16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters ; and they came to draw water and filled the troughs to water their father's flock . 17 Then the shepherds came and drove them away , but Moses stood up and helped them and watered their flock . 18 When they came to Reuel their father , he said , "Why have you come back so soon today ?" 19 So they said , "An Egyptian delivered us from the hand of the shepherds , and what is more , he even drew the water for us and watered the flock ." 20 He said to his daughters , "Where is he then? Why is it that you have left the man behind ? Invite him to have something to eat ." 21 Moses was willing to dwell with the man , and he gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses . 22 Then she gave birth to a son , and he named e him Gershom , for he said , "I have been a sojourner in a foreign land ."
23 Now it came about in the course of those many days that the king of Egypt died . And the sons of Israel sighed because of the bondage , and they cried out; and their cry for help because of their bondage rose up to God . 24 So God heard their groaning ; and God remembered His covenant with Abraham , Isaac , and Jacob . 25 God saw the sons of Israel , and God took notice of them.
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.