Exodus 6

Never begin a story at the beginning. Having seen the final plague, and having wrestled with the impact of that word שׁלח, to send, we are at the onset of the sequence here. (These are the links to the other chapters in the story 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12).

The key to the analogy is that we are owned by Egypt, and Egypt is instructed to send us out of its land. We do not belong to Egypt. But Egypt will fight tooth and nail to hold us. Even when we are dismissed, expelled, and gone, Egypt will continue to come after what it has lost even to its own destruction. You can say Egypt is 'the world' as long as you remember that the analogy is relative. Egypt is also loved and legitimately. It needs release from itself also. We are Egypt and we are Pharaoh. There is no easy division of ourselves from both sides of the enigma. This comes back to the problem of inclusion/exclusion. As long as we are the arbiters of exclusion or inclusion, we will fail to see our own troubling character. But that we should escape (be expelled, sent away) and begin the process of learning who we are and the nature of the promise, that is good. Yet too, the promise is effected from the beginning. Hence the language of Passover (and Easter). This is neither fatalism nor religion, but a difficult aspect of responsibility and faithfulness. Like death, this story has its role in the bootstrap of humanity.

In the list of names, Gershon doesn't rate an atnach, but Yitshar and Uzziel do. Curious. There are a few of the names that did not come up already defined by comparison with 1 Chronicles. Now there's a study for you. And in case you missed it, the parents of the Moses and the Aaron and the ancestors of the Levites are all noted here, as if to say that Instruction and Priesthood are also part of the bootstrap of escape from the things that enslave us.

It is traditional to translate the body part ערל as uncircumcised. It's not מול so I use the body part as an adjective rather than an English gloss related to circumcise. Again note the inclusio implied by pairs of repeated phrases.

Exodus 6		Fn		Min	Max	Syll
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה עַתָּ֣ה תִרְאֶ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֖ה לְפַרְעֹ֑ה כִּ֣י בְיָ֤ד חֲזָקָה֙ יְשַׁלְּחֵ֔ם וּבְיָ֣ד חֲזָקָ֔ה יְגָרְשֵׁ֖ם מֵאַרְצֽוֹ ס	1		And Yahweh said to Moses, Now you will see what I will make of Pharaoh, for by a resolute hand he will send them out, and with a resolute hand he will expel them from his land.	3e	4C	20 21
וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֑ה וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו אֲנִ֥י יְהוָֽה	2		And God spoke to Moses, and he said to him, I am Yahweh,	3e	4A	9 9
וָאֵרָ֗א אֶל־אַבְרָהָ֛ם אֶל־יִצְחָ֥ק וְאֶֽל־יַעֲקֹ֖ב בְּאֵ֣ל שַׁדָּ֑י וּשְׁמִ֣י יְהוָ֔ה לֹ֥א נוֹדַ֖עְתִּי לָהֶֽם	3		And I appeared to Abraham, to Yitschaq, and to Jacob, as the One, the Sufficient, but by my name Yahweh, I was not made known to them.	3d	4B	19 10
וְגַ֨ם הֲקִמֹ֤תִי אֶת־בְּרִיתִי֙ אִתָּ֔ם לָתֵ֥ת לָהֶ֖ם אֶת־אֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן אֵ֛ת אֶ֥רֶץ מְגֻרֵיהֶ֖ם אֲשֶׁר־גָּ֥רוּ בָֽהּ	4		And also I have placed my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their abode where they were guests.	3d	4C	22 12
וְגַ֣ם ׀ אֲנִ֣י שָׁמַ֗עְתִּי אֶֽת־נַאֲקַת֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר מִצְרַ֖יִם מַעֲבִדִ֣ים אֹתָ֑ם וָאֶזְכֹּ֖ר אֶת־בְּרִיתִֽי	5		So even I myself have heard the groaning of the children of Israel whom Egypt has enslaved, and I have remembered my covenant.	3e	4B	26 7
לָכֵ֞ן אֱמֹ֥ר לִבְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֘ל אֲנִ֣י יְהוָה֒ וְהוֹצֵאתִ֣י אֶתְכֶ֗ם מִתַּ֙חַת֙ סִבְלֹ֣ת מִצְרַ֔יִם וְהִצַּלְתִּ֥י אֶתְכֶ֖ם מֵעֲבֹדָתָ֑ם וְגָאַלְתִּ֤י אֶתְכֶם֙ בִּזְר֣וֹעַ נְטוּיָ֔ה וּבִשְׁפָטִ֖ים גְּדֹלִֽים	6		Therefore say to the children of Israel, I am Yahweh, and I will bring you forth from under the burden of Egypt, and I will deliver you from your servitude, and I will redeem you with an arm stretched out and with great judgments.	3e	4C	37 19
וְלָקַחְתִּ֨י אֶתְכֶ֥ם לִי֙ לְעָ֔ם וְהָיִ֥יתִי לָכֶ֖ם לֵֽאלֹהִ֑ים וִֽידַעְתֶּ֗ם כִּ֣י אֲנִ֤י יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹ֣הֵיכֶ֔ם הַמּוֹצִ֣יא אֶתְכֶ֔ם מִתַּ֖חַת סִבְל֥וֹת מִצְרָֽיִם	7		And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be your God, and you will know that I am Yahweh your God who brought you forth from under the burden of Egypt.	3e	4C	18 25
וְהֵבֵאתִ֤י אֶתְכֶם֙ אֶל־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֤ר נָשָׂ֙אתִי֙ אֶת־יָדִ֔י לָתֵ֣ת אֹתָ֔הּ לְאַבְרָהָ֥ם לְיִצְחָ֖ק וּֽלְיַעֲקֹ֑ב וְנָתַתִּ֨י אֹתָ֥הּ לָכֶ֛ם מוֹרָשָׁ֖ה אֲנִ֥י יְהוָֽה	8		And I will bring you into the land that I lifted up my hand to give it to Abraham, to Yitschaq, and to Jacob, and I will give it to you to possess, I, Yahweh.	3d	4C	33 15
וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר מֹשֶׁ֛ה כֵּ֖ן אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְלֹ֤א שָֽׁמְעוּ֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה מִקֹּ֣צֶר ר֔וּחַ וּמֵעֲבֹדָ֖ה קָשָֽׁה פ	9		And Moses spoke so to the children of Israel, but they did not hear Moses from shortness of spirit and from hard servitude.	3d	4C	12 20
וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר	10		And Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,	3e	3g	10
בֹּ֣א דַבֵּ֔ר אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֖ה מֶ֣לֶךְ מִצְרָ֑יִם וִֽישַׁלַּ֥ח אֶת־בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מֵאַרְצֽוֹ	11	B	Enter. Speak to Pharaoh the king of Egypt, that he send the children of Israel from his land.	3e	4B	11 12
וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר מֹשֶׁ֔ה לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר הֵ֤ן בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לֹֽא־שָׁמְע֣וּ אֵלַ֔י וְאֵיךְ֙ יִשְׁמָעֵ֣נִי פַרְעֹ֔ה וַאֲנִ֖י עֲרַ֥ל שְׂפָתָֽיִם	12		And Moses spoke in the presence of Yahweh, saying, Lo, the children of Israel do not hear me, so why will Pharaoh hear me? And I of fore-skinned lips.	3e	4C	11 28
וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר יְהוָה֮ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֣ה וְאֶֽל־אַהֲרֹן֒ וַיְצַוֵּם֙ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאֶל־פַּרְעֹ֖ה מֶ֣לֶךְ מִצְרָ֑יִם לְהוֹצִ֥יא אֶת־בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם ס	13		And Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, and gave them commandment to the children of Israel and to Pharaoh the king of Egypt, to bring forth the children of Israel from the land of Egypt.	3e	4B	31 16
אֵ֖לֶּה רָאשֵׁ֣י בֵית־אֲבֹתָ֑ם בְּנֵ֨י רְאוּבֵ֜ן בְּכֹ֣ר יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל חֲנ֤וֹךְ וּפַלּוּא֙ חֶצְר֣וֹן וְכַרְמִ֔י אֵ֖לֶּה מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ת רְאוּבֵֽן	14	g	These are the heads of the house of their ancestors. The children of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, Chanok and Phallu, Hetsron and Carmi, these are the families of Reuben.	3e	4C	8 28
וּבְנֵ֣י שִׁמְע֗וֹן יְמוּאֵ֨ל וְיָמִ֤ין וְאֹ֙הַד֙ וְיָכִ֣ין וְצֹ֔חַר וְשָׁא֖וּל בֶּן־הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֑ית אֵ֖לֶּה מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ת שִׁמְעֽוֹן	15		And the children of Simeon, Yimuel and Yamin and Ohad and Yakin and Tsochar and Saul, child of the Canaanite. These are the families of Simeon.	3e	4C	27 7
וְאֵ֨לֶּה שְׁמ֤וֹת בְּנֵֽי־לֵוִי֙ לְתֹ֣לְדֹתָ֔ם גֵּרְשׁ֕וֹן וּקְהָ֖ת וּמְרָרִ֑י וּשְׁנֵי֙ חַיֵּ֣י לֵוִ֔י שֶׁ֧בַע וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֛ים וּמְאַ֖ת שָׁנָֽה	16		And these are the names of the children of Levi of their successions, Gershon and Kohath and Merari. And the years of the life of Levi, a hundred and thirty seven years.	3c	4C	19 15
בְּנֵ֥י גֵרְשׁ֛וֹן לִבְנִ֥י וְשִׁמְעִ֖י לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָֽם	17		The children of Gershon, Libni and Shimei in their families.	3d	3g	14
וּבְנֵ֣י קְהָ֔ת עַמְרָ֣ם וְיִצְהָ֔ר וְחֶבְר֖וֹן וְעֻזִּיאֵ֑ל וּשְׁנֵי֙ חַיֵּ֣י קְהָ֔ת שָׁלֹ֧שׁ וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֛ים וּמְאַ֖ת שָׁנָֽה	18		And the children of Kohath, Amram and Yitshar and Hebron, and Uzziel. And the years of the life of Kohath, a hundred and thirty three years.	3c	4B	16 15
וּבְנֵ֥י מְרָרִ֖י מַחְלִ֣י וּמוּשִׁ֑י אֵ֛לֶּה מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ת הַלֵּוִ֖י לְתֹלְדֹתָֽם	19		And the children of Merari, Maxali and Mushi. These are the families of Levi of their successions.	3d	4B	10 12
וַיִּקַּ֨ח עַמְרָ֜ם אֶת־יוֹכֶ֤בֶד דֹּֽדָתוֹ֙ ל֣וֹ לְאִשָּׁ֔ה וַתֵּ֣לֶד ל֔וֹ אֶֽת־אַהֲרֹ֖ן וְאֶת־מֹשֶׁ֑ה וּשְׁנֵי֙ חַיֵּ֣י עַמְרָ֔ם שֶׁ֧בַע וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֛ים וּמְאַ֖ת שָׁנָֽה	20		And Amram took to himself Yokebed, his uncle's wife, and she gave birth for him, to Aaron and Moses. And the years of the life of Amram, a hundred and thirty seven years.	3c	4C	28 15
וּבְנֵ֖י יִצְהָ֑ר קֹ֥רַח וָנֶ֖פֶג וְזִכְרִֽי	21		And the children of Yitshar, Korah and Nepheg and Zikri.	3e	4A	4 8
וּבְנֵ֖י עֻזִּיאֵ֑ל מִֽישָׁאֵ֥ל וְאֶלְצָפָ֖ן וְסִתְרִֽי	22		And the children of Uzziel, Mishael and Eltsaphan and Sitri.	3e	4A	5 10
וַיִּקַּ֨ח אַהֲרֹ֜ן אֶת־אֱלִישֶׁ֧בַע בַּת־עַמִּינָדָ֛ב אֲח֥וֹת נַחְשׁ֖וֹן ל֣וֹ לְאִשָּׁ֑ה וַתֵּ֣לֶד ל֗וֹ אֶת־נָדָב֙ וְאֶת־אֲבִיה֔וּא אֶת־אֶלְעָזָ֖ר וְאֶת־אִֽיתָמָֽר	23		And Aaron took Elisheba daughter of Aminadab, the sister of Nashon, to himself as wife, and she gave birth for him to Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.	3c	4B	24 21
וּבְנֵ֣י קֹ֔רַח אַסִּ֥יר וְאֶלְקָנָ֖ה וַאֲבִיאָסָ֑ף אֵ֖לֶּה מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ת הַקָּרְחִֽי	24		And the children of Korah, Assir and Elkanah and Abiasaph. These are the families of the Korahites.	3e	4B	15 8
וְאֶלְעָזָ֨ר בֶּֽן־אַהֲרֹ֜ן לָקַֽח־ל֨וֹ מִבְּנ֤וֹת פּֽוּטִיאֵל֙ ל֣וֹ לְאִשָּׁ֔ה וַתֵּ֥לֶד ל֖וֹ אֶת־פִּֽינְחָ֑ס אֵ֗לֶּה רָאשֵׁ֛י אֲב֥וֹת הַלְוִיִּ֖ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָֽם	25		And Eleazar child of Aaron took to himself from the daughters of Putiel for his wife, and she gave birth for him, to Phineas. These are the heads of the ancestors of the Levites in their families.	3d	4C	27 14
ה֥וּא אַהֲרֹ֖ן וּמֹשֶׁ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָמַ֤ר יְהוָה֙ לָהֶ֔ם הוֹצִ֜יאוּ אֶת־בְּנֵ֧י יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם עַל־צִבְאֹתָֽם	26	f	These are Aaron and Moses, to whom Yahweh said, Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt by their hosts.	3c	4C	7 26
הֵ֗ם הַֽמְדַבְּרִים֙ אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֣ה מֶֽלֶךְ־מִצְרַ֔יִם לְהוֹצִ֥יא אֶת־בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם ה֥וּא מֹשֶׁ֖ה וְאַהֲרֹֽן	27	~	They who spoke to Pharaoh the king of Egypt to bring forth the children of Israel from Egypt. These are Moses and Aaron.	3e	4B	24 7
וַיְהִ֗י בְּי֨וֹם דִּבֶּ֧ר יְהוָ֛ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֖ה בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם פ	28		And it was on the day Yahweh had spoken to Moses in the land of Egypt,	3c	3g	18
וַיְדַבֵּ֧ר יְהוָ֛ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹ֖ר אֲנִ֣י יְהוָ֑ה דַּבֵּ֗ר אֶל־פַּרְעֹה֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ מִצְרַ֔יִם אֵ֛ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲנִ֖י דֹּבֵ֥ר אֵלֶֽיךָ	29		That Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, I am Yahweh. Speak to Pharaoh the king of Egypt all that I will speak to you.	3c	4B	14 20
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֖ה לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה הֵ֤ן אֲנִי֙ עֲרַ֣ל שְׂפָתַ֔יִם וְאֵ֕יךְ יִשְׁמַ֥ע אֵלַ֖י פַּרְעֹֽה פ	30		And Moses said in the presence of Yahweh, Lo, I am of fore-skinned lips, so why will Pharaoh pay heed to me?	3e	4C	9 17