Conservative scholars date the "Exodus," a landmark in Israel's history, at 1446 B.C. The sage, who wanted to awaken them, said: A single woman in Egypt gave birth to sixty myriads from a single stomach. There was a pupil there named R. Ishmael son of R. Yose, who asked him: Was this really so? He [Rabbi] replied: This is Jochebed, who bore Moses, who is deemed the equivalent of sixty myriads of Israel (Song of Songs Rabbah 1:15:3). By letting go and trusting God, an even greater dream was fulfilled. Soon, Moses got word that Pharaoh knew what he had done and was going to kill him, so he fled from Egypt to the land of Midian to avoid prosecution. Much of what we know about Jochebed is recorded in the first ten verses of Exodus 2. We know from history that all the kings in Pharaohs day had bath houses, such as even the wealthiest do not possess in our day. 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). All Israel saw this, and in consequence they also divorced their wives. Faith is one of the most frequently used words in the Christians vocabulary, but it may be one of the most misunderstood words. We indeed must marvel at Jobs faith. Some, its likely all of us, know the pain of giving up, letting go of someone, or something precious to you: A relationship, a job, a dream. Have an update or correction? Life comes with the pain of losses, of giving up and letting go and we are rarely ready to let go. When Moses, her youngest child, was born, Jochebed hid him for three months until she could hide him no longer. Hebrews 11:23 and Exodus 2:1-2 and 6:20. Pursuing her life passion to teach the Word of God, train leaders and connect people in community, Dianne Miller has dedicated years as a teaching leader in Bible Study Fellowship as well as directing Womens Ministries at the Church of the Apostles in Atlanta, Georgia and Northwest Bible Church, More, The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. Ofra sang the lullaby in 18 languages for the film's dubbing (including her native Hebrew). With tears running down his cheek, he appealed to an older brother for help, and the brother picked up big stones and threw them out toward the boat. We must put on the shield of faith and believe that God is sending the trials to prepare us for even greater blessings. She was convinced that her son would be used for an important work. Reason was Pharaohs edict. For others, health deteriorates, death takes a loved one, and plans for the future are shattered. Jochebed was surrounded by grieving mothers. In his gracious way, God gives us himself, the most desirable dream we could ever imagine. Print copies of this booklet may be obtained from: BIBLE HELPS 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. But once again we see God behind the scenes! 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. Jochebed was the daughter of Levi, and she married Amram, with whom she gave birth to Aaron, Miriam, and Moses. Perhaps he learned what it means to have faith in God and fearless courage. The Exodus Rabbah argues that when the Pharaoh instructed midwives to throw male children into the Nile, Amram divorced Jochebed, who was three months pregnant with Moses at the time, but Miriam soon persuaded him to marry Jochebed again;[10] it goes on to argue that the Egyptians estimated the date that Moses would be due to be born by counting nine months from the start of this marriage, hence allowing Jochebed to hide him for the three months that were overestimated. The Nile was home to alligators, snakes and all other manner of dangerous animals. Several rabbinic commentaries attest to this and comment that maidenhood was restored to Jochebed at the time of her marriage to Amram. Thus it was easy for Amram and Jochebed to add up the years of Israels stay in Egypt, and see that the time of deliverance which God had promised had almost come. Yet the Bible reveals that Levi and his son and grandson all had very long life spans. Numbers 26: 59 - "Now Kohath was the ancestor of Amram, and Amram's wife was named Jochebed. Jacob, his sons, and their families had gone into Egypt to live because there was a severe famine in their land, and they were able to find food in Egypt. (The length of Amrams life was 137 years.) This exegesis teaches of Jochebeds longevity, and that she was still alive when Moses died. Jochebed's story is the third part of our eight-week Bible study - Ordinary Parents with Extraordinary Faith. Exodus 2:1-2. and And when she could no longer hide him, she made a little basket, sealed it with pitch, and put the child in the basket, and laid it among the reeds by the rivers brink (Exodus 2:3). Thus Jochebed nursed her son until he was old enough and brought him to the Pharaoh's daughter, who adopted him as her son. All her choices were difficult. not an ordinary child Hebrew for fine is tov(TOE v)= means good, beautiful Its the same word that used in the Creation account in Genesis 1:4(light), 10(land and sea), 18(sun, moon, stars), 25(animals), 31(mankind, looked and said=very good). In Thy service pain is pleasure, He became afraid that if an enemy of Egypt waged war against them, the Israelites would side with the enemy against Egypt. According to another interpretation, Jochebed named her son Tov or Tobiah, which was what his parents called him until Pharaohs daughter renamed him Moses (BT Sotah 12a). 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. Josephus and the Fathers assign the Coptic mo (water) and uses (saved) as the constituent parts of the name. The Apostle Peter says, That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:7). This couple had great faith. Maybe the princess once had a baby of her own who had died, and the sight of baby Moses may have torn the wound open and made it bleed afresh. "teaching," "study," or "learning." she took pity on the baby. And this is true; consideration must be given to the years that Jochebed, Moses' mother, was upon the earth after Levi died and before Moses was born. Jochebed is usually lost in the shadow of her famous son, Moses, and although she is many times forgotten when studying Exodus 2:1-10, surely in Heaven Jochebed is well known. Jochebeds name means, Honor of God or God is glory. She hid Moses for a period of time, but as the childs lungs developed it became impossible to hide him. [4] The story continues with Moses, who grew up to become the leader of the Exodus, leading his people out of the land of Egypt. 4 Then his sister positioned herself some distance away in order to find out what would happen to him. Amram and Jochebed still enjoyed a forbidden sexual relationship which produced three famous children, Aaron, Miriam and Moses, Exodus 6:20, 15:20. [19], According to traditional rabbinic biblical chronology, Moses was 80 years old when the Exodus occurred, the Israelites had been in Egypt for 210 years in total, and thus in combination with the rabbinical claim that Jochebed was born on the border of Egypt, as her parents had entered it, this would require Jochebed to have been 130 years old when she gave birth to Moses;[20] Rabbinical literature regards this to have been alluded to be the biblical description of the dedication of the Israelite altar, at which 130 shekel weight of silver was offered. 328. 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. This kind of marriage between relatives was later forbidden by the law of Moses. 3:31) (Seder Eliyahu Rabbah 29). Rabbah 1:25). It seems that God impressed upon their hearts the conviction that their very child, Moses, should be the one whom God would use to bring about the promised deliverance. [6] In the Apocryphal Testament of Levi, it is stated that Jochebed was born, as a daughter of Levi, when Levi was 64 years old. The basket fell in the hands of the Pharaoh's daughter who was bathing in the river. According to social media posts written by Gov. By faith, Jochebed and her husband Amram hid their son Moses even against the king of Egypts edict that all Hebrew boys should be put to death at birth. After three months Jochebed was forced to obey the decree of Pharaoh. His mother, Jochebed (Arabic: , romanized:Ykbid), and her efforts to save the baby Moses are recounted. Exodus 1:10-14 describes the hardships placed upon the Hebrew people. Jochebed was paid to nurse and care for the boy, her own son until he grew. They had faith that God had made promises to them through Abraham that they would be a nation, a people with land, their land. I was in shock. Moses, in the wilderness, instructed them to put away pagan gods. This would be shallow water, away from the currents that would have carried him down the Nile. God returned her child to her, thus granting her a part of her reward for keeping alive the Hebrew boys (Ex. His three friends sat for seven days and simply shook their heads in despair without saying a word (Job 2:13). Perhaps God might use him to fulfill the Promise. Rabbah 7:3; Ex. Jochebed's story is one of trust, courage, and faith. The painting "The Mother of Moses" by Simeon Solomon depicts Jochebed and Miriam looking and holding Moses. How will you be encouraged by Jochebed to boldly face your fears today? Truthfully, there is a certain amount of pain, a loneliness pain, when they leave home to go to college, when they get married, when they start their own life. In all three explanations, Jochebed immediately comprehended that her son was meant for greatness and she discerned that he possessed unique spiritual qualities. Rabbah 1:16). Exodus 6: 20 After all she did have a husband and two other children to consider and take care of. A type of non-halakhic literary activitiy of the Rabbis for interpreting non-legal material according to special principles of interpretation (hermeneutical rules). I took him to the pediatrician and I knew it was a urinary tract infection, wed get the pink bubble gum antibiotic and hed be fine. She breathed air just like you and I do. She had feelings just like you and I have. By merit of her good deeds, she gave birth to the three leaders of the Exodus generation: Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. I believe she recognized that the deliverance of God was at hand. Have you ever been there? Beginning at verse 4 in Exodus 2, we see how God, in response to the faith of this mother who dared to trust in His Wordsets in motion a whole chain of wonderful events to accomplish His purposes and to honor her faith. It is interesting to consider that, in Leviticus 18:12, such marriages were forbidden, but this was before that injunction. Hebrews11:23 they were not afraid of the kings edict. Jochebed was married to Amram. The Apocrypha calls her Tharmuth, other names suggested are Merris, or Bityah, perhaps even the well-known Hatshepsut( HAT shep shoot). Maybe its something material, a possession you have? According to another interpretation, Jochebed named her son "Tov" or "Tobiah," which was what his parents called him until Pharaoh's daughter renamed him "Moses" (BT Sotah 12a). The name of Amram's wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt; and to Amram she bore Aaron and Moses, and their sister Miriam. Some of you have lost children to divorce, some have run-away, and some have even died. Would he forget me? "We cannot save our little boy from the forces of death,"Moses' parents decided, "but God can.". He is the author "Hope for Hurting Singles: A Christian Guide to Overcoming Life's Challenges.". But in the midst of this trial, she had confidence and hope. Of never-failing skill, 2:2) how good [tov] he was. The Rabbis ask what Jochebed saw that was special in her son, on account of which she sought to save him from Pharaohs death decree. 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". Yocheved was the youngest member of the seventy souls who made up Jacob's household. And in Ephesians 6:16, we read, Above all, (put on) the shield of faith, (by which you) shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. The shield of faith is the piece of armor which we are to use to quench the flaming arrows of the evil one! Gods providence was seeing to it that Jochebed was being paid from royal funds to look after her own child. Exodus 6:20 And Amram took his aunt Jochebed to him for a wife. [22], Textual scholars attribute the genealogy to the Book of Generations, a hypothetical document originating from a similar religiopolitical group and date to the priestly source. She also was a descendant of Levi, born among the Levites in the land of Egypt. Im curious, how many here are either adopted, have adopted children or someone in your family has been adopted? We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us - including overcoming our greatest fears. To save her son's life, she waterproofed a basket and put the child in it. Last edited on 22 February 2023, at 02:24, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jochebed&oldid=1140850169, This page was last edited on 22 February 2023, at 02:24. Exodus 2:1 A man from the household of Levi married a woman who was a descendant of Levi. Those early years, pre-school years, made an indelible impression on Moses. ): I will pay your wages, from which the Rabbis learned of Jochebeds righteousness: like the righteous, she merited the return of what she had lost (her son), and in addition received reward for it (for having nursed him) (Ex. At just this moment, Miriam steps forward and approaches the daughter and volunteers her service to find a Hebrew woman to nurse the child, and whom did she bring back? They may have desired a happy marriage, a successful career, developing their talent, or some other worthwhile goal, yet circumstances prevented it. We learn that secret by reading Hebrews 11:23, which says, By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw that he was a proper child, and they were not afraid of the kings commandment. Moses was hid in his home for three months, and then in the reeds by the river, not because Jochebed could not bear to see her child perish, or because she loved him too much to cast him into the river. Sometimes sorrows crowd in, and troubles pile up, and it seems like God is throwing rocks. Have you ever had to give up and let go of someone or something very precious to you? She brought him to all the Egyptian women, but Moses was not willing to nurse from any of them. God saw to it that the baby should weep at this very moment. Learn Religions. Miriam, the baby's sister, watched to see what would happen. After Moses was born, Yocheved hid him at home for three months. 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). Moses fled to Midian, which is in modern-day Saudi Arabia. That day began a new life for my son and for our entire family and me. Genuine faith also has rewards. She and her husband, Amram lived around 1571BC to 1613BC or 2,433 years after Creation. In the New Testament, she is praised for her faith in God.[3]. Is it your past? 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. And if all the male children were murdered, it would of course only be a generation or two until as a nation they would be wiped out completely. Jochebed's name means, "Honor of God" or "God is glory". What if she kept the baby at home until eventually the authorities came? Yet another tradition explains that she shiprah her actions before God (i.e., performed good deeds that were pleasing to the Lord). At any rate, Pharaohs daughter was determined to give protection to the baby. [25] Biblical scholars suspect that the Elohist account offers both matrilinial and patrilinial descent from Levites in order to magnify the religious credentials of Moses. "teaching," "study," or "learning." Kadari, Tamar. Jochebed which in Hebrew means: The Honor of Jehovah. Hanover, PA 17331 As Moses grew up Jochebed educated Moses in the religion and history of Israel, ensuring that Moses did not lose his Hebrew identity. One wonders why Pharaohs daughter wanted to bathe herself in the dirty waters of the Nile River. And she bore to him Aaron and Moses. Thus Jochebed nursed her son until he was old enough and brought him to the Pharaoh's daughter, who adopted him as her son. The Apostle Paul exhorts in Ephesians 6 that the Christian should have on the belt of truth and the coat of righteousness; our feet should be shod with the readiness of the gospel of peace. They first became unlawful by the positive command recorded in Leviticus 18:12. Whatever it is, we must remember that God is still on the thronethat He is behind the scenes working out all things for our ultimate good. A compilation of the commentary and discussions of the amora'im on the Mishnah. Pharaoh decreed only for this world, but you decreed both for this world and the next [a baby that was born and died as a result of Pharaohs decree would merit the World to Come, but an unborn child would not attain this]. Born shortly after the decree to throw Hebrew newborn boys in the Nile, Moses escaped death through adoption by pharaoh's daughter. 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. Assisted by - Quoted sourceThese are my personal research notes gleaned from over 50 plus years of being a bible student - assisted by the following information which . We don't know but we hope that she too was alive to see the Exodus. I had to learn over and over and over again to. He said: Master of the Universe! 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. Job had some low points in his experience, but repeatedly he expressed his confidence in Gods faithfulness. Answering:, "Jochebed couldn't have gone to the Holy land because God killed off the entire generation that left Egypt except for Caleb and Joshua as punishment. According to another midrash, Moses rejected the breasts of the Egyptian women because he said: God will speak with me. When she saw that he was a "fine" child, she hid him for three months and when she could do so no longer, she made a basket out of bulrushes and put him among the reeds by the river bank. The outcome of this brave action of defying the King of Egypt is now known to all. Felt for the future are shattered but we hope that she was still alive Moses... 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