The Return of Moses

4:18 53 So Moses went back54 to his father-in-law Jethro and said to him, “Let me go, so that I may return55 to my relatives56 in Egypt and see57 if they are still alive.” Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.” 4:19 The Lord said to Moses in Midian, “Go back58 to Egypt, because all the men who were seeking your life are dead.”59 4:20 Then Moses took60 his wife and sons61 and put them on a donkey and headed back62 to the land of Egypt, and Moses took the staff of God in his hand. 4:21 The Lord said63 to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt,64 see that you65 do before Pharaoh all the wonders I have put under your control.66 But I will harden67 his heart68 and69 he will not let the people go. 4:22 You must say70 to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says71 the Lord, “Israel is my son, my firstborn,72 4:23 and I said to you, ‘Let my son go that he may serve73 me,’ but since you have refused to let him go,74 I will surely kill75 your son, your firstborn!” ’ ”

4:24 Now on the way, at a place where they stopped for the night,76 the Lord met Moses and sought to kill him.77 4:25 But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off the foreskin of her son and touched it to Moses’ feet,78 and said, “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood79 to me.” 4:26 So the Lord80 let him alone. (At that time81 she said, “A bridegroom of blood,” referring to82 the circumcision.)

4:27 The Lord said83 to Aaron, “Go to the wilderness to meet Moses. So he went and met him at the mountain of God84 and greeted him with a kiss.85 4:28 Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord who had86 sent him and all the signs that he had commanded him. 4:29 Then Moses and Aaron went and brought together all the Israelite elders.87 4:30 Aaron spoke88 all the words that the Lord had spoken to Moses and did the signs in the sight of the people, 4:31 and the people believed. When they heard89 that the Lord had attended to90 the Israelites and that he had seen their affliction, they bowed down close to the ground.91