Birth of Moses, Reflection on Exodus 2:1-10

Three things strike me as I read this passage. One is that the midwives' names are given and the king's is not. Often in the Bible, a woman will be described not by her name but by her relationship to her father or husband or son. For example, Moses' sister and mother and Pharaoh's daughter) are not named here (If we have read ahead in Moses' story we may assume that this sister is Miriam). Why are we told the names of the midwives? They don't appear later that I can remember.

Another point that interests me today is comparing the story of Moses with that of Jesus. They have several factors in common: an imperial ruler that threatens the life of this infant among other infants, the rescue of this child who will later rescue his people.

I am also struck by the realization that infants are still at risk.  Last year, the Commercial Appeal published this story about infant mortality  in Memphis. http://bit.ly/qAyk9L