Exodus 2:3

"The woman conceived and bore a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months."

Key Reflection

In Exodus 2:3, the narrative introduces the birth of Moses to the Israelite woman and her Hebrew husband. The original audience would have recognized this as part of a larger story about the preservation of the line of deliverance from slavery in Egypt. The three-month period of concealment highlights the danger faced by the Hebrew population, as Pharaoh had issued a decree for the death of all male Hebrew infants to curb their growing numbers and potential threat. This detail underscores the precariousness of Moses' survival and sets the stage for his eventual rescue by Pharaoh's daughter, signaling divine intervention in the unfolding drama.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

The ark was made of the papyrus which was commonly used by the Egyptians for light and swift boats. The species is no longer found in the Nile below Nubia. It is a strong rush, like the bamboo, about the thickness of a finger, three cornered, and attains the height of 10 to 15 feet. It is represented with great accuracy on the most ancient monuments of Egypt. Slime and pitch -The “slime” is probably the mud, of which bricks were usually made in Egypt, and which in this case was used to bind the stalks of the papyrus into a compact mass, and perhaps also to make the surface smooth for the infant. The pitch or bitumen, commonly used in Egypt, made the small vessel water-tight.

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