Exodus

Chapter 2

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּe֥leke 'i֖yshsh mibּe֣yt levi֑y vayּiqּa֖ch 'et-bּat-leviֽy׃

Edified Edition (EDE)A man from the tribe of Levi married a woman from the same tribe.

וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ אִ֖ישׁ מִבֵּ֣ית לֵוִ֑י וַיִּקַּ֖ח אֶת־בַּת־לֵוִֽי׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vatּa֥har ha'ishshּa֖h vatּe֣led bּe֑n vatּe֤re 'oto֙ kּiy-t֣ob h֔u vaֽtּitzepּene֖hu shsheloshsha֥h yerachiֽym׃

Edified Edition (EDE)She became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw how healthy and special he was, she managed to hide him for three months.

וַתַּ֥הַר הָאִשָּׁ֖ה וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּ֑ן וַתֵּ֤רֶא אֹתוֹ֙ כִּי־ט֣וֹב ה֔וּא וַֽתִּצְפְּנֵ֖הוּ שְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה יְרָחִֽים׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): velo'-yakela֣h 'od֮ hatzּepiyno֒ vatּiֽqּaֽch-lo֙ tּe֣bat gּo֔me vatּachemera֥h bachema֖r ubazּa֑pet vatּa֤shsem bּahּ֙ 'et-hayּe֔led vatּa֥shsem bּasּ֖up 'al-shsepa֥t haye'oֽr׃

Edified Edition (EDE)When she could no longer hide him, she prepared a basket made of papyrus reeds and coated it with waterproof tar. She put the baby inside and placed the basket among the reeds at the edge of the Nile River.

וְלֹא־יָכְלָ֣ה עוֹד֮ הַצְּפִינוֹ֒ וַתִּֽקַּֽח־לוֹ֙ תֵּ֣בַת גֹּ֔מֶא וַתַּחְמְרָ֥ה בַחֵמָ֖ר וּבַזָּ֑פֶת וַתָּ֤שֶׂם בָּהּ֙ אֶת־הַיֶּ֔לֶד וַתָּ֥שֶׂם בַּסּ֖וּף עַל־שְׂפַ֥ת הַיְאֹֽר׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vatּetatzּa֥b 'achot֖o meracho֑q lede'a֕h mah-yּe'ashse֖h lֽo׃

Edified Edition (EDE)The baby's sister stood a distance away to see what would happen to him.

וַתֵּתַצַּ֥ב אֲחֹת֖וֹ מֵרָחֹ֑ק לְדֵעָ֕ה מַה־יֵּעָשֶׂ֖ה לֽוֹ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vatּe֤red bּat-pּare'oh֙ lirecho֣tz 'al-haye'o֔r vena'arote֥yha holeko֖t 'al-ya֣d haye'o֑r vatּe֤re 'et-hatּebah֙ bּet֣oke hasּ֔up vatּishshela֥ch 'et-'amata֖hּ vatּiqּacheֽha

Edified Edition (EDE)Soon, Pharaoh’s daughter came down to the river to bathe while her attendants walked along the bank. She spotted the basket among the reeds and sent her maid to go and get it.

וַתֵּ֤רֶד בַּת־פַּרְעֹה֙ לִרְחֹ֣ץ עַל־הַיְאֹ֔ר וְנַעֲרֹתֶ֥יהָ הֹלְכֹ֖ת עַל־יַ֣ד הַיְאֹ֑ר וַתֵּ֤רֶא אֶת־הַתֵּבָה֙ בְּת֣וֹךְ הַסּ֔וּף וַתִּשְׁלַ֥ח אֶת־אֲמָתָ֖הּ וַתִּקָּחֶֽהָ

Phonetic (Hebrew): vatּipetּach֙ vatּire'e֣hu 'et-hayּe֔led vehinּeh-na֖'ar bּoke֑h vatּachemo֣l 'ala֔yv vatּo֕'mer miyּalede֥y haֽ'iberi֖ym zeֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)When she opened it, she found the baby, and he was crying. She felt sorry for him and said, "This must be one of the Hebrew babies."

וַתִּפְתַּח֙ וַתִּרְאֵ֣הוּ אֶת־הַיֶּ֔לֶד וְהִנֵּה־נַ֖עַר בֹּכֶ֑ה וַתַּחְמֹ֣ל עָלָ֔יו וַתֹּ֕אמֶר מִיַּלְדֵ֥י הָֽעִבְרִ֖ים זֶֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vatּo֣'mer 'achoto֮ 'el-bּat-pּare'oh֒ ha'ele֗ke veqara֤'tiy lake֙ 'ishshּa֣h meyne֔qet mi֖n ha'iberiyּo֑t veteyni֥q la֖ke 'et-hayּaֽled׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Then the baby's sister stepped forward and asked Pharaoh’s daughter, "Shall I go and find a Hebrew woman to nurse the baby for you?"

וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֲחֹתוֹ֮ אֶל־בַּת־פַּרְעֹה֒ הַאֵלֵ֗ךְ וְקָרָ֤אתִי לָךְ֙ אִשָּׁ֣ה מֵינֶ֔קֶת מִ֖ן הָעִבְרִיֹּ֑ת וְתֵינִ֥ק לָ֖ךְ אֶת־הַיָּֽלֶד׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vatּoֽ'mer-la֥hּ bּat-pּare'o֖h le֑kiy vatּe֨leke֙ haֽ'alema֔h vatּiqera֖ 'et-'e֥m hayּaֽled׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Pharaoh’s daughter replied, "Yes, go." So the girl went and brought the baby’s own mother.

וַתֹּֽאמֶר־לָ֥הּ בַּת־פַּרְעֹ֖ה לֵ֑כִי וַתֵּ֨לֶךְ֙ הָֽעַלְמָ֔ה וַתִּקְרָ֖א אֶת־אֵ֥ם הַיָּֽלֶד׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vatּo֧'mer la֣hּ bּat-pּare'o֗h heyli֜ykiy 'et-hayּe֤led hazּeh֙ veheyniqi֣hu li֔y va'ani֖y 'etּe֣n 'et-shsekare֑ke vatּiqּa֧ch ha'ishshּa֛h hayּe֖led vatּeniyqeֽhu׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Pharaoh’s daughter told the woman, "Take this child and nurse him for me, and I will pay you for your work." So the woman took her son and cared for him.

וַתֹּ֧אמֶר לָ֣הּ בַּת־פַּרְעֹ֗ה הֵילִ֜יכִי אֶת־הַיֶּ֤לֶד הַזֶּה֙ וְהֵינִקִ֣הוּ לִ֔י וַאֲנִ֖י אֶתֵּ֣ן אֶת־שְׂכָרֵ֑ךְ וַתִּקַּ֧ח הָאִשָּׁ֛ה הַיֶּ֖לֶד וַתְּנִיקֵֽהוּ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayigedּa֣l hayּe֗led vatּebi'e֨hu֙ lebat-pּare'o֔h vֽayehiy-la֖hּ lebe֑n vatּiqera֤ shshemo֙ moshshe֔h vatּo֕'mer kּi֥y min-hamּa֖yim meshshiytiֽhu׃

Edified Edition (EDE)When the child grew older, she brought him back to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her legal son. She [1] (named him Moses), saying, "I named him this because I pulled him out of the water."

וַיִגְדַּ֣ל הַיֶּ֗לֶד וַתְּבִאֵ֨הוּ֙ לְבַת־פַּרְעֹ֔ה וַֽיְהִי־לָ֖הּ לְבֵ֑ן וַתִּקְרָ֤א שְׁמוֹ֙ מֹשֶׁ֔ה וַתֹּ֕אמֶר כִּ֥י מִן־הַמַּ֖יִם מְשִׁיתִֽהוּ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayehi֣y ׀ bּayּami֣ym hahe֗m vayּigedּa֤l moshsheh֙ vayּetze֣ 'el-'echa֔yv vayּa֖re bּesibelota֑m vayּare'֙ 'i֣yshsh mitzeri֔y makּe֥h 'iyshsh-'iberi֖y me'echaֽyv׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Years later, after Moses had grown up, he went out to visit his own people and saw the terrible hardship they were forced to endure. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew man, one of his own people.

וַיְהִ֣י ׀ בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֗ם וַיִּגְדַּ֤ל מֹשֶׁה֙ וַיֵּצֵ֣א אֶל־אֶחָ֔יו וַיַּ֖רְא בְּסִבְלֹתָ֑ם וַיַּרְא֙ אִ֣ישׁ מִצְרִ֔י מַכֶּ֥ה אִישׁ־עִבְרִ֖י מֵאֶחָֽיו׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּi֤pen kּoh֙ vako֔h vayּa֖re kּi֣y 'e֣yn 'i֑yshsh vayּake֙ 'et-hamּitzeri֔y vaֽyּitemene֖hu bּachֽol׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Moses looked around to make sure no one was watching, then he killed the Egyptian and buried his body in the sand.

וַיִּ֤פֶן כֹּה֙ וָכֹ֔ה וַיַּ֖רְא כִּ֣י אֵ֣ין אִ֑ישׁ וַיַּךְ֙ אֶת־הַמִּצְרִ֔י וַֽיִּטְמְנֵ֖הוּ בַּחֽוֹל׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּetze'֙ bּayּ֣om hashshּeni֔y vehinּe֛h shsheneֽy-'anashshi֥ym 'iberi֖ym nitzּi֑ym vayּo֨'mer֙ laֽrashsha֔ la֥mּah takּe֖h re'eֽka׃

Edified Edition (EDE)The next day, he went out again and saw two Hebrew men fighting with each other. He asked the one who started it, "Why are you hitting your fellow countryman?"

וַיֵּצֵא֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשֵּׁנִ֔י וְהִנֵּ֛ה שְׁנֵֽי־אֲנָשִׁ֥ים עִבְרִ֖ים נִצִּ֑ים וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ לָֽרָשָׁ֔ע לָ֥מָּה תַכֶּ֖ה רֵעֶֽךָ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): va֠yּo'mer mi֣y shsaֽmeka֞ le'i֨yshsh shsa֤r veshshopet֙ 'ale֔ynu haleharege֨niy֙ 'atּa֣h 'ome֔r kּa'ashshe֥r hara֖getּa 'et-hamּitzeri֑y vayּiyra֤ moshsheh֙ vayּo'ma֔r 'ake֖n noda֥ hadּabaֽr׃

Edified Edition (EDE)The man replied, "Who made you our prince and judge? Are you planning to kill me just like you killed that Egyptian?" At that moment, Moses became terrified, realising that people knew what he had done.

וַ֠יֹּאמֶר מִ֣י שָֽׂמְךָ֞ לְאִ֨ישׁ שַׂ֤ר וְשֹׁפֵט֙ עָלֵ֔ינוּ הַלְהָרְגֵ֨נִי֙ אַתָּ֣ה אֹמֵ֔ר כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר הָרַ֖גְתָּ אֶת־הַמִּצְרִ֑י וַיִּירָ֤א מֹשֶׁה֙ וַיֹּאמַ֔ר אָכֵ֖ן נוֹדַ֥ע הַדָּבָֽר׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּishshema֤ pּare'oh֙ 'et-hadּaba֣r hazּe֔h vayebaqּe֖shsh laharo֣g 'et-moshshe֑h vayּibera֤ch moshsheh֙ mipּene֣y pare'o֔h vayּe֥shsheb bּe'eֽretz-mideya֖n vayּe֥shsheb 'aֽl-habּe'eֽr׃

Edified Edition (EDE)When Pharaoh heard about what happened, he tried to have Moses executed. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in the land of Midian, where he sat down by a well.

וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ע פַּרְעֹה֙ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֔ה וַיְבַקֵּ֖שׁ לַהֲרֹ֣ג אֶת־מֹשֶׁ֑ה וַיִּבְרַ֤ח מֹשֶׁה֙ מִפְּנֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֔ה וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב בְּאֶֽרֶץ־מִדְיָ֖ן וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב עַֽל־הַבְּאֵֽר׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): ulekohe֥n mideya֖n shshe֣ba bּan֑ot vatּabo֣'nah vatּidele֗nah vatּemalּe֨'nah֙ 'et-ha֣rehati֔ym lehashsheq֖ot tzo֥'n 'abiyheֽn׃

Edified Edition (EDE)The priest of Midian had seven daughters who came to the well to draw water. They were filling the troughs to water their father’s flock of sheep.

וּלְכֹהֵ֥ן מִדְיָ֖ן שֶׁ֣בַע בָּנ֑וֹת וַתָּבֹ֣אנָה וַתִּדְלֶ֗נָה וַתְּמַלֶּ֨אנָה֙ אֶת־הָ֣רְהָטִ֔ים לְהַשְׁק֖וֹת צֹ֥אן אֲבִיהֶֽן׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּabo֥'u haro'i֖ym vayegareshsh֑um vayּa֤qam moshsheh֙ vayּ֣oshshi'a֔n vayּa֖shsheqe 'et-tzo'naֽm׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Some shepherds came along and tried to drive the women away, but Moses stood up in their defence, helped the daughters, and watered their flock for them.

וַיָּבֹ֥אוּ הָרֹעִ֖ים וַיְגָרְשׁ֑וּם וַיָּ֤קָם מֹשֶׁה֙ וַיּ֣וֹשִׁעָ֔ן וַיַּ֖שְׁקְ אֶת־צֹאנָֽם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vatּabo֕'nah 'el-re'u'e֖l 'abiyhe֑n vayּo֕'mer madּ֛u'a miharetּe֥n bּo֖ hayּֽom׃

Edified Edition (EDE)When the daughters returned to their father Reuel, he asked, "How is it that you have finished your work so quickly today?"

וַתָּבֹ֕אנָה אֶל־רְעוּאֵ֖ל אֲבִיהֶ֑ן וַיֹּ֕אמֶר מַדּ֛וּעַ מִהַרְתֶּ֥ן בֹּ֖א הַיּֽוֹם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vatּo'ma֕rena 'i֣yshsh mitzeri֔y hitzּiyla֖nu miyּa֣d haro'i֑ym vegam-dּalo֤h dalah֙ la֔nu vayּa֖shsheqe 'et-hatzּoֽ'n׃

Edified Edition (EDE)They answered, "An Egyptian man protected us from the shepherds. He even drew the water for us and watered the sheep."

וַתֹּאמַ֕רְןָ אִ֣ישׁ מִצְרִ֔י הִצִּילָ֖נוּ מִיַּ֣ד הָרֹעִ֑ים וְגַם־דָּלֹ֤ה דָלָה֙ לָ֔נוּ וַיַּ֖שְׁקְ אֶת־הַצֹּֽאן׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo֥'mer 'el-bּenota֖yv ve'ayּ֑o la֤mּah zּeh֙ 'azabetּe֣n 'et-ha'i֔yshsh qire'e֥n l֖o veyo֥'kal laֽchem׃

Edified Edition (EDE)"Where is he now?" Reuel asked his daughters. "Why did you leave him there? Go and invite him to come and eat with us."

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֶל־בְּנֹתָ֖יו וְאַיּ֑וֹ לָ֤מָּה זֶּה֙ עֲזַבְתֶּ֣ן אֶת־הָאִ֔ישׁ קִרְאֶ֥ן ל֖וֹ וְיֹ֥אכַל לָֽחֶם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּ֥o'el moshshe֖h lashshe֣bet 'et-ha'i֑yshsh vayּitּe֛n 'et-tzipּora֥h bitּ֖o lemoshsheֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Moses agreed to stay with the man, and Reuel later gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses in marriage.

וַיּ֥וֹאֶל מֹשֶׁ֖ה לָשֶׁ֣בֶת אֶת־הָאִ֑ישׁ וַיִּתֵּ֛ן אֶת־צִפֹּרָ֥ה בִתּ֖וֹ לְמֹשֶֽׁה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vatּe֣led bּe֔n vayּiqera֥ 'et-shshem֖o gּereshsho֑m kּi֣y 'ama֔r gּe֣r hayi֔ytiy bּe'e֖retz nakeriyּaֽh׃p

Edified Edition (EDE)She gave birth to a son, and Moses named him Gershom, saying, "I have been a stranger in a foreign land."

וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּ֔ן וַיִּקְרָ֥א אֶת־שְׁמ֖וֹ גֵּרְשֹׁ֑ם כִּ֣י אָמַ֔ר גֵּ֣ר הָיִ֔יתִי בְּאֶ֖רֶץ נָכְרִיָּֽה׃פ

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayehiy֩ bayּami֨ym hֽarabּi֜ym hahe֗m vayּa֨mat֙ me֣leke mitzera֔yim vayּe'anech֧u beneֽy-yishsera'e֛l min-ha'aboda֖h vayּize'a֑qu vatּa֧'al shshave'ata֛m 'el-ha'elohi֖ym min-ha'abodaֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Over a long period of time, the King of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned because of their bitter slavery and cried out for help. Their cries reached God.

וַיְהִי֩ בַיָּמִ֨ים הָֽרַבִּ֜ים הָהֵ֗ם וַיָּ֨מָת֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ מִצְרַ֔יִם וַיֵּאָנְח֧וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל מִן־הָעֲבֹדָ֖ה וַיִּזְעָ֑קוּ וַתַּ֧עַל שַׁוְעָתָ֛ם אֶל־הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים מִן־הָעֲבֹדָֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּishshema֥ 'elohi֖ym 'et-na'aqata֑m vayּizekּo֤r 'elohiym֙ 'et-bּeriyt֔o 'et-'aberaha֖m 'et-yitzecha֥q ve'eֽt-ya'aqoֽb׃

Edified Edition (EDE)God heard their groaning and remembered His covenant to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶת־נַאֲקָתָ֑ם וַיִּזְכֹּ֤ר אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶת־בְּרִית֔וֹ אֶת־אַבְרָהָ֖ם אֶת־יִצְחָ֥ק וְאֶֽת־יַעֲקֹֽב׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּa֥re 'elohi֖ym 'et-bּene֣y yishsera'e֑l vayּe֖da 'elohiֽym׃s

Edified Edition (EDE)God looked upon the Israelites and felt deep concern for their situation.

וַיַּ֥רְא אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיֵּ֖דַע אֱלֹהִֽים׃ס