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Exodus 4

Sent to Egypt

Rod

Yahweh said to him, “What is that in your hand?” And he said, “A rod” (Exodus 4:2).

This statuette was found as a guardian of a shrine. It wears the red crown of Lower Egypt and portrays the reigning king, probably Amenemhat II or Senusret II. The image comes from the Metropolitan Museum of Art and is in the public domain.

Coat

Then Yahweh instructed him, “Now put your hand inside your coat” (Exodus 4:6).

The word “coat” (Heb. khek) refers to a fold of the garment above the belt where hands were placed (e.g., Ps 74:11) and where property was sometimes kept (e.g., Prov 17:23). Some older English versions render the term here “bosom” (KJV, ASV, NASB, LSB), a word that once referred to the garment that covered the chest, but which now more commonly refers to the chest or breast as part of the human anatomy. This American Colony photograph was taken between 1900 and 1920.

Journey Back

And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace” (Exodus 4:18).

Wadi Feiran, where this photo was taken, is the longest and widest wadi in the Sinai Peninsula. It originates in the mountains around Jebel Musa and meanders 81 miles (130 km) to the west before emptying into the Gulf of Suez. It could easily be that Moses traveled along this wadi when he left for Egypt. This American Colony photo was taken between 1900 and 1920.

Lodging Place

Now it came about at the lodging place on the way that Yahweh met him (Exodus 4:24).

“Lodging place” (Heb. malon) may simply refer to the place where Moses and his company made camp (e.g., Gen 42:47; Josh 4:3). There is also a possibility, especially if they travelled a well-known road, that it was an establishment. In this region such an establishment is often known as a “khan,” a place where travelers can be assured of finding water and protection for the night. Khan Saharonim, shown here, was constructed in the Nabataean period (c. 2nd century BC–1st century AD) in Makhtesh Ramon in southern Israel, along an ancient trade route.

Flint

Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son’s foreskin (Exodus 4:25).

Flint is one of the most common artifacts found in archaeological excavations, second only to pottery and bones. Properly chipped stone tools were sharper than any other ancient instrument. This gorgeous ripple-flake flint knife is from a very early stage of Egyptian civilization known as Naqada III, circa 3250–3100 BC.

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