Exodus 2:3-5

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

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

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 2:5

And the daughter of Pharaoh - Josephus calls her Thermuthis, and says that "the ark was borne along by the current, and that she sent one that could swim after it; that she was struck with the figure and uncommon beauty of the child; that she inquired for a nurse, but he having refused the breasts of several, and his sister proposing to bring a Hebrew nurse, his own mother was procured." But all this is in Josephus's manner, as well as the long circumstantial dream that he gives to Amram... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 2:4

Verse 4 4.And his sister stood afar off. It is probable that this was Miriam. (26) By the fact of her standing to watch what became of him, it appears that his parents had some hope remaining, though it was but small. For it is scarcely doubtful but that whatever Egyptian had come that way would have been his executioner, as well from the command of the king as from the general hatred of the nation against the Hebrews. It seems, then, that Miriam was set by her parents to watch, rather to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 2:1-9

The infancy of Moses. I . WE HAVE , IN THIS EXPERIENCE OF THE INFANT AND HIS MOTHER , A MOST AFFECTING ILLUSTRATION OF THE MISERABLE STATE TO WHICH ISRAEL HAD BEEN REDUCED . We come down from the general statement of the first chapter to the particular instance of the second. Moses was born, in all likelihood, just at the very height of Pharaoh's exasperation, and when the command of Exodus 1:22 was in process of being carried out. His... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 2:1-10

THE BIRTH, ESCAPE, AND EDUCATION OF MOSES . Some years before the Pharaoh issued his edict for the general destruction of the Hebrew male children, Amram of the tribe of Levi, had married Jochebed, his kinswoman ( Exodus 6:20 ). They had already had two children — Miriam, a daughter, born probably soon after the marriage, and Aaron, a son, born some twelve years later. Soon after the issue of the edict, Jochebed gave birth to her third child, a son, who therefore came under its terms.... read more

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