Exodus 2:1-4 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 2:1

And there went a man of the house of Levi ,.... This man was Amram, the son of Kohath, and grandson of Levi, as appears from Exodus 6:18 . and took to wife a daughter of Levi ; one of the same house, family, or tribe; which was proper, that the tribes might be kept distinct: this was Jochebed, said to be his father's sister; see Gill on Exodus 6:20 , her name in Josephus F19 Antiqu. l. 2. c. 9. sect. 4. is Joachebel, which seems to be no other than a corruption of Jochebed, but... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 2:1

There went a man - Amram, son of Kohath, son of Levi, Exodus 6:16-20 . A daughter of Levi, Jochebed, sister to Kohath, and consequently both the wife and aunt of her husband Amram, Exodus 6:20 ; Numbers 26:59 . Such marriages were at this time lawful, though they were afterwards forbidden, Leviticus 18:12 . But it is possible that daughter of Levi means no more than a descendant of that family, and that probably Amram and Jochebed were only cousin germans . As a new law was to be... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 2:2

Bare a son - This certainly was not her first child, for Aaron was fourscore and three years old when Moses was but fourscore, see Exodus 7:7 ; : and there was a sister, probably Miriam, who was older than either; see below, Exodus 2:4 , and see Numbers 26:59 . Miriam and Aaron had no doubt been both born before the decree was passed for the destruction of the Hebrew male children, mentioned in the preceding chapter. Goodly child - The text simply says הוא טיב כי ki tob hu ,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 2:3

An ark of bulrushes - גמא תבת tebath gome , a small boat or basket made of the Egyptian reed called papyrus, so famous in all antiquity. This plant grows on the banks of the Nile, and in marshy grounds; the stalk rises to the height of six or seven cubits above the water, is triangular, and terminates in a crown of small filaments resembling hair, which the ancients used to compare to a thyrsus. This reed was of the greatest use to the inhabitants of Egypt, the pith contained in the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 2:1

Verse 1 1.And there went. I have preferred rendering the verb in the pluperfect tense (abierat, “there had gone”) to prevent all ambiguity; for unless we say that Miriam and Aaron were the children of another mother, it would not be probable otherwise that this marriage was contracted after the passing of the edict. Aaron was three years old when Moses was born; and we may easily conjecture that he was brought up openly and securely. But there is no doubt but that the cruelty was greatest at... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 2:2

Verse 2 2.And when she saw that he was a goodly child. There is no doubt but that God had adorned him with this beauty, in order the more to influence his parents to preserve him; as it sometimes happens that, when God sees his people slow in the performance of their duty, he spurs on their inactivity by allurements; although it appears from the testimony of the Apostle, that this was not their only motive to have pity on him, but that it was the prop, as it were, of their weak faith; for he... read more

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 2:1

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 2:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 2:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 2:3

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 2:1

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 2:2

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