Definition: And 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.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this passage from Exodus 2:3. It’s a really important and dramatic verse that tells us about God’s decision to protect Moses. Here's what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Story: God is feeling uncomfortable with Moses because he’s hiding him. He’s not letting him be alone, and he’s making sure he’s safe. So, God decides to create a special container – an “ark of bulrushes” – to protect Moses. Let's unpack the details: “And when she could not longer hide him…” : This means God realized that Moses was being secretive and hiding from him. He was keeping him hidden, which wasn’t a good thing for both of them. “…she took for him an ark of bulrushes…” : This is the key! He built a container – an “ark of bulrushes” - that's designed to protect something incredibly important. It’s like a very secure, lightweight boat. “And daubed it with slime and with pitch…” : This is where it gets interesting. God used special substances – slime and pitch – to make the ark waterproof and strong. It was a method of preserving the precious child inside. “…and put the child therein;” : He carefully placed Moses inside this protected container. “And she laid [it] in the flags by the river’s brink.” : He positioned the ark on the edge of a riverbank, near the water. This was a place of safety and protection. What does it all mean? This verse is symbolic. It represents God's care for his chosen people – specifically, Moses. It shows that God is: Protective: He’s safeguarding someone incredibly important. Concerned: He’s aware of the situation and wants to ensure safety. Prepared: He takes steps to protect something precious by creating a special container. In short, it's a story about God’s love and his desire to keep his people safe. --- Do you want me to explain any part of this verse in more detail? For example, I could go into: The symbolism of the ark What the "child" was (it's generally believed to be Moses) The significance of the riverbank location