Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah;

“When you act as midwives to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, she shall live.”

But the midwives feared God [with profound reverence] and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded, but they let the boy babies live.

So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this thing, and allowed the boy babies to live?”

Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “Every son who is born [to the Hebrews] must be thrown into the Nile, but every daughter you shall keep alive.”

Now a man of the house of Levi [the priestly tribe] went and took as his wife a daughter of Levi.

Then the Lord said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life [for killing the Egyptian] are dead.”

Then Zipporah took a flint knife and cut off the foreskin of her son and threw it at Moses’ feet, and said, “Indeed you are a husband of blood to me!”

These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their births: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari; and Levi lived a hundred and thirty-seven years.

The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of Levi according to their generations.

But indeed for this very reason I have allowed you to live, in order to show you My power and in order that My name may be proclaimed throughout all the earth.

No hand shall touch him [that is, no one shall try to save the guilty party], but the offender must be stoned or shot through [with arrows]; whether man or animal [that touches the mountain], he shall not live.’ When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.”

but showing graciousness and steadfast lovingkindness to thousands [of generations] of those who love Me and keep My commandments.

But if the servant plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife and my children; I will not leave as a free man,’

then his master shall bring him to God [that is, to the judges who act in God’s name], then he shall bring him to the door or doorpost. And his master shall pierce his ear with an awl (strong needle); and he shall serve him for life.

But if there is any further injury, then you shall require [as a penalty] life for life,

If a ransom is demanded of him [in return for his life], then he shall give whatever is demanded for the redemption of his life.

“If one man’s ox injures another’s so that it dies, then they shall sell the live ox and divide the proceeds equally; they shall also divide the dead ox [between them].

“You shall not allow a woman who practices sorcery to live.

and one loaf of bread and one cake of oiled bread and one wafer out of the basket of the unleavened bread that is before the Lord;

So the sons of Levi did as Moses instructed, and about three thousand men of the people [of Israel] were killed that day.

But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man shall see Me and live!”