Exo 2:15-3:1 | TNotes | STEP | 2:15 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 ; Deut 3:23-29 ). • 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 ). It was a good place for a fugitive to disappear.

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.
2:17 ^o rescued: Now a stranger in a strange land, Moses still could not stand by and allow oppression to continue—he was, by nature, a rescuer. The NLT has captured the correct sense of the Hebrew word, sometimes translated deliver or save.
Summary for Exod 2:18-20: 2:18-20 ^p The father of seven daughters was not about to leave a generous and courageous male—excellent husband material—unaccounted for! We see here the well-known hospitality (see also Gen 18:1-8 ^q) that characterizes the residents of this region to this day.
Summary for Exod 2:24-25: 2:24-25 ^r The verbs here speak of a God who is sensitive to his people’s needs (heard ... looked down), who is faithful and reliable (remembered his covenant promise), and who accepts his obligations in a relationship (knew it was time to act).

‏ Exodus 3:1

Summary for Exod 3:1-4:28: 3:1–4:28 ^s This section presents Moses’ call to rescue the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. It is divided into two subsections, 3:1–4:17 ^t and 4:18-28 ^u. The first deals with the call itself, while the second addresses the full implications of accepting that call. Moses was not presented with a mere vocational change; he faced an entire reorientation of his life.
Summary for Exod 3:1-10: 3:1-10 ^v In these verses, the stage is set for the reorientation of Moses’ life. 3:1 ^w Sinai is the name usually used for the mountain where God later revealed himself in the covenant (see, e.g., 16:1 ^x; 19:1-2 ^y). Here and in 17:6 ^z and 33:6 ^aa the Hebrew text uses the proper name Horeb. Both names presumably refer to the same mountain, so the NLT consistently uses Sinai.