The Birth and Adoption of Moses
(Acts 7:20–22; Hebrews 11:23)

1 וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ (And went) אִ֖ישׁ (a man) מִבֵּ֣ית (from the house) לֵוִ֑י (of Levi), וַיִּקַּ֖ח (and he took) אֶת־ (-) בַּת־ (a daughter) לֵוִֽי׃ (of Levi). 2 וַתַּ֥הַר (And conceived) הָאִשָּׁ֖ה (the woman) וַתֵּ֣לֶד (and bore) בֵּ֑ן (a son). וַתֵּ֤רֶא (And she saw) אֹתוֹ֙ (him) כִּי־ (that) ט֣וֹב (was good) ה֔וּא (he), וַֽתִּצְפְּנֵ֖הוּ (and she hid him) שְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה (three) יְרָחִֽים׃ (months).

3 וְלֹא־ (Not) יָכְלָ֣ה (she was able) עוֹד֮ (anymore) הַצְּפִינוֹ֒ (to hide him), וַתִּֽקַּֽח־ (and she took) לוֹ֙ (for him) תֵּ֣בַת (an ark) גֹּ֔מֶא (of papyrus) וַתַּחְמְרָ֥ה (and daubed it) בַחֵמָ֖ר (with tar) וּבַזָּ֑פֶת (and with pitch), וַתָּ֤שֶׂם (and put) בָּהּ֙ (in it) אֶת־ (-) הַיֶּ֔לֶד (the child), וַתָּ֥שֶׂם (and she placed it) בַּסּ֖וּף (in the reeds) עַל־ (along) שְׂפַ֥ת (the edge) הַיְאֹֽר׃ (of the River). 4 וַתֵּתַצַּ֥ב (And stationed herself) אֲחֹת֖וֹ (his sister) מֵרָחֹ֑ק (from a distance), לְדֵעָ֕ה (to know) מַה־ (what) יֵּעָשֶׂ֖ה (would be done) לֽוֹ׃ (to him).

5 וַתֵּ֤רֶד (And came down) בַּת־ (the daughter) פַּרְעֹה֙ (of Pharaoh) לִרְחֹ֣ץ (to bathe) עַל־ (at) הַיְאֹ֔ר (the River), וְנַעֲרֹתֶ֥יהָ (and her maidens) הֹלְכֹ֖ת (were walking) עַל־ (along) יַ֣ד (the hand) הַיְאֹ֑ר (of the River). וַתֵּ֤רֶא (And she saw) אֶת־ (-) הַתֵּבָה֙ (the ark) בְּת֣וֹךְ (in the midst) הַסּ֔וּף (of the reeds), וַתִּשְׁלַ֥ח (and she sent) אֶת־ (-) אֲמָתָ֖הּ (her maidservant) וַתִּקָּחֶֽהָ (and she took it). 6 וַתִּפְתַּח֙ (And she opened it), וַתִּרְאֵ֣הוּ (and she saw) אֶת־ (-) הַיֶּ֔לֶד (the child), וְהִנֵּה־ (and behold), נַ֖עַר (a boy) בֹּכֶ֑ה (weeping). וַתַּחְמֹ֣ל (And she had compassion) עָלָ֔יו (on him) וַתֹּ֕אמֶר (and she said), מִיַּלְדֵ֥י (One of the children) הָֽעִבְרִ֖ים (of the Hebrews) זֶֽה׃ (this is).

7 וַתֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) אֲחֹתוֹ֮ (his sister) אֶל־ (to) בַּת־ (the daughter) פַּרְעֹה֒ (of Pharaoh), הַאֵלֵ֗ךְ (Shall I go) וְקָרָ֤אתִי (and call) לָךְ֙ (for you) אִשָּׁ֣ה (a woman), מֵינֶ֔קֶת (nursing) מִ֖ן (from) הָעִבְרִיֹּ֑ת (the Hebrewesses), וְתֵינִ֥ק (that she may nurse) לָ֖ךְ (for you) אֶת־ (-) הַיָּֽלֶד׃ (the child)?

8 וַתֹּֽאמֶר־ (And said) לָ֥הּ (to her) בַּת־ (daughter) פַּרְעֹ֖ה (of Pharaoh), לֵ֑כִי (Go). וַתֵּ֙לֶךְ֙ (And went) הָֽעַלְמָ֔ה (the girl) וַתִּקְרָ֖א (and called) אֶת־ (-) אֵ֥ם (the mother) הַיָּֽלֶד׃ (of the child).

9 וַתֹּ֧אמֶר (And said) לָ֣הּ (to her) בַּת־ (the daughter) פַּרְעֹ֗ה (of Pharaoh), הֵילִ֜יכִי (Take away) אֶת־ (-) הַיֶּ֤לֶד (the child) הַזֶּה֙ (this), וְהֵינִקִ֣הוּ (and nurse him) לִ֔י (for me), וַאֲנִ֖י (and I) אֶתֵּ֣ן (will give you) אֶת־ (-) שְׂכָרֵ֑ךְ (your wage). וַתִּקַּ֧ח (And took) הָאִשָּׁ֛ה (the woman) הַיֶּ֖לֶד (the child) וַתְּנִיקֵֽהוּ׃ (and nursed him).

10 וַיִגְדַּ֣ל (And grew) הַיֶּ֗לֶד (the child), וַתְּבִאֵ֙הוּ֙ (and she brought him) לְבַת־ (to the daughter) פַּרְעֹ֔ה (of Pharaoh), וַֽיְהִי־ (and he became) לָ֖הּ (to her) לְבֵ֑ן (as a son). וַתִּקְרָ֤א (And she called) שְׁמוֹ֙ (his name) מֹשֶׁ֔ה (Moses), וַתֹּ֕אמֶר (and she said), כִּ֥י (Because) מִן־ (out) הַמַּ֖יִם (of the water) מְשִׁיתִֽהוּ׃ (I drew him).

The Rejection and Flight of Moses
(Acts 7:23–29)

11 וַיְהִ֣י׀ (And it came to pass) בַּיָּמִ֣ים (in the days) הָהֵ֗ם (those), וַיִּגְדַּ֤ל (and had grown) מֹשֶׁה֙ (Moses), וַיֵּצֵ֣א (and he went out) אֶל־ (to) אֶחָ֔יו (his brothers) וַיַּ֖רְא (and he saw) בְּסִבְלֹתָ֑ם (in their burdens), וַיַּרְא֙ (and he saw) אִ֣ישׁ (a man) מִצְרִ֔י (an Egyptian) מַכֶּ֥ה (striking) אִישׁ־ (a man) עִבְרִ֖י (a Hebrew) מֵאֶחָֽיו׃ (from his brothers). 12 וַיִּ֤פֶן (And he turned) כֹּה֙ (this way) וָכֹ֔ה (and that way), וַיַּ֖רְא (and he saw) כִּ֣י (that) אֵ֣ין (there was no) אִ֑ישׁ (man), וַיַּךְ֙ (and he struck) אֶת־ (-) הַמִּצְרִ֔י (the Egyptian) וַֽיִּטְמְנֵ֖הוּ (and hid him) בַּחֽוֹל׃ (in the sand).

13 וַיֵּצֵא֙ (And he went out) בַּיּ֣וֹם (on the day) הַשֵּׁנִ֔י (the second), וְהִנֵּ֛ה (and behold), שְׁנֵֽי־ (two) אֲנָשִׁ֥ים (men) עִבְרִ֖ים (Hebrews) נִצִּ֑ים (were fighting); וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (and he said) לָֽרָשָׁ֔ע (to the wicked one), לָ֥מָּה (Why) תַכֶּ֖ה (do you strike) רֵעֶֽךָ׃ (your companion)?

14 וַ֠יֹּאמֶר (And he said), מִ֣י (Who) שָֽׂמְךָ֞ (appointed you) לְאִ֨ישׁ (as a man) שַׂ֤ר (ruler) וְשֹׁפֵט֙ (and judge) עָלֵ֔ינוּ (over us)? הַלְהָרְגֵ֙נִי֙ (To kill me) אַתָּ֣ה (you) אֹמֵ֔ר (intend), כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר (as) הָרַ֖גְתָּ (you killed) אֶת־ (-) הַמִּצְרִ֑י (the Egyptian)?

וַיִּירָ֤א (And feared) מֹשֶׁה֙ (Moses) וַיֹּאמַ֔ר (and said), אָכֵ֖ן (Surely) נוֹדַ֥ע (is known) הַדָּבָֽר׃ (the matter).

15 וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ע (And heard) פַּרְעֹה֙ (Pharaoh) אֶת־ (-) הַדָּבָ֣ר (of the matter) הַזֶּ֔ה (this), וַיְבַקֵּ֖שׁ (and he sought) לַהֲרֹ֣ג (to kill) אֶת־ (-) מֹשֶׁ֑ה (Moses). וַיִּבְרַ֤ח (And fled) מֹשֶׁה֙ (Moses) מִפְּנֵ֣י (from the face) פַרְעֹ֔ה (of Pharaoh), וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב (and he dwelt) בְּאֶֽרֶץ־ (in the land) מִדְיָ֖ן (of Midian), וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב (and he sat down) עַֽל־ (by) הַבְּאֵֽר׃ (the well).

16 וּלְכֹהֵ֥ן (And the priest) מִדְיָ֖ן (of Midian) שֶׁ֣בַע (had seven) בָּנ֑וֹת (daughters). וַתָּבֹ֣אנָה (And they came) וַתִּדְלֶ֗נָה (and drew water) וַתְּמַלֶּ֙אנָה֙ (and they filled) אֶת־ (-) הָ֣רְהָטִ֔ים (the troughs) לְהַשְׁק֖וֹת (to water) צֹ֥אן (the flock) אֲבִיהֶֽן׃ (of their father). 17 וַיָּבֹ֥אוּ (And came) הָרֹעִ֖ים (the shepherds) וַיְגָרְשׁ֑וּם (and drove them away); וַיָּ֤קָם (and arose) מֹשֶׁה֙ (Moses) וַיּ֣וֹשִׁעָ֔ן (and saved them) וַיַּ֖שְׁקְ (and he watered) אֶת־ (-) צֹאנָֽם׃ (their flock).

18 וַתָּבֹ֕אנָה (And they came) אֶל־ (to) רְעוּאֵ֖ל (Reuel) אֲבִיהֶ֑ן (their father), וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (and he said), מַדּ֛וּעַ (Why) מִהַרְתֶּ֥ן (so early) בֹּ֖א (have you returned) הַיּֽוֹם׃ (today)?

19 וַתֹּאמַ֕רְןָ (And they said), אִ֣ישׁ (A man), מִצְרִ֔י (an Egyptian), הִצִּילָ֖נוּ (delivered us) מִיַּ֣ד (from the hand) הָרֹעִ֑ים (of the shepherds), וְגַם־ (and also) דָּלֹ֤ה (drawing) דָלָה֙ (he has drawn) לָ֔נוּ (for us) וַיַּ֖שְׁקְ (and he watered) אֶת־ (-) הַצֹּֽאן׃ (the flock).

20 וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (And he said) אֶל־ (to) בְּנֹתָ֖יו (his daughters), וְאַיּ֑וֹ (And where is he)? לָ֤מָּה (Why) זֶּה֙ (is this) עֲזַבְתֶּ֣ן (that you⁺ have left) אֶת־ (-) הָאִ֔ישׁ (the man)? קִרְאֶ֥ן (Call) ל֖וֹ (to him), וְיֹ֥אכַל (and let him eat) לָֽחֶם׃ (bread).

21 וַיּ֥וֹאֶל (And was willing) מֹשֶׁ֖ה (Moses) לָשֶׁ֣בֶת (to dwell) אֶת־ (with) הָאִ֑ישׁ (the man), וַיִּתֵּ֛ן (and he gave) אֶת־ (-) צִפֹּרָ֥ה (Zipporah) בִתּ֖וֹ (his daughter) לְמֹשֶֽׁה׃ (to Moses). 22 וַתֵּ֣לֶד (And she bore) בֵּ֔ן (a son), וַיִּקְרָ֥א (and he called) אֶת־ (-) שְׁמ֖וֹ (his name) גֵּרְשֹׁ֑ם (Gershom), כִּ֣י (for) אָמַ֔ר (he said), גֵּ֣ר (A sojourner) הָיִ֔יתִי (I have become) בְּאֶ֖רֶץ (in a land). נָכְרִיָּֽה׃פ (Foreign).

God Hears the Cry of the Israelites

23 וַיְהִי֩ (And it came to pass) בַיָּמִ֨ים (after days) הָֽרַבִּ֜ים (many) הָהֵ֗ם (those), וַיָּ֙מָת֙ (that died) מֶ֣לֶךְ (the king) מִצְרַ֔יִם (of Egypt). וַיֵּאָנְח֧וּ (And groaned) בְנֵֽי־ (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל (of Israel) מִן־ (because) הָעֲבֹדָ֖ה (of the bondage), וַיִּזְעָ֑קוּ (and they cried out), וַתַּ֧עַל (and went up) שַׁוְעָתָ֛ם (their cry) אֶל־ (to) הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים (God) מִן־ (because) הָעֲבֹדָֽה׃ (of the bondage).

24 וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע (And heard) אֱלֹהִ֖ים (God) אֶת־ (-) נַאֲקָתָ֑ם (their groaning), וַיִּזְכֹּ֤ר (and remembered) אֱלֹהִים֙ (God) אֶת־ (-) בְּרִית֔וֹ (His covenant) אֶת־ (with) אַבְרָהָ֖ם (Abraham), אֶת־ (with) יִצְחָ֥ק (Isaac), וְאֶֽת־ (and with) יַעֲקֹֽב׃ (Jacob). 25 וַיַּ֥רְא (And saw) אֱלֹהִ֖ים (God) אֶת־ (-) בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel), וַיֵּ֖דַע (and knew) אֱלֹהִֽים׃ס (God).