Chapter threeMoses and the burning bush
There came a time when the Israelites moved to Egypt to find food.
Eventually they became the slaves of Pharaoh.
Pharaoh was worried because they continued to grow in number.1
So he told his soldiers to kill all the Jewish male babies. 2
Moses was born at this time to an Israelite woman in Egypt.3
She did not want him to be killed.
She placed Moses in a basket and then put the basket in the river Nile.4
An Egyptian princess found Moses and raised the baby herself.
Moses grew up as an Egyptian prince.
Key Words
burning (adj): đang cháy
bush (n): bụi cây
Israelite (n): người Do Thái
eventually (adv): cuối cùng
slave (n): nô lệ
Pharaoh (n): vua Ai Cập cổ
worried (adj): lo lắng
continue to (v): tiếp tục
soldier (n): quân lính
Jewish (n): người Do Thái
be born (p.p): ra đời
(bear - bore - born)
male (n): con trai, đàn ông
place (v): đặt
Egyptian (n): người Ai Cập
raise (v): nuôi nấng
as (prep): như là
Key Sentences
1 Pharaoh was worried because they continued to grow in number.
2 So he told his soldiers to kill all the Jewish male babies.
3 Moses was born at this time to an Israelite woman in Egypt.
4 She placed Moses in a basket and then put the basket in the river Nile.
Moses found out that he was really an Israelite.1
So he ran away from Egypt and became a shepherd.
One day, a nearby bush began to burn.
Moses was surprised because the bush stayed green!2
When Moses came closer, he heard a voice.
“I am the God of the Israelites,” said the voice.
“I have seen the Israelites suffering in Egypt.
I want you to lead your people to Canaan.3
This is a good land with milk and honey.”
Moses was afraid, but he believed in God.
So he left the burning bush, and started back to Egypt holding the rod of God.4
Check up
Whose voice did Moses hear?
a. God’s.
b. His mother’s.
c. The spirit of mountain’s
Key Words
find out (v): phát hiện ra
run away (v): bỏ chạy, chạy trốn
nearby (adj): gần đó
burn (v): cháy
stay + adj (v): vẫn còn
close (adv): gần
voice (n): giọng nói
lead (v): dẫn đường, dắt
(lead - led - led)
Canaan (n): vùng đất Canaan
believe in (v): tin tưởng
hold (v): nắm, giữ
(hold - held - held)
rod (n): cây gậy
Key Sentences
1 Moses found out that he was really an Israelite.
2 Moses was surprised because the bush stayed green!
3 I want you to lead your people to Canaan.
4 So he left the burning bush, and started back to Egypt holding the rod of God.
Escape from Egypt
God sent nine terrible disasters to Egypt but Pharaoh would not let the Israelites leave.1
Finally God killed all the first-born Egyptians.
Then Pharaoh told Moses to take his people and go from Egypt.
After they left, Pharaoh changed his mind.
He gathered a small army and chased after Moses and his people.
At the shore of the Red Sea, the Egyptian army had almost caught up with them.2
Now the Israelites were afraid.
“Did you lead us here to die?”3 they asked Moses.
“Pharaoh is coming with an army.
He will kill us all!”
“Do not worry,” said Moses.
He raised his rod.
“God will push the waters aside.4
Then we can escape.”
Check up
What was the last misfortune God punished Egypt with?
a. Pharaoh’s nightmare
b. Killing all first children in the Egyptian families.
c. The Israelis caused a revolt.
Key Words
escape (v): trốn thoát, thoát khỏi
send (v): gửi, sai, phái (send - sent - sent)
terrible (adj): khủng khiếp
disaster (n): tai họa
first-born (adj): đầu lòng, cả
change one’s mind (v): thay đổi ý định
army (n): quân đội
chase after (v): đuổi theo
shore (n): bờ biển
the Red Sea (n): Biển Đỏ
catch up with (v): đuổi kịp, bắt kịp
(catch - caught - caught)
worry (v): lo lắng
raise (v): giơ lên, nâng lên
Key Sentences
1 God sent nine terrible disasters to Egypt but Pharaoh would not let the israelites leave.
2 At the shore of the Red Sea, the Egyptian army had almost caught up with them.
3 Did you lead us here to die?
4 God will push the waters aside.
Suddenly the waters of the Red Sea split into two.1
Dry land appeared between two walls of water.2
The Israelites ran forward.
When Pharaoh came to the Red Sea, the Israelites were already on the other side.3
“Forward!” cried Pharaoh.
Then God released the waters.
They rushed back together and covered the Egyptian army.4
Pharaoh and all his soldiers died.
The Israelites were safe and free.
Check up
Which can be replaced with the word “cried” in the text?
a.called out
b. called for
c. called on
Key Words
split into (v): tách ra, chia ra
(split - split - split)
appear (v): xuất hiện, ló ra
(disappear)
forward (adv): về phía trước
already (adv): đã, rồi
on the other side (prep): ở phía bên kia
release (v): xả
rush (v): đổ dồn, ập đến
back (adv): trở lại
cover (v): bao phủ, nhấn chìm
safe (adj): an toàn
Key Sentences
1 Suddenly, the waters of the Red Sea split into two.
2 Dry land appeared between two walls of water.
3 When Pharaoh came to the Red Sea, the Israelites were already on the other side.
4 They rushed back together and covered the Egyptian army.
The Ten Commandments
In the desert, the Israelites camped near Mount Sinai.
It was three months after they escaped from Egypt.1
Moses told the people to wait.
Then he went alone up into the mountain.2
God called to Moses.
“I want to come close to the Israelites so they can hear me.
I will come in a great cloud in two days.”
After two days, a storm moved over Mount Sinai.
Thunder crashed in the sky.
The Israelites were frightened.
But Moses led them to the foot of Mount Sinai.3
Key Words & Sentences
the Ten Commandments (n): Mười Điều Răn của Đức Chúa trời
desert (n): sa mạc
camp (v): hạ trại, cắm trại
go up (v): đi lên
alone (adj): một mình
call to (v): gọi to
storm (n): bão
thunder (n): sấm sét
crash (v): giăng ngang
frightened (adj): hoảng sợ, khiếp đảm
the foot (n): chân (núi)
1 It was three months after they escaped from Egypt.
2 Then he went alone up into the mountain.
3 But Moses led them to the foot of Mount Sinai.
Check up
Why did Moses take the Israelis to the mountain?
a. To hear God’s voice.
b. To run away from the Egyptians.
c. To meet another god.
God spoke, “I am the Lord, your God.
You shall obey these laws.”
You shall have no gods but me.1
You shall make no statues or pictures of gods.
You shall not use my name carelessly.
Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy.2
Honor your father and mother.
You shall not commit murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not lie.
You shall not be jealous of your neighbor.3
These are the ten commandments
that God told Moses and his people.
They promised to follow these laws.
Key Words
shall (v): sẽ
obey (v): tuân theo, vâng lời (disobey)
law (n): luật lệ, quy luật
but (prep): trừ ra, ngoài ra
statue (n): tượng
carelessly (adv): bất cẩn, thiếu thận trọng
Sabbath (n): ngày nghỉ cuối tuần của
người Do Thái, để tưởng nhớ ngày
Thiên Chúa nghỉ ngơi sau sáu ngày tạo dựng vũ trụ
keep + A + adj (v): giữ cho A (keep - kept - kept)
holy (adj): thiêng liêng, thánh thiện
honor (v): thể hiện sự kính trọng
commit (v): phạm phải, vi phạm
murder (n): tội giết người
adultery (n): tội thông dâm
steal (v): ăn cắp
(steal - stole - stolen)
lie (v): nói dối
be jealous of: ganh ghét, đố kỵ
neighbor (n): đồng loại
promise (v): hứa, cam đoan
follow (v): nghe theo
Key Sentences
1 You shall have no gods but me.
2 Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy.
3 You shall not be jealous of your neighbor.
Again, God called Moses up the mountain.1
This time, Moses stayed on Mount Sinai for forty days.
The people became afraid.
They asked Aaron, Moses’s brother, to make them a new god.2
When God saw them pray before a golden calf,
He became very angry.3
Moses begged Him not to punish the Israelites.4
God wrote His commandments on two stones.
Moses took these stones down to the camp.
“These are the commandments from God,” he shouted. “Follow these commandments, and He will protect you.
If you disobey them, you will be destroyed.”
Check up
Choose what matches with the story.
a. Aaron created a new idol.
b. Moses had the Israelites punished.
c. Moses brought the Ten Commandments engraved in wood.
Key Words & Sentences
stay (v): ở lại, lưu lại
ask + A + to V (v): yêu cầu A làm gì
pray (v): cầu nguyện
calf (n): con bê
beg (v): cầu xin
punish (v): trừng trị
protect (v): bảo vệ, che chở
disobey (v): không tuân theo
1 Again, God called Moses up the mountain.
2 They asked Aaron, Moses’s brother, to make them a new god.
3 When God saw them pray before a golden calf, He became very angry.
4 Moses begged Him not to punish the Israelites.
Comprehension Quiz
A. Like the example, write the Commandment that matches each sentence.
You shall have no gods but me.
You shall make no statues or pictures of gods.
You shall not use my name carelessly.
Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy.
Honor your father and mother.
You shall not commit murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not lie.
You shall not be jealous of your neighbor.
ex. A man secretly takes money from his friend.
⇒You shall not steal.
1. A man shoots a police officer to be killed.
⇒____________________
2. A person prays to Buddha.
⇒____________________
3. A businessman works on Sunday.
⇒____________________
4. You hate your friend because she is beautiful.
⇒____________________
B. Choose the correct answers to the questions.
1. Why did God get angry at his people in the desert?
(a) They were stealing from each other.
(b) They were fighting each other.
(c) They were praying to a golden calf.
2. What happened to Pharaoh and his army?
(a) They were killed by snakes.
(b) They drowned in the Red Sea.
(c) They got lost in the desert.
C. Put the sentences in order.
1. God told Moses and his people the Ten Commandments.
2. Moses was put in a basket on the River Nile.
3. God sent many disasters to the Egyptians.
4. Pharaoh let the Israelites go from Egypt.
______⇒______⇒______⇒______
We are going to read stories about famous characters like Samson, King Solomon and David & Goliath.
