http://geraldwhitely.blogspot.com/2015/07/exodus-21-6.html
"A man, descended from the tribe of Levi, married a woman, descended from the tribe of Levi. The descendants of Levi are known as Levites. The woman became pregnant and gave birth to a baby boy. She hid him for three months because of the "baby-killing" decree. She could no longer hide the child, so she made a basket and placed the baby inside. She placed the basket and baby in the Nile River. Pharaoh's daughter finds the basket and the child within among some reeds in the Nile River where she is bathing. She knows that it is one of the Hebrew boys, but Pharaoh's daughter has one of her servants nurse the child as her own son. The child grows older and he becomes Pharaoh's daughter's son. She names him Moses (meaning 'drawing out' or 'born') because she drew him out of the water. Years later, Moses grows up and becomes a taskmaster over his own people. By this time his Egyptian mother has told him that he is a Hebrew. One day while observing the forced labor of his people he sees an Egyptian beating a Hebrew. Moses strikes the Egyptian, kills him, and hid him in the sand. The next day, two fighting Hebrews judge Moses because they now he killed an Egyptian. They say, "who are you to stop our fighting when you killed someone." Pharaoh finds out that Moses killed an Egyptian, and he tries to kill him. Moses flees Egypt to go live in the land of Midian. He sits down by a well. The seven daughters of the priest of Midian, Reuel, come to the well to draw water for their father's flock. Shepherds arrive at the well at the same time and drive the daughters away. Moses comes to the rescue and waters their flock for them. The girls tell this to their father, Reuel, the priest of Midian. Moses is invited to dinner at Reuel's house. He gives his daughter Zipporah to Moses in marriage. She gives birth to a son named Gershom, for he said, "I have become a stranger in a foreign land." After a long time, the king of Egypt dies, and the Israelites are still suffering from forced labor. God saw and heard the pleas for help from the Israelites and He took notice."
Some key verses from the Amplified Bible (AMP) version..
- "The woman conceived and gave birth to a son; and when she saw that he was [especially] beautiful and healthy, she hid him for three months [to protect him from the Egyptians]. When she could no longer hide him, she got him a basket (chest) made of papyrus reeds and covered it with tar and pitch [making it waterproof]. Then she put the child in it and set it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile." v.2-3
- "Now the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the Nile, and [she, together with] her maidens walked along the river’s bank; she saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid [to get it], and she brought it to her. When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby was crying. And she took pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” v.5-6
- "And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. And she named him Moses, and said, “Because I drew him out of the water.” v.10
- "One day, after Moses had grown [into adulthood], it happened that he went to his countrymen and looked [with compassion] at their hard labors; and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his countrymen. He turned to look around, and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand" v.11-12
- "When Pharaoh heard about this matter, he tried to kill Moses. Then Moses fled from Pharaoh’s presence and took refuge in the land of Midian, where he sat down by a well."
- "Moses was willing to remain with the man, and he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah [to be his wife]. She gave birth to a son, and he named him Gershom (stranger); for he said, “I have been a stranger in a foreign land.” v.21-22
- "Now it happened after a long time [about forty years] that the king of Egypt died. And the children of Israel (Jacob) groaned and sighed because of the bondage, and they cried out. And their cry for help because of their bondage [h]ascended to God. So God heard their groaning and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel). God saw the sons of Israel, and God took notice [of them] and was concerned about them [knowing all, understanding all, remembering all]." v.23-25
My personal observations and reflections...
Several generations and 350 years later, this chapter introduces God's main man Moses, whom He will use mightily to deliver a million of Israelites, out of the land of Egypt, back to Canaan, His promised land.. Since Moses was the one who wrote/recorded the Exodus (along with the rest of the Pentateuch, first five books of the Bible-- Genesis, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy), he was telling about his own life story.- PRIESTLY TRIBE OF LEVI. A certain man in the house of Levi married a daughter of Levi as well. This is what God willed, and wanted, that's why He brought the Israelites in the land of Egypt-- so they won't associate and intermarry with (ungodly) Canaanites. Egyptians tend to view themselves highly and won't associate with the Hebrew shepherds, and God used that for the Israelites' advantage. Though they have to suffer and be subject to oppression for a long time-- at the end it will still be worth it, because the Messiah will come out of the Israelites (specifically the line of Judah.)
Unnamed yet, Moses was born beautiful and healthy, and was hidden by her mom for 3 months, so the Egyptians can't kill and throw him to the Nile river. It must have been scary for Jochebed (and Amram) to face the reality that their baby could be taken away from them any moment because of the Pharaoh's oppression to the Israelites:(
But this mom was determined to keep her baby alive! She made a waterproof basket (made of papyrus reeds and covered it with tar and pitch), and put baby Moses inside it..
As the basket was floating in the river, his older sister Miriam watched in the distance. Was she ordered by her mom to look after his brother, or was it something she did out of her own will? The Bible is not clear on that.
* Study Guide Commentary from David Guzik:
"c. She hid him three months: The parents of Moses did not do this only because of the natural parental instinct; they did it also out of faith in God. Hebrews 11:23 describes the faith of Moses’ parents: By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command."
- BABY FOUND BY PRINCESS. This was God's plan! Thankfully, the baby was found by the daughter of Pharaoh who came down to bathe at the Nile. Unlike his father, Pharaoh, the daughter took pity on the Hebrew child.
* Study Guide Commentary from David Guzik:
"b. The baby wept. So she had compassion on him: In God’s guidance, Pharaoh’s daughter found baby Moses. She was conditioned by her culture and upbringing to reject the Hebrews, but the cry of baby Moses melted her heart.
i. God had this beautifully planned for the deliverance of both Moses, and eventually for the people of Israel. He skillfully guided the parents of Moses, the currents of the Nile, and the heart of Pharaoh’s daughter to further His plan and purpose."
i. God had this beautifully planned for the deliverance of both Moses, and eventually for the people of Israel. He skillfully guided the parents of Moses, the currents of the Nile, and the heart of Pharaoh’s daughter to further His plan and purpose."
- MIRIAM ON THE MOVE. Miriam was so bold and brave here! Seeing the favorable opportunity that happened, she offered and asked if she shall call a "wet-nurse"from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for her.. The daughter of Pharaoh agreed, and Miriam called their mother, Jochebed. Moses was saved by God. Not only that, but the daughter of Pharaoh will even give her wages for taking care of her own son! Even if it means Moses has become the son of the daughter of Pharaoh, adopted into the royal family-- it's still better than dying in the Nile river.
She named him Moses, and said, “Because I drew him out of the water.”
*Bible Footnotes:
Exodus 2:5 If the pharaoh is Thutmose I, then this is likely his daughter, Hatshepsut.
Exodus 2:10 The name Moses is a wonderful choice. It means “drawing out” in Hebrew, but in Egyptian, a similar word means “man of royalty” (e.g. the syllable “mose” in names like Thutmose).
Exodus 2:10 The name Moses is a wonderful choice. It means “drawing out” in Hebrew, but in Egyptian, a similar word means “man of royalty” (e.g. the syllable “mose” in names like Thutmose).
* Study Guide Commentary from David Guzik:
"i. God rewarded the faith of Moses’ mother, both as she trusted Him in hiding Moses for three months, and also as she trusted God by setting Moses out on the river.ii. “No doubt it was in these early years that Moses learnt of the ‘God of the fathers’ (Exodus 3:15) and realized that the Hebrews were his fellow countrymen (Exodus 2:11).” (Cole)
b. And he became her son: Being the adopted son of Pharaoh’s daughter, Moses was in the royal family. The ancient Jewish historian Josephus wrote that Moses was heir to the throne of Egypt and that while a young man he led the armies of Egypt in victorious battle against the Ethiopians.
i. Certainly, he was raised with both the science and learning of Egypt. Acts 7:22 says, Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds. Egypt was one of the most academic and scientific societies among ancient cultures. It is reasonable to think that Moses was instructed in geography, history, grammar, writing, literature, philosophy, and music.
ii. Since he was of the royal family, we expect that as Moses went anywhere, he went in a princely chariot and his guards cried out “bow the knee!” If he floated on the Nile, it was in a magnificent ship with musical accompaniment; he lived the royal life. We also know that Moses’ Hebrew mother had an influence on his life, so he was certainly raised in the Hebrew heritage of his mother. "
- ONE FATEFUL DAY. Now an adult, a 40 year old man, Moses "went to his countrymen and looked [with compassion] at their hard labors; and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his countrymen." (v.11) Now, this verse is interesting because Moses knew(?) and sees the oppressed Hebrew men as his brethren, countrymen! Did he know from the start that he was just adopted by the daughter of the Pharaoh? Like, it was a secret between his mom who adopted him, and the King/Pharaoh never found out about it.. Anyway, because of the (strong) compassion that Moses felt when he saw the Egyptian beating a Hebrew-- he kind of snapped and he killed the Egyptian right then and there, seeing no one was looking around. He hid him in the sand, hoping his secret will not be found out..
* Study Guide Commentary from David Guzik:
"i. Looked at their burdens: “The phrase means more than ‘to see’. It means, ‘to see with emotion’, either satisfaction (Genesis 9:16) or, as here, with distress (Genesis 21:16). Moses is one who shares God’s heart.” (Cole)ii. Hebrews 11:24-26 tells us some of what happened in the heart and mind of Moses as he looked at their burdens. It says that by faith, Moses deliberately decided to identify with the people of Israel rather than his Egyptian prestige and opportunity:
By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. (Hebrews 11:24-26)
iii. Moses knew who he was. As much allure and ease there was in life as an Egyptian, he knew “That’s not me.” His faith in the God he served helped him to know who he was.
b. He killed the Egyptian: The Bible itself explains some of Moses’ thinking behind this action. Acts 7:23-25 explains that Moses did this to defend and avenge the beaten Israelite, but also with the expectation that his fellow Israelites would recognize him as their deliverer.
i. Now when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel. And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended and avenged him who was oppressed, and struck down the Egyptian. For he supposed that his brethren would have understood that God would deliver them by his hand, but they did not understand. (Acts 7:23-25)
ii. Just like Jesus, Moses could not deliver when he lived in the palaces of glory. He had to come down off the throne, away from the palace and into a humble place before he could deliver his people.
i. A prince has the right to rule and expects your loyalty. A judge has the right to tell you what to do, and to punish you if you don’t do it. In rejecting Moses they said to him, “We don’t want you to rule over us or tell us what to do.” People reject Jesus on the same thinking, and just like Moses Jesus was rejected at His first coming.
ii. Both Moses and Jesus were:
· Favored by God from birth
· Miraculously preserved in childhood
· Mighty in words and deed
· Offered deliverance to Israel
· Rejected with spite
· Rejected in their right to be prince and a judge over Israel"
- MOSES ON THE RUN. Moses seems not to realize the gravity of what he did.. The next day, when he saw 2 Hebrew men fighting with each other, Moses tried to meddle and help them, but it was revealed that (one of) the man knew of the killing incident. Those Hebrews are full of anger, bitterness, and Moses cannot help them, at this point.. He cannot even help himself, now that he realized that what he did was now out in the open.
* Study Guide Commentary from David Guzik:
"a. Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh: Moses, fleeing for his life, probably felt that God’s plan for his life was completely defeated. He probably believed that every chance he ever had to deliver his people was now over and there was nothing he could do. At this point, Moses was right where God wanted him.i. Moses probably had little idea of it at the time, but he was too big for God to use. Moses tried to do the Lord’s work in man’s wisdom and power and it didn’t work. After 40 years of seemingly perfect preparation, God had another period of preparation for both Moses and the people of Israel, to make them ready to receive Moses."
- ROYAL NO MORE. A different Pharaoh (Bible Footnotes: Exodus 2:15 This pharaoh is likely to be identified as Thutmose III (1483-1450 b.c.); tried to kill Moses upon hearing the news. Moses was able to escape, and he ended up in the land of Midian.
Just look at that long travel on foot! I wonder how Moses survived that! God was so good.
Who was Midian again? It was also Abraham's descendant, through his another wife (after Sarah's death), Keturah.
Bible Footnotes: Exodus 2:15 "After Sarah died Abraham took Keturah his concubine (see note Gen 22:24) as a secondary wife. Midian was the fourth of six sons born to Keturah. Abraham gave gifts to Isaac’s half brothers and sent them eastward so that they would have no claim on Isaac’s position as Abraham’s only heir and the son of promise."
Lineage from Abraham to Jesus https://www.biblestudy.org/maps/map-of-lineage-from-abraham-to-jesus.html
* Study Guide Commentary from David Guzik:
"b. Dwelt in the land of Midian: If Moses went into the area of Canaan and Syria, he would have found no refuge – there was a treaty between Rameses II and the Hittite king to the effect that fugitives along the northern route to Syria would be arrested and extradited. So Moses went southeast instead, to Midian.i. In that day Midian described the area on both the west and east sides of the Reed Sea, land that today is both Saudi Arabia (on the east of the Reed Sea) and Egypt (on the Sinai Peninsula, on the west of the Reed Sea)."
- MOSES BY THE WELL. I noticed that the 'well' has been a special place wherein God blesses and seems to give a new life to His people. The well was where Rebekah met Eliezer (Abraham's servant) to be eventually Isaac's wife, it is also where Jacob met and fell in love with Rachel, it is where the Samaritan woman who had 5 husbands (John 4) encountered Jesus, the Messiah. Moses have been wandering, and God gave him a new home (temporarily), a wife and a family.
- MOSES GOT MARRIED. Having nowhere else to go, Moses decided to settle down and stay with Reuel's (Jethro) family. He was given the daughter Zipporah to be his wife. Good thing Reuel was not like Laban (Jacob's uncle)! Moses and Zipporah were both descendants of Abraham, so it is still marrying within the family. Maybe that's why God led Moses to the land of Midian, and not somewhere else (like Canaan land). Moses had a son named Gershom (stranger); for he said, “I have been a stranger in a foreign land.”
- "Jethro, also called Reuel, or Hobab, in the Old Testament, priest of Midian of the Kenite clan, with whom Moses took refuge after he killed an Egyptian and whose daughter Moses married (Exodus 3:1)."
- "Kenite, member of a tribe of itinerant metalsmiths related to the Midianites and the Israelites who plied their trade while traveling in the region of the Arabah (the desert rift valley extending from the Sea of Galilee to the Gulf of Aqaba) from at least the 13th century to the 9th century bc. The Kenites’ name was derived from Cain, whose descendants they were believed to be. The Kenites are mentioned several times in the Old Testament."
* Bible Footnotes: Exodus 2:18 "Reuel’s other name, Jethro (Excellency), may have been a title indicating his rank in the tribe."
* Study Guide Commentary from David Guzik:
"b. He called his name Gershom: This name – meaning “stranger” – was evidence of some loneliness, living apart from either the Egyptians or the Hebrews.i. We make a mistake when we think that the years in Midian were a “waiting” time for Moses. They were instead, working years; he had never worked this hard in his life! God trained him, shaping him for his future calling, but Moses was certainly not “on the shelf.”
ii. In Egypt Moses learned how to be somebody. In Midian he learned how to be nobody. “Much he had learned in Egypt, but more in Midian.” (Trapp) "
- GOD REMEMBERS. At this point, Moses is an 80 year old man. Like a clockwork, 40 years seems another completion from God-- the king of Egypt died, and a new Pharaoh will be seated, who will not know who Moses was or what he has done before.. 40 years, and the children of Israel were still suffering, crying out because of their bondage and slavery under the Egyptians. It was God's right time wherein His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel) will be carried on. It's not that God has forgotten, He knows everything.
* Study Guide Commentary from David Guzik:
"b. God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob: God did not turn His attention to Israel because they were such good people, but because of the covenant He made with them. He gives His love and attention to us on the same basis – the covenant relationship we have with God through Jesus."Read the Bible:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+2&version=AMP
Reference and credits to https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide2017-Exd/Exd-2.cfm ©2013 David Guzik
No comments:
Post a Comment