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.
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The Birth and Adoption of Moses

1
And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi. ​
2
And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months. ​
3
And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink. ​
4
And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.
5
And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river's side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it.
6
And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children. ​
7
Then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?
8
And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child's mother.
9
And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it.
10
And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water. ​

Moses Defends the Hebrews and Flees

11
And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren. ​
12
And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand. ​
13
And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?
14
And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known. ​
15
Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well. ​

Moses in Midian

16
Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock. ​
17
And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.
18
And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day?
19
And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock. ​
20
And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread.
21
And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.
22
And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land. ​

God Hears Israel’s Groaning

23
And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. ​
24
And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. ​
25
And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto 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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