The Exodus and the wilderness · Exodus 2
Moses Flees to Midian
Moses, grown up, goes out to his Hebrew brothers and sees their hard labor. An Egyptian is beating a Hebrew: Moses looks this way and that, then kills the man and hides him in the sand. The next day, he tries to separate two Hebrews who are fighting, and one of them answers, “Who made thee a prince and a judge over us?” The matter is known. Pharaoh seeks to kill Moses, who flees to the land of Midian and sits down by a well. The seven daughters of the priest of Midian come to water their father’s flock, but shepherds drive them away. Moses stands up for them and waters their flock. Their father invites him to eat, and Moses stays with him. He marries Zipporah, who bears him a son, Gershom: “I have been a stranger in a strange land.” Meanwhile, Israel keeps groaning, and God remembers his covenant.
What happens
- Moses sees an Egyptian beating a Hebrew and kills him Exodus 2:11–12
- “Who made thee a prince and a judge over us?” Exodus 2:13–14
- Pharaoh seeks to kill him: Moses flees to Midian Exodus 2:15
- At the well, Moses defends the priest’s seven daughters Exodus 2:16–17
- Moses stays with the priest, marries Zipporah, and names his son Gershom Exodus 2:20–22
- God hears Israel’s groaning and remembers his covenant Exodus 2:23–24
Who is in this story
The lesson
Moses tried to deliver Israel on his own initiative, and he ends up a shepherd in exile. God acts in his own time and according to his covenant: forty years later (Acts 7:30), he himself will call Moses and deliver his people.
And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
Quick quiz on this story
What does Moses do with the body of the Egyptian he has just killed?
After looking this way and that way and seeing that no one was there, Moses “slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.” Exodus 2:12
How many daughters does the priest of Midian have?
“The priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock.” Exodus 2:16
What does a Hebrew say to Moses when he tries to separate two men who are fighting?
The man answers, “Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian?” Moses realizes his deed is known. Exodus 2:13–14
There are many more questions like these in Bible Academy, each with its explanation and verse. Start your free trial.