BIRTH AND EARLY LIFE OF MOSES 1. The names of the father and mother of Moses were Amram and Jochebed respectively (see Exodus 6:20). Two children were born to them before Moses. The oldest was a daughter called Miriam (i.e. Mary), who was a young woman at the time when Moses was born (see Exodus 2:... [ Continue Reading ]
HID HIM THREE MONTHS] This defiance of the king's edict is called an act of faith in Hebrews 11:23.... [ Continue Reading ]
ARK OF BULRUSHES] a chest made of the stalks of the papyrus reed which grew at the side of the Nile and in marshy places. The stalks and leaves of papyrus were employed in the manufacture of various articles, such as boats (Isaiah 18:2), sails, mats, ropes, and paper. This last, which gets its name... [ Continue Reading ]
DAUGHTER OF PHARAOH] Josephus calls her Thermutis, but Eusebius calls her Merris. The Nile was regarded as a sacred river, and bathing in its waters was part of a religious ceremony: cp. Exodus 7:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
The mother kept the child probably till he was weaned, which would be two or perhaps three years. He was then adopted by Pharaoh's daughter and would receive the education of an Egyptian prince. St. Stephen says that 'Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was mighty in words and i... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THOSE DAYS] According to Acts 7:23; Moses was at this time 'full forty years old.' This incident shows that the patriotism of Moses had not been destroyed by his Egyptian upbringing, also that he was by nature possessed of an impatient and ardent spirit which required the long discipline of the s... [ Continue Reading ]
LAND OF MIDIAN] The south-eastern part of the peninsula of Sinai. There is reason to believe, however, that the home, or headquarters, of the Midianites, who were probably a nomadic tribe, lay outside the peninsula on the E. side of the Gulf of Akaba: see Genesis 37:25 and on Numbers 22:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
The priest or prince of Midian. In early times, before the multiplication of ritual necessitated a separate religious order, the head or chief of the clan performed priestly functions: see on Exodus 19:22. He is called Reuel in Exodus 2:18 and Jethro in Exodus 18, while in Judges 4:11, and perhaps a... [ Continue Reading ]
In the East wells are of great importance, and frequent disputes arise over rights of watering: see e.g. Genesis 26:20. 21. Moses stayed in Midian forty years (cp. Exodus 7:7), so that his life falls into three equal portions. The first forty years he spent in Egypt (Acts 7:23), the second forty in... [ Continue Reading ]
GERSHOM] The name is derived either from the Heb. _ger_, 'a sojourner,' and _sham_, 'there,' or from the verb _garash_, 'to expel.' In either case it shows that the heart of Moses was with his countrymen in Egypt. Another son, Eliezer, is mentioned in Exodus 18:4 cp. 1 Chronicles 23:16; 1 Chronicles... [ Continue Reading ]
THE KING OF EGYPT] see on Exodus 1:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS COVENANT] see Genesis 12:7; Genesis 15:18; Genesis 17:1; Genesis 26:3; Genesis 28:13. When it is said here, as elsewhere, that God remembered His covenant, it is not implied that He had previously forgotten it, but that the opportunity had now come of fulfilling His merciful purpose.... [ Continue Reading ]
HAD RESPECT UNTO] RV 'took knowledge _of_.'... [ Continue Reading ]