The Birth of the Deliverer

2:1 1 A man from the household2 of Levi married3 a woman who was a descendant of Levi.4 2:2 The woman became pregnant5 and gave birth to a son. When6 she saw that7 he was a healthy8 child, she hid him for three months. 2:3 But when she was no longer able to hide him, she took a papyrus basket9 for him and sealed it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child in it and set it among the reeds along the edge of the Nile.10 2:4 His sister stationed herself11 at a distance to find out12 what would13 happen to him.

2:5 Then the daughter of Pharaoh14 came down to wash herself15 by the Nile, while her attendants were walking alongside the river,16 and she saw the basket among the reeds. She sent one of her attendants,17 took it,18 2:6 opened it,19 and saw the child20—a boy,21 crying!22—and she felt compassion23 for him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.”

2:7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get24 a nursing woman25 for you from the Hebrews, so that she may nurse26 the child for you?” 2:8 Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Yes, do so.”27 So the young girl28 went and got29 the child’s mother.30 2:9 Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child31 and nurse him for me, and I will pay your32 wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him.

2:10 When the child grew older33 she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son.34 She named him Moses, saying, “Because I drew him from the water.”35