Exodus 2:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And his sister stood at a distance to know what would be done to him.

NIV: His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.

NASB: And his sister stood at a distance to find out what would happen to him.

CSB: Then his sister stood at a distance in order to see what would happen to him.

NLT: The baby’s sister then stood at a distance, watching to see what would happen to him.

KJV: And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.

NKJV: And his sister stood afar off, to know what would be done to him.

Moses' sister is introduced in this verse. She was clearly mature enough to speak with Pharaoh's daughter (Exodus 2:7). We later discover this sister is Miriam, a woman who plays an important part in the history of Israel and the Exodus. Even as a child, her courage would lead to saving the life of Moses and keeping their mother involved in his young life.

Miriam is next mentioned in Exodus 15:20–21 where she leads the women in dancing and singing with tambourines. She later opposes Moses' leadership and briefly experiences leprosy (Numbers 12; Deuteronomy 24:9). She would much later die and be buried during the wilderness journey in the wilderness of Zin at Kadesh (Numbers 20:1). Micah 6:4 remembers Miriam as being among those sent by God to bring up God's people and redeem them from the house of slavery. Without Miriam, the early life of Moses would have been much different. Even in her old age, likely in her 90s, she rejoiced at the miracle at the Red Sea and led others in worship of the Lord (Exodus 15:20–21).

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 winds up hiring 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.

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 winds up paying 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.

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 an abandoned Hebrew boy—Moses. She provides him 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 5/5/2024 2:30:51 PM