Éxodo 2:17

17 Mas los pastores vinieron, y echáronlas: Entonces Moisés se levantó y defendiólas, y abrevó sus ovejas.

Éxodo 2:17 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 2:17

And the shepherds came and drove them away
The daughters of the priest of Midian, and their flock likewise; these were shepherds of some neighbouring princes or great men, who were so rude and slothful, and to save themselves a little trouble of drawing water, brought up their flocks to drink of the water those virgins had drawn, and to do this forced them and their flocks away:

but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock;
moved to see such rude and uncivil treatment of the weaker sex, rose up from the ground on which he sat, and took their parts, and obliged the shepherds to give way, and brought up their flock to the troughs, and drew water for them, and gave them it; either he did this alone, or together with the servants that waited upon the priest's daughters, perhaps alone; and if it be considered that shepherds being usually not of a very martial spirit, and these also in a wrong cause, and Moses a man of an heroic disposition, and had doubtless the appearance of a man of some eminence and authority, they were the more easily intimidated and overcome.

Éxodo 2:17 In-Context

15 Y oyendo Faraón este negocio, procuró matar á Moisés: mas Moisés huyó de delante de Faraón, y habitó en la tierra de Madián; y sentóse junto á un pozo.

16 Tenía el sacerdote de Madián siete hijas, las cuales vinieron á sacar agua, para llenar las pilas y dar de beber á las ovejas de su padre.

17 Mas los pastores vinieron, y echáronlas: Entonces Moisés se levantó y defendiólas, y abrevó sus ovejas.

18 Y volviendo ellas á Ragüel su padre, díjoles él: ¿Por qué habéis hoy venido tan presto?

19 Y ellas respondieron: Un varón Egipcio nos defendió de mano de los pastores, y también nos sacó el agua, y abrevó las ovejas.