When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why are you sitting by yourself, and all the people stand around you from morning until evening?”

Then we will give you our daughters to marry, and we will take your daughters as wives for ourselves, and we will live among you and become one people.

Only on this one condition will these men consent to live with us and become one people: They demand that every male among us be circumcised just as they are circumcised.

“You must no longer give straw to the people for making bricks as before. Let them go and collect straw for themselves.

Moses returned to the Lord, and said, “Lord, why have you caused trouble for this people? Why did you ever send me?

From the time I went to speak to Pharaoh in your name, he has caused trouble for this people, and you have certainly not rescued them!”

I will take you to myself for a people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from your enslavement to the Egyptians.

Now listen to me, I will give you advice, and may God be with you: You be a representative for the people to God, and you bring their disputes to God;

If she does not please her master, who has designated her for himself, then he must let her be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to a foreign nation, because he has dealt deceitfully with her.

Then he presented the people’s offering. He took the sin offering male goat which was for the people, slaughtered it, and performed a decontamination rite with it like the first one.

Please forgive the iniquity of this people according to your great loyal love, just as you have forgiven this people from Egypt even until now.”

You, however, the Lord has selected and brought from Egypt, that iron-smelting furnace, to be his special people as you are today.

And today the Lord has declared you to be his special people (as he already promised you) so you may keep all his commandments.

Then Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel: “Be quiet and pay attention, Israel. Today you have become the people of the Lord your God.

The Lord will designate you as his holy people just as he promised you, if you keep his commandments and obey him.

Your sons and daughters will be given to another people while you look on in vain all day, and you will be powerless to do anything about it.

They replied, “Yes, straight ahead! But hurry now, for he came to the town today, and the people are making a sacrifice at the high place.

The Lord will not abandon his people because he wants to uphold his great reputation. The Lord was pleased to make you his own people.

So Saul said to the army that was with him, “Muster the troops and see who is no longer with us.” When they mustered the troops, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there.

You made Israel your very own people for all time. You, O Lord, became their God.