17 And thou shalt take this rod in thy hand with which thou shalt do the signs.
18 Thus Moses went and returned unto Jethro, his father-in-law, and said unto him, I shall go now and return unto my brethren who are in Egypt and see whether they are yet alive. And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace.
19 And the Lord also said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt, for all the men are dead who sought thy life.
20 Then Moses took his wife and his sons and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt; and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.
21 And the Lord said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand; but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.
22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, The Lord hath said thus: Israel is my son, even my firstborn.
23 And I have said unto thee, Let my son go that he may serve me, but thou hast refused to let him go; therefore, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.