Exodus 2:2-17 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 2:1-4

Moses was a Levite, both by father and mother. Jacob left Levi under marks of disgrace (Gen. 49:5); and yet, soon after, Moses appears a descendant from him, that he might typify Christ, who came in the likeness of sinful flesh and was made a curse for us. This tribe began to be distinguished from the rest by the birth of Moses, as afterwards it became remarkable in many other instances. Observe, concerning this newborn infant, I. How he was hidden. It seems to have been just at the time of... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 2:5-10

Here is, I. Moses saved from perishing. Come see the place where that great man lay when he was a little child; he lay in a bulrush-basket by the river's side. Had he been left to lie there, he must have perished in a little time with hunger, if he had not been sooner washed into the river or devoured by a crocodile. Had he fallen into any other hands than those he did fall into, either they would not, or durst not, have done otherwise than have thrown him straightway into the river; but... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 2:11-15

Moses had now passed the first forty years of his life in the court of Pharaoh, preparing himself for business; and now it was time for him to enter upon action, and, I. He boldly owns and espouses the cause of God's people: When Moses was grown he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens, Exod. 2:11. The best exposition of these words we have from an inspired pen, Heb. 11:24-26, where we are told that by this he expressed, 1. His holy contempt of the honours and pleasures of... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 2:16-22

Moses here gains a settlement in Midian, just as his father Jacob had gained one in Syria, Gen. 29:2 And both these instances should encourage us to trust Providence, and to follow it. Events that seem inconsiderable, and purely accidental, after wards appear to have been designed by the wisdom of God for very good purposes, and of great consequence to his people. A casual transient occurrence has sometimes occasioned the greatest and happiest turns of a man's life. Observe, I. Concerning the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 2:2

And the woman conceived, and bare a son ,.... Which was not her first child, nor indeed her first son, for she had both Aaron and Miriam before this: this son, which was Moses, was born, as the Jews say F20 Shatshalet Hakabala, fol. 5. 2. Tzemach David, par. 1. fol. 7. 1. , in the thirty seventh year after the death of Levi, A. M. 2365, (or, as others, 2368,) on a Wednesday, the seventh of the month Adar, in the third hour of the day: some say it was on the twenty fourth of Nisan; but,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 2:3

And when she could no longer hide him ,.... Because of her neighbours, who might hear the crying of the child, or because of the diligent search made by Pharaoh's officers, which some think was made every three months: the Jews F1 Targum Jon. & Jarchi in loc. have a notion that his mother was delivered of him at six months' end, and therefore when the other three months were up women usually go with child, she could hide him no longer, a birth of a child being then expected, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 2:4

And his sister stood afar off ,.... This was Miriam, as the Targum of Jonathan expresses it; who is supposed to be about ten or twelve years of age, others say seven: she was placed F5 תתצב "collocata fuerat", Vatablus. , as the word may be rendered, by her parents, or, "she placed herself" F6 "Stiterat sese", Junius & Tremellius, "stitit sese", Piscator, Drusius. , by their instruction, at some distance from the place where the ark was, that she might not be observed and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 2:5

And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river ,.... Her name, in Josephus F7 Antiqu. l. 2. c. 9. sect. 5. , is called Thermuthis, and by Artapanus F8 Apud Euseb. Praepar. Evangel. l. 9. c. 27. p. 432. , an Heathen writer, Merrhis, perhaps from Miriam, and frequently by the Jewish writers F9 T. Bab. Megillah, fol. 13. 1. Derech Eretz, fol. 19. 1. Pirke Eliezer, c. 48. Shalshalet Hakabala, fol. 5. 2. , Bithia, which is the name of a daughter of another... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 2:6

And when she had opened it ,.... The ark, for it was shut or covered over, though doubtless there were some apertures for respiration: she saw the child in it , and, behold, the babe wept ; and which was a circumstance, it is highly probable, greatly affected the king's daughter, and moved her compassion to it; though an Arabic writer says F16 Patricides apud Hottinger. p 401. , she heard the crying of the child in the ark, and therefore sent for it: and she had compassion on... read more

John Gill

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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 2:1-4

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 2:5-10

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 2:11-15

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 2:16-22

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 2:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 2:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 2:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 2:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 2:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 2:7

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