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14 Then the Lord spoke to Moses. He said, “Tell the people of Israel to turn back. Have them camp near Pi Hahiroth between Migdol and the Red Sea. They must camp by the sea, right across from Baal Zephon. Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are wandering around the land. They don’t know which way to go. The desert is all around them.’ I will make Pharaoh stubborn. He will chase them. But I will gain glory for myself because of what will happen to Pharaoh and his whole army. And the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” So the Israelites camped by the Red Sea.

The king of Egypt was told that the people had escaped. Then Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them. They said, “What have we done? We’ve let the people of Israel go! We’ve lost our slaves and all the work they used to do for us!” So he had his chariot made ready. He took his army with him. He took 600 of the best chariots in Egypt. He also took along all the other chariots. Officers were in charge of all of them. The Lord made Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, stubborn. So he chased the Israelites as they were marching out boldly. The Egyptians went after the Israelites. All Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen and troops chased them. They caught up with the Israelites as they camped by the sea. The Israelites were near Pi Hahiroth, across from Baal Zephon.

10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked back. There were the Egyptians marching after them! The Israelites were terrified. They cried out to the Lord. 11 They said to Moses, “Why did you bring us to the desert to die? Weren’t there any graves in Egypt? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 We told 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 here in the desert!”

13 Moses answered the people. He said, “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm. You will see how the Lord will save you today. Do you see those Egyptians? You will never see them again. 14 The Lord will fight for you. Just be still.”

15 Then the Lord spoke to Moses. He said, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people of Israel to move on. 16 Hold out your walking stick. Reach out your hand over the Red Sea to divide the water. Then the people can go through the sea on dry ground. 17 I will make the Egyptians stubborn. They will go in after the Israelites. I will gain glory for myself because of what will happen to Pharaoh, his army, chariots and horsemen. 18 The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord. I will gain glory because of what will happen to Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.”

19 The angel of God had been traveling in front of Israel’s army. Now he moved back and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved away from in front of them. Now it stood behind them. 20 It came between the armies of Egypt and Israel. All through the night the cloud brought darkness to one side and light to the other. Neither army went near the other all night long.

21 Then Moses reached out his hand over the Red Sea. All that night the Lord pushed the sea back with a strong east wind. He turned the sea into dry land. The waters were divided. 22 The people of Israel went through the sea on dry ground. There was a wall of water on their right side and on their left.

23 The Egyptians chased them. All Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. 24 Near the end of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud. He saw the Egyptian army and threw it into a panic. 25 He jammed the wheels of their chariots. That made the chariots hard to drive. The Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting for Israel against Egypt.”

26 Then the Lord spoke to Moses. He said, “Reach out your hand over the sea. The waters will flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” 27 So Moses reached out his hand over the sea. At sunrise the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians tried to run away from the sea. But the Lord swept them into it. 28 The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen. It covered the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the people of Israel into the sea. Not one of the Egyptians was left.

29 But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground. There was a wall of water on their right side and on their left. 30 That day the Lord saved Israel from the power of Egypt. The Israelites saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. 31 The Israelites saw the amazing power the Lord showed against the Egyptians. So the Israelites had great respect for the Lord and put their trust in him. They also put their trust in his servant Moses.

The Song of Moses and Miriam

15 Here is the song that Moses and the people of Israel sang to the Lord. They said,

“I will sing to the Lord.
    He is greatly honored.
He has thrown Pharaoh’s horses and chariot drivers
    into the Red Sea.
The Lord gives me strength and protects me.
    He has saved me.
He is my God, I will praise him.
    He is my father’s God, and I will honor him.
The Lord goes into battle.
    The Lord is his name.
He has thrown Pharaoh’s chariots and army
    into the Red Sea.
Pharaoh’s best officers
    drowned in the sea.
The deep waters covered them.
    They sank to the bottom like a stone.

Lord, your right hand
    was majestic and powerful.
Lord, your right hand
    destroyed your enemies.
Because of your great majesty,
    you threw down those who opposed you.
Your burning anger blazed out.
    It burned them up like straw.
The powerful blast from your nose
    piled up the waters.
The rushing waters stood firm like a wall.
    The deep waters stood up in the middle of the sea.

“Your enemies bragged,
    ‘We will chase Israel and will catch them.
We’ll divide up what we take from them.
    We’ll eat them alive.
We’ll pull our swords out.
    Our powerful hands will destroy them.’
10 But you blew with your breath.
    The Red Sea covered your enemies.
They sank like lead
    in the mighty waters.

11 Lord, who among the gods is like you?
    Who is like you?
You are majestic and holy.
    Your glory fills me with wonder.
    You do amazing things.
12 You reach out your right hand.
    The earth swallows up your enemies.

13 “Because your love is faithful,
    you will lead the people you have set free.
Because you are so strong,
    you will guide them to the holy place where you live.
14 The nations will hear about it and tremble.
    Pain and suffering will take hold of the Philistines.
15 The chiefs of Edom will be terrified.
    The leaders of Moab will tremble with fear.
The people of Canaan will melt away.
16     Fear and terror will fall on them.
Your powerful arm
    will make them as still as a stone.
Then your people will pass by, Lord.
    Then the people you created will pass by.
17 You will bring them in.
    You will plant them on the mountain you gave them.
Lord, you have made that place your home.
    Lord, your hands have made your holy place secure.

18 “The Lord rules
    for ever and ever.”

19 Pharaoh’s horses, chariots and horsemen went into the Red Sea. The Lord brought the waters of the sea back over them. But the people of Israel walked through the sea on dry ground. 20 Aaron’s sister Miriam was a prophet. She took a tambourine in her hand. All the women followed her. They played tambourines and danced. 21 Miriam sang to them,

“Sing to the Lord.
    He is greatly honored.
He has thrown Pharaoh’s horses and chariot drivers
    into the Red Sea.”

The Waters of Marah and Elim

22 Then Moses led Israel away from the Red Sea. They went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert. They didn’t find any water there. 23 When they came to Marah, they couldn’t drink its water. It was bitter. That’s why the place is named Marah. 24 The people told Moses they weren’t happy with him. They said, “What are we supposed to drink?”

25 Then Moses cried out to the Lord. The Lord showed him a stick. Moses threw it into the water. The water became fit to drink.

There the Lord gave a ruling and instruction for the people. And there he tested them. 26 He said, “I am the Lord your God. Listen carefully to me. Do what is right in my eyes. Pay attention to my commands. Obey all my rules. If you do, I will not send on you any of the sicknesses I sent on the Egyptians. I am the Lord who heals you.”

27 The people came to Elim. It had 12 springs and 70 palm trees. They camped there near the water.

The Lord Gives Israel Food Every Day

16 The whole community of Israel started out from Elim. They came to the Desert of Sin. It was between Elim and Sinai. They arrived there on the 15th day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. In the desert the whole community told Moses and Aaron they weren’t happy with them. The Israelites said to them, “We wish the Lord had put us to death in Egypt. There we sat around pots of meat. We ate all the food we wanted. But you have brought us out into this desert. You must want this entire community to die of hunger.”

Then the Lord spoke to Moses. He said, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people must go out each day. Have them gather enough bread for that day. Here is how I will test them. I will see if they will follow my directions. On the sixth day they must prepare what they bring in. On that day they must gather twice as much as on the other days.”

So Moses and Aaron spoke to all the people of Israel. They said, “In the evening you will know that the Lord brought you out of Egypt. And in the morning you will see the glory of the Lord. He has heard you say you aren’t happy with him. Who are we? Why are you telling us you aren’t happy with us?” Moses also said, “You will know that the Lord has heard you speak against him. He will give you meat to eat in the evening. He’ll give you all the bread you want in the morning. But who are we? You aren’t speaking against us. You are speaking against the Lord.”

Then Moses told Aaron, “Talk to the whole community of Israel. Say to them, ‘Come to the Lord. He has heard you speak against him.’ ”

10 While Aaron was talking to the whole community of Israel, they looked toward the desert. There was the glory of the Lord appearing in the cloud!

11 The Lord said to Moses, 12 “I have heard the people of Israel talking about how unhappy they are. Tell them, ‘When the sun goes down, you will eat meat. In the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’ ”

13 That evening quail came and covered the camp. In the morning the ground around the camp was covered with dew. 14 When the dew was gone, thin flakes appeared on the desert floor. They looked like frost on the ground. 15 The people of Israel saw the flakes. They asked each other, “What’s that?” They didn’t know what it was.

Moses said to them, “It’s the bread the Lord has given you to eat. 16 Here is what the Lord has commanded. He has said, ‘Everyone should gather as much as they need. Take three pounds for each person who lives in your tent.’ ”

17 The people of Israel did as they were told. Some gathered a lot, and some gathered a little. 18 When they measured it out, the one who gathered a lot didn’t have too much. And the one who gathered a little had enough. Everyone gathered only what they needed.

19 Then Moses said to them, “Don’t keep any of it until morning.”

20 Some of them didn’t pay any attention to Moses. They kept part of it until morning. But it was full of maggots and began to stink. So Moses became angry with them.

21 Each morning everyone gathered as much as they needed. But by the hottest time of the day, the thin flakes had melted away. 22 On the sixth day, the people gathered twice as much. It amounted to six pounds for each person. The leaders of the community came and reported that to Moses. 23 He said to them, “Here is what the Lord commanded. He said, ‘Tomorrow will be a day of rest. It will be a holy Sabbath day. It will be set apart for the Lord. So bake what you want to bake. Boil what you want to boil. Save what is left. Keep it until morning.’ ”

24 So they saved it until morning, just as Moses commanded. It didn’t stink or get maggots in it. 25 “Eat it today,” Moses said. “Today is a Sabbath day to honor the Lord. You won’t find any flakes on the ground today. 26 Gather them for six days. But on the seventh day there won’t be any. It’s the Sabbath day.”

27 In spite of what Moses said, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather the flakes. But they didn’t find any. 28 Then the Lord spoke to Moses. He said, “How long will all of you refuse to obey my commands and my teachings? 29 Keep in mind that I have given you the Sabbath day. That is why on the sixth day I give you bread for two days. Everyone must stay where they are on the seventh day. No one can go out.” 30 So the people rested on the seventh day.

31 The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seeds. It tasted like wafers made with honey. 32 Moses said, “Here is what the Lord has commanded. He has said, ‘Get three pounds of manna. Keep it for all time to come. Then those who live after you will see the bread I gave you to eat in the desert. I gave it to you when I brought you out of Egypt.’ ”

33 So Moses said to Aaron, “Get a jar. Put three pounds of manna in it. Then place it in front of the Lord. Keep it there for all time to come.”

34 Aaron did exactly as the Lord had commanded Moses. He put the manna with the tablets of the covenant law. He put it there so it would be kept for all time to come. 35 The Israelites ate manna for 40 years. They ate it until they came to a land where people were living. They ate it until they reached the border of Canaan.

36 The jar had three pounds of manna in it.

Water Out of the Rock

17 The whole community of Israel started out from the Desert of Sin. They traveled from place to place, just as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim. But there wasn’t any water for the people to drink. So they argued with Moses. They said, “Give us water to drink.”

Moses replied, “Why are you arguing with me? Why are you testing the Lord?”

But the people were thirsty for water there. So they told Moses they weren’t happy with him. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt? Did you want us, our children and our livestock to die of thirst?”

Then Moses cried out to the Lord. He said, “What am I going to do with these people? They are almost ready to kill me by throwing stones at me.”

The Lord answered Moses. “Go out in front of the people. Take some of the elders of Israel along with you. Take in your hand the walking stick you used when you struck the Nile River. Go. I will stand there in front of you by the rock at Mount Horeb. Hit the rock. Then water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses hit the rock while the elders of Israel watched. Moses called the place Massah and Meribah. That’s because the people of Israel argued with him there. They also tested the Lord. They asked, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

Joshua Wins the Battle Over the Amalekites

The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men. Then go out and fight against the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill. I’ll stand there holding the walking stick God gave me.”

10 So Joshua fought against the Amalekites, just as Moses had ordered. Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hand, the Israelites were winning. But every time he lowered his hands, the Amalekites began to win. 12 When Moses’ arms got tired, Aaron and Hur got a stone and put it under him. Then he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held up his hands. Aaron was on one side, and Hur was on the other. Moses’ hands remained steady until sunset. 13 So Joshua destroyed the Amalekite army with swords.

14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “This is something to be remembered. So write it on a scroll. Make sure Joshua knows you have done it. I will completely erase the memory of the Amalekites from the earth.”

15 Then Moses built an altar. He called it The Lord Is My Banner. 16 He said, “The Amalekites opposed the authority of the Lord. So the Lord will fight against the Amalekites for all time to come.”

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

When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled,(G) Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds(H) 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,(I) along with all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them. The Lord hardened the heart(J) of Pharaoh king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly.(K) The Egyptians—all Pharaoh’s horses(L) and chariots, horsemen[a] and troops(M)—pursued the Israelites and overtook(N) them as they camped by the sea near Pi Hahiroth, opposite Baal Zephon.(O)

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

13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid.(S) Stand firm and you will see(T) the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see(U) again. 14 The Lord will fight(V) for you; you need only to be still.”(W)

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

19 Then the angel of God,(AD) who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud(AE) also moved from in front and stood behind(AF) them, 20 coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness(AG) 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(AH) over the sea,(AI) and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind(AJ) and turned it into dry land.(AK) The waters were divided,(AL) 22 and the Israelites went through the sea(AM) on dry ground,(AN) with a wall(AO) of water on their right and on their left.

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

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.(AU) The Egyptians were fleeing toward[c] it, and the Lord swept them into the sea.(AV) 28 The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea.(AW) Not one of them survived.(AX)

29 But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground,(AY) with a wall(AZ) of water on their right and on their left. 30 That day the Lord saved(BA) 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(BB) of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared(BC) the Lord and put their trust(BD) in him and in Moses his servant.

The Song of Moses and Miriam

15 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song(BE) to the Lord:

“I will sing(BF) to the Lord,
    for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver(BG)
    he has hurled into the sea.(BH)

“The Lord is my strength(BI) and my defense[d];
    he has become my salvation.(BJ)
He is my God,(BK) and I will praise him,
    my father’s God, and I will exalt(BL) him.
The Lord is a warrior;(BM)
    the Lord is his name.(BN)
Pharaoh’s chariots and his army(BO)
    he has hurled into the sea.
The best of Pharaoh’s officers
    are drowned in the Red Sea.[e]
The deep waters(BP) have covered them;
    they sank to the depths like a stone.(BQ)
Your right hand,(BR) Lord,
    was majestic in power.
Your right hand,(BS) Lord,
    shattered(BT) the enemy.

“In the greatness of your majesty(BU)
    you threw down those who opposed you.
You unleashed your burning anger;(BV)
    it consumed(BW) them like stubble.
By the blast of your nostrils(BX)
    the waters piled up.(BY)
The surging waters stood up like a wall;(BZ)
    the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.(CA)
The enemy boasted,
    ‘I will pursue,(CB) I will overtake them.
I will divide the spoils;(CC)
    I will gorge myself on them.
I will draw my sword
    and my hand will destroy them.’
10 But you blew with your breath,(CD)
    and the sea covered them.
They sank like lead
    in the mighty waters.(CE)
11 Who among the gods
    is like you,(CF) Lord?
Who is like you—
    majestic in holiness,(CG)
awesome in glory,(CH)
    working wonders?(CI)

12 “You stretch out(CJ) your right hand,
    and the earth swallows your enemies.(CK)
13 In your unfailing love you will lead(CL)
    the people you have redeemed.(CM)
In your strength you will guide them
    to your holy dwelling.(CN)
14 The nations will hear and tremble;(CO)
    anguish(CP) will grip the people of Philistia.(CQ)
15 The chiefs(CR) of Edom(CS) will be terrified,
    the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling,(CT)
the people[f] of Canaan will melt(CU) away;
16     terror(CV) and dread will fall on them.
By the power of your arm
    they will be as still as a stone(CW)
until your people pass by, Lord,
    until the people you bought[g](CX) pass by.(CY)
17 You will bring(CZ) them in and plant(DA) them
    on the mountain(DB) of your inheritance—
the place, Lord, you made for your dwelling,(DC)
    the sanctuary,(DD) Lord, your hands established.

18 “The Lord reigns
    for ever and ever.”(DE)

19 When Pharaoh’s horses, chariots and horsemen[h] went into the sea,(DF) the Lord brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground.(DG) 20 Then Miriam(DH) the prophet,(DI) Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels(DJ) and dancing.(DK) 21 Miriam sang(DL) to them:

“Sing to the Lord,
    for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver(DM)
    he has hurled into the sea.”(DN)

The Waters of Marah and Elim

22 Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert(DO) of Shur.(DP) For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water.(DQ) 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.[i](DR)) 24 So the people grumbled(DS) against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?”(DT)

25 Then Moses cried out(DU) to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw(DV) it into the water, and the water became fit to drink.

There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test.(DW) 26 He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep(DX) all his decrees,(DY) I will not bring on you any of the diseases(DZ) I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals(EA) you.”

27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped(EB) there near the water.

Manna and Quail

16 The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin,(EC) which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt.(ED) In the desert the whole community grumbled(EE) against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt!(EF) There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food(EG) we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”(EH)

Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven(EI) for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test(EJ) them and see whether they will follow my instructions. On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice(EK) as much as they gather on the other days.”

So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of Egypt,(EL) and in the morning you will see the glory(EM) of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling(EN) against him. Who are we, that you should grumble against us?”(EO) Moses also said, “You will know that it was the Lord when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because he has heard your grumbling(EP) against him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the Lord.”(EQ)

Then Moses told Aaron, “Say to the entire Israelite community, ‘Come before the Lord, for he has heard your grumbling.’”

10 While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory(ER) of the Lord appearing in the cloud.(ES)

11 The Lord said to Moses, 12 “I have heard the grumbling(ET) of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’”(EU)

13 That evening quail(EV) came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew(EW) around the camp. 14 When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost(EX) on the ground appeared on the desert floor. 15 When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know(EY) what it was.

Moses said to them, “It is the bread(EZ) the Lord has given you to eat. 16 This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Everyone is to gather as much as they need. Take an omer[j](FA) for each person you have in your tent.’”

17 The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. 18 And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.(FB) Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed.

19 Then Moses said to them, “No one is to keep any of it until morning.”(FC)

20 However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell.(FD) So Moses was angry(FE) with them.

21 Each morning everyone gathered as much as they needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away. 22 On the sixth day, they gathered twice(FF) as much—two omers[k] for each person—and the leaders of the community(FG) came and reported this to Moses. 23 He said to them, “This is what the Lord commanded: ‘Tomorrow is to be a day of sabbath rest, a holy sabbath(FH) to the Lord. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.’”

24 So they saved it until morning, as Moses commanded, and it did not stink or get maggots in it. 25 “Eat it today,” Moses said, “because today is a sabbath to the Lord. You will not find any of it on the ground today. 26 Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath,(FI) there will not be any.”

27 Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none. 28 Then the Lord said to Moses, “How long will you[l] refuse to keep my commands(FJ) and my instructions? 29 Bear in mind that the Lord has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where they are on the seventh day; no one is to go out.” 30 So the people rested on the seventh day.

31 The people of Israel called the bread manna.[m](FK) It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. 32 Moses said, “This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Take an omer of manna and keep it for the generations to come, so they can see the bread I gave you to eat in the wilderness when I brought you out of Egypt.’”

33 So Moses said to Aaron, “Take a jar and put an omer of manna(FL) in it. Then place it before the Lord to be kept for the generations to come.”

34 As the Lord commanded Moses, Aaron put the manna with the tablets of the covenant law,(FM) so that it might be preserved. 35 The Israelites ate manna(FN) forty years,(FO) until they came to a land that was settled; they ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan.(FP)

36 (An omer(FQ) is one-tenth of an ephah.)(FR)

Water From the Rock

17 The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin,(FS) traveling from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim,(FT) but there was no water(FU) for the people to drink. So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water(FV) to drink.”(FW)

Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?”(FX)

But the people were thirsty(FY) for water there, and they grumbled(FZ) against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die(GA) of thirst?”

Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone(GB) me.”

The Lord answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff(GC) with which you struck the Nile,(GD) and go. I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb.(GE) Strike(GF) the rock, and water(GG) will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. And he called the place Massah[n](GH) and Meribah[o](GI) because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

The Amalekites Defeated

The Amalekites(GJ) came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim.(GK) Moses said to Joshua,(GL) “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff(GM) of God in my hands.”

10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur(GN) went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning,(GO) but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.(GP) 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite(GQ) army with the sword.

14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write(GR) this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out(GS) the name of Amalek(GT) from under heaven.”

15 Moses built an altar(GU) and called(GV) it The Lord is my Banner. 16 He said, “Because hands were lifted up against[p] the throne of the Lord,[q] the Lord will be at war against the Amalekites(GW) from generation to generation.”(GX)

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 14:9 Or charioteers; also in verses 17, 18, 23, 26 and 28
  2. Exodus 14:25 See Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint and Syriac; Masoretic Text removed
  3. Exodus 14:27 Or from
  4. Exodus 15:2 Or song
  5. Exodus 15:4 Or the Sea of Reeds; also in verse 22
  6. Exodus 15:15 Or rulers
  7. Exodus 15:16 Or created
  8. Exodus 15:19 Or charioteers
  9. Exodus 15:23 Marah means bitter.
  10. Exodus 16:16 That is, possibly about 3 pounds or about 1.4 kilograms; also in verses 18, 32, 33 and 36
  11. Exodus 16:22 That is, possibly about 6 pounds or about 2.8 kilograms
  12. Exodus 16:28 The Hebrew is plural.
  13. Exodus 16:31 Manna sounds like the Hebrew for What is it? (see verse 15).
  14. Exodus 17:7 Massah means testing.
  15. Exodus 17:7 Meribah means quarreling.
  16. Exodus 17:16 Or to
  17. Exodus 17:16 The meaning of the Hebrew for this clause is uncertain.