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The Burning Bush

Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro (Reuel) his father-in-law, the priest of Midian; and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb (Sinai), the mountain of God. The [a]Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing flame of fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was on fire, yet it was not consumed. So Moses said, “I must turn away [from the flock] and see this great sight—why the bush is not burned up.” When the Lord saw that he turned away [from the flock] to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then God said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet [out of respect], because the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” Then He said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.

The Lord said, “I have in fact seen the affliction (suffering, desolation) of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters (oppressors); for I know their pain and suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand (power) of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a land [that is] good and spacious, to a land [b]flowing with milk and honey [a land of plenty]—to the place of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite. Now, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me; and I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them.

The Mission of Moses

10 Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh, and then bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 And God said, “Certainly I will be with you, and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve and worship God at this mountain.”

13 Then Moses said to God, “Behold, when I come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers (ancestors) has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” 14 God said to Moses, “[c]I Am Who I Am”; and He said, “You shall say this to the Israelites, ‘I Am has sent me to you.’” 15 Then God also said to Moses, “This is what you shall say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob (Israel), has sent me to you.’ This is My [d]Name forever, and this is My memorial [name] to all generations. 16 Go, gather the elders (tribal leaders) of Israel together, and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared to me, saying, “I am indeed concerned about you and what has been done to you in Egypt. 17 So I said I will bring you up out of the suffering and oppression of Egypt to the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, to a land [e]flowing with milk and honey.”’ 18 The elders [of the tribes] will listen and pay attention to what you say; and you, with the elders of Israel, shall go to the king of Egypt and you shall say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; so now, please, [we ask and plead with you,] let us go on a three days’ journey into the wilderness, so that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’ 19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless [he is forced] by a strong hand. 20 So I will reach out My hand and strike Egypt with all My wonders which I shall do in the midst of it; and after that he will let you go. 21 And I will grant this people favor and respect in the sight of the Egyptians; therefore, it shall be that when you go, you will not go empty-handed. 22 But every woman shall [insistently] ask her neighbor and any woman who [f]lives in her house, for articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; and you shall put them on your sons and daughters. In this way you are to plunder the Egyptians [leaving bondage with great possessions that are rightfully yours].”(A)

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 3:2 “Angel of the Lord” has been capitalized here to reflect the likelihood that it is God appearing in a visible form (see vv 4, 6; also note Gen 16:7).
  2. Exodus 3:8 This phrase referred to the abundant fertility of the land of Canaan. Milk (typically that of goats and sheep) was associated with abundance; “honey” referred mainly to syrups made from dates or grapes and was the epitome of sweetness. Bees’ honey was very rare and was considered the choicest of foods.
  3. Exodus 3:14 Related to the name of God, YHWH, rendered Lord, which is derived from the verb HAYAH, to be.
  4. Exodus 3:15 To know the names of God is to understand His many attributes and grasp the godly characteristic which the name denotes (Ex 6:3; 1 Kin 8:33 ff; Ps 91:14; Is 52:6; 64:2; Jer 16:21). God’s name is His self-revelation.
  5. Exodus 3:17 See note v 8.
  6. Exodus 3:22 This indicates that the Egyptians had occupied the Israelites’ homes and confiscated their possessions as part of Pharaoh’s policy of enslavement. Later, after suffering all the plagues, the Egyptians would be more than willing to give the Israelites whatever they asked, in order to be rid of them.

Den brinnande busken

En dag när Mose vaktade fåren åt sin svärfar Jetro, prästen i Midjan, drev han dem bortom öknen i närheten av Horeb[a], Guds berg. Då visade sig Herrens ängel för honom i en brinnande törnbuske. När Mose såg att busken brann utan att brinna upp, tänkte han gå närmare för att undersöka detta märkliga att busken inte brann upp. Herren såg att han gick närmare för att titta, ropade han på honom från törnbusken: ”Mose! Mose!” ”Ja, här är jag”, svarade han. ”Kom inte närmare”, sa Gud. ”Ta av dig skorna, för du står på helig mark! Jag är din faders Gud, Abrahams, Isaks och Jakobs Gud.” Då slog Mose händerna för ansiktet, för han var rädd för att se på Gud.

Herren talade till honom igen: ”Jag har sett mitt folks förtryck i Egypten, och jag har hört hur de ropar under slavdrivarnas förtryck. Jag vet hur de lider. Nu har jag kommit ner för att befria mitt folk från egypterna och föra det ut ur Egypten till ett mycket gott land, ett stort land som flyter av mjölk och honung. Där bor nu kanaanéer, hettiter, amoréer, perisséer, hivéer och jevuséer. Ja, ropet från Israels folk har stigit upp till mig, och jag har själv sett hur egypterna förtrycker dem. 10 Gå! Jag sänder dig till farao för att du ska leda mitt folk, israeliterna, ut ur Egypten.”

11 ”Vem är jag, att jag skulle gå till farao och leda israeliterna ut ur Egypten?” sa Mose till Gud. 12 ”Jag är[b] med dig”, sa Gud till honom. ”Och det här ska vara tecknet på att det är jag som sänder dig: när du har fört folket ut ur Egypten, ska ni tjäna mig på det här berget.”

13 ”Men”, sa Mose till Gud, ”om jag nu går till israeliterna och talar om för dem att deras förfäders Gud har sänt mig, så kommer de att fråga: ’Vad är hans namn[c]?’ Vad ska jag svara då?”

14 Jag är den jag är”, sa Gud. ”Säg till israeliterna att han som heter jag är[d] har sänt dig.” 15 Vidare sa Gud: ”Tala om för dem att Herren[e], deras förfäders Gud, Abrahams, Isaks och Jakobs Gud, har sänt dig till dem.

Detta är mitt eviga namn
    och så ska alla generationer kalla mig.

16 Samla nu ihop alla de äldste i Israel och tala om för dem att Herren, deras förfäders Gud, Abrahams, Isaks och Jakobs Gud, har uppenbarat sig för dig, och att han sa: ’Jag har besökt er och sett hur ni har det i Egypten. 17 Jag lovar att rädda er från förtrycket i Egypten och leda er till det land där nu kanaanéer, hettiter, amoréer, perisséer, hivéer och jevuséer bor, ett land som flyter av mjölk och honung.’

18 De äldste i Israel kommer att lyssna till dig och följa med dig till Egyptens kung och säga: ’Herren, hebréernas Gud, har uppenbarat sig för oss och uppmanat oss att gå tre dagsresor ut i öknen och offra till Herren, vår Gud. Tillåt oss nu göra det!’

19 Jag vet att kungen i Egypten inte vill låta er gå, även om han får känna på min styrka. 20 Därför tänker jag tvinga honom. Jag ska sträcka ut min hand och låta märkliga ting ske i Egypten ända tills han låter er gå. 21 Dessutom ska jag göra egypterna så välvilligt inställda mot detta folk att ni inte går tomhänta därifrån. 22 Varje kvinna ska be om föremål av silver och guld och kläder av grannkvinnorna och kvinnorna i sitt hushåll och dem ska era söner och döttrar bära. Ja, ni ska plundra Egypten på dess rikedomar.”

Footnotes

  1. 3:1 Antingen berget Sinai eller en bergstopp i samma område.
  2. 3:12 Det hebreiska ordet betyder också ska vara.
  3. 3:13 Namn innebär på hebreiska person, egenskaper, karaktär.
  4. 3:14 Namnet kommer från det hebreiska verbet för ”vara” och är en anspelning på det heliga gudsnamnet JHWH. Det innebär att Gud är evig, utan början, utan slut.
  5. 3:15 De hebreiska konsonanterna för det heliga gudsnamnet JHWH härstammar från verbet ”vara”. Namnet kom att betraktas som så heligt att man slutade upp med att uttala det och använde i stället Herren. Troligen har det uttalats Jahve.

Moses at the Burning Bush(A)

Now Moses was tending the flock of (B)Jethro his father-in-law, (C)the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to (D)Horeb, (E)the mountain of God. And (F)the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this (G)great sight, why the bush does not burn.”

So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called (H)to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!”

And he said, “Here I am.”

Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. (I)Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” Moreover He said, (J)“I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for (K)he was afraid to look upon God.

And the Lord said: (L)“I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry (M)because of their taskmasters, (N)for I know their [a]sorrows. So (O)I have come down to (P)deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land (Q)to a good and large land, to a land (R)flowing with milk and honey, to the place of (S)the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites. Now therefore, behold, (T)the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the (U)oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10 (V)Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”

11 But Moses said to God, (W)“Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”

12 So He said, (X)“I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a (Y)sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”

13 Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?”

14 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, (Z)‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” 15 Moreover God said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is (AA)My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.’ 16 Go and (AB)gather the elders of Israel together, and say to them, ‘The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared to me, saying, (AC)“I have surely visited you and seen what is done to you in Egypt; 17 and I have said (AD)I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, to a land flowing with milk and honey.” ’ 18 Then (AE)they will heed your voice; and (AF)you shall come, you and the elders of Israel, to the king of Egypt; and you shall say to him, ‘The Lord God of the Hebrews has (AG)met with us; and now, please, let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’ 19 But I am sure that the king of Egypt (AH)will not let you go, no, not even by a mighty hand. 20 So I will (AI)stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with (AJ)all My wonders which I will do in its midst; and (AK)after that he will let you go. 21 And (AL)I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be, when you go, that you shall not go empty-handed. 22 (AM)But every woman shall ask of her neighbor, namely, of her who dwells near her house, (AN)articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing; and you shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So (AO)you shall plunder the Egyptians.”

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 3:7 pain

Moses and the Burning Bush

Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro(A) his father-in-law, the priest of Midian,(B) and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb,(C) the mountain(D) of God. There the angel of the Lord(E) appeared to him in flames of fire(F) from within a bush.(G) Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”

When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called(H) to him from within the bush,(I) “Moses! Moses!”

And Moses said, “Here I am.”(J)

“Do not come any closer,”(K) God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”(L) Then he said, “I am the God of your father,[a] the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.”(M) At this, Moses hid(N) his face, because he was afraid to look at God.(O)

The Lord said, “I have indeed seen(P) the misery(Q) of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned(R) about their suffering.(S) So I have come down(T) to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land,(U) a land flowing with milk and honey(V)—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites(W) and Jebusites.(X) And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing(Y) them. 10 So now, go. I am sending(Z) you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”(AA)

11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I(AB) that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

12 And God said, “I will be with you.(AC) And this will be the sign(AD) to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you[b] will worship God on this mountain.(AE)

13 Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’(AF) Then what shall I tell them?”

14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.[c] This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am(AG) has sent me to you.’”

15 God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord,[d] the God of your fathers(AH)—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob(AI)—has sent me to you.’

“This is my name(AJ) forever,
    the name you shall call me
    from generation to generation.(AK)

16 “Go, assemble the elders(AL) of Israel and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob(AM)—appeared to me and said: I have watched over you and have seen(AN) what has been done to you in Egypt. 17 And I have promised to bring you up out of your misery in Egypt(AO) into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites—a land flowing with milk and honey.’(AP)

18 “The elders of Israel will listen(AQ) to you. Then you and the elders are to go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews,(AR) has met(AS) with us. Let us take a three-day journey(AT) into the wilderness to offer sacrifices(AU) to the Lord our God.’ 19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand(AV) compels him. 20 So I will stretch out my hand(AW) and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders(AX) that I will perform among them. After that, he will let you go.(AY)

21 “And I will make the Egyptians favorably disposed(AZ) toward this people, so that when you leave you will not go empty-handed.(BA) 22 Every woman is to ask her neighbor and any woman living in her house for articles of silver(BB) and gold(BC) and for clothing, which you will put on your sons and daughters. And so you will plunder(BD) the Egyptians.”(BE)

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 3:6 Masoretic Text; Samaritan Pentateuch (see Acts 7:32) fathers
  2. Exodus 3:12 The Hebrew is plural.
  3. Exodus 3:14 Or I will be what I will be
  4. Exodus 3:15 The Hebrew for Lord sounds like and may be related to the Hebrew for I am in verse 14.