Exodus Section 3 Questions: The Birth of Moses

Exodus Study, Section 3: The Birth of Moses - Exodus: 2: 1-10

Initial observation

1. Read Exodus 2: 1-10 out loud in the group.

2. Underline or highlight frequently used words (or refer to your homework).

3. What words, phrases, or ideas make an impression on you?

In-depth Observation

4.  Who are the characters in this passage? Which ones does this passage name?  Why?

5.  Read the following passages from Genesis: 

Genesis 1:10     God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 6:14     So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out.

What words from those passages are echoed in this Exodus passage (verses 2 & 3)?  What is the writer’s purpose in echoing these words?

6. Re-read Pharaoh’s command in Exod 1:22.  How do the characters here in Chapter 2 obey/disobey Pharaoh’s command?

7. God is not mentioned in this passage.  Is God acting in these events? 

8. Write down the theme or topic of this section.

Interpretation and Application:

A. What do you learn about the nature of God from this passage?

B.  What do you learn about the other characters from this passage?

C.  What can we learn from this passage that applies to our own lives?

Vocabulary and notes

Verse 2: “That he was… fine…” – This is the same Hebrew phrase as we see in the creation story, translated “that it was good.”  (Hebrew word tōv). See Gen 1:10, 12, 18.

Verse 3: “basket” – The Hebrew word occurs only in this story and in the Flood story (Noah), where it is used for “ark” (See Gen 6:14).

Verse 3: “reeds” – Hebrew suf.  The name “Yam Suf” (referred to later in the story, in Exod 10:19) is rendered “Sea of Reeds” rather than the traditional “Red Sea.” 

Verse 4: “his sister” – Hebrew akhoto – generally assumed to be Miriam.  If, however, Miriam was younger than Moses, akhoto could mean “his relative.”

Verse 10: “Moses”  – Moshe in Hebrew means “the one who draws out,” not, as the punning princess implies, the one she has drawn out.  Some rabbis suggest that he was given the name prophetically, in that Moses would draw out Israel from Egypt, or that Moses drew himself out, so to speak, because of his merits.