Exodus 2:15-25

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

¹⁵ When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses.

So Moses fled from Pharaoh. He settled in the land of Midian and sat down by a well.^{(A) 16} The priest of Midian had seven daughters. They came to draw water and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. ¹⁷ But some shepherds came and drove them away. Moses got up and came to their defense and watered their flock.^{(B) 18} When they returned to their father Reuel, he said, “How is it that you have come back so soon today?”^{(C) 19} They said, “An Egyptian helped us against the shepherds; he even drew water for us and watered the flock.” ²⁰ He said to his daughters, “Where is he? Why did you leave the man? Invite him to share a meal.”^{(D) 21} Moses agreed to stay with the man, and he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah in marriage.^{(E) 22} She bore a son, and he named him Gershom,^[a] for he said, “I have been an alien residing in a foreign land.”^(F)

²³ After a long time the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned under their slavery and cried out. Their cry for help rose up to God from their slavery.^{(G) 24} God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.^{(H) 25} God looked upon the Israelites, and God took notice of them.^(I)