Moses Returns to Egypt
Exodus 4:18-31
Exo.4.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וילך: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- משה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וישב: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- יתר: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- חתנו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- אלכה: VERB,qal,impf,1,?,sg
- נא: PART
- ואשובה: VERB,qal,imperfect,1,sg
- אל: NEG
- אחי: NOUN,m,pl,suff
- אשר: PRON,rel
- במצרים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ואראה: VERB,qal,imperfect,1,com,sg
- העודם: PART,interrogative+ADV
- חיים: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יתרו: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- למשה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- לשלום: PREP
Parallels
- Exod.3.18 (structural): God commissions Moses to return to the elders in Egypt and promises signs; sets up the same mission to go back to Israel in Egypt that Moses expresses here.
- Exod.4.20 (structural): Immediate narrative continuation: Moses takes his wife and sons and sets out for Egypt—direct sequel to his request to Jethro and Jethro's permission.
- Exod.18.2-6 (thematic): Later reunion in Midian/Egypt context: Jethro brings Zipporah and the sons to Moses and affirms the ongoing father‑in‑law relationship and concern for Moses’ household.
- Gen.31.18 (thematic): Jacob’s secret departure from his father‑in‑law Laban to return to his natal family—parallel motif of leaving a father‑in‑law’s household to go back to one’s kin in the ancestral land.
- Num.10.29-32 (allusion): Moses’ later address to Hobab (another Midianite relative) about accompanying Israel echoes the problems and decisions about in‑law ties and travel that appear in Moses’ request to Jethro here.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, "Please let me go and return to my brothers who are in Egypt, and let me see whether they are still alive." And Jethro said to Moses, "Go in peace."
- And Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, "Please let me go, that I may return to my brothers who are in Egypt and see whether they are still alive." And Jethro said to Moses, "Go in peace."
Exo.4.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- משה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- במדין: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- שב: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- מצרים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- כי: CONJ
- מתו: NOUN,m,sg,abs,3,m,sg
- כל: DET
- האנשים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- המבקשים: VERB,qal,ptcp,m,pl,def
- את: PRT,acc
- נפשך: NOUN,f,sg,abs,2,m
Parallels
- Exodus 2:15 (verbal): The earlier account explains why Moses fled to Midian: Pharaoh sought to kill him. Exodus 4:19 echoes that threat and provides God's timing for Moses' return.
- Matthew 2:20 (verbal): God's message to Joseph—'for they that sought the child's life are dead' (KJV)—parallels the language and situation of a persecutor's death removing the threat to a divinely chosen leader.
- Acts 7:24-29 (allusion): Stephen's retelling of Moses' life recounts the episode of killing an Egyptian and fleeing to Midian; Acts echoes the narrative context behind God's command in Exodus 4:19.
- 1 Samuel 19:11 (thematic): Saul's attempts to have David killed and David's flight reflect the recurring biblical motif of a ruler or persecutor seeking another's life and the pursued person's subsequent flight or divine protection.
Alternative generated candidates
- And YHWH said to Moses in Midian, "Go, return to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life are dead."
- And YHWH said to Moses in Midian, "Go, return to Egypt, for all the men who sought your life are dead."
Exo.4.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויקח: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- משה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- אשתו: NOUN,f,sg,cs+3,m,sg
- ואת: CONJ
- בניו: NOUN,m,pl,cs
- וירכבם: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg+3mp.obj
- על: PREP
- החמר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- וישב: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ארצה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מצרים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- ויקח: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- משה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- מטה: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- האלהים: NOUN,m,sg,def
- בידו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m,sg
Parallels
- Exod.4.17 (verbal): God's instruction that Moses 'take the rod in thy hand'—the same command and language about taking the rod as the instrument for signs.
- Exod.4.18 (structural): Immediate narrative context: Moses departs from Midian and returns toward Egypt; this verse directly leads into the action described in 4:20.
- Exod.2.21-22 (thematic): Background for Moses' family life: his marriage to Zipporah and the birth of his sons, explaining the persons he now 'took' with him to Egypt.
- Exod.7.9-12 (verbal): Accounts of Moses/Aaron using the rod before Pharaoh to perform signs (rod becoming serpent, confronting magicians), paralleling the 'rod of God' kept in Moses' hand.
- Gen.46.5-7 (thematic): Earlier patriarchal pattern of taking one's household into Egypt (Jacob taking wife and children), thematically paralleling Moses' return to the land of Egypt with his family.
Alternative generated candidates
- So Moses took his wife and his sons and mounted them on the donkey, and he returned to the land of Egypt; and Moses took the staff of God in his hand.
- So Moses took his wife and his sons and set them on the donkey and returned to the land of Egypt; and Moses took the staff of God in his hand.
Exo.4.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- משה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בלכתך: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs,2,m,sg
- לשוב: VERB,qal,inf
- מצרימה: NOUN,prop,pl,m,abs
- ראה: VERB,qal,imperat,2,m,sg
- כל: DET
- המפתים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- שמתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- בידך: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,suff,2,m,sg
- ועשיתם: VERB,qal,perf,2,NA,pl
- לפני: PREP
- פרעה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ואני: PRON,1,sg
- אחזק: VERB,qal,impf,1,NA,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- לבו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- ולא: CONJ
- ישלח: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- Exod.7:3-4 (verbal): God again tells Moses to perform signs and declares he will harden Pharaoh’s heart—same diction and theocratic purpose as 4:21.
- Exod.9:12 (verbal): Repetition of the formulation that the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart during the plague narrative; continues the motif introduced in 4:21.
- Rom.9:17-18 (quotation): Paul cites the Exodus tradition (God’s dealings with Pharaoh) and draws theological conclusion about God hardening whom he wills—New Testament reflection on the hardening motif.
- Ps.105:27 (thematic): The psalm recounts that Moses and Aaron 'did his signs' and wonders in Egypt, echoing the instruction in 4:21 to perform the miracles given by God.
Alternative generated candidates
- And YHWH said to Moses, "When you go to return to Egypt, see to it that you perform all the portents that I have put in your hand; you shall do them before Pharaoh. But I will harden his heart, and he will not send the people."
- And YHWH said to Moses, "When you go to return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the portents that I have put in your hand; but I will harden his heart, and he will not send the people away."
Exo.4.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואמרת: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- פרעה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- כה: ADV
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- בכרי: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1s
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Exod.4.23 (structural): Immediate continuation: God tells Moses to say to Pharaoh, 'Let my son go,' directly building on the declaration 'Israel is my firstborn' and giving the demand that flows from it.
- Hosea 11:1 (verbal): Uses the language 'When Israel was a child... I called my son out of Egypt' — a clear verbal and thematic echo of Israel as God's son and the Exodus motif.
- Matthew 2:15 (allusion): Quotes Hosea ('Out of Egypt I called my son') in reference to Jesus; alludes to the Exodus/son imagery that originates in declarations like Exod 4:22.
- Psalm 89:27 (verbal): God says of the chosen one, 'I will appoint him my firstborn,' echoing the designation of 'firstborn' applied to Israel in Exodus and linking royal/firstborn language.
- Psalm 2:7 (verbal): 'You are my son; today I have begotten you' — uses sonship language parallel to God's address to Israel as his son in Exodus 4:22, later applied to the Davidic/Messianic figure.
Alternative generated candidates
- And you shall say to Pharaoh, "Thus says YHWH: Israel is my son, my firstborn."
- "And you shall say to Pharaoh, 'Thus says YHWH: Israel is my son, my firstborn.'"
Exo.4.23 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואמר: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אליך: PREP+PRON,2,m,sg
- שלח: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- ויעבדני: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg,obj1
- ותמאן: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- לשלחו: VERB,qal,inf,3,m,sg,prep_l
- הנה: PART
- אנכי: PRON,1,sg
- הרג: VERB,qal,impf,1,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- בנך: NOUN,m,sg,cstr+poss,2,m,sg
- בכרך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,suff:2,m,sg
Parallels
- Exodus 4:22 (verbal): Immediate context: God tells Moses to call Israel 'my son, even my firstborn'—the phrase 'my son'/'firstborn' is the basis for the demand in 4:23.
- Exodus 11:5 (thematic): Announcement of the tenth plague that all Egyptian firstborn shall die—this is the direct prophetic theme announced in 4:23.
- Exodus 12:29 (thematic): Narrative fulfillment of the threat in 4:23: at midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in Egypt.
- Psalm 78:51 (allusion): Later retelling of the Exodus that repeats the motif of God smiting the Egyptian firstborn, echoing the threat and its execution.
- Hosea 11:1 (allusion): Uses the language 'Out of Egypt I called my son'—reflects and develops the 'my son/firstborn' language applied to Israel that underlies the demand in 4:23.
Alternative generated candidates
- And I say to you, "Send my son that he may serve me"; but you refuse to send him—behold, I am about to kill your son, your firstborn.
- "And I say to you, 'Send my son away, that he may serve me.' But you refuse to send him; behold, I am about to kill your son, your firstborn."
Exo.4.24 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- בדרך: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- במלון: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- ויפגשהו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg,OBJ:3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ויבקש: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- המיתו: INF,hiph,inf,OBJ:3,m,sg
Parallels
- Exod.4.25-26 (structural): Immediate narrative continuation: Zipporah circumcises her son and touches Moses with the foreskin to avert God's killing intent; explains the enigmatic threat in 4:24.
- Gen.17:9-14 (thematic): Circumcision as the covenant sign and the consequence for failing to circumcise (to be ‘cut off’); provides the theological background for divine hostility toward an uncircumcised male.
- Gen.34:25-26 (thematic): Episodes in which circumcision, blood, and violent threat intersect; parallels the motif of circumcision-linked blood averting or accompanying lethal crisis.
- Josh.5:2-9 (thematic): God commands collective circumcision of Israel at Gilgal before entering the land and explains earlier generation’s death in the wilderness; underscores importance of circumcision for covenantal protection and life.
Alternative generated candidates
- And it came to pass on the way, at the lodging-place, that YHWH met him and sought to put him to death.
- Now on the way, at the lodging-place, YHWH met him and sought to put him to death.
Exo.4.25 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותקח: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- צפרה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- צר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ותכרת: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- ערלת: NOUN,f,sg,construct
- בנה: NOUN,m,sg,abs+SUFF,3,f,sg
- ותגע: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- לרגליו: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- ותאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- כי: CONJ
- חתן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- דמים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אתה: PRON,2,m,sg
- לי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
Parallels
- Exodus 4:24 (structural): Immediate context: God 'met him and sought to kill him' before Zipporah's act — her circumcision of the son directly intervenes in the life‑threatening episode and explains the sudden violent image in 4:25.
- Genesis 17:10-14 (verbal): Establishes circumcision as the covenantal rite (cutting the foreskin) and sign of membership in Abraham's line, providing the ritual and theological background for Zipporah's act.
- Joshua 5:2-9 (thematic): The mass circumcision of the Israelites at Gilgal renews covenant identity and involves blood and physical vulnerability; parallels Zipporah's use of circumcision to restore covenantal status and protection.
- Genesis 34:25-29 (allusion): Simeon and Levi use circumcision deceitfully to incapacitate and slaughter Shechem's men — links circumcision, blood, and violent rescue/vengeance, echoing the striking 'bridegroom of blood' language in Exodus 4:25.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off the foreskin of her son, and touched it to his feet, and said, "Surely a bridegroom of blood are you to me."
- Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off the foreskin of her son; she touched it to his feet and said, "Indeed you are a bridegroom of blood to me."
Exo.4.26 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וירף: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ממנו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- אז: ADV
- אמרה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- חתן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- דמים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- למולת: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Genesis 17:10-14 (verbal): Establishes circumcision as the covenant sign commanded by God ('every male among you shall be circumcised'), providing the legal/theological background for Zipporah's act.
- Genesis 17:23-27 (structural): Abraham immediately circumcises his household (including Ishmael) in obedience to the covenant—parallels the urgent, household-focused action of circumcision in Exodus 4.
- Joshua 5:2-9 (structural): Joshua orders the renewed circumcision of the Israelite males after the wilderness period; echoes themes of covenant identity and the ritual necessity of circumcision for the community.
- 1 Samuel 18:25-27 (thematic): David delivers Philistine foreskins as a blood-related bride-price; resonates with the bridegroom/blood language in Exodus 4 and the association of circumcision/foreskins with marriage and blood.
- Genesis 34:25-29 (thematic): The Shechem episode involves mass circumcision used in a violent stratagem; parallels Exodus 4 in linking circumcision with blood, danger, and ambivalent social/ritual consequences.
Alternative generated candidates
- So he let him go. Then she said, "Bridegroom of blood," because of the circumcision.
- So he let him alone. Then she said, "Bridegroom of blood," because of the circumcision.
Exo.4.27 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- אהרן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- לקראת: PREP
- משה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- המדברה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- וילך: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- ויפגשהו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- בהר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- האלהים: NOUN,m,sg,def
- וישק: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Exod.4.14 (structural): Immediately earlier in the narrative God appoints Aaron to assist Moses; 4:27 is the fulfillment when Aaron is sent to meet Moses in the wilderness.
- Exod.7.1 (thematic): Declares Aaron’s role as Moses’ spokesman/prophet before Pharaoh — the larger functional reason Aaron is sent to meet and accompany Moses.
- Exod.18.7 (verbal): Moses meets his father‑in‑law and kisses him on meeting (’bowed, and kissed him’); parallels the greeting‑kiss motif when a significant visitor is met.
- Gen.33.4 (thematic): Esau meets Jacob and embraces/kisses him on reunion; another brotherly meeting marked by a kiss, echoing familial greeting and reconciliation motifs.
- 1 Sam.20.41 (verbal): David and Jonathan ‘kiss one another’ at a poignant meeting; parallels the affectionate greeting expressed by a kiss between close associates.
Alternative generated candidates
- And YHWH said to Aaron, "Go to meet Moses in the wilderness." And he went and met him at the mountain of God and kissed him.
- And YHWH said to Aaron, "Go to meet Moses in the wilderness." So he went and met him at the mountain of God and kissed him.
Exo.4.28 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויגד: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- משה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לאהרן: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- כל: DET
- דברי: NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,1,c,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- שלחו: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,pl
- ואת: CONJ
- כל: DET
- האתת: ART+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- צוהו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Exodus 4:16 (verbal): God instructs Moses that Aaron will be his spokesman and repeat Moses' words to the people — directly anticipates and explains Moses' reporting of God's words to Aaron.
- Exodus 7:1-5 (thematic): God appoints Moses and Aaron to confront Pharaoh and perform signs; continues the theme of Moses transmitting divine commands and signs carried out through the pair.
- Exodus 4:30 (structural): Immediate narrative continuation: Moses and Aaron gather the elders and demonstrate the signs God gave them — shows the transmission of words and signs being enacted before Israel.
- Numbers 12:7-8 (allusion): God emphasizes Moses' unique mode of revelation ('mouth to mouth') — highlights the significance of Moses receiving and handing on God's words (as he does to Aaron here).
- Deuteronomy 34:10 (thematic): Summary statement that no prophet arose like Moses who knew the LORD face to face — underscores Moses' unique authority to receive and transmit God's words and signs.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Moses told Aaron all the words of YHWH who had sent him, and all the signs that he had commanded him.
- And Moses told Aaron all the words of YHWH with which he had sent him, and all the signs that he had commanded him.
Exo.4.29 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וילך: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- משה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואהרן: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויאספו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- כל: DET
- זקני: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Exod.3:16 (verbal): God's earlier instruction to Moses to 'gather the elders of Israel'—the command that Moses and Aaron now carry out.
- Exod.12:21 (verbal): Moses calls together 'all the elders of Israel' to give them instructions about the Passover—same verb and practice of assembling leaders.
- Num.11:16 (structural): God tells Moses to 'gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel'—another instance of convening elders to transmit authority and make communal decisions.
- 1 Sam.8:4 (thematic): 'All the elders of Israel' assemble at Samuel to demand a king—similar motif of the elders gathering to receive leadership direction and enact national decisions.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Moses and Aaron went and gathered all the elders of the children of Israel.
- And Moses and Aaron went and gathered all the elders of the sons of Israel.
Exo.4.30 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וידבר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אהרן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- כל: DET
- הדברים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- משה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויעש: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- האתת: NOUN,f,pl,def
- לעיני: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,cons
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- Exodus 4:1-9 (verbal): These verses list the specific signs God gave Moses (staff to serpent, leprous hand, water to blood) that are the same miraculous demonstrations Aaron later performs before the people.
- Exodus 4:14-16 (verbal): God tells Moses that Aaron will be his spokesman—'he shall be to you instead of a mouth'—which explains why Aaron speaks the words of Yahweh to the people in 4:30.
- Exodus 7:1 (thematic): God declares Aaron will act as Moses' prophet before Pharaoh ('Aaron your brother shall be your prophet'), echoing the role Aaron fills in addressing the people and performing signs.
- Exodus 7:10-12 (verbal): Aaron actually performs a sign before Pharaoh—casting down his rod so it becomes a serpent—paralleling 4:30's note that Aaron 'did the signs' before the people.
- Acts 7:35-36 (thematic): Stephen's summary of Moses' mission highlights that God sent him with signs and wonders; this New Testament reflection echoes the motif of divine words accompanied by miraculous signs performed on Israel's behalf.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Aaron spoke all the words that YHWH had spoken to Moses, and he did the signs in the sight of the people.
- And Aaron spoke all the words that YHWH had spoken to Moses, and he performed the signs in the sight of the people.
Exo.4.31 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמן: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- וישמעו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- כי: CONJ
- פקד: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וכי: CONJ
- ראה: VERB,qal,imperat,2,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- ענים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ויקדו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- וישתחוו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Exodus 2:23-25 (verbal): Describes Israel's groaning and that God 'looked upon' and remembered them—same language of God seeing and responding to Israel's affliction that prompts faith.
- Exodus 3:7 (verbal): God declares 'I have surely seen the affliction of my people'—language closely parallels 'he had looked on their affliction' in Exod 4:31.
- Exodus 6:5 (verbal): Declares that God 'heard the groaning' of Israel and remembered his covenant—echoes the theme of divine attention to Israel's suffering and ensuing deliverance.
- Exodus 14:31 (structural): After the Red Sea deliverance the people 'feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses,' a parallel communal response of belief and worship to God's intervention.
- Psalm 95:6 (thematic): 'O come, let us worship and bow down' echoes the people's gesture in Exod 4:31—bowing and worship as the proper response to God's salvific action.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the people believed; and when they heard that YHWH had visited the children of Israel and had seen their affliction, they bowed and prostrated themselves.
- And the people believed; and they heard that YHWH had visited the sons of Israel and that he had seen their affliction, and they bowed and prostrated themselves.
And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, "Please let me go, and let me return to my brothers who are in Egypt, and let me see whether they are still alive." And Jethro said to Moses, "Go in peace." And YHWH said to Moses in Midian, "Go, return to Egypt, for all the men who sought your life are dead." And Moses took his wife and his sons and set them on the donkey, and he returned to the land of Egypt; and Moses took the staff of God in his hand. And YHWH said to Moses, "As you go to return to Egypt, see all the wonders that I have put in your hand; you shall do them before Pharaoh. But I will harden his heart, and he will not send the people."
"And you shall say to Pharaoh, 'Thus says YHWH: Israel is my son, my firstborn.'"
"And I say to you, 'Send my son that he may serve me'; but you have refused to send him—behold, I am about to kill your son, your firstborn." And it happened on the way, at the lodging-place, that YHWH met him and sought to put him to death.
Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off the foreskin of her son and touched it to his feet and said, "Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me." So he let him alone. Then she said, "A bridegroom of blood," on account of circumcision. And YHWH said to Aaron, "Go to meet Moses in the wilderness." And he went and met him at the mountain of God and kissed him. And Moses told Aaron all the words of YHWH who had sent him, and all the signs that he had commanded him. And Moses and Aaron went and gathered all the elders of the sons of Israel. And Aaron spoke all the words that YHWH had spoken to Moses, and he did the signs before the eyes of the people. And the people believed; and they heard that YHWH had visited the sons of Israel and that he had seen their affliction; and they bowed and prostrated themselves.