Exodus 2:15

My Notes

What Does Exodus 2:15 Mean?

"Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well." Moses' first act of justice — killing the Egyptian who beat a Hebrew (verse 12) — produces a DEATH WARRANT from Pharaoh and a FLIGHT to Midian. The prince of Egypt becomes a FUGITIVE in the desert. The man who will lead Israel out of Egypt first FLEES Egypt himself. And the flight leads to a WELL — the same narrative location where Abraham's servant found Rebekah (24:11) and Jacob found Rachel (29:2). The well is where biblical destinies converge.

The phrase "he sought to slay Moses" (vayevaqesh laharog et Mosheh — he sought to kill Moses) turns Moses from PRINCE to FUGITIVE: yesterday Moses had the power of the Egyptian court behind him. Today the court wants him DEAD. The seeking (vayevaqesh — actively pursued, deliberately searched for) means Pharaoh HUNTS Moses. The death-warrant is ACTIVE, not passive. The pursuit is OFFICIAL.

The "sat down by a well" (vayyeshev al habe'er — he sat upon/beside the well) places Moses at a BIBLICAL MEETING-POINT: wells in Genesis are where WIVES are found. The servant met Rebekah at a well. Jacob met Rachel at a well. Moses will meet Zipporah at THIS well (verse 16-21). The well is the narrative MARKER for divine appointment — the location where fugitives meet their futures.

Reflection Questions

• 1.What 'well' are you sitting beside — where your flight stopped and your future begins?
• 2.What does Moses' personal exodus PRECEDING Israel's national one teach about preparation through personal crisis?
• 3.How does the well being a biblical meeting-point for divine appointments describe where God places fugitives?
• 4.What worst day in your past was actually the beginning of the calling you didn't yet see?

Devotional

Pharaoh wants him dead. Moses FLEES — from the palace to the desert, from prince to fugitive, from Egypt to Midian. And he sits down by a WELL. The well that will change everything. The biblical meeting-point where fugitives find their futures.

The 'sought to slay Moses' transforms Moses' ENTIRE IDENTITY: twenty-four hours ago, Moses was Egyptian royalty. Now he's a HUNTED MAN. The identity-change is instantaneous and total. The palace becomes a death-trap. The homeland becomes enemy territory. The prince becomes the fugitive. The transformation that will eventually serve God's purpose begins with Moses' WORST day.

The 'fled from the face of Pharaoh' is the FIRST exodus — Moses' PERSONAL exodus from Egypt before Israel's NATIONAL one: Moses leaves Egypt by fleeing. Forty years later, he'll bring Israel out of Egypt by divine command. The personal flight PRECEDES and PREPARES FOR the national deliverance. Moses has to LEAVE Egypt before he can bring others OUT of Egypt. The fugitive becomes the liberator.

The 'sat down by a well' is the BIBLICAL MARKER for divine appointment: wells are where FUTURES are found in Genesis. Abraham's servant found Rebekah. Jacob found Rachel. Now Moses sits at a well — and Zipporah arrives (verse 16). The well is the convergence-point: the place where the fugitive STOPS and the future STARTS. The sitting-by-the-well is the posture of the waiting-for-what-comes-next.

What 'well' are you sitting beside — where your flight stopped and your future is about to appear?

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture