The Lord directed Moses to go again to the people and repeat the promise of deliverance, with a fresh assurance of divine favor. He went as he was commanded; but they would not listen. Says the Scripture, "They hearkened not . . . for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage." Again the divine message came to Moses, 263 "Go in, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land." In discouragement he replied, "Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me?" He was told to take Aaron with him and go before Pharaoh, and again demand "that he send the children of Israel out of his land."

Herren sendte atter Moses til folket for at gentage løftet om befrielse og give dem en ny forsikring om Guds gunst. Han gik, som han havde fået befaling om, men de ville ikke høre på ham. Skriften siger: "De hørte ikke på Moses, dertil var deres modløshed for stor og deres trællearbejde for hårdt." Atter lød Guds budskab til Moses: "Gå hen og sig til Farao, Ægyptens konge, at han skal lade israelitterne drage ud af sit land!" Mismodigt svarede Moses: "Israelitterne har ikke hørt på mig, hvor skulle da Farao gøre det?" Han fik befaling om at tage Aron med sig og gå til Farao og igen kræve, "at han skal lade israelitterne drage ud af sit land".