1Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro his father-in-law , the priest of Midian : and he led the flock to the back of the wilderness , and came to the mountain of God, unto Horeb . 2And the angel of Jehovah appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush : and he looked , and , behold , the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed . 3And Moses said, I will turn aside now , and see this great sight , why the bush is not burnt . 4And when Jehovah saw that he turned aside to see , God called unto him out of the midst of the bush , and said , Moses , Moses . And he said , Here am I . 5And he said, Draw not nigh hither : put off thy shoes from off thy feet , for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground . 6Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac , and the God of Jacob . And Moses hid his face ; for he was afraid to look upon God.
God's Commission to Moses
7And Jehovah said , I have surely seen the affliction of my people that are in Egypt , and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters ; for I know their sorrows ; 8and I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians , and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large , unto a land flowing with milk and honey ; unto the place of the Canaanite , and the Hittite , and the Amorite, and the Perizzite , and the Hivite , and the Jebusite . 9And now , behold , the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me : moreover I have seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them . 10Come now therefore , and I will send thee unto Pharaoh , that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt . 11And Moses said unto God , Who am I , that I should go unto Pharaoh , and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt ? 12And he said , Certainly I will be with thee ; and this shall be the token unto thee , that I have sent thee : when thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt , ye shall serve God upon this mountain .
God's Name Revealed
13And Moses said unto God , Behold , when I come unto the children of Israel , and shall say unto them , The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you ; and they shall say to me , What is his name ? What shall I say unto them ? 14And God said unto Moses , I AM THAT I AM : and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel , I AM hath sent me unto you . 15And God said moreover unto Moses , Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel , Jehovah , the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac , and the God of Jacob , hath sent me unto you : this is my name for ever , and this is my memorial unto all generations . 16Go , and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them , Jehovah , the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac , and of Jacob , hath appeared unto me , saying, I have surely visited you , and seen that which is done to you in Egypt : 17and I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanite , and the Hittite , and the Amorite, and the Perizzite , and the Hivite , and the Jebusite , unto a land flowing with milk and honey . 18And they shall hearken to thy voice : and thou shalt come , thou and the elders of Israel , unto the king of Egypt , and ye shall say unto him , Jehovah , the God of the Hebrews , hath met with us : and now let us go , we pray thee , three days ’ journey into the wilderness , that we may sacrifice to Jehovah our God . 19And I know that the king of Egypt will not give you leave to go , no , not by a mighty hand . 20And I will put forth my hand , and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof : and after that he will let you go . 21And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians : and it shall come to pass , that , when ye go , ye shall not go empty . 22But every woman shall ask of her neighbor , and of her that sojourneth in her house , jewels of silver , and jewels of gold , and raiment : and ye shall put them upon your sons , and upon your daughters ; and ye shall despoil the Egyptians .