Part 37 (1/2)

The Lord met him, and would have killed him... This was an angel representing the Lord, who treated Moses in this manner, for having neglected the circ.u.mcision of his younger son; which his wife understanding, circ.u.mcised her child upon the spot, upon which the angel let Moses go.

4:25. Immediately Sephora took a very sharp stone, and circ.u.mcised the foreskin of her son, and touched his feet, and said: A b.l.o.o.d.y spouse art thou to me.

4:26. And he let him go after she had said: A b.l.o.o.d.y spouse art thou to me, because of the circ.u.mcision.

4:27. And the Lord said to Aaron: Go into the desert to meet Moses. And he went forth to meet him in the mountain of G.o.d, and kissed him.

4:28. And Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord, by which he had sent him, and the signs that he had commanded.

4:29. And they came together, and they a.s.sembled all the ancients of the children of Israel.

4:30. And Aaron spoke all the words which the Lord had said to Moses: and he wrought the signs before the people.

4:31. And the people believed. And they heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction: and falling down they adored.

Exodus Chapter 5

Pharao refuseth to let the people go. They are more oppressed.

5:1. After these things, Moses and Aaron went in, and said to Pharao: Thus saith the Lord G.o.d of Israel: Let my people go, that they may sacrifice to me in the desert.

5:2. But he answered: Who is the Lord, that I should hear his voice, and let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.

5:3. And they said: The G.o.d of the Hebrews hath called us, to go three days' journey into the wilderness, and to sacrifice to the Lord our G.o.d; lest a pestilence or the sword fall upon us.

5:4. The king of Egypt said to them: Why do you Moses and Aaron draw off the people from their works? Get you gone to your burdens.

5:5. And Pharao said: The people of the land are numerous; you see that the mult.i.tude is increased; how much more if you give them rest from their works?

5:6. Therefore he commanded the same day the overseers of the works, and the task-masters of the people, saying:

5:7. You shall give straw no more to the people to make brick, as before; but let them go and gather straw.

5:8. And you shall lay upon them the task of bricks, which they did before; neither shall you diminish any thing thereof, for they are idle, and therefore they cry. saying: Let us go and sacrifice to our G.o.d.

5:9. Let them be oppressed with works, and let them fulfil them; that they may not regard lying words.

5:10. And the overseers of the works, and the taskmasters, went out and said to the people: Thus saith Pharao: I allow you no straw;

5:11. Go, and gather it where you can find it; neither shall any thing of your work be diminished.

5:12. And the people was scattered through all the land of Egypt to gather straw.

5:13. And the overseers of the works pressed them, saying: Fulfil your work every day, as before ye were wont to do, when straw was given you.

5:14. And they that were over the works of the children of Israel, were scourged by Pharao's taskmasters, saying: Why have you not made up the task of bricks, both yesterday and to day, as before?

5:15. And the officers of the children of Israel came, and cried out to Pharao, saying: Why dealest thou so with thy servants?

5:16. Straw is not given us, and bricks are required of us as before; behold we, thy servants, are beaten with whips, and thy people is unjustly dealt withal.