The Story of Jochebed: A Vigorous and Courageous Woman

1. She was vigorous

1. She was vigorous

Jochebed

Jochebed

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Then the king of Egypt spoke to the

Then the king of Egypt spoke to the

                         Hebrew midwives, one of whom

                         Hebrew midwives, one of whom

                         was named Shiphrah and the other

                         was named Shiphrah and the other

                         was named Puah; 

                         was named Puah; 

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and he said,

and he said,

“When you are helping the Hebrew women to give

“When you are helping the Hebrew women to give

birth and see 

birth and see 

them

them

 upon the birthstool, 

 upon the birthstool, 

if it is a son,

if it is a son,

then you shall put him to death; but if it is a

then you shall put him to death; but if it is a

daughter, then she shall live.” 

daughter, then she shall live.” 

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17

But the

But the

 midwives

 midwives

feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt

feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt

Exodus 1 : 15 

Exodus 1 : 15 

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had commanded them, but let the

had commanded them, but let the

                         boys live. 

                         boys live. 

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So the king of Egypt

So the king of Egypt

                         called for the midwives and said to

                         called for the midwives and said to

                         them, “Why have you done this

                         them, “Why have you done this

thing, and let the boys live?” 

thing, and let the boys live?” 

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The midwives said

The midwives said

to Pharaoh, 

to Pharaoh, 

“Because the Hebrew women are not

“Because the Hebrew women are not

as the Egyptian women; for they are 

as the Egyptian women; for they are 

vigorous

vigorous

 and

 and

give birth before the midwife can get to them.”

give birth before the midwife can get to them.”

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20

So God was good to the midwives, and the

So God was good to the midwives, and the

Exodus 1 : 15 

Exodus 1 : 15 

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22

                         people multiplied, and became

                         people multiplied, and became

                         very mighty. 

                         very mighty. 

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21

Because the

Because the

                         midwives feared God, He

                         midwives feared God, He

                         established households for

                         established households for

them.

them.

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22

Then Pharaoh commanded all his people,

Then Pharaoh commanded all his people,

saying, “Every son who is born you are to cast into

saying, “Every son who is born you are to cast into

the Nile, and every daughter you are to keep

the Nile, and every daughter you are to keep

alive.”

alive.”

Exodus 1 : 15 

Exodus 1 : 15 

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22

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1

Now a man from the house of Levi

Now a man from the house of Levi

went and married a daughter of Levi.

went and married a daughter of Levi.

Exodus 2 : 1

Exodus 2 : 1

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Amram married 

Amram married 

Jochebed

Jochebed

 his

 his

                           father’s sister and she bore him

                           father’s sister and she bore him

                           Aaron and Moses, and the length

                           Aaron and Moses, and the length

                           of Amram’s life was one hundred

                           of Amram’s life was one hundred

                           thirty-seven years. 

                           thirty-seven years. 

Exodus 6 : 20 

Exodus 6 : 20 

1. She was vigorous

1. She was vigorous

Jochebed

Jochebed

2. She loved her children

2. She loved her children

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1

Now a man from the house of Levi

Now a man from the house of Levi

went and married a daughter of Levi.

went and married a daughter of Levi.

2

2

The woman conceived and bore a

The woman conceived and bore a

son; 

son; 

and when she saw that he was

and when she saw that he was

beautiful, 

beautiful, 

she hid him for three months.

she hid him for three months.

Exodus 2 : 1

Exodus 2 : 1

2

2

1. She was vigorous

1. She was vigorous

Jochebed

Jochebed

2. She loved her children

2. She loved her children

3. She was attentive and unselfish

3. She was attentive and unselfish

1

1

Now a man from the house of Levi

Now a man from the house of Levi

went and married a daughter of Levi.

went and married a daughter of Levi.

2

2

The woman conceived and bore a

The woman conceived and bore a

son; and when she saw that he was

son; and when she saw that he was

beautiful, 

beautiful, 

she hid him for three months.

she hid him for three months.

Exodus 2 : 1

Exodus 2 : 1

2

2

1. She was vigorous

1. She was vigorous

Jochebed

Jochebed

2. She loved her children

2. She loved her children

3. She was attentive and unselfish

3. She was attentive and unselfish

4. She was industrious

4. She was industrious

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3

But when she could hide him no

But when she could hide him no

longer, she got him a wicker basket

longer, she got him a wicker basket

and covered it over with tar and

and covered it over with tar and

pitch. 

pitch. 

Then she put the child into it

Then she put the child into it

and set 

and set 

it

it

 among the reeds by the bank of the Nile.

 among the reeds by the bank of the Nile.

Exodus 2 : 3

Exodus 2 : 3

1. She was vigorous

1. She was vigorous

Jochebed

Jochebed

2. She loved her children

2. She loved her children

3. She was attentive and unselfish

3. She was attentive and unselfish

4. She was industrious

4. She was industrious

5. She was courageous

5. She was courageous

3

3

But when she could hide him no

But when she could hide him no

longer, she got him a wicker basket

longer, she got him a wicker basket

and covered it over with tar and

and covered it over with tar and

pitch. 

pitch. 

Then she put the child into it

Then she put the child into it

and set 

and set 

it

it

 among the reeds by the bank of the Nile.

 among the reeds by the bank of the Nile.

Exodus 2 : 3

Exodus 2 : 3

1. She was vigorous

1. She was vigorous

Jochebed

Jochebed

2. She loved her children

2. She loved her children

3. She was attentive and unselfish

3. She was attentive and unselfish

4. She was industrious

4. She was industrious

5. She was courageous

5. She was courageous

6. She was a woman of action

6. She was a woman of action

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4

His sister stood at a distance to find

His sister stood at a distance to find

out what would happen to him. 

out what would happen to him. 

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5

Then

Then

the daughter of Pharaoh came down

the daughter of Pharaoh came down

 to bathe at the Nile, with her

 to bathe at the Nile, with her

maidens walking alongside the Nile; and she saw

maidens walking alongside the Nile; and she saw

the basket among the reeds and sent her maid,

the basket among the reeds and sent her maid,

and she brought it 

and she brought it 

to her. 

to her. 

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6

When she opened 

When she opened 

it,

it,

she saw the child, and behold, 

she saw the child, and behold, 

the

the

 boy was crying.

 boy was crying.

And she had pity on him and said, “This is one of

And she had pity on him and said, “This is one of

Exodus 2 : 4

Exodus 2 : 4

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the Hebrews’ children.” 

the Hebrews’ children.” 

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7

Then his

Then his

sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter,

sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter,

“Shall I go and call a nurse for you

“Shall I go and call a nurse for you

from the Hebrew women that she

from the Hebrew women that she

may nurse the child for you?” 

may nurse the child for you?” 

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8

Pharaoh’s daughter

Pharaoh’s daughter

said to her, “Go 

said to her, “Go 

ahead.

ahead.

” So the girl went and

” So the girl went and

called the child’s mother.

called the child’s mother.

Exodus 2 : 4

Exodus 2 : 4

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8

1. She was vigorous

1. She was vigorous

Jochebed

Jochebed

2. She loved her children

2. She loved her children

3. She was attentive and unselfish

3. She was attentive and unselfish

4. She was industrious

4. She was industrious

5. She was courageous

5. She was courageous

6. She was a woman of action

6. She was a woman of action

7. She was an entrepreneur

7. She was an entrepreneur

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Then Pharaoh’s daughter said to

Then Pharaoh’s daughter said to

her, “Take this child away and

her, “Take this child away and

nurse him for me and I will give 

nurse him for me and I will give 

you

you

your wages.” So the woman took

your wages.” So the woman took

the child and nursed him. 

the child and nursed him. 

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The child grew, and

The child grew, and

she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he

she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he

became her son. And she named him Moses,

became her son. And she named him Moses,

and said, “Because I drew him out of the water.”

and said, “Because I drew him out of the water.”

Exodus 2 : 9

Exodus 2 : 9

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