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Birth of Moses

Illustration of Birth of Moses
Era
Exodus & Conquest
Date
c. 1526 BC โ‰ˆ Approximate
Reference
Exodus 2:1-10

During the period of Israelite enslavement in Egypt, Pharaoh issued a decree ordering the death of all newborn Hebrew boys out of fear that the growing population would threaten his rule. Moses' mother hid him for three months before placing him in a waterproof basket among the reeds of the Nile River, where he was discovered and adopted by Pharaoh's daughter, who named him and raised him in the royal household. This event highlights God's providential protection amid oppression and marks the beginning of Moses' life, positioning him as the future deliverer who would lead the Exodus and receive the Law at Sinai as detailed in the book of Exodus.

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Did You Know?

1

Moses' mother hid him for three months before placing him in a waterproof basket among the reeds of the Nile River, where he was discovered and adopted by Pharaoh's daughter, who named him and raised him in the royal household.

2

This event highlights God's providential protection amid oppression and marks the beginning of Moses' life, positioning him as the future deliverer who would lead the Exodus and receive the Law at Sinai as detailed in the book of Exodus..

3

This event is dated to approximately c. 1526 BC in biblical chronology.

4

Key figures involved: Moses, Miriam, Pharaoh Of Exodus.

5

This took place at or near Egypt.

Key Passage

Birth of Moses

Exodus 2:1-10

A1nd there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi.

2 And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months. 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 riverโ€™s brink. 4 And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him. 5 And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the riverโ€™s side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it. 6 And 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 Hebrewsโ€™ children. 7 Then said his sister to Pharaohโ€™s daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee? 8 And Pharaohโ€™s daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the childโ€™s mother. 9 And Pharaohโ€™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. 10 And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaohโ€™s daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.

Read full chapter: Exodus 2 โ†’

Meanwhile in the World

Egypt is at the height of its New Kingdom power under pharaohs like Thutmose III and Ramesses II. The Hittite Empire controls Anatolia. The Late Bronze Age collapse is approaching. Troy exists as a real city. This is the time of the Amarna letters and international diplomacy.

When: c. 1446 - 1375 BC

Key Civilizations: New Kingdom Egypt, Hittite Empire

Biblical Parallels: Exodus 1-40 , Joshua 1-24