Exodus 2:2-4

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 2:2

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 2:2

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 2:2

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

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 2:1-2

§ 1. The birth of Moses. In the providence of God, great men are raised up from time to time, for the express object of working out his purposes . A great task is before them, but there is often nothing peculiar, nothing striking, in their birth or parentage. They come into the world with as little commotion, as little eclat, as other children. True history admits this. Legendary history conceals it, denies it, makes up a series of extraordinary events anterior to the birth, which... 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

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

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 2:2

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

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

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

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 2:1-2

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 2:1-9

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