Exodus 2:1Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The parents of Moses, whose identities are not prominent, possessed none of the notable qualities of their son.

In earlier times, there were numerous instances of renowned individuals stemming from humble beginnings. For example, David was born to an unremarkable farmer, and Amos, who came from a shepherd of goats, also became a shepherd himself. Similarly, Moses, the great lawgiver, had a father whose status was significantly lower than his own. Thus, it is no surprise that before Christ astonished the crowds and garnered their wonder, he emerged from such humble origins as well, as noted in Matthew 13:54.

Moreover, the Scriptures intentionally refrain from naming Moses' father. Rather than indicating a specific individual as coming from the line of Levi, it simply states, "there was a certain one," thereby subtly indicating that Christ had no earthly father, and that Joseph, whom He was perceived to be the son of, occupied only the role of a father.

The narrative of Moses' birth and early life unfolds in a remarkable way. His parents, Amram and Jochebed, who belonged to the Levite lineage, had a daughter named Miriam and a son named Aaron before their union. When Miriam was older, Jochebed bore another son, whom they named Moses. Fearing for his safety and unwilling to keep him concealed in their home for more than three months, they placed him in a basket and set it afloat on the river, placing his life in God’s care. In his work, “Antiquities of the Jews,” Josephus Flavius aimed to outline the life of Moses accurately. However, he often strayed from the truth of the divinely inspired scriptures, interjecting numerous interpretations that aligned with the Pharisaic view.

Amram, the father of Moses, and Jochebed, his mother, are noted in scripture (cf. Exod. 6:20).