Êxodo 2
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Êxodo 2
Rebirth of Moses Moses Is Born The Infancy and Early Career of Moses The Birth of Moses The Birth of Moses 2:1-4 2:1-4 2:1-4 2:1-4 2:1-4 2:5-10 2:5-10 2:5-10 2:5-6 2:5-10 2:7 2:8-10 Moses Flees to Midian Moses Escapes to Midian Moses Escapes to Midian 2:11-14 2:11-15 2:11-15a 2:11-13 2:11-15 Moses Escapes to Midian 2:14-15a 2:15 2:15b-22 2:15b-18 2:16-22 2:16-25 2:16-22 2:19 2:20 The Call of Moses (2:23-4:17) 2:21-22 God Remembers Israel 2:23-25 2:23-25 2:23-25 2:23-25 CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS Like the book of Esther, the unseen hand of God (cf. Heb. 11:27) is active to fulfill His plans for Israel and the world (See SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN). Remember, Israel's plight was not a result of disobedience but God's unfolding plan (cf. Gen. 15:12-21). Moses is the third child of a slave family, yet, he will become God's strategic leader, teacher, and organizer of this period. In the ANE the first child had preeminence (see SPECIAL TOPIC: FIRSTBORN), but God often chose another child to show He was in control. This same theology is reflected by the barren wives of the Patriarchs being divinely enabled to have children. Moses had the best possible education of his day (i.e., the court of Pharaoh, cf. Acts 7:22). law and order (other ANE cultures) military academic (i.e., geography, literature, math, science, medicine, etc.) desert survival (Egyptian culture and life in Midian) Where Moses learned of the monotheistic God, YHWH, is uncertain but possibly from his mother while at home (most likely option) information from his Egyptian teachers about the slaves' religion Jethro, a descendant of Abraham and priest of Midian (cf. Exodus 3-4; 18) There are several Egyptian words in this chapter that reflect a true historical setting. "ark"/"basket" (BDB 1061), Exod. 2:3 "bulrushes" (BDB 167), Exod. 2:3 "reeds" (BDB 693 I), Exod. 2:3 "by the bank of the Nile" (lit. "the lip of the river"; although the root is widely known in several Semitic languages), Exod. 2:3 Moses' birth and life are discussed in Acts 7:17-39 and Heb. 11:23-31.
Êxodo 2:1-4
2:1 Both parents of Moses were from the tribe of Levi (they are named in Exod. 6:20; Num. 26:59), from which the priests and Levites would later come. 2:2 "bore a son" We learn from other texts that Moses had an older brother and sister (cf. Exod. 7:7). This shows Hebrew historical narrative is not a western history. See SPECIAL TOPIC: OT HISTORICAL NARRATIVE and SPECIAL TOPIC: OT HISTORIOGRAPHY COMPARED TO NEAR EASTERN CULTURES ▣ "she saw that he was beautiful" Has any mother not felt this way? The Hebrew ADJECTIVE (BDB 373) means "fair looking" (cf. Gen. 6:2; 1 Sam. 9:2; 1 Kgs. 20:3; Dan. 1:15). ▣ "she hid him for three months" Why this time period is mentioned is uncertain. Possibly it is just a way to say she hid him as long as possible (Exod. 2:3). he cried too much (Alan Cole) he was too big (F. B. Huey) Egyptians and their spies were becoming more active in seeking out male children 2:3 NASB, JPSOA "a wicker basket" "an ark of bulrushes" NRSV, NJB "a papyrus basket" "a basket made of reeds" "an ark made of acacia wood" "a basket" The MT has "a basket of" (BDB 1061) CONSTRUCT "papyrus" (BDB 167). The word "papyrus" comes from the VERB "to swallow" (BDB 167), thereby, a plant that sucks up water. Isaiah 18:2 mentions ships made of papyrus reeds woven together. The term "basket" is used of Noah's ark. It may be an Egyptian root for "chest." ▣ "tar and pitch" Both (BDB 330 and BDB 278) are petroleum based (cf. Gen. 11:3; 14:10), sticky substances (NIDOTTE, vol. 2, p. 711), which were liquid enough when heated to plaster over the woven papyrus reeds to form a water tight seal. ▣ The last sentence of Exod. 2:3 implies a purposeful plan of Moses' mother to have her child found by an Egyptian princess (cf. Exod. 2:4-7). 2:4 "his sister" We learn from Exod. 15:20 that her name is Miriam (cf. Exod. 7:7; Num. 26:59; NIDOTTE, vol. 4, pp. 942-943).
Êxodo 2:5-10
2:5 The Nile was considered a god (i.e., Hapi, who was responsible for the annual life-giving floods) in Egyptian mythology. To bathe in it was a religious act. 2:6 The princess responded to a child in a characteristically expected way! She must have known immediately why the child was in the Nile. Moses' sister was standing by ready to offer help! ▣ "child. . .boy. . .children" There are two different terms used to describe Moses. child ‒ BDB 409 (SINGULAR) boy ‒ BDB 654 children ‒ BDB 409 (PLURAL) NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 125, shows the wide range of ages the term "boy" (BDB 654) can carry. unborn child ‒ Jdgs. 13:5,7,8,12 newborn ‒ 1 Sam. 4:21 three months old ‒ Exod. 2:6 child not weaned ‒ 1 Sam. 1:22 weaned child ‒ 1 Sam. 1:24 seventeen year old ‒ Gen. 37:2 thirty year old ‒ Gen. 41:12,46 2:8 "girl" This is the word almah (BDB 761), which means a young woman of marriageable age. In the ANE this could be 12 and up. This is the word used in Isa. 7:14 (see full notes online and SPECIAL TOPIC: VIRGIN). Miriam would have been a virgin but this word is also used of young married women of child-bearing age (NIDOTTE, vol. 3, pp. 415-419). 2:9 How long Moses stayed with his mother is not specified. Women in the ANE nursed their children for many years. How much she told Moses about Israel's God and Israel's predicament is also unspecified. She must have told him something because he knew his ethnic origin and had compassion for their plight. ▣ "I will give you your wages" This is a literary touch of divine irony! 2:10 "she named him Moses" The princess gave the "basket child" an Egyptian name, "Moses" (BDB 602, KB 642). The name is formed on the root (mosheh) for "born of" in Egyptian but with the connotation of "begotten or preserved by a god." Which god is not specified (KB); lit. "son of. . ." (i.e., Thut-Moses). is formed on the sound of the Hebrew PARTICIPLE mashah ("he who draws out," cf. 2 Sam. 22:27; Ps. 18:16; NIDOTTE, vol. 2, p. 1120). This fits the comment in Exod. 2:10 better.
Êxodo 2:11-14
2:11-12 There have been two distinct ways to view Moses' drastic actions. Jewish commentators see it as positive Christian commentators (some) see it as negative One wonders if this was a failed attempt by Moses to help alleviate the pain of his people. This may be reading too much into the motives of Moses. His compassionate act which resulted in the death of an Egyptian caused Moses to flee Egypt and dwell in the desert for 40 years. Was this divine preparation for his later task (cf. Acts 7:25) punishment for attempting to accomplish a divine promise in human strength Moses' actions are affected by his own feelings of compassion for his people his feelings of betrayal by a bombastic Hebrew slave his fear of Pharaoh (Josephus, Antiq. 2.10.11) 2:11 Moses' age is not specified but he is said to be "grown up" (BDB 152). The term is used of Isaac being weaned in Gen. 21:8 in Gen. 25:27 it is used of young manhood in Gen. 38:11,14 it means "marriageable age" (probably around 13) in Stephen's sermon in Acts 7:23, he says Moses was 40 years old at this time It seems (at least from tradition) that Moses' life can be divided into three forty-year periods. up to Exod. 2:11 he was part of the royal family of Egypt (i.e., thought he was "somebody") lived with Jethro in exile until 80 years of age (i.e., Exod. 2:23; 7:7; thought he was a "nobody") from 80-120 years old he learned what God could do with a "nobody" For the number 40 see SPECIAL TOPIC: SYMBOLIC NUMBERS IN SCRIPTURE, A. #7. ▣ "looked on their hard labor" This implies a sense of deep compassion on Moses' part. A feeling so deep he will act to his own ruin. Notice the different ways this is expressed. forced labor ‒ Exod. 1:1 hard labor ‒ Exod. 2:11 work ‒ Exod. 5:4,5 yoke ‒ Exod. 6:6,7 2:12 This shows Moses realized he was doing something dangerous to himself! Yet, still he acted (cf. Heb. 11:24-27)! 2:13-14 Moses' compassion is again obvious. However, his previous action was not secret but well known. Someone had seen and told!
Êxodo 2:15
2:15 The tension at Pharaoh's court is obvious. Pharaoh was not concerned about the death of a taskmaster or assistant but it gave him an opportunity to remove Moses from his family. ▣ "Midian" This name is used of different people/places in the OT. a child of Abraham by Keturah sent away to the east (cf. Gen. 25:1-6; 1 Chr. 1:32) a group of traders associated with the Ishmaelites (cf. Gen. 37:25-36) some part of the Sinai peninsula where Moses fled (Exodus 2-4; esp. 3:1-2) somewhere in the southern trans-Jordan area (1 Kgs. 11:18) in Num. 22:4,7, its leaders are associated with Moab's leaders enemies of Gideon in Judges (cf. Judges 6-8) their five kings are listed in Josh. 13:21, which implies a city-state society, like the Philistines in the southern trans-Jordan area south to the eastern Gulf of Aqaba area
Êxodo 2:16-22
2:16 "the priest of Midian" This man goes by several names/titles in the OT. Reuel ("friend of El," BDB 946, Exod. 2:18) Jethro ("pre-eminence," BDB 452, Exod. 3:1; 4:18; 18:2,5,6,9,10,12; יתר) Jether (BDB 452, a variant spelling of Jethro, both appear in Exod. 4:18) Hobab ("beloved," BDB 285, Num. 10:29; Jdgs. 4:11; יתרו) There is a tradition that he is from the Kenites, not the Midianites, Jdgs. 1:16; 4:11. ▣ "seven daughters" One wonders: did he have no sons is "seven" a symbolic number (see SPECIAL TOPIC: SYMBOLIC NUMBERS IN SCRIPTURE, A. #4) why send all seven to draw water I think the third question has two options. the herd needed lots of water the girls were fearful of others needing water (apparently they always had trouble with the local shepherds, cf. Exod. 2:18) 2:17 "Moses stood up" This VERB (BDB 877, KB 1086, Qal IMPERFECT with waw) could mean he was sitting and now stood to his feet he took action to stop the shepherds and help the young women stopped the shepherds' interference watered the animals himself (1) drew the water (2) carried it to the troughs Notice how silent the text is on Moses' exact actions. This is not traditional ANE folklore. Moses is portrayed as the kind of person who tried to help others (cf. Exod. 2:11,17). 2:19 "an Egyptian" Moses dressed and spoke as an Egyptian. These young women did not detect any subtle racial differences between Semites and Egyptians. NASB, NKJV, TEV, NJB, REB, JPSOA "he even drew the water" "he drew enough water" Peshitta, LXX "he drew water for us" This is an INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and a PERFECT TENSE VERB from the same root (BDB 194, KB 222), which denotes intensity, or here, fullness of an act (NKJV). Moses protected them and performed their task. 2:20 This reflects typical ANE hospitality. The immediate welcome turned into a long term relationship. 2:21-22 These verses are a brief summary of a long relationship between Moses and this family (cf. Exod. 2:23). Exodus 3:1 implies a long period of time has elapsed. 2:21 "Zipporah" This term (BDB 862, KB 1050) may denote a type of little bird. 2:22 "Gershon" This name (BDB 177) comes from two Hebrew words, ger sham ("a stranger there," in NASB margin; this word, "stranger," BDB 85 II, occurs in Exod. 12:48). This firstborn son of Moses is mentioned several times in the OT (cf. Exod. 2:22; 18:3; 1 Chr. 23:15,16; 26:24).
Êxodo 2:23-25
2:23 "the king of Egypt died" I think this might refer to Seti I (1309-1290 B.C.). This is only an educated guess (see Intro. V). SPECIAL TOPIC: KINGS OF EGYPT ▣ "the sons of Israel sighed because of the bondage, and they cried out" This information is repeated in Exod. 2:25; 3:7,9; Deut. 26:7; also note James 5:4. Their prayer affected God (cf. Exod. 2:24). SPECIAL TOPIC: INTERCESSORY PRAYER 2:24 "heard. . .remembered" We are forced to use human terms and categories to describe the God of Israel. We call this anthropomorphic language. God heard His people cry out (cf. Exod. 3:7,9; 6:5; Deut. 26:7) and He still does! SPECIAL TOPIC: GOD DESCRIBED AS HUMAN ▣ "God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob" God's promises to Abraham (esp. Gen. 15:12-21) are going to be a reality because of God's character God's promises Abraham's act of faith (Gen. 22:16-18) Israel's prayers Israel's acts of faith, even mixed with acts of unbelief YHWH's larger purpose of using Israel to bring the Messiah to save all mankind This is every believer's hope/trust that YHWH remembers His promises (and forgets our sins). SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT PROMISES TO THE PATRIARCHS SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN 2:25 NASB, NRSV, JPSOA "took notice of them" "acknowledged them" LXX, TEV footnote, Moffatt trans. "he became known to them" "noticed their oppression" "took notice of it" The MT has "and knew God." The VERB "know" (BDB 393, KB 390, Qal IMPERFECT with waw refer to God acknowledged their situation (follows an Arabic root). God revealed Himself to them (by His acts). God had an intimate love for His covenant people (see SPECIAL TOPIC: KNOW). The footnote of the Jerusalem Bible (p. 81, K.) suggests the MT is missing the conclusion to the sentence ("and he knew. . ."). The VERB has no OBJECT. The LXX supplies "them."