God will force Pharaoh to free Israel
1The LORD told Moses, “You’re about to see what I’m going to do to Pharaoh. He’ll let the people go, but not willingly. He’ll do it because he won’t have a choice. He’ll be forced to send them away. In fact, he’ll order them to leave.”2Then God told Moses, “I am the LORD. 3I met with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But I did so as God Almighty, [1] not as the LORD. I didn’t tell them my name. [2] 4I also made a sacred agreement [3] with them. I promised them the land of Canaan—where they used to live as foreigners. 5I’ve heard the people of Israel groaning in pain over their slavery in Egypt. And I remember my agreement.
6Tell the people of Israel I said this: “I am the LORD. I’m going to lift that heavy load the Egyptians are putting on you. I’m going to free you. And I’m going to do it in a big way, with extraordinary displays of punishment. 7I choose you as my people. I’ll be your God. When this is over, you’ll know that I’m the LORD your God. You’ll know that I’m the one who freed you from this Egyptian slavery. 8I’m going to take you to the land I promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I’m the LORD, and I’m giving this land to you.”
9Moses told the people what the LORD said, but they didn’t care. They were too depressed. Egyptian cruelty had crushed their spirits. 10The LORD told Moses, 11“Go tell Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to let the Israelites go.” 12Moses said, “Look, the Israelites aren’t even listening to me now. How on earth can I expect Pharaoh to listen to me, especially since I’m not a good speaker.” 13The LORD insisted. He told Moses and Aaron to deliver his message to the Israelites and to Pharaoh: the Israelites are to leave Egypt.
Family of Moses and Aaron
14These people are leaders of their clans or extended families.Descendants of Reuben, Jacob’s [4] oldest child:
Enoch, Pallu, Hazron, and Carmi.
15Descendants of Simeon:
Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Saul the son of a Canaanite woman.
16Descendants of Levi:
Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
Levi lived 137 years.
17Descendants of Gershon:
Libni and Shimei.
18Descendants of Kohath:
Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
Kohath lived 133 years.
19Descendants of Merari:
Mahli and Mushi.
All the clans above are from the tribe of Levi.
20Amram[20] married his aunt Jochebed, who was his father’s sister. She gave birth to sons, Aaron and Moses. Amram lived 137 years.
21Descendants of Izhar:
Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri.
22Descendants of Uzziel:
Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri.
23Aaron married Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, sister of Nahshon. She gave birth to Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
24Descendants of Korah:
Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph.
These are Korah’s family, the Korahites.
25Aaron’s son Eleazar married one of Putiel’s daughters. She gave birth to Phinehas. These are the leaders of the families in the tribe of Levi. 26This is the same Aaron and Moses that the LORD command: “Take the people of Israel out of Egypt, one family after another until you get them all out.” 27So they told Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to free the Israelites. It’s the same Moses and Aaron. 28The LORD told Moses in Egypt, 29“I am the LORD. Now go ahead and meet with Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Tell him everything I tell you to say.” 30But Moses said, “Look, LORD, I’m not good at talking. So why would Pharaoh pay any attention to me?”
