Chapter .v.
Then Moses and Aaron went and told Pharao, thus sayeth the LORD God of Israel. Let my people go, that they may keep holy day unto me in the wilderness. And Pharao answered: what fellow is the LORD, that I should hear his voice for to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will let Israel go. And they said: the God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go (we pray thee) three days' journey into the desert, that we may sacrifice unto the LORD our God: lest he smite us either with pestilence or with sword. Then said the king of Egypt unto them: wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their work, get you unto your labour. And Pharao said furthermore: behold, there is much people in the land, and ye make them play and let their work stond. And Pharao commanded the same day unto the taskmasters over the people and unto the officers saying: see that ye give the people no more straw to make brick withal, as ye did in time past: let them go and gather them straw them selves, and the number of bricks which they were wont to make in time past, lay unto their charge also, and minish nothing thereof. For they be idle and therefore cry saying: let us go and do sacrifice unto our God. They must have more work laid upon them, that they may labour therein, and then will they not turn them selves to false words. Then went the taskmasters of the people and the officers out and told the people saying: Thus sayeth Pharao: I will give you no more straw, but go your selves and gather you straw where ye can find it, yet shall none of your labour be minished. Then the people scattered abroad thorowout all the land of Egypt for to gather them stubble to be instead of straw. And the taskmasters hasted them forward saying: fulfil your work day by day, even as when straw was given you. And the officers of the children of Israel which Pharao's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten. And it was said unto them: wherefore have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick, both yesterday and today, as well as in times past? Then went the officers of the children of Israel and complained unto Pharao saying: wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants? there is no straw given unto thy servants, and yet they say unto us: make brick. And lo, thy servants are beaten, and thy people is foul entreated. And he answered: idle are ye idle, and therefore ye say: let us go and do sacrifice unto the LORD. Go therefore and work, for there shall no straw be given you, and yet see that ye deliver the hole tale of brick. When the officers of the children of Israel saw themself in shrewd case (in that he said ye shall minish nothing of your daily making of brick) then they met Moses and Aaron stonding in their way as they came out from Pharao, and said unto them: The LORD look unto you and judge, for ye have made the savour of us stink in the sight of Pharao and of his servants, and have put a sword into their hands to slay us. Moses returned unto the LORD {Lorde} {|LORDE|} and said: Lord {|LORDE|} wherefore dealest thou cruelly with this people: and wherefore hast thou sent me? For since I came to Pharao to speak in thy name, he hath fared foul with this folk, and yet thou hast not delivered thy people at all;
Chapter .vi.
Then the LORD said unto Moses. Now shalt thou see what I will do unto Pharao, for with a mighty hand shall he let them go, and with a mighty hand shall he drive them out of his land. And God spake unto Moses saying unto him: I am the LORD, and I appeared unto Abraham, Isaac and Iacob an almighty God: but in my name Iehouah was I not known unto them. Moreover I made an appointment with them to give them the land of Canaa: the land of their pilgrimage wherein they were strangers. And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, because the Egyptians keep them in bondage, and have remembered my promise. Wherefore say unto the children of Israel: I am the LORD, and will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and will rid you out of their bondage, and will deliver you with a stretched out arm and with great judgements. And I will take you for my people and will be to you a God. And ye shall know that I am the LORD your God which brings you out from under the burthens of the Egyptians. And I will bring you unto the land over the which I did lift up my hand to give it unto Abraham, Isaac and Iacob, and will give it unto you for a possession: even I the LORD. And Moses told the children of Israel even so: But they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit and for cruel bondage. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying: Go and bid Pharao king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land. And Moses spake before the LORD saying: behold, the children of Israel hearken not unto me, how then shall Pharao hear me: seeing that I have uncircumcised lips. And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron and gave them a charge unto the children of Israel and unto Pharao king of Egypt: to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt. These be the heads of their father's houses. The children of Ruben the eldest son of Israel are these: Hanoh, Pallu, Hezron, Charmi, these be the householders of Ruben. The children of Simeon are these: Gemuel, Iamin, Ohad, Iachin, Zohar, and Saul the son of a Cananitish wife: these are the kindreds of Simeon. These are the names of the children of Levi in their generations: Gerson, Kahath and Merari. And Levi lived an hundred and thirty seven years. The sons of Gerson: Libni and Semei in their kindreds. The children of Kahath: Amram, Iesear, Hebron and Usiel. And Kahath lived an hundred and thirty three years. The children of Merari are these: Maheli and Musi: these are the kindreds of Levi in their generations. And Amram took Iochebed his niece to wife which bare him Aaron and Moses. And Amram lived an hundred and thirty seven years. The children of Iezear: Korah, Nepheg and Sichri. The children of Usiel: Misael, Elzaphan and Sithri. And Aaron took Elizaba daughter of Aminadab and sister of Nahason, to wife: which bare him Nadab, Abehu, Eleazar and Ithamar. The children of Korah: Assir, Elkana and Abiassaph: these are the kindreds of the Korahites. And Eleazar Aaron's son took him one of the daughters of Putuel to wife: which bare him Pinehas: these be the principal fathers of the Levites in their kindreds. These are that Aaron and Moses to whom the LORD said: carry the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, with their armies. These are that Moses and Aaron which spake to Pharao king of Egypt, that they might bring the children of Israel out of Egypt. And in the day when the LORD spake unto Moses in the land of Egypt, he spake unto him saying, I am the LORD, see that thou speak unto Pharao the king of Egypt all that I say unto thee. And Moses answered before the LORD: I am of uncircumcised lips, how shall Pharao then give me audience?
Chapter .vij.
And the LORD said unto Moses: behold, I have made thee Pharao's God, and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet. Thou shalt speak all that I command thee and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharao: that he send the children of Israel out of his land. But I will harden Pharao's heart, that I may multiply my miracles and my wonders in the land of Egypt. And yet Pharao shall not hearken unto you, that I may set mine hand upon Egypt and bring out mine armies, even my people the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, with great judgements. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD when I have stretched forth my hand upon Egypt, and have brought out the children of Israel from among them. Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded them. And Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty three when they spake unto Pharao. And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron saying: when Pharao speaketh unto you and sayeth: shew a wonder, then shalt thou say unto Aaron, take the rod and cast it before Pharao, and it shall turn to a serpent. Then went Moses and Aaron in unto Pharao, and did even as the LORD had commanded. And Aaron cast forth his rod before Pharao and before his servants, and it turned to a serpent. Then Pharao called for the wise men, and enchanters of Egypt did in like manner with their sorcery. And they cast down every man his rod, and they turned to serpents: but Aaron's rod ate up their rods: and yet for all that Pharao's heart was hardened, so that he hearkened not unto them, even as the LORD had said. Then said the LORD unto Moses: Pharao's heart is hardened, and he refuseth to let the people go. Get thee unto Pharao in the morning, for he will come unto the water, and stond {stode} thou upon the river's brink against he come, and the rod which turned to a serpent take in thine hand. And say unto him: the LORD God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee saying: let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: but hitherto thou wouldest not hear. Wherefore thus sayeth the LORD: hereby thou shalt know that I am the LORD. Behold, I will smite with the staff that is in mine hand upon the waters that are in the river, and they shall turn to blood. And the fish that is in the river shall die, and the river shall stink: so that it shall grieve the Egyptians to drink of the water of the river. And the LORD spake unto Moses, say unto Aaron: take thy staff and stretch out thine hand over the waters of Egypt, over their streams, rivers, ponds and all pools of water, that they may be blood, and that there may be blood in all the land of Egypt: both in vessels of wood and also of stone. And Moses and Aaron did even as the LORD commanded. And he lift up the staff and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharao and in the sight of his servants, and all the water that was in the river, turned into blood. And the fish that was in the river died, and the river stank: so that the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river. And there was blood thorowout all the land of Egypt. And the enchanters of Egypt did likewise with their enchantments, so that Pharao's heart was hardened and did not regard them as the LORD had said. And Pharao turned himself and went into his house, and set not his heart thereunto. And the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink, for they could not drink of the water of the river. And it continued a week after that the LORD had smote the river.
Chapter .viij.
The LORD spake unto Moses: Go unto Pharao and tell him, thus sayeth the LORD: let my people go, that they may serve me. If thou wilt not let them go: behold I will smite all thy land with frogs. And the river shall scrale with frogs, and they shall come up and go into thine house and into thy chamber where thou sleepest and upon thy bed, and into the houses of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thine ovens, and upon thy vitailles which thou hast in store. And the frogs shall come upon thee and on thy people and upon all thy servants. And the LORD spake unto Moses, say unto Aaron: stretch forth thine hand with thy rod over the streams, rivers, and ponds. And bring up frogs upon the land of Egypt. And Aaron stretched his hand over the water of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. And the sorcerers did likewise with their sorcery, and the frogs came up upon the land of Egypt. Then Pharao called for Moses and Aaron and said, pray ye unto the LORD that he may take away the frogs from me and from my people, and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice unto the LORD. And Moses said unto Pharao: Appoint thou the time unto me, when I shall pray for thee and thy servants and thy people, to drive away the frogs from thee and thy house, so that they shall remain but in the river only. And he said tomorrow. And he said: even as thou hast said, that thou mayst know that there is none like unto the LORD our God. And the frogs shall depart from thee and from thine houses, and from thy servants and from thy people, and shall remain in the river only. And Moses and Aaron went out from Pharao, and Moses cried unto the LORD upon the appointment of frogs which he had made unto Pharao. And the LORD did according to the saying of Moses. And the frogs died out of the houses, courts and fields. And they gathered them together upon heaps: so that the land stank of them. But when Pharao saw that he had rest given him, he hardened his heart and hearkened not unto them, as the LORD had said. And the LORD said unto Moses: Say unto Aaron: stretch out thy rod and smite the dust of the land that it may turn to lice in all the land of Egypt. And they did so. And Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod and smote the dust of the earth, and it turned to lice both in man and beast, so that all the dust of the land turned to lice, thorowout all the land of Egypt. And the enchanters assayed likewise with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not. And the lice were both upon man and beast. Then said the enchanters unto Pharao: it is the finger of God. Neverthelater Pharao's heart was hardened and he regarded them not, as the LORD had said. And the LORD said unto Moses: rise up early in the morning and stond before Pharao, for he will come unto the water: and say unto him, thus sayeth the LORD: let my people go, that they may serve me. If thou wilt not let my people go, behold, I will send all manner flies both upon thee and thy servants, and thy people, and into thy houses. And the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of flies, and the ground whereon they are. But I will separate the same day the land of Gosan where my people are, so that there shall no flies be there: that thou mayest know that I am the LORD upon the earth. And I will put a division between my people and thine. And even tomorrow shall this miracle be done. And the LORD did even so: and there came noisome flies into the house of Pharao, and into his servants' houses and into all the land of Egypt: so that the land was marred with flies. Then Pharao sent for Moses and Aaron and said: Go and do sacrifice unto your God in the land. And Moses answered: it is not mete so to do. For we must offer unto the LORD our God, that which is an abomination unto the Egyptians: behold shall we sacrifice that which is an abomination unto the Egyptians before their eyes, and shall they not stone us? we will therefore go three days' journey into the desert and sacrifice unto the LORD our God as he hath commanded us. And Pharao said: I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice unto the LORD your God in the wilderness: only go not far away, and see that ye pray for me. And Moses said: behold, I will go out from thee and pray unto the LORD, and the flies shall depart from Pharao and from his servants and from his people tomorrow. But let Pharao from henceforth deceive no more, that he would not let the people go to sacrifice unto the LORD. And Moses went out from Pharao and prayed unto the LORD. And the LORD did as Moses had said, and took away the flies from Pharao and from his servants and from his people, so that there remained not one. But for all that, Pharao hardened his heart even then also and would not let the people go.
Chapter .ix.
And the LORD said unto Moses: go unto Pharao and tell him, thus sayeth the LORD God of the Hebrews: send out my people that they may serve me. If thou wilt not let them go but wilt hold them still: behold, the hand of the LORD shall be upon thy cattle which thou hast in the field, upon horses, asses, camels, oxen, and sheep, with a mighty great murrain. But the LORD shall make a division between the beasts of the Israelites, and the beasts of the Egyptians: so that there shall nothing die of all that pertaineth to the children of Israel. And the LORD appointed a time saying: tomorrow the LORD shall do this thing in the land. And the LORD did the thing on the morrow, and all the cattle of Egypt died: but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one. And Pharao sent to wete: but there was not one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. Notwithstanding the heart of Pharao hardened, and he would not let the people go. And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron: take your hands full of ashes out of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it up into the air in the sight of Pharao, and it shall turn to dust in all the land of Egypt, and shall make swelling sores with blains both on man and beast in all the land of Egypt. And they took ashes out of the furnace, and stood before Pharao, and Moses sprinkled it up into the air: And there brake out sores with blains both in man and beast: so that the sorcerers could not stond before Moses, by the reason of botches on the enchanters and upon all the Egyptians. But the LORD hardened the heart of Pharao, that he hearkened not unto them, as the LORD had said unto Moses. And the LORD said unto Moses: rise up early in the morning and stond before Pharao and tell him, thus sayeth the LORD God of the Hebrews: Let my people go, that they may serve me, or else I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart and upon thy servants and on thy people, that you mayst know that there is none like me in all the earth. For now I will stretch out my hand and will smite thee and thy people with pestilence: so that thou shalt perish from the earth. Yet in very deed for this cause have I stirred thee up, for to shew my power in thee, and to declare my name thorowout all the world. If it be so that thou stoppest my people, that thou wilt not let them go: behold, tomorrow this time, I will send down a mighty great hail: even such one as was not in Egypt since it was grounded unto this time. Send therefore and fetch home thy beasts and all that thou hast in the field. For upon all the men and beasts which are found in the field and not brought home, shall the hail fall, and they shall die. And as many as feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharao made their servants and their beasts flee to house: and they that regarded not the word of the LORD, left their servants and their beasts in the field. And the LORD said unto Moses: stretch forth thine hand unto heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt: upon man and beast, and upon all the herbs of the field in the field of Egypt. And Moses stretched out his rod unto heaven, and the LORD thundered and hailed, so that the fire ran along upon the ground. And the LORD so hailed in the land of Egypt, that there was hail and fire mingled with the hail, so grievous, that there was none such in all the land of Egypt, since people inhabited it. And the hail smote in the land of Egypt all that was in the field both man and beast. And the hail smote all the herbs of the field and broke all the trees of the field: only in the land of Gosan where the children of Israel were, was there no hail. And Pharao sent and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them: I have now sinned, the LORD is righteous and I and my people are wicked. Pray ye unto the LORD, that the thunder of God and hail may cease, and I will let you go, and ye shall tarry no longer. And Moses said unto him: as soon as I am out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD, and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail: that thou mayst know, how that the earth is the LORD's. But I know that thou and thy servants yet fear not the LORD God. The flax and the barley were smitten, for the barley was shot up and the flax was bolled: but the wheat and the rye were not smitten, for they were late sown. And Moses went out of the city from Pharao and spread abroad his hands unto the LORD, and the thunder and hail ceased, neither rained it any more upon the earth. When Pharao saw that the rain and the hail and thunder were ceased, he sinned again and hardened his heart: both he and his servants. So was the heart of Pharao hardened, that he would not let the children of Israel go, as the LORD had said by Moses.
Chapter .x.
The LORD said unto Moses: go unto Pharao, nevertheless I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his servants, that I might shew these my signs amongst them, and that thou tell in the audience of thy son and of thy son's son, the pageants which I have played in Egypt, and the miracles which I have done among them: that ye may know how that I am the LORD. Then Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharao, and said unto him: Thus sayeth the LORD God of the Hebrews: how long shall it be, or thou wilt submit thyself unto me? Let my people go that they may serve me. If thou wilt not let my people go: behold, tomorrow will I bring grasshoppers into thy land, and they shall cover the face of the earth that it can not be seen, and they shall eat the residue which remaineth unto you and escaped the hail, and they shall eat all your green trees upon the field, and they shall fill thy houses and all thy servants' houses, and the houses of all the Egyptians after such a manner: as neither thy fathers nor thy fathers fathers have seen, since the time they were upon the earth unto this day. And he turned himself about, and went out from Pharao. And Pharao's servants said unto him: How long shall this fellow thus plague us? {How long shall we be thus evilly entreated?} Let the men go that they may serve the LORD their God, or else wilt thou see Egypt first destroyed? And then Moses and Aaron were brought again unto Pharao, and he said unto them: Go and serve the LORD your God but who are they that shall go? And Moses answered: we must go with young and old: yea and with our sons and with our daughters, and with our sheep and oxen must we go. For we must hold a feast unto the LORD. And he said unto them: shall it be so? The LORD be with you, should I let you go, and your children also? Take heed, for ye have some mischief in hand. Nay not so: but go ye that are men and serve the LORD, for that was your desire. And they thrust them out of Pharao's presence. And the LORD said unto Moses: Stretch out thine hand over the land of Egypt for grasshoppers, that they come upon the land of Egypt and eat all the herbs of the land, and all that the hail left untouched. And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind upon the land, all that day and all night. And in the morning the east wind brought the grasshoppers, and the grasshoppers went up over all the land of Egypt and lighted in all quarters of Egypt very grievously: so that before them were there no such grasshoppers, neither after them shall be. And they covered all the face of the earth, so that the land was dark therewith. And they ate all the herbs of the land and all the fruits of the trees which the hail had left: so that there was no green thing left in the trees and herbs of the field thorow all the land of Egypt. Then Pharao called for Moses and Aaron in haste and said: I have sinned against the LORD your God and against you. Forgive me yet my sin only this once, and pray unto the LORD your God that he may take away from me this death only. And he went out from Pharao and prayed unto the LORD, and the LORD turned the wind into a mighty strong west wind, and it took away the grasshoppers and cast them into the reed sea: so that there was not one grasshopper left in all the coasts of Egypt. But the LORD hardened Pharao's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go. And the LORD said unto Moses: Stretch out thy hand unto heaven, and let there be darkness upon the land of Egypt: even that they may feel the darkness. And Moses stretched forth his hand unto heaven, and there was a dark mist {thick darkness} upon all the land of Egypt three days long, so that no man saw another, neither rose up from the place where he was by the space of three days, but all the children of Israel had light where they dwelled. Then Pharao called for Moses and said: go and serve the LORD, only let your sheep, and your oxen abide, but let your children go with you. And Moses answered: thou must give us also offerings and burnt offerings for to sacrifice unto the LORD our God. Our cattle therefore shall go with us, and there shall not one hoof be left behind, for thereof must we take to serve the LORD our God. Moreover we can not know wherewith we shall serve the LORD, until we come thither. But the LORD hardened Pharao's heart, so that he would not let them go. And Pharao said unto him: get thee from me and take heed to thyself that thou see my face no more. For whensoever thou comest in my sight, thou shalt die. And Moses said: Let it be as thou hast said: I will see thy face no more.
Chapter .xi.
And the LORD said unto Moses: yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharao and upon Egypt, and after that he will let you go hence. And when he letteth you go, he shall utterly drive you hence. But bid the people that every man borrow of his neighbour and every woman of her neighbouress: jewels of silver and jewels of gold. And the LORD gat the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover Moses was very great in the land of Egypt: both in the sight of Pharao, and also in the sight of the people. And Moses said: thus sayeth the LORD. About midnight will I go out among the Egyptians, and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die: even from the firstborn of Pharao that sitteth on his seat, unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is in the mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle. And there shall be a great cry thorowout all the land of Egypt: so that there was never none like nor shall be. And among all the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, nor yet man or beast: that ye may know, how the LORD putteth a difference between the Egyptians and Israel. And all these thy servants shall come down unto me, and fall before me and say: get thee out and all the people that are under thee, and then will I depart. And he went out from Pharao in a great anger. And the LORD said unto Moses: Pharao shall not regard you, that many wonders may be wrought in the land of Egypt. And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharao. But the LORD hardened Pharao's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go out of his land.
Chapter .xij.
And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt saying: This month shall be your chief month: even the first month of the year shall it be unto you. Speak ye unto all the fellowship of Israel saying: that they take the tenth day of this month to every household, a sheep. If the household be too few for a sheep, then let him and his neighbour that is next unto this house, take according to the number of souls, and count unto a sheep according to every man's eating. A sheep without spot and a male of one year old shall it be, and from among the lambs and the goats shall ye take it. And ye shall keep him in ward, until the fourteenth day of the same month. And every man of the multitude of Israel shall kill him about even. And they shall take of the blood and strike on the two side posts and on the upper doorpost of the houses, wherein they eat him. And they shall eat the flesh the same night, roast with fire, and with unleavened bread, and with sour herbs they shall eat it. See that ye eat not thereof sodden in water, but roast with fire: both head, feet, and purtenance together. And see that ye let nothing of it remain unto the morning: if ought remain burn it with fire. Of this manner shall ye eat it: with your loins girded, and shoes on your feet, and your staves in your hands. And ye shall eat it in haste, for it is the LORD's passover, for I will go about in the land of Egypt this same night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both of man and beast, and upon all the gods of Egypt will I the LORD do execution. And the blood shall be unto you a token upon the houses wherein ye are, for when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. And this day shall be unto you a remembrance, and ye shall keep it holy unto the LORD: even thorowout your generations after you shall ye keep it holy day, that it be a custom for ever. Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread, so that even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses. For whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be plucked out from Israel. The first day shall be a holy feast unto you, and the seventh also. There shall be no manner of work done in them, save about that only which every man must eat: that only may ye do. And see that ye keep you to unleavened bread. For upon that same day I will bring your armies out of the land of Egypt, therefore ye shall observe this day and all your children after you, that it be a custom for ever. The first month and the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat sweet bread unto the twenty first day of the month at even again. Seven days see that there be no leavened bread found in your houses. For whosoever eateth leavened bread, that soul shall be rooted out from the multitude of Israel: whether he be a stranger or born in the land. Therefore see that ye eat no leavened bread, but in all your habitations eat sweet bread. And Moses called for the elders of Israel and said unto them: choose out and take to every household a sheep, and kill passover. And take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike it upon the upper post and on the two side posts, and see that none of you go out at the door of his house until the morning. For the LORD will go about and smite Egypt. And when he seeth the blood upon the upper door post and on the two side posts, he will pass over the door and will not suffer the destroyer to come into your house to plague you. Therefore see that thou observe this thing, that it be an ordinance to thee, and thy sons for ever. And when ye be come into the land which the LORD will give you according as he hath promised, see that ye keep this service. And when your children ask you what manner of service is this ye do. Ye shall say: it is the sacrifice of the LORD's passover, which passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, as he smote the Egyptians and saved our houses. Then the people bowed them selves and worshipped. And the children of Israel went and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron. And at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt: from the firstborn of Pharao that sat on his seat, unto the firstborn of the captive that was in prison, and all firstborn of the cattle. Then Pharao arose the same night and all his servants and all the Egyptians, and there was a great crying thorowout Egypt, for there was no house where there was not one dead. And he called unto Moses and Aaron by night saying: Rise up, and get you out from among my people: both ye and also the children of Israel, and go and serve the LORD as ye have said. And take your sheep and your oxen with you as ye have said, and depart and bless me also. And the Egyptians were fierce upon the people and made haste to send them out of the land: for they said: we be all dead men. And the people took the dough before it was soured which they had in store, and bound it in cloths, and put it upon their shoulders. And the children of Israel did according to the saying of Moses: and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment. And the LORD gat the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and so they borrowed and robbed the Egyptians. Thus took the children of Israel their journey from Rameses to Sucoth six hundred thousand men of foot, beside children. And much common people went also with them, and sheep, and oxen, and cattle exceeding much. And they baked sweet cakes of the dough which they brought out of Egypt, for it was not soured: because they were thrust out of Egypt and could not tarry, neither had they prepared them any other provision of meat. And the time of the dwelling of the children of Israel which they dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years. And when the four hundred and thirty years were expired, even the self same day departed all the hosts of the LORD out of the land of Egypt. This is a night to be observed to the LORD, because he brought them out of the land of Egypt. This is a night of the LORD, to be kept of all the children of Israel and of their generations after them. And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron: this is the manner of passover: there shall no stranger eat thereof, but all the servants that are bought for money shall ye circumcise, and then let them eat thereof. A stranger and a hired servant shall not eat thereof. In one house shall it be eaten. Ye shall carry none of the flesh out at the doors: moreover, see that ye break not a bone thereof. All the multitude of the children of Israel shall observe it. If a stranger dwell among you, and will hold Passover unto the LORD, let him circumcise all that be males, and then let him come and observe it, and be taken as one that is born in the land. No uncircumcised person shall eat thereof. One manner of law shall be unto them that are born in the land, and unto the strangers that dwell among you. And all the children of Israel did as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron. And even the self same day did the LORD bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt with their armies.
Chapter .xiij.
And the LORD spake unto Moses saying: Sanctify unto me all the firstborn that open all manner matrices among the children of Israel, as well of men as of beasts: for they are mine. And Moses said unto the people: think on this day in which ye came out of Egypt and out of the house of bondage: for with a mighty hand the LORD brought you out from thence. See therefore that ye eat no leavened bread. This day come ye out of Egypt in the month of Abib. When the LORD hath brought thee in to the land of the Cananites, Hethites, Amorites, Hevites and Iebusites, which he sware unto thy fathers that he would give thee: a land wherein milk and honey floweth, then see that thou keep this service in this same month. Seven days thou shalt eat sweet bread, and the seventh day shall be feastful unto the LORD. Therefore thou shalt eat sweet bread seven days, and see that there be no leavened bread seen nor yet leaven among you in all your quarters. And thou shalt shew thy son at that time saying: this is done, because of that which the LORD did unto me when I came out of Egypt. Therefore it shall be a sign unto thee upon thine hand and a remembrance between thine eyes, that the LORD's law may be in thy mouth. For with a strong hand the LORD brought thee out of Egypt, see thou keep therefore this ordinance in his season from year to year. Moreover when the LORD hath brought thee into the land of the Cananites, as he hath sworn unto thee and to thy fathers, and hath given it thee, then thou shalt appoint unto the LORD all that openeth the matrice, and all the firstborn among the beasts which thou hast if they be males. And all the firstborn of the asses, thou shalt redeem with a sheep: if thou redeem him not, then break his neck. But all the firstborn among thy children shalt thou buy out. And when thy son asketh thee in time to come saying: what is this? thou shalt say unto him: with a mighty hand and LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. And when Pharao was loth to let us go, the LORD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt: as well the firstborn of men as of beasts. And therefore I sacrifice unto the LORD all the males that open the matrice, but all the firstborn of my children I must redeem. And this shall be as a token in thine hand, and as a thing hanged up between thine eyes: because the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. When Pharao had let the people go, God carried them not thorow the land of the Philistines, though it were a nye way. For God said: the people might haply repent when they see war, and so turn again to Egypt: therefore God led thee about thorow the wilderness that bordereth on the red sea. The children of Israel went harnessed out of the land of Egypt. And Moses took the bones of Ioseph with him: for he made the children of Israel swear saying: God will surely visit you, take my bones therefore away hence with you. And they took their journey from Sucoth: and pitched their tents in Etham in the edge of the wilderness. And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud to lead them the way: and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light: that they might go both by day and night. And the pillar of the cloud never departed by day nor the pillar of fire by night out of the people's sight.
Chapter .xiiij.
Then the LORD spake unto Moses saying: bid the children of Israel that they turn and pitch their tents before the entering of Hiroth between Migdol and the sea toward Baal Zephon: even before that shall ye pitch upon the sea. For Pharao will say of the children of Israel: they are tangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in. And I will harden his heart, that he shall follow after them, that I may get me honour upon Pharao and upon all his host, that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD. And they did even so. And when it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled, then Pharao's heart and all his servants turned unto the people and said: why have we this done, that we have let Israel go out of our service? and he made ready his chariots and took his people with him and took six hundred chosen chariots and all the chariots of Egypt and captains upon all his people. For the LORD hardened the heart of Pharao king of Egypt, that he followed after the children of Israel which for all that went out thorow an high hand. And the Egyptians followed after them and overtook them where they pitched by the sea, with all the horsses and chariots of Pharao and with his horsemen and his host: even fast by the entering of Hiroth before Baal Zephon. And Pharao drew nye, and when the children of Israel lift up their eyes and saw how the Egyptians followed after them, they were sore afraid and cried out unto the LORD. Then said they unto Moses: were there no graves for us in Egypt, but thou must bring us away for to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou served us thus, for to carry us out of Egypt? Did not we tell thee this in Egypt saying, let us be in rest and serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to have served the Egyptians, than for to die in the wilderness. And Moses said unto the people: fear ye not but stond still and behold how the LORD shall save you this day: For as ye see the Egyptians this day, shall ye see them no more for ever till the world's end. The LORD shall fight for you and ye shall hold your peace. The LORD said unto Moses: wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward. But lift thou up thy rod and stretch out thy hand over the sea and divide it asunder, that the children of Israel may go on dry ground thorow the middest thereof. And behold I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians that they may follow you. And I will get me honour upon Pharao and upon all his host, upon his chariots and upon his horsemen. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD when I have gotten me honour upon Pharao, upon his chariots and upon his horsemen. And the angel of God which went before the host of Israel, removed and went behind them. And the clouden pillar that was before them removed and stood behind them and went between the host of the Egyptians and the host of Israel. It was a dark cloud, and gave light by night: so that all the night long the one could not come at the other. When now Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, the LORD carried away the sea with a strong east wind that blew all night, and made the sea dry land and the water divided itself. And the children of Israel went in thorow the middest of the sea upon the dry ground. And the water was a wall unto them, both on their right hand and on their left hand. And the Egyptians followed and went in after them to the middest of the sea, with all Pharao's horses, and his chariots and his horsemen. And in the morning watch, the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians out of the fiery and cloudy pillar, and troubled their host and smote off their chariot wheels and cast them down to the ground. Then said the Egyptians: Let us flee from Israel, for the LORD fighteth for them against us. Then said the LORD unto Moses: stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the water may come again upon the Egyptians upon their chariots and horsemen. Then stretched forth Moses his hand over the sea, and it came again to his course early in the morning, and the Egyptians fled against it. Thus the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the middest of the sea, and the water returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen: so that of all the host of Pharao that came into the sea after them, there remained not one. But the children of Israel went upon dry land in the middest of the sea, and the water was a wall unto them: both on the right hand of them and also on the left. Thus the LORD delivered Israel the self same day out of the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea side. And when Israel saw that mighty hand which the LORD had shewed upon the Egyptians, they feared the LORD: and believed both the LORD and also his servant Moses.