Exodus 2 - Printer Friendly

What does Exodus 2 mean?

Chapter Commentary:

Chapter 1 explained how the nation of Israel rapidly grew after their arrival in Egypt. After centuries, the threat of an expanding Hebrew population led the king, who used the title "Pharaoh," to acts of enslavement (Exodus 1:10–14) and genocide (Exodus 1:16, 22).

Chapter 2 provides the birth account of Moses (Exodus 2:1–10), the story of his exile to Midian as an adult (Exodus 2:11–22), and the context of the Jews just prior to the call of Moses to free the people (Exodus 2:23–25).

Moses was born to Amram and Jochebed (Exodus 6:20), from the tribe of Levi (Exodus 2:1). No mention is made of the name given to him at birth; the name "Moses" will be given later. This baby was hidden for three months to escape death under Pharaoh's command to murder infant Hebrew boys (Exodus 1:22). Eventually, the child was too difficult to conceal at home. So, Jochebed makes a floating bed out of reeds and oils. The tall reeds along the river would easily hide a small container such as this. Despite what's portrayed in many movies, she did not send her son to float down the river unattended. Instead, what happens seems to go according to a deliberate plan. At first, the boy is watched over by Miriam (Exodus 15:20; Numbers 26:59), his sister (Exodus 2:1–4).

The basket on the water serves a purpose like that of Noah's ark. It is the means through which God provides protection from death in an evil context. Looking at the entire incident, it seems the baby was placed where he was certain to be found—but by a particular person. Pharaoh's daughter arrives to bathe at this location. Most likely, Jochebed and Miriam knew this when they chose the hiding spot. The royal daughter immediately realizes that this child is there because of her father's command. The baby has, in a sense, been "cast" into the river. She responds with compassion (Exodus 2:5–6).

Seizing the opportunity, Miriam approaches and asks if the Egyptian royal would like to have a Hebrew to nurse the child. When Pharaoh's daughter agrees, Miriam brings the baby's own mother. The Egyptian lady does not seem to know this. She decides to sponsor the baby, paying for him to be raised until he is old enough to come live with her. When he is old enough, Pharaoh's daughter adopts him and gives him the Egyptian name Moses. In both Hebrew and Egyptian, this name sounds like a phrase referring to pulling someone out of the water. Ironically, the Egyptian king's effort to subdue Israel results in his own household raising and educating (Acts 7:21–22) the man who would free the slaves (Exodus 2:7–10).

Contrary to popular myth, especially movies and other portrayals, Moses is never presented as a man unaware of his own heritage. The Bible does not record Moses "discovering" his Jewish ancestry. Nor does it claim that Moses was considered a prince, an heir to the throne, or otherwise treated as a member of the royal family. Scripture strongly suggests that everyone involved knew from the beginning who and what he was.

As an adult living in Pharaoh's household, Moses must "go out" to see his fellow Hebrews. Around age forty (Acts 7:23) he sees an Egyptian slave supervisor beating a Hebrew slave. Either with an immediate attack, or after some kind of argument, Moses kills the abusive supervisor. He then buries the body and likely assumes he has literally gotten away with murder (Exodus 2:11–12).

The next day, Moses tries to break up a fight between two Jews. Resenting Moses for his privileges and for getting involved in their argument, one of the men makes a snide remark about Moses killing the Egyptian taskmaster. Though it has only been one day, the truth of what happened is already out. It is only a matter of time before Pharaoh discovers that Moses has murdered one of his workers. Soon, Pharaoh hears the news and seeks to kill Moses, but Moses escapes to Midian (Exodus 2:13–15).

While banished, Moses drives away shepherds who were preventing the seven daughters of Midian from feeding their sheep. Their father Reuel—also named Jethro—invites Moses to stay with them. This eventually leads to a marriage between Moses and Reuel's daughter Zipporah. The birth of their first son Gershom is noted; the meaning of Gershom's name connects to Moses' condition as a man in exile (Exodus 2:16–22).

While Moses is away, the Pharaoh who ordered genocide dies. Israel may have hoped that this would result in better treatment. This does not happen, so they cry out to the Lord. Fortunately, God had not forgotten His promises to their ancestors. He still had plans for His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He "saw" the people and "knew" (Exodus 2:23–35). This completes the setup for God's miraculous acts to free Israel (Exodus 3—15).

Exodus 2:1–10 describes the birth and early life of Moses. His mother defies the order to kill Hebrew boys and hides her son. Once he becomes too old to conceal, she places him in a basket on the Nile. Apparently, this was a deliberate attempt to have Moses adopted, as Moses' older sister is stationed nearby, watching. Pharaoh's daughter finds the baby and hires Moses' own mother to be his wet nurse. Once weaned, Moses is sent back to the Egyptian princess, gaining the benefits of a royal education and upbringing.

Exodus 2:11–22 describes how Moses went from his position as the adopted son of an Egyptian princess to being an exiled shepherd living in Midian. As an adult, Moses defends a fellow Jew by killing an Egyptian aggressor. Moses' attempt to hide the act fails and he is forced to flee Egypt. In Midian, Moses heroically defends a group of shepherd girls and is welcomed into their family. This establishes the backdrop of Moses' life for one of God's most dramatic encounters with man: the burning bush.

Exodus 2:23–25 briefly looks away from Moses and back to the people of Israel. Prior to Moses' birth, the king of Egypt began brutally enslaving the Jewish people. Most of chapter 2 was used to describe Moses' adoption by the Egyptian princess, his murder of an Egyptian bully, and his escape to Midian, where he settles and builds a family. In the meantime, Israel's oppression becomes continually worse. The Hebrews cry out to God for rescue; He has not forgotten His promises to them. The following words of Scripture reveal God's appointment of Moses to return and free Israel, through the miraculous appearance of a burning bush.

Chapter Summary:

Amid an order from Pharaoh to murder newborn Hebrew boys, Moses' mother places him in a basket along the side of the river, staging her daughter there to observe. The Egyptian king's daughter sees the baby and has pity. Thanks to the presence of Moses' sister, the princess pays Moses' own mother to wean him. After this, he is raised in the home of Egypt's royal family. As an adult, Moses unsuccessfully attempts to hide his murder of an abusive Egyptian and flees to Midian as an exile. As Moses builds a family abroad, Israel cries out to God for rescue from the brutality of Egyptian slavery.

Chapter Context:

Exodus chapter 2 introduces the character of Moses, after describing the plight of Israel under Egyptian slavery. This passage provides a few interesting ironies. Primarily, the Egyptian king attempts to oppress Israel through infanticide; this very command leads to his own daughter adopting a Hebrew boy—Moses. Because of the intervention of the boy's sister, his own mother is paid to nurse and wean him. Then the Egyptian woman provides the Hebrew boy with support and education, essentially raising the future liberator of the very people her father seeks to control. After chapter 2 establishes Moses' exile from Egypt, chapter 3 will begin narrating his call to lead the nation of Israel out of captivity under the Pharaoh.

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.

Accessed 12/3/2024 11:42:18 AM