Exodus 2:1

The Birth of the Deliverer

2:1 ¹ A man from the household ²  of Levi married ³  a woman who was a descendant of Levi. ⁴ 

Exodus 21:16

21:16 “Whoever kidnaps someone ⁵  and sells him, ⁶  or is caught still holding him, ⁷  must surely be put to death.

Exodus 30:38

30:38 Whoever makes anything like it, to use as perfume, ⁸  will be cut off from his people.”

¹ sn The chapter records the exceptional survival of Moses under the decree of death by Pharaoh (vv. 1-10), the flight of Moses from Pharaoh after killing the Egyptian (vv. 11-15), the marriage of Moses (vv. 16-22), and finally a note about the Lord’s hearing the sighing of the people in bondage (vv. 23-25). The first part is the birth. The Bible has several stories about miraculous or special births and deliverances of those destined to lead Israel. Their impact is essentially to authenticate the individual’s ministry. If the person’s beginning was providentially provided and protected by the Lord, then the mission must be of divine origin too. In this chapter the plot works around the decree for the death of the children – a decree undone by the women. The second part of the chapter records Moses’ flight and marriage. Having introduced the deliverer Moses in such an auspicious way, the chapter then records how this deliverer acted presumptuously and had to flee for his life. Any deliverance God desired had to be supernatural, as the chapter’s final note about answering prayer shows.

² tn Heb “house.” In other words, the tribe of Levi.

³ tn Heb “went and took”; NASB “went and married.”

⁴ tn Heb “a daughter of Levi.” The word “daughter” is used in the sense of “descendant” and connects the new account with Pharaoh’s command in 1:22. The words “a woman who was” are added for clarity in English.

⁵ tn Heb “a stealer of a man,” thus “anyone stealing a man.”

⁶ sn The implication is that it would be an Israelite citizen who was kidnapped and sold to a foreign tribe or country (like Joseph). There was always a market for slaves. The crime would be in forcibly taking the individual away from his home and religion and putting him into bondage or death.

⁷ tn Literally “and he is found in his hand” (KJV and ASV both similar), being not yet sold.

⁹ tn Or to smell it, to use for the maker’s own pleasure.