Exodus 2:11-25 - Moses In Midian

¹¹ One day, after Moses had grown [into adulthood], it happened that he went to his countrymen and looked [with compassion] at their hard labors; and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his countrymen. ¹² He turned to look around, and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. ¹³ He went out the next day and saw two Hebrew men fighting with each other; and he said to the aggressor, “Why are you striking your friend?”

¹⁴ But the man said, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and said, “Certainly this incident is known.” ¹⁵ When Pharaoh heard about this matter, he tried to kill Moses. Then Moses fled from Pharaoh’s presence and took refuge in the land of Midian, where he sat down by a well.

¹⁶ Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters; and they came and drew water [from the well where Moses was resting] and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. ¹⁷ Then shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and helped them and watered their flock. ¹⁸ When they came to Reuel (Jethro) their father, he said, “How is it that you have come back so soon today?” ¹⁹ They said, “An Egyptian saved us from the shepherds. He even drew water [from the well] for us and watered the flock.”

²⁰ Then he said to his daughters, “Where is he? Why have you left the man behind? Invite him to have something to eat.”

²¹ Moses was willing to remain with the man, and he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah [to be his wife]. ²² She gave birth to a son, and he named him Gershom (stranger); for he said, “I have been a stranger in a foreign land.”

²³ Now it happened after a long time [about forty years] that the king of Egypt died. And the children of Israel (Jacob) groaned and sighed because of the bondage, and they cried out. And their cry for help because of their bondage ascended to God. ²⁴ So God heard their groaning and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel). ²⁵ God saw the sons of Israel, and God took notice [of them] and was concerned about them [knowing all, understanding all, remembering all].