There arc three arks mentioned in Scripture. 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. God saw to it that the baby should weep at this very moment. First, some background. In Thy service pain is pleasure, https://www.learnreligions.com/jochebed-mother-of-moses-701165 (accessed March 2, 2023). In addition to her given name, the Torah she-bi-khetav: Lit. 4041). They had faith that God had made promises to them through Abraham that they would be a nation, a people with land, their land. She had feelings just like you and I have. F. Hebrew 11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. Moses, Hebrew liberator, leader, lawgiver, prophet, and historian, lived in the thirteenth and early part of the twelfth century B.C.. NAME. She chose bulrushes, a soft and flexible material that is capable of withstanding contact with both soft and hard objects. He is the author "Hope for Hurting Singles: A Christian Guide to Overcoming Life's Challenges.". Surely the words of Hebrews 11:6, Without faith it is impossible to please God, include the concept of sustaining faith. Jochebed was the mother of Moses, one of the major characters in the Old Testament. Sustaining faith, in simple language, is the assurance that the thing which God has said in His Word is true, and that God will act according to what He has said. The Story Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women. When Jacob went to stay with his uncle Laban, he met one of his daughters, Rachel, and loved her. It is an unquestionable fact of scripture that God blessed the forbidden marriage of Amram and Jochebed. Alphabetical Exposition of Named Bible Women J Jochebed. At the time when the account opens in Exodus 2, the condition of the Children of Israel was very pitiful. So Jochebed got her own child back, at least for a while. 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. 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. 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 outcome of this brave action of defying the King of Egypt is now known to all. The latter had spoken impudently to Pharaoh, who sought to kill her in his anger. The Rabbis identify Jochebed with Shiphrah, one of the two Hebrew midwives (Shiphrah and Puah) who delivered the children of the Israelites during the Egyptian servitude. The story of Moses' mother is found in chapter two of Exodus, Exodus 6:20, and Numbers 26:59. She brought him to all the Egyptian women, but Moses was not willing to nurse from any of them. There is nothing immoral in marrying your aunt unless the Torah explicitly forbids it. I think we can see the fond expression on the mothers face as she said with great joy, I knew that God would provide! Jochebeds faith was rewarded by being reunited to her own child. The Scripture says, And, behold, the babe wept (Exodus 2:6). Answer: As the verse doesn't state what Jochebed's intentions were, the matter is open to speculation. Help us elevate the voices of Jewish women. This word conveys the possibility that Jochebed sensed something was special about her new baby boy. Yet another tradition explains that she shiprah her actions before God (i.e., performed good deeds that were pleasing to the Lord). Would he be treated differently because he was Hebrew? The mother of Moses is famous in the eyes of God, not because she bore the baby Moses, but because of her faitha faith that knew no defeat. Is it your past? 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). When Moses was about to die, he addressed God and begged for his life. To adopt a child means someone has to give up a child. Can you see the Providence of God in this story? 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. 26:59; cf. Maybe youve not given a child up for adoption, but Im sure that most everyone here has some experience with giving up something precious to you. The afflictions of life are like driving through a tunnel. Now if Jochebed was Levi's immediate daughter, than she would have been born sometime during Levi's lifetime. Moses, the great law-giver, was born within what would soon be seen as an unlawful union. The A type of non-halakhic literary activitiy of the Rabbis for interpreting non-legal material according to special principles of interpretation (hermeneutical rules).midrash portrays Jochebed as a wise woman who was righteous and God-fearing. Amram and Jochebed were strong in their faith during a time where many Israelites had become idolatrous. she took pity on the baby. 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. Jochebed succeeded in concealing Moses for three months (Ex. His sister stationed herself at a distance to find out what would happen to him. Gods providence was seeing to it that Jochebed was being paid from royal funds to look after her own child. During the few years, Jochebed was permitted to nurse her son, she would have had a profound influence upon him. 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. Yocheved was a beautiful, kind and motherly woman. Jochebed was the mother of Moses, one of the major characters in the Old Testament. Jochebed just happened to be available and able to nurse? The Pharaoh had decreed that all their baby boys were to be thrown into the Nile, because he feared that they might become too powerful. (Viewed on March 1, 2023) . We often think of this passage as the story of Moses, but it might be more appropriate to call it the story of Jochebeda woman who is relatively unknown to many Christians. Kadari, Tamar. Amram and Jochebed had a daughter, Miriam, and two sons, Aaron and Moses. When Jochebed gave birth to a son, she saw that he was a healthy baby. Leah and Rachel: The Mothers Who Had to Share. But soon he noticed that the stones were going beyond the boat and forming huge circular waves in the waterand those waves were bringing his boat toward the shore. Pharaohs daughter just happened to see the basket? Jochebed bore Amram three righteous offspring. Yocheved was the daughter of Levi, Jacob 's son. (Genesis 1:7-10) Pharaoh gave the midwives an order to kill any boy that was born of the Hebrew women . Born shortly after the decree to throw Hebrew newborn boys in the Nile, Moses escaped death through adoption by pharaoh's daughter. Possible that he was alive during the Exodus, remember Moses was 80 years old then. Maybe you need to let go of a dream that is not going to come true; yet, the idea of letting it go seems too painful. Her hometown was probably Goshen, in the land of Egypt. Job had some low points in his experience, but repeatedly he expressed his confidence in Gods faithfulness. Jochebeds name means, Honor of God or God is glory. She is identified as Shiphrah, one of the Hebrew midwives who saved the newborn baby boys from Pharaoh. 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 . The smaller lad began to cry even more, because he thought his brother was trying to sink the boat. Further study: 4. She was portrayed by Martha Scott. Marriages with aunts and nieces have been common in many countries, and are not forbidden by any natural instinct. Life comes with the pain of losses, of giving up and letting go and we are rarely ready to let go. So we know some of the Jews had compromised. Then verse 18 shows that Kohath's sons were Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. Hebrews11:23 they were not afraid of the kings edict. It is doubtful whether the decree of the wicked Pharaoh will be fulfilled, but you are righteous, and your decree will undoubtedly be fulfilled. Amram heeded his daughter, and returned to his wife, whom he remarried in a public celebration with all possible pomp and ceremony: he sat her in a palanquin, Aaron and Miriam danced before her, and the ministering angels proclaimed (Ps. Jochebed was a human being just as all of us are today. 18. Jochebed is identified by some rabbis in the Talmud with Shiphrah, one of the midwives described by the book of Exodus as being ordered by Pharaoh to kill the new-born male children. Some of you have lost children to divorce, some have run-away, and some have even died. Amram was the Levite man who was Moses father. 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. Hugs and kisses and then she turned away and went home. "the written Torah." Exodus 2:1-2 A man from the household of Levi married a woman who was a descendant of Levi. When she could hide him no longer She either purchased or made a basket out of papyrus and covered it with an asphalt type material that made it watertight. My pastor often says Give up the hope of a better past, its keeping you from a better tomorrow Past hurt, past decision? Jochebed was surrounded by grieving mothers. Hanover, PA 17331
She was the daughter of a Levite, and she married Amram, another Levite ( Exodus 2:1 ). Jacob, too, married two sisters t. [Amram lived 137 years]. In the midrashic account, the daughter of Pharaoh saw that Moses was hungry when she drew him from the river. Maurice is a Messianic Jew who frequently channels God. 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). The Rabbis deduced from this that righteous women are not subject to the decree passed on Eve (that is, the curse of in pain shall you bear children [Gen. 3:16] does not apply to them) (BT Sotah 12a). Rabbah 1:25; for the identification of Jochebed with Shiphrah, see above). Miriam fetched her mother, Jochebed -- who was also the baby's mother -- and brought her back. The latter had spoken impudently to Pharaoh, who sought to kill any that... 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