Moses Returns to Egypt

18 Moses went back to (A)Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, “Please let me go back to my brothers in Egypt to see whether they are still alive.” And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.” 19 And the Lord said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for (B)all the men who were seeking your life are dead.” 20 So Moses took (C)his wife and his sons and had them ride on a donkey, and went back to the land of Egypt. And Moses took (D)the staff of God in his hand.

21 And the Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the (E)miracles that I have put in your power. But (F)I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go. 22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, (G)Israel is my (H)firstborn son, 23 and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” If you refuse to let him go, behold, I (I)will kill your firstborn son.’”

24 At a lodging place on the way (J)the Lord met him and (K)sought to put him to death. 25 Then (L)Zipporah took a (M)flint and cut off her son's foreskin and touched Moses'[a] feet with it and said, “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me!” 26 So he let him alone. It was then that she said, “A bridegroom of blood,” because of the circumcision.

27 The Lord said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness (N)to meet Moses.” So he went and met him at the (O)mountain of God and kissed him. 28 And Moses (P)told Aaron all the words of the Lord with which he had sent him to speak, and all (Q)the signs that he had commanded him to do. 29 Then Moses and Aaron (R)went and gathered together all the elders of the people of Israel. 30 (S)Aaron spoke all the words that the Lord had spoken to Moses and did the signs in the sight of the people. 31 And the people (T)believed; and when they heard that the Lord had (U)visited the people of Israel and that he had (V)seen their affliction, (W)they bowed their heads and worshiped.

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 4:25 Hebrew his

Moses Returns to Egypt

18 Then Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, “Let me return to my own people in Egypt to see if any of them are still alive.”

Jethro said, “Go, and I wish you well.”

19 Now the Lord had said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all those who wanted to kill(A) you are dead.(B) 20 So Moses took his wife and sons,(C) put them on a donkey and started back to Egypt. And he took the staff(D) of God in his hand.

21 The Lord said to Moses, “When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders(E) I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart(F) so that he will not let the people go.(G) 22 Then say to Pharaoh, ‘This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son,(H) 23 and I told you, “Let my son go,(I) so he may worship(J) me.” But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son.’”(K)

24 At a lodging place on the way, the Lord met Moses[a] and was about to kill(L) him. 25 But Zipporah(M) took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin(N) and touched Moses’ feet with it.[b] “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,” she said. 26 So the Lord let him alone. (At that time she said “bridegroom of blood,” referring to circumcision.)

27 The Lord said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” So he met Moses at the mountain(O) of God and kissed(P) him. 28 Then Moses told Aaron everything the Lord had sent him to say, and also about all the signs he had commanded him to perform.

29 Moses and Aaron brought together all the elders(Q) of the Israelites, 30 and Aaron told them everything the Lord had said to Moses. He also performed the signs(R) before the people, 31 and they believed.(S) And when they heard that the Lord was concerned(T) about them and had seen their misery,(U) they bowed down and worshiped.(V)

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 4:24 Hebrew him
  2. Exodus 4:25 The meaning of the Hebrew for this clause is uncertain.