Exodus2

Exodus 2 recounts the birth of Moses, his miraculous rescue from the Nile by Pharaoh's daughter, and his adoption into the Egyptian royal household. Later, Moses flees Egypt after killing an Egyptian, finding refuge in Midian where he marries Zipporah. The chapter concludes with the Israelites' continued suffering under bondage and God's remembrance of His covenant with their forefathers.

The Birth and Adoption of Moses

1
A man of the house of Levi went and took a daughter of Levi as his wife. ​
2
The woman conceived, and bore a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months. ​
3
When she could no longer hide him, she took a papyrus basket for him, and coated it with tar and with pitch. She put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river’s bank. ​
4
His sister stood far off, to see what would be done to him.
5
Pharaoh’s daughter came down to bathe at the river. Her maidens walked along by the riverside. She saw the basket among the reeds, and sent her handmaid to get it.
6
She opened it, and saw the child, and behold, the baby cried. She had compassion on him, and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” ​
7
Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Should I go and call a nurse for you from the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for you?”
8
Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go.” The maiden went and called the child’s mother.
9
Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away, and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” The woman took the child, and nursed it.
10
The child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, and said, “Because I drew him out of the water.” ​

Moses Defends the Hebrews and Flees

11
In those days, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his brothers, and looked at their burdens. He saw an Egyptian striking a Hebrew, one of his brothers. ​
12
He looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no one, he killed the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand. ​
13
He went out the second day, and behold, two men of the Hebrews were fighting with each other. He said to him who did the wrong, “Why do you strike your fellow?”
14
He said, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you plan to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian?” Moses was afraid, and said, “Surely this thing is known.” ​
15
Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and lived in the land of Midian, and he sat down by a well. ​

Moses in Midian

16
Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters. They came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. ​
17
The shepherds came and drove them away; but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.
18
When they came to Reuel, their father, he said, “How is it that you have returned so early today?”
19
They said, “An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and moreover he drew water for us, and watered the flock.” ​
20
He said to his daughters, “Where is he? Why is it that you have left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread.”
21
Moses was content to dwell with the man. He gave Moses Zipporah, his daughter.
22
She bore a son, and he named him Gershom, for he said, “I have lived as a foreigner in a foreign land.” ​

God Hears Israel’s Groaning

23
In the course of those many days, the king of Egypt died, and the children of Israel sighed because of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up to God because of the bondage. ​
24
God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. ​
25
God saw the children of Israel, and God was concerned about them. ​

Study Notes for Exodus 2

Verse 1

This verse identifies Moses’ parents as Levites, setting the stage for his future role as the leader who would establish the Levitical priesthood.

Verse 2

The mother’s recognition that the child was 'goodly' (Heb. *tov*) echoes the language of divine approval in the creation account (Gen. 1), suggesting divine favor or special destiny.

Verse 3

The 'ark' (*tevah*) is the same unique Hebrew word used for Noah's Ark, emphasizing divine preservation and salvation through water, highlighting God's faithfulness despite human vulnerability.

Verse 6

Pharaoh’s daughter’s immediate compassion and recognition of the child's heritage demonstrate divine irony—the decree meant to kill male infants is foiled by the compassion of the executioner's own family.

Verse 10

The name Moses (*Mosheh*) means 'I drew him out' (from the verb *mashah*). This name highlights his miraculous rescue and prefigures his later role in drawing the entire nation out of Egypt.

Verse 11

Moses identifies with his 'brethren' (the Hebrews) despite his Egyptian upbringing, suggesting a developing realization of his true identity and a desire to deliver his people.

Verse 12

Moses’ act of murder, though driven by justice, is a premature and unauthorized attempt at deliverance, demonstrating that he tried to save Israel by human strength, not divine command.

Verse 14

The Hebrew man’s challenge reveals that Moses lacks legitimate authority (divine or human) at this time, leading to his fear and eventual flight from the consequences of his actions.

Verse 15

Moses’ flight to Midian marks the beginning of a forty-year period of preparation and wilderness training, transforming him from an impetuous prince into a humble shepherd ready for God’s call.

Verse 16

The 'priest of Midian' (later identified as Jethro/Reuel) indicates that Moses found refuge in a culture that likely maintained some form of patriarchal worship, though outside the Abrahamic covenant line.

Verse 19

The daughters mistake Moses for an 'Egyptian' due to his dress or dialect, emphasizing his dual cultural identity and his immediate willingness to intervene for the oppressed.

Verse 22

Gershom means 'foreigner there.' The name reflects Moses' sense of displacement and exile, reinforcing the theme that he is a stranger in Midian, far from his people and his destiny.

Verse 23

The death of Pharaoh does not end the suffering, emphasizing that the problem of oppression is systemic and requires divine intervention, not merely a change of rulers.

Verse 24

God 'remembered' his covenant (Gen. 15, 17). This is an active turning toward his people to fulfill his promises, initiating the process of redemption promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Verse 25

God 'looked upon' and 'had respect unto' (or 'knew') them, signifying God's intimate awareness of their suffering and his readiness to act decisively on their behalf.

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