15 When Pharaoh heard of this matter , he tried to kill Moses . But Moses fled from the presence of Pharaoh and settled in the land of Midian , and he sat down by a well .
16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters ; and they came to draw water and filled the troughs to water their father's flock . 17 Then the shepherds came and drove them away , but Moses stood up and helped them and watered their flock . 18 When they came to Reuel their father , he said , "Why have you come back so soon today ?" 19 So they said , "An Egyptian delivered us from the hand of the shepherds , and what is more , he even drew the water for us and watered the flock ." 20 He said to his daughters , "Where is he then? Why is it that you have left the man behind ? Invite him to have something to eat ." 21 Moses was willing to dwell with the man , and he gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses . 22 Then she gave birth to a son , and he named e him Gershom , for he said , "I have been a sojourner in a foreign land ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 2:15-22
Commentary on Exodus 2:11-15
(Read Exodus 2:11-15)
Moses boldly owned the cause of God's people. It is plain from Hebrews 11. that this was done in faith, with the full purpose of leaving the honours, wealth, and pleasures of his rank among the Egyptians. By the grace of God he was a partaker of faith in Christ, which overcomes the world. He was willing, not only to risk all, but to suffer for his sake; being assured that Israel were the people of God. By special warrant from Heaven, which makes no rule for other cases, Moses slew an Egyptian, and rescued an oppressed Israelites. Also, he tried to end a dispute between two Hebrews. The reproof Moses gave, may still be of use. May we not apply it to disputants, who, by their fierce debates, divide and weaken the Christian church? They forget that they are brethren. He that did wrong quarreled with Moses. It is a sign of guilt to be angry at reproof. Men know not what they do, nor what enemies they are to themselves, when they resist and despise faithful reproofs and reprovers. Moses might have said, if this be the spirit of the Hebrews, I will go to court again, and be the son of Pharaoh's daughter. But we must take heed of being set against the ways and people of God, by the follies and peevishness of some persons that profess religion. Moses was obliged to flee into the land of Midian. God ordered this for wise and holy ends.
Commentary on Exodus 2:16-22
(Read Exodus 2:16-22)
Moses found shelter in Midian. He was ready to help Reuel's daughters to water their flocks, although bred in learning and at court. Moses loved to be doing justice, and to act in defence of such as he saw injured, which every man ought to do, as far as it is in his power. He loved to be doing good; wherever the providence of God casts us, we should desire and try to be useful; and when we cannot do the good we would, we must be ready to do the good we can. Moses commended himself to the prince of Midian; who married one of his daughters to Moses, by whom he had a son, called Gershom, "a stranger there," that he might keep in remembrance the land in which he had been a stranger.