Exodus 2:15-16
2:15 a Moses fled: By trying to rescue Israel himself rather than through God’s help, Moses made himself a fugitive rather than a leader in Egypt, forestalling God’s purposes for him. Moses’ life was drastically changed as a consequence of his actions (cp. Num 20:9-13 b; Deut 3:23-29 c).• Midian was located on both sides of the Gulf of Aqaba—in the southern Sinai Peninsula and on the western edge of the Arabian Peninsula. A major trade route from southern Arabia passed through this dry and barren area. Its people seem to have been nomadic shepherds and traders (see Gen 37:28 d). It was a good place for a fugitive to disappear.
Summary for Exod 2:16-25: 2:16-25 e This passage further reveals Moses’ concern for the oppressed and tells of his transition to a new land (2:18-22 f). He married, had a child, and lived there for forty years (Acts 7:30 g). From a human perspective, there was no way for the Israelites to be rescued through Moses, but it is the divine perspective that matters. The end of this section (Exod 2:23-25 h) tells us that God had not forgotten his people; he was only waiting for the time to act (2:25 i). 2:16 j The priest of Midian was named Reuel (2:18 k), but later he is called Jethro (18:1 l). It was common for a person to have both an official name and a personal name, though in this case it is not clear which is which. Perhaps, like Melchizedek (Gen 14:18 m), he represented an indigenous religious class that had not fallen prey to a pagan religion. Reuel’s actions in bringing an offering and sacrifices to God (Exod 18:12 n) suggest that this was so.
Copyright information for
TNotes