16 The priest of Midian had seven daughters. They came and drew water, filling the troughs and watering their father's sheep. 17 When some shepherds came and chased the girls off, Moses came to their rescue and helped them water their sheep. 18 When they got home to their father, Reuel, he said, "That didn't take long. Why are you back so soon?" 19 "An Egyptian," they said, "rescued us from a bunch of shepherds. Why, he even drew water for us and watered the sheep." 20 He said, "So where is he? Why did you leave him behind? Invite him so he can have something to eat with us." 21 Moses agreed to settle down there with the man, who then gave his daughter Zipporah (Bird) to him for his wife. 22 She had a son, and Moses named him Gershom (Sojourner), saying, "I'm a sojourner in a foreign country."
23 Many years later the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned under their slavery and cried out. Their cries for relief from their hard labor ascended to God: 24 God listened to their groanings. God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 God saw what was going on with Israel. God understood.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 2:16-25
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.
Commentary on Exodus 2:23-25
(Read Exodus 2:23-25)
The Israelites' bondage in Egypt continued, though the murdering of their infants did not continue. Sometimes the Lord suffers the rod of the wicked to lie very long and very heavy on the lot of the righteous. At last they began to think of God under their troubles. It is a sign that the Lord is coming towards us with deliverance, when he inclines and enables us to cry to him for it. God heard their groaning; he made it to appear that he took notice of their complaints. He remembered his covenant, of which he is ever mindful. He considered this, and not any merit of theirs. He looked upon the children of Israel. Moses looked upon them, and pitied them; but now God looked upon them, and helped them. He had respect unto them. His eyes are now fixed upon Israel, to show himself in their behalf. God is ever thus, a very present help in trouble. Take courage then, ye who, conscious of guilt and thraldom, are looking to Him for deliverance. God in Christ Jesus is also looking upon you. A call of love is joined with a promise of the Redeemer. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest, Matthew 11:28.