9 SHIPHRAH, PUAH, AMRAM, JOCHEBED, AND MIRIAM
“By Faith Moses Was Hid”
JOSEPH had been dead for over 60 years. The Egyptians forgot about the faithful man whom Jehovah had used to save their nation from famine. Now, a new Pharaoh ruled the land, and he hated and feared the Israelites. They kept growing in number, for Jehovah was blessing them. So the Egyptians enslaved the Hebrews and treated them harshly. Still, these slaves continued to multiply.
Pharaoh’s next tactic was murderous. He ordered two Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, to be brought before him. Imagine their feelings as this mighty ruler ordered them to do away with any male babies that they helped to deliver! But those two courageous women “feared the true God.” They knew that no man, however powerful, had the right to make them disobey Jehovah, the Sovereign of the universe. Their godly fear helped them to do something truly courageous. “They did not do what the king of Egypt told them.” Instead, they did the opposite: They helped to protect and save as many babies as they could. Pharaoh was furious, but they cleverly concealed their actions. Jehovah saw what they were doing. In response, “God dealt well with the midwives.” In time, he gave them families of their own.
If not for the courage of the midwives, his parents, and his sister, what might have become of baby Moses?
When Pharaoh saw that the Israelites had thwarted his scheme, he issued another brutal decree: Drown the male babies in the Nile River! During that dark time, a Hebrew couple named Amram and Jochebed faced a hard choice. They had two children already, Miriam and Aaron. But when Jochebed became pregnant with their third child, she and Amram knew that if they had a boy, he would be in great danger. When the little boy was born, they tried to hide him for as long as they could. But it is not easy to hide a baby. When he was three months old, Jochebed took a basket, coated it with bitumen and pitch, and then placed the baby inside. She went and hid the little vessel among the reeds on the shore of the Nile River. Her young daughter, Miriam, hid at a safe distance to watch over her little brother.
In time, Pharaoh’s daughter came down to the Nile to bathe. She caught sight of the basket and sent a slave girl to fetch it. Opening it, the princess saw the beautiful baby boy crying, and her heart went out to him. She decided to adopt him, but she could see that the baby needed a mother to nurse him. Quick-thinking Miriam courageously ran up and offered to find a nursemaid for the child, and Pharaoh’s daughter agreed. Then Miriam came back with her own mother. Imagine Jochebed’s joy when she learned that she could safely nurse and care for her own beloved child—and be paid for it besides! She and Amram surely did everything they could to teach the little boy about Jehovah. Eventually, though, the day came when they had to turn the child over to Pharaoh’s daughter. The princess named him Moses.
Did Jehovah reward Amram, Jochebed, and Miriam for the faith and courage they showed? Without question! Amram and Jochebed raised Miriam and Aaron to become faithful servants of Jehovah. And they were able to see that Jehovah was protecting Moses. Whether the parents lived long enough to see the kind of man Moses became, the Bible does not say. (Ex. 6:20) But Miriam certainly did, and so did Aaron. They saw Jehovah do marvelous things through Moses. And together the three of them showed outstanding faith and courage. In the next chapter, we will learn how Moses grew up and decided to serve Jehovah.
Read the Bible account:
For discussion:
In what ways did the midwives and Moses’ family show courage?
Dig Deeper
1. What does archaeology reveal as to the accuracy of this account? (g04 4/8 4 ¶4–5 ¶1)
2. What supports the Bible’s record of a papyrus basket and of Pharaoh’s order to kill the Hebrew babies? (g04 4/8 6 ¶1-2) A
Christine Osborne Pictures/Alamy Stock Photo
Picture A: Even today, papyrus is used to make boats
3. What do we know about the Hebrew midwives, and how were they blessed? (w03 11/1 8 ¶3-4; it “Midwife”) B
Picture B
4. How did Miriam show outstanding faith well into old age? (ijwia article 7 ¶14-18)
Reflect on the Lessons
What can parents learn from Amram and Jochebed?
What can siblings learn from young Miriam? C
Picture C
How might you imitate the courage of Shiphrah and Puah in your life?
Meditate on the Bigger Picture
What does this account teach me about Jehovah?
How does the account tie in with Jehovah’s purposes?
What would I like to ask the characters in this Bible account when they are resurrected?
Learn More
See how we can benefit from the example of the women who defied a Pharaoh.
“Women Who Made Jehovah’s Heart Rejoice” (w03 11/1 8-9 ¶3-5)
Does Jehovah continue to care for those who courageously obey him as ruler rather than men?