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.
Read it in contextMoses' Early Life and Flight to Midian
Start reading at Exodus 2:1 (Exodus 2:1 to Exodus 2:25).
This unit describes Moses' birth, rescue, upbringing, his flight from Egypt after killing an Egyptian, his initial settlement in Midian, and God's remembrance of His covenant with Israel.
2:1And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi.
2:2And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.
2:3And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink.
2:4And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.
2:5And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river's side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it.
2:6And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children.
2:7Then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?
2:8And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child's mother.
2:9And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it.
2:10And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.
2:11And 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.
2:12And 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.
2:13And 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?
2:14And 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.
2:15Now 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.
2:16Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock.
2:17And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.
2:18And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day?
2:19And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock.
2:20And 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.
2:21And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.
2:22And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land.
2:23And 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.
2:24And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
2:25And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.
Study content, not yet reviewed.
Who
Who wrote the book? Moses is the traditional author. Exodus explicitly records him writing covenant words and other material; that supports his central role without identifying every stage in the book's final compilation. Biblical references: Exodus 17:14; Exodus 24:4; Exodus 34:27. Historical source: Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 14b–15a (record of Jewish attribution, not contemporary proof). traditionally held
Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Exodus 2:1–2:25): Moses, his mother and sister, Pharaoh's daughter, and later Reuel's family in Midian are involved in Moses' early life and flight. stated in the text
Who was the book written to? The Israelites delivered from Egypt, and succeeding generations of Israel who were to remember the deliverance and keep the covenant. Biblical references: Exodus 12:24; Exodus 12:26; Exodus 24:7. stated in the text
What
What is the main event or theme? The daughters of the priest of Midian recount to their father, Reuel, how a man they identified as "An Egyptian" (Moses) delivered them from other shepherds and watered their flock.
What is God revealing? God is revealing His providential care for Moses, guiding him to safety in Midian and preparing him for future leadership by demonstrating his character in defending the vulnerable.
What is the literary style? The literary style is narrative history.
When
When was it written? The book of Exodus was written approximately 1440 to 1400 B.C.
When does the event take place? The event takes place during Moses' forty-year sojourn in Midian, after he fled Egypt and before his call at the burning bush, within the broader period of approximately 1500 to 1440 B.C.
Where
Where did it happen? The conversation takes place at the home of Reuel, the priest of Midian, in the land of Midian. The events described by the daughters occurred at a well in Midian.
Where was the author located? The author, Moses, was located in the Wilderness of Sinai when he wrote the book.
Where does the context start?
This passage sits in Moses' Early Life and Flight to Midian (Exodus 2:1 to Exodus 2:25).
Start reading at Exodus 2:1. This unit describes Moses' birth, rescue, upbringing, his flight from Egypt after killing an Egyptian, his initial settlement in Midian, and God's remembrance of His covenant with Israel.
How
How does it fit the broader context? This passage marks Moses' arrival and establishment in Midian after fleeing Egypt, setting the stage for his marriage to Zipporah and his forty-year period of preparation before God calls him to deliver Israel from bondage. interpretation
How does it point to Christ? Moses, though misunderstood in his identity, acts as a deliverer for the oppressed and provides water for the flock, foreshadowing Christ as the true Deliverer who saves His people and provides living water. interpretation
How do I apply it today? Believers today can apply this by standing up for the oppressed and helping those in need, trusting that God works providentially through various circumstances to prepare individuals for His divine purposes. interpretation
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Exodus 2
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Exodus follows the children of Israel from oppression in Egypt to covenant and tabernacle worship. The text records commands to Moses and Israel; instructions for that covenant must not be silently turned into identical commands to every later reader. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement.
Connection to the wholeThis opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. Israel's bondage and God's commission to Moses establish the need for deliverance and introduce the confrontation with Pharaoh.
Connection to the wholeThis unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. Israel's bondage and God's commission to Moses establish the need for deliverance and introduce the confrontation with Pharaoh.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Exodus
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Exodus follows the children of Israel from oppression in Egypt to covenant and tabernacle worship. The text records commands to Moses and Israel; instructions for that covenant must not be silently turned into identical commands to every later reader.
Connection to the wholeThe plagues, Passover, departure, and crossing of the sea display the deliverance celebrated in the song that closes this movement.
Connection to the wholeGod addresses the delivered people, gives covenant commands, and the covenant is confirmed before instructions for the sanctuary begin.
Connection to the wholeIsrael's idolatry interrupts the sanctuary instructions. Moses intercedes, and renewed covenant words prepare the people to carry out the work.
Connection to the wholeThe people supply and construct the sanctuary according to the commands, and the book ends with the glory of the LORD filling it.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.