2:1-14, Moses' preparation in Egypt: He was born about 1526 BC, 350 years from the time Israel settled in Egypt (1876 BC); And he was reared in the royalty of Pharaoh's court.
2:1 AND THERE WENT A MAN OF THE HOUSE OF LEVI, AND TOOK [TO WIFE] A DAUGHTER OF LEVI.
A.The Bible is not always concerned with chronology; This marriage took place some years before Pharaoh's command to destroy the Hebrew male children.
B.The MAN, who was named Amram, was the son of Kohath, the son of Levi - Ex 6:16-19.
C.His WIFE, who was named Jochebed, was also descended from Levi (perhaps not A DAUGHTER in the sense of the first generation).
D.Amram and Jochebed had a daughter named Miriam (she is named as the sister of Moses and Aaron in Num 26:59).
E.Miriam must have been about 15 when she watched to see what would be done with baby Moses in the ark.
F.Amram and Jochebed also had a son named Aaron, who was 3 at the time of the birth of Moses - Ex 7:7.
2:2 AND THE WOMAN CONCEIVED, AND BARE A SON: AND WHEN SHE SAW HIM THAT HE [WAS A] GOODLY (BEAUTIFUL, NKJ) [CHILD], SHE HID HIM THREE MONTHS.
A.This third child, a son, would come under Pharaoh's order, which must have been issued after the birth of Aaron since no difficulty is mentioned concerning Aaron.
B.These parents (we assume Armram agreed with Jochebed in this matter) trusted God to take care of their son - cf Heb 11:23; But it was necessary for his mother to hide him (God's will involves our cooperation).
C.This indicates that while there may not have been a great num-ber of Egyptians living among the Hebrews in Goshen, there were some there and they would observe failures on the part of the Hebrews to obey the law of the land.
2:3 AND WHEN SHE COULD NOT LONGER HIDE HIM, SHE TOOK FOR HIM AN ARK OF BULRUSHES, AND DAUBED IT WITH SLIME (ASPHALT, NKJ) AND WITH PITCH, AND PUT THE CHILD THEREIN; AND SHE LAID [IT] IN THE FLAGS (REEDS, NKJ) BY THE RIVER'S BRINK.
A.ARK OF BULRUSHES: A chest made of Bulrushes (a papyrus plant).
B.FLAGS BY THE RIVER'S BRINK: Water plants in the shallow water.
2:4 AND HIS SISTER STOOD AFAR OFF, TO WIT (KNOW, NKJ) WHAT WOULD BE DONE TO HIM.
2:5 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.
A.DAUGHTER OF PHARAOH: Some Jewish commentators say her name was Bithia, and that she was the sister of Rameses the Great who would be the Pharaoh whom Moses would later confront.
B.HER MAID: It seems that HER MAIDENS were a group of women who attended to her household duties, and that HER MAID perhaps was her special personal attendant.
2:6 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.
A.WHEN SHE HAD OPENED IT: She sent the maid after the ark (Verse 5), but she was sufficiently interested to open it herself.
B.Knowing her father's edict, she may have suspected what was in the ark, but would not know if the child was alive or dead.
C.THE BABE WEPT...SHE HAD COMPASSION: Tears, especially those of children, touch hearts, even those of pagans.
D.SHE...SAID, THIS IS ONE OF THE HEBREWS' CHILDREN: This would be rather obvious under the circumstances of the time.
2:7 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?
A.Perhaps Jochebed had planned all this, and Miriam carried out her part well.
B.Also no doubt the Providence of God brought it all to pass, and the plan of Pharaoh was going to be frustrated by his own daughter -- she preserved the one life Pharaoh would have been most concerned to destroy if he could have known the future.
2:8 AND PHARAOH'S DAUGHTER SAID TO HER, GO. AND THE MAID WENT AND CALLED THE CHILD'S MOTHER.
A.SAID TO HER, GO: She knew this was the logical thing to do; And she would have no fear of her father's displeasure.
B.CALLED THE CHILD'S MOTHER: How beautiful are the ways of God! Moses' life was saved, his early nurturing and training of his mind would be by his own mother (who would teach him to know God and His Word), and yet he would later be exposed to train-ing in the Egyptian court which would be needed when the time came for him to lead the Israelites out of bondage.
2:9 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.
A.In His Providence, God can use anyone to bring about His will.
B.NURSE IT FOR ME, AND I WILL GIVE THEE THY WAGES: This contract meant that Jochebed would give up her mother's right to the child, and he would belong to the Egyptian woman.
C.Jochebed agreed to the covenant because it meant the saving of her child's life, and assured her of rearing him in safety from Egyptian informers as long as she could have him.
2:10 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.
A.AND THE CHILD GREW: Apparently he grew to the point that Jochebed recognized it was now her duty under the contract to take him to the Egyptian. In Gen 21:8 it says of Isaac, "the child grew and was weaned." Perhaps that is the thought here; If so, then Moses became the Egyptian Prince at about age 2.
B.This would give Moses all the privileges of royalty and would assure him of the best education available. Children of Egyp-tian leaders were taught literary skills, and given training in leadership; God knew these qualities would be important to Moses in the work he was to do.
C."In the arts and sciences they were well ahead of other peo-ples of their day. Their acquaintance with mathematics and physics is revealed in the construction of the pyramids and temples built by them. They had great libraries in which were the works of their scholars. There were schools where the young men of the upper classes were taught. One of the papyri speaks of the detailed instruction given these youth who were to be in government service. Reading, writing, spelling, grammar, arithmetic, geometry, bookkeeping, law and sacred literature were all in the curriculum. In Acts 7:22 Stephen speaks of Moses as being 'learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians.' ...... They worshipped different animals, but the chief of these was the sacred bull Osiris. This bull was kept in a magnificent temple and was worshipped by all the people. The Hebrew people evidently were impressed by this custom since during the Exodus when they decided to make a god they could see, they made the golden calf." (Hester)
D."Their great engineering skill, as shown by the marvelous con-struction of the pyramids, still amazes us. Their knowledge of certain sciences, as in embalming and astronomy was also very great. Thus one who will stop to consider sees that Moses was no ordinary, unlettered peasant. He was a man of great learning." (PULPIT COMMENTARY)
E.This early training (first at his mother's knee, and then in the greatest schools of the day) made Moses "mighty in words and in deeds" (Ac 7:22).
F."While he was receiving instruction in the science and lore of the Egyptians he was also being instructed in the faith of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and came to know the promises God had made to His people."
G.As to God's Providence, consider this quote from the PULPIT COMMENTARY: "We have, in all these events connected with the infancy of Moses, a critical illustration of the reality of special Providence. Notice that there is not a word about God in the narrative; indeed, He is not mentioned as having any-thing directly to do with Moses, until the interview, long after, at Horeb. There is plenty of mention of human beings, in the play of their affections, their desires, and their in-genuity. The mother, the child, the sister, the nurse, the mother by adoption, all come before us, but there is no men-tion of God. Yet who does not feel that the Lord of Israel, unmentioned though He be, is yet the central, commanding, and controlling Figure in all that takes place!"
NOTE: This is when Moses was 40 years old - Ac 7:23. He seemed to know the circumstances of his birth as a Hebrew, and though he was brought up as an Egyptian, he remained a Hebrew at heart. There is no account of his having as yet received a command of God to help his people. He had a natural sympathy for them, and perhaps felt that in his position he could help them, and that he must make some effort to do so. So he chose to turn from the Egyptian court with its attractions, riches, pleasures, and forfeited his position as the adopted child of a princess. Between Verses 10 and 11 there comes a crisis in the history of Moses - See Ac 7:23-29; Heb 11:24-27.
2:11 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.
A.See here the result of a mother's influence; From her he must have learned about himself and about the hope of Israel. The seed she sowed in his young mind sprouted through the luxury, temptations, and ambitions of the royal court.
B.The Israelites were mistreated captives. Here is the record of the first attempt of Moses to help, and also the record of his failure -- Only God could save them.
2:12 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.
A.HE LOOKED THIS WAY AND THAT WAY: This indicates he recognized that what he was about to do was wrong. A sympathetic nature, great patriotism, and hatred of wrong-doing, all may have been in his heart, but they did not justify his action. He had no authority to put the man to death. Hasty violence can ruin one's influence. The education and position of Moses might have enabled him to accomplish what he could see needed to be done, but what he did could not be justified, and he tried to cover the act by covering the dead man. If this were to become known, his influence for good would be lost.
B.Two things were wrong with his deed: (1) He acted as an avenger when he had no authority from God or man to be one; (2) The punishment was not proportionate to the offense.
C.The man was cut off in his sins, to be sent to his last account without warning, without opportunity or knowledge to repent. Before we go too strongly on the principles of self-defense and self-preservation, perhaps we need to consider Mt 10:28; 5:44; Gal 6:10; etc. None of us are here for long; I am ready to go. But is my assailant ready? One of us is leaving, and we will see each other at the Judgment. If he stays now, he will have another day to be exposed to the saving Gospel.
2:13 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?
A.Stephen says Moses supposed his brethren would see as clearly as did he that he was trained to be their leader - Ac 7:25.
B.Note the clear perception of Moses that one of the men in this struggle was in THE WRONG.
C.Also note his calm effort to stop the fight with his question.
2:14 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.
A.WHO MADE THEE A PRINCE: The stupid man called Moses a meddler.
B.SURELY THIS THING IS KNOWN: Apparently the man he helped the day before had told the story, and the news quickly traveled far and wide, so that all the Hebrews knew about it.
2:15-22, Moses' preparation in Midian: At the age of 40 he identified himself with his people, and fled Egypt after killing an Egyptian; He was then in Midian 40 years.
2:15 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.
A.WHEN PHARAOH HEARD...MOSES FLED: What the Hebrews knew, the Egyptians soon knew, and Moses was now a fugitive, being sought by his adoptive grandfather.
B.Thus Moses disqualified himself to be a deliverer, and would not be fully qualified for another 40 years.
C.He escaped the public execution Egyptian law demanded, and he would pay for his deed with 40 years of exile and service as a hireling shepherd tending the flock of another man.
D.DWELT IN THE LAND OF MIDIAN: This place with its WELL seems to have been an oasis; The Midianites were nomads for the most part, but perhaps this tribe had broken away from the main company and were living here permanently.
A.In the Providence of God Moses would come back to Israel, not to deal with a taskmaster, but with the Pharaoh himself; Not to take matters into his own hands, but to stand still and make the people stand still, to see the salvation of God.
B.Had he been patient, he could have talked with the offender, maybe used strength to rescue the oppressed man without injuring the oppressor, and thus shown himself qualified.
C.His self-willed violent method showed that he needed a long course of discipline before being given his difficult task.
D.Violence seldom leads to good results - cf Jas 1:20.
E.Almost solitary life for 40 years would cool the hot spirit and tame him to be a leader.
F.A great sin disqualifies a man for a long time from setting himself up to be a guide and teacher of others (perhaps preachers and other guilty of immorality should take note).
G.There is more required for success than just the desire to serve; In order not to be defeated by mistakes of judgment or by an ungoverned temper, there must be the heart's waiting upon God. Moses did not wait, and so lost his opportunity.
H.Unguided zeal, by hasty action, can retard the accomplishment of God's purpose -- By driving Moses into Midian, this wrong outlet of zeal put back the hour of Israel's deliverance.
I.Strong outbursts of anger characterized him in later years, once leading to sin - Num 20:10; But being seen as holy anger when he broke the Tables of the Law - Ex 32:19.
J.This study of his character leads to a better understanding of what meekness (for which he is famous - Num 12:3, KJV) truly is: Certainly not weakness, and not a gift of nature, but self-discipline conquering and controlling strong passions. So, a proper definition of meekness: Strength under control.
K.Moses had to spend 40 years learning humility and patience as he acquired the power of self-control -- "More haste, less speed;" "Make haste slowly;" This hurry of an hour would cost him 40 years in exile.
L.He had to learn that the work was not his, but God's, and that only God could accomplish the work, and only in His own way.
M.He needed to be made better acquainted with God, and with God's purposes for Israel.
N.But the apparently wasted years were not really wasted, be-cause God in His Providence used them for further preparation and discipline of Moses. He had learned much, but he needed to learn much more. God took him from the school of Egypt and placed him in the university of Nature, and gave him the teachers of Time, Solitude, and the Desert. They taught him:
O.The immediate result of his strong action was for himself: Peril, fear, and flight; For Israel: Delay of deliverance.
P.But the final outcome was brought about by a Hand mightier than man's. God used the life in the desert as an important part of the training of Moses as he became acquainted with wandering in the wilderness (there would be another 40 years of it in store for him).
Q.So, IS THERE AN APPLICATION FOR US? Yes -- Look back and see how we may have delayed some success because of impatience. And yet see how God has mercifully made the best of our errors, and has brought us safely thus far.
2:16 NOW THE PRIEST OF MIDIAN HAD SEVEN DAUGHTERS: AND THEY CAME AND DREW [WATER], AND FILLED THE TROUGHS TO WATER THEIR FATHER'S FLOCK.
2:17 AND THE SHEPHERDS CAME AND DROVE THEM AWAY: BUT MOSES STOOD UP AND HELPED THEM, AND WATERED THEIR FLOCK.
A.SHEPHERDS CAME AND DROVE THEM AWAY: In Egypt, women were held in high esteem and treated with consideration, but in other areas they generally were mistreated by men. Also, these SHEPHERDS obviously were rude and selfish around anyone.
B.MOSES STOOD UP AND HELPED THEM: He was only one against a number, but he was strong and determined, and possibly still dressed as an Egyptian of high rank, so he was able to drive the SHEPHERDS away, and then to replenish the water which had been taken from the women.
C.Note the difference between this confrontation with oppressors and the last one (in Egypt) -- Moses is already learning wis-dom, and knows that these men are not worthy of death. In the first instance he is a warning to us; In this, an example.
2:18 AND WHEN THEY CAME TO REUEL THEIR FATHER, HE SAID, HOW [IS IT THAT] YE ARE COME SO SOON TODAY?
A.REUEL: He is elsewhere called Jethro. REUEL means "friend of God," which implies he knew Jehovah - cf Ex 18:9-12.
B.His question of the daughters suggests they may have had the problem of Verse 17a every day.
2:19 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.
A.AN EGYPTIAN DELIVERED US: This is confirmation that Moses was still dressed in his royal apparel. Since he had no reason yet to let them think he was not Egyptian, he may have spoken the language of Egypt.
B.DREW WATER ENOUGH FOR US: He supplied the deficiency caused by what the SHEPHERDS had taken.
2:20 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.
**They were so excited that they neglected to be polite and show hospitality; Reuel had them to correct their mistake.
2:21 AND MOSES WAS CONTENT TO DWELL WITH THE MAN: AND HE GAVE MOSES ZIPPORAH HIS DAUGHTER.
A.MOSES WAS CONTENT TO DWELL WITH THE MAN: He had to flee Egypt without time to make any plans, but only to save his life.
B.He is pleased with this family, and entered into Reuel's ser-vice as a shepherd - See 3:1.
C.HE GAVE MOSES ZIPPORAH: No time element is related. It seems that Moses felt he had found a place and a situation of safety where he could spend the rest of his life, so he settled down.
D.The Midianites were descendants of Abraham (Gen 25:2-4).
E.He had made an effort to do something for his people, and his failure probably disappointed and disillusioned him; So he now thinks he can look forward to a life of peaceful obscurity.
2:22 AND SHE BARE [HIM] A SON, AND HE CALLED HIS NAME GERSHOM: FOR HE SAID, I HAVE BEEN A STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND.
A.The joy of Moses was flavored with sadness. He had spent the first 40 years of his life in A STRANGE LAND, he still was not in the Land of Promise, was far from his own people, and was a refugee among foreigners -- still A STRANGER.
B.And so far as he could tell, the same description (A STRANGER) would attach to his son all of his life, so he named him GERSHOM ("I Was A Stranger There").
C.This note of sadness seems to have passed away by the time the second son was born. His name was ELIEZER, which means "My God Helps" - See 18:3-4. "Time is a great healer."
2:23-25, Then God responded to the cries of the enslaved and persecuted Hebrews.
2:23 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.
A.THE KING OF EGYPT DIED: As all proud monarchs must - Heb 9:27. This Pharaoh lived 80 years, 67 of them in regal splendor. He had wealth and magnificence; He in all his glory is remembered by the statues, buildings, obelisks, etc., which were built by countless wretched slaves, and which still cover Egypt. What will they be worth to him when he stands in Judgment?
B.Moses had given the people a glimmer of hope 40 years ago, but that hope was crushed when he had to flee like a criminal.
C.Now the change in the throne aroused their hope that a change in policy would be made, but they were soon disappointed.
D.So they SIGHED...AND THEY CRIED: And their prayers and cries "had wings" which took them UP UNTO GOD.
2:24 AND GOD HEARD THEIR GROANING, AND GOD REMEMBERED HIS COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM, WITH ISAAC, AND WITH JACOB.
A.GOD HEARD: That is, He HEARD with approval; He was ready now to respond to their cries.
B.AND GOD REMEMBERED: Not that He had forgotten, but the time had come for Him to enter the miraculous course which would carry out His purpose and give them His mercy. He does not watch the clock and the calendar as do we - cf 2Pe 3:9. It took time to discipline these people and form their character, to prepare them to endure the hardships of the desert and to face the fierce tribes of Canaan.
2:25 AND GOD LOOKED UPON THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, AND GOD HAD RESPECT UNTO [THEM] (GOD ACKNOWLEDGED THEM, NKJ).
A.GOD HAD RESPECT UNTO THEM: Literally, "and God knew." He knew all about their sufferings through the years, and knew all the prayers they had prayed.
B.Now He is ready to send vengeance upon the Egyptians, and deliverance to the Israelites.
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