Keraia
Exodus 2

Exodus 2:3

The Birth and Adoption of Moses · Exodus 2:1–10
Read Exodus 2

Translations

Modern
But when she could no longer hide him, she got him a papyrus basket and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in the basket and set it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile.
Traditional
And 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.
Literal
And she was not able to hid him anymore, and she took for him an ark of papyrus and daubed it with tar and with pitch, and she put the child in it and she placed it in the reeds along the edge of the River.
Latin
Cumque jam celare non posset, sumpsit fiscellam scirpeam, et linivit eam bitumine ac pice: posuitque intus infantulum, et exposuit eum in carecto ripæ fluminis,

Original

Hebrew
English
But when she could no longer hide him, she got him a papyrus basket and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in the basket and set it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile.

Notes

Exodus 2:3

Papyrus reeds grew plentifully along the many streams into which the Nile River divided in the delta region of northern Egypt. They were light and flexible, well-suited for basket weaving. It is possible that the mother of Moses placed the basket in the water exactly where it was most likely to be found by the Egyptian princess.

Exodus 2:1–25

Chapter 1 explained why Israel needed rescue. Chapter 2 shows how God prepared Moses, the rescuer. God used the threat to Hebrew baby boys to ensure that Moses was ready for his mission (see study note on 2:10).

Theme notes and profiles

Egypt Moses

Events

Parallels

Acts 7:20–22 Hebrews 11:23

Places

Nile: The major river of Egypt, mentioned in various contexts

Glossary

Aaron Bitumen Book of Exodus Deuteronomy, Book of Messiah Papyrus Slime

Topics

Ark: of Bullrushes Bitumen: (Margin RV , Slime)): An Inflammable Mineral Bulrush: (Papyrus, RV)): Moses' Ark (Basket) of Children: Fondness and Care of Mothers For Egypt: Israel in Moses Exposed on the Nile Flag: (Rv , Bulrush) God: Preserver: To Moses, in his Infancy Herbs: Bulrushes Herbs: Flag Jochebed: Nurses Moses when he is Adopted by Pharaoh's Daughter Moses: A Levite and Son of Amram Moses: Hidden in a Small Basket Papyrus: (Rv , Margin) Parents: Good - Exemplified: Mother of Moses Pitch in Making the Basket in Which Moses Was Hidden Rivers: Banks of Covered with Flags Servant: Bond: The Israelites Slime used in the Ark (Small Basket) of Moses when he Was an Infant The Nile River the River Nile: Remarkable Events Connected With: Moses Exposed on Its Banks