Exodus 2

1 A man of the family of Levi married the daughter of a descendant of Levi.ISV — Exodus 2:1

2 Later, the woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She saw that he was a beautiful ^{a2:2 Or good} child, and hid him for three months.ISV — Exodus 2:2

3 But when she was no longer able to hide him, she took a papyrus container, coated it with asphalt and pitch, placed the child in it, and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile.ISV — Exodus 2:3

4 Then his sister positioned herself some distance away in order to find out what would happen to him.ISV — Exodus 2:4

5 Then Pharaoh’s daughter came down to the Nile River ^{b2:5 The Heb. lacks River} to bathe while her maids walked along the river bank. She saw the container among the reeds and sent a servant girl to get it.ISV — Exodus 2:5

6 When she opened it and saw the child, the little boy suddenly began crying. Filled with compassion for him, she exclaimed, “This is one of the Hebrew children!”ISV — Exodus 2:6

7 Then his sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call one of the nursing Hebrew women so she can nurse the child for you?”ISV — Exodus 2:7

8 Pharaoh’s daughter told her, “Go,” so the young girl went and called the child’s mother.ISV — Exodus 2:8

9 Pharaoh’s daughter instructed her, “Take this child and nurse him for me, and I’ll pay you a salary.” So the woman took the child and nursed him.ISV — Exodus 2:9

10 After the child had grown older, ^{c2:10 The Heb. lacks older} she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, ^{d2:10 The Heb. name Moses sounds like the Heb. verb draw out} because she said, “I drew him out of the water.”ISV — Exodus 2:10

11 Years later, after ^{e2:11 Lit. It happened in those days that} Moses had grown up, he went out to his own people, ^{f2:11 Lit. brothers} and took notice of their heavy burdens. He saw an Egyptian beating up a Hebrew, one of his own people. ^{g2:11 Lit. brothers}ISV — Exodus 2:11

12 Looking around and seeing no one else, he killed ^{h2:12 Lit. struck} the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.ISV — Exodus 2:12

13 Going out the next day, Moses noticed ^{i2:13 The Heb. lacks noticed} two Hebrew men fighting right in front of him. He told the one who was at fault, “Why did you strike your companion?”ISV — Exodus 2:13

14 The man ^{j2:14 Lit. He} replied, “Who appointed you to be an official judge over us? Are you planning ^{k2:14 Lit. saying} to kill me like you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses became terrified and told himself, ^{l2:14 The Heb. lacks to himself} “Certainly this event has become known!”ISV — Exodus 2:14

15 When Pharaoh heard about this matter, he tried to kill Moses. So Moses fled from Pharaoh, settled in the land of Midian, and sat down by a well.ISV — Exodus 2:15

16 Meanwhile, the seven daughters of a certain Midianite priest would come to draw water in order to fill water troughs for their father’s sheep.ISV — Exodus 2:16

17 Some shepherds came to drive them away, but Moses got up, came to their rescue, and watered their sheep.ISV — Exodus 2:17

18 When they returned to their father Reuel, ^{m2:18 i.e. another name for Jethro} he asked, “Why have you returned so quickly today?”ISV — Exodus 2:18

19 “An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds,” ^{n2:19 Lit. the hand of the shepherds} they replied, “and he even drew water for us and watered the sheep!”ISV — Exodus 2:19

20 “Then where is he?” He asked his daughters. “Why did you leave the man behind? Go invite him to have something to eat.” ^{o2:20 Lit. to eat bread}ISV — Exodus 2:20

21 Moses agreed to stay with the man, and he gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses in marriage. ^{p2:21 The Heb. lacks in marriage}ISV — Exodus 2:21

22 Later she gave birth to a son, and Moses ^{q2:22 Lit. he} named him Gershom, ^{r2:22 Gershom sounds like Heb. for alien} because he used to say, “I became an alien in a foreign land.”ISV — Exodus 2:22

23 The king of Egypt eventually ^{s2:23 Lit. It happened after those many days that the king of Egypt} died, and the Israelis groaned because of the bondage. They cried out, and their cry for deliverance from slavery ascended to God.ISV — Exodus 2:23

24 God heard their groaning and remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.ISV — Exodus 2:24

25 God watched the Israelis and took notice of them.ISV — Exodus 2:25