Then a new king, ¹  who did not know about ²  Joseph, came to power ³  over Egypt.

The king of Egypt said ¹  to the Hebrew midwives, ²  one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, ³ 

But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go, ¹  not even under force. ² 

“Go, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt that he must release ¹  the Israelites from his land.”

But ¹  the midwives feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them; they let the boys live. ² 

Then the king of Egypt summoned ¹  the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this and let the boys live?” ² 

The king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you cause the people to refrain from their work? ¹  Return to your labor!”

They were the men who were speaking to Pharaoh king of Egypt, in order to bring the Israelites out of Egypt. It was the same Moses and Aaron.

he said to him, ¹  “I am the Lord. Tell ²  Pharaoh king of Egypt all that ³  I am telling ⁴  you.”

But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he chased after the Israelites. Now the Israelites were going out defiantly. ¹ 

¹ During ²  that long period of time ³  the king of Egypt died, and the Israelites ⁴  groaned because of the slave labor. They cried out, and their desperate cry ⁵  because of their slave labor went up to God.

“The elders ¹  will listen ²  to you, and then you and the elders of Israel must go to the king of Egypt and tell him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met ³  with us. So now, let us go ⁴  three days’ journey into the wilderness, so that we may sacrifice ⁵  to the Lord our God.’

The Lord spoke ¹  to Moses and Aaron and gave them a charge ²  for the Israelites and Pharaoh king of Egypt to bring the Israelites out of the land of Egypt.