*Exodus 2:11-25
Saved from the Pharaoh’s decree, Moses flees Egypt after killing an Egyptian and finds refuge in Midian, where he helps seven sisters water their flock.
- Moses’ Encounter with an Egyptian Oppressor:
- Moses, having grown up in the household of Pharaoh, witnesses an Egyptian taskmaster beating a Hebrew slave.
- Moved by a sense of justice, Moses intervenes and strikes down the Egyptian, killing him.
- He looks around and, seeing no one, buries the Egyptian in the sand.
- Moses’ Conflict with Hebrews:
- The next day, Moses encounters two Hebrew men fighting and attempts to reconcile them.
- One of the men questions Moses’ authority to intervene, asking if he intends to kill him as he did the Egyptian.
- Moses’ Flight to Midian:
- Realizing that news of his actions has spread, Moses becomes afraid and flees from Egypt to the land of Midian.
- He settles by a well, where he comes to the aid of seven sisters who are being harassed by shepherds.
- Moses’ Marriage to Zipporah:
- The sisters return home early, and their father, Reuel (also known as Jethro), invites Moses to their home.
- Moses stays with them and eventually marries one of Reuel’s daughters, Zipporah.
- Birth of Moses’ Son:
- Zipporah gives birth to a son, whom Moses names Gershom, meaning “I have been a stranger in a foreign land,” reflecting Moses’ sense of displacement.
- God’s Response to Israel’s Suffering:
- Meanwhile, in Egypt, the Israelites continue to suffer under oppression, and their cry for deliverance reaches God’s ears.
- Divine Providence:
- Though Moses has fled from Egypt, God has not forgotten his people or his plan to rescue them from bondage.
- This sets the stage for the next chapter in Moses’ life, where he will be called by God to return to Egypt and lead the Israelites to freedom.
2:11 And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren.
2:12 And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.
2:13 And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow? 2:14 And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known.
2:15 Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.
2:16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock.
2:17 And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.
2:18 And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day? 2:19 And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock.
2:20 And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread.
2:21 And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.
2:22 And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land.
2:23 And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.
2:24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
2:25 And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.