Parsha Shemot

(1,1) These are the names of the B’nei Yisrael who came to Egypt. Each man with his household who came with Yaakov.

(1,2) Reuvein, Shimon, Leivi and Yehudah.

(1,3) Yissachar, Zevulun, and Binyamin.

(1,4) Don, Naftali, Gad and Asher.

(1,5) All the souls that emanated from the loins of Yaakov, [numbered] seventy souls, [including] Yoseif who was in Egypt.

(1,6) Yoseif died. All his brothers and all that generation [also died.]

(1,7) The B’nei Yisrael were fruitful and prolific, and their population multiplied. They were exceedingly mighty, and the land was filled with them.

(1,8) A new king came into power over Egypt, who did not know Yoseif.

(1,9) He said to his people, “Behold, the people of the B’nei Yisrael are becoming too numerous and strong for us.

(1,10) Come let us deal wisely with him. Lest he increase so much, that, if there is war, he will join our enemies and fight against us, driving us from the land.

(1,11) They appointed conscription officers over him to oppress him with their burdens. He [B’nei Yisrael] built supply cities for Pharaoh, Pisom and Ramseis.

(1,12) But the more [the Egyptians] oppressed him, the more [the B’nei Yisrael] increased and spread. [The Egyptians] came to loathe the B’nei Yisrael.

(1,13) The Egyptians enslaved the B’nei Yisrael, with body-breaking labor.

(1,14) They made their lives bitter with harsh labor involving mortar and bricks, and all kinds of work in the fields. All the work they made them do [was intended] to break them.

(1,15) The king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives. The name of one of them was Shifrah, and the name of the other was Puah.

(1,16) He said, “When you deliver Hebrew women, you must look at the birthstool. If it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live.”

(1,17) The midwives [however] feared Elohim and did not do as the Egyptian king had told them, and they kept the infant boys alive.

(1,18) The king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, “Why did you do this? You let the infant boys live.”

(1,19) The midwives said to Pharaoh, “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptians. They know how to deliver. Even before a midwife gets to them, they have already given birth.”

(1,20) Elohim was good to the midwives, and the people increased and were very mighty.

(1,21) Because the midwives feared God, He gave them houses.

(1,22) Pharaoh then commanded all his people, saying, “Every boy who is born must be thrown into the river; but every girl shall be allowed to live.”

(2,1) A man of the house of Levi went and married the daughter of Levi.

(2,2) The woman conceived and bore a son. She saw that he was [exceptionally] good, and she kept him hidden for three months.

(2,3) When she could no longer hide him, she took a papyrus box and coated it with clay and tar. She placed the child in it, and placed it in the reeds near the bank of the river.

(2,4) [The child’s] sister stood herself at a distance to see what would happen to him.

(2,5) Pharaoh’s daughter went down to bathe by the river, while her maids walked along the river’s edge. She saw the box among the reeds and sent her maid and she fetched it.

(2,6) She opened it and saw the child, and behold a boy was crying. She took pity on it, and said, “This is one of the Hebrew boys.”

(2,7) [The infant’s] sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call to you a nursing [mother] from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?”

(2,8) “Go,” said Pharaoh’s daughter to her. The young girl went and called the child’s mother.

(2,9) Pharaoh’s daughter said to her [the child’s mother], “Take this child and nurse him for me, and I will pay your fee.” The woman took the child and nursed it.

(2,10) When the child grew up, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moshe, for she said, “I drew him from the water.”

(2,11) It was in those days when Moshe was grown that he [began] to go out to his brethren, and he saw their burdens [hard labor]. [One day] he saw an Egyptian beating one of his Hebrew brethren.

(2,12) He [Moshe] looked all around and [when] he saw that no man was there [watching], he killed the Egyptian and hid his body in the sand.

(2,13) He went out the next day, and behold two Hebrew men were quarreling. And he said to the wicked one, “Why are you beating your friend?”

(2,14) He [the wicked one] said, “Who made you a man, officer and judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Moshe was frightened, and he said, “So the matter is known.”

(2,15) Pharaoh heard about the matter, and he planned to kill Moshe. Moshe fled from Pharaoh, and resided in the land of Midian, and he sat [lived] near the well.

(2,16) The priest of Midian had seven daughters. They came to draw water [from the well] and fill the troughs to water their father’s sheep.

(2,17) Then the shepherds came and chased them away. Moshe got up and came to their aid, and then watered their sheep.

(2,18) When they came to Reu’eil, their father, he said [to them], “How did you get to come [home] so early today?”

(2,19) They said, “An Egyptian rescued us from the hand of the shepherds; and he also drew [water] for us, and watered the sheep.”

(2,20) He said to his daughters, “And where is he? Why did you abandon the man? Call him and let him eat bread.”

(2,21) Moshe agreed to reside with the man, and he gave Moshe his daughter Tzipporah.

(2,22) When she gave birth to a son, he named him Gershom, for he said, “I have been a foreigner in a strange land.”

(2,23) A long time passed and the king of Egypt died. The B’nei Yisrael moaned because of their enslavement, and they cried. Their plea about their enslavement went up to God.

(2,24) Elohim heard their groaning and Elohim remembered His covenant with Avraham, with Yitzchok and with Yaakov.

(2,25) Elohim saw the B’nei Yisrael, and Elohim took knowledge of them.

(3,1) Moshe tended the sheep of his father-in-law Yisro, priest of Midian. He led the sheep to the edge of the wilderness and he came to the mountain of God, in the area of Choreiv.

(3,2) An angel of Adonoy appeared to him [Moshe] in the heart of a fire in the midst of a thorn-bush. He looked and behold the bush was on fire, but the bush was not being consumed.

(3,3) Moshe said, “I must turn aside and see [investigate] this great sight. Why doesn’t the bush burn?”

(3,4) When Adonoy saw that [Moshe] turned aside to see, Elohim called to him from the midst of the thorn-bush, and said, “Moshe, Moshe.’” He [Moshe] said, “Here I am.”

(3,5) He [God] said, “Do not come any closer. Take your shoes off your feet, because the place upon which you are standing is holy ground.”

(3,6) He [God] then said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Avraham, the God of Yitzchok, and the God of Yaakov.” Moshe hid his face, for he was afraid to look at Elohim.

(3,7) Adonoy said, “I have indeed seen the suffering of My people that are in Egypt. I have heard how they cry out because [of the harshness] of their slave-masters, and I am aware of their pain.

(3,8) I have descended to free them from the hand of Egypt, and to bring them up from that land to a good, spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey; to the territory of the Canaanites, the Chittites, the Emorites, the Perizites, the Chivites and the Yevusites.

(3,9) Now, behold, the cry of the B’nei Yisrael has come to Me. I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them.

(3,10) Now go. I am sending you to Pharaoh, and you will bring My people, the B’nei Yisrael, out of Egypt.”

(3,11) Moshe said to Elohim, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh? Am I able to bring the B’nei Yisrael out of Egypt?”

(3,12) He [God] said, “Because I will be with you. This will be the proof that I have sent you—when you bring the people out of Egypt—you will serve Elohim on this mountain.”

(3,13) Moshe said to Elohim, “Behold, when I come to the B’nei Yisrael and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers sent me to you,’ they will say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?”

(3,14) Elohim said to Moshe, “Eh’yeh Asher Eh’yeh;” and He said, “This is what you must say to the B’nei Yisrael, ‘Eh’yeh sent me to you.’”

(3,15) Elohim continued talking to Moshe, “This is what you must say to the B’nei Yisrael, ‘Adonoy, the God of your fathers, the God of Avraham, the God of Yitzchok, and the God of Yaakov, sent me to you. This is My eternal Name, and this is how I am to be mentioned for all generations.’”

(3,16) “Go, gather the elders of Yisrael, and say to them, ‘Adonoy, the God of your fathers appeared to me—the God of Avraham, Yitzchok and Yaakov—saying, “I have indeed been mindful of you, regarding that which is being done to you in Egypt.

(3,17) I have said, I will bring you up out of the suffering of Egypt, to the land of the Canaanites, the Chittites, the Emorites, the Perizites, the Chivites and the Yevusites; to a land flowing with milk and honey.’”

(3,18) They will listen to your voice. You and the elders of Yisrael will come to the king of Egypt, and say to him, ‘Adonoy, God of the Hebrews happened to meet with us. Now we request that you let us go into the wilderness for three days, to bring an offering [sacrifice] to Adonoy, our God.’

(3,19) I know that the king of Egypt will not allow you to go [on this journey], but not because of his strong hand.

(3,20) I will then send forth my hand, and strike Egypt with all My wondrous deeds that I will perform in their midst. Then he [Pharaoh] will send you out.

(3,21) I will give this people grace in the eyes of the Egyptians; and when you go, you will not leave empty handed.

(3,22) Every woman shall borrow from her neighbor, and from the woman living in her house, articles of silver and gold, and clothing. You shall put them on your sons and daughters, and thus you will divest Egypt of its wealth.”

(4,1) Moshe answered and said, “They will not believe me. They will not listen to my voice. They will say, ‘Adonoy did not appear to you.’”

(4,2) Adonoy said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A rod.”

(4,3) [God] said, “Throw it on the ground.” He [Moshe] threw it on the ground and it turned into a snake. Moshe ran away from it.

(4,4) Adonoy said to Moshe, “Reach out your hand and grasp its tail.” He reached out his hand and took hold of it, and it became a rod in his hand.

(4,5) “This is so that they will believe that Adonoy appeared to you; the God of their fathers, God of Avraham, God of Yitzchok and God of Yaakov.”

(4,6) Adonoy said furthermore to him [Moshe], “Put your hand into your bosom.” He put his hand into his bosom, and when he withdrew it, his hand had become a snow-like tzora’as.

(4,7) He [Adonoy] said, “Put your hand into your bosom again.” [Moshe] put his hand into his bosom again, and when he withdrew it from his bosom, it had become [normal] as his flesh.

(4,8) “If they do not believe you, and they do not listen to the voice [of proof] of the first [miraculous] sign; then they will believe the voice [of proof] of the latter [second] sign.

(4,9) And if they will not believe even these two signs, and they will not listen to your voice, then you shall take from the water of the river and pour it on the dry land. The water that you will take from the river will turn into blood on the dry land.”

(4,10) Moshe said to Adonoy, “I beg You Adonoy, I am not a man of words—not since yesterday, not since the day before—not from the time You [first] spoke to Your servant, for I am clumsy [slow] of mouth [speech] and clumsy [slow] of tongue [language].”

(4,11) Adonoy said to him, “Who gave man a mouth, or who makes [a person] dumb or deaf? [Who makes a person] see or makes him blind? Is it not I—Adonoy?”

(4,12) Now go. I will be with your mouth, and teach you what to say.”

(4,13) [Moshe] said, “I beg You Adony [my Master,] please send the one You usually send.”

(4,14) Adonoy displayed anger toward Moshe and said, “Is not Aharon, the Levite, your brother? I know that he knows how to speak. Behold he is setting out to meet you, and when he sees you he will rejoice in his heart.

(4,15) You will speak to him and put the words in his mouth. I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you what to do.

(4,16) He will speak to the people for you. He will be your spokesman, and you will be his master.

(4,17) Take this rod in your hand, for with it you will perform the [miraculous] signs.”

(4,18) Moshe went and returned to Yeser, his father-in-law, and said to him, “I would like to leave and return to my brothers in Egypt, to see if they are still alive.” Yisro said to Moshe, “Go in peace.”

(4,19) Adonoy said to Moshe in Midian, “Go, return to Egypt, for they have died—all the men who had sought your life.”

(4,20) Moshe [then] took his wife and his sons, set them to ride on the donkey, and he returned to the land of Egypt. Moshe took the rod of God in his hand.

(4,21) Adonoy said to Moshe, “On your way back to Egypt, see [keep in mind] all the wondrous [signs] that I have placed in your hand, and do them before Pharaoh. I will harden his heart, and he will not send the people out.

(4,22) You will say to Pharaoh, This is what Adonoy said, Yisroel is My son, My firstborn.

(4,23) And I have said to you, send out My son and let him serve Me. If you refuse to send him, behold, I will slay your [own] firstborn son.”

(4,24) He [Moshe] was along the way, in the inn, Adonoy confronted him, and wanted to kill him.

(4,25) Tzipporah took a flint-stone and cut off her son’s foreskin, and threw it at his feet, saying, “You are a bridegroom of blood to me.”

(4,26) He then withdrew from him [Moshe. Then she said, “[You are] a bridegroom of blood [to me] because of the circumcision.”

(4,27) Adonoy said to Aharon, “Go meet Moshe in the desert.” He [Aharon] went and met him at the mountain of God and he kissed him.

(4,28) Moshe told Aharon all the words of Adonoy with which He had sent him; and all the [miraculous] signs that He had commanded him [to demonstrate].

(4,29) Moshe and Aharon went [to Egypt] and they gathered all the elders of the B’nei Yisrael.

(4,30) Aharon spoke all the words that Adonoy had spoken to Moshe, and he demonstrated the [miraculous] signs in the eyes [sight] of the people.

(4,31) The people believed. When they heard that Adonoy was mindful of the B’nei Yisrael, and that He had seen their suffering, they bowed their heads and prostrated themselves.

(5,1) Afterwards Moshe and Aharon went and said to Pharaoh, “This is what Adonoy, God of Yisrael said, ‘Send My people, so they may celebrate a festival to Me in the wilderness.”

(5,2) Pharaoh said, “Who is Adonoy that I should obey his voice, to let Yisrael go. I do not know Adonoy, nor will I let [the B’nei] Yisrael go.”

(5,3) They said [to him], “The God of the Hebrews has revealed Himself to us. Please allow us to take a three day journey into the wilderness, and let us sacrifice to Adonoy, our God, lest He strike us with the plague or with the sword.”

(5,4) The king of Egypt said to them, “Why, Moshe and Aharon, are you distracting the people from their work? Get back to your burdens.”

(5,5) Then Pharaoh said, “Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you want them to take leave from their hard work.”

(5,6) That day, Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their officers, saying,

(5,7) “You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks as before. Let them go gather [their own] straw,

(5,8) [And] the quota of bricks that they made before, you shall place upon them; do not reduce it, for they are lazy and therefore they cry out, saying, ‘We want to go sacrifice to our God.’

(5,9) Make the workload heavier on the men, and make them do it. Let them not talk about false ideas.”

(5,10) They went out—the taskmasters of the people and their officers—and spoke to the people, saying, “This is what Pharaoh said, ‘I will no longer give you straw.

(5,11) You must go get your own straw wherever you can find it, but your workload must not be reduced.’”

(5,12) The people spread out all over Egypt to gather grain-chaff for straw.

(5,13) The taskmasters pressured them saying, “You must complete your daily work [quota], just as [before] when there was straw.”

(5,14) The officers of the B’nei Yisrael were beaten—those whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had appointed—and were told, “Why have you not completed your quotas of brick making as you did yesterday and before neither yesterday, nor today?”

(5,15) The officers of the B’nei Yisrael came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying “Why are you doing this to your slaves?

(5,16) Your slaves are not given straw, and yet we are told to make bricks. Your slaves are beaten, and it is a sin for your people.”

(5,17) He said, “You are lazy, therefore you say, ‘Let us go sacrifice to Adonoy.’

(5,18) Now go, get to work. You will not be given straw, and you must deliver your quota of bricks.”

(5,19) The officers of the B’nei Yisrael realized their bad position, saying, “You must not reduce your daily quota of bricks.”

(5,20) They met Moshe and Aharon who were waiting to meet them as they were leaving Pharaoh.

(5,21) They said to them [Moshe and Aharon], “Let Adonoy look at you and judge. You have made our aroma abhorrent in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of his servants, putting a sword in their hands to kill us.”

(5,22) Moshe returned to Adonoy and said, “My Master. Why have You brought harm to this people? Why did You send me?

(5,23) Ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your Name, he has done harm to this people; and You have not rescued Your people.”

(6,1) Adonoy said to Moshe, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh, for by [My] strong hand he will let them go, and by [a] strong hand, he will drive them out of his land.”