Chapter 3: Moses Finds a Family among the Midianites
Exodus 2:16-22
Q1 - What was Sarai’s heritage? See Genesis 20:12.
A1 - Both Abram’s and Sarai’s names were changed when God made His covenant of circumcision with Abram in Genesis 17. In verse 5, God told Abram his name would now be Abraham, and in verse15 He changed Sarai’s name to Sarah. These name changes reflected God’s intent for many nations to come from their offspring.
Abraham stated in Genesis 20:12 that Sarah was the daughter of his father but not of his mother. That would make her his half-sister, with both of them being children of Terah, Abraham’s father. It would also mean that Terah had more than one wife, although none are mentioned in the Bible.
The account of Terah is given in Genesis 11:27–32. From this one man would come not only the Israelites (from Jacob), but also the Edomites (from Esau), the Moabites (from Lot), and the Ammonites (also from Lot). However, it would be through Abraham’s son, Isaac, that Christ would ultimately come.
Q2 - Jethro asked why his daughters returned so soon. What does this imply about what may have been the norm in caring for their flock?
A2 - Jethro’s question to his daughters implies that it usually took them much longer to water their flock. The reason could be that possibly the other shepherds routinely harassed them, or it could be that it physically took them much longer to accomplish the watering of the flock than it did when Moses helped them.
Q3 - Other than being the first born, how was Ishmael different from the six sons of Keturah?See the Bible Hub commentary page for Genesis 25:1 for further information: http://biblehub.com/commentaries/genesis/25-1.htm.
A3 - Sarai gave Hagar to Abraham as her representative (see Genesis 16:1–4). If Sarai had not had children, Ishmael would have been the rightful heir. Hagar was Sarai’s substitute, while Keturah was not.
It seems that Abraham was close to Ishmael and loved him. When he learned he would have a son through Sarah, he told God in Genesis 17:18 (NIV), “‘If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!’” God promised Abraham that Ishmael would be the father of twelve rulers and that He would make him into a great nation. However, it would be with Isaac that He would establish His covenant (see Genesis 17:19–27). Later, only Isaac and Ishmael are mentioned as being the ones who buried Abraham (see Genesis 25:7–11).
The sons Abraham had through Keturah did not receive the promises from God that Ishmael had. Moreover, while Abraham was still living, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines (secondary wives) and sent them away from Isaac to the land to the east (see Genesis 25:5–6). Isaac would be the one to receive Abraham’s inheritance.
For a further discussion on this topic, see http://biblehub.com/commentaries/genesis/25-1.htm.