Exodus 9; Exodus 10; Exodus 11; Exodus 12; Exodus 13; Exodus 14; Exodus 15; Exodus 16; Exodus 17; Exodus 18; Exodus 19; Exodus 20; Exodus 21; Exodus 22; Exodus 23; Exodus 24

Exodus 9

1 God said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh and tell him, 'God, the God of the Hebrews, says: Release my people so they can worship me.

2 If you refuse to release them and continue to hold on to them,

3 I'm giving you fair warning: God will come down hard on your livestock out in the fields - horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep - striking them with a severe disease.

4 God will draw a sharp line between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt. Not one animal that belongs to the Israelites will die.'"

5 Then God set the time: "Tomorrow God will do this thing."

6 And the next day God did it. All the livestock of Egypt died, but not one animal of the Israelites died.

7 Pharaoh sent men to find out what had happened and there it was: none of the livestock of the Israelites had died - not one death. But Pharaoh stayed stubborn. He wouldn't release the people. Strike Six: Boils

8 God said to Moses and Aaron, "Take fistfuls of soot from a furnace and have Moses throw it into the air right before Pharaoh's eyes;

9 it will become a film of fine dust all over Egypt and cause sores, an eruption of boils on people and animals throughout Egypt."

10 So they took soot from a furnace, stood in front of Pharaoh, and threw it up into the air. It caused boils to erupt on people and animals.

11 The magicians weren't able to compete with Moses this time because of the boils - they were covered with boils just like everyone else in Egypt.

12 God hardened Pharaoh in his stubbornness. He wouldn't listen, just as God had said to Moses. Strike Seven: Hail

13 God said to Moses, "Get up early in the morning and confront Pharaoh. Tell him, 'God, the God of the Hebrews, says: Release my people so they can worship me.

14 This time I am going to strike you and your servants and your people with the full force of my power so you'll get it into your head that there's no one like me anywhere in all the Earth.

15 You know that by now I could have struck you and your people with deadly disease and there would be nothing left of you, not a trace.

16 But for one reason only I've kept you on your feet: To make you recognize my power so that my reputation spreads in all the Earth.

17 You are still building yourself up at my people's expense. You are not letting them go.

18 So here's what's going to happen: At this time tomorrow I'm sending a terrific hailstorm - there's never been a storm like this in Egypt from the day of its founding until now.

19 So get your livestock under roof - everything exposed in the open fields, people and animals, will die when the hail comes down.'"

20 All of Pharaoh's servants who had respect for God's word got their workers and animals under cover as fast as they could,

21 but those who didn't take God's word seriously left their workers and animals out in the field.

22 God said to Moses: "Stretch your hands to the skies. Signal the hail to fall all over Egypt on people and animals and crops exposed in the fields of Egypt."

23 Moses lifted his staff to the skies and God sent peals of thunder and hail shot through with lightning strikes. God rained hail down on the land of Egypt.

24 The hail came, hail and lightning - a fierce hailstorm. There had been nothing like it in Egypt in its entire history.

25 The hail hit hard all over Egypt. Everything exposed out in the fields, people and animals and crops, was smashed. Even the trees in the fields were shattered.

26 Except for Goshen where the Israelites lived; there was no hail in Goshen.

27 Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron. He said, "I've sinned for sure this time - God is in the right and I and my people are in the wrong.

28 Pray to God. We've had enough of God's thunder and hail. I'll let you go. The sooner you're out of here the better."

29 Moses said, "As soon as I'm out of the city, I'll stretch out my arms to God. The thunder will stop and the hail end so you'll know that the land is God's land.

30 Still, I know that you and your servants have no respect for God."

31 (The flax and the barley were ruined, for they were just ripening,

32 but the wheat and spelt weren't hurt - they ripen later.)

33 Moses left Pharaoh and the city and stretched out his arms to God. The thunder and hail stopped; the storm cleared.

34 But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and hail and thunder had stopped, he kept right on sinning, stubborn as ever, both he and his servants.

35 Pharaoh's heart turned rock-hard. He refused to release the Israelites, as God had ordered through Moses.

Exodus 10

1 God said to Moses: "Go to Pharaoh. I've made him stubborn, him and his servants, so that I can force him to look at these signs

2 and so you'll be able to tell your children and grandchildren how I toyed with the Egyptians, like a cat with a mouse; you'll tell them the stories of the signs that I brought down on them, so that you'll all know that I am God."

3 Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, "God, the God of the Hebrews, says, 'How long are you going to refuse to knuckle under? Release my people so that they can worship me.

4 If you refuse to release my people, watch out; tomorrow I'm bringing locusts into your country.

5 They'll cover every square inch of ground; no one will be able to see the ground. They'll devour everything left over from the hailstorm, even the saplings out in the fields - they'll clear-cut the trees.

6 And they'll invade your houses, filling the houses of your servants, filling every house in Egypt. Nobody will have ever seen anything like this, from the time your ancestors first set foot on this soil until today.'" Then he turned on his heel and left Pharaoh.

7 Pharaoh's servants said to him, "How long are you going to let this man harass us? Let these people go and worship their God. Can't you see that Egypt is on its last legs?"

8 So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. He said to them, "Go ahead then. Go worship your God. But just who exactly is going with you?"

9 Moses said, "We're taking young and old, sons and daughters, flocks and herds - this is our worship-celebration of God."

10 He said, "I'd sooner send you off with God's blessings than let you go with your children. Look, you're up to no good - it's written all over your faces.

11 Nothing doing. Just the men are going - go ahead and worship God. That's what you want so badly." And they were thrown out of Pharaoh's presence.

12 God said to Moses: "Stretch your hand over Egypt and signal the locusts to cover the land of Egypt, devouring every blade of grass in the country, everything that the hail didn't get."

13 Moses stretched out his staff over the land of Egypt. God let loose an east wind. It blew that day and night. By morning the east wind had brought in the locusts.

14 The locusts covered the country of Egypt, settling over every square inch of Egypt; the place was thick with locusts. There never was an invasion of locusts like it in the past, and never will be again.

15 The ground was completely covered, black with locusts. They ate everything, every blade of grass, every piece of fruit, anything that the hail didn't get. Nothing left but bare trees and bare fields - not a sign of green in the whole land of Egypt.

16 Pharaoh had Moses and Aaron back in no time. He said, "I've sinned against your God and against you.

17 Overlook my sin one more time. Pray to your God to get me out of this - get death out of here!"

18 Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to God.

19 God reversed the wind - a powerful west wind took the locusts and dumped them into the Red Sea. There wasn't a single locust left in the whole country of Egypt.

20 But God made Pharaoh stubborn as ever. He still didn't release the Israelites. Strike Nine: Darkness

21 God said to Moses: "Stretch your hand to the skies. Let darkness descend on the land of Egypt - a darkness so dark you can touch it."

22 Moses stretched out his hand to the skies. Thick darkness descended on the land of Egypt for three days.

23 Nobody could see anybody. For three days no one could so much as move. Except for the Israelites: they had light where they were living.

24 Pharaoh called in Moses: "Go and worship God. Leave your flocks and herds behind. But go ahead and take your children."

25 But Moses said, "You have to let us take our sacrificial animals and offerings with us so we can sacrifice them in worship to our God.

26 Our livestock has to go with us with not a hoof left behind; they are part of the worship of our God. And we don't know just what will be needed until we get there."

27 But God kept Pharaoh stubborn as ever. He wouldn't agree to release them.

28 Pharaoh said to Moses: "Get out of my sight! And watch your step. I don't want to ever see you again. If I lay eyes on you again, you're dead."

29 Moses said, "Have it your way. You won't see my face again."

Exodus 11

1 God said to Moses: "I'm going to hit Pharaoh and Egypt one final time, and then he'll let you go. When he releases you, that will be the end of Egypt for you; he won't be able to get rid of you fast enough.

2 "So here's what you do. Tell the people to ask, each man from his neighbor and each woman from her neighbor, for things made of silver and gold."

3 God saw to it that the Egyptians liked the people. Also, Moses was greatly admired by the Egyptians, a respected public figure among both Pharaoh's servants and the people at large.

4 Then Moses confronted Pharaoh: "God's Message: 'At midnight I will go through Egypt

5 and every firstborn child in Egypt will die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sits on his throne, to the firstborn of the slave girl working at her hand mill. Also the firstborn of animals.

6 Widespread wailing will erupt all over the country, lament such as has never been and never will be again.

7 But against the Israelites - man, woman, or animal - there won't be so much as a dog's bark, so that you'll know that God makes a clear distinction between Egypt and Israel.'

8 "Then all these servants of yours will go to their knees, begging me to leave, 'Leave! You and all the people who follow you!' And I will most certainly leave." Moses, seething with anger, left Pharaoh.

9 God said to Moses, "Pharaoh's not going to listen to a thing you say so that the signs of my presence and work are going to multiply in the land of Egypt."

10 Moses and Aaron had performed all these signs in Pharaoh's presence, but God turned Pharaoh more stubborn than ever - yet again he refused to release the Israelites from his land.

Exodus 12

1 God said to Moses and Aaron while still in Egypt,

2 "This month is to be the first month of the year for you.

3 Address the whole community of Israel; tell them that on the tenth of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one lamb to a house.

4 If the family is too small for a lamb, then share it with a close neighbor, depending on the number of persons involved. Be mindful of how much each person will eat.

5 Your lamb must be a healthy male, one year old; you can select it from either the sheep or the goats.

6 Keep it penned until the fourteenth day of this month and then slaughter it - the entire community of Israel will do this - at dusk.

7 Then take some of the blood and smear it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which you will eat it.

8 You are to eat the meat, roasted in the fire, that night, along with bread, made without yeast, and bitter herbs.

9 Don't eat any of it raw or boiled in water; make sure it's roasted - the whole animal, head, legs, and innards.

10 Don't leave any of it until morning; if there are leftovers, burn them in the fire.

11 "And here is how you are to eat it: Be fully dressed with your sandals on and your stick in your hand. Eat in a hurry; it's the Passover to God.

12 "I will go through the land of Egypt on this night and strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, whether human or animal, and bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am God.

13 The blood will serve as a sign on the houses where you live. When I see the blood I will pass over you - no disaster will touch you when I strike the land of Egypt.

14 "This will be a memorial day for you; you will celebrate it as a festival to God down through the generations, a fixed festival celebration to be observed always.

15 You will eat unraised bread (matzoth) for seven days: On the first day get rid of all yeast from your houses - anyone who eats anything with yeast from the first day to the seventh day will be cut off from Israel.

16 The first and the seventh days are set aside as holy; do no work on those days. Only what you have to do for meals; each person can do that.

17 "Keep the Festival of Unraised Bread! This marks the exact day I brought you out in force from the land of Egypt. Honor the day down through your generations, a fixed festival to be observed always.

18 In the first month, beginning on the fourteenth day at evening until the twenty-first day at evening, you are to eat unraised bread.

19 For those seven days not a trace of yeast is to be found in your houses. Anyone, whether a visitor or a native of the land, who eats anything raised shall be cut off from the community of Israel.

20 Don't eat anything raised. Only matzoth."

21 Moses assembled all the elders of Israel. He said, "Select a lamb for your families and slaughter the Passover lamb.

22 Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the bowl of blood and smear it on the lintel and on the two doorposts. No one is to leave the house until morning.

23 God will pass through to strike Egypt down. When he sees the blood on the lintel and the two door posts, God will pass over the doorway; he won't let the destroyer enter your house to strike you down with ruin.

24 "Keep this word. It's the law for you and your children, forever.

25 When you enter the land which God will give you as he promised, keep doing this.

26 And when your children say to you, 'Why are we doing this?'

27 tell them: 'It's the Passover-sacrifice to God who passed over the homes of the Israelites in Egypt when he hit Egypt with death but rescued us.'" The people bowed and worshiped.

28 The Israelites then went and did what God had commanded Moses and Aaron. They did it all.

29 At midnight God struck every firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sits on his throne, right down to the firstborn of the prisoner locked up in jail. Also the firstborn of the animals.

30 Pharaoh got up that night, he and all his servants and everyone else in Egypt - what wild wailing and lament in Egypt! There wasn't a house in which someone wasn't dead.

31 Pharaoh called in Moses and Aaron that very night and said, "Get out of here and be done with you - you and your Israelites! Go worship God on your own terms.

32 And yes, take your sheep and cattle as you've insisted, but go. And bless me."

33 The Egyptians couldn't wait to get rid of them; they pushed them to hurry up, saying, "We're all as good as dead."

34 The people grabbed their bread dough before it had risen, bundled their bread bowls in their cloaks and threw them over their shoulders.

35 The Israelites had already done what Moses had told them; they had asked the Egyptians for silver and gold things and clothing.

36 God saw to it that the Egyptians liked the people and so readily gave them what they asked for. Oh yes! They picked those Egyptians clean.

37 The Israelites moved on from Rameses to Succoth, about 600,000 on foot, besides their dependents.

38 There was also a crowd of riffraff tagging along, not to mention the large flocks and herds of livestock.

39 They baked unraised cakes with the bread dough they had brought out of Egypt; it hadn't raised - they'd been rushed out of Egypt and hadn't time to fix food for the journey. The Passover

40 The Israelites had lived in Egypt 430 years.

41 At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, God's entire army left Egypt.

42 God kept watch all night, watching over the Israelites as he brought them out of Egypt. Because God kept watch, all Israel for all generations will honor God by keeping watch this night - a watchnight.

43 God said to Moses and Aaron, "These are the rules for the Passover: No foreigners are to eat it.

44 Any slave, if he's paid for and circumcised, can eat it.

45 No casual visitor or hired hand can eat it.

46 Eat it in one house - don't take the meat outside the house. Don't break any of the bones.

47 The whole community of Israel is to be included in the meal.

48 "If an immigrant is staying with you and wants to keep the Passover to God, every male in his family must be circumcised, then he can participate in the Meal - he will then be treated as a native son. But no uncircumcised person can eat it.

49 "The same law applies both to the native and the immigrant who is staying with you."

50 All the Israelites did exactly as God commanded Moses and Aaron.

51 That very day God brought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt, tribe by tribe.

Exodus 13

1 God spoke to Moses, saying,

2 "Consecrate every firstborn to me - the first one to come from the womb among the Israelites, whether person or animal, is mine."

3 Moses said to the people, "Always remember this day. This is the day when you came out of Egypt from a house of slavery. God brought you out of here with a powerful hand. Don't eat any raised bread.

4 "You are leaving in the spring month of Abib.

5 When God brings you into the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, which he promised to your fathers to give you, a land lavish with milk and honey, you are to observe this service during this month:

6 "You are to eat unraised bread for seven days; on the seventh day there is a festival celebration to God.

7 "Only unraised bread is to be eaten for seven days. There is not to be a trace of anything fermented - no yeast anywhere.

8 "Tell your child on that day: 'This is because of what God did for me when I came out of Egypt.'

9 "The day of observance will be like a sign on your hand, a memorial between your eyes, and the teaching of God in your mouth. It was with a powerful hand that God brought you out of Egypt.

10 Follow these instructions at the set time, year after year after year.

11 "When God brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as he promised you and your fathers, and turns it over to you,

12 you are to set aside the first birth out of every womb to God. Every first birth from your livestock belongs to God.

13 You can redeem every first birth of a donkey if you want to by substituting a lamb; if you decide not to redeem it, you must break its neck.

14 When the time comes and your son asks you, 'What does this mean?' you tell him, 'God brought us out of Egypt, out of a house of slavery, with a powerful hand.

15 When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, God killed every firstborn in Egypt, the firstborn of both humans and animals. That's why I make a sacrifice for every first male birth from the womb to God and redeem every firstborn son.'

16 The observance functions like a sign on your hands or a symbol on the middle of your forehead: God brought us out of Egypt with a powerful hand."

17 It so happened that after Pharaoh released the people, God didn't lead them by the road through the land of the Philistines, which was the shortest route, for God thought, "If the people encounter war, they'll change their minds and go back to Egypt."

18 So God led the people on the wilderness road, looping around to the Red Sea. The Israelites left Egypt in military formation.

19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the Israelites solemnly swear to do it, saying, "God will surely hold you accountable, so make sure you bring my bones from here with you."

20 They moved on from Succoth and then camped at Etham at the edge of the wilderness.

21 God went ahead of them in a Pillar of Cloud during the day to guide them on the way, and at night in a Pillar of Fire to give them light; thus they could travel both day and night.

22 The Pillar of Cloud by day and the Pillar of Fire by night never left the people.

Exodus 14

1 God spoke to Moses:

2 "Tell the Israelites to turn around and make camp at Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. Camp on the shore of the sea opposite Baal Zephon.

3 "Pharaoh will think, 'The Israelites are lost; they're confused. The wilderness has closed in on them.'

4 Then I'll make Pharaoh's heart stubborn again and he'll chase after them. And I'll use Pharaoh and his army to put my Glory on display. Then the Egyptians will realize that I am God." And that's what happened.

5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people were gone, he and his servants changed their minds. They said, "What have we done, letting Israel, our slave labor, go free?"

6 So he had his chariots harnessed up and got his army together.

7 He took six hundred of his best chariots, with the rest of the Egyptian chariots and their drivers coming along.

8 God made Pharaoh king of Egypt stubborn, determined to chase the Israelites as they walked out on him without even looking back.

9 The Egyptians gave chase and caught up with them where they had made camp by the sea - all Pharaoh's horse-drawn chariots and their riders, all his foot soldiers there at Pi Hahiroth opposite Baal Zephon.

10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw them - Egyptians! Coming at them!

11 They told Moses, "Weren't the cemeteries large enough in Egypt so that you had to take us out here in the wilderness to die? What have you done to us, taking us out of Egypt?

12 Back in Egypt didn't we tell you this would happen? Didn't we tell you, 'Leave us alone here in Egypt - we're better off as slaves in Egypt than as corpses in the wilderness.'"

13 Moses spoke to the people: "Don't be afraid. Stand firm and watch God do his work of salvation for you today. Take a good look at the Egyptians today for you're never going to see them again.

14 God will fight the battle for you. And you? You keep your mouths shut!"

15 God said to Moses: "Why cry out to me? Speak to the Israelites. Order them to get moving.

16 Hold your staff high and stretch your hand out over the sea: Split the sea! The Israelites will walk through the sea on dry ground.

17 "Meanwhile I'll make sure the Egyptians keep up their stubborn chase - I'll use Pharaoh and his entire army, his chariots and horsemen,

18 to put my Glory on display so that the Egyptians will realize that I am God."

19 The angel of God that had been leading the camp of Israel now shifted and got behind them. And the Pillar of Cloud that had been in front also shifted to the rear.

20 The Cloud was now between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel. The Cloud enshrouded one camp in darkness and flooded the other with light. The two camps didn't come near each other all night.

21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea and God, with a terrific east wind all night long, made the sea go back. He made the sea dry ground. The seawaters split.

22 The Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground with the waters a wall to the right and to the left.

23 The Egyptians came after them in full pursuit, every horse and chariot and driver of Pharaoh racing into the middle of the sea.

24 It was now the morning watch. God looked down from the Pillar of Fire and Cloud on the Egyptian army and threw them into a panic.

25 He clogged the wheels of their chariots; they were stuck in the mud. The Egyptians said, "Run from Israel! God is fighting on their side and against Egypt!"

26 God said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea and the waters will come back over the Egyptians, over their chariots, over their horsemen."

27 Moses stretched his hand out over the sea: As the day broke and the Egyptians were running, the sea returned to its place as before. God dumped the Egyptians in the middle of the sea.

28 The waters returned, drowning the chariots and riders of Pharaoh's army that had chased after Israel into the sea. Not one of them survived.

29 But the Israelites walked right through the middle of the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall to the right and to the left.

30 God delivered Israel that day from the oppression of the Egyptians. And Israel looked at the Egyptian dead, washed up on the shore of the sea,

31 and realized the tremendous power that God brought against the Egyptians. The people were in reverent awe before God and trusted in God and his servant Moses.

Exodus 15

1 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to God, giving voice together, I'm singing my heart out to God - what a victory! He pitched horse and rider into the sea.

2 God is my strength, God is my song, and, yes! God is my salvation. This is the kind of God I have and I'm telling the world! This is the God of my father - I'm spreading the news far and wide!

3 God is a fighter, pure God, through and through.

4 Pharaoh's chariots and army he dumped in the sea, The elite of his officers he drowned in the Red Sea.

5 Wild ocean waters poured over them; they sank like a rock in the deep blue sea.

6 Your strong right hand, God, shimmers with power; your strong right hand shatters the enemy.

7 In your mighty majesty you smash your upstart enemies, You let loose your hot anger and burn them to a crisp.

8 At a blast from your nostrils the waters piled up; Tumbling streams dammed up, wild oceans curdled into a swamp.

9 The enemy spoke, "I'll pursue, I'll hunt them down, I'll divide up the plunder, I'll glut myself on them; I'll pull out my sword, my fist will send them reeling."

10 You blew with all your might and the sea covered them. They sank like a lead weight in the majestic waters.

11 Who compares with you among gods, O God? Who compares with you in power, in holy majesty, In awesome praises, wonder-working God?

12 You stretched out your right hand and the Earth swallowed them up.

13 But the people you redeemed, you led in merciful love; You guided them under your protection to your holy pasture.

14 When people heard, they were scared; Philistines writhed and trembled;

15 Yes, even the head men in Edom were shaken, and the big bosses in Moab. Everybody in Canaan panicked and fell faint.

16 Dread and terror sent them reeling. Before your brandished right arm they were struck dumb like a stone,

17 Until your people crossed over and entered, O God, until the people you made crossed over and entered. You brought them and planted them on the mountain of your heritage, The place where you live, the place you made, Your sanctuary, Master, that you established with your own hands.

18 Let God rule forever, for eternity!

19 Yes, Pharaoh's horses and chariots and riders went into the sea and God turned the waters back on them; but the Israelites walked on dry land right through the middle of the sea.

20 Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine, and all the women followed her with tambourines, dancing.

21 Miriam led them in singing, Sing to God - what a victory! He pitched horse and rider into the sea! Traveling Through the Wilderness

22 Moses led Israel from the Red Sea on to the Wilderness of Shur. They traveled for three days through the wilderness without finding any water.

23 They got to Marah, but they couldn't drink the water at Marah; it was bitter. That's why they called the place Marah (Bitter).

24 And the people complained to Moses, "So what are we supposed to drink?"

25 So Moses cried out in prayer to God. God pointed him to a stick of wood. Moses threw it into the water and the water turned sweet.

26 That's the place where God set up rules and procedures; that's where he started testing them. God said, "If you listen, listen obediently to how God tells you to live in his presence, obeying his commandments and keeping all his laws, then I won't strike you with all the diseases that I inflicted on the Egyptians; I am God your healer."

27 They came to Elim where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees. They set up camp there by the water.

Exodus 16

1 On the fifteenth day of the second month after they had left Egypt, the whole company of Israel moved on from Elim to the Wilderness of Sin which is between Elim and Sinai.

2 The whole company of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron there in the wilderness.

3 The Israelites said, "Why didn't God let us die in comfort in Egypt where we had lamb stew and all the bread we could eat? You've brought us out into this wilderness to starve us to death, the whole company of Israel!"

4 God said to Moses, "I'm going to rain bread down from the skies for you. The people will go out and gather each day's ration. I'm going to test them to see if they'll live according to my Teaching or not.

5 On the sixth day, when they prepare what they have gathered, it will turn out to be twice as much as their daily ration."

6 Moses and Aaron told the People of Israel, "This evening you will know that it is God who brought you out of Egypt;

7 and in the morning you will see the Glory of God. Yes, he's listened to your complaints against him. You haven't been complaining against us, you know, but against God."

8 Moses said, "Since it will be God who gives you meat for your meal in the evening and your fill of bread in the morning, it's God who will have listened to your complaints against him. Who are we in all this? You haven't been complaining to us - you've been complaining to God!"

9 Moses instructed Aaron: "Tell the whole company of Israel: 'Come near to God. He's heard your complaints.'"

10 When Aaron gave out the instructions to the whole company of Israel, they turned to face the wilderness. And there it was: the Glory of God visible in the Cloud.

11 God spoke to Moses,

12 "I've listened to the complaints of the Israelites. Now tell them: 'At dusk you will eat meat and at dawn you'll eat your fill of bread; and you'll realize that I am God, your God.'"

13 That evening quail flew in and covered the camp and in the morning there was a layer of dew all over the camp.

14 When the layer of dew had lifted, there on the wilderness ground was a fine flaky something, fine as frost on the ground.

15 The Israelites took one look and said to one another, man-hu (What is it?). They had no idea what it was.

16 And these are God's instructions: 'Gather enough for each person, about two quarts per person; gather enough for everyone in your tent.'"

17 The People of Israel went to work and started gathering, some more, some less,

18 but when they measured out what they had gathered, those who gathered more had no extra and those who gathered less weren't short - each person had gathered as much as was needed.

19 Moses said to them, "Don't leave any of it until morning."

20 But they didn't listen to Moses. A few of the men kept back some of it until morning. It got wormy and smelled bad. And Moses lost his temper with them.

21 They gathered it every morning, each person according to need. Then the sun heated up and it melted.

22 On the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, about four quarts per person. Then the leaders of the company came to Moses and reported.

23 Moses said, "This is what God was talking about: Tomorrow is a day of rest, a holy Sabbath to God. Whatever you plan to bake, bake today; and whatever you plan to boil, boil today. Then set aside the leftovers until morning."

24 They set aside what was left until morning, as Moses had commanded. It didn't smell bad and there were no worms in it.

25 Moses said, "Now eat it; this is the day, a Sabbath for God. You won't find any of it on the ground today.

26 Gather it every day for six days, but the seventh day is Sabbath; there won't be any of it on the ground."

27 On the seventh day, some of the people went out to gather anyway but they didn't find anything.

28 God said to Moses, "How long are you going to disobey my commands and not follow my instructions?

29 Don't you see that God has given you the Sabbath? So on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. So, each of you, stay home. Don't leave home on the seventh day."

30 So the people quit working on the seventh day.

31 The Israelites named it manna (What is it?). It looked like coriander seed, whitish. And it tasted like a cracker with honey.

32 Moses said, "This is God's command: 'Keep a two-quart jar of it, an omer, for future generations so they can see the bread that I fed you in the wilderness after I brought you out of Egypt.'"

33 Moses told Aaron, "Take a jar and fill it with two quarts of manna. Place it before God, keeping it safe for future generations."

34 Aaron did what God commanded Moses. He set it aside before The Testimony to preserve it.

35 The Israelites ate the manna for forty years until they arrived at the land where they would settle down. They ate manna until they reached the border into Canaan.

36 According to ancient measurements, an omer is one-tenth of an ephah.

Exodus 17

1 Directed by God, the whole company of Israel moved on by stages from the Wilderness of Sin. They set camp at Rephidim. And there wasn't a drop of water for the people to drink.

2 The people took Moses to task: "Give us water to drink." But Moses said, "Why pester me? Why are you testing God?"

3 But the people were thirsty for water there. They complained to Moses, "Why did you take us from Egypt and drag us out here with our children and animals to die of thirst?"

4 Moses cried out in prayer to God, "What can I do with these people? Any minute now they'll kill me!"

5 God said to Moses, "Go on out ahead of the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel. Take the staff you used to strike the Nile. And go.

6 I'm going to be present before you there on the rock at Horeb. You are to strike the rock. Water will gush out of it and the people will drink."

7 He named the place Massah (Testing-Place) and Meribah (Quarreling) because of the quarreling of the Israelites and because of their testing of God when they said, "Is God here with us, or not?"

8 Amalek came and fought Israel at Rephidim.

9 Moses ordered Joshua: "Select some men for us and go out and fight Amalek. Tomorrow I will take my stand on top of the hill holding God's staff."

10 Joshua did what Moses ordered in order to fight Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of the hill.

11 It turned out that whenever Moses raised his hands, Israel was winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, Amalek was winning.

12 But Moses' hands got tired. So they got a stone and set it under him. He sat on it and Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on each side. So his hands remained steady until the sun went down.

13 Joshua defeated Amalek and its army in battle.

14 God said to Moses, "Write this up as a reminder to Joshua, to keep it before him, because I will most certainly wipe the very memory of Amalek off the face of the Earth."

15 Moses built an altar and named it "God My Banner."

16 He said, Salute God's rule! God at war with Amalek Always and forever!

Exodus 18

1 Jethro, priest of Midian and father-in-law to Moses, heard the report of all that God had done for Moses and Israel his people, the news that God had delivered Israel from Egypt.

2 Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, had taken in Zipporah, Moses' wife who had been sent back home,

3 and her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom (Sojourner) for he had said, "I'm a sojourner in a foreign land";

4 the name of the other was Eliezer (God's-Help) because "The God of my father is my help and saved me from death by Pharaoh."

5 Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought Moses his sons and his wife there in the wilderness where he was camped at the mountain of God.

6 He had sent a message ahead to Moses: "I, your father-in-law, am coming to you with your wife and two sons."

7 Moses went out to welcome his father-in-law. He bowed to him and kissed him. Each asked the other how things had been with him. Then they went into the tent.

8 Moses told his father-in-law the story of all that God had done to Pharaoh and Egypt in helping Israel, all the trouble they had experienced on the journey, and how God had delivered them.

9 Jethro was delighted in all the good that God had done for Israel in delivering them from Egyptian oppression.

10 Jethro said, "Blessed be God who has delivered you from the power of Egypt and Pharaoh, who has delivered his people from the oppression of Egypt.

11 Now I know that God is greater than all gods because he's done this to all those who treated Israel arrogantly."

12 Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a Whole-Burnt-Offering and sacrifices to God. And Aaron, along with all the elders of Israel, came and ate the meal with Moses' father-in-law in the presence of God.

13 The next day Moses took his place to judge the people. People were standing before him all day long, from morning to night.

14 When Moses' father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, "What's going on here? Why are you doing all this, and all by yourself, letting everybody line up before you from morning to night?"

15 Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me with questions about God.

16 When something comes up, they come to me. I judge between a man and his neighbor and teach them God's laws and instructions."

17 Moses' father-in-law said, "This is no way to go about it.

18 You'll burn out, and the people right along with you. This is way too much for you - you can't do this alone.

19 Now listen to me. Let me tell you how to do this so that God will be in this with you. Be there for the people before God, but let the matters of concern be presented to God.

20 Your job is to teach them the rules and instructions, to show them how to live, what to do.

21 And then you need to keep a sharp eye out for competent men - men who fear God, men of integrity, men who are incorruptible - and appoint them as leaders over groups organized by the thousand, by the hundred, by fifty, and by ten.

22 They'll be responsible for the everyday work of judging among the people. They'll bring the hard cases to you, but in the routine cases they'll be the judges. They will share your load and that will make it easier for you.

23 If you handle the work this way, you'll have the strength to carry out whatever God commands you, and the people in their settings will flourish also."

24 Moses listened to the counsel of his father-in-law and did everything he said.

25 Moses picked competent men from all Israel and set them as leaders over the people who were organized by the thousand, by the hundred, by fifty, and by ten.

26 They took over the everyday work of judging among the people. They brought the hard cases to Moses, but in the routine cases they were the judges.

27 Then Moses said good-bye to his father-in-law who went home to his own country.

Exodus 19

1 Three months after leaving Egypt the Israelites entered the Wilderness of Sinai.

2 They followed the route from Rephidim, arrived at the Wilderness of Sinai, and set up camp. Israel camped there facing the mountain.

3 As Moses went up to meet God, God called down to him from the mountain: "Speak to the House of Jacob, tell the People of Israel:

4 'You have seen what I did to Egypt and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to me.

5 If you will listen obediently to what I say and keep my covenant, out of all peoples you'll be my special treasure. The whole Earth is mine to choose from,

6 but you're special: a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.' "This is what I want you to tell the People of Israel."

7 Moses came back and called the elders of Israel together and set before them all these words which God had commanded him.

8 The people were unanimous in their response: "Everything God says, we will do." Moses took the people's answer back to God.

9 God said to Moses, "Get ready. I'm about to come to you in a thick cloud so that the people can listen in and trust you completely when I speak with you." Again Moses reported the people's answer to God.

10 God said to Moses, "Go to the people. For the next two days get these people ready to meet the Holy God. Have them scrub their clothes

11 so that on the third day they'll be fully prepared, because on the third day God will come down on Mount Sinai and make his presence known to all the people.

12 Post boundaries for the people all around, telling them, 'Warning! Don't climb the mountain. Don't even touch its edge. Whoever touches the mountain dies - a certain death.

13 And no one is to touch that person, he's to be stoned. That's right - stoned. Or shot with arrows, shot to death. Animal or man, whichever - put to death.' "A long blast from the horn will signal that it's safe to climb the mountain."

14 Moses went down the mountain to the people and prepared them for the holy meeting. They gave their clothes a good scrubbing.

15 Then he addressed the people: "Be ready in three days. Don't sleep with a woman."

16 On the third day at daybreak, there were loud claps of thunder, flashes of lightning, a thick cloud covering the mountain, and an ear-piercing trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp shuddered in fear.

17 Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God. They stood at attention at the base of the mountain.

18 Mount Sinai was all smoke because God had come down on it as fire. Smoke poured from it like smoke from a furnace. The whole mountain shuddered in huge spasms.

19 The trumpet blasts grew louder and louder. Moses spoke and God answered in thunder.

20 God descended to the peak of Mount Sinai. God called Moses up to the peak and Moses climbed up.

21 God said to Moses, "Go down. Warn the people not to break through the barricades to get a look at God lest many of them die.

22 And the priests also, warn them to prepare themselves for the holy meeting, lest God break out against them."

23 Moses said to God, "But the people can't climb Mount Sinai. You've already warned us well telling us: 'Post boundaries around the mountain. Respect the holy mountain.'"

24 God told him, "Go down and then bring Aaron back up with you. But make sure that the priests and the people don't break through and come up to God, lest he break out against them."

25 So Moses went down to the people. He said to them:

Exodus 20

1 God spoke all these words:

2 I am God, your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of a life of slavery.

3 No other gods, only me.

4 No carved gods of any size, shape, or form of anything whatever, whether of things that fly or walk or swim.

5 Don't bow down to them and don't serve them because I am God, your God, and I'm a most jealous God, punishing the children for any sins their parents pass on to them to the third, and yes, even to the fourth generation of those who hate me.

6 But I'm unswervingly loyal to the thousands who love me and keep my commandments.

7 No using the name of God, your God, in curses or silly banter; God won't put up with the irreverant use of his name.

8 Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

9 Work six days and do everything you need to do.

10 But the seventh day is a Sabbath to God, your God. Don't do any work - not you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your servant, nor your maid, nor your animals, not even the foreign guest visiting in your town.

11 For in six days God made Heaven, Earth, and sea, and everything in them; he rested on the seventh day. Therefore God blessed the Sabbath day; he set it apart as a holy day.

12 Honor your father and mother so that you'll live a long time in the land that God, your God, is giving you.

13 No murder.

14 No adultery.

15 No stealing.

16 No lies about your neighbor.

17 No lusting after your neighbor's house - or wife or servant or maid or ox or donkey. Don't set your heart on anything that is your neighbor's.

18 All the people, experiencing the thunder and lightning, the trumpet blast and the smoking mountain, were afraid - they pulled back and stood at a distance.

19 They said to Moses, "You speak to us and we'll listen, but don't have God speak to us or we'll die."

20 Moses spoke to the people: "Don't be afraid. God has come to test you and instill a deep and reverent awe within you so that you won't sin."

21 The people kept their distance while Moses approached the thick cloud where God was.

22 God said to Moses, "Give this Message to the People of Israel: 'You've experienced firsthand how I spoke with you from Heaven.

23 Don't make gods of silver and gods of gold and then set them alongside me.

24 Make me an earthen Altar. Sacrifice your Whole-Burnt-Offerings, your Peace-Offerings, your sheep, and your cattle on it. Every place where I cause my name to be honored in your worship, I'll be there myself and bless you.

25 If you use stones to make my Altar, don't use dressed stones. If you use a chisel on the stones you'll profane the Altar.

26 Don't use steps to climb to my Altar because that will expose your nakedness.'

Exodus 21

1 "These are the laws that you are to place before them:

2 "When you buy a Hebrew slave, he will serve six years. The seventh year he goes free, for nothing.

3 If he came in single he leaves single. If he came in married he leaves with his wife.

4 If the master gives him a wife and she gave him sons and daughters, the wife and children stay with the master and he leaves by himself.

5 But suppose the slave should say, 'I love my master and my wife and children - I don't want my freedom,'

6 then his master is to bring him before God and to a door or doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl, a sign that he is a slave for life.

7 "When a man sells his daughter to be a handmaid, she doesn't go free after six years like the men.

8 If she doesn't please her master, her family must buy her back; her master doesn't have the right to sell her to foreigners since he broke his word to her.

9 If he turns her over to his son, he has to treat her like a daughter.

10 If he marries another woman, she retains all her full rights to meals, clothing, and marital relations.

11 If he won't do any of these three things for her, she goes free, for nothing.

12 "If someone hits another and death results, the penalty is death.

13 But if there was no intent to kill - if it was an accident, an 'act of God' - I'll set aside a place to which the killer can flee for refuge.

14 But if the murder was premeditated, cunningly plotted, then drag the killer away, even if it's from my Altar, to be put to death.

15 "If someone hits father or mother, the penalty is death.

16 "If someone kidnaps a person, the penalty is death, regardless of whether the person has been sold or is still held in possession.

17 "If someone curses father or mother, the penalty is death.

18 "If a quarrel breaks out and one hits the other with a rock or a fist and the injured one doesn't die but is confined to bed

19 and then later gets better and can get about on a crutch, the one who hit him is in the clear, except to pay for the loss of time and make sure of complete recovery.

20 "If a slave owner hits a slave, male or female, with a stick and the slave dies on the spot, the slave must be avenged.

21 But if the slave survives a day or two, he's not to be avenged - the slave is the owner's property.

22 "When there's a fight and in the fight a pregnant woman is hit so that she miscarries but is not otherwise hurt, the one responsible has to pay whatever the husband demands in compensation.

23 But if there is further damage, then you must give life for life

24 - eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,

25 burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.

26 "If a slave owner hits the eye of a slave or handmaid and ruins it, the owner must let the slave go free because of the eye.

27 If the owner knocks out the tooth of the male or female slave, the slave must be released and go free because of the tooth.

28 "If an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the ox must be stoned. The meat cannot be eaten but the owner of the ox is in the clear.

29 But if the ox has a history of goring and the owner knew it and did nothing to guard against it, then if the ox kills a man or a woman, the ox is to be stoned and the owner given the death penalty.

30 If a ransom is agreed upon instead of death, he must pay it in full as a redemption for his life.

31 If a son or daughter is gored, the same judgment holds.

32 If it is a slave or a handmaid the ox gores, thirty shekels of silver is to be paid to the owner and the ox stoned.

33 "If someone uncovers a cistern or digs a pit and leaves it open and an ox or donkey falls into it,

34 the owner of the pit must pay whatever the animal is worth to its owner but can keep the dead animal.

35 "If someone's ox injures a neighbor's ox and the ox dies, they must sell the live ox and split the price; they must also split the dead animal.

36 But if the ox had a history of goring and the owner knew it and did nothing to guard against it, the owner must pay an ox for an ox but can keep the dead animal.

Exodus 22

1 "If someone steals an ox or a lamb and slaughters or sells it, the thief must pay five cattle in place of the ox and four sheep in place of the lamb.

2 If the thief is caught while breaking in and is hit hard and dies, there is no bloodguilt.

3 But if it happens after daybreak, there is bloodguilt.

4 If caught red-handed with the stolen goods, and the ox or donkey or lamb is still alive, the thief pays double.

5 "If someone grazes livestock in a field or vineyard but lets them loose so they graze in someone else's field, restitution must be made from the best of the owner's field or vineyard.

6 "If fire breaks out and spreads to the brush so that the sheaves of grain or the standing grain or even the whole field is burned up, whoever started the fire must pay for the damages.

7 "If someone gives a neighbor money or things for safekeeping and they are stolen from the neighbor's house, the thief, if caught, must pay back double.

8 If the thief is not caught, the owner must be brought before God to determine whether the owner was the one who took the neighbor's goods.

9 "In all cases of stolen goods, whether oxen, donkeys, sheep, clothing, anything in fact missing of which someone says, 'That's mine,' both parties must come before the judges. The one the judges pronounce guilty must pay double to the other.

10 "If someone gives a donkey or ox or lamb or any kind of animal to another for safekeeping and it dies or is injured or lost and there is no witness,

11 an oath before God must be made between them to decide whether one has laid hands on the property of the other. The owner must accept this and no damages are assessed.

12 But if it turns out it was stolen, the owner must be compensated.

13 If it has been torn by wild beasts, the torn animal must be brought in as evidence; no damages have to be paid.

14 "If someone borrows an animal from a neighbor and it gets injured or dies while the owner is not present, he must pay for it.

15 But if the owner was with it, he doesn't have to pay. If the animal was hired, the payment covers the loss.

16 "If a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the marriage price and marry her.

17 If her father absolutely refuses to give her away, the man must still pay the marriage price for virgins.

18 "Don't let a sorceress live.

19 "Anyone who has sex with an animal gets the death penalty.

20 "Anyone who sacrifices to a god other than God alone must be put to death.

21 "Don't abuse or take advantage of strangers; you, remember, were once strangers in Egypt.

22 "Don't mistreat widows or orphans.

23 If you do and they cry out to me, you can be sure I'll take them most seriously;

24 I'll show my anger and come raging among you with the sword, and your wives will end up widows and your children orphans.

25 "If you lend money to my people, to any of the down-and-out among you, don't come down hard on them and gouge them with interest.

26 "If you take your neighbor's coat as security, give it back before nightfall;

27 it may be your neighbor's only covering - what else does the person have to sleep in? And if I hear the neighbor crying out from the cold, I'll step in - I'm compassionate.

28 "Don't curse God; and don't damn your leaders.

29 "Don't be stingy as your wine vats fill up.

30 The same with your cattle and sheep - they are to stay for seven days with their mother, then give them to me.

31 "Be holy for my sake. "Don't eat mutilated flesh you find in the fields; throw it to the dogs.

Exodus 23

1 "Don't pass on malicious gossip.

2 Don't go along with the crowd in doing evil and don't fudge your testimony in a case just to please the crowd.

3 And just because someone is poor, don't show favoritism in a dispute.

4 "If you find your enemy's ox or donkey loose, take it back to him

5 If you see the donkey of someone who hates you lying helpless under its load, don't walk off and leave it. Help it up.

6 "When there is a dispute concerning your poor, don't tamper with the justice due them.

7 "Stay clear of false accusations. Don't contribute to the death of innocent and good people. I don't let the wicked off the hook.

8 "Don't take bribes. Bribes blind perfectly good eyes and twist the speech of good people.

9 "Don't take advantage of a stranger. You know what it's like to be a stranger; you were strangers in Egypt.

10 "Sow your land for six years and gather in its crops,

11 but in the seventh year leave it alone and give it a rest so that your poor may eat from it. What they leave, let the wildlife have. Do the same with your vineyards and olive groves.

12 "Work for six days and rest the seventh so your ox and donkey may rest and your servant and migrant workers may have time to get their needed rest.

13 "Listen carefully to everything I tell you. Don't pay attention to other gods - don't so much as mention their names.

14 "Three times a year you are to hold a festival for me

15 "Hold the spring Festival of Unraised Bread when you eat unraised bread for seven days at the time set for the month of Abib, as I commanded you. That was the month you came out of Egypt. No one should show up before me empty-handed.

16 "Hold the summer Festival of Harvest when you bring in the firstfruits of all your work in the fields. "Hold the autumn Festival of Ingathering at the end of the season when you bring in the year's crops.

17 "Three times a year all your males are to appear before the Master, God.

18 "Don't offer the blood of a sacrifice to me with anything that has yeast in it. "Don't leave the fat from my festival offering out overnight.

19 "Bring the choice first produce of the year to the house of your God. "Don't boil a kid in its mother's milk

20 "Now get yourselves ready. I'm sending my Angel ahead of you to guard you in your travels, to lead you to the place that I've prepared.

21 Pay close attention to him. Obey him. Don't go against him. He won't put up with your rebellions because he's acting on my authority

22 But if you obey him and do everything I tell you, I'll be an enemy to your enemies, I'll fight those who fight you.

23 When my Angel goes ahead of you and leads you to the land of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, I'll clear the country of them.

24 So don't worship or serve their gods; don't do anything they do because I'm going to wipe them right off the face of the Earth and smash their sacred phallic pillars to bits.

25 "But you - you serve your God and he'll bless your food and your water. I'll get rid of the sickness among you;

26 there won't be any miscarriages nor barren women in your land. I'll make sure you live full and complete lives.

27 "I'll send my Terror on ahead of you and throw those peoples you're approaching into a panic. All you'll see of your enemies is the backs of their necks.

28 "And I'll send Despair on ahead of you. It will push the Hivites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites out of your way.

29 I won't get rid of them all at once lest the land grow up in weeds and the wild animals take over.

30 Little by little I'll get them out of there while you have a chance to get your crops going and make the land your own.

31 I will make your borders stretch from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea and from the Wilderness to the Euphrates River. I'm turning everyone living in that land over to you; go ahead and drive them out.

32 "Don't make any deals with them or their gods.

33 They are not to stay in the same country with you lest they get you to sin by worshiping their gods. Beware. That's a huge danger."

Exodus 24

1 He said to Moses, "Climb the mountain to God, you and Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel. They will worship from a distance;

2 only Moses will approach God. The rest are not to come close. And the people are not to climb the mountain at all."

3 So Moses went to the people and told them everything God had said - all the rules and regulations. They all answered in unison: "Everything God said, we'll do."

4 Then Moses wrote it all down, everything God had said. He got up early the next morning and built an Altar at the foot of the mountain using twelve pillar-stones for the twelve tribes of Israel.

5 Then he directed young Israelite men to offer Whole-Burnt-Offerings and sacrifice Peace-Offerings of bulls.

6 Moses took half the blood and put it in bowls; the other half he threw against the Altar.

7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it as the people listened. They said, "Everything God said, we'll do. Yes, we'll obey."

8 Moses took the rest of the blood and threw it out over the people, saying, "This is the blood of the covenant which God has made with you out of all these words I have spoken."

9 Then they climbed the mountain - Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel -

10 and saw the God of Israel. He was standing on a pavement of something like sapphires - pure, clear sky-blue.

11 He didn't hurt these pillar-leaders of the Israelites: They saw God; and they ate and drank.

12 God said to Moses, "Climb higher up the mountain and wait there for me; I'll give you tablets of stone, the teachings and commandments that I've written to instruct them."

13 So Moses got up, accompanied by Joshua his aide. And Moses climbed up the mountain of God.

14 He told the elders of Israel, "Wait for us here until we return to you. You have Aaron and Hur with you; if there are any problems, go to them."

15 Then Moses climbed the mountain. The Cloud covered the mountain.

16 The Glory of God settled over Mount Sinai. The Cloud covered it for six days. On the seventh day he called out of the Cloud to Moses.

17 In the view of the Israelites below, the Glory of God looked like a raging fire at the top of the mountain.

18 Moses entered the middle of the Cloud and climbed the mountain. Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.