上帝應許拯救以色列人

耶和華對摩西說:「你就要看見我怎樣用大能的手對付法老,那時他會讓以色列人走,甚至把他們趕出埃及!」 上帝又對摩西說:「我是耶和華, 我曾以全能上帝的身份向亞伯拉罕、以撒和雅各顯現,但沒有讓他們知道我的名字是耶和華。 我向他們堅守所立的約,要把他們寄居的迦南賜給他們。 我已聽見以色列人因受埃及人的奴役而發出的呼求,也想起了我的約。 所以,你要轉告以色列人說,『我是耶和華。我要伸出臂膀重重地懲罰埃及,救贖你們脫離埃及人的轄制,脫離他們的奴役。 我要接納你們做我的子民,我要做你們的上帝。這樣,你們就知道我是你們的上帝耶和華,曾救你們脫離埃及人的轄制。 我必帶領你們進入我舉手起誓要給亞伯拉罕、以撒和雅各的那片土地,把它賜給你們作產業。我是耶和華。』」

摩西把這番話轉告百姓,可是他們因為殘酷的勞役無比沮喪,不肯聽他的話。 10 耶和華對摩西說: 11 「你再去見法老,要他讓以色列人離開他的土地。」 12 摩西卻說:「以色列人都不聽我的話,法老又怎麼肯聽我這拙口笨舌的人呢?」 13 耶和華吩咐摩西和亞倫回到以色列人和法老那裡,要他們領以色列人離開埃及。

摩西和亞倫的族譜

14 以下是以色列各宗族族長的名字:

以色列長子呂便的兒子是哈諾、法路、希斯崙和迦米。這些是呂便的宗族。

15 西緬的兒子是耶姆利、雅憫、阿轄、雅斤、瑣轄和掃羅,掃羅的母親是迦南人。這些是西緬的各宗族。

16 利未的兒子依次是革順、哥轄和米拉利,利未享年一百三十七歲。 17 革順的兒子是立尼和示每,二人各成宗族。 18 哥轄的兒子是暗蘭、以斯哈、希伯崙和烏薛,哥轄享年一百三十三歲。 19 米拉利的兒子是抹利和姆示。這些是利未的各宗族。 20 暗蘭娶了他父親的妹妹約基別,生了亞倫和摩西,暗蘭享年一百三十七歲。 21 哥轄另一個兒子以斯哈生了可拉、尼斐和細基利。 22 烏薛的兒子是米沙利、以利撒反和西提利。 23 亞倫與亞米拿達的女兒、拿順的妹妹以利沙巴結婚,生了拿答、亞比戶、以利亞撒和以他瑪。 24 可拉的兒子是亞惜、以利加拿和亞比亞撒,這些是可拉的各宗族。 25 亞倫的兒子以利亞撒與普鐵的一個女兒結婚,生了非尼哈。以上是利未各宗族的族長。

26 正是亞倫和摩西受耶和華之命,要按以色列人的宗族支派把他們帶出埃及。 27 也是這二人要求埃及王法老讓他們把以色列人帶出埃及。 28 那時,耶和華曾經在埃及對摩西說: 29 「我是耶和華,你要把我吩咐你的一切話告訴埃及王法老。」 30 摩西卻對耶和華說:「你看,我拙口笨舌,法老怎肯聽我的話?」

上帝应许拯救以色列人

耶和华对摩西说:“你就要看见我怎样用大能的手对付法老,那时他会让以色列人走,甚至把他们赶出埃及!” 上帝又对摩西说:“我是耶和华, 我曾以全能上帝的身份向亚伯拉罕、以撒和雅各显现,但没有让他们知道我的名字是耶和华。 我向他们坚守所立的约,要把他们寄居的迦南赐给他们。 我已听见以色列人因受埃及人的奴役而发出的呼求,也想起了我的约。 所以,你要转告以色列人说,‘我是耶和华。我要伸出臂膀重重地惩罚埃及,救赎你们脱离埃及人的辖制,脱离他们的奴役。 我要接纳你们做我的子民,我要做你们的上帝。这样,你们就知道我是你们的上帝耶和华,曾救你们脱离埃及人的辖制。 我必带领你们进入我举手起誓要给亚伯拉罕、以撒和雅各的那片土地,把它赐给你们作产业。我是耶和华。’”

摩西把这番话转告百姓,可是他们因为残酷的劳役无比沮丧,不肯听他的话。 10 耶和华对摩西说: 11 “你再去见法老,要他让以色列人离开他的土地。” 12 摩西却说:“以色列人都不听我的话,法老又怎么肯听我这拙口笨舌的人呢?” 13 耶和华吩咐摩西和亚伦回到以色列人和法老那里,要他们领以色列人离开埃及。

摩西和亚伦的族谱

14 以下是以色列各宗族族长的名字:

以色列长子吕便的儿子是哈诺、法路、希斯仑和迦米。这些是吕便的宗族。

15 西缅的儿子是耶姆利、雅悯、阿辖、雅斤、琐辖和扫罗,扫罗的母亲是迦南人。这些是西缅的各宗族。

16 利未的儿子依次是革顺、哥辖和米拉利,利未享年一百三十七岁。 17 革顺的儿子是立尼和示每,二人各成宗族。 18 哥辖的儿子是暗兰、以斯哈、希伯仑和乌薛,哥辖享年一百三十三岁。 19 米拉利的儿子是抹利和姆示。这些是利未的各宗族。 20 暗兰娶了他父亲的妹妹约基别,生了亚伦和摩西,暗兰享年一百三十七岁。 21 哥辖另一个儿子以斯哈生了可拉、尼斐和细基利。 22 乌薛的儿子是米沙利、以利撒反和西提利。 23 亚伦与亚米拿达的女儿、拿顺的妹妹以利沙巴结婚,生了拿答、亚比户、以利亚撒和以他玛。 24 可拉的儿子是亚惜、以利加拿和亚比亚撒,这些是可拉的各宗族。 25 亚伦的儿子以利亚撒与普铁的一个女儿结婚,生了非尼哈。以上是利未各宗族的族长。

26 正是亚伦和摩西受耶和华之命,要按以色列人的宗族支派把他们带出埃及。 27 也是这二人要求埃及王法老让他们把以色列人带出埃及。 28 那时,耶和华曾经在埃及对摩西说: 29 “我是耶和华,你要把我吩咐你的一切话告诉埃及王法老。” 30 摩西却对耶和华说:“你看,我拙口笨舌,法老怎肯听我的话?”

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: Because of my mighty hand(A) he will let them go;(B) because of my mighty hand he will drive them out of his country.”(C)

God also said to Moses, “I am the Lord.(D) I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty,[a](E) but by my name(F) the Lord[b](G) I did not make myself fully known to them. I also established my covenant(H) with them to give them the land(I) of Canaan, where they resided as foreigners.(J) Moreover, I have heard the groaning(K) of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered my covenant.(L)

“Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.(M) I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem(N) you with an outstretched arm(O) and with mighty acts of judgment.(P) I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God.(Q) Then you will know(R) that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. And I will bring you to the land(S) I swore(T) with uplifted hand(U) to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob.(V) I will give it to you as a possession. I am the Lord.’”(W)

Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and harsh labor.(X)

10 Then the Lord said to Moses, 11 “Go, tell(Y) Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the Israelites go out of his country.”(Z)

12 But Moses said to the Lord, “If the Israelites will not listen(AA) to me, why would Pharaoh listen to me, since I speak with faltering lips[c]?”(AB)

Family Record of Moses and Aaron

13 Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron about the Israelites and Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he commanded them to bring the Israelites out of Egypt.(AC)

14 These were the heads of their families[d]:(AD)

The sons of Reuben(AE) the firstborn son of Israel were Hanok and Pallu, Hezron and Karmi. These were the clans of Reuben.

15 The sons of Simeon(AF) were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman. These were the clans of Simeon.

16 These were the names of the sons of Levi(AG) according to their records: Gershon,(AH) Kohath and Merari.(AI) Levi lived 137 years.

17 The sons of Gershon, by clans, were Libni and Shimei.(AJ)

18 The sons of Kohath(AK) were Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.(AL) Kohath lived 133 years.

19 The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi.(AM)

These were the clans of Levi according to their records.

20 Amram(AN) married his father’s sister Jochebed, who bore him Aaron and Moses.(AO) Amram lived 137 years.

21 The sons of Izhar(AP) were Korah, Nepheg and Zikri.

22 The sons of Uzziel were Mishael, Elzaphan(AQ) and Sithri.

23 Aaron married Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab(AR) and sister of Nahshon,(AS) and she bore him Nadab and Abihu,(AT) Eleazar(AU) and Ithamar.(AV)

24 The sons of Korah(AW) were Assir, Elkanah and Abiasaph. These were the Korahite clans.

25 Eleazar son of Aaron married one of the daughters of Putiel, and she bore him Phinehas.(AX)

These were the heads of the Levite families, clan by clan.

26 It was this Aaron and Moses to whom the Lord said, “Bring the Israelites out of Egypt(AY) by their divisions.”(AZ) 27 They were the ones who spoke to Pharaoh(BA) king of Egypt about bringing the Israelites out of Egypt—this same Moses and Aaron.(BB)

Aaron to Speak for Moses

28 Now when the Lord spoke to Moses in Egypt, 29 he said to him, “I am the Lord.(BC) Tell Pharaoh king of Egypt everything I tell you.”

30 But Moses said to the Lord, “Since I speak with faltering lips,(BD) why would Pharaoh listen to me?”

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 6:3 Hebrew El-Shaddai
  2. Exodus 6:3 See note at 3:15.
  3. Exodus 6:12 Hebrew I am uncircumcised of lips; also in verse 30
  4. Exodus 6:14 The Hebrew for families here and in verse 25 refers to units larger than clans.