Exodus 2:3
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Exodus 2:3
3 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.
Chapter Context
Exodus 2 is a narrative with legal sections chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of covenant, creation, judgment. Written during the Egyptian bondage and wilderness wandering (c. 1446-1406 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Egypt was the dominant superpower with a complex polytheistic religion and a god-king pharaoh.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-25: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it foreshadows Christ's work through typology and prophetic elements. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Exodus and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Exodus 2:3
3 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.
Analysis
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 (וַתִּקַּח־לוֹ תֵּבַת גֹּמֶא, vatiqach-lo tevat gome)—Ark (תֵּבָה, tevah) is the same word used only for Noah's ark (Genesis 6-9), deliberately evoking salvation through water by God's providence. Bulrushes (גֹּמֶא, gome, papyrus reeds) and waterproofing (חֵמָר וָזֶפֶת, chemar vazafet, "pitch and bitumen") show careful preparation. Jochebed doesn't abandon Moses—she strategically places him where Pharaoh's daughter bathes (v. 5), a calculated act of faith. The flags (סוּף, suf, reeds) will later name the Red Sea (yam suf), linking Moses' salvation to Israel's deliverance.
Historical Context
Papyrus reeds (Cyperus papyrus) grew abundantly in the Nile Delta. Egyptian nobility bathed in secluded river spots with attendants. Jochebed's plan relied on Egyptian custom and maternal compassion—principles transcending culture. The ark's construction shows resourcefulness and courage under genocide's threat.
Reflection
- How does the "ark" imagery connect Moses' salvation to Noah's and anticipate Israel's Red Sea deliverance?
- What does Jochebed's strategic faith—acting wisely while trusting God for results—teach about balancing human responsibility and divine providence?
Cross-References
- Parallel theme: Exodus 1:22, Genesis 6:14, 11:3, Isaiah 18:2, Matthew 2:13, 2:16