Exodus 2

Exodus 2 chronicles the birth and preservation of Moses, his transition from the Egyptian royal court to an exile in Midian, and God’s purposeful response to the groaning of the Israelites in bondage. It demonstrates how God orchestrates events to preserve His instruments and fulfill His ancestral covenant.

• The birth of Moses and his preservation by his mother in a basket on the Nile, leading to his adoption by Pharaoh's daughter.
• Moses' attempt to intervene on behalf of his oppressed brethren, which leads to his rejection and subsequent flight to Midian.
• Moses' life in Midian as a stranger, his defense of the daughters of the priest of Midian, and his marriage to Zipporah.
• The death of the Pharaoh and God's active, covenant-keeping response to the cries of Israel.

• The ark (תֵּבָה [H8392]) of bulrushes
• The name Moses, meaning drawn out of the water
• Moses' act of looking (רָאָה [H7200]) on his brethren's burdens
• The well as a site of interaction and hospitality
• God hearing, remembering, and having respect

This chapter serves as the crucial bridge between Israel's enslavement and their redemption, establishing Moses' identity and character. It highlights the theology of covenant fidelity, showing that God's remembrance is the foundation for future national deliverance.

God is actively working within the details of human history, even when His people are in desperate bondage, to preserve His chosen servants and remain faithful to His covenant.

The narrative shifts from the private, familial preservation of Moses to the public crisis of Israel's bondage, moving from human efforts to survive to divine intervention based on covenant.

• The implication of God's covenantal remembrance, which promises that He will act on behalf of the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (v. 24).

• The rejection of Moses by his fellow Hebrew (v. 14) serves as a narrative warning that God's instruments of deliverance are often resisted by those who need deliverance most.

• The setting is Egypt, likely during the New Kingdom period. The phrase 'new king' (Exodus 1:8, preceding this chapter) suggests a change in dynasty or political climate regarding the Hebrew population.

• The river Nile was central to Egyptian life; bathing in it was a common activity. Wells were critical social centers in the Midianite wilderness, often guarded by shepherds.

• This chapter transitions the book from the 'problem' (oppression) to the 'person' (Moses). Matthew Henry observes that 'when men are contriving the ruin of the church, God is preparing for its salvation,' reflecting on the irony of Moses' rescue.

• Acts 7:23-29 provides an apostolic commentary, explicitly stating that Moses 'visited his brethren' with the intent to discern their state, aligning with the narrative of his growing awareness.

• The use of the word ark (תֵּבָה [H8392]) is significant; this is the same Hebrew term used for Noah's vessel. Both are means of divine preservation in the midst of waters that threatened destruction.

• Man (אִישׁ [H376]): Used to describe the individual Hebrew man who married a daughter of Levi, emphasizing his specific identity.
• Saw (רָאָה [H7200]): A pivotal verb used to connect human perception (the mother seeing the child) to divine perception (God seeing the suffering of Israel).
• Son (בֵּן [H1121]): Used for Moses, highlighting his double heritage—born as a son of Levi and adopted as a son of Pharaoh's daughter.

• The specific irony that Pharaoh's daughter unwittingly employs Moses' actual mother to nurse him, allowing him to be raised by his own family while living in the palace.

• The identity of the Pharaoh's daughter and the precise Egyptian king are not named, leading to various historical theories, though the text does not require their identification to convey its theological message.