2:1 1 A man from the household 2 of Levi married 3 a woman who was a descendant of Levi. 4
21:16 “Whoever kidnaps someone 5 and sells him, 6 or is caught still holding him, 7 must surely be put to death.
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
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.