3 God hardeneth Pharaoh’s heart. 10 Moses and Aaron do the miracles of the serpent, and the blood: and Pharaoh’s sorcerers do the like.

Then the Lord said to Moses, Behold, I have made thee [a]Pharaoh’s [b]God, and Aaron thy brother shall [c]be thy Prophet.

Thou shalt speak all that I commanded thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he suffer the children of Israel to go out of his land.

But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply my miracles, and my wonders in the land of Egypt.

And Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out mine armies, even my people, the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, by great [d]judgments.

Then the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.

So Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded them, even so did they.

(Now Moses was [e]fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three, when they spake unto Pharaoh.)

¶ And the Lord had spoken unto Moses and Aaron, saying,

If Pharaoh speak unto you, saying, Show a miracle for you, then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall be turned into a [f]serpent.

10 ¶ Then went Moses and Aaron unto Pharaoh, and did even as the Lord had commanded, and Aaron cast forth his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it was turned into a serpent.

11 Then Pharaoh also called for the wise men and [g]sorcerers: and those charmers also of Egypt did in like manner with their enchantments.

12 For they cast down every man his rod, and they were turned into serpents: but Aaron’s rod devoured their rods.

13 So Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he hearkened not to them, as the Lord had said.

14 ¶ The Lord then said unto Moses, Pharaoh’s heart is [h]obstinate, he refuseth to let the people go.

15 Go unto Pharaoh in the morning, (lo, he will come forth unto the water) and thou shalt stand and meet him by [i]the river’s brink, and the rod, which was turned into a serpent, shalt thou take in thine hand.

16 And thou shalt say unto him, The Lord God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go that they may serve me in the wilderness: and behold, hitherto thou wouldest not hear.

17 Thus saith the Lord, In this thou shalt know that I am the Lord: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the water that is in the river, and it shall be turned into blood.

18 And the fish that is in the river shall die, and the river shall stink, and it shall [j]grieve the Egyptians to drink of the water of the river.

19 ¶ The Lord then spake to Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the waters of Egypt, over their streams, over their rivers, and over their ponds, and over all pools of their waters, and they shall be [k]blood, and there shall be blood throughout the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and of stone.

20 So Moses and Aaron did even as the Lord commanded: (A)and he lift up the rod, and smote the water that was in the river in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants: and (B)all the water that was in the river, was turned into blood.

21 And the [l]fish that was in the river died, and the river stank: so that the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river: and there was blood throughout the land of Egypt.

22 And the enchanters of Egypt did [m]likewise with their sorceries: and the heart of Pharaoh was [n]hardened: so that he did not hearken unto them, as the Lord hath said.

23 Then Pharaoh returned, and went again into his house, [o]neither did this yet enter into his heart.

24 All the Egyptians then dug round about the river for waters to drink: for they could not drink of the water of the river.

25 And this [p]continued fully seven days after the Lord had smitten the river.

6 Frogs are sent. 13 Moses prayeth, and they die.  17 Lice are sent, whereby the sorcerers acknowledge God’s power. 24 Egypt is plagued with noisome flies.  30 Moses prayeth again.

Afterward the Lord said unto Moses, Go unto Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus saith the Lord, Let my people go, that they may serve me.

And if thou wilt not let them go, behold, I will smite all thy country with [q]frogs:

And the river shall crawl full of frogs, which shall go up and come into thine house, and into thy chamber, where thou sleepest, and upon thy bed, and into the house of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thy ovens, and [r]into thy kneading troughs.

Yea, the frogs shall climb up upon thee, and on thy people, and upon all thy servants.

¶ Also the Lord said to Moses, Say thou unto Aaron, Stretch out thine hand with thy rod upon the streams, upon the rivers, and upon the ponds, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt.

Then Aaron stretched out his hand upon the waters of Egypt, and the [s]frogs came up and covered the land of [t]Egypt.

And the sorcerers did likewise with their sorceries, and brought frogs up upon the land of Egypt.

Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, [u]Pray ye unto the Lord, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people, and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the Lord.

And Moses said unto Pharaoh, [v]Concerning me, even [w]command when I shall pray for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, to destroy the frogs from thee and from thine houses, that they may remain in the river only.

10 Then he said, Tomorrow. And he answered, Be it [x]as thou hast said, that thou mayest know, that there is none like unto the Lord our God.

11 So the frogs shall depart from thee, and from thine houses, and from thy servants, and from thy people: only they shall remain in the river.

12 Then Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh: and Moses cried unto the Lord concerning the frogs, which he had [y]sent unto Pharaoh.

13 And the Lord did according to the saying of Moses: So the frogs [z]died in the houses, in the towns, and the fields.

14 And they gathered them together by heaps, and the land stank of them.

15 But when Pharaoh saw that he had rest given him, he [aa]hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them, as the Lord had said.

16 ¶ Again the Lord said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the earth, that it may be turned to [ab]lice throughout all the land of Egypt.

17 And they did so: for Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth: and lice came upon man and upon beast: all the dust of the earth was lice throughout all the land of Egypt.

18 Now the enchanters assayed likewise with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they [ac]could not. So the lice were upon man and upon beast.

19 Then said the enchanters unto Pharaoh, This is [ad]the finger of God. But Pharaoh’s heart remained obstinate, and he hearkened not unto them, as the Lord had said.

20 ¶ Moreover the Lord said to Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh (lo, he will come forth unto the water) and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Let my people go, that they may serve me.

21 Else, if thou wilt not let my people go, behold, I will send [ae]swarms of flies both upon thee, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thine houses: and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and the ground also whereon they are.

22 But the land of Goshen, where my people are, will I cause to be [af]wonderful in that day, so that no swarms of flies shall be there, that thou mayest know that I am the Lord in the midst of the [ag]earth.

23 And I will make a deliverance of my people from thy people: tomorrow shall this miracle be.

24 And the Lord did so: for there came [ah]great swarms of flies into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants’ houses, so that through all the land of Egypt, the earth was corrupt by the swarms of flies.

25 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Go, do sacrifice unto your God in this land.

26 And Moses answered, It is not meet to do so: for then we should offer unto the Lord our God that, which is an [ai]abomination unto the Egyptians. Lo, can we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, and they not stone us?

27 Let us go three days’ journey in the desert, and sacrifice unto the Lord our God, (C)as he hath commanded us.

28 And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice unto the Lord your God in the wilderness: but [aj]go not far away, pray for me.

29 And Moses said, Behold, I will go out from thee, and pray unto the Lord, that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people tomorrow: but let Pharaoh from henceforth [ak]deceive no more, in not suffering the people to sacrifice unto the Lord.

30 So Moses went out from Pharaoh and prayed unto the Lord.

31 And the Lord did according to the saying of Moses, and the swarms of flies departed from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, and there remained not one.

32 Yet Pharaoh [al]hardened his heart at this time also, and did not let the people go.

3 The moraine of beasts. 10 The plague of botches and sores. 23 The horrible hail, thunder, and lightning. 26 The land of Goshen ever is excepted. 27 Pharaoh confesseth his wickedness. 33 Moses prayeth for him.  35 Yet he is obstinate.

Then the Lord said unto Moses, Go to Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.

But if thou refuse to let them go, and wilt yet hold them still,

Behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thy flock which is in the field: for upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the cattle, and upon the sheep shall be a [am]mighty great moraine.

And the Lord shall do [an]wonderfully between the beasts of Israel, and the beasts of Egypt: so that there shall nothing die at all, that pertaineth to the children of Israel.

And the Lord appointed a time, saying, Tomorrow the Lord shall finish this thing in this land.

So the Lord did this thing on the morrow, and all the cattle of Egypt died: but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one.

Then Pharaoh [ao]sent, and behold, there was not one of the cattle of the Israelites dead: and the heart of Pharaoh was obstinate, and he did not let the people go.

¶ And the Lord said to Moses and to Aaron, Take your handful of [ap]ashes of the furnace, and Moses shall sprinkle them toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh,

And they shall be turned to dust in all the land of Egypt: and it shall be as a scab breaking out into blisters upon man, and upon beast throughout all the land of Egypt.

10 Then they took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh: and Moses sprinkled them toward the heaven, and there came [a] [aq]scab breaking out into blisters upon man, and upon beast.

11 And the sorcerers could not stand before Moses, because of the scab: for the scab was upon the enchanters and upon all the Egyptians.

12 And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them, (D)as the Lord had said unto Moses.

13 ¶ Also the Lord said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, Let my people go that they may serve me.

14 For I will at this time send my plagues upon [ar]thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people, that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth.

15 For now I will stretch out mine hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with the pestilence: and thou shalt perish from the earth.

16 And indeed, (E)for this cause have [as]I appointed thee, to [at]show my power in thee, and to declare my [au]name throughout all the world.

17 Yet thou exaltest thyself against my people, and lettest them not go.

18 Behold, tomorrow this time I will cause to rain a mighty great hail, such as was not in Egypt since the foundation thereof was laid unto this time.

19 Send therefore now, and [av]gather the cattle, and all that thou hast in the field: for upon all the men, and the beasts, which are found in the field, and not brought home, the hail shall fall upon them, and they shall die.

20 Such then as feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh, made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses.

21 But such as [aw]regarded not the [ax]word of the Lord, left his servants, and his cattle in the field.

22 ¶ And the Lord said to Moses, Stretch forth thine hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon beast, and upon all the herbs of the field in the land of Egypt.

23 Then Moses stretched out his rod toward heaven, and the Lord sent thunder and [ay]hail, and [az]lightning upon the ground: and the Lord caused hail to rain upon the land of Egypt.

24 So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, so grievous, as there was none throughout all the land of Egypt, since [ba]it was a nation.

25 And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast: also the hail smote all the trees of the field and brake to pieces all the trees of the field.

26 Only in the land of Goshen (where the children of Israel were) was no hail.

27 Then Pharaoh sent and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I [bb]have now sinned: the Lord is righteous, but I and my people are wicked.

28 Pray ye unto the Lord (for it is enough) that there be no more [bc]mighty thunders, and hail, and I will let you go, and ye shall tarry no longer.

29 Then Moses said unto him, As soon as I am out of the city, I will spread mine hands unto the Lord, and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail, that thou mayest know that (F)the earth is the Lord’s.

30 As for thee and thy servants, I know [bd]afore I pray, ye will fear before the face of the Lord God.

31 (And the flax, and the barley were smitten: for the barley was eared, and the flax was bolled.

32 But the wheat and the rye were not smitten, for they were [be]hid in the ground.)

33 Then Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread his hands to the Lord, and the thunder and the hail ceased, neither rained it upon the earth.

34 And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder were ceased, he sinned again, and hardened his heart, both he, and his servants.

35 So the heart of Pharaoh was hardened: neither would he let the children of Israel go, as the Lord had said [bf]by Moses.

10 7 Pharoah’s servants counsel him to let the Israelites depart. 13 Grasshoppers destroy the country.  16 Pharaoh confesseth his sin. 22 Darkness is sent.

Again the Lord said unto Moses, Go to Pharaoh, (G)for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might work these [bg]my miracles in the midst of his realm,

And that thou mayest declare in the [bh]ears of thy son, and of thy son’s son, what things I have done in Egypt, and my miracles, which I have done among them: that ye may know that I am the Lord.

Then came Moses and Aaron unto Pharaoh, and they said unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse [bi]to humble thyself before me? Let my people go, that they may serve me.

But if thou refuse to let my people go, behold, tomorrow will I bring [bj]grasshoppers into thy coasts.

And they shall cover the face of the earth, that a man cannot see the earth: and they shall eat the residue which remaineth unto you, and hath escaped from the hail: and they shall eat all your trees that bud in the field.

And they shall fill thine houses, and all thy servants’ houses, and the houses of all the Egyptians, as neither thy fathers, nor thy fathers’ fathers have seen, since the time they were upon the earth unto this day. So he returned, and went out from Pharaoh.

Then Pharaoh’s servants said unto him, How long shall he be [bk]an [bl]offence unto us? let the men go, that they may serve the Lord their God: wilt thou first know that Egypt is destroyed?

So Moses and Aaron were brought again unto Pharaoh, and he said unto them, Go, serve the Lord your God, but who are they that shall go?

And Moses answered, We will go with our young, and with our old, with our sons, and with our daughters, with our sheep, and with our cattle will we go: for we must celebrate a feast unto the Lord.

10 And he said unto them, Let [bm]the Lord so be with you, as I will let you go and your children: [bn]behold, for evil is before your face.

11 It shall not be so: now go ye that are men, and serve the Lord: for that was your desire. Then they were thrust out from Pharaoh’s presence.

12 ¶ After, the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand upon the land of Egypt for the grasshoppers, that they may come upon the land of Egypt, and eat all the herbs of the land, even all that the hail had left.

13 Then Moses stretched forth his rod upon the land of Egypt: and the Lord brought an East wind upon the land all that day, and all that night: and in the morning the East wind brought the [bo]grasshoppers.

14 So the grasshoppers went up upon all the land of Egypt, and [bp]remained in all quarters of Egypt: so grievous Grasshoppers, like to these were never before, neither after them shall be such.

15 For they covered all the face of the earth, so that the land was dark: and they did eat all the herbs of the land, and all the fruits of the trees, which the hail had left, so that there was no green thing left upon the trees, nor among the herbs of the field throughout all the land of Egypt.

16 Therefore Pharaoh called for [bq]Moses and Aaron in haste, and said, I have sinned against the Lord your God, and against you.

17 And now forgive me my sin only this once, and pray unto the Lord your God, that he may take away from me this death only.

18 Moses then went out from Pharaoh, and prayed unto the Lord.

19 And the Lord turned a mighty strong West wind, and took away the grasshoppers, and violently cast them into the [br]red Sea, so that there remained not one grasshopper in all the land of Egypt.

20 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go.

21 ¶ Again the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be upon the land of Egypt darkness, even darkness that may be [bs]felt.

22 Then Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven, and there was a [bt]black darkness in all the land of Egypt three days.

23 No man saw another, neither rose up from the place where he was for three days: but all the children of Israel had light where they dwelt.

24 Then Pharaoh called for Moses, and said, Go serve the Lord: only your sheep and your cattle shall abide, and your children shall go with you.

25 And Moses said, Thou must give us also sacrifices, and burnt offerings that we may do sacrifice unto the Lord our God.

26 Therefore our cattle also shall go with us: there shall not an [bu]hoof be left, for thereof must we take to serve the Lord our God: neither do we know [bv]how we shall serve the Lord, until we come thither.

27 (But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go.)

28 And Pharaoh said unto him, Get thee from me: look thou see my face no more: for whensoever thou comest in my sight, thou shalt [bw]die.

29 Then Moses said, Thou hast said well: from henceforth will I see thy face no more.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 7:1 Or, a God to Pharaoh.
  2. Exodus 7:1 I have given thee power and authority to speak in my name and to execute my judgments upon him.
  3. Exodus 7:1 Or, shall speak for thee (before Pharaoh.)
  4. Exodus 7:4 To strengthen Moses’ faith, God promiseth again to punish most sharply the oppression of his Church.
  5. Exodus 7:7 Moses lived in affliction and banishment forty years before he enjoined his office to deliver God’s people.
  6. Exodus 7:9 Or, dragon.
  7. Exodus 7:11 It seemeth that these were Jannes and Jambres: read 2 Tim. 3:8, so ever the wicked maliciously resist the truth of God.
  8. Exodus 7:14 Or, heavy and dull.
  9. Exodus 7:15 To wit, the river Nile.
  10. Exodus 7:18 Or, they shall be weary, and abhor to drink.
  11. Exodus 7:19 The first plague.
  12. Exodus 7:21 To signify that it was a true miracle, and that God plagued them in that which was most necessary for the preservation of life.
  13. Exodus 7:22 In outward appearance, and after that the seven days were ended.
  14. Exodus 7:22 Hebrew, was made strong.
  15. Exodus 7:23 Hebrew, he set not his heart at all thereunto.
  16. Exodus 7:25 Or seven days accomplished.
  17. Exodus 8:2 There is nothing so weak, that God cannot cause to overcome the greatest power of man.
  18. Exodus 8:3 Or, upon thy dough, or into thine ambries.
  19. Exodus 8:6 The second plague.
  20. Exodus 8:6 But Goshen, where God’s people dwelt, was excepted.
  21. Exodus 8:8 Not love, but fear causeth the very Infidels to seek unto God.
  22. Exodus 8:9 Hebrew, have this honor over me.
  23. Exodus 8:9 Or, speak plain unto me.
  24. Exodus 8:10 Hebrew, according to thy word.
  25. Exodus 8:12 Or, laid upon.
  26. Exodus 8:13 In things of this life God oft times heareth the prayers of the just for the ungodly.
  27. Exodus 8:15 Or, made his heart heavy.
  28. Exodus 8:16 The third plague.
  29. Exodus 8:18 God confounded their wisdom and authority in a thing most vile.
  30. Exodus 8:19 They acknowledged that this was done by God’s power and not by sorcery, Luke 11:20.
  31. Exodus 8:21 Or, a multitude of venomous beasts as serpents, etc.
  32. Exodus 8:22 Or, I will separate.
  33. Exodus 8:22 Or, land of Egypt.
  34. Exodus 8:24 The fourth plague.
  35. Exodus 8:26 For the Egyptians worshipped divers beasts, as the ox, the sheep and such like which the Israelites offered in sacrifice, which thing the Egyptians abhorred to see.
  36. Exodus 8:28 So the wicked prescribe unto God’s messengers how far they shall go.
  37. Exodus 8:29 He could not judge his heart, but yet he charged him to do this unfeignedly.
  38. Exodus 8:32 Where God giveth not faith, no miracles can prevail.
  39. Exodus 9:3 The fifth plague.
  40. Exodus 9:4 He shall declare his heavenly judgment against his enemies, and his favor toward his children.
  41. Exodus 9:7 Into the land of Goshen, where the Israelites dwelled.
  42. Exodus 9:8 Or, embers.
  43. Exodus 9:10 The sixth plague.
  44. Exodus 9:14 So that thine own conscience shall condemn thee of ingratitude and malice.
  45. Exodus 9:16 Or, set thee up.
  46. Exodus 9:16 Or, to show thee.
  47. Exodus 9:16 That is, that all the world may magnify my power in overcoming thee.
  48. Exodus 9:19 Here we see though God’s wrath be kindled, yet there is a certain mercy showed even to his enemies.
  49. Exodus 9:21 Hebrew, set not his heart to.
  50. Exodus 9:21 The word of the minister is called the word of God.
  51. Exodus 9:23 The seventh plague.
  52. Exodus 9:23 Hebrew, fire walked.
  53. Exodus 9:24 Or, since it was inhabited.
  54. Exodus 9:27 The wicked confess their sins to their condemnation, but they cannot believe to obtain remission.
  55. Exodus 9:28 Hebrew, voice of God.
  56. Exodus 9:30 Meaning, that when they have their request, they are never the better, though they make many fair promises, wherein we see the practices of the wicked.
  57. Exodus 9:32 Or, late sown.
  58. Exodus 9:35 Hebrew, by the hand of Moses.
  59. Exodus 10:1 Or, in his presence, or among them.
  60. Exodus 10:2 The miracles should be so great, that they should be spoken of for ever: where also we see the duty of parents toward their children.
  61. Exodus 10:3 The end of affliction is, to humble ourselves with true repentance under the hand of God.
  62. Exodus 10:4 Or, locusts.
  63. Exodus 10:7 Or, snare.
  64. Exodus 10:7 Meaning, the occasion of all these evils: so are the godly ever charged as Elijah was by Ahab.
  65. Exodus 10:10 That is, I would the Lord were no more affectioned toward you, than I am minded to let you go.
  66. Exodus 10:10 Punishment is prepared for you. Some read, Ye intend some mischief.
  67. Exodus 10:13 The eighth plague.
  68. Exodus 10:14 Or, he caused them to remain.
  69. Exodus 10:16 The wicked in their miseries seek to God’s ministers for help, albeit they hate and detest them.
  70. Exodus 10:19 The water seemed red, because the sand or gravel is red: the Hebrews called it the Sea of bulrushes.
  71. Exodus 10:21 Because it was so thick.
  72. Exodus 10:22 The ninth plague.
  73. Exodus 10:26 The ministers of God ought not to yield one iota to the wicked, as touching their charge.
  74. Exodus 10:26 That is, with what beasts, or how many.
  75. Exodus 10:28 Though before he confessed Moses just, yet again his own conscience he threateneth to put him to death.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God(A) to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet.(B) You are to say everything I command you, and your brother Aaron is to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of his country. But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart,(C) and though I multiply my signs and wonders(D) in Egypt, he will not listen(E) to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and with mighty acts of judgment(F) I will bring out my divisions,(G) my people the Israelites. And the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord(H) when I stretch out my hand(I) against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it.”

Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord commanded(J) them. Moses was eighty years old(K) and Aaron eighty-three when they spoke to Pharaoh.

Aaron’s Staff Becomes a Snake

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “When Pharaoh says to you, ‘Perform a miracle,(L)’ then say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh,’ and it will become a snake.”(M)

10 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord commanded. Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. 11 Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers,(N) and the Egyptian magicians(O) also did the same things by their secret arts:(P) 12 Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs. 13 Yet Pharaoh’s heart(Q) became hard and he would not listen(R) to them, just as the Lord had said.

The Plague of Blood

14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is unyielding;(S) he refuses to let the people go. 15 Go to Pharaoh in the morning as he goes out to the river.(T) Confront him on the bank of the Nile,(U) and take in your hand the staff that was changed into a snake. 16 Then say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to say to you: Let my people go, so that they may worship(V) me in the wilderness. But until now you have not listened.(W) 17 This is what the Lord says: By this you will know that I am the Lord:(X) With the staff that is in my hand I will strike the water of the Nile, and it will be changed into blood.(Y) 18 The fish in the Nile will die, and the river will stink;(Z) the Egyptians will not be able to drink its water.’”(AA)

19 The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Take your staff(AB) and stretch out your hand(AC) over the waters of Egypt—over the streams and canals, over the ponds and all the reservoirs—and they will turn to blood.’ Blood will be everywhere in Egypt, even in vessels[a] of wood and stone.”

20 Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded.(AD) He raised his staff in the presence of Pharaoh and his officials and struck the water of the Nile,(AE) and all the water was changed into blood.(AF) 21 The fish in the Nile died, and the river smelled so bad that the Egyptians could not drink its water. Blood was everywhere in Egypt.

22 But the Egyptian magicians(AG) did the same things by their secret arts,(AH) and Pharaoh’s heart(AI) became hard; he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said. 23 Instead, he turned and went into his palace, and did not take even this to heart. 24 And all the Egyptians dug along the Nile to get drinking water(AJ), because they could not drink the water of the river.

The Plague of Frogs

25 Seven days passed after the Lord struck the Nile. [b]Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Let my people go, so that they may worship(AK) me. If you refuse to let them go, I will send a plague of frogs(AL) on your whole country. The Nile will teem with frogs. They will come up into your palace and your bedroom and onto your bed, into the houses of your officials and on your people,(AM) and into your ovens and kneading troughs.(AN) The frogs will come up on you and your people and all your officials.’”

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your staff(AO) over the streams and canals and ponds, and make frogs(AP) come up on the land of Egypt.’”

So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs(AQ) came up and covered the land. But the magicians did the same things by their secret arts;(AR) they also made frogs come up on the land of Egypt.

Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Pray(AS) to the Lord to take the frogs away from me and my people, and I will let your people go to offer sacrifices(AT) to the Lord.”

Moses said to Pharaoh, “I leave to you the honor of setting the time(AU) for me to pray for you and your officials and your people that you and your houses may be rid of the frogs, except for those that remain in the Nile.”

10 “Tomorrow,” Pharaoh said.

Moses replied, “It will be as you say, so that you may know there is no one like the Lord our God.(AV) 11 The frogs will leave you and your houses, your officials and your people; they will remain only in the Nile.”

12 After Moses and Aaron left Pharaoh, Moses cried out to the Lord about the frogs he had brought on Pharaoh. 13 And the Lord did what Moses asked.(AW) The frogs died in the houses, in the courtyards and in the fields. 14 They were piled into heaps, and the land reeked of them. 15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief,(AX) he hardened his heart(AY) and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said.

The Plague of Gnats

16 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff(AZ) and strike the dust of the ground,’ and throughout the land of Egypt the dust will become gnats.” 17 They did this, and when Aaron stretched out his hand with the staff and struck the dust of the ground, gnats(BA) came on people and animals. All the dust throughout the land of Egypt became gnats. 18 But when the magicians(BB) tried to produce gnats by their secret arts,(BC) they could not.

Since the gnats were on people and animals everywhere, 19 the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger(BD) of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart(BE) was hard and he would not listen,(BF) just as the Lord had said.

The Plague of Flies

20 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning(BG) and confront Pharaoh as he goes to the river and say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Let my people go, so that they may worship(BH) me. 21 If you do not let my people go, I will send swarms of flies on you and your officials, on your people and into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians will be full of flies; even the ground will be covered with them.

22 “‘But on that day I will deal differently with the land of Goshen,(BI) where my people live;(BJ) no swarms of flies will be there, so that you will know(BK) that I, the Lord, am in this land. 23 I will make a distinction[c] between my people and your people.(BL) This sign will occur tomorrow.’”

24 And the Lord did this. Dense swarms of flies poured into Pharaoh’s palace and into the houses of his officials; throughout Egypt the land was ruined by the flies.(BM)

25 Then Pharaoh summoned(BN) Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God here in the land.”

26 But Moses said, “That would not be right. The sacrifices we offer the Lord our God would be detestable to the Egyptians.(BO) And if we offer sacrifices that are detestable in their eyes, will they not stone us? 27 We must take a three-day journey(BP) into the wilderness to offer sacrifices(BQ) to the Lord our God, as he commands us.”

28 Pharaoh said, “I will let you go to offer sacrifices to the Lord your God in the wilderness, but you must not go very far. Now pray(BR) for me.”

29 Moses answered, “As soon as I leave you, I will pray to the Lord, and tomorrow the flies will leave Pharaoh and his officials and his people. Only let Pharaoh be sure that he does not act deceitfully(BS) again by not letting the people go to offer sacrifices to the Lord.”

30 Then Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to the Lord,(BT) 31 and the Lord did what Moses asked. The flies left Pharaoh and his officials and his people; not a fly remained. 32 But this time also Pharaoh hardened his heart(BU) and would not let the people go.

The Plague on Livestock

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: “Let my people go, so that they may worship(BV) me.” If you refuse to let them go and continue to hold them back, the hand(BW) of the Lord will bring a terrible plague(BX) on your livestock in the field—on your horses, donkeys and camels and on your cattle, sheep and goats. But the Lord will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and that of Egypt,(BY) so that no animal belonging to the Israelites will die.’”

The Lord set a time and said, “Tomorrow the Lord will do this in the land.” And the next day the Lord did it: All the livestock(BZ) of the Egyptians died,(CA) but not one animal belonging to the Israelites died. Pharaoh investigated and found that not even one of the animals of the Israelites had died. Yet his heart(CB) was unyielding and he would not let the people go.(CC)

The Plague of Boils

Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Take handfuls of soot from a furnace and have Moses toss it into the air in the presence of Pharaoh. It will become fine dust over the whole land of Egypt, and festering boils(CD) will break out on people and animals throughout the land.”

10 So they took soot from a furnace and stood before Pharaoh. Moses tossed it into the air, and festering boils broke out on people and animals. 11 The magicians(CE) could not stand before Moses because of the boils that were on them and on all the Egyptians. 12 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart(CF) and he would not listen(CG) to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said to Moses.

The Plague of Hail

13 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning, confront Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let my people go, so that they may worship(CH) me, 14 or this time I will send the full force of my plagues against you and against your officials and your people, so you may know(CI) that there is no one like(CJ) me in all the earth. 15 For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people(CK) with a plague that would have wiped you off the earth. 16 But I have raised you up[d] for this very purpose,(CL) that I might show you my power(CM) and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. 17 You still set yourself against my people and will not let them go. 18 Therefore, at this time tomorrow I will send the worst hailstorm(CN) that has ever fallen on Egypt, from the day it was founded till now.(CO) 19 Give an order now to bring your livestock and everything you have in the field to a place of shelter, because the hail will fall on every person and animal that has not been brought in and is still out in the field, and they will die.’”

20 Those officials of Pharaoh who feared(CP) the word of the Lord hurried to bring their slaves and their livestock inside. 21 But those who ignored(CQ) the word of the Lord left their slaves and livestock in the field.

22 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that hail will fall all over Egypt—on people and animals and on everything growing in the fields of Egypt.” 23 When Moses stretched out his staff toward the sky, the Lord sent thunder(CR) and hail,(CS) and lightning flashed down to the ground. So the Lord rained hail on the land of Egypt; 24 hail fell and lightning flashed back and forth. It was the worst storm in all the land of Egypt since it had become a nation.(CT) 25 Throughout Egypt hail struck everything in the fields—both people and animals; it beat down everything growing in the fields and stripped every tree.(CU) 26 The only place it did not hail was the land of Goshen,(CV) where the Israelites were.(CW)

27 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron. “This time I have sinned,”(CX) he said to them. “The Lord is in the right,(CY) and I and my people are in the wrong. 28 Pray(CZ) to the Lord, for we have had enough thunder and hail. I will let you go;(DA) you don’t have to stay any longer.”

29 Moses replied, “When I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands(DB) in prayer to the Lord. The thunder will stop and there will be no more hail, so you may know that the earth(DC) is the Lord’s. 30 But I know that you and your officials still do not fear(DD) the Lord God.”

31 (The flax and barley(DE) were destroyed, since the barley had headed and the flax was in bloom. 32 The wheat and spelt,(DF) however, were not destroyed, because they ripen later.)

33 Then Moses left Pharaoh and went out of the city. He spread out his hands toward the Lord; the thunder and hail stopped, and the rain no longer poured down on the land. 34 When Pharaoh saw that the rain and hail and thunder had stopped, he sinned again: He and his officials hardened their hearts. 35 So Pharaoh’s heart(DG) was hard and he would not let the Israelites go, just as the Lord had said through Moses.

The Plague of Locusts

10 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart(DH) and the hearts of his officials so that I may perform these signs(DI) of mine among them that you may tell your children(DJ) and grandchildren how I dealt harshly(DK) with the Egyptians and how I performed my signs among them, and that you may know that I am the Lord.”(DL)

So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, “This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘How long will you refuse to humble(DM) yourself before me? Let my people go, so that they may worship me. If you refuse(DN) to let them go, I will bring locusts(DO) into your country tomorrow. They will cover the face of the ground so that it cannot be seen. They will devour what little you have left(DP) after the hail, including every tree that is growing in your fields.(DQ) They will fill your houses(DR) and those of all your officials and all the Egyptians—something neither your parents nor your ancestors have ever seen from the day they settled in this land till now.’”(DS) Then Moses turned and left Pharaoh.

Pharaoh’s officials said to him, “How long will this man be a snare(DT) to us? Let the people go, so that they may worship the Lord their God. Do you not yet realize that Egypt is ruined?”(DU)

Then Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. “Go, worship(DV) the Lord your God,” he said. “But tell me who will be going.”

Moses answered, “We will go with our young and our old, with our sons and our daughters, and with our flocks and herds, because we are to celebrate a festival(DW) to the Lord.”

10 Pharaoh said, “The Lord be with you—if I let you go, along with your women and children! Clearly you are bent on evil.[e] 11 No! Have only the men go and worship the Lord, since that’s what you have been asking for.” Then Moses and Aaron were driven out of Pharaoh’s presence.

12 And the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand(DX) over Egypt so that locusts swarm over the land and devour everything growing in the fields, everything left by the hail.”

13 So Moses stretched out his staff(DY) over Egypt, and the Lord made an east wind blow across the land all that day and all that night. By morning the wind had brought the locusts;(DZ) 14 they invaded all Egypt and settled down in every area of the country in great numbers. Never before had there been such a plague of locusts,(EA) nor will there ever be again. 15 They covered all the ground until it was black. They devoured(EB) all that was left after the hail—everything growing in the fields and the fruit on the trees. Nothing green remained on tree or plant in all the land of Egypt.

16 Pharaoh quickly summoned(EC) Moses and Aaron and said, “I have sinned(ED) against the Lord your God and against you. 17 Now forgive(EE) my sin once more and pray(EF) to the Lord your God to take this deadly plague away from me.”

18 Moses then left Pharaoh and prayed to the Lord.(EG) 19 And the Lord changed the wind to a very strong west wind, which caught up the locusts and carried them into the Red Sea.[f] Not a locust was left anywhere in Egypt. 20 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart,(EH) and he would not let the Israelites go.

The Plague of Darkness

21 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that darkness(EI) spreads over Egypt—darkness that can be felt.” 22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and total darkness(EJ) covered all Egypt for three days. 23 No one could see anyone else or move about for three days. Yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived.(EK)

24 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and said, “Go,(EL) worship the Lord. Even your women and children(EM) may go with you; only leave your flocks and herds behind.”(EN)

25 But Moses said, “You must allow us to have sacrifices and burnt offerings(EO) to present to the Lord our God. 26 Our livestock too must go with us; not a hoof is to be left behind. We have to use some of them in worshiping the Lord our God, and until we get there we will not know what we are to use to worship the Lord.”

27 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart,(EP) and he was not willing to let them go. 28 Pharaoh said to Moses, “Get out of my sight! Make sure you do not appear before me again! The day you see my face you will die.”

29 “Just as you say,” Moses replied. “I will never appear(EQ) before you again.”

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 7:19 Or even on their idols
  2. Exodus 8:1 In Hebrew texts 8:1-4 is numbered 7:26-29, and 8:5-32 is numbered 8:1-28.
  3. Exodus 8:23 Septuagint and Vulgate; Hebrew will put a deliverance
  4. Exodus 9:16 Or have spared you
  5. Exodus 10:10 Or Be careful, trouble is in store for you!
  6. Exodus 10:19 Or the Sea of Reeds

13 The firstborn are offered to God. 3 The memorial of their deliverance. 6 The institution of the Passover. 8, 14 An exhortation to teach their children to remember this deliverance. 17 Why they are led by the wilderness. 19 The bones of Joseph. 21 The pillar of the cloud and of the fire.

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

(A)Sanctify unto me all the firstborn: that is, every one that first openeth the womb among the children of Israel, as well of man as of beast: for it is mine.

¶ Then Moses said unto the people, (B)Remember this day in the which ye came out of Egypt, out of the [a]house of [b]bondage: for by a mighty hand the Lord brought you out from thence: therefore no leavened bread shall be [c]eaten.

This day come ye out in the month of [d]Abib.

¶ Now when the Lord hath brought thee into the land of the Canaanites, and Hittites, and Amorites, and Hivites, and Jebusites, (which he sware unto thy fathers, that he would give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey) then thou shalt keep this service in this month.

Seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread, and the [e]seventh day shall be the feast of the Lord.

Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days, and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, nor yet leaven be seen with thee in all thy quarters.

¶ And thou shalt show thy son [f]in that day, saying, This is done, because of that which the Lord did unto me, when I came out of Egypt.

And it shall be a sign unto thee [g]upon thine hand, and for a remembrance between thine eyes, that the Law of the Lord may be in thy mouth: for by a strong hand the Lord brought thee out of Egypt.

10 Keep therefore this ordinance in his season appointed from year to year.

11 ¶ And when the Lord shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, as he sware unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it thee,

12 (C)Then shalt thou set apart unto the Lord all that first openeth the womb: also everything that first doth open the womb, and cometh forth of thy beast: the males shall be the Lord’s.

13 But every [h]first foal of an [i]ass, thou shalt redeem with a lamb: and if thou redeem him not, then shalt thou break his neck: likewise also the firstborn of man among thy sons shalt thou [j]buy out.

14 ¶ And when thy son shall ask thee [k]tomorrow, saying, What is this? thou shalt then say unto him, With a mighty hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

15 For when Pharaoh was hard hearted against our departing, the Lord then slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of man even to the firstborn of beast: therefore I sacrifice unto the Lord all the males that first open the womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.

16 And it shall be as a token upon thine hand, and as [l]frontlets between thine eyes, that the Lord brought us out of Egypt by a mighty hand.

17 ¶ Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God carried them not by the way of the Philistines’ country, [m]though it were nearer: (for God said, Lest the people repent when they [n]see war, and turn again to Egypt).

18 But God made the people to go about by the way of the wilderness of the red sea: and the children of Israel went up [o]armed out of the land of Egypt.

19 (And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had made the children of Israel swear, saying, (D)God will surely visit you, and ye shall take my bones away hence with you.)

20 (E)So they took their journey from Succoth, and camped in Etham in the edge of the wilderness.

21 (F)And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a [p]cloud to lead them the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might go both by day and by night.

22 (G)He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night from before the people.

14 4, 8 Pharaoh’s heart is hardened, and pursueth the Israelites. 11 The Israelites stricken with fear, murmur against Moses. 13 Moses doth encourage them. 21 He divideth the Sea. 23, 27 The Egyptians follow and are drowned.

Then the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

Speak to the children of Israel, that they [q]return and camp before [r]Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the Sea, over against (H)Baal Zephon: about it shall ye camp by the Sea.

For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are tangled in the land: the wilderness hath shut them in.

And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart that he shall follow after you: so I will [s]get me honor upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host: the Egyptians also shall know that I am the Lord: and they did so.

¶ Then it was told the king of Egypt, that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we this done, and have let Israel go out of our service?

And he made ready his chariots, and took his people with him,

And took six hundred chosen chariots, and [t]all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them.

(For the Lord had hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he followed after the children of Israel: but the children of Israel went out with an [u]high hand.)

(I)And the Egyptians pursued after them, and all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen and his host overtook them camping by the Sea, beside Pi Hahiroth, before Baal Zephon.

10 And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lift up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them, and they were sore [v]afraid: wherefore the children of Israel cried unto the Lord.

11 And they said unto Moses, Hast thou brought us to die in the wilderness, because there were no graves in Egypt? wherefore hast thou served us thus, to carry us out of Egypt?

12 Did not we tell thee this thing in Egypt, saying, Let [w]us be in rest, that we may serve the Egyptians? for it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.

13 Then Moses said to the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and behold [x]the salvation of the Lord which he will show to you this day. For the Egyptians whom ye have seen this day, ye shall never see them again.

14 The Lord shall fight for you: therefore [y]hold you your peace.

15 ¶ And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore [z]cryest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:

16 And lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the Sea and divide it, and let the children of Israel go on dry ground through the midst of the Sea.

17 And I, behold, I will harden the heart of the Egyptians, that they may follow them, and I will get me honor upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.

18 Then the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten me honor upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.

19 (And the Angel of God, which went before the host of Israel, removed, and went behind them: also the pillar of the cloud went from before them, and stood behind them,

20 And came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel: it was both a cloud and darkness, yet gave it [aa]light by night, so that all the night long the one came not at the other.)

21 And Moses stretched forth his hand upon the Sea, and the Lord caused the Sea to run back by a strong East wind all the night, and made the Sea dry land: for the waters were (J)divided.

22 Then the (K)children of Israel went through the midst of the Sea upon the dry ground, and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left hand.

23 And the Egyptians pursued and went after them to the midst of the Sea, even all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.

24 Now, in the morning [ab]watch, when the Lord looked unto the host of the Egyptians, out of the fiery and cloudy pillar, he struck the host of the Egyptians with fear.

25 For he took off their chariot wheels, and they drove them with [ac]much ado: so that the Egyptians every one said, I will flee from the face of Israel: for the Lord fighteth for them against the Egyptians.

26 ¶ Then the Lord said to Moses, Stretch thine hand upon the Sea, that the waters may return upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and upon their horsemen.

27 Then Moses stretched forth his hand upon the Sea, and the Sea returned to his force early in the morning, and the Egyptians fled against it: but the Lord [ad]overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the Sea.

28 So the water returned and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, even all the host of Pharaoh that came into the Sea after them: there remained not one of them.

29 But the children of Israel walked upon dry land through the midst of the Sea, and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.

30 Thus the Lord saved Israel the same day out of the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the Sea bank.

31 And Israel saw the mighty [ae]power, which the Lord showed upon the Egyptians: so the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his [af]servant Moses.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 13:3 Hebrew, house of servants.
  2. Exodus 13:3 Where they were in most cruel slavery.
  3. Exodus 13:3 To signify that they had not leisure to leaven their bread.
  4. Exodus 13:4 Containing part of March and part of April, when corn began to ripe in that country.
  5. Exodus 13:6 Both the seventh and the first day were holy, as Exod. 12:16.
  6. Exodus 13:8 When thou dost celebrate the feast of unleavened bread.
  7. Exodus 13:9 Thou shalt have continual remembrance thereof, as thou wouldest of a thing that is in thine hand, or before thine eyes.
  8. Exodus 13:13 Hebrew, that first cometh forth.
  9. Exodus 13:13 This is also understood of the horse and other beasts which were not offered in sacrifice.
  10. Exodus 13:13 By offering a clean beast in sacrifice, Lev. 12:6.
  11. Exodus 13:14 Or, hereafterwards.
  12. Exodus 13:16 Or, signs of remembrance.
  13. Exodus 13:17 Or, because.
  14. Exodus 13:17 Which the Philistines would have made against them by stopping them the passage.
  15. Exodus 13:18 That is, not privily, but openly and as the word doth signify, set in order by five and five.
  16. Exodus 13:21 To defend them from the heat of the sun.
  17. Exodus 14:2 From toward the country of the Philistines.
  18. Exodus 14:2 So the Sea was before them, mountains on either side, and the enemies at their back: yet they obeyed God, and were delivered.
  19. Exodus 14:4 By punishing his obstinate rebellion.
  20. Exodus 14:7 Josephus writeth, that besides those chariots there were 50,000 horsemen, and 80,000 footmen.
  21. Exodus 14:8 With great joy and boldness.
  22. Exodus 14:10 They which a little before in their deliverance rejoiced, being now in danger, are afraid and …
  23. Exodus 14:12 Such is the impatience of the flesh, that it cannot abide God’s appointed time.
  24. Exodus 14:13 Or, deliverance.
  25. Exodus 14:14 Only put your trust in God without grudging or doubting.
  26. Exodus 14:15 Thus in tentations faith fighteth against the flesh, and crieth with inward groanings to the Lord.
  27. Exodus 14:20 The cloud showeth light to the Israelites, but to the Egyptians it was darkness, so that their two hosts could not join together.
  28. Exodus 14:24 Which was about the three last hours of the night.
  29. Exodus 14:25 Or, heavily.
  30. Exodus 14:27 So the Lord by the water saved his, and by the water drowned his enemies.
  31. Exodus 14:31 Hebrew, hand.
  32. Exodus 14:31 That is, the doctrine which he taught them in the Name of the Lord.

Consecration of the Firstborn

13 The Lord said to Moses, “Consecrate to me every firstborn male.(A) The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me, whether human or animal.”

Then Moses said to the people, “Commemorate this day, the day you came out of Egypt,(B) out of the land of slavery, because the Lord brought you out of it with a mighty hand.(C) Eat nothing containing yeast.(D) Today, in the month of Aviv,(E) you are leaving. When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites,(F) Hittites, Amorites, Hivites and Jebusites(G)—the land he swore to your ancestors to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey(H)—you are to observe this ceremony(I) in this month: For seven days eat bread made without yeast and on the seventh day hold a festival(J) to the Lord. 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. On that day tell your son,(K) ‘I do this because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand(L) and a reminder on your forehead(M) that this law of the Lord is to be on your lips. For the Lord brought you out of Egypt with his mighty hand.(N) 10 You must keep this ordinance(O) at the appointed time(P) year after year.

11 “After the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites(Q) and gives it to you, as he promised on oath(R) to you and your ancestors,(S) 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.(T) 13 Redeem with a lamb every firstborn donkey,(U) but if you do not redeem it, break its neck.(V) Redeem(W) every firstborn among your sons.(X)

14 “In days to come, when your son(Y) 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.(Z) 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.’(AA) 16 And it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead(AB) 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.”(AC) 18 So God led(AD) the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea.[a] The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.(AE)

19 Moses took the bones of Joseph(AF) 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.”[b](AG)

20 After leaving Sukkoth(AH) they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert.(AI) 21 By day the Lord went ahead(AJ) of them in a pillar of cloud(AK) 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(AL) its place in front of the people.

14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol(AM) and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon.(AN) Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.’ And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart,(AO) and he will pursue them.(AP) But I will gain glory(AQ) for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.”(AR) So the Israelites did this.

When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled,(AS) Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds(AT) about them and said, “What have we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost their services!” So he had his chariot made ready and took his army with him. He took six hundred of the best chariots,(AU) along with all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them. The Lord hardened the heart(AV) of Pharaoh king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly.(AW) The Egyptians—all Pharaoh’s horses(AX) and chariots, horsemen[c] and troops(AY)—pursued the Israelites and overtook(AZ) them as they camped by the sea near Pi Hahiroth, opposite Baal Zephon.(BA)

10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried(BB) 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?(BC) 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!”(BD)

13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid.(BE) Stand firm and you will see(BF) the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see(BG) again. 14 The Lord will fight(BH) for you; you need only to be still.”(BI)

15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me?(BJ) Tell the Israelites to move on. 16 Raise your staff(BK) and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water(BL) so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. 17 I will harden the hearts(BM) of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them.(BN) 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(BO) when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.”

19 Then the angel of God,(BP) who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud(BQ) also moved from in front and stood behind(BR) them, 20 coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness(BS) 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(BT) over the sea,(BU) and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind(BV) and turned it into dry land.(BW) The waters were divided,(BX) 22 and the Israelites went through the sea(BY) on dry ground,(BZ) with a wall(CA) of water on their right and on their left.

23 The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen(CB) followed them into the sea. 24 During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud(CC) at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion.(CD) 25 He jammed[d] 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(CE) for them against Egypt.”(CF)

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.(CG) The Egyptians were fleeing toward[e] it, and the Lord swept them into the sea.(CH) 28 The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea.(CI) Not one of them survived.(CJ)

29 But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground,(CK) with a wall(CL) of water on their right and on their left. 30 That day the Lord saved(CM) 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(CN) of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared(CO) the Lord and put their trust(CP) in him and in Moses his servant.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 13:18 Or the Sea of Reeds
  2. Exodus 13:19 See Gen. 50:25.
  3. Exodus 14:9 Or charioteers; also in verses 17, 18, 23, 26 and 28
  4. Exodus 14:25 See Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint and Syriac; Masoretic Text removed
  5. Exodus 14:27 Or from