Categories
Exodus

Exodus 11

The Tenth Plague: Death of the Firstborn

1 TheLordsaidto Moses, “I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. After that, he will let you go from here. When he lets you go,he will drive you out of here.

2 Now announce to the people that both men and women should ask their neighbors for silver and gold jewelry.”

3 TheLordgavethe people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. And the man Moses was highly regardedin the land of Egypt byPharaoh’s officials and the people.

4 So Moses said, “This is what Yahweh says: ‘About midnight I will go throughout Egypt,

5 and every firstborn male in the land of Egypt will die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne to the firstborn of the servant girl who is behind the millstones, as well as every firstborn of the livestock.

6 Then there will be a great cry of anguish through all the land of Egypt such as never was before, or ever will be again.

7 But against all the Israelites, whether man or beast, not even a dog will snarl,so that you may know that Yahweh makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.

8 All these officials of yours will come down to me and bow before me, saying: Leave, you and all the people who follow you.After that, I will leave.’ ” And he left Pharaoh’s presence in fierce anger.

9 TheLordsaid to Moses, “Pharaoh will not listento you, so that My wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.”

10 Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh, but theLordhardened Pharaoh’s heart,and he would not let the Israelites go out of his land.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/EXO/11-2719b107eb1bdcca453a2c7592b21b32.mp3?version_id=72—

Categories
Exodus

Exodus 12

Instructions for the Passover

1 TheLordsaid to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt:

2 “This month is to be the beginning of months for you; it is the first month of your year.

3 Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month they must each select an animal of the flock according to their fathers’ households, one animal per household.

4 If the household is too small for a whole animal, that person and the neighbor nearest his house are to select one based on the combined number of people; you should apportion the animal according to what each personwill eat.

5 You must have an unblemishedanimal, a year-old male; you may take it from either the sheep or the goats.

6 You are to keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; then the whole assembly of the community of Israel will slaughter the animals at twilight.

7 They must take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses where they eat them.

8 They are to eat the meat that night; they should eat it, roasted over the fire along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.

9 Do not eat any of it raw or cooked in boilingwater, but only roastedover fire — its head as well as its legs and inner organs.

10 Do not let any of it remain until morning;you must burn up any part of it that does remain before morning.

11 Here is how you must eat it: you must be dressed for travel,your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. You are to eat it in a hurry; it is theLord’s Passover.

12 “I will pass throughthe land of Egypt on that night and strike every firstborn male in the land of Egypt, both man and beast. I am Yahweh; I will execute judgments against all the gods of Egypt.

13 The blood on the houses where you are staying will be a distinguishing mark for you; when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No plague will be among you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

14 “This day is to be a memorial for you, and you must celebrate it as a festival to theLord. You are to celebrate it throughout your generations as a permanent statute.

15 You must eat unleavened bread for seven days. On the first day you must remove yeastfrom your houses. Whoever eats what is leavened from the first day through the seventh day must be cut offfrom Israel.

16 You are to hold a sacred assemblyon the first day and another sacred assembly on the seventh day. No work may be done on those days except for preparing what people need to eat — you may do only that.

17 “You are to observe the Festival of Unleavened Bread because on this very day I brought your divisions out of the land of Egypt.You must observe this day throughout your generations as a permanent statute.

18 You are to eat unleavened bread in the first month,from the evening of the fourteenth day of the month until the evening of the twenty-first day.

19 Yeast must not be found in your houses for seven days. If anyone eats something leavened, that person, whether a foreign resident or native of the land, must be cut off from the community of Israel.

20 Do not eat anything leavened; eat unleavened bread in all your homes.”

21 Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go, select an animal from the flock according to your families, and slaughter the Passover animal.

22 Take a cluster of hyssop, dip it in the bloodthat is in the basin, and brush the lintel and the two doorposts with some of the blood in the basin. None of you may go out the door of his house until morning.

23 When theLordpasses through to strike Egypt and sees the blood on the lintel and the two doorposts, He will pass over the door and not let the destroyer enter your houses to strike you.

24 “Keep this command permanently as a statute for you and your descendants.

25 When you enter the land that theLordwill give you as He promised, you are to observe this ritual.

26 When your childrenask you, ‘What does this ritual mean to you? ’

27 you are to reply, ‘It is the Passover sacrificeto theLord, for He passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians and spared our homes.’ ” So the people bowed down and worshiped.

28 Then the Israelites went and did this; they did just as theLordhad commanded Moses and Aaron.

The Exodus

29 Now at midnight theLordstruck every firstborn male in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the prisoner who was in the dungeon, and every firstborn of the livestock.

30 During the night Pharaoh got up, he along with all his officials and all the Egyptians, and there was a loud wailingthroughout Egypt because there wasn’t a house without someone dead.

31 He summoned Moses and Aaron during the night and said, “Get up, leave my people, both you and the Israelites, and go, worship Yahweh as you have asked.

32 Take even your flocks and your herds as you asked and leave, and also bless me.”

33 Now the Egyptians pressured the people in order to send them quickly out of the country, for they said, “We’re all going to die! ”

34 So the people took their dough before it was leavened, with their kneading bowls wrapped up in their clothes on their shoulders.

35 The Israelites acted on Moses’ word and asked the Egyptians for silver and gold jewelry and for clothing.

36 And theLordgave the people such favor in the Egyptians’ sight that they gave them what they requested. In this way they plundered the Egyptians.

37 The Israelites traveled from Rameses to Succoth,about 600,000soldiers on foot, besides their families.

38 An ethnically diverse crowd also went up with them, along with a huge number of livestock, both flocks and herds.

39 The people baked the dough they had brought out of Egypt into unleavened loaves, since it had no yeast; for when they had been drivenout of Egypt they could not delay and had not prepared any provisions for themselves.

40 The time that the Israelites lived in Egyptwas 430 years.

41 At the end of 430 years, on that same day, all theLord’s divisions went out from the land of Egypt.

42 It was a night of vigil in honor of theLord, because He would bring them out of the land of Egypt. This same night is in honor of theLord, a night vigil for all the Israelites throughout their generations.

Passover Instruction

43 TheLordsaid to Moses and Aaron, “This is the statute of the Passover: no foreigner may eat it.

44 But any slave a man has purchased may eat it, after you have circumcised him.

45 A temporary resident or hired hand may not eat the Passover.

46 It is to be eaten in one house. You may not take any of the meat outside the house, and you may not break any of its bones.

47 The whole community of Israel must celebrateit.

48 If a foreigner resides with you and wants to celebrate theLord’s Passover, every male in his household must be circumcised, and then he may participate;he will become like a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person may eat it.

49 The same law will apply to both the native and the foreignerwho resides among you.”

50 Then all the Israelites did this; they did just as theLordhad commanded Moses and Aaron.

51 On that same day theLordbrought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt according to their divisions.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/EXO/12-d9d62a297820804f10bf07eda32bf43b.mp3?version_id=72—

Categories
Exodus

Exodus 13

1 TheLordspoke to Moses:

2 “Consecrate every firstborn maleto Me, the firstborn from every womb among the Israelites, both man and domestic animal; it is Mine.”

3 Then Moses said to the people, “Remember this day when you came out of Egypt, out of the place of slavery, for theLordbrought you out of here by the strength of His hand. Nothing leavened may be eaten.

4 Today, in the month of Abib,you are leaving.

5 When theLordbrings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites, and Jebusites,which He swore to your fathers that He would give you, a land flowing with milk and honey,you must carry out this ritual in this month.

6 For seven days you must eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there is to be a festival to theLord.

7 Unleavened bread is to be eaten for those seven days. Nothing leavened may be found among you, and no yeast may be found among you in all your territory.

8 On that day explain to your son, ‘This is because of what theLorddid for me when I came out of Egypt.’

9 Let it serve as a sign for you on your hand and as a reminder on your forehead,so that theLord’s instruction may be in your mouth; for theLordbrought you out of Egypt with a strong hand.

10 Keep this statute at its appointed time from year to year.

11 “When theLordbrings you into the land of the Canaanites, as He swore to you and your fathers, and gives it to you,

12 you are to present to theLordevery firstborn male of the womb. All firstborn offspring of the livestock you own that are males will be theLord’s.

13 You must redeem every firstborn of a donkey with a flock animal, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. However, you must redeem every firstborn among your sons.

14 “In the future, when your sonasks you, ‘What does this mean? ’ say to him, ‘By the strength of His hand theLordbrought us out of Egypt, out of the place of slavery.

15 When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, theLordkilled every firstborn male in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of man to the firstborn of livestock. That is why I sacrifice to theLordall the firstborn of the womb that are males, but I redeem all the firstborn of my sons.’

16 So let it be a sign on your hand and a symbolon your forehead, for theLordbrought us out of Egypt by the strength of His hand.”

The Route of the Exodus

17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them along the road to the land of the Philistines, even though it was nearby; for God said, “The people will change their minds and return to Egypt if they face war.”

18 So He led the people around toward the Red Sea along the road of the wilderness. And the Israelites left the land of Egypt in battle formation.

19 Moses took the bones of Josephwith him, because Joseph had made the Israelites swear a solemn oath, saying, “God will certainly come to your aid; then you must take my bones with you from this place.”

20 They set out from Succoth and camped at Etham on the edge of the wilderness.

21 TheLordwent ahead of them in a pillar of cloudto lead them on their way during the day and in a pillar of fire to give them light at night, so that they could travel day or night.

22 The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night never left its place in front of the people.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/EXO/13-b43fe01e3314cce3fbc7057bf0e05de3.mp3?version_id=72—

Categories
Exodus

Exodus 14

1 Then theLordspoke to Moses:

2 “Tell the Israelites to turn back and camp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea; you must camp in front of Baal-zephon, facing it by the sea.

3 Pharaoh will say of the Israelites: They are wandering around the land in confusion; the wilderness has boxed them in.

4 I will harden Pharaoh’s heart so that he will pursue them. Then I will receive glory by means of Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am Yahweh.” So the Israelites did this.

The Egyptian Pursuit

5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about the people and said: “What have we done? We have released Israel from serving us.”

6 So he got his chariot ready and took his troopswith him;

7 he took 600 of the best chariots and all the rest of the chariots of Egypt, with officers in each one.

8 TheLordhardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the Israelites, who were going out triumphantly.

9 The Egyptians — all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots, his horsemen,and his army — chasedafter them and caught up with them as they camped by the sea beside Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.

10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw the Egyptians coming after them. Then the Israelites were terrified and cried outto theLordfor help.

11 They said to Moses: “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you took us to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?

12 Isn’t this what we told you in Egypt: Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

13 But Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and seetheLord’s salvation He will provide for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again.

14 TheLordwill fight for you; you must be quiet.”

Escape through the Red Sea

15 TheLordsaid to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites to break camp.

16 As for you, lift up your staff, stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide it so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.

17 I am going to harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them, and I will receive glory by means of Pharaoh, all his army, and his chariots and horsemen.

18 The Egyptians will know that I am Yahweh when I receive glory through Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”

19 Then the Angel of God,who was going in front of the Israelite forces, moved and went behind them. The pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and stood behind them.

20 It came between the Egyptian and Israelite forces. The cloud was there in the darkness, yet it lit up the night.So neither group came near the other all night long.

21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. TheLorddrove the sea back with a powerful east wind all that night and turned the sea into dry land. So the waters were divided,

22 and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with the waters like a wall to them on their right and their left.

23 The Egyptians set out in pursuit — all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen — and went into the sea after them.

24 Then during the morning watch, theLordlooked down on the Egyptian forces from the pillar of fireand cloud, and threw them into confusion.

25 He caused their chariot wheels to swerveand made them drivewith difficulty. “Let’s get away from Israel,” the Egyptians said, “because Yahweh is fighting for them against Egypt! ”

26 Then theLordsaid to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may come back on the Egyptians, on their chariots and horsemen.”

27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea returned to its normal depth. While the Egyptians were trying to escape from it, theLordthrew them into the sea.

28 The waters came back and covered the chariotsand horsemen, the entire army of Pharaoh, that had gone after them into the sea. None of them survived.

29 But the Israelites had walked through the sea on dry ground, with the waters like a wall to them on their right and their left.

30 That day theLordsaved Israel from the power of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.

31 When Israel saw the great power that theLordused against the Egyptians, the people feared theLordand believedin Him and in His servant Moses.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/EXO/14-f4ae8515d7967bd698086bb0c55158fe.mp3?version_id=72—

Categories
Exodus

Exodus 15

Israel’s Song

1 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to theLord. They said:

I will sing to theLord,

for He is highly exalted;

He has thrown the horse

and its rider into the sea.

2 TheLordis my strength and my song;

He has become my salvation.

This is my God, and I will praise Him,

my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.

3 TheLordis a warrior;

Yahweh is His name.

4 He threw Pharaoh’s chariots

and his army into the sea;

the elite of his officers

were drowned in the Red Sea.

5 The floods covered them;

they sank to the depths like a stone.

6 Lord, Your right hand is glorious in power.

Lord, Your right hand shattered the enemy.

7 You overthrew Your adversaries

by Your great majesty.

You unleashed Your burning wrath;

it consumed them like stubble.

8 The waters heaped upat the blast of Your nostrils;

the currents stood firm like a dam.

The watery depths congealed in the heart of the sea.

9 The enemy said:

“I will pursue, I will overtake,

I will divide the spoil.

My desire will be gratified at their expense.

I will draw my sword;

my hand will destroythem.”

10 But You blew with Your breath,

and the sea covered them.

They sank like lead

in the mighty waters.

11 Lord, who is like You among the gods?

Who is like You, glorious in holiness,

revered with praises, performing wonders?

12 You stretched out Your right hand,

and the earth swallowed them.

13 You will lead the people

You have redeemed

with Your faithful love;

You will guide them to Your holy dwelling

with Your strength.

14 When the peoples hear, they will shudder;

anguish will seize the inhabitants of Philistia.

15 Then the chiefs of Edom will be terrified;

trembling will seize the leaders of Moab;

the inhabitants of Canaan will panic;

16 and terrorand dread will fall on them.

They will be as stillas a stone

because of Your powerful arm

until Your people pass by,Lord,

until the people whom You purchasedpass by.

17 You will bring them in and plant them

on the mountain of Your possession;

Lord, You have prepared the place

for Your dwelling;

Lord,Your hands have established the sanctuary.

18 TheLordwill reignforever and ever!

19 When Pharaoh’s horses with his chariots and horsemen went into the sea, theLordbrought the waters of the sea back over them. But the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground.

20 Then Miriam the prophetess,Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her with their tambourines and danced.

21 Miriam sang to them:

Sing to theLord,

for He is highly exalted;

He has thrown the horse

and its rider into the sea.

Water Provided

22 Then Moses led Israel on from the Red Sea, and they went out to the Wilderness of Shur. They journeyed for three days in the wilderness without finding water.

23 They came to Marah, but they could not drink the water at Marah because it was bitter — that is why it was named Marah.

24 The people grumbled to Moses, “What are we going to drink? ”

25 So he cried out to theLord, and theLordshowed him a tree. When he threw it into the water, the water became drinkable.

He made a statute and ordinance for them at Marah and He tested them there.

26 He said, “If you will carefully obey theLordyour God, do what is right in His eyes, pay attention to His commands, and keep all His statutes, I will not inflict any illnesses on you that I inflicted on the Egyptians. For I am Yahweh who heals you.”

27 Then they came to Elim, where there were 12 springs of water and 70 date palms, and they camped there by the waters.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/EXO/15-83af230753155873a81dc278fc6e9f22.mp3?version_id=72—

Categories
Exodus

Exodus 16

Manna and Quail Provided

1 The entire Israelite community departed from Elim and came to the Wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had left the land of Egypt.

2 The entire Israelite community grumbledagainst Moses and Aaron in the wilderness.

3 The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by theLord’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by pots of meat and ate all the bread we wanted. Instead, you brought us into this wilderness to make this whole assembly die of hunger! ”

4 Then theLordsaid to Moses, “I am going to rain bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. This way I will test them to see whether or not they will follow My instructions.

5 On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather on other days.”

6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites: “This evening you will know that it was theLordwho brought you out of the land of Egypt;

7 in the morning you will see theLord’s glory because He has heard your complaints about Him. For who are we that you complain about us? ”

8 Moses continued, “TheLordwill give you meat to eat this evening and more than enough bread in the morning, for He has heard the complaints that you are raising against Him. Who are we? Your complaints are not against us but against theLord.”

9 Then Moses told Aaron, “Say to the entire Israelite community, ‘Come before theLord, for He has heard your complaints.’ ”

10 As Aaron was speaking to the entire Israelite community, they turned toward the wilderness, and there in a cloud theLord’s glory appeared.

11 TheLordspoke to Moses,

12 “I have heard the complaints of the Israelites. Tell them: At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will eat bread until you are full. Then you will know that I am Yahweh your God.”

13 So at evening quailcame and covered the camp. In the morning there was a layer of dew all around the camp.

14 When the layer of dew evaporated, there were fine flakes on the desert surface, as fine as frost on the ground.

15 When the Israelites saw it, they asked one another, “What is it? ” because they didn’t know what it was.

Moses told them, “It is the bread theLordhas given you to eat.

16 This is what theLordhas commanded: ‘Gather as much of it as each person needs to eat. You may take two quartsper individual, according to the number of people each of you has in his tent.’ ”

17 So the Israelites did this. Some gathered a lot, some a little.

18 When they measured it by quarts,the person who gathered a lot had no surplus, and the person who gathered a little had no shortage. Each gathered as much as he needed to eat.

19 Moses said to them, “No one is to let any of it remain until morning.”

20 But they didn’t listen to Moses; some people left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and smelled. Therefore Moses was angry with them.

21 They gathered it every morning. Each gathered as much as he needed to eat, but when the sun grew hot, it melted.

22 On the sixth day they gathered twice as much food, four quartsapiece, and all the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses.

23 He told them, “This is what theLordhas said: ‘Tomorrow is a day of complete rest, a holy Sabbathto theLord. Bake what you want to bake, and boil what you want to boil, and set aside everything left over to be kept until morning.’ ”

24 So they set it aside until morning as Moses commanded, and it didn’t smell or have any maggots in it.

25 “Eat it today,” Moses said, “because today is a Sabbath to theLord. Today you won’t find any in the field.

26 For six days you may gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will be none.”

27 Yet on the seventh day some of the people went out to gather, but they did not find any.

28 Then theLordsaid to Moses, “How long will yourefuse to keep My commandsand instructions?

29 Understand that theLordhas given you the Sabbath; therefore on the sixth day He will give you two days’ worth of bread. Each of you stay where you are; no one is to leave his place on the seventh day.”

30 So the people rested on the seventh day.

31 The house of Israel named the substance manna.It resembled coriander seed, was white, and tasted like wafers made with honey.

32 Moses said, “This is what theLordhas commanded: ‘Two quartsof it are to be preserved throughout your generations, so that they may see the bread I fed you in the wilderness when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.’ ”

33 Moses told Aaron, “Take a container and put two quartsof manna in it. Then place it before theLordto be preserved throughout your generations.”

34 As theLordcommanded Moses, Aaron placed it before the testimonyto be preserved.

35 The Israelites ate manna for 40 years, until they came to an inhabited land. They ate manna until they reached the border of the land of Canaan.

36 (Two quarts area tenth of an ephah.)

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/EXO/16-b2f0967bf8e83b5b9c7c52166931d5d0.mp3?version_id=72—

Categories
Exodus

Exodus 17

Water from the Rock

1 The entire Israelite community left the Wilderness of Sin, moving from one place to the next according to theLord’s command. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink.

2 So the people complained to Moses, “Give us water to drink.”

“Why are you complaining to me? ” Moses replied to them. “Why are you testingtheLord? ”

3 But the people thirsted there for water, and grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you ever bring us out of Egypt to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst? ”

4 Then Moses cried out to theLord, “What should I do with these people? In a little while they will stone me! ”

5 TheLordanswered Moses, “Go on ahead of the people and take some of the elders of Israel with you. Take the staff you struck the Nile with in your hand and go.

6 I am going to stand there in front of you on the rock at Horeb; when you hit the rock, waterwill come out of it and the people will drink.” Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel.

7 He named the place Massahand Meribahbecause the Israelites complained, and because they tested theLord, saying, “Is theLordamong us or not? ”

The Amalekites Attack

8 At Rephidim, Amalekcame and fought against Israel.

9 Moses said to Joshua,“Select some men for us and go fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the hilltop with God’s staff in my hand.”

10 Joshua did as Moses had told him, and fought against Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

11 While Moses held up his hand,Israel prevailed, but whenever he put his handdown, Amalek prevailed.

12 When Moses’ hands grew heavy, they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat down on it. Then Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other so that his hands remained steady until the sun went down.

13 So Joshua defeated Amalek and his armywith the sword.

14 TheLordthen said to Moses, “Write this down on a scroll as a reminder and recite it to Joshua: I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek under heaven.”

15 And Moses built an altarand named it, “TheLordIs My Banner.”

16 He said, “Indeed, my hand is lifted up towardtheLord’s throne. TheLordwill be at war with Amalek from generation to generation.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/EXO/17-726528e28be51c726b6f8dc1593dc5ab.mp3?version_id=72—

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Exodus

Exodus 18

Jethro’s Visit

1 Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian,heard about everything that God had done for Moses and His people Israel, and how theLordhad brought Israel out of Egypt.

2 Now Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, had taken in Zipporah,Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back,

3 along with her two sons, one of whom was named Gershom (because Moses had said, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land”)

4 and the other Eliezer (because he had said, “The God of my father was my helper and delivered me from Pharaoh’s sword”).

5 Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, along with Moses’ wife and sons, came to him in the wilderness where he was camped at the mountain of God.

6 He sent word to Moses, “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, bowed down,and then kissed him. They asked each other how they had beenand went into the tent.

8 Moses recounted to his father-in-law all that theLordhad done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardships that confronted them on the way, and how theLorddelivered them.

9 Jethro rejoiced over all the good things theLordhad done for Israel when He rescued them from the power of the Egyptians.

10 “Praise theLord,”Jethro exclaimed, “who rescued you from Pharaoh and the power of the Egyptians and snatched the people from the power of the Egyptians.

11 Now I know that Yahweh is greater than all gods, because He did wonders when the Egyptians acted arrogantly against Israel.”

12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses’ father-in-law in God’s presence.

13 The next day Moses sat down to judge the people, and they stood around Moses from morning until evening.

14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw everything he was doing for them he asked, “What is this thing you’re doing for the people? Why are you alone sitting as judge, while all the people stand around you from morning until evening? ”

15 Moses replied to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God.

16 Whenever they have a dispute, it comes to me, and I make a decision between one man and another. I teach them God’s statutes and laws.”

17 “What you’re doing is not good,” Moses’ father-in-law said to him.

18 “You will certainly wear out both yourself and these people who are with you, because the task is too heavy for you. You can’t do it alone.

19 Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and God be with you. You be the one to represent the people before God and bring their cases to Him.

20 Instruct them about the statutes and laws, and teach them the way to live and what they must do.

21 But you should select from all the people able men, God-fearing, trustworthy, and hating bribes.Place them over the people as commanders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.

22 They should judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you every important case but judge every minor case themselves. In this way you will lighten your load,and they will bear it with you.

23 If you do this, and God so directs you, you will be able to endure, and also all these people will be able to go home satisfied.”

24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.

25 So Moses chose able men from all Israel and made them leaders over the people as commanders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.

26 They judged the people at all times; they would bring the hard cases to Moses, but they would judge every minor case themselves.

27 Then Moses said good-bye to his father-in-law, and he journeyed to his own land.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/EXO/18-1f173cf373bf6fc070112896099ffec6.mp3?version_id=72—

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Exodus

Exodus 19

Israel at Sinai

1 In the third month, on the same day of the month that the Israelites had left the land of Egypt, they entered the Wilderness of Sinai.

2 After they departed from Rephidim, they entered the Wilderness of Sinai and camped in the wilderness, and Israel camped there in front of the mountain.

3 Moses went up the mountain to God, and theLordcalledto him from the mountain: “This is what you must say to the house of Jacob, and explain to the Israelites:

4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Me.

5 Now if you will listen to Me and carefully keep My covenant,you will be My own possessionout of all the peoples, although all the earth is Mine,

6 and you will be My kingdom of priests and My holy nation.’These are the words that you are to say to the Israelites.”

7 After Moses came back, he summoned the elders of the people and set before them all these words that theLordhad commanded him.

8 Then all the people responded together, “We will do all that theLordhas spoken.”So Moses brought the people’s words back to theLord.

9 TheLordsaid to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud,so that the people will hear when I speakwith you and will always believe you.” Then Moses reported the people’s words to theLord.

10 And theLordtold Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes

11 and be prepared by the third day, for on the third day theLordwill come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

12 Put boundaries for the people all around the mountain and say: Be careful that you don’t go up on the mountain or touch its base. Anyone who touches the mountain will be put to death.

13 No hand may touch him; instead he will be stoned or shot with arrows. No animal or man will live. When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, they may go up the mountain.”

14 Then Moses came down from the mountain to the people and consecrated them, and they washed their clothes.

15 He said to the people, “Be prepared by the third day. Do not have sexual relations with women.”

16 On the third day, when morning came, there was thunder and lightning, a thick cloud on the mountain, and a loud trumpet sound, so that all the people in the camp shuddered.

17 Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.

18 Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke because theLordcame down on it in fire.Its smoke went up like the smoke of a furnace,and the whole mountain shook violently.

19 As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him in the thunder.

20 TheLordcame down on Mount Sinai at the top of the mountain. Then theLordsummoned Moses to the top of the mountain, and he went up.

21 TheLorddirected Moses, “Go down and warn the people not to break through to see theLord; otherwise many of them will die.

22 Even the priests who come near theLordmust purify themselves or theLordwill break out in anger against them.”

23 But Moses responded to theLord, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, since You warned us: Put a boundary around the mountain and consider it holy.”

24 And theLordreplied to him, “Go down and come back with Aaron. But the priests and the people must not break through to come up to theLord, or He will break out in anger against them.”

25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/EXO/19-9039876ee50fd2c3f076d5329bc24557.mp3?version_id=72—

Categories
Exodus

Exodus 20

The Ten Commandments

1 Then God spoke all these words:

2 I am theLordyour God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery.

3 Do not have other gods besides Me.

4 Do not make an idolfor yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth.

5 You must not bow down to them or worship them; for I, theLordyour God, am a jealous God,punishing the children for the fathers’ sin, to the third and fourth generationsof those who hate Me,

6 but showing faithful love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commands.

7 Do not misuse the name of theLordyour God, because theLordwill not leave anyone unpunished who misuses His name.

8 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy:

9 You are to labor six days and do all your work,

10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to theLordyour God. You must not do any work — you, your son or daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the foreigner who is within your gates.

11 For theLordmade the heavens and the earth, the sea, and everything in them in six days; then He rested on the seventh day. Therefore theLordblessed the Sabbath day and declared it holy.

12 Honor your father and your motherso that you may have a long life in the land that theLordyour God is giving you.

13 Do not murder.

14 Do not commit adultery.

15 Do not steal.

16 Do not give false testimony against your neighbor.

17 Do not covet your neighbor’s house. Do not covet your neighbor’s wife, his male or female slave, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

The People’s Reaction

18 All the people witnessedthe thunder and lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain surrounded by smoke. When the people saw itthey trembled and stood at a distance.

19 “You speak to us, and we will listen,” they said to Moses, “but don’t let God speak to us, or we will die.”

20 Moses responded to the people, “Don’t be afraid, for God has come to test you, so that you will fear Him and will notsin.”

21 And the people remained standing at a distance as Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.

Moses Receives Additional Laws

22 Then theLordtold Moses, “This is what you are to say to the Israelites: You have seen that I have spoken to you from heaven.

23 You must not make gods of silver to rival Me; you must not make gods of gold for yourselves.

24 “You must make an earthen altar for Me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats, as well as your cattle. I will come to you and bless you in every place where I cause My name to be remembered.

25 If you make a stone altar for Me, you must not build it out of cut stones. If you use your chisel on it, you will defile it.

26 You must not go up to My altar on steps, so that your nakedness is not exposed on it.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/EXO/20-1596ac8d1ace14ed66ece8163318c43d.mp3?version_id=72—