According to the Bible, Jochebed (/jkbd/; Biblical Hebrew: , romanized:Yee, lit. Rabbah 1:26). 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. Answer Moses' mother, Jochebed, was a Hebrew woman living in slavery in Egypt before the exodus. What does it mean that they had faith? Shiphrah placated him, saying: Do you pay attention to such a one as her? 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. [1] Amram was the son of Kohath, who was a son of Levi. Would he forget me? Hebrews 11:23 and Exodus 2:1-2 and 6:20. It was by faith that he was hidden, not by fear! 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. Yocheved was the youngest member of the seventy souls who made up Jacob's household. ): 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. 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. Amram and Jochebed were the parents of Aaron, the first high priest of the nation of Israel; Moses, who led . 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's name means, "Honor of God" or "God is glory". Who was the mother of kohath? All Israel saw this, and in consequence they also divorced their wives. Some of you have lost children to divorce, some have run-away, and some have even died. "Jochebed: Mother of Moses." She named him Moses, saying, Because I drew him from the water.. However, when Amram married his aunt, this was before the Torah had been goven on Mount Sinai, soits laws didn't apply yet. 2:12 state that he married a Levite woman. Hanover, PA 17331
Act out Pharaoh's daughter finding Moses. After all she did have a husband and two other children to consider and take care of. (Isaiah 18:2 writes that the Egyptians made their boats, skiffs out of this material. Jochebeds name means, Honor of God or God is glory. As Moses grew up Jochebed educated Moses in the religion and history of Israel, ensuring that Moses did not lose his Hebrew identity. This would make Jochebed the aunt of Amram, her husband. Jochebed was aware, when she was expecting a new arrival in the family, that if the child should be a boythe decree was that the male baby would have to perish in the Nile Riverand if the parents disobeyed, they too were subject to death. Amram Remarries Jochebed His Name Bringing Heaven Down to Earth Sinless Amram Marries Jochebed Amram married his aunt Jochebed in Egypt. Just like today, true faith was mixed with pagan beliefs. There is nothing immoral in marrying your aunt unless the Torah explicitly forbids it. Trials are of many kinds and they change from day to dayand vary from person to person. On what was this confidence and hope based? 2:1 portrays their remarriage. Moved with compassion when she discovered the child, she decided to adopt him. Tellings of the birth of Moses story often overlook Jochebed's role in the story from beginning to end. Exodus 1:10-14 describes the hardships placed upon the Hebrew people. We must put on the shield of faith and believe that God is sending the trials to prepare us for even greater blessings. But once again we see God behind the scenes! JOCHEBED (Heb. Amram and Jochebed had no fear of the kings decree. His mother, Jochebed (Arabic: , romanized:Ykbid), and her efforts to save the baby Moses are recounted. The next day the Egyptian women would say that I nursed the one who speaks with the Shekhinah [the Divine Presence] (Ex. She lived in Egypt, where the descendants of Israel were being oppressed. But who is she? All three point to Christ. Amram and Jochebed committed Moses to the ark, and the ark would come between Moses and death. He said: Master of the Universe! [5] Jochebed is also called Amram's father's sister in the Masoretic text of Exodus 6:20, but ancient translations differ in this. [10] The Targum Pseudo-Jonathan identifies Jochebed as also having been wife of Elitzaphon Ben Parnach, and the mother of Eldad and Medad;[11] the text is ambiguous as to when this marriage occurred in relation to the marriage(s) to Amram. Then she put the baby in it and set it among the reeds on the bank of the Nile River. She knew that God would take care of the child. This exegesis teaches of Jochebeds longevity, and that she was still alive when Moses died. In 1571 BC, Pharaoh Ramesses I ordered the extermination of all of the Israelites ' newborn babies to avert a prophecy that one of them would lead the Israelites out of slavery. The expected thing for her to do was to have the little boy tilted over into the water. He feared they would join a foreign army against the Egyptians or start a rebellion. Answer: As the verse doesn't state what Jochebed's intentions were, the matter is open to speculation. Yet another tradition explains that she shiprah her actions before God (i.e., performed good deeds that were pleasing to the Lord). The outcome of this brave action of defying the King of Egypt is now known to all. 2:7, BT Sotah 12b). Faith is not testing God by jumping off bridges or having oneself deliberately bitten by rattlesnakes. He had two mothers who loved him, two mothers who did all they could to save him from a certain death. Why did she do this? Her appearance is short and we are not told much about her, but one trait stands out: trust in God. Jochebed's story is one of trust, courage, and faith. In all three explanations, Jochebed immediately comprehended that her son was meant for greatness and she discerned that he possessed unique spiritual qualities. 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. Her name in Hebrew means "bitterness." Miriam was the first woman in the Bible to be given the title prophetess. Years passed. What are some areas of your life you need to stop holding on to and start trusting God? 26:59). Jochebed lived in a critical time. 'YHWH is glory') was a daughter of Levi and mother of Miriam, Aaron and Moses.She was the wife of Amram, as well as his aunt. Of never-failing skill, A type of non-halakhic literary activitiy of the Rabbis for interpreting non-legal material according to special principles of interpretation (hermeneutical rules). " That decree applied only to the men and not to the women. For some, there is a lack of the assurance of the forgiveness of past sins. According to Jewish legend, she is buried in the Tomb of the Matriarchs, in Tiberias. Yocheved was a beautiful, kind and motherly woman. Question we have to ask is: What do you do when you cant do anything more? Adoption is a wonderful way to unconditionally love someone but it comes with a painful price tag (as well see in our story). Only because she trusted the Lord could she abandon her son rather than see him killed. We face a variety of trials. Then she brought him back to Pharaoh's daughter, who raised him as her own. How do we know? Every genuine believer in Christ has already demonstrated saving faith, but sustaining faith speaks of the simple trust in God that one needs to exercise daily, in order to live a victorious Christian life and to serve God acceptably. 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. Amram and Jochebed were strong in their faith during a time where many Israelites had become idolatrous. But this couple worshipped Jehovah God. Jochebed nursed Moses for twenty-four months (Ex. Verbs tell us that she herself opened it and saw Moses and at that very moment he cried. 14:1: The wisest of women builds her house is applied to Miriam (Midrash Proverbs 14:1). So when Jochebed gave birth to Moses. After you had given birth, held that baby, nursed, rocked and stayed up all night trying to ease his crying and then to give him up? It was at this time that Moses was born to Amram and Jochebed. She put the child in it and set it among the reeds along the edge of the Nile. Storms may howl, and clouds may gather, I wonder. "teaching," "study," or "learning." Jochebed, shes the one, who took him to the Royal Palace. Can you see the Providence of God in this story? Exodus 6:20 And Amram took his aunt Jochebed to him for a wife. 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). And rides upon the storm. Each was a prophet, and each served Israel (provided them physical succor): by merit of Moses, the Israelites were given the manna; by merit of Aaron, clouds of glory surrounded the Israelites and protected them during their journeying in the wilderness; and by merit of Miriam, the well accompanied them wherever they went. This kind of marriage between relatives was later forbidden by the law of Moses. She also was a descendant of Levi, born among the Levites in the land of Egypt. Devorah and her husband Maurice Sklar ran Maurice Sklar Ministries, founded by Maurice Sklar, which has about 10,000 followers online. The latest date that Jochebed could have been born was 2385 AM (1620 BC), the year her father died. 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. He became afraid that if an enemy of Egypt waged war against them, the Israelites would side with the enemy against Egypt. 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). Miriam, who was six years old at the time, said: Father, father, your decree is harsher than that of Pharaoh. 2 Later, the woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son. 2 R. Alan Cole, Exodus, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, ed. 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 . She was born at the very moment when Jacob and his entire household, Levi and his wife among them, had just entered the gates of Egypt. Joseph had saved the country from a famine, but eventually, he was forgotten by the Egyptian rulers, the Pharaohs. If you want to read the first two Bible studies check out: Zarephath Widow Bible Study - A lesson in courage and surrender. (NET), Exodus 6:20 Amram married his fathers sister Jochebed, and she bore him Aaron and Moses. Amram and Jochebed still enjoyed a forbidden sexual relationship which produced three famous children, Aaron, Miriam and Moses, Exodus 6:20, 15:20. The parents of Moses knew that the Children of Israel could never perish, for that would be denying the very promise that God had given to their father Abraham (Genesis 12:3). 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. Rabbah 1:13). 1 Clearly one of the Bible's most outstanding figures, she served ancient Israel as a prophet, 2 judge, military leader, songwriter, and minstrel (Judges 4-5). That day began a new life for my son and for our entire family and me. 4041). T. Moses died. I believe she recognized that the deliverance of God was at hand. Everything looked hopeless for the Hebrew slaves. Hebrew: MSH Mosheh (M. T.), Greek: Mouses, Moses. = Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 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. It is our Christian duty to walk by faith in this world, until we come to live by sight in the eternal world. Although her jealously later in life led to . Jochebed complied with the royal decree, but in protecting the child from the deep waters of the river, the essential point of the decree (killing the male babies) was disregarded. (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. Epstein-Melamed], p. 6; BT Sotah 12a; Pesikta Rabbati 43). When the plan to have the midwives kill all the male newborns failed, Pharaoh gave the order to throw all baby boys into the Nile, drown them. 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. (Genesis 1:7-10) Pharaoh gave the midwives an order to kill any boy that was born of the Hebrew women . Jochebed had such a deep abiding faith in the trustworthiness of Gods Word that it drove her to act. 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. 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. 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. Lesson two study group Questions (Click Here). Yet the Bible reveals that Levi and his son and grandson all had very long life spans. The life of Jochebed is an amazing demonstration of the walk by faith. Rabbah 1:25; for the identification of Jochebed with Shiphrah, see above). That Jochebed could still be bearing children at the age of forty-eight might seem unlikely by modern standards. After many hardships, Moses was used by God as his servant to free the Hebrew people from slavery and lead them to the edge of the promised land. They sensed that Moses was fair unto God (literal translation of Acts 7:20), implying that God had some special purpose for their child. 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. Exodus 6: 20 The cry of the little child aroused the maternal instinct of Pharaohs daughter, and the baby Moses was spared. Here then, we have Moses' own parents, living in a relationship clearly condemned as abomination under the Law of Moses. For others, health deteriorates, death takes a loved one, and plans for the future are shattered. She is described as the daughter of Levi, born to him in Egypt (Num. (Viewed on March 1, 2023)