌讚耶和華
15 那時，摩西和以色列人便歌頌耶和華說：
「我要歌頌耶和華，
因祂大獲全勝，
祂把戰馬騎兵都捲入海中。
2 耶和華是我的力量，我的詩歌，
也成了我的拯救；
祂是我的上帝，我要讚美祂；
祂是我父親的上帝，我要尊崇祂。
3 耶和華是戰士，
祂名叫耶和華。
4 祂把法老的戰車和全軍都拋進海中，
法老的優秀將領都葬身於紅海，
5 大水淹沒他們，
他們如同石塊沉入深海。
6 耶和華啊，你大能的右手顯出榮耀；
耶和華啊，你的右手擊碎仇敵。
7 你大顯威嚴，擊倒那些起來對抗你的人；
你大發雷霆，他們便像枯草遇火，
一燒而盡。
8 你的鼻孔一呼氣，海水便堆聚起來，
洪濤便堆起水牆，海底深處也都凝固。
9 敵人說，『追啊，追上他們，
瓜分他們的財物，盡情地擄掠他們，
拔出刀來把他們斬盡殺絕。』
10 你叫風一吹，海水就淹沒他們，
他們好像鉛塊一樣沉沒在怒海中。
11 耶和華啊，萬神之中，誰能像你？
誰能像你——威嚴神聖，
可頌可畏，廣行神蹟？
12 你伸出右手，大地便吞滅他們。
13 你以不變的愛引領你所救贖的子民，
以大能帶他們進入你的聖所。
14 各邦各族聽見這些事就發抖，
非利士人也痛苦不堪，
15 以東的族長惶恐，
摩押的英雄顫慄，
迦南的居民都膽戰心驚。
16 驚駭恐懼籠罩著他們。
耶和華啊，
你臂膀的大能嚇得他們僵立如石，
直到你的子民都安然走過，
直到你買贖的子民都安然走過。
17 耶和華啊，
你要帶領自己的子民到你的山上安居——
到你為自己所造的住處，
主啊，到你親手建的聖所。
18 「耶和華必做王，直到永永遠遠。」
19 法老的戰車和騎兵追到海中，耶和華使海水回流淹沒他們，以色列人卻在海中踏著乾地走到對岸。 20 亞倫的姐姐米利暗是個先知，她手拿小鼓，帶領婦女擊鼓跳舞， 21 唱道：「要歌頌耶和華，因祂大獲全勝，把馬和騎兵都拋進海中。」
苦水
22 摩西帶領以色列人離開紅海，來到書珥曠野，走了三天仍然找不到水喝。 23 到了瑪拉，那裡的水卻是苦的，不能喝。因此那地方叫瑪拉[c]。 24 百姓就埋怨摩西說：「我們喝什麼呢？」 25 摩西向耶和華呼求，耶和華就指示他把一棵樹丟在水中，使水變得甘甜。耶和華又在瑪拉給百姓定下一些律例和法令，並在那裡試驗他們， 26 說：「你們若留心聽你們上帝耶和華的話，做我視為正的事，遵守我所定下的律例，我就不把降在埃及的疾病加在你們身上，因為我耶和華是醫治你們的上帝。」
27 到了以琳，那裡有十二股水泉和七十棵棕樹，他們就在水邊安營。
天糧
16 以色列全體會眾從以琳出發，來到以琳和西奈中間的汛曠野，時值他們離開埃及後的第二個月的十五日。 2 以色列全體會眾在曠野向摩西和亞倫發怨言說： 3 「我們還不如當初在埃及就死在耶和華手中。在那裡，我們至少可以圍在肉鍋旁吃個飽。現在，你把我們帶到曠野來，是要叫全體會眾餓死在這裡嗎？」
4 耶和華對摩西說：「我要從天上降下食物給你們。百姓可以每天出去拾取他們當天所需的分量，這樣我就可以試驗他們是否遵行我的訓誨。 5 到第六天，他們要比平時多拾取一倍，好夠兩天的分量。」 6 摩西和亞倫對以色列百姓說：「今天晚上你們就知道把你們從埃及領出來的是耶和華。 7 明天早上，你們會看見祂的榮耀，因為祂聽見了你們向祂所發的怨言。我們算什麼，你們何必埋怨我們？ 8 耶和華聽見你們發的怨言了，晚上祂必給你們肉吃，早晨再給你們餅吃。我們算什麼？你們埋怨的其實不是我們，而是耶和華。」 9 摩西對亞倫說：「你去叫以色列全體會眾到耶和華面前來，因為祂已聽見他們的怨言。」 10 亞倫對以色列全體會眾說話的時候，他們向曠野遠望，果然看見耶和華的榮光在雲彩中顯現。 11 耶和華對摩西說： 12 「我已經聽見以色列人的怨言。你告訴他們，『到了黃昏，你們就會有肉吃，早晨就會有餅可以吃飽，這樣你們就知道我是你們的上帝耶和華。』」
13 到了黃昏，果然有許多鵪鶉飛來，把營地都遮蓋了。到了早晨，營區四周的地上佈滿露水， 14 露水蒸發以後，曠野便出現一層薄薄的、像白霜的東西。 15 以色列人見了，不知道是何物，便彼此議論說：「這是什麼？」摩西對他們說：「這就是耶和華給你們的食物。 16 耶和華吩咐你們要按自己和家人的食量來拾取，每人約拾取兩升。」
17 於是，以色列人遵命而行，有些拾的多，有些拾的少。 18 後來，他們用俄梅珥[d]量的時候，就發現多拾的沒有剩餘，少拾的也沒有缺乏，剛好是每人所需要的量。 19 摩西又吩咐他們說：「你們所拾取的，不可留到早晨！」 20 可是，有的人不聽，留了一些。到第二天早上，食物已腐爛生蟲，發出惡臭，摩西就向他們發怒。 21 於是，百姓每天早晨出營拾取食物，各人按著所需分量拾取，到太陽升起後，食物就融化了。 22 到第六天，他們就拾取雙倍的分量，也就是每人四升。會眾的首領來稟告摩西， 23 摩西對他們說：「耶和華說，『明天是安息日，是向耶和華守的聖安息日。你們要把一切食物預備好，或烤或煮，吃剩的可以留到明天。』」 24 百姓就照摩西的吩咐，把吃剩的食物留到第二天早晨，食物沒有發臭生蟲。 25 摩西對他們說：「你們今天就吃這些吧，因為今天是耶和華的安息日，地上不會有食物讓你們拾取。 26 你們有六天可以拾取食物，但第七天是安息日，沒有食物可以拾取。」 27 到了第七天早晨，有些人仍然出去要拾取食物，結果什麼也找不到。 28 耶和華對摩西說：「你們到什麼時候才肯遵行我的誡命和吩咐呢？ 29 要知道，耶和華已將安息日賜給你們，所以第六天我會賜你們雙倍的食物。第七天，人人都要留在營中，不許外出。」 30 於是，百姓在第七天休息。
31 以色列人稱這種食物為嗎哪，它形狀像芫荽的種子，白色，味道像用蜜糖製成的薄餅。 32 摩西說：「以下是耶和華的吩咐，『把兩升的嗎哪存留起來，直到世世代代，以便你們的子子孫孫可以看見上帝帶你們離開埃及時在曠野賜給你們的食物。』」 33 於是，摩西吩咐亞倫：「拿個罐子盛滿兩升的嗎哪，放在耶和華面前，留到世世代代。」 34 亞倫便照耶和華給摩西的吩咐，把嗎哪放在約櫃前保存起來。 35 以色列百姓就在曠野吃了四十年的嗎哪，直到他們到達有人煙的迦南為止。 36 一俄梅珥等於十分之一伊法。
磐石出水
17 以色列全體會眾按照耶和華的吩咐，從汛曠野啟程，一程一程往前行，來到利非訂安營，可是那裡沒有水喝。 2 百姓便跟摩西吵鬧，要他給他們水喝。摩西便對他們說：「你們為什麼跟我吵鬧？為什麼試探耶和華？」 3 百姓非常口渴，他們向摩西抱怨說：「你為什麼要把我們帶出埃及，讓我們一家大小和牲畜都在這裡渴死？」
4 摩西就呼求耶和華說：「我拿這些百姓怎麼辦？他們準備拿石塊打死我！」 5 耶和華對摩西說：「你帶著之前擊打尼羅河水的杖，率領以色列的幾個長老走在眾人前面。 6 我必在何烈的磐石那裡等候你們，你用杖擊打磐石，磐石必流出水來給眾人喝。」摩西便當著以色列長老的面這樣做了。 7 摩西稱那地方為瑪撒和米利巴[e]，因為百姓在那裡吵鬧，又試探耶和華，說：「耶和華真的在我們當中嗎？」
戰勝亞瑪力人
8 後來，亞瑪力人到利非訂攻打以色列人。 9 摩西對約書亞說：「選一些人出去迎戰亞瑪力人。明天，我會帶著上帝的杖站在山頂上。」 10 約書亞便遵照摩西的吩咐迎戰亞瑪力人，摩西、亞倫和戶珥站在山頂上。 11 摩西什麼時候舉手，以色列人就得勝；他的手什麼時候垂下來，亞瑪力人就佔上風。 12 不久，摩西的手疲倦發軟，亞倫和戶珥就抬來一塊石頭讓摩西坐下，然後站在他的兩邊扶著他的手，他就穩穩地舉著手，直到日落。 13 這樣，約書亞用刀殺敗了亞瑪力人。
14 耶和華對摩西說：「我要抹去世人對亞瑪力人的記憶。你要把這話記在書卷上作紀念，也要把這話告訴約書亞。」 15 摩西在那裡築了一座壇，稱之為耶和華尼西[f]。 16 摩西說：「耶和華已經起誓要世代與亞瑪力人為敵。」
葉忒羅看望摩西
18 摩西的岳父——米甸的祭司葉忒羅，聽說上帝為摩西和祂的子民以色列人所做的一切事——如何帶領他們離開埃及， 2 就帶著女兒西坡拉和兩個外孫去見摩西。西坡拉是摩西的妻子，摩西曾讓她回娘家暫時居住。 3 摩西的兩個兒子一個叫革舜，因為摩西說：「我成了在異鄉寄居的人」； 4 一個叫以利以謝，因為摩西說：「我父親的上帝幫助我，從法老的刀下拯救了我。」 5 摩西的岳父葉忒羅帶著摩西的妻子和兩個兒子來到上帝的山，就是摩西在曠野安營的地方。 6 葉忒羅事先差人把他帶著摩西的妻子和兩個兒子要來的消息通知摩西。 7 摩西出去迎接岳父，向他下拜，與他親吻，彼此問安，然後大家都進了帳篷。 8 摩西把耶和華為拯救以色列人而向法老和埃及人所行的事，以及怎樣救百姓脫離路上遇見的種種困難，都告訴了葉忒羅。 9 葉忒羅為耶和華恩待以色列人、把他們救出埃及而高興， 10 便說：「耶和華當受稱頌，因為祂從埃及人和法老手中拯救了你們，把這百姓從埃及人手中拯救了出來。 11 我現在知道，耶和華比一切神明都偉大，因為祂懲治了虐待這些百姓的狂妄之徒。」
12 摩西的岳父葉忒羅說完，便向上帝獻燔祭及其他祭物。亞倫和以色列的長老都來與他一起在上帝面前吃飯。
13 第二天，摩西坐著審理百姓的糾紛，百姓從早到晚都站在摩西周圍。 14 摩西的岳父葉忒羅看見摩西對百姓所行的一切，就對摩西說：「你為什麼這樣處理百姓的事？為什麼你獨自坐著，眾百姓從早到晚都站在你周圍？」 15 摩西對岳父說：「他們是來求問上帝的， 16 我親自審理他們中間的是非，教他們認識上帝的律例和法度。」 17 摩西的岳父葉忒羅勸摩西說：「這不是好方法， 18 你和這些百姓都會疲憊不堪，你一個人無法擔當如此繁重的工作。 19 你要聽我的勸告，願上帝與你同在。你要做百姓的代表，把案件奏明上帝， 20 又要教導他們律例和法度，指示他們當行的道、當做的事。 21 此外，要在百姓當中挑選一些敬畏上帝、有才幹、誠實、正直、憎惡不義之財的人，派他們做千夫長、百夫長、五十夫長和十夫長，管理百姓。 22 讓他們隨時為百姓判案，處理小糾紛，遇到大事才由你審理。有他們分擔你的責任，你會更輕省。 23 如果你這樣做，並且上帝也這樣吩咐你，你就能承受得住，百姓也可以平安地回家。」
24 於是，摩西接納了岳父的建議，依言而行， 25 從百姓中挑選有才幹的人，委派他們做千夫長、百夫長、五十夫長和十夫長管理百姓。 26 他們負責隨時審理百姓的事，遇到難斷的案件就呈到摩西那裡，自己則審理普通的事。 27 之後，摩西送岳父上路，他就返回了家鄉。
以色列人在西奈山
19 以色列人離開埃及滿三個月的那一天，他們來到西奈半島的曠野。 2 他們離開利非訂，來到西奈曠野，在那裡的山下安營。
3 摩西上山到上帝那裡，耶和華從山上呼喚他說：「你告訴雅各家，告訴以色列人， 4 『我怎樣對付埃及人，你們都看見了，我好像鷹一樣把你們背在翅膀上帶到我這裡。 5 現在，倘若你們認真聽從我的話，遵守我的約，就必在萬民中做我的子民，因為普天下都是我的。 6 你們要歸於我，作祭司之國、聖潔之邦。這些話你要告訴以色列人。』」
7 摩西召集以色列的長老，把耶和華對他的一切吩咐都轉告他們。 8 百姓都齊聲回答說：「凡耶和華所吩咐的，我們都願意遵從。」
摩西便把他們的話回報耶和華。 9 耶和華對摩西說：「我會在密雲中臨到你那裡，使百姓也可以親耳聽見我與你說話的聲音，這樣他們就會永遠信賴你。」摩西把以色列人的話回報耶和華。 10 耶和華對摩西說：「你現在回到他們那裡，吩咐他們今天和明天要潔淨自己，洗淨衣服， 11 到後天都要預備好，因為這一天耶和華要在百姓眼前降臨在西奈山上。 12 此外，你要在山的四圍劃定界線，吩咐百姓不得上山或碰到界線，違例者死。 13 你們不可用手觸摸違例者，要用石頭打死他或用箭射死他，牲畜也不例外。百姓要一直等到聽見角聲長鳴才可上山。」 14 於是，摩西下山回到百姓那裡，吩咐他們各人潔淨自己，洗淨衣服。 15 又吩咐他們說：「到後天一切都要準備好，這期間你們不可親近女人。」
16 到了第三天早晨，山上雷電大作，烏雲密佈，又有嘹亮的號角聲，營中的百姓都膽戰心驚。 17 摩西率領百姓出營迎接上帝，他們都站在山腳下。 18 因為耶和華在火中降臨到西奈山，整座山都冒著濃煙，滾滾上騰，好像一個大火窯，整座山都震動起來。 19 號角聲越來越嘹亮。摩西說話，上帝就回應他，聲音好像雷鳴。 20 耶和華降臨在西奈山頂，召摩西到山頂，摩西就上去了。 21 耶和華對摩西說：「你下去囑咐百姓不可闖過界線到我這裡觀看，以免很多人死亡。 22 吩咐到我面前來的祭司要潔淨自己，免得我忽然出來擊殺他們。」
23 摩西對耶和華說：「百姓不能上西奈山，因為你已經吩咐我們要在山的四圍劃定界限，使這山成為聖山。」 24 耶和華對他說：「你下去把亞倫一起帶來，祭司和百姓仍要留在原來的地方，不得亂闖到我面前，免得我忽然出來擊殺他們。」 25 摩西就下去，把耶和華的話轉告給百姓。
十誡
20 以下是上帝的訓示：
2 「我是你的上帝耶和華，曾把你領出埃及，使你不再受奴役。
3 「除我以外，你不可有別的神。
4 「不可為自己雕刻神像，不可仿照任何飛禽走獸或水族的樣子造神像， 5 不可跪拜它們，也不可供奉它們，因為我——你的上帝耶和華痛恨不貞，我必追討背棄我之人的罪，從父到子直到三四代。 6 但那些愛我、遵守我誡命的人，我必以慈愛待他們，直到千代。
7 「不可妄用你上帝耶和華的名，違者必被耶和華定罪。
8 「要記住安息日，守為聖日。 9 你一週可工作六天， 10 但第七天是你的上帝耶和華的安息日，這一天你和兒女、僕婢、牲畜及你那裡的外族人不可做任何工。 11 因為耶和華用六天造了天、地、海和其中的萬物，第七天便休息了，所以耶和華賜福這日，把它定為聖日。
12 「要孝敬父母，以便在你的上帝耶和華賜給你的土地上享長壽。
13 「不可殺人。
14 「不可通姦。
15 「不可偷盜。
16 「不可作偽證陷害人。
17 「不可貪戀別人的房屋，不可貪戀別人的妻子、僕婢、牛驢或其他任何物品。」
18 那時雷電交加，號角嘹亮，山上冒煙，百姓看見此情景，都嚇得渾身顫抖，不敢挨近。 19 他們對摩西說：「求你跟我們說話，我們必聽從。不要讓上帝直接跟我們說話，恐怕我們會喪命！」 20 摩西對百姓說：「不用害怕，上帝降臨是要試驗你們，好讓你們時時敬畏祂，不致犯罪。」
21 百姓都站得遠遠的，摩西獨自走進上帝所在的密雲中。 22 耶和華吩咐摩西對以色列百姓說：「既然你們已經親眼看見我從天上向你們說話， 23 除了敬拜我之外，不可為自己製造金銀神像。 24 你們要為我築一座土壇，把你們的牛羊獻在壇上作燔祭和平安祭。凡是我使自己的名號被尊崇的地方，我會親臨那裡賜福給你們。 25 你們若為我築石壇，不可用鑿刻的石頭，因為用工具鑿刻的石頭會玷污祭壇。 26 不可踩著臺階登我的祭壇，免得露出你們的下體。
Exodus 11-20
New International Version
Exodus 11-20
New International Version
The Plague on the Firstborn
11 Now the Lord had said to Moses, “I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. After that, he will let you go(A) from here, and when he does, he will drive you out completely.(B) 2 Tell the people that men and women alike are to ask their neighbors for articles of silver and gold.”(C) 3 (The Lord made the Egyptians favorably disposed(D) toward the people, and Moses himself was highly regarded(E) in Egypt by Pharaoh’s officials and by the people.)
4 So Moses said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘About midnight(F) I will go throughout Egypt.(G) 5 Every firstborn(H) son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of the female slave, who is at her hand mill,(I) and all the firstborn of the cattle as well. 6 There will be loud wailing(J) throughout Egypt—worse than there has ever been or ever will be again. 7 But among the Israelites not a dog will bark at any person or animal.’ Then you will know that the Lord makes a distinction(K) between Egypt and Israel. 8 All these officials of yours will come to me, bowing down before me and saying, ‘Go,(L) you and all the people who follow you!’ After that I will leave.”(M) Then Moses, hot with anger, left Pharaoh.
9 The Lord had said to Moses, “Pharaoh will refuse to listen(N) to you—so that my wonders(O) may be multiplied in Egypt.” 10 Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharaoh, but the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart,(P) and he would not let the Israelites go out of his country.
The Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread(Q)
12 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, 2 “This month is to be for you the first month,(R) the first month of your year. 3 Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb[a](S) for his family, one for each household.(T) 4 If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat. 5 The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect,(U) and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. 6 Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month,(V) when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight.(W) 7 Then they are to take some of the blood(X) and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. 8 That same night(Y) they are to eat the meat roasted(Z) over the fire, along with bitter herbs,(AA) and bread made without yeast.(AB) 9 Do not eat the meat raw or boiled in water, but roast it over a fire—with the head, legs and internal organs.(AC) 10 Do not leave any of it till morning;(AD) if some is left till morning, you must burn it. 11 This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste;(AE) it is the Lord’s Passover.(AF)
12 “On that same night I will pass through(AG) Egypt and strike down(AH) every firstborn(AI) of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods(AJ) of Egypt. I am the Lord.(AK) 13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over(AL) you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.(AM)
14 “This is a day you are to commemorate;(AN) for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord—a lasting ordinance.(AO) 15 For seven days you are to eat bread made without yeast.(AP) On the first day remove the yeast from your houses, for whoever eats anything with yeast in it from the first day through the seventh must be cut off(AQ) from Israel. 16 On the first day hold a sacred assembly, and another one on the seventh day. Do no work(AR) at all on these days, except to prepare food for everyone to eat; that is all you may do.
17 “Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread,(AS) because it was on this very day that I brought your divisions out of Egypt.(AT) Celebrate this day as a lasting ordinance for the generations to come.(AU) 18 In the first month(AV) you are to eat bread made without yeast, from the evening of the fourteenth day until the evening of the twenty-first day. 19 For seven days no yeast is to be found in your houses. And anyone, whether foreigner(AW) or native-born, who eats anything with yeast in it must be cut off(AX) from the community of Israel. 20 Eat nothing made with yeast. Wherever you live,(AY) you must eat unleavened bread.”(AZ)
21 Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go at once and select the animals for your families and slaughter the Passover(BA) lamb. 22 Take a bunch of hyssop,(BB) dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood(BC) on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. None of you shall go out of the door of your house until morning. 23 When the Lord goes through the land to strike(BD) down the Egyptians, he will see the blood(BE) on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over(BF) that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer(BG) to enter your houses and strike you down.
24 “Obey these instructions as a lasting ordinance(BH) for you and your descendants. 25 When you enter the land(BI) that the Lord will give you as he promised, observe this ceremony. 26 And when your children(BJ) ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’ 27 then tell them, ‘It is the Passover(BK) sacrifice to the Lord, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.’”(BL) Then the people bowed down and worshiped.(BM) 28 The Israelites did just what the Lord commanded(BN) Moses and Aaron.
29 At midnight(BO) the Lord(BP) struck down all the firstborn(BQ) in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock(BR) as well. 30 Pharaoh and all his officials and all the Egyptians got up during the night, and there was loud wailing(BS) in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead.
The Exodus
31 During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship(BT) the Lord as you have requested. 32 Take your flocks and herds,(BU) as you have said, and go. And also bless(BV) me.”
33 The Egyptians urged the people to hurry(BW) and leave(BX) the country. “For otherwise,” they said, “we will all die!”(BY) 34 So the people took their dough before the yeast was added, and carried it on their shoulders in kneading troughs(BZ) wrapped in clothing. 35 The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold(CA) and for clothing.(CB) 36 The Lord had made the Egyptians favorably disposed(CC) toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered(CD) the Egyptians.
37 The Israelites journeyed from Rameses(CE) to Sukkoth.(CF) There were about six hundred thousand men(CG) on foot, besides women and children. 38 Many other people(CH) went up with them, and also large droves of livestock, both flocks and herds. 39 With the dough the Israelites had brought from Egypt, they baked loaves of unleavened bread. The dough was without yeast because they had been driven out(CI) of Egypt and did not have time to prepare food for themselves.
40 Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt[b] was 430 years.(CJ) 41 At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the Lord’s divisions(CK) left Egypt.(CL) 42 Because the Lord kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt, on this night all the Israelites are to keep vigil to honor the Lord for the generations to come.(CM)
Passover Restrictions
43 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “These are the regulations for the Passover meal:(CN)
“No foreigner(CO) may eat it. 44 Any slave you have bought may eat it after you have circumcised(CP) him, 45 but a temporary resident or a hired worker(CQ) may not eat it.
46 “It must be eaten inside the house; take none of the meat outside the house. Do not break any of the bones.(CR) 47 The whole community of Israel must celebrate it.
48 “A foreigner residing among you who wants to celebrate the Lord’s Passover must have all the males in his household circumcised; then he may take part like one born in the land.(CS) No uncircumcised(CT) male may eat it. 49 The same law applies both to the native-born and to the foreigner(CU) residing among you.”
50 All the Israelites did just what the Lord had commanded(CV) Moses and Aaron. 51 And on that very day the Lord brought the Israelites out of Egypt(CW) by their divisions.(CX)
Consecration of the Firstborn
13 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Consecrate to me every firstborn male.(CY) The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me, whether human or animal.”
3 Then Moses said to the people, “Commemorate this day, the day you came out of Egypt,(CZ) out of the land of slavery, because the Lord brought you out of it with a mighty hand.(DA) Eat nothing containing yeast.(DB) 4 Today, in the month of Aviv,(DC) you are leaving. 5 When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites,(DD) Hittites, Amorites, Hivites and Jebusites(DE)—the land he swore to your ancestors to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey(DF)—you are to observe this ceremony(DG) in this month: 6 For seven days eat bread made without yeast and on the seventh day hold a festival(DH) to the Lord. 7 Eat unleavened bread during those seven days; nothing with yeast in it is to be seen among you, nor shall any yeast be seen anywhere within your borders. 8 On that day tell your son,(DI) ‘I do this because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ 9 This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand(DJ) and a reminder on your forehead(DK) that this law of the Lord is to be on your lips. For the Lord brought you out of Egypt with his mighty hand.(DL) 10 You must keep this ordinance(DM) at the appointed time(DN) year after year.
11 “After the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites(DO) and gives it to you, as he promised on oath(DP) to you and your ancestors,(DQ) 12 you are to give over to the Lord the first offspring of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the Lord.(DR) 13 Redeem with a lamb every firstborn donkey,(DS) but if you do not redeem it, break its neck.(DT) Redeem(DU) every firstborn among your sons.(DV)
14 “In days to come, when your son(DW) asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ say to him, ‘With a mighty hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.(DX) 15 When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed the firstborn of both people and animals in Egypt. This is why I sacrifice to the Lord the first male offspring of every womb and redeem each of my firstborn sons.’(DY) 16 And it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead(DZ) that the Lord brought us out of Egypt with his mighty hand.”
Crossing the Sea
17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”(EA) 18 So God led(EB) the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea.[c] The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.(EC)
19 Moses took the bones of Joseph(ED) with him because Joseph had made the Israelites swear an oath. He had said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place.”[d](EE)
20 After leaving Sukkoth(EF) they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert.(EG) 21 By day the Lord went ahead(EH) of them in a pillar of cloud(EI) to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. 22 Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left(EJ) its place in front of the people.
14 Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol(EK) and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon.(EL) 3 Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.’ 4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart,(EM) and he will pursue them.(EN) But I will gain glory(EO) for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.”(EP) So the Israelites did this.
5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled,(EQ) Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds(ER) about them and said, “What have we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost their services!” 6 So he had his chariot made ready and took his army with him. 7 He took six hundred of the best chariots,(ES) along with all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them. 8 The Lord hardened the heart(ET) of Pharaoh king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly.(EU) 9 The Egyptians—all Pharaoh’s horses(EV) and chariots, horsemen[e] and troops(EW)—pursued the Israelites and overtook(EX) them as they camped by the sea near Pi Hahiroth, opposite Baal Zephon.(EY)
10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried(EZ) out to the Lord. 11 They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die?(FA) What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”(FB)
13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid.(FC) Stand firm and you will see(FD) the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see(FE) again. 14 The Lord will fight(FF) for you; you need only to be still.”(FG)
15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me?(FH) Tell the Israelites to move on. 16 Raise your staff(FI) and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water(FJ) so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. 17 I will harden the hearts(FK) of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them.(FL) And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 18 The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord(FM) when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.”
19 Then the angel of God,(FN) who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud(FO) also moved from in front and stood behind(FP) them, 20 coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness(FQ) to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long.
21 Then Moses stretched out his hand(FR) over the sea,(FS) and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind(FT) and turned it into dry land.(FU) The waters were divided,(FV) 22 and the Israelites went through the sea(FW) on dry ground,(FX) with a wall(FY) of water on their right and on their left.
23 The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen(FZ) followed them into the sea. 24 During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud(GA) at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion.(GB) 25 He jammed[f] the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting(GC) for them against Egypt.”(GD)
26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” 27 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place.(GE) The Egyptians were fleeing toward[g] it, and the Lord swept them into the sea.(GF) 28 The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea.(GG) Not one of them survived.(GH)
29 But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground,(GI) with a wall(GJ) of water on their right and on their left. 30 That day the Lord saved(GK) Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. 31 And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand(GL) of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared(GM) the Lord and put their trust(GN) in him and in Moses his servant.
The Song of Moses and Miriam
15 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song(GO) to the Lord:
“I will sing(GP) to the Lord,
for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver(GQ)
he has hurled into the sea.(GR)
2 “The Lord is my strength(GS) and my defense[h];
he has become my salvation.(GT)
He is my God,(GU) and I will praise him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt(GV) him.
3 The Lord is a warrior;(GW)
the Lord is his name.(GX)
4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his army(GY)
he has hurled into the sea.
The best of Pharaoh’s officers
are drowned in the Red Sea.[i]
5 The deep waters(GZ) have covered them;
they sank to the depths like a stone.(HA)
6 Your right hand,(HB) Lord,
was majestic in power.
Your right hand,(HC) Lord,
shattered(HD) the enemy.
7 “In the greatness of your majesty(HE)
you threw down those who opposed you.
You unleashed your burning anger;(HF)
it consumed(HG) them like stubble.
8 By the blast of your nostrils(HH)
the waters piled up.(HI)
The surging waters stood up like a wall;(HJ)
the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.(HK)
9 The enemy boasted,
‘I will pursue,(HL) I will overtake them.
I will divide the spoils;(HM)
I will gorge myself on them.
I will draw my sword
and my hand will destroy them.’
10 But you blew with your breath,(HN)
and the sea covered them.
They sank like lead
in the mighty waters.(HO)
11 Who among the gods
is like you,(HP) Lord?
Who is like you—
majestic in holiness,(HQ)
awesome in glory,(HR)
working wonders?(HS)
12 “You stretch out(HT) your right hand,
and the earth swallows your enemies.(HU)
13 In your unfailing love you will lead(HV)
the people you have redeemed.(HW)
In your strength you will guide them
to your holy dwelling.(HX)
14 The nations will hear and tremble;(HY)
anguish(HZ) will grip the people of Philistia.(IA)
15 The chiefs(IB) of Edom(IC) will be terrified,
the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling,(ID)
the people[j] of Canaan will melt(IE) away;
16 terror(IF) and dread will fall on them.
By the power of your arm
they will be as still as a stone(IG)—
until your people pass by, Lord,
until the people you bought[k](IH) pass by.(II)
17 You will bring(IJ) them in and plant(IK) them
on the mountain(IL) of your inheritance—
the place, Lord, you made for your dwelling,(IM)
the sanctuary,(IN) Lord, your hands established.
18 “The Lord reigns
for ever and ever.”(IO)
19 When Pharaoh’s horses, chariots and horsemen[l] went into the sea,(IP) the Lord brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground.(IQ) 20 Then Miriam(IR) the prophet,(IS) Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels(IT) and dancing.(IU) 21 Miriam sang(IV) to them:
“Sing to the Lord,
for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver(IW)
he has hurled into the sea.”(IX)
The Waters of Marah and Elim
22 Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert(IY) of Shur.(IZ) For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water.(JA) 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.[m](JB)) 24 So the people grumbled(JC) against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?”(JD)
25 Then Moses cried out(JE) to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw(JF) it into the water, and the water became fit to drink.
There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test.(JG) 26 He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep(JH) all his decrees,(JI) I will not bring on you any of the diseases(JJ) I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals(JK) you.”
27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped(JL) there near the water.
Manna and Quail
16 The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin,(JM) which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt.(JN) 2 In the desert the whole community grumbled(JO) against Moses and Aaron. 3 The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt!(JP) There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food(JQ) we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”(JR)
4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven(JS) for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test(JT) them and see whether they will follow my instructions. 5 On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice(JU) as much as they gather on the other days.”
6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of Egypt,(JV) 7 and in the morning you will see the glory(JW) of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling(JX) against him. Who are we, that you should grumble against us?”(JY) 8 Moses also said, “You will know that it was the Lord when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because he has heard your grumbling(JZ) against him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the Lord.”(KA)
9 Then Moses told Aaron, “Say to the entire Israelite community, ‘Come before the Lord, for he has heard your grumbling.’”
10 While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory(KB) of the Lord appearing in the cloud.(KC)
11 The Lord said to Moses, 12 “I have heard the grumbling(KD) of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’”(KE)
13 That evening quail(KF) came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew(KG) around the camp. 14 When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost(KH) on the ground appeared on the desert floor. 15 When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know(KI) what it was.
Moses said to them, “It is the bread(KJ) the Lord has given you to eat. 16 This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Everyone is to gather as much as they need. Take an omer[n](KK) for each person you have in your tent.’”
17 The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. 18 And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.(KL) Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed.
19 Then Moses said to them, “No one is to keep any of it until morning.”(KM)
20 However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell.(KN) So Moses was angry(KO) with them.
21 Each morning everyone gathered as much as they needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away. 22 On the sixth day, they gathered twice(KP) as much—two omers[o] for each person—and the leaders of the community(KQ) came and reported this to Moses. 23 He said to them, “This is what the Lord commanded: ‘Tomorrow is to be a day of sabbath rest, a holy sabbath(KR) to the Lord. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.’”
24 So they saved it until morning, as Moses commanded, and it did not stink or get maggots in it. 25 “Eat it today,” Moses said, “because today is a sabbath to the Lord. You will not find any of it on the ground today. 26 Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath,(KS) there will not be any.”
27 Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none. 28 Then the Lord said to Moses, “How long will you[p] refuse to keep my commands(KT) and my instructions? 29 Bear in mind that the Lord has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where they are on the seventh day; no one is to go out.” 30 So the people rested on the seventh day.
31 The people of Israel called the bread manna.[q](KU) It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. 32 Moses said, “This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Take an omer of manna and keep it for the generations to come, so they can see the bread I gave you to eat in the wilderness when I brought you out of Egypt.’”
33 So Moses said to Aaron, “Take a jar and put an omer of manna(KV) in it. Then place it before the Lord to be kept for the generations to come.”
34 As the Lord commanded Moses, Aaron put the manna with the tablets of the covenant law,(KW) so that it might be preserved. 35 The Israelites ate manna(KX) forty years,(KY) until they came to a land that was settled; they ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan.(KZ)
36 (An omer(LA) is one-tenth of an ephah.)(LB)
Water From the Rock
17 The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin,(LC) traveling from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim,(LD) but there was no water(LE) for the people to drink. 2 So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water(LF) to drink.”(LG)
Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?”(LH)
3 But the people were thirsty(LI) for water there, and they grumbled(LJ) against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die(LK) of thirst?”
4 Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone(LL) me.”
5 The Lord answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff(LM) with which you struck the Nile,(LN) and go. 6 I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb.(LO) Strike(LP) the rock, and water(LQ) will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he called the place Massah[r](LR) and Meribah[s](LS) because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”
The Amalekites Defeated
8 The Amalekites(LT) came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim.(LU) 9 Moses said to Joshua,(LV) “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff(LW) of God in my hands.”
10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur(LX) went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning,(LY) but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.(LZ) 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite(MA) army with the sword.
14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write(MB) this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out(MC) the name of Amalek(MD) from under heaven.”
15 Moses built an altar(ME) and called(MF) it The Lord is my Banner. 16 He said, “Because hands were lifted up against[t] the throne of the Lord,[u] the Lord will be at war against the Amalekites(MG) from generation to generation.”(MH)
Jethro Visits Moses
18 Now Jethro,(MI) the priest of Midian(MJ) and father-in-law of Moses, heard of everything God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, and how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt.(MK)
2 After Moses had sent away his wife Zipporah,(ML) his father-in-law Jethro received her 3 and her two sons.(MM) One son was named Gershom,[v] for Moses said, “I have become a foreigner in a foreign land”;(MN) 4 and the other was named Eliezer,[w](MO) for he said, “My father’s God was my helper;(MP) he saved me from the sword of Pharaoh.”
5 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, together with Moses’ sons and wife, came to him in the wilderness, where he was camped near the mountain(MQ) of God. 6 Jethro had sent word to him, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.”
7 So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down(MR) and kissed(MS) him. They greeted each other and then went into the tent. 8 Moses told his father-in-law about everything the Lord had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake and about all the hardships(MT) they had met along the way and how the Lord had saved(MU) them.
9 Jethro was delighted to hear about all the good things(MV) the Lord had done for Israel in rescuing them from the hand of the Egyptians. 10 He said, “Praise be to the Lord,(MW) who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who rescued the people from the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all other gods,(MX) for he did this to those who had treated Israel arrogantly.”(MY) 12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law,(MZ) brought a burnt offering(NA) and other sacrifices(NB) to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal(NC) with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence(ND) of God.
13 The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. 14 When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?”
15 Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will.(NE) 16 Whenever they have a dispute,(NF) it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.”(NG)
17 Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.(NH) 19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you.(NI) You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes(NJ) to him. 20 Teach them his decrees and instructions,(NK) and show them the way they are to live(NL) and how they are to behave.(NM) 21 But select capable men(NN) from all the people—men who fear(NO) God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain(NP)—and appoint them as officials(NQ) over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case(NR) to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share(NS) it with you. 23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”
24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25 He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders(NT) of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.(NU) 26 They served as judges(NV) for the people at all times. The difficult cases(NW) they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.(NX)
27 Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own country.(NY)
At Mount Sinai
19 On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt(NZ)—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai.(OA) 2 After they set out from Rephidim,(OB) they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.(OC)
3 Then Moses went up to God,(OD) and the Lord called(OE) to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt,(OF) and how I carried you on eagles’ wings(OG) and brought you to myself.(OH) 5 Now if you obey me fully(OI) and keep my covenant,(OJ) then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.(OK) Although the whole earth(OL) is mine, 6 you[x] will be for me a kingdom of priests(OM) and a holy nation.’(ON) These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”
7 So Moses went back and summoned the elders(OO) of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak.(OP) 8 The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.”(OQ) So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.
9 The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud,(OR) so that the people will hear me speaking(OS) with you and will always put their trust(OT) in you.” Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said.
10 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate(OU) them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes(OV) 11 and be ready by the third day,(OW) because on that day the Lord will come down(OX) on Mount Sinai(OY) in the sight of all the people. 12 Put limits(OZ) for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death. 13 They are to be stoned(PA) or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on them. No person or animal shall be permitted to live.’ Only when the ram’s horn(PB) sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.”(PC)
14 After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes.(PD) 15 Then he said to the people, “Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain(PE) from sexual relations.”
16 On the morning of the third day there was thunder(PF) and lightning, with a thick cloud(PG) over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast.(PH) Everyone in the camp trembled.(PI) 17 Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.(PJ) 18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke,(PK) because the Lord descended on it in fire.(PL) The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace,(PM) and the whole mountain[y] trembled(PN) violently. 19 As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice(PO) of God answered(PP) him.[z]
20 The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai(PQ) and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up 21 and the Lord said to him, “Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see(PR) the Lord and many of them perish.(PS) 22 Even the priests, who approach(PT) the Lord, must consecrate(PU) themselves, or the Lord will break out against them.”(PV)
23 Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai,(PW) because you yourself warned us, ‘Put limits(PX) around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’”
24 The Lord replied, “Go down and bring Aaron(PY) up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through to come up to the Lord, or he will break out against them.”(PZ)
25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.
The Ten Commandments(QA)
20 And God spoke(QB) all these words:(QC)
2 “I am the Lord your God,(QD) who brought you out(QE) of Egypt,(QF) out of the land of slavery.(QG)
3 “You shall have no other gods before[aa] me.(QH)
4 “You shall not make for yourself an image(QI) in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship(QJ) them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God,(QK) punishing the children for the sin of the parents(QL) to the third and fourth generation(QM) of those who hate me,
Footnotes
- Exodus 12:3 The Hebrew word can mean lamb or kid; also in verse 4.
- Exodus 12:40 Masoretic Text; Samaritan Pentateuch and Septuagint Egypt and Canaan
- Exodus 13:18 Or the Sea of Reeds
- Exodus 13:19 See Gen. 50:25.
- Exodus 14:9 Or charioteers; also in verses 17, 18, 23, 26 and 28
- Exodus 14:25 See Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint and Syriac; Masoretic Text removed
- Exodus 14:27 Or from
- Exodus 15:2 Or song
- Exodus 15:4 Or the Sea of Reeds; also in verse 22
- Exodus 15:15 Or rulers
- Exodus 15:16 Or created
- Exodus 15:19 Or charioteers
- Exodus 15:23 Marah means bitter.
- Exodus 16:16 That is, possibly about 3 pounds or about 1.4 kilograms; also in verses 18, 32, 33 and 36
- Exodus 16:22 That is, possibly about 6 pounds or about 2.8 kilograms
- Exodus 16:28 The Hebrew is plural.
- Exodus 16:31 Manna sounds like the Hebrew for What is it? (see verse 15).
- Exodus 17:7 Massah means testing.
- Exodus 17:7 Meribah means quarreling.
- Exodus 17:16 Or to
- Exodus 17:16 The meaning of the Hebrew for this clause is uncertain.
- Exodus 18:3 Gershom sounds like the Hebrew for a foreigner there.
- Exodus 18:4 Eliezer means my God is helper.
- Exodus 19:6 Or possession, for the whole earth is mine. 6 You
- Exodus 19:18 Most Hebrew manuscripts; a few Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint and all the people
- Exodus 19:19 Or and God answered him with thunder
- Exodus 20:3 Or besides
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