Exodus 2

Exodus 2:1

A Man of the house of Levi] The Levite was called Amram: and of Amram it is said, Chap. 6. 20. that he tooke him Jachebed (his fathers sister) to wife: which mariage may seeme to be incestuous: but (in that place) the word sister may be taken for a kinswoman, as the word Brother is taken for a kinsman, Genesis 13:8. and Chap. 14. vers. 12. 14. of the same book compared: and if she were indeed his fathers Sister, or his Aunt, such mariages were then tolerated, while there were but a few of a Tribe; but afterwards, (viz. about an hundred years after, (for Moses was eighty yeares old and Aaron eighty three, when they stood before Pharaoh) they were fordidden, Leviticus 18:12.

Exodus 2:2

The woman conceived] This was not her first child: for Aaron was Moses his brother, and elder then he, by 3. yeares, Chap. 7. 7. and their sister Miriam was born before them both, and Aaron and she, before the bloudy Edict was made by the King against the children of the Hebrews.

a goodly child] Acts 7:20. That is said here to be done by affection, which Hebrews 11:23. is attributed to faith: his parents trusted in Gods protection, for the preservation of their child, (notwithstanding the bloudy decree of Pharaoh) and their affection became serviceable to their faith, when it quickned them up to use all the good meanes they could to reprieve him from perill.

Exodus 2:3

no longer hide him] By reason of the severe charge, given by Pharaoh, Chap. 1. vers. 22. and the strict search for the male children, which (no doubt) was severely enjoyned (as a meanes conducible to his end) though by Moses it be not mentioned.

an Arke of bulrushes] Made like an Arke, or chest, and capable of the child: of such materials some were of greater capacitie, and were used in stead of boats, or ships: for in such vessels the Ambassadours of Ethiopia crossed the Sea, Esa. 18. 2. that is, the Red Sea, which divided betwixt the Easterne Ethiopia, (which was part of Arabia) and the Westerne: and in Egypt the manner (of old) was, to use boats or vessels of rushes or reeds, Plin. nat. hist. lib. 7. 100: 56.

put the child therein] Here is no mention of pitching of the Arke, but it is like it was pitched, (as Noahs Arke was) within and without, Genesis 6:14. Thus (by humane prudence) they served the divine providence, and shewed faith and affection without presumption.

flagges] Which are a water reed, long, broad and sharppointed like a sword; among these he was charily laid; both because they were neare the brinke of the river, (where the child might easily be seen) and where being staid by the flagges, it could not easily be carried away, by the streame.

Exodus 2:4

his sister stood afarre off] That is, Miriam, who (being a Prophetesse, Exodus 15:20.) might be guided by God, to give this advice concerning the child: or if she were but about tenne or twelve yeares of age, (and then no Prophetesse) she might be taught by her mother, what to doe in that matter.

Exodus 2:6

This is one of the Hebrews] So said Pharaohs daughter; (whom Josephus calleth Thermutis) she said so when she had opened the Arke, and viewed the child, which might be known to be an Hebrew by his circumcision: for at this time the Egyptians had not received circumcision, though afterward they did: or probably conjectured, by her fathers Decree against the Hebrews: or by the beautie of Moses, for the Israelites were more beautifull then the Egyptians, and he eminently beautifull above other Israelites, verse 2. of this Chapter, and Acts 7:20.

Exodus 2:7

a nurse of the Hebrew women] Gods providence excludes not mans prudence: the making of the Arke and dawbing it with slime and pitch, (as it is like it was) the placing of it, and the child within it, among the flagges, neare the rivers brinke, vers. 3. and setting his sister to watch it, and her watchfulnesse at due distance, and discreet and seasonable advice to Pharaohs daughter, were all effects of humane wisdome, and subordinate meanes to the providence of God for the preservation of the child.

Exodus 2:10

her sonne] Hebrews 11:24. By adoption, or free choyce, not by humane conception: haply she had none of her owne, or if she had, she had none so beautifull as he: But as freely as he was chosen (in his infancie) so he freely refused that relation, and all the credite and comfort that belonged to it; when he came to maturitie in manhood, but especially in grace: for then he chose, to be a fellow in affliction (with his brethren) rather then to have no fellow in Court favour, and honour; and yet he lost no honour by his change: for afterward, he grew mightie in words, and in deeds, Acts 7:22. prevalent in discourse, and counsell, and powerfull in many great and miraculous operations.

his name Moses, Because] Joseph. Antiq. lib. 2. cap. 5. (and many from him) conceive the word to be a compound (in the Egyptian Tongue) of Mo water, and yses saved: but the word is rather to be thought an Hebrew word, called Mosheh, derived from Mascha signifying, hath taken out, or drawne out: because he was drawne out of the water: and in that sense, that is, as signifying, not simply drawne out, but drawne out of the water; it is used, 2 Samuel 22:17. & Psalms 18:16. and in those two places onely is that word found in Scripture. But what ever the name was in the Egyptian, Moses rendred in the Hebrew Tongue: And it is like his parents gave him a name before at his birth or circumcision, though what it was is not set down, but this name was put upon him as a memoriall both of his danger and deliverance: wherein if there were a concurrence in sound and sense, both of the Egyptian and Hebrew Tongue, it was the more usefull to such a purpose.

Exodus 2:11

was grown] At fourtie yeares old, Acts 7:23.

an Egyptian smiting] Philo the famous Jew conjectureth (and it is like enough) that this Egyptian was one of the rigid governours of the Hebrews.

one of his brethren] The Hebrews call all brethren which are of the same Family or Nation.

Exodus 2:12

slew the Egyptian] By which act, (wherein he was warranted by revelation from God) he meant to intimate (to his Hebrew brethren) that he was to be their deliverer from Egyptian bondage, though at this time they understood it not Acts 7:25.

Exodus 2:14

as thou killedst the Egyptian] He pretends deadly danger to himselfe, that he may indanger the life of Moses, who was so farre from killing any of his brethren, that by his good will they should not receive any wrong from any: Malice and anger is very forward to slander; as here Moses is made an usurping executioner, so was Lot made an usurping Judge by the lewd Sodomites, Genesis 19:9.

Moses feared] Not without good cause, and therefore he fled, verse 15. but in the eleventh to the Hebrews, the Apostle saith, by faith Moses forsooke Egypt not fearing the wrath of the King, verse 27. which that it may not seeme contradictory to this of Moses himselfe, we must distinguish of the departures of Moses from Egypt, which were two: the former that here mentioned, wherein his feare appeared to be more then his faith; the latter was after his contestation (by miracles) with Pharaohs stubbornesse, Chap. 10. 28, 29. and in this, his departure was not by way of fearefull flight, but of faithfull and couragious conquest.

Surely this thing is knowne] Though verse 12. he looked this way and that way lest any one should see him, but he that felt him, or his brother who was beaten by the Egyptian; yet some body saw him, or the Hebrew made some report, so that the secret came out.

Exodus 2:15

But Moses fled] He saved himselfe by flight from Pharaohs wrath, whereby he was reserved for a better opportunitie to contest with the Tyrant in the cause of his Master, and brethren: that this is no way repugnant to Religion, or to that courage, which the profession of it requireth, doth appeare by many places of Scripture: as by Gen. 28. 6, 7. 1 Kings 19:3. Matthew 2:13. & chap. 10. 23. & chap. 12. 15. & chap. 24. 16, John 8:59. Luke 4:30. 2 Corinthians 11:33.

land of Midian] A citie so called, was built by Midian (the sonne of Ceturah) whence the Region round about was called Midian.

Exodus 2:16

Priest of Midian] The Hebrew word Coben, signifieth a Priest, and sometimes a Prince, or chiefe Ruler, as 2 Samuel 8:18. Text and Margine: and it may be he was both, because the principall men in those dayes were Priests; as Noah, Melchisedec, Abraham, and others. Eusebius lib. 9. cap. ult. de praeparat: Evangel: calls him Jethro, King of Arabia, of whose Kingdome Midian was a Province: but he seemeth here, rather to be a Priest, then a Prince: because his daughters are so meanely imployed, so little respected by the Shepheards, verse 17. His name is Hobab, Judg. 4. 11. who was the sonne of Raguel, (the Midianite) Numbers 10:29. elsewhere he is called Jethro, Exodus 3:1. & Chap. 18. many times.

to water their fathers flock] In those dayes the calling and course of a shepheard was no disparagement to worthy porsons: though it were not so honourable, as that Kings daughters should be employed in such a service, as here is mentioned. See Annot. on Gen. 24. verse 15.

Exodus 2:17

drave them away] The men shepheards uncivilly wronged the women, taking the water that they had laboured for, to spare their owne paines, and striving to have the first turne at the time of watering, which was usually done by many together, haply for the removall of the cover of the Well, and drawing of water with more ease. See Genesis 29:10.

but Moses stood up and helped them] Being so great a man in Egypt, he might have some servants to attend him, who might assist him, in resisting the wrongs, done to women; if he had none, he shewed more goodnesse and courage, in taking part with the better cause, against the stronger side.

Exodus 2:18

Revel their father] He was (as some thinke) their grandfather, and (in Scripture) the Ancients (in a direct line) are called fathers, and their nephewes children, Genesis 31:43. and so one man may have many fathers, Acts 24:14. But here it is more probable, that one father had many names, and that this Priest of Midian, was called Revel in this place, and Jethro, 3. 1. & Chap. 18. often, and Hobab, Judg. 4. 11. whose father was Raguel the Midianite.

Exodus 2:19

An Egyptian] So Moses seemed by his habite, and he told them (haply) that he came out of Egypt.

Exodus 2:21

content] The word Joal, in Hebrew, signifieth no more of it selfe, but to be willing: but the vulgar Latine forceth it, to signifie an oath, which sense it will not naturally admit: in the first of Sam. 14. 24. the same word is used for adjuration, but it is with an accusative construction, which here is not.

gave Moses Zipporah] Children are the goods of their parents, which may not be taken from them, unlesse they give them: how soone it was that Moses had this gift is not extant in the Scripture: it may be it was a good while after his admission into Jethroes family, because fourtie yeares (after his coming to Midian) at his returne unto Egypt, one of his two sonnes was not yet circumcised, Exodus 4:25.

Exodus 2:22

Gershom] Chap. 18. 3. The word signifieth a desolate stranger: and it was given (for the name of his sonne) for remembrace of Moses his estrangement from the land of his Nativitie, whence he was driven, and for admonition to others, (especially his sonne who bare that name) to mind them of their inheritance in the land of Canaan, where they were to expect a more permanent abode.

Exodus 2:23

sighed] Though the Tyrant was dead, yet tyranny was not: Gods people were still oppressed, albeit that Pharaoh were suppressed: for an other Pharaoh succeeded him in Power as great, and in oppression as grievous to the children of Israel.

came up unto God] His eye seeth what the wicked doe unto his people, verse 25. of this Chap. and this eare heareth when they complaine of what they suffer, Exodus 3:7. 9. Chap. 6. ver. 5. & Chap. 22. vers. 23. 27. James 5:4. and they shall both feele the force of his hand, the one sort by the succour of a gracious Patron, the other, by the severitie of a righteous Judge.

Exodus 2:24

remembred his covenant] See Annot. in Genesis 8:1.

Exodus 2:25

had respect unto them] Heb. knew them. That is, acknowledged them, for his people, and ordered the course of his providence, for their deliverance, so as might be most profitable for them, most honourable for himselfe.