16 Now the priest of Midianc had seven daughters. They came to draw water and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. 17 Then some shepherds arrived and drove them away, but Moses came to their rescue and watered their flock. 18 When they returned to their father Reuel,* d he asked, “Why have you come back so quickly today?”

19 They answered, “An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds. He even drew water for us and watered the flock.”

20 “So where is he?” he asked his daughters. “Why then did you leave the man behind? Invite him to eat dinner.”

21 Moses agreed to stay with the man, and he gave his daughter Zipporahe to Moses in marriage. 22 She gave birth to a son whom he named Gershom,C for he said, “I have been a resident alienf in a foreign land.”

23 After a long time, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned because of their difficult labor, and they cried out,g and their cry for help because of the difficult labor ascended to God. 24 God heard their groaning, and God rememberedh his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.i 25 and God saw the Israelites, and God knew.j

MOSES AND THE BURNING BUSH

3 Meanwhile, Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro,* the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb,* the mountain of God.k