16. And he will speak for you to the people, and then he will be to you as a mouth, and you will be to him as a god.
17. And you must take this staff in your hand, with which you will do the signs.”
18. And Moses went, and he returned to Jethro his father-in-law, and he said to him, “Please let me go, and let me return to my brothers who are in Egypt, and let me see whether they are yet alive. And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.”
19. And Yahweh said to Moses in Midian, “Go, return to Egypt because all the men have died who were seeking your life.”
20. And Moses took his wife and his sons and had them ride on the donkey, and he returned to the land of Egypt, and Moses took the staff of God in his hand.
21. And Yahweh said to Moses, “When you go to return to Egypt, see all of the wonders that I have put in your hand, and do them before Pharaoh, and I myself will harden his heart, and he will not release the people.
22. And you must say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says Yahweh, “Israel is my son, my firstborn.”
23. And I said to you, “Release my son and let him serve me,” but you refused to release him. Look, I am about to kill your son, your firstborn.’ ”
24. And on the way, at the place of overnight lodging, Yahweh encountered him and sought to kill him.