And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her, go ,.... She fell in at once with the proposal, being, no doubt, overruled, by the providence of God, to agree to have such a person called: and the maid went and called the child's mother ; and her own, whose name was Jochebed the wife of Amram, as observed in Exodus 2:1 . read more
And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her ,.... Being come, having made all possible haste: take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages ; by which means she had not only the nursing of her own child, but was paid for it: according to a Jewish writer F20 Dibre Hayamim; sive Chronicon Mosis, fol. 4. 1. , Pharaoh's daughter agreed with her for two pieces of silver a day. read more
And the child grew ,.... In stature and in strength, thriving under the care of its mother and nurse, through the blessing of God: and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter ; when grown up and weaned, and needed a nurse no longer: a Jewish chronologer F21 Shalshalet Hakabala, fol. 5. 2. says, this was two years after his birth; and another says F23 Chronicon. ib. Shalshal. ib. , that when he was three years old, Pharaoh sitting at table, and his queen was at his right hand,... read more
And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown ,.... To man's estate; some of the Jewish writers say he was eighteen, others twenty years of age F5 Shalshalet Hakabala, fol. 5. 2. , but Stephen, who is most to be credited, says he was full forty years of age, Acts 7:23 , that he went out unto his brethren the Hebrews : whom he knew to be his brethren, either by divine revelation, or by conversing with his nurse, who was his mother; who, doubtless, instructed him while he... read more
And he looked this way, and that way ,.... All around, to observe if there were any within sight who could see what he did; which did not arise from any consciousness of any evil he was about to commit, but for his own preservation, lest if seen he should be accused to Pharaoh, and suffer for it: and when he saw that there was no man ; near at hand, that could see what he did, and be a witness against him: he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand ; in a sandy desert place hard... read more
And when he went out the second day ,.... The day following: behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together ; which the Jewish writers F8 Targum Jon. & Jarchi in loc. Shemoth Rabba, sect. 1. fol. 91. 4. Shalshalet Hakabala, fol. 5. 2. Pirke Eliezer, c. 48. take to be Dathan and Abiram: and he said to him that did the wrong ; who was the aggressor, and acted the wicked part in abusing his brother: wherefore smitest thou thy fellow ? friend and companion; signifying, that... read more
And he said, who made thee a prince and a judge over us ?.... God had designed him for one, and so he appeared to be afterwards; but this man's meaning is, that he was not appointed by Pharaoh's order then, and so had nothing to do to interfere in their differences and quarrels; though Moses did not take upon him to act in an authoritative way, but to exhort and persuade them to peace and love, as they were brethren: intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian ? if this was... read more
Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses ,.... Both for his killing the Egyptian, which by the laws of Egypt F9 Diodor. Sicul. Bibliothec. l. 1. p. 70. was death, whether bond or free; and for his taking part with the Hebrews against the Egyptians, and knowing him to be a wise and valiant man, might fear he would put himself at the head of the Hebrews, and cause a revolt of them; and if there was anything in his dream, or if he had such an one, and had the... read more
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 ... read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 2:7
Then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter ,.... Miriam the sister of Moses, who observing the ark taken up, and the maidens that were walking upon the bank of the river, and other women perhaps, gathering about it to see it; she made one among them, and after hearing their discourse about it, proposed what follows to Pharaoh's daughter: Jarchi says, that Pharaoh's daughter tried several Egyptian women to suckle it, but it would not suck of them: Josephus F18 Antiqu. l. 2. c. 9. sect. 5.... read more