Shamuth (Exodus) — 2

The Birth of Musha 

1 About this time, a man and woman from the tribe of La'uy got married. 

2 The woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She saw that he was a special baby and kept him hidden for three months. 

3 But when she could no longer hide him, she got a basket made of papyrus reeds and waterproofed it with tar and pitch. She put the baby in the basket and laid it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile River. 

4 The baby’s sister then stood at a distance, watching to see what would happen to him.

5 Soon Phar'uh’s daughter came down to bathe in the river and her attendants walked along the riverbank. When the princess saw the basket among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it for her. 

6 When the Mitzrayim princess opened it, she saw the baby, the little boy was crying and she felt sorry for him. “This must be one of the Abarym (Hebrew) children,” she said.

7 Then the baby’s sister approached the Mitzraym princess. “Should I go and find one of the Abarym (Hebrew) women to nurse the baby for you?” she asked.

8 “Yes, do!” the princess replied. So the girl went and called the baby’s mother.

9 “Take this baby and nurse him for me,” the Mitzraym princess told the baby’s mother. “I will pay you for your help.” So the woman took her baby home and nursed him.

10 Later, when the boy was older, his mother brought him back to Phar'uh’s daughter, who adopted him as her own son. The Mitzraym princess named him Musha, for she explained, “I lifted him out of the water.”

Musha Escapes to Midian

11 Many years later, when Musha had grown up, he went out to visit his own people, the Abarym (Hebrews), and he saw how hard they were forced to work. During his visit, he saw an Mitzraym beating one of his fellow Abarym. 

12 After looking in all directions to make sure no one was watching, Musha killed the Mitzraym and hid the body in the sand.

13 The next time, when Musha went out to visit his people again, he saw two Abarym (Hebrew) men fighting. “Why are you beating up your friend?” Musha said to the one who had started the fight.

14 The man replied, “Who appointed you to be our prince and judge? Are you going to kill me as you killed that Mitzraym yesterday?” Then Musha was afraid, thinking everyone knows what he did.” 

15 And sure enough, Phar'uh heard what had happened and Phar'uh tried to kill Musha. But Musha fled from Pharuh and went to live in the land of Midian; When Musha arrived in Midian, he sat down beside a well. 

16 Now the Kuhan (priest) of Midian had seven daughters who came as usual to draw water and fill the water troughs for their father’s flocks. 

17 But some other shepherds came and chased them away, so Musha jumped up and rescued the girls from the shepherds, then he drew water for their flocks.

18 When the girls returned to Raual their father, he asked why are you back so soon today?”

19 “A Mitzraym rescued us from the shepherds,” they answered, “and then he drew water for us and watered our flocks.”

20 “Then where is he?” their father asked. “Why did you leave him there? Invite him to come and eat with us.”

21 Musha accepted the invitation and he settled there with him. In time, Raual gave Musha his daughter Zippurah to be his wife. 

22 Later she gave birth to a son and Musha named him Garshum, for he explained, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.”

23 Years passed and the king of Mitzraym died. But the Yasharalym continued to groan under their burden of slavery. They cried out for help and their cry rose up to 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH. 

24 And 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH heard their groaning, and He remembered His covenant promise to Abraham, Yachaq and Ya'aqub. 

25 He looked down on the people of Yashar'AL and knew it was time to act.