Moses

1Jethro was a priest in Midian, a man who led people in worship. He was the father of Moses' wife. He heard about all that God had done for Moses and for God's people Israel. He heard that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.

When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt;

NoteMidian was a land far from Egypt, out past the desert. When you see LORD in big letters, it stands for God's own special name.

2Moses had sent his wife Zipporah back home. Jethro, the father of Moses' wife, had taken her in.

Then Jethro, Moses’ father in law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back,

NoteMoses had gone to Egypt to help God's people. He sent his wife and boys to stay with her father. They were safe there while he was away.

3He also had her two sons. One son was named Gershom. Moses had said, "I have been a stranger in a land that is not mine."

And her two sons; of which the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land:

NoteNames in the Bible often mean something. Gershom sounds like the words for "a stranger there" in Hebrew. Hebrew was the language Moses spoke.

4The other son was named Eliezer. Moses had said, "My father's God was my helper. He saved me from the sword of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt."

And the name of the other was Eliezer; for the God of my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh:

NoteEliezer means "my God is my helper." Pharaoh was the king of Egypt. He had once tried to kill Moses.

5So Jethro came out to Moses in the desert. He brought Moses' wife and her sons with him. Moses was camped at the mountain of God.

And Jethro, Moses’ father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God:

NoteThis mountain is also called Mount Sinai. It is where God talked with Moses. The people had put up their tents at the bottom of it.

6He said to Moses, "I am Jethro, the father of your wife. I have come to you. Your wife and her two sons are with me."

And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.

7Moses went out to meet him. He bowed low and kissed him. They asked each other how they were doing. Then they went into the tent.

And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent.

NoteBowing low was a way to show honor to someone. A kiss on the cheek was how family said hello.

8Moses told him all the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians, to help Israel. He told about all the hard trouble they had along the way. He told how the LORD had saved them.

And Moses told his father in law all that the LORD had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the LORD delivered them.

9Jethro was very glad about all the good the LORD had done for Israel. The LORD had saved them out of the hands of the Egyptians.

And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians.

10Jethro said, "May the LORD be praised! He saved you from the hands of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh. He set the people free from the power of the Egyptians.

And Jethro said, Blessed be the LORD, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

11Now I know the LORD is greater than all gods. When they acted proudly, he showed he was above them."

Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.

NoteLong ago most people worshiped many different gods. Jethro is saying the LORD is greater than all of them.

12Jethro brought God a burnt offering and other gifts. A burnt offering is a gift to God that is burned up. Aaron came too, with all the older leaders of Israel. They ate bread with Jethro before God.

And Jethro, Moses’ father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses’ father in law before God.

NoteA burnt offering was a gift given to God on a stone table called an altar. The gift was burned there. Aaron was the brother of Moses. Sharing a meal together showed that people were friends.

13The next day Moses sat down to judge the people. To judge means to hear their arguments and say what is right. The people stood around him from morning until evening.

And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.

NoteThere were no courthouses back then. People who were arguing came to one leader. He listened to both sides and said who was right.

14Jethro saw everything Moses did for the people. He said, "What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you sit here all by yourself? Why do all the people stand around you from morning until evening?"

And when Moses’ father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?

15Moses said to him, "The people come to me to ask what God says.

And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God:

16When they have an argument, they come to me. I decide between one person and another. I also teach them God's rules and laws."

When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.

17Jethro said to him, "What you are doing is not good.

And Moses’ father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.

18You will surely wear yourself out. The people with you will wear out too. This work is too heavy for you. You cannot do it alone.

Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.

19Now listen to me. I will give you advice, and may God be with you. You be the one who speaks to God for the people. Bring their problems to him.

Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:

NoteAdvice means telling someone what you think they should do. Moses was the one who talked with God for everybody else.

20Teach them God's rules and laws. Show them the way they should live and the work they should do.

And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.

21Also, look through all the people and find able men. They must fear God, tell the truth, and hate greed. Put those men over the people. Some will lead a thousand, some a hundred, some fifty, and some ten.

Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

NoteTo fear God does not mean being scared of him. It means honoring him and taking him seriously. Greed means always wanting more for yourself. A greedy judge might take money to say the wrong thing.

22Let them judge the people at all times. They will bring every big case to you. They will judge the small cases themselves. That will make it easier for you. They will carry the load with you.

And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.

NoteCarrying the load is a word picture. The work was heavy, like a heavy bag to lift.

23If you do this, and God tells you to, then you will be able to keep going. And all these people will go home in peace."

If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.

NoteThe people lived in tents in the desert. Going home in peace means going back calm and glad.

24So Moses listened to the father of his wife. He did everything Jethro said.

So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.

25Moses chose able men from all Israel. He made them leaders over the people. Some led a thousand, some a hundred, some fifty, and some ten.

And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

26They judged the people at all times. They brought the hard cases to Moses. They judged the small cases themselves.

And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.

27Then Moses sent Jethro on his way. Jethro went back to his own land.

And Moses let his father in law depart; and he went his way into his own land.

NoteJethro went back to Midian, the land where he lived.

1It was the third month after the people of Israel left Egypt. On that same day of the month, they came to the desert of Sinai.

In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai.

NoteThe people had left Egypt about two months before this day. Egypt was the land where they had been slaves. Sinai was a dry, empty land with sand, rocks and few plants.

2They had left a place called Rephidim and come to the desert of Sinai. There they set up camp in front of the mountain.

For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount.

NoteRephidim was a camp where the people had stopped before this. The King James says they "pitched" there. That is an old way of saying they put up their tents.

3Moses went up to God. The LORD called to him from the mountain. He said, "Say this to the family of Jacob. Tell this to the people of Israel."

And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;

NoteJacob lived long before this. He was a grandfather of all these people. God had given Jacob a second name, Israel. So "the house of Jacob" means this whole family of people.

4"You saw what I did to the Egyptians. You saw how I carried you on eagles' wings. I brought you to myself."

Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.

NoteEagles are very big, strong birds. Being carried on eagles' wings is a word picture. It means God brought them along safely, high above danger.

5"So now, if you really obey my voice and keep my covenant, my agreement with you, you will be my own special treasure out of all peoples. The whole earth is mine."

Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:

NoteA covenant is a promise between two sides. Each side agrees to do certain things. The King James calls the people a "peculiar treasure". Here "peculiar" does not mean strange. It means belonging to someone in a special way.

6"You will be a kingdom of priests for me. Priests are people who serve God. You will be a holy nation, a people set apart for me. These are the words you must speak to the people of Israel."

And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

NoteA priest was a man whose job was serving God. Priests brought the people's gifts to God for them. "Holy" means set apart. A holy thing is kept special for God and not used for ordinary things.

7Moses came back and called for the elders, the older leaders of the people. He set before them all the words the LORD had told him.

And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him.

NoteThe elders were the older men who led the families. People listened to them and asked them what to do.

8All the people answered together. They said, "We will do everything the LORD has said." Moses took the people's words back to the LORD.

And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.

9The LORD said to Moses, "Look, I am coming to you in a thick cloud. Then the people will hear me speaking with you. They will trust you always." And Moses told the LORD what the people had said.

And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD.

NoteGod often came to these people inside a cloud. The cloud covered him while they heard his voice.

10The LORD said to Moses, "Go to the people. Set them apart for me today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes."

And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,

NoteTo set people apart means to get them ready for God. Washing their clothes was part of getting ready. Clean clothes showed that this day was not an ordinary day.

11"Have them ready for the third day. On the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai. All the people will see it."

And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.

12"Mark a line all around the mountain for the people. Tell them, 'Be careful. Do not go up the mountain. Do not even touch its edge. Anyone who touches the mountain must be put to death.'"

And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:

NoteA boundary was a line of stones or markers on the ground. It showed how close people were allowed to come. The King James says "Take heed". That means "be careful".

13"No hand may touch that person. He must be killed with stones or shot with arrows. Animal or person, it must not live. When the horn blows a long blast, they may come up to the mountain."

There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.

NoteNobody was allowed to touch a person who had touched the mountain. So stones or arrows were used from far away instead. The trumpet here was a ram's horn. People blew into it to make a long, loud sound everyone could hear.

14Moses went down from the mountain to the people. He set the people apart for God, and they washed their clothes.

And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.

15He said to the people, "Be ready for the third day. Do not come near your wives."

And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives.

NoteHusbands and wives were to stay apart during these days. It was one more way of getting ready to meet God.

16On the third day, in the morning, there was thunder and lightning. A thick cloud sat on the mountain. A horn blast sounded, very loud. Everyone in the camp shook.

And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.

17Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God. They stood at the bottom of the mountain.

And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.

NoteThe King James says the people stood at "the nether part" of the mountain. "Nether" is an old word for lowest. It means the bottom of the mountain.

18Mount Sinai was all covered with smoke. The LORD had come down on it in fire. The smoke went up like smoke from a furnace, a very hot oven. The whole mountain shook hard.

And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.

NoteA furnace was a fire hot enough to melt metal or bake bricks. Smoke from a furnace was thick and dark.

19The horn blast sounded long and grew louder and louder. Moses spoke, and God answered him with a voice.

And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.

NoteThe King James says the sound "waxed" louder. "Waxed" is an old word that means grew.

20The LORD came down on Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain. The LORD called Moses up to the top. So Moses went up.

And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.

21The LORD said to Moses, "Go down. Warn the people. They must not push past the line to look at the LORD. If they do, many of them will die."

And the LORD said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish.

NoteIn the King James, to "charge" people means to warn them strongly. To "gaze" means to stare at something for a long time. "Break through" means to push past the marked line.

22"The priests who come near to the LORD must set themselves apart too. If they do not, the LORD will break out against them."

And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them.

NotePriests were the men who led the people in worship. Their work brought them closer to God than other people came.

23Moses said to the LORD, "The people cannot come up Mount Sinai. You warned us. You said, 'Mark a line around the mountain and keep it holy.'"

And Moses said unto the LORD, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.

24The LORD said to him, "Go on down. Then come up again, you and Aaron with you. But the priests and the people must not push past to come up to the LORD. If they do, he will break out against them."

And the LORD said unto him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the LORD, lest he break forth upon them.

NoteAaron was Moses' older brother. He often helped Moses speak to the people.

25So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.

So Moses went down unto the people, and spake unto them.

18All the people saw the thunder and the lightning. They heard the loud horn, and they saw the mountain full of smoke. When the people saw it, they moved back and stood far away.

And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.

NoteThe old words say the people "saw" the thunder. It means they saw and heard the storm all around them. The trumpet was a ram's horn. People blew it to make a very loud sound.

19They said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen. But do not let God speak to us, or we will die.”

And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.

20Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you. He wants you to have fear of him before your faces, so you do not sin.”

And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.

NoteThe old word "prove" means test. Here "fear" means deep respect and wonder, not being scared.

21The people stood far away. Moses went near the thick darkness where God was.

And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.

NoteThe thick darkness was a heavy dark cloud on the mountain.

1The LORD said to Moses, "Come up to the LORD. Bring Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu with you. Bring seventy of the elders of Israel, the older leaders of the people. All of you must worship from far away."

And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the LORD, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off.

NoteAaron was Moses' brother. Nadab and Abihu were two of Aaron's sons.

2"Only Moses may come close to the LORD. The others must not come near. The people must not go up with him."

And Moses alone shall come near the LORD: but they shall not come nigh; neither shall the people go up with him.

NoteComing near the LORD meant climbing higher up the mountain. Only Moses could go that far.

3Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD. He told them all the LORD's rules too. All the people answered together with one voice. They said, "We will do everything the LORD has said."

And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do.

NoteThe people all shouted the same answer at the same time. That is what "with one voice" means.

4Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. Early the next morning he got up. He built an altar at the bottom of the mountain. He also set up twelve stone pillars, one for each tribe of Israel. The tribes were the twelve big family groups of Israel.

And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.

NoteAn altar is a pile or table of stones. People put gifts for God on it. The twelve pillars were tall stones stood up in the ground. They were a way to remember the promise.

5He sent some young men of Israel. They offered burnt offerings, animals burned up as gifts to the LORD. They also killed oxen as peace offerings to the LORD.

And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto the LORD.

NoteA burnt offering was an animal burned up on the altar as a gift to God. A peace offering was different. Only part of it was burned. The people cooked the rest and ate it together, like a happy meal with God. Oxen are big strong cattle, like large cows.

6Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls. He sprinkled the other half on the altar.

And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.

NoteLong ago, blood was used to show that a promise was very serious. Sprinkling it meant the promise was now real and could not be taken back.

7Then he took the book of the covenant and read it out loud to the people. The people said, "We will do everything the LORD has said. We will obey."

And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient.

NoteA covenant is a strong promise between two sides. Each side agrees to do certain things. The book of the covenant held the rules God had just given. Moses read it out loud so everyone could hear it.

8Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people. He said, "Look, this is the blood of the covenant. The LORD has made this agreement with you about all these words."

And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.

9Then Moses went up the mountain. Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up too.

Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel:

NoteThey did not go all the way to the top. They stopped partway up the mountain.

10They saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a floor made of sapphire, a bright blue stone. It was as clear as the sky itself.

And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.

NoteSapphire is a stone the deep blue color of the sky. The King James says "paved work," which means a floor made of flat stones fitted together.

11God did not harm the leaders of Israel. They saw God, and they ate and drank.

And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink.

NoteThe King James says God "laid not his hand" on them. That is an old way of saying he did not hurt them. "Nobles" means the important leaders.

12The LORD said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain and stay there. I will give you tablets of stone, flat stones with writing on them. On them are the law and the commands I have written. Then you can teach them to the people."

And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.

NoteThe King James calls them "tables of stone." Here "tables" does not mean tables you eat at. It means flat pieces of stone with words carved on them.

13Moses got up, and so did Joshua, his helper. Moses went up the mountain of God.

And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God.

NoteThe King James calls Joshua Moses' "minister." Here that just means his helper. Joshua went everywhere with Moses and helped him.

14Moses said to the elders, "Wait here for us until we come back to you. Aaron and Hur are here with you. If anyone has a problem to settle, let him go to them."

And he said unto the elders, Tarry ye here for us, until we come again unto you: and, behold, Aaron and Hur are with you: if any man have any matters to do, let him come unto them.

Note"Tarry" is an old word that means wait. Hur was another leader who helped Moses. When someone had an argument with a neighbor, they would bring it to a leader. The leader would listen and decide who was right.

15Moses went up the mountain, and a cloud covered the mountain.

And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount.

NoteThe thick cloud was a sign that God was there. It also hid the mountaintop so no one could see in.

16The glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. The cloud covered the mountain for six days. On the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from inside the cloud.

And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud.

Note"Glory" here means a bright shining light. It showed that God was there. Mount Sinai is the mountain in the desert where God gave Israel his rules.

17The glory of the LORD looked like a fire that eats things up. It was on top of the mountain. That is what the people of Israel saw.

And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.

18Moses went into the middle of the cloud and climbed up the mountain. He stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.

NoteForty days and forty nights is more than a whole month. Moses was gone a long time.

1Moses was up on the mountain a long time. The people saw that he was slow to come down. So they crowded around Aaron. They said, "Get up and make us gods to walk ahead of us. This Moses brought us out of Egypt. We do not know what happened to him."

And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.

NoteMoses had climbed the mountain to talk with God. He had been gone about forty days. The people below got tired of waiting. Aaron was Moses' brother.

2Aaron said to them, "Take the gold earrings off your wives, your sons, and your daughters. Bring them to me."

And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me.

NoteBack then men and women both wore gold rings in their ears. Gold jewelry was how a family kept its riches safe.

3So all the people took off their gold earrings and brought them to Aaron.

And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron.

4Aaron took the gold from their hands. He melted it and shaped it with a carving tool into a calf. The people said, "Israel, these are your gods! They brought you up out of Egypt."

And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

NoteA calf is a baby cow. People in the lands nearby made statues of calves and bulls. They set them up as gods and bowed down to them.

5When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf. Then Aaron called out, "Tomorrow we will have a feast for the LORD."

And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD.

NoteAn altar is a stone table. People burned gifts to God on top of it. A feast day meant food, singing, and worship all together.

6Early the next day they got up. They burned whole animals as gifts, and they brought peace offerings too. Then the people sat down to eat and drink. Afterward they got up to play.

And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.

NoteA burnt offering was an animal given to God and burned up completely. A peace offering was different. Part of it was burned, and the people ate the rest together.

7The LORD said to Moses, "Go on down. Your people have made themselves rotten. They are the ones you brought up out of Egypt.

And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves:

8They have quickly turned away from the path I told them to walk. They melted gold and made a calf. They bowed down to it and gave gifts to it. They said, 'Israel, these are your gods! They brought you up out of Egypt.'"

They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

9The LORD also said to Moses, "I have watched these people. They are stubborn and will not bend.

And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:

NoteThe King James Bible says "stiffnecked." It comes from an ox that will not turn its head. The ox pulls its own way instead. That is the picture behind stubborn here.

10Now leave me alone. My anger will burn hot against them, and I will destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation."

Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.

NoteA nation is a whole people, like a country full of families.

11But Moses begged the LORD his God. He said, "LORD, why does your anger burn against your people? You brought them out of Egypt with great strength and a strong hand.

And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?

NoteA "mighty hand" was a way of saying great power. It does not mean a real hand.

12Why should the Egyptians say, 'He led them out to hurt them'? Why let them say he took them out to kill them in the mountains? Why let them say he meant to wipe them off the earth? Turn away from your hot anger. Change your mind about this harm to your people.

Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.

NoteIn 1611 the word "evil" often meant trouble or harm. Moses is talking about hurt, not about wickedness.

13Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, who served you. You made a promise to them by your own name. You said, 'I will make your family as many as the stars in the sky. I will give your family all this land I spoke about. It will be theirs forever.'"

Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.

NoteAbraham, Isaac, and Jacob lived long before Moses. They were the first fathers of this people. Israel was Jacob's other name. God had promised them a huge family and a land of their own.

14So the LORD changed his mind. He did not do the harm he had planned to do to his people.

And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.

NoteThe King James Bible says the LORD "repented." In 1611 that simply meant he changed his mind.

15Moses turned and went down the mountain. He carried the two stone tablets with God's words on them. The tablets had writing on both sides, front and back.

And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written.

NoteThe King James Bible calls them "tables." In 1611 a table could mean a flat stone for writing on. These are not tables you eat at.

16God himself had made the tablets. The writing was God's own writing, cut into the stone.

And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables.

17Joshua heard the people shouting. He said to Moses, "That sounds like war down in the camp."

And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp.

NoteJoshua was Moses' helper. He had waited partway up the mountain while Moses met with God.

18Moses said, "It is not the sound of people shouting because they won. It is not the sound of people crying because they lost. What I hear is the sound of singing."

And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear.

19Moses came close to the camp. He saw the calf, and he saw the dancing. His anger burned hot. He threw the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain.

And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses’ anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount.

20He took the calf they had made and burned it in the fire. He ground it into powder and sprinkled it on the water. Then he made the people of Israel drink it.

And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it.

NoteMaking them drink the gold dust showed the calf was really gone. It was only powder floating in water now.

21Moses said to Aaron, "What did these people do to you? You have brought such a big sin on them."

And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them?

NoteSin means doing what is wrong, especially wrong against God.

22Aaron said, "Please do not be angry, my lord. You know these people. Their hearts are set on doing wrong.

And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief.

23They said to me, 'Make us gods to walk ahead of us. This Moses brought us out of Egypt. We do not know what happened to him.'

For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us: for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.

24So I told them, 'Whoever has gold, take it off.' They gave it to me. I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf."

And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.

25Moses saw that the people were out of control. Aaron had let them run wild. Now their enemies could laugh at them.

And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:)

NoteThe King James Bible says the people were "naked." Here that word means wild and out of control. It does not mean they had no clothes on.

26So Moses stood at the way into the camp. He said, "Whoever is on the LORD's side, come to me." All the sons of Levi came and stood with him.

Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD’s side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.

NoteThe camp was a whole town made of tents. The gate was the open way in and out. Levi was one of Israel's twelve family groups. Moses and Aaron came from that family too.

27He said to them, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says. Each man put his sword at his side. Go back and forth through the camp, from gate to gate. Kill your brother, your friend, and your neighbor."

And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour.

28The sons of Levi did what Moses said. That day about three thousand men fell dead.

And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.

29Moses had said, "Today set yourselves apart for the LORD. Each man has gone against his own son and brother. So the LORD will give you a blessing today."

For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves today to the LORD, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day.

NoteTo be set apart means to be chosen for special work. The men of Levi would later help with worship for everyone.

30The next day Moses said to the people, "You have done a very great wrong. Now I will go up to the LORD. Maybe I can make things right for your sin."

And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the LORD; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin.

NoteThe old word here is atonement. It means covering a wrong so it is settled and finished.

31So Moses went back to the LORD. He said, "Oh, these people have done a very great wrong. They made gods of gold for themselves.

And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.

32But now, please forgive their sin. If you will not, then wipe my name out of your book, the book you have written."

Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.

NoteKings kept books with the names of their people written in them. To be wiped out of the book means your name is taken off the list.

33The LORD said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against me, I will wipe out of my book.

And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.

34Now go. Lead the people to the place I told you about. Look, my angel will go ahead of you. But on the day when I come to settle things, I will punish them for their sin."

Therefore now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them.

NoteAn angel is a messenger God sends to do his work. The King James Bible says "when I visit." In 1611 that meant coming to deal with a wrong.

35And the LORD sent a sickness on the people. It came because they made the calf, the calf Aaron made.

And the LORD plagued the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made.

NoteA sickness like this one spread to many people at once. The King James Bible calls that a plague.

7Moses used to take the tent and set it up outside the camp, far away. He called it the Tent of Meeting. Anyone who wanted to ask the LORD something went out to that tent outside the camp.

And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp.

NoteAll these people lived in tents while they traveled. The camp was all their tents together in one place. The Tent of Meeting was a special tent for talking with God.

8Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people stood up. Each man stood at the door of his own tent. They watched Moses until he went inside.

And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the tabernacle, that all the people rose up, and stood every man at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the tabernacle.

9As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud came down. That was a tall column of cloud. It stood at the door of the tent, and the LORD talked with Moses.

And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses.

NoteThe tall cloud had led the people through the desert. When it came down, it showed that God was there.

10All the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tent door. They all stood up and worshiped, each man at the door of his own tent.

And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door.

NoteTo worship means to bow down and show God how great he is.

11The LORD spoke to Moses face to face, the way a man speaks to his friend. Then Moses went back into the camp. But his helper Joshua son of Nun, a young man, did not leave the tent.

And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.

Note"Face to face" does not mean Moses saw God's face. It means they talked closely and easily, the way friends do.

12Moses said to the LORD, "Look, you keep telling me, 'Lead these people up.' But you have not let me know who you will send with me. Yet you have said, 'I know you by name, and I am pleased with you.'"

And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight.

Note"I know you by name" means more than knowing what Moses is called. It means God knows him well and has chosen him.

13"So now, please, if you are pleased with me, show me your ways. Then I will know you, and you will be pleased with me. And remember that this nation is your people."

Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.

Note"Show me your ways" means show me how you do things. Moses wants to understand God better.

14The LORD said, "My presence will go with you. That means I myself will be with you. And I will give you rest."

And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.

NoteHere "rest" means a safe home of their own. They could stop traveling and stay.

15Moses said to him, "If you yourself do not go with us, do not send us up from here."

And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.

16"How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and your people? Will it not be because you go with us? Then your people and I will be set apart from every other people on earth."

For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.

Note"Set apart" means being different from everyone else. These people belong to God in a special way.

17The LORD said to Moses, "I will do this thing you have asked. I am pleased with you, and I know you by name."

And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.

18Moses said, "Please, show me your glory."

And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.

NoteGlory means how bright and great God is. Moses is asking to see it.

19The LORD said, "I will make all my goodness pass in front of you. I will call out my name, the LORD, in front of you. I will be kind to anyone I choose to be kind to. I will show mercy to anyone I choose to show mercy to."

And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.

NoteMercy means being kind to someone who has done wrong. Calling out his name means telling Moses what he is really like.

20He also said, "You cannot see my face. No one can see me and stay alive."

And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.

21The LORD said, "Look, there is a place near me. You will stand there on a rock."

And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock:

22"While my glory passes by, I will put you in a crack in the rock. I will cover you with my hand until I have gone past."

And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:

NoteA crack in the rock is a narrow gap in a big stone. A person can tuck inside it and be hidden.

23"Then I will take my hand away. You will see my back. But my face must not be seen."

And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.

NoteThe King James Bible says "my back parts." That old way of speaking just means his back. Moses would see only a little, not everything.