2023 How Old Was Moses When Pharaoh’S Daughter Took Him In: Expert Tell You

The Mystery Surrounding Moses’ Birth

Very little is known about the exact age of Moses when Pharaoh’s daughter took him in. The biblical account indicates Moses was an infant when he was placed in the basket by his mother and discovered by Pharaoh’s daughter. He was young enough to still be nursed by his own mother. According to the Old Testament, Moses was placed in the cradle by his mother and sister to hide him from Pharaoh’s order to kill all Hebrew baby boys.
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moses in cradle, palace, brown wooden door near white table — *Photo by* *siddhita upare* / *Unsplash*

Pharaoh’s Daughter’s Fateful Encounter

The biblical story describes how Pharaoh’s daughter found the basket with the baby Moses among the reeds of the Nile river. Filled with compassion, she decided to raise him as her own son.

We are not told the circumstances in detail but we can imagine Pharaoh’s daughter going down to the Nile alone or with her servants. As she walked by the Nile bank, she could have seen the basket among the reeds from afar. Curious, she went closer to inspect the basket only to discover a crying baby.

Upon seeing the helpless infant, Pharaoh’s daughter‘s maternal instincts immediately kicked in. The biblical text says she “took pity on him and said, ‘This is one of the Hebrew children.’” Despite knowing he was a Hebrew, an enemy of Egypt, she felt great compassion for the child. She told one of her servants to fetch a Hebrew nurse for the baby.

Moses’ sister, Miriam, had been watching nearby and quickly came forward. She approached Pharaoh’s daughter and asked “Shall I go and call a Hebrew woman to nurse the child for you?”. Pharaoh’s daughter agreed and Miriam brought Moses’ own mother to nurse him, paying her wages to do so.

This chance encounter shaped the course of history. Through Pharaoh’s daughter‘s act of mercy and adoption of Moses, God preserved the life of the one who would lead the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage.

moses in cradle, palace, brown concrete building under white clouds during daytime — *Photo by* *Jan Antonin Kolar* / *Unsplash*

Moses’ Early Years in Pharaoh’s Palace

After Pharaoh’s daughter adopted baby Moses, he grew up living in Pharaoh’s palace as part of the Egyptian royal family. The Bible indicates Moses spent his early childhood and youth under the care and protection of Pharaoh’s daughter.

As the adopted son of an Egyptian princess, Moses likely enjoyed all the trappings of privilege. He would have been attended to by servants, dressed in fine clothing, and given the best food and education of the time. Pharaoh’s daughter raised him “as a son” and “he grew up, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son.”

During his upbringing in the palace, Moses received an elite Egyptian education. The biblical text indicates he was “instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds.” This likely included training in administration, diplomacy, warfare and the arts. Some scholars also believe he studied Egyptian religious texts and practices during this time.

Despite the luxuries of palace life, Moses’ true identity as a Hebrew was not forgotten. The Bible says even as a child under Pharaoh’s daughter’s care, “Moses was aware of his people’s suffering.” Though he enjoyed privileges, he did not forget his origins or the plight of the Israelites under Egyptian oppression.

Moses’ upbringing in Pharaoh’s own household, with access to power and influence, prepared him to fulfill the role God had in store for him – to lead the Hebrews out of slavery in Egypt and into the Promised Land.

moses in cradle, moses, green and purple plant leaves — *Photo by* *VKW Photography* / *Unsplash*

The Divine Purpose Behind Moses’ Adoption

While Pharaoh’s daughter saw her adoption of Moses as an act of mercy and compassion toward an abandoned infant, God had a higher purpose in orchestrating these events. Moses’ upbringing in Pharaoh’s own household was essential preparation for his destiny as the deliverer of God’s people from Egyptian slavery.

The Bible makes it clear that God had chosen Moses before his birth. As he grew up in Pharaoh’s palace,God was preparing him for the role he had laid out. Moses received an elite Egyptian education that gave him access to power he would later need. Living as part of the royal family also meant he gained valuable knowledge about Egyptian society from the inside.

But Moses never forgot his Hebrew identity. The Bible says he “was aware of his people’s suffering.” Even as a youth raised among Egyptians, Moses maintained a connection to his people and sympathy for their plight. This awareness of their struggles would later inspire his mission to free the Israelites.

When Moses fled Egypt after killing an Egyptian, he spent 40 years in the desert being shaped by God. But the foundation was already laid during his early years inside Pharaoh’s household. His experience of riches, education and position as an adopted prince all contributed to making him a fit leader for God’s purposes.

When the time came for Moses to confront Pharaoh and demand the Israelites’ freedom, his access to the king and understanding of Egyptian culture allowed him to navigate the court and achieve God’s will. His identity as both an Egyptian and a Hebrew made him the ideal choice to lead God’s people out of slavery into the Promised Land.