Then a new ruler came to power in Egypt. One who had never heard about Joseph. “Look,” he said to his people, “there are far too many Israelites for us. Come on, we must be clever in dealing with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.”
So they apointed slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labour. They were forced to build Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread. So the Egyptians came to fear the Israelites and forced them to work even harder. They made their lives bitter with harsh labour in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their harsh labour, the Egyptians worked them ruthlessly.
(Exodus 1:8-13)
YHWH said: “I have surely seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out against of their slave drivers. And I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to liberate them out of that land and bring them into land that is good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey – the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. And now the cries of your comrades have reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them.
So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people, your comrades out of Egypt.”
(Exodus 3:7-10)
That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor.
When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was.
Moses said to them: “It is the bread YHWH has given you to eat. This is what YHWH has commanded: Everyone is to gather as much as they need. Take an omer for each person you have in your tent.”
The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed.
Then Moses said to them: “No one is to keep any of it until morning.” However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them.
(Exodus 16:13-20)
You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto Myself. So if you will just listen to My voice, and keep My covenant, then you will be My personal treasure among all the peoples. For the whole earth is Mine. And for Me you will be a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which you should speak speak unto the children of Israel.
(Exodus 19:4-6)
I AM YHWH, your God who has liberated you from the system of slavery in Egypt. You will not serve any other than me as your God.
(Exodus 20:2-3)
And YHWH said unto Moses: “You will say this to the children of Israel: You yourselves have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. You shall not make gods of silver, or gods of gold besides me. You shall not make them for yourselves. You will make me an altar of dirt and you shall sacrifice your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen upon it. In every place where I cause My name to be mentioned I will come to you and bless you. And if you make Me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stones; for if you lift up your tool upon it, you will have ruined it. Neither shall you go up by stairs unto My altar, so that your nakedness will not be uncovered thereon.
(Exodus 20:15-23)
If you lend money to my people, to the poor among you, you shall not deal with them as a creditor; you shall not exact interest from them.
(Exodus 22:25)
But the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, so that the poor of your people may eat and the wild animals may eat what they leave. You shall do the same with your vineyard, and with your olive orchard.
(Exodus 23:11)
And he took the writing of the covenant, and read to the ear of the people. And they said: “All that YHWH has said, we will do it and we will understand.
(Exodus 24:7)