His older sister, Miriam (15 years his senior), and his brother 3-year old Aaron were safe from Pharaoh's edict since they were born before it was enacted. If you want to read the first two Bible studies check out: Zarephath Widow Bible Study - A lesson in courage and surrender. Devorah was as active an anti-vaxxer as you'll see on this site. She had to walk away. She found herself in a terrible. Jochebed placed Moses in a basket and released him in the flow of River Nile. She had hard problems to face just like you and I have. The story is familiar to many, but so that we have it clearly in mind, we summarize it here. Someone has said mothers begin saying good-bye to their children from the moment they are born.1 And we dont want to forget there is also a pain that comes from wanting a child and yet not having one, perhaps even having to give up that possibility. Although the Torah asserts that Jacobs household who came to Egypt numbered seventy souls, the Rabbis noted that only sixty-nine individuals are listed in Gen. 46. 3:31) (Seder Eliyahu Rabbah 29). That Jochebed could still be bearing children at the age of forty-eight might seem unlikely by modern standards. 3 But when she was no longer able to hide him, she took a papyrus container, coated it with asphalt and pitch, placed the child in it, and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. Jochebed did not say, Im going to throw the child into the river; if hes Gods man, God will somehow save him. That is not faith; that is fanaticism. The new Pharaoh reduced the Hebrews to slavery, he robbed them of their liberties, and he put them to work in the brick yards under cruel taskmasters. First of all, God began to move upon the heart of the pagan daughter of a pagan king, so that at the exact time the baby Moses lay by the rivers edge, Pharaohs daughter came to this very place to take a swim. She did . Jochebed was a daughter of Levi (Exodus 2:1), and the mother of Aaron, Moses, and Miriam (Exodus 6:20; Numbers 26:59). Rabbah 1:25; for the identification of Jochebed with Shiphrah, see above). And when the little crib was brought to Pharaohs daughter, she saw that it was a little Hebrew baby. Yocheved was the youngest member of the seventy souls who made up Jacob's household. (We learn later, in Exodus 6:20, that the father and mother of Moses are named Amram and Jochebed.) Answer: As the verse doesn't state what Jochebed's intentions were, the matter is open to speculation. In the film, she sings a lullaby to baby Moses as she sets the basket carrying him adrift in the river, also pleading the river to deliver Moses "somewhere he can live free". She committed Moses to the Lord. The midrash describes in detail how she prepared the ark for Moses. Jochebed: Mother of Moses. Another proof that "bare" in Numbers 26:59 cannot indicate an immediate father-son or father-daughter relationship is found by considering that this verse states Jochebed was a daughter of Levi. The life of Jochebed as a woman of influence teaches us that there are times in our lives when we have done all we can do, weve said all we can say, there is no more and we have to . Again, the second time, was this time even harder for her? He turned to his three friends, and said in essence, Although I dont know why I am called upon to face this trial, I do know the joy of fellowship with God, and though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him (Job 13:15). He ordered all male Hebrew babies to be killed. The "sister" of the child (presumed to be Miriam), who had come forward, suggested to find her a Hebrew woman to nurse the child. When Moses, her youngest child, was born, Jochebed hid him for three months until she could hide him no longer. 2 tells of the birth of Moses. There arc three arks mentioned in Scripture. Possible that he was alive during the Exodus, remember Moses was 80 years old then. D. J. Wiseman (Downers Grove, Illinois: Intervarsity Press, 1973) 57. He became afraid that if an enemy of Egypt waged war against them, the Israelites would side with the enemy against Egypt. Can you fill in the blank _____ Lord I hear You saying Let it go and trust Me with it, Women of Influence, women who are affecting their world, their family, their workplace, their friends for good for God have open hands. Meet Miriam: Moses' Sister and Prophetess During the Exodus. "There arose up a new king over Egypt," or rather a new dynasty, "which knew not Joseph" ( Exd 1:8 . Moved with compassion when she discovered the child, she decided to adopt him. A type of non-halakhic literary activitiy of the Rabbis for interpreting non-legal material according to special principles of interpretation (hermeneutical rules). Thats how God does things. How do we know? Moses, Hebrew liberator, leader, lawgiver, prophet, and historian, lived in the thirteenth and early part of the twelfth century B.C.. NAME. And works His sovereign will. Why to Trust? T. Moses died. PO Box 391 Life comes with the pain of losses, of giving up and letting go and we are rarely ready to let go. On what was this confidence and hope based? Jochebed had faith in God's protection of her baby. 11:23 By faith Moses was hidden by, Amram and Jochebed, his parents, for three months after he was born, because they saw that he was a beautiful child and were not afraid of the kings order. Amram married Jochebed who was also from the tribe of Levi, one of Jacobs 12 sons. Jesus reminds us that there will be those who are last which shall be first and first which shall be last (Luke 13:30). The story of Jochebed is thought to be described in the Book of Exodus (2:110) although she is not explicitly named here. Moses would become God's servant who would lead Israel out of Egypt. In the Rabbinic exegesis, Jochebed was already pregnant with Moses before Amram divorced her, and the fetus in her womb was three months old when he remarried her. JOCHEBED. A little boy spent many hours making a small boat and then he took it to the lake. Would he forget me? 2:1 portrays their remarriage. "Jochebed: Mother of Moses." ), and which, consequently, knew not the God of Joseph. She appears briefly in The Prince of Egypt under the name 'Yocheved', voiced by (and resembling) Israeli vocalist Ofra Haza. Her thoughtful nature was consistent throughout the Bible story of Moses in the basket. She was Levi 's daughter, and Kehot, Amram's father, was Levi 's son. Moses, in the wilderness, instructed them to put away pagan gods. In thanks, Jethro--known as the Priest of Midian--invited him to stay in his camp, and gave him Zipporah to marry. This is corroborated by another early midrash, that states that Jochebed was one of the offspring of Jacob who went down to Egypt and was also among those who entered the land of Canaan (Seder Olam Rabbah 9). Jochebed placed Moses in a basket and released him in the flow of River Nile. Lesson two study group Questions (Click Here). Exodus 6:20 And Amram took his aunt Jochebed to him for a wife. She is a witless baby. Still another notion bases its understanding of the name on Job 26:13: By his wind the heavens were calmed [shifrah]. The verse describes the heavens that were created by God for Israel, and it was Shiphrah who returned Israel to their Father in heaven (Eccl. She put the child in it and set it among the reeds along the edge of the Nile. (2021, September 4). Miriam, the baby's sister, watched to see what would happen. teaches that Jochebed put the ark in a protected place, where bushes and reeds grew. Why did Terah died in Haran? First, many unwed mothers refuse to have an abortion, yet have no choice but to place their baby for adoption. Exodus 2:3 But when she was no longer able to hide him, she took a papyrus basket for him and sealed it with bitumen and pitch. Or would it be wise to just distance herself from this baby and let someone else throw him in the Nile? An Impossible Problem Solver. Jochebed the mother of Moses. My story: Brents diabetes (Another stone of remembrance), When my youngest son was 5 years old he started loosing weight, was always thirsty and he started wetting the bed at night though hed been potty trained for a long time. Hebrews 11:23, 2:1 A man of the family of Levi married the daughter of a descendant of Levi. Their lives were made bitter with hard service in mortar and brick, and in many kinds of field labor. By letting go and trusting God, an even greater dream was fulfilled. In verse 16 we find that Levi's sons were Gershon, Kohath and Merari. Miriam, who was six years old at the time, said: Father, father, your decree is harsher than that of Pharaoh. The Torah seemingly chose to concentrate on the birth of Israels deliverer, and therefore did not mention his two elder siblings. She is praised for her faith in the Epistle to the Hebrews. She took leave of her baby with a heavy heart, and tried with all her might to protect him and ensure that he remain alive. Exodus 2:1-2. and https://www.learnreligions.com/jochebed-mother-of-moses-701165 (accessed March 2, 2023). The Bible; the Pentateuch; Tanakh (the Pentateuch, Prophets and Hagiographia)Torah also designates Jochebed as the daughter of Levi (Num. Pharaohs daughter just happened to have enough influence to save the baby Moses. There, Moses stood up for seven young women who were drawing water who were being driven away from the well by shepherds. Then verse 18 shows that Kohath's sons were Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. He wanted her for his wife and was willing to . Jochebed, more commonly referred to as the mom of Moses, is an important biblical character when studying mothers in the Bible. Jochebed, wife of Amram and mother of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, is mentioned by name only in Exod 6:20 and Num 26:59, both genealogical listings. We will notice several aspects of Jochebeds faith-walk. According to the Bible, Jochebed (/jkbd/; Biblical Hebrew: , romanized:Yee, lit. Moses was a fortunate and blessed man. All must work for good to me. Amram and Jochebed had no fear of the kings decree. She chose bulrushes, a soft and flexible material that is capable of withstanding contact with both soft and hard objects. Jochebed was the daughter of a Levi man and born in Egypt. The Rabbis say that when the daughter of Pharaoh asked of Jochebed: Take [helikhi] this child and nurse it for me (Ex. The ruler had thought sparing women was safe, but the midwives, the Hebrew mother, the daughter of Pharaoh, and Miriam, all work together to spare one child5. One of her maidservants saw the basket and brought it to her. Our background is not our destiny We must remember that the young woman was the kings daughter, and that the hatred for the Israelites was bred into the very core of her being. Hebrew: MSH Mosheh (M. T.), Greek: Mouses, Moses. Reply Paul Irvine, CA April 5, 2009 "teaching," "study," or "learning." (Isaiah 18:2 writes that the Egyptians made their boats, skiffs out of this material. Jochebed was married to Amram. Jochebed gave birth to Moses, future Giver of the Law, and cleverly spared him from death as an infant. Their heartbreak at giving up their baby is balanced by God's favor when they obey his command not to kill the unborn. I wonder. The midrash portrays Jochebed as a wise woman who was righteous and God-fearing. Jochebed was the mother of Moses, one of the major characters in the Old Testament. Rather, this verse teaches that Jochebeds pregnancy was without suffering, just as she gave birth without pain. What if she had been found out, they would take the baby and kill him, perhaps she would lose her life, potentially the whole family, husband, 2 other children= Miriam=young little girl and Aaron=3 years old. Lesson two Handout (Click Here). When Moses was born, Jochebed saw (Ex. What are some areas of your life you need to stop holding on to and start trusting God? By faith, Jochebed and her husband Amram hid their son Moses even against the king of Egypt's edict that all Hebrew boys should be put to death at birth. His possessions were all gone; his body was racked with pain; his wife added to the pain of his soul by urging him to curse God and cry out for death. One of the great hymns of the church says: God moves in a mysterious way Answer Moses' mother, Jochebed, was a Hebrew woman living in slavery in Egypt before the exodus. Can you imagine trying to hide a newborn baby? Act out Pharaoh's daughter finding Moses. Jochebed was thrilled to be able to raise her son. Just so, the Son of Righteousness is still shining, although in the dark tunnels of our trials and afflictions, sometimes we fail to see Him. As the years passed, and after Joseph had died, a new king arose in Egypta king who had not known Joseph. Whats the Definition of faith? In the Rabbinic retelling, when Amram returned his wife, Jochebed was a hundred and thirty years of age, but signs of youth appeared on her: her body became smoother, her wrinkles were straightened out, and her former beauty was restored. The Haggadah extends this miraculous nature to Moses' conception by marking as 120 the age of Jochebed at conception. Years passed. Would he forget our family? When you let go, when you released that person or that thing, did you feel like part of you was breaking; now there was some new emptiness in your life? This king observed that the Hebrew people were growing in numbers, and fearing that they might soon outnumber the Egyptians themselves, the new Pharaoh began seeking ways of reducing the number of Hebrews and keeping them subject to Egyptian authority. Here there would be less danger from crocodiles than if she just put him down on the beach. So when Jochebed gave birth to Moses. I had to learn over and over and over again to. For some, there is a lack of the assurance of the forgiveness of past sins. The Egyptians believed that the waters of the Nile possessed the ability to impart fruitfulness and to prolong life.4 Dr. Thomas Constable, While her attendants were walking up and down the banks keeping undesirable people and animals away, she saw the basket. Rabbi (Judah ha-Nasi) would sit and expound, and the public was drowsing. That Jochebed could still be bearing children at the age of forty-eight might seem unlikely by modern standards. Yet another tradition explains that she shiprah her actions before God (i.e., performed good deeds that were pleasing to the Lord). Yocheved is the major character birth mother of Moses, Miriam, & Aaron in The Prince of Egypt. He said, for example, I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth (Job 19:25). Here then, we have Moses' own parents, living in a relationship clearly condemned as abomination under the Law of Moses. Surely this was a time of great trial for Jochebed, but instead of manifesting fear and despair, she seemed to have confidence and hope. I want to be sure to add, even if this sounds like heresy in our health, wealth, prosperity theology culture: When you let go and trust God not all babies in baskets are rescued, not all illnesses are healed, not all jobs are restored, not all relationships are mended but this is True: when you let go and trust Him God is glorified and He will work it out for ultimate good. Exodus 2, which describes the birth of Moses, does not name her, or, for that matter, the father or sister of Moses. And the woman took the child, and nursed it (Exodus 2:9). Finally, when they did speak, they concluded that Job was among the worst of sinners, and that he suffered as a result of deep sin in his life (Job 4:7). God blessed Jochebed's obedience by making her Moses' nursemaid. God, who is the great Architect of our destinies, allows nothing to come into our lives except that which is for our ultimate good and blessing (Romans 8:28). My mother Jochebeds teeth were blunted by [the death of] two of her children in her lifetime; will more of her teeth be blunted by my death? But this argument, too, was of no avail (Deut. And down through the ages mothers have gone to great measures that required courage to guide and protect their children. Perhaps God might use him to fulfill the Promise. In his gracious way, God gives us himself, the most desirable dream we could ever imagine. And her influence is felt to this day by the followers of the God of the Bible as we read about the great things that her son did for the people of God of his time. She loved all of her children dearly and proved this when she risked her life to save her youngest child, Moses, from Pharaoh Seti I's soldiers. With Thy favorloss is gain. By faith, Jochebed placed her son, Moses, in a papyrus basket and placed it in the Nile River where the Pharaohs daughter found the basket and child. During the few years, Jochebed was permitted to nurse her son, she would have had a profound influence upon him. 1:17 relates that the midwives, fearing God, let the boys live; their reward for fearing God, according to the midrash, is Torah: because Jochebed feared the Lord, she gave birth to Moses, through whom the Torah was given (Ex. The Scripture says, And, behold, the babe wept (Exodus 2:6). Jochebed had such a deep abiding faith in the trustworthiness of Gods Word that it drove her to act. You can never get them all quiet at the same time. Exodus 2:2b She hid him for 3 months. Amram married Jochebed for the sake of Heaven. Go then, earthly fame and treasure, At the time when the account opens in Exodus 2, the condition of the Children of Israel was very pitiful. (NET). Conservative scholars date the "Exodus," a landmark in Israel's history, at 1446 B.C. In 2433 AM, Jochebed gave birth to . 2:12 state that he married a Levite woman. Joshua 24:14 throw away gods your forefathers worshipped beyond the river and in Egypt. Maybe its something material, a possession you have? When she placed little Moses in the Nile River that day, Jochebed could not have known that he would grow up to be one of God's greatest leaders, chosen to rescue the Hebrew people from slavery in Egypt. 2 Later, the woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son. God could grow a crop of wheat on the concrete pavements of our cities if He wanted to, but He normally expects the farmer to use the means at his disposal to grow a crop of wheat. Even today, I cant tell you how hard it is at times not to want somehow control his diabetes: to make sure hes eating good food, exercising, taking care of himself, but he has a wife and two daughtersI really have to Let it go and trust Godand I do Trust and pray . 78). Alphabetical Exposition of Named Bible Women J Jochebed. The painting "The Mother of Moses" by Simeon Solomon depicts Jochebed and Miriam looking and holding Moses. I learned to give injections, to plan meals, to test blood, to watch for highs and lows, and I learned to trust God in a new, powerful way. 'YHWH is glory') was a daughter of Levi[1] and mother of Miriam, Aaron and Moses. Family tree. Only because she trusted the Lord could she abandon her son rather than see him killed. 2. There is great historical debate on who was Pharaohs daughter? God returned her child to her, thus granting her a part of her reward for keeping alive the Hebrew boys (Ex. (Maybe an angel stood there and pinched the baby so that he would cry at the right time.). Imagine being her as she left him here alone in the water. This is a huge part of the story Jewish Study Bible, The verb could be given a more colloquial translation such as she felt sorry for him. But the verb is stronger than that; it means to have compassion, to pity, to spare. What she felt for the baby was strong enough to prompt her to spare the child from the fate decreed for Hebrew boys. As Moses grew up Jochebed educated Moses in the religion and history of Israel, ensuring that Moses did not lose his Hebrew identity. According to one opinion, she realized that he was suited to be a prophet; according to another, she saw that he was born circumcised; and according to a third exegetical suggestion, she saw that the entire house was filled with light (BT Sotah 12a). But Exodus 2:5 says that the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe in the river, while her attendants walked beside the river. Jochebed was able to use her amazing creativity and courage to solve an impossible problem. [7] In making this identification, the rabbis interpret the houses, with which the Book of Exodus describes God as having compensated the midwives,[8] as having been those of priesthood and of royalty; these houses are interpreted by the Talmudic rabbis as allegorical references to Jochebed's sons Moses and Aaron respectively.[9]. Ex. Women of Influence choose to: Truth: Let it go and trust God. Joseph had saved the country from a famine, but eventually, he was forgotten by the Egyptian rulers, the Pharaohs. She was only shown onscreen at the time that Moses was exiled and got to meet his biological mother. Those must have been precious years. In the midrashic exegesis, the Egyptians counted the months of her pregnancy only from her return to Amram; they did not know that she was already in the third month (see above), and so Moses could be hidden in his parents home until he had had time to grow and develop. It is our Christian duty to walk by faith in this world, until we come to live by sight in the eternal world. So we know some of the Jews had compromised. Jochebed was married to Amram. Yocheved was the daughter of Levi, Jacob 's son. Just rememberthis is a trial of your faith planned to bring honor in the day when Jesus reveals himself. Consequently, Miriam came and offered to the daughter of Pharaoh her mother Jochebed, who was a Hebrew (Ex. Some of you have lost children to divorce, some have run-away, and some have even died. Jochebed's name means, "Honor of God" or "God is glory". And after Jochebed did all that she could, she went back homeundoubtedly with a great sense of trust that God would work things out according to His plan. They may have desired a happy marriage, a successful career, developing their talent, or some other worthwhile goal, yet circumstances prevented it. Rabbah 1:13). That same day God swore that the Ark and the Torah would be entrusted to the arms of his descendants (the Kohathites are the only ones who bore the Ark during the journeying in the wilderness, as is attested in Num. What to do? Jochebed knew also that God had foretold the bondage in Egypt which they were now experiencing. In all three explanations, Jochebed immediately comprehended that her son was meant for greatness and she discerned that he possessed unique spiritual qualities. Let us know. The cry of the little child aroused the maternal instinct of Pharaohs daughter, and the baby Moses was spared. Miriam fetched her mother, Jochebed -- who was also the baby's mother -- and brought her back. Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women. According to one midrashic view, Shiphrah and Puah were mother and daughter Jochebed and Miriam, while another states that they were daughter-in-law and mother-in-lawJochebed and Elisheba daughter of Amminadab. Moses fled to Midian, which is in modern-day Saudi Arabia. Yet the Bible reveals that Levi and his son and grandson all had very long life spans. Genuine faith also has rewards. Thus Jochebed nursed her son until he was old enough and brought him to the Pharaoh's daughter, who adopted him as her son. Jochebed was a human being just as all of us are today. This is a clear example of how God gives, provides, and answers more abundantly than we can even ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). The film The Ten Commandments calls her "Yoshebel". What strong faith this woman had, but also what courage. [27], Stories of unusual events during the pregnancy of Aminah, mother of the Islamic prophet Muhammad,[28] are compared with the similar experiences of Jochebed when she was carrying Moses. Jochebed was paid to nurse and care for the boy, her own son until he grew. Exodus 2:10 When the child grew older she brought him to Pharaohs daughter, and he became her son. The outcome of this brave action of defying the King of Egypt is now known to all. Have an update or correction? Help us elevate the voices of Jewish women. Under her influence and teaching, she . This brings us to the influence one mother had on history - not only the history of her family, but the entire history of the children of Israel. Moses's mother, a Levite, later identified as Jochebed (Numbers 26:59), had married a Levite and given birth to a son. (NET), Hebrews 11:23 By faith, when Moses was born, his parents hid him for three months, because they saw the child was beautiful and they were not afraid of the kings edict. (Viewed on March 1, 2023) . It took faith to place the child in the river. Jesus says to us, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:31-32). Numbers 26:58-59 These are the families of the Levitesand Kohath begot Amram. Terah coordinated the journey, intending to go to this new land, but stopped in the city of Haran along the way, where he died at the age of 205. . Perhaps there would be some shade too from the sun in the reeds. Moses' sister, Miriam, accompanied her younger brother when he led the Hebrew people in their escape from slavery in Egypt. 26:59): The name of Amrams wife was Jochebed daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt. The midrash adds that she was conceived on the way to Egypt, and was born between the walls (at the entrance to Egypt). Answer (1 of 23): Re your query: According to Exodus 2, Moses' mother gave him back to Pharoah's daughter. According to Jewish legend, she is buried in the Tomb of the Matriarchs, in Tiberias. In fact, the goodness and mercy of God were so great that the mother was even paid for nursing her own son! The question of Jochebeds kinship to Amram arises from the statement in Ex. She was the daughter of a Levite, and she married Amram, another Levite ( Exodus 2:1 ). He feared they would join a foreign army against the Egyptians or start a rebellion. Imagine the emotions, the feelings Jochebed had as she placed him down and backed away. "teaching," "study," or "learning." Adoption is a wonderful way to unconditionally love someone but it comes with a painful price tag (as well see in our story). She was convinced that her son would be used for an important work. Gods providence was seeing to it that Jochebed was being paid from royal funds to look after her own child. But in the midst of this trial, she had confidence and hope. (NET), Exodus 6:20 Amram married his fathers sister Jochebed, and she bore him Aaron and Moses. 18:1214 (BT Sanhedrin 58b). There is nothing immoral in marrying your aunt unless the Torah explicitly forbids it. The parents of Moses believed the simple promise of Gods Word, and the revelation that after 400 years Israel would be delivered, and that their son was a proper childand so, instead of casting baby Moses into the river, they hid him for three months, and then turned him over to God. Yes, Miriam is watching from a distant place on the shore, but she, his mother had to let him go. "Jochebed: Mother of Moses." To protect Moses from Pharaohs command that every male Hebrew child be killed, she placed him in an ark of bulrushes on the river. A careful reader of the Bible account can almost picture Miriam (the older sister of Moses) running to her mother and telling her what had happened. According to tradition, Moses' parents, Amram and Jochebed (whose other children were Aaron and Miriam), hid him for three months and then set him afloat on the Nile in a reed basket daubed with pitch. He lived 137 years. The woman conceived and bore a son, since she conceived before this second marriage? According to social media posts written by Gov. The God of Israel was more real to Amram and Jochebed than was the king of Egypt. When he saw that Pharaoh had decreed that all the boys be cast into the Nile, he proclaimed: Are we laboring in vain? (we give birth to sons who will eventually be killed), and so he divorced his wife. Jochebed was the mother of Moses, one of the major characters in the Old Testament. The expected thing for her to do was to have the little boy tilted over into the water. She was curious, what could be in it? How do we know? She was the wife of Amram, as well as his aunt. Jack Zavada is a writer who covers the Bible, theology, and other Christianity topics. They took the urine sample and when the doctor came back he coldly said I think your son has diabetes and I want you to go immediately to the Juvenile Diabetes clinic, Ive already called them to tell them youre on your way. It was by faith that he was hidden, not by fear! But that was not the case. One wonders why Pharaohs daughter wanted to bathe herself in the dirty waters of the Nile River.