Topical Bible: Egypt: Israel in Moses Born and Hid for Three Months

◄ Egypt: Israel in Moses Born and Hid for Three Months ►

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Historical Context

The narrative of Moses' birth and concealment occurs during a tumultuous period in the history of the Israelites in Egypt. Following the death of Joseph, a new Pharaoh ascended to power who did not know Joseph and felt threatened by the growing population of the Israelites. To curb their numbers and potential power, Pharaoh enslaved the Israelites and decreed the death of all newborn Hebrew boys (Exodus 1:8-22).

Birth of Moses

Moses was born into the tribe of Levi during this oppressive era. His parents, Amram and Jochebed, were devout Hebrews who feared God more than the edicts of Pharaoh. Recognizing the special nature of their child, they defied the king's command and hid Moses for three months after his birth (Exodus 2:1-2). The New Testament book of Hebrews commends their faith, stating, "By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was a beautiful child, and they were unafraid of the king’s edict" (Hebrews 11:23).

Hiding and Preservation

The act of hiding Moses was fraught with danger, as the Egyptian authorities were vigilant in enforcing Pharaoh's decree. Jochebed's decision to conceal her son reflects both her maternal instinct and her trust in God's providence. The three-month period of hiding was a testament to the family's courage and resourcefulness in the face of mortal peril.

The Ark of Bulrushes

When it became impossible to hide Moses any longer, Jochebed crafted an ark of bulrushes, waterproofed with tar and pitch, and placed the infant within it. She then set the ark among the reeds along the bank of the Nile River (Exodus 2:3). This act of faith and ingenuity not only preserved Moses' life but also set the stage for his providential discovery by Pharaoh's daughter.

Discovery by Pharaoh's Daughter

Pharaoh's daughter, coming to bathe at the river, discovered the ark and the crying child within. Moved with compassion, she recognized him as one of the Hebrew children and decided to adopt him as her own (Exodus 2:5-6). In a divinely orchestrated turn of events, Moses' sister, Miriam, who had been watching from a distance, offered to find a Hebrew nurse for the child. Consequently, Jochebed was able to nurse her own son under the protection of Pharaoh's household (Exodus 2:7-9).

Significance

The early life of Moses, marked by divine intervention and the faith of his family, set the foundation for his future role as the deliverer of Israel. His preservation amidst Pharaoh's genocidal decree highlights God's sovereignty and the fulfillment of His covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moses' upbringing in the Egyptian court equipped him with the knowledge and skills necessary for his later leadership, while his Hebrew heritage instilled in him a deep connection to his people and their God.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Exodus 2:2
And the woman conceived, and bore a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Faith of Moses.
... By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath ... comparative silence of the former
respecting Moses and the ... he has brought the children of Israel through the ...
/.../the expositors bible the epistle to the hebrews/chapter xii the faith of.htm

Moses.
... Moses and Aaron, therefore, went into Egypt, where they called ... Pharaoh would not
let the children of Israel go. Then Moses turned the waters of the rivers into ...
//christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/wee ones bible stories/moses.htm

Moses
... Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew ... Behold, the people of the children
of Israel are more ... And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because ...
/.../kingsley/the gospel of the pentateuch/sermon ix moses.htm

Here Next Followeth the History of Moses
... Then was there a new king upon Egypt which knew ... The Egyptians hated the children
of Israel and put them to ... instead of a son and named him Moses, saying that I ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/here next followeth the history.htm

Hebrews xi. 20-22
... mention of the departing of the children of Israel, and gave ... in so great philosophy,
who spent his whole life in Egypt. ... 3.] ( Ver.23 ) "By faith, Moses when he ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily xxvi hebrews xi 20-22.htm

The Ark among the Flags
... was some good thing towards the God of Israel.'. ... the Augustinian convent at Erfurt,
planted Moses in Pharaoh's ... and taught him the wisdom of Egypt, against which ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the ark among the flags.htm

A Statement of the Manner in which Luke's Procedure is Proved to ...
... mother's) purification, according to the law of Moses, were accomplished ... in a dream
to Joseph in Egypt, saying, Arise ... and go into the land of Israel; for they ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter v a statement of the.htm

The Flight into Egypt and St. John the Baptist in the Desert
... It was used for purposes of instruction, and came into Egypt with the children of
Israel. ... is a religious work full of the wisdom of Job, Moses, and Solomon ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/xvi the flight into egypt.htm

The Apocalypse of Baruch.
... spoke to Him; when God called to Moses from the ... should be not only the glory of Israel,
but, as ... the consideration that the period of affliction in Egypt was to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the apocalypse of baruch.htm

Backsliding.
... In Hosea 14:1, 2, 4: "O Israel, return unto the ... their descent to Abraham: and yet
down in Egypt he denied ... that other men could see it; but Moses himself wist ...
/.../moody/the way to god and how to find it/chapter ix backsliding.htm