18. Moshe confronts Hashem:

Moshe returned to Hashem saying “My master, why have you caused evil to befall this nation, why did you send me. Since I have come to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, not only have You not saved them, but he has harmed the people. Hashem replied to Moshe “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh, as with a mighty hand I will send them out of his land.”

Hashem responds to Moshe’s accusations: Hashem told Moshe that He had appeared to his forefathers, Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov with his name Shakaiy and did not make His name Havaya known to them. He had established His covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan. Now, “I have also heard the cry of the Jewish people who are enslaved in Egypt, and I have remembered my covenant.”

Hashem instructs Moshe: Hashem told Moshe to go and tell Pharaoh all that I commanded you, and Moshe replied that he has a speech impairment and hence cannot talk. Hashem replied to Moshe that He has appointed him as a ruler to Pharaoh, and Aaron will be his speaker. “You will speak all that I have commanded you, and Aaron will speak to Pharaoh, and he will send the Jewish people from his land. I will harden Pharaoh’s heart and increase my miracles and wonders in Egypt. Pharaoh will not listen to you, and I will smite Egypt and take out my nation from Egypt with great plagues. Egypt will then know that I am G-d.” Moshe and Aaron did as they were told. Moshe was 80 years old while Aaron was 83 years old at the time they spoke to Pharaoh.

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