Exodus 2:12-22

12 So he looked this way and that, and when he saw there was no one around, he 1struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.
13 He went out 2the next day, and behold, two Hebrews were fighting with each other; and he said to the offender, "Why are you striking your companion?"
14 But he said, "3Who made you a prince or a judge over us? Are you intending to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?" Then Moses was afraid and said, "Surely the matter has become known."

Moses Escapes to Midian

15 When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he tried to kill Moses. But 4Moses fled from the presence of Pharaoh and settled in the land of Midian, and he sat down 5by a well.
16 Now 6the priest of Midian had seven daughters; and 7they came to draw water and filled the troughs to water their father's flock.
17 Then the shepherds came and drove them away, but 8Moses stood up and helped them and watered their flock.
18 When they came to 9Reuel their father, he said, "Why have you come back so soon today?"
19 So they said, "An Egyptian delivered us from the hand of the shepherds, and what is more, he even drew the water for us and watered the flock."
20 He said to his daughters, "Where is he then? Why is it that you have left the man behind? Invite him to have something to eat."
21 10Moses was willing to dwell with the man, and he gave his daughter 11Zipporah to Moses.
22 Then she gave birth to 12a son, and he named * him Gershom, for he said, "I have been 13a sojourner in a foreign land."

Exodus 2:12-22 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 2

This chapter relates the birth of Moses, and his preservation in an ark of bulrushes, Ex 2:1-3. His being found by Pharaoh's daughter, took up, and put out to nurse by her, and adopted for her son, Ex 2:4-10, some exploits of his when grown up, taking the part of an Hebrew against an Egyptian whom he slew, and endeavouring to reconcile two Hebrews at variance, when one of them reproached him with slaying the Egyptian, Ex 2:11-14, which thing being known to Pharaoh, he sought to slay Moses, and this obliged him to flee to Midian, Ex 2:15 where he met with the daughters of Reuel, and defended them against the shepherds, and watered their flocks for them, Ex 2:16,17, which Reuel being informed of, sent for him, and he lived with him, and married his daughter Zipporah, by whom he had a son, Ex 2:18-22 and the chapter is concluded with the death of the king of Egypt, and the sore bondage of the Israelites, and their cries and groans, which God had a respect unto, Ex 2:23-25.

was Amram, the son of Kohath, and grandson of Levi, as appears from Ex 6:18,20

\\and took to wife a daughter of Levi\\; one of the same house, family, or tribe; which was proper, that the tribes might be kept distinct: this was Jochebed, said to be his father's sister, \\see Gill on "Ex 6:20"\\: her name in Josephus {s} is Joachebel, which seems to be no other than a corruption of Jochebed, but in the Targum in 1Ch 4:18 she is called Jehuditha.

{s} Antiqu. l. 2. c. 9. sect. 4. 09514-950103-1343-Ex2.2

Cross References 13

  • 1. Acts 7:24, 25
  • 2. Acts 7:26-28
  • 3. Genesis 19:9; Acts 7:27, 28
  • 4. Acts 7:29; Hebrews 11:27
  • 5. Genesis 24:11; Genesis 29:2
  • 6. Exodus 3:1; Exodus 18:12
  • 7. Gen 24:11, 13, 19; Genesis 29:9, 10; 1 Samuel 9:11
  • 8. Genesis 29:3, 10
  • 9. Exodus 3:1; Numbers 10:29
  • 10. Acts 7:29
  • 11. Exodus 4:25; Exodus 18:2
  • 12. Exodus 4:20; Exodus 18:3, 4
  • 13. Genesis 23:4; Leviticus 25:23; Acts 7:29; Hebrews 11:13, 14

Footnotes 9

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