Baby Moses in the Basket
To save her son from Pharaoh's decree, Moses' mother places him in a basket on the Nile, where Pharaoh's daughter finds him.
Exodus 2:1-10
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The Story
A new king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph. Alarmed by the Israelites' growing numbers, he enslaved them and ordered that every Hebrew baby boy be thrown into the Nile.
A Levite woman named Jochebed gave birth to a son and saw he was a fine child. She hid him for three months, but when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket, coated it with tar and pitch, placed the child in it, and set it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. His sister Miriam stood at a distance to see what would happen.
Pharaoh's daughter came down to the Nile to bathe. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her slave girl to get it. When she opened it, she saw the baby, crying. Her heart was moved with compassion. 'This is one of the Hebrew babies,' she said.
Then Miriam appeared. 'Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?' she asked.
'Yes, go,' the princess answered. The girl went and got the baby's own mother.
Pharaoh's daughter said to her, 'Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.' So Jochebed took her own son and nursed him. When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son.
She named him Moses, saying, 'I drew him out of the water.' The name sounded like both the Hebrew word for 'draw out' and an Egyptian word for 'son.'
God had preserved the deliverer in the very household of the one who sought to destroy him. Moses would be raised with the education and skills of Egyptian royalty—training that would one day serve God's purposes.
Baby Moses in the River
Kids Version
The Hebrew people were living in Egypt, but a mean new king made them slaves. He was so mean that he said all Hebrew baby boys must be thrown in the river!
One Hebrew mommy had a beautiful baby boy. She loved him so much. She HAD to keep him safe!
For three months, she hid her baby. But babies get bigger and louder. She couldn't hide him forever.
So she made a little basket boat! She made it waterproof and put her baby inside. She placed the basket in the tall grass by the river. The baby's big sister Miriam hid nearby to watch.
Guess who came to the river? The princess—the king's own daughter! She saw the basket and looked inside.
WAH! WAH! The baby was crying!
The princess felt sorry for him. 'This must be a Hebrew baby,' she said. Her heart was full of love for him.
Miriam was brave. She ran up to the princess. 'Do you need someone to take care of the baby? I know someone!'
'Yes!' said the princess.
Guess who came to help? The baby's own mommy! The princess said, 'Take care of this baby for me. I'll even pay you!'
So Moses got to stay with his real mommy until he was older. Then he went to live in the palace as the princess's son. She named him Moses, which means 'pulled from the water.'
God had a BIG plan for Moses. And God kept him safe so that plan could happen!
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Characters in This Story
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Scripture — Exodus 2:1-10 (KJV)
1And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi.
2And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.
3And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink.
4And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.
5And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river's side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it.
6And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children.
7Then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?
8And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child's mother.
9And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it.
10And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water. Moses: that is, Drawn out
Memory Verse
“And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi.”
— Exodus 2:1 (KJV)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story of “Baby Moses in the Basket” in the Bible?
To save her son from Pharaoh's decree, Moses' mother places him in a basket on the Nile, where Pharaoh's daughter finds him. This story is found in Exodus 2:1-10.
Where is “Baby Moses in the Basket” found in the Bible?
“Baby Moses in the Basket” is found in Exodus 2:1-10, in the book of Exodus.
What can children learn from “Baby Moses in the Basket”?
This story teaches children about Providence, Courage, God's protection. The mean king wanted to hurt Hebrew baby boys. Moses' mommy hid him in a basket boat on the river. The princess found him and raised him as her own son. God protected baby Moses.