Aaron

14Then the LORD grew angry with Moses. He said, "What about your brother Aaron, from the family of Levi? I know he speaks well. He is already on his way to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad."

And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.

NoteThe King James says God's anger was "kindled." To kindle means to start a fire. Aaron came from the family of Levi, one of Jacob's twelve sons.

15"You will talk to him and tell him what to say. I will help you both speak. I will teach you both what to do."

And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.

16"He will speak to the people for you. He will be like a mouth for you. And you will be like God to him."

And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.

NoteThis does not mean Moses became God. It means Moses would give Aaron the words, the way God gave words to Moses.

17"Take this stick in your hand. You will do the signs with it."

And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.

27The LORD said to Aaron, "Go out to the dry, empty land to meet Moses." Aaron went. He met Moses at God's mountain and kissed him.

And the LORD said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in the mount of God, and kissed him.

NoteGod's mountain is the same mountain where God spoke to Moses from the burning bush. Back then, family and friends kissed on the cheek to say hello.

28Moses told Aaron everything the LORD had said when he sent him. He told him about all the signs God said to do.

And Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD who had sent him, and all the signs which he had commanded him.

29Then Moses and Aaron went and called together all the leaders of the people of Israel.

And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel:

NoteThe elders were the older men that each family trusted. They spoke for everybody.

30Aaron told them every word the LORD had said to Moses. He also did the signs where the people could see.

And Aaron spake all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people.

31The people believed. They heard that the LORD had come to help them. He had seen how much they were hurting. So they bowed their heads low and worshiped.

And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.

NoteBowing your head low, or lying face down, was how people showed great respect.

1Later Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. They said, "The LORD, the God of Israel, says this: Let my people go. They must hold a feast for me out in the empty desert."

And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.

NotePharaoh was the title of Egypt's king, like saying "the king." The people of Israel were slaves in Egypt then. Slaves are people forced to work for no pay. When you see LORD in big letters, it stands for God's own special name. A feast is a big happy meal held to honor someone.

2Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD? Why should I obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD. I will not let Israel go."

And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.

NoteEgypt's kings prayed to many different gods. Pharaoh is saying this God is a stranger to him.

3They said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us walk three days into the desert. There we will give gifts to the LORD our God. If we do not, he may send sickness or war against us."

And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days’ journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the LORD our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword.

Note"Hebrews" was another name for the people of Israel. To sacrifice means to give God a gift, often an animal. "Three days' journey" means as far as a person can walk in three days. The old word "pestilence" means a sickness that spreads to many people.

4The king of Egypt said, "Moses and Aaron, why are you stopping the people from working? Get back to your own work."

And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens.

NoteIn 1611, "let" could mean to hold someone back. That is the opposite of what "let" means today. "Burdens" means heavy, hard work.

5Pharaoh said, "Look how many of these people there are now. And you are making them stop working."

And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens.

Note"Behold" is an old word that simply means "look."

6That same day Pharaoh gave orders to the bosses over the workers. He also spoke to the helpers who worked under them.

And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,

Note"Taskmasters" were Egyptians who made the slaves work. Their "officers" were Israelite men picked to watch the other workers.

7"Do not give the people straw for making bricks anymore. Now let them go and find their own straw."

Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves.

NoteBricks were made from wet mud shaped into blocks and dried in the sun. Bits of straw were mixed in so the blocks would not crumble.

8"But make them turn in the same number of bricks as before. Do not let them make even one less. They are lazy. That is why they cry out, 'Let us go and give gifts to our God.'"

And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.

NoteHere "the tale of the bricks" means the number of bricks, not a story. "Ought" is an old word for "anything." "Idle" means lazy, not busy.

9"Pile more work on the men. Keep them busy. Then they will not listen to lies."

Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words.

Note"Vain words" means empty words that are not worth listening to.

1The LORD said to Moses, "Look, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. Your brother Aaron will be your prophet, the one who speaks your words for you."

And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.

NotePharaoh was the word for the king of Egypt. It was his title, like saying "the king." When you see LORD in big letters, it stands for God's own name. A prophet is a person who tells others what God says. Moses would get the words from God, and Aaron would say them out loud.

2"Say everything I tell you to say. Aaron will tell Pharaoh to let the people of Israel leave his land."

Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land.

NoteThe people of Israel were one big family. They all came from a man named Jacob, who was also called Israel. They lived in Egypt, and the Egyptians made them work as slaves.

3"But I will make Pharaoh stubborn. I will do many signs and wonders in the land of Egypt."

And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.

NoteStubborn means Pharaoh kept saying no, again and again. Signs and wonders are amazing things that only God can do.

4"Pharaoh will not listen to you. So I will use my power against Egypt. I will punish Egypt in mighty ways. Then I will bring out my people, the Israelites."

But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.

5"When I reach out my hand against Egypt, the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD. They will know it when I bring the Israelites out from among them."

And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.

NoteReaching out a hand is a way of saying God will use his power. God does not really have hands like ours.

6Moses and Aaron did exactly what the LORD told them to do.

And Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded them, so did they.

7Moses was eighty years old. Aaron was eighty-three. That is how old they were when they spoke to Pharaoh.

And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh.

NoteEighty years old is very old. Moses and Aaron were old men when they went to see the king.

8The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron. He said:

And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,

9"Pharaoh will say to you, 'Show me a miracle.' Then tell Aaron to throw his staff down in front of Pharaoh. It will turn into a snake."

When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Shew a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent.

NoteA miracle is something amazing that only God can do. A staff is a long walking stick. Shepherds carried them to guide their sheep.

10So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh. They did just what the LORD had told them. Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his helpers. It turned into a snake.

And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.

NotePharaoh's helpers were important men who worked for the king. They stood near him and watched everything.

11Then Pharaoh called for his wise men and his magicians. They did the same thing using their magic.

Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.

NoteMagicians did tricks and said special words called spells. Egyptians believed these men had secret powers. Pharaoh called them to copy what Aaron did.

12Each man threw down his staff, and each staff turned into a snake. But Aaron's staff swallowed up all their staffs.

For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.

13Still Pharaoh stayed stubborn. He would not listen to them. It happened just as the LORD had said.

And he hardened Pharaoh’s heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.

19The LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron to take his staff. Tell him to hold his hand out over all the water in Egypt. That means the streams, the canals, the ponds, and the pools. They will all turn into blood. There will be blood all over Egypt, even in wooden bowls and stone jars."

And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone.

NoteCanals were long ditches dug to carry river water out to the fields. People kept water at home in wooden bowls and big stone jars.

20Moses and Aaron did just what the LORD had told them. Aaron lifted the staff and struck the river water. Pharaoh and his helpers watched him do it. All the water in the river turned into blood.

And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.

21The fish in the river died. The river smelled awful, so the Egyptians could not drink its water. There was blood all over the land of Egypt.

And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.

22But the magicians of Egypt did the same thing with their magic. So Pharaoh stayed stubborn and would not listen to Moses and Aaron. It happened just as the LORD had said.

And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said.

23Pharaoh turned around and went into his house. He did not even think about what had happened.

And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also.

NoteNot thinking about it means Pharaoh did not care at all. He acted as if nothing had happened.

24All the Egyptians dug holes in the ground near the river. They were looking for water to drink, because the river water was ruined.

And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river.

NoteWater from the river soaks into the sand beside it. If you dig a hole there, water slowly fills it up. That water was cleaner than the river.

25Seven whole days went by after the LORD struck the river.

And seven days were fulfilled, after that the LORD had smitten the river.

NoteSeven days is one whole week.

1The LORD spoke to Moses. "Go to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. Tell him the LORD says this: Let my people go, so they can worship me."

And the LORD spake unto Moses, Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Let my people go, that they may serve me.

NoteWhen LORD is spelled with big letters, it stands for God's own special name. To worship God meant to sing, pray, and bring him gifts of animals and food.

2"If you will not let them go, I will fill your whole land with frogs."

And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs:

NoteThe King James says God will "smite all thy borders." Borders here means the whole country, not just the edges.

3"The river will swarm with frogs. They will hop into your house, your bedroom, and onto your bed. They will get into the houses of your helpers and onto your people. They will get into your ovens and your bread bowls."

And the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into thine house, and into thy bedchamber, and upon thy bed, and into the house of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thine ovens, and into thy kneadingtroughs:

NoteThe river is the Nile, the big river of Egypt. People drank from it and grew food beside it. A kneading trough, or bread bowl, was a big wooden bowl. People mixed flour and water in it to make bread dough. The King James word "servants" means the king's helpers and workers. Many of them were important people, not slaves.

4"The frogs will climb on you, on your people, and on all your helpers."

And the frogs shall come up both on thee, and upon thy people, and upon all thy servants.

5The LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron this: Hold out your hand with your walking stick over the rivers, streams, and ponds. Make frogs come up onto the land of Egypt."

And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch forth thine hand with thy rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt.

NoteThe rod, or walking stick, was a long wooden staff. Shepherds carried one every day to guide their sheep.

6So Aaron held out his hand over the waters of Egypt. Frogs came up and covered the whole land.

And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt.

7But the magicians did the same thing with their magic. They also brought frogs up onto the land of Egypt.

And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt.

NoteMagicians were men who worked for the king. They did tricks and said spells and claimed to have special power.

8Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron. He said, "Pray to the LORD to take the frogs away from me and my people. Then I will let your people go to worship the LORD."

Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Intreat 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 do sacrifice unto the LORD.

NoteTo sacrifice meant to give God a gift, usually an animal. The gift was burned on a stone table called an altar.

9Moses said to Pharaoh, "You may choose the time. That honor is yours. When should I pray for you, your helpers, and your people? Then the frogs will leave you and your houses. Only the ones in the river will stay."

And Moses said unto Pharaoh, Glory over me: when shall I intreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, to destroy the frogs from thee and thy houses, that they may remain in the river only?

NoteThe King James says "Glory over me." That was an old way of saying, "You choose. The honor is yours."

10Pharaoh said, "Tomorrow." Moses said, "It will be just as you say. Then you will know that no one is like the LORD our God."

And he said, To morrow. And he said, Be it according to thy word: that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the LORD our God.

11"The frogs will leave you, your houses, your helpers, and your people. They will stay only in the river."

And the frogs shall depart from thee, and from thy houses, and from thy servants, and from thy people; they shall remain in the river only.

12Moses and Aaron left Pharaoh. Then Moses called out to the LORD about the frogs he had sent against Pharaoh.

And Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh: and Moses cried unto the LORD because of the frogs which he had brought against Pharaoh.

13The LORD did what Moses asked. The frogs died in the houses, in the yards, and in the fields.

And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; and the frogs died out of the houses, out of the villages, and out of the fields.

14People piled the dead frogs up in big heaps. The whole land smelled terrible.

And they gathered them together upon heaps: and the land stank.

NoteThere were so many dead frogs that people raked them into piles. With no way to bury them all, the smell filled the land.

15But Pharaoh saw that the trouble had stopped. So he made himself stubborn again and would not listen to them. It happened just as the LORD had said.

But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.

NoteThe King James says Pharaoh "hardened his heart." That means he made himself stubborn and would not change his mind.

16The LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron this: Hold out your stick and hit the dust on the ground. The dust will turn into tiny biting bugs all over Egypt."

And the LORD said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.

NoteThe King James word here is "lice." It means very tiny bugs that bite and crawl on skin. Nobody today knows exactly which bug it was.

17They did it. Aaron held out his hand with his stick and hit the dust. The bugs came onto people and animals. All the dust in the land turned into bugs all over Egypt.

And they did so; for Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice in man, and in beast; all the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.

18The magicians tried to make bugs with their magic, but they could not. The bugs stayed on the people and the animals.

And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man, and upon beast.

19The magicians said to Pharaoh, "God himself did this." But Pharaoh stayed stubborn and would not listen to them. It happened just as the LORD had said.

Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.

Note"The finger of God" was a way of saying God did this himself. The magicians meant no person had that kind of power.

2There in the desert, all the people of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron.

And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:

NoteMoses was the leader God chose for these people. Aaron was his brother, who helped him.

3They said to them, "We wish the LORD had put us to death in Egypt. There we sat by pots of meat. We ate all the bread we wanted. But you brought us out into this desert to kill this whole group with hunger."

And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.

NoteIn Egypt these people had been slaves. They had to work very hard, but they had food. LORD in big letters stands for God's own name.

4Then the LORD said to Moses, "Look, I will rain bread from heaven for you. Each day the people must go out and gather enough for that day. This will test them. I will see if they will live by my law or not.

Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.

NoteBread here means food of any kind. God's law means the rules he gave his people to live by.

5On the sixth day they will get ready what they bring in. It will be twice as much as they gather on other days."

And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.

NoteThey counted days in sevens, the way we count a week. The seventh day was a rest day.

6So Moses and Aaron said to all the people of Israel, "Tonight you will know that the LORD brought you out of Egypt.

And Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel, At even, then ye shall know that the LORD hath brought you out from the land of Egypt:

7And in the morning you will see the glory of the LORD. He has heard you complain against him. Who are we, that you complain against us?"

And in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the LORD; for that he heareth your murmurings against the LORD: and what are we, that ye murmur against us?

NoteThe glory of the LORD was a bright shining light. It showed people that God was there.

8Moses said, "In the evening the LORD will give you meat to eat. In the morning he will give you all the bread you want. He does this because he has heard you complain against him. Who are we? Your complaints are not against us. They are against the LORD."

And Moses said, This shall be, when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD.

9Moses said to Aaron, "Tell all the people of Israel this: 'Come near to the LORD. He has heard your complaining.'"

And Moses spake unto Aaron, Say unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, Come near before the LORD: for he hath heard your murmurings.

10While Aaron was speaking to all the people of Israel, they looked toward the desert. And there, in the cloud, the glory of the LORD appeared.

And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.

NoteA tall cloud went in front of these people to lead them. God showed himself in that cloud.

11The LORD spoke to Moses. He said,

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

12"I have heard the people of Israel complaining. Tell them this: 'In the evening you will eat meat. In the morning you will have all the bread you want. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.'"

I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God.