Bible Commentaries
Exodus 2

Verse 1

a man . Hebrew. 'ish, App-14 . = Amram, Exodus 6:16-20 .

house = lineage. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), App-6 .

Levi. For Genealogy see App-29 .

Verse 2

a son. Moses was the seventh from Abraham, Abraham the seventh from Heber, Enoch the seventh from Adam. Miriam already born (Exodus 2:4 , Numbers 26:59 ). Also Aaron (Exodus 7:7 ).

goodly . Hebrew. tov. Septuagint and Acts 7:20 , Hebrews 11:23 . asteios to Theo, "beautiful to God" = divinely fair.

hid him . This was "by faith" (Hebrews 11:23 ). Therefore she must have "heard. "from God (Romans 10:17 and Hebrews 11:7 ), or it would have been through affection or fancy. All the steps taken (verses: Exodus 2:2-4 )were the result of believing what she had heard from God.

Verse 3

ark. Compare Genesis 6:14 .

bulrushes = papyrus, made by the same Divine in. structions as Noah's (Romans 10:17 ).

flags = reeds. Compare Isaiah 18:2 .

Verse 4

sister = Miriam.

to wit = to know.

Verse 6

the babe wept. Hebrew a babe weeping. compassion. In that tear lay the defeat of the enemy, the preservation of the Nation, the faithfulness of Jehovah's word, the bringing to naught "the wisdom of Egypt", and the coming of "the seed of the woman", Genesis 3:15 . Compare Exodus 1:10 and Job 5:12 , Job 5:13 . (See App-23 .)

Verse 10

her son = as her son.

Moses , probably Egyptian water-saved, or Hebrew drawn out of the water. No record of his Hebrew name.

Verse 11

grown ; and learned in all the wisdom of Egypt, but not yet of God. unto his brethren. Acts 7:23 , "it came into his heart". looked on: more than merely saw = regarded with lively sympathy.

an Egyptian = a man ('ish), an Egyptian ( App-14 .)

an Hebrew = a man ( 'ish ), a Hebrew ( App-14 .)

Verse 12

he saw that there was no man : i.e. to help. Compare same words in Isaiah 59:16 ; Isaiah 63:5 , and context there.

Verse 13

men . Hebrew, plural of 'ish, or 'enosh. App-14 .

strove = striving.

he said . Supposing they would have understood. "But they understood not, "Acts 7:25 .

wrong. Hebrew. rash`a, App-44 .

Verse 14

Who made thee . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis ( App-6 ) for emphasis. Spoken by a Hebrew; compare Genesis 37:8 . Luke 19:14 .

a prince . Hebrew, "a man ('ish), a prince".

feared . The "not fearing, "in Hebrews 11:27 refers to Exodus 10:28 , Exodus 10:29 .

Verse 15

the face of . Figure of speech Pleonasm ( App-6 ).

a well . Hebrew. beer. See note on. Genesis 21:19 . The well, i.e. of Jethro.

Verse 16

priest : or chieftain exercising priestly functions, as Job and Melchizedec. Jethro (Exodus 3:1 ) is called Reuel (Exodus 2:18 ).

Verse 17

drove them away . Probably the only well (Exodus 2:15 ); hence cause of contention. Compare Genesis 21:25 ; Genesis 26:15 , Genesis 26:18 , Genesis 26:20 , Genesis 26:21 , Genesis 26:22 .

helped . Compare Genesis 29:10 .

Verse 18

Reuel . Hebrew = friend of God. A true worshipper, Exodus 18:12 . Same as Raguel, Numbers 10:29 .

Verse 19

An Egyptian . Hebrew a man ( 'ish ), an Egyptian ( App-14 .)

Verse 20

where? . . . why? Figure of speech Erotesis ( App-6 ).

Verse 21

content = well pleased.

Verse 22

he . Many codices and a special reading called sevir ( App-34 ), read "she"

Gershom . Hebrew "a stranger here".

Verse 23

the king of Egypt . See App-37 .

children = sons.

sighed. Hebrew. 'a nach, under pressure of evil.

cried. Hebrew. zeak: with a loud voice, from sorrow or fear.

cry. Hebrew. shav`a, for help in distress. Note the Figure of speech Synonymia ( App-6 ), to emphasise the greatness of the distress; see also Exodus 2:24 and Exodus 2:25 .

Can it be that (according to Lightfoot II, 22, Pitman) Psalms 88:0 and Psalms 89:0 come in here? If so, the latter is a wondrous prophecy, containing "Maschil" = instruction. For Heman and Ethan, see note on 1 Chronicles 6:44 , and compare 1 Kings 4:31 .

God = Elohim the Creator in heaven, not yet revealed to them as the Covenant Jehovah.

Verse 24

groaning . Hebrew. na'ak, denoting heaviest affliction. Note the Figure of speech Synonymia: heard. . . remembered. . . looked . . . had respect. Anaphora: with . . . with . . . with; see note, Genesis 50:24 , not yet revealed to them as Jehovah. Figure of speech Repetitio. App-6 . God, repeated five times. Also the Figure of speech Anthropopatheia ( App-6 ).