God Promises to Deliver Israel

1The LORD told Moses, “Now you’re about to see what I’ll do to Pharaoh. Indeed, he’ll send them out under compulsiona and he’ll drive them out of his land violently.”b

2Later, God told Moses, “I am the LORD. 3I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty,c and did I not reveal to them my name ‘LORD’? 4I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land where they lived as resident aliens for a time. 5Also, I’ve heard the groaning of the Israelis whom the Egyptians have forced to labor for them, and I’ve remembered my covenant. 6Therefore, tell the Israelis, ‘I am the LORD. I’ll bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I’ll deliver you from their bondage. I’ll redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment.d 7I’ll take you for my own people,e and I’ll be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8I’ll bring you to the land that I sworef to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I’ll give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD.’”

9Then Moses reported this to the Israelis, but they did not listen to Moses due to their irritation and impatience because there was no deliveranceg and because of the cruel bondage.

10Then the LORD told Moses, 11“Go, speak to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, that he should let the Israelis go out of his land.”

12Then Moses said right in front of the LORD, “Look, the Israelis didn’t listen to me, so how will Pharaoh? I’m not a persuasive speaker”h 13Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, issuing orders to them regarding the Israelis for delivery to Pharaoh, king of Egypt; that is, to bring the Israelis out of the land of Egypt.

Genealogies of Moses and Aaron

14These are the heads of their ancestors’ households: the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch and Pallu; Hezron and Carmi.

These are the families of Reuben, including 15Simeon’s sons Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the Canaanite woman’s son. These are the families of Simeon.

16These are the names of Levi’s sons according to their genealogies: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Levi livedi 137 years. 17Gershon’s sons were Libni and Shimei, according to their families. 18Kohath’s descendants included Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. Now Kohath lived for 133 years. 19The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the descendants of Levi, according to their genealogies.

20Amram married Jochebed, his father’s sister, and she bore him Aaron and Moses. Amram lived for 137 years. 21The sons of Izhar were Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri. 22The sons of Uzziel were Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri.

23Then Aaron married Elisheba daughter of Amminadab, sister of Nahshon. She bore him Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 24The sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph. These were the families of the descendants of Korah. 25Aaron’s son Eleazar married one of Putiel’s daughters, and she bore him Phineas. These are the heads of the ancestors of the descendants of Levi, according to their families.

26This is the same Aaron and Moses to whom the LORD said, “Bring the Israelis out of the land of Egypt by their tribal divisions.” 27They were the ones speaking to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to bring the Israelis out of Egypt; this is that same Moses and Aaron.

Moses Doubts that Pharaoh will Listen

28And it happened when the LORD spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt 29that the LORD told Moses, “I am the LORD. Tell Pharaoh, king of Egypt, everything that I’m saying to you.”

30Moses said in the presence of the LORD, “Look, I’m not a persuasive speaker,j so how will Pharaoh listen to me?”