The Seven Women Who Rescued Moses—and Israel

Key takeaways

The Exodus narrative's foundational aspects are intricately linked to the actions of seven key female figures who demonstrate courage and resilience.
Shiphrah and Puah's defiance against Pharaoh illustrates the larger theological theme of life preservation in the face of systemic oppression.
The collaboration between Hebrew and Egyptian women in Moses' upbringing serves as a powerful symbol of unity and resistance against power.
Zipporah’s actions underscore the importance of understanding the covenant relationship between God and His people, including those who may be outside the traditional Israelites.
Women's roles in foundational biblical stories highlight their essential contributions to God's redemptive narrative throughout scripture.

Summary

Introduction to the Seven Women of Exodus 1-4

In this bonus episode, Jon and Tim dive deep into the significance of the seven women who played a crucial role in the Exodus narrative. Together with fellow scholarship team member Tamara Knutson, they explore how these women, often overlooked in biblical discussions, were instrumental in Moses' survival and, by extension, the deliverance of Israel from Egypt.

The Role of the Midwives and Moses’ Mother

The episode starts by highlighting Shiphrah and Puah, the first two women mentioned in Exodus, who are midwives responsible for defying Pharaoh’s orders to kill Hebrew male infants. The conversation emphasizes the importance of these women’s courage and faithfulness. They are soon followed by Moses' mother, who demonstrated great bravery in hiding her son to protect him from Pharaoh's decree. The discussion reveals how these actions were not only acts of defiance but also served to fulfill God's promises of life and multiplication to the Israelites.

Miriam and Pharaoh's Daughter: A Coalition of Women

The narrative shifts to Focus on Miriam, Moses’ sister, and Pharaoh’s daughter, who both play pivotal roles in Moses’ early life. As Pharaoh's daughter unknowingly defies her father by rescuing Moses from the Nile, she and Miriam represent the collaboration that transcends social and cultural divides. Their actions, driven by empathy and compassion, further underline the theme of life preservation amidst oppression.

Zipporah and the Final Woman of Exodus

Zipporah, Moses’ Midianite wife, is introduced next, showcasing the theme of intermarriage and how outsiders contribute to the Israelite narrative. The episode discusses Zipporah’s critical intervention during a mysterious moment when God seeks to kill Moses for failing to circumcise their son, illuminating her role as a protector of her family. The complexities of this passage also hint at deeper biblical themes related to life, death, and the covenant with God.

Connections Across the Bible: The Role of Women

Towards the end of the episode, Jon and Tim discuss other biblical narratives that similarly elevate women in the foundational aspects of Israel’s history. They highlight women's roles in stories from Joshua, Judges, and Ruth, illustrating a broader biblical pattern where women act courageously, often shaping significant moments in scripture. These discussions reinforce the theme that God often uses those marginalized by society to fulfill His divine plans.

Show notes

The Exodus Way E13 (Bonus Interview) — The exodus from Egypt was a foundational story for ancient Israel, but without a special group of seven often overlooked women, the exodus would have never happened! In this episode, Jon and Tim have a conversation with BibleProject Scholarship Fellow Tamara Knudson about the seven women in Exodus 1-4 who save Moses—and by extension—all of Israel.

View all of our resources for The Exodus Way →

CHAPTERS

Introducing Tamara and the Seven Women of Exodus 1-4 (0:00-6:29)
The Two Midwives and Moses’ Mother (6:29-21:20)
Pharaoh’s Daughter and Moses’ Sister, Miriam (21:20-31:08)
Zipporah, Moses’ Wife (31:08-46:39)
Other Books of the Bible That Start With Women (46:39-54:54)

OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

View this episode’s official transcript.

REFERENCED RESOURCES

Read the BibleProject article that Tamara contributed to: “7 Powerful Women in the Bible Who Help Rescue God's People.”
Tim references a previous Q+R episode, “Did God Try To Kill Moses?” where they responded to an audience member’s question about Exodus 4:24-26.
Tamara references Carmen Imes’ Exodus Overview Classroom course.
You can view annotations for this episode—plus our entire library of videos, podcasts, articles, and classes—in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.
Check out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.

SHOW MUSIC

“Hope in the Morning ft. CRFT & GXNXSIS” by Lofi Sunday
“Redeemer ft. Cassidy Godwin” by Lofi Sunday
“That Gospel ft. Bobcat” by Lofi Sunday
“Eden Dreaming ft. sxxnt.” by Lofi Sunday
BibleProject theme song by TENTS

SHOW CREDITS

Production of today’s episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer, who edited today’s episode and also provided the sound design and mix. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie. Special thanks to Tamara Knudson.

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