Êxodo 2:16

16 O sacerdote de Midiã tinha sete filhas, as quais vieram tirar água, e encheram os tanques para dar de beber ao rebanho de seu pai.

Êxodo 2:16 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 2:16

Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters
Who being a descendant of Abraham might have retained the knowledge of the true God, and might be a priest of his, as Melchizedek was, or otherwise it may be thought improbable that Moses would have married his daughter, as he afterwards did; and so Aben Ezra says, he was a priest of God; though the word is sometimes used of a prince, ruler, and governor; and is so rendered here by the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan; and Artapanus ^F18, an Heathen writer, expressly calls him (arcwn) , a "prince" of those places, that is, of Arabia; he might be both prince and priest, as Melchizedek before mentioned was, and as has been the usage of many countries:

and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their
father's flock;
which is no contradiction to their being daughters either of a priest or a prince, which were both high titles and characters; since it was usual in those early times, and in those countries, for the sons and daughters of considerable persons to be employed in such services; (See Gill on Genesis 29:9).

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 Ut supra, (Apud Euseb. Praepar. Evangel. l. 9. c. 27.) p. 434.

Êxodo 2:16 In-Context

14 Respondeu ele: Quem te constituiu a ti príncipe e juiz sobre nós? Pensas tu matar-me, como mataste o egípcio? Temeu, pois, Moisés e disse: Certamente o negócio já foi descoberto.

15 E quando Faraó soube disso, procurou matar a Moisés. Este, porém, fugiu da presença de Faraó, e foi habitar na terra de Midiã; e sentou-se junto a um poço.

16 O sacerdote de Midiã tinha sete filhas, as quais vieram tirar água, e encheram os tanques para dar de beber ao rebanho de seu pai.

17 Então vieram os pastores, e as expulsaram dali; Moisés, porém, levantou-se e as defendeu, e deu de beber ao rebanho delas.

18 Quando elas voltaram a Reuel, seu pai, este lhes perguntou: como é que hoje voltastes tão cedo?