
Jochebed (1620 BC-1487 BC) was a daughter of Levi, the wife of Amram, and the mother of Moses.
Biography[]
Jochebed was the daughter of Levi, and she married Amram, with whom she gave birth to Aaron, Miriam, and Moses. In 1571 BC, Pharaoh Ramesses I ordered the extermination of all of the Israelites' newborn babies to avert a prophecy that one of them would lead the Israelites out of slavery.
Jochebed placed her son Moses in a basket and released him into the Nile River, and he was later rescued by the Pharaoh's daughter Bithiah, who raised him as her own child. Miriam introduced herself to Bithiah as the baby's sister, and she recommended that they bring a Hebrew nurse to take care of him; Bithiah hired Jochebed at Miriam's suggestion.
Jochebed raised Moses with traditional Jewish education and knowledge, and she returned to slavery as a stone worker. One day, Joshua saved her from being crushed by punching the overseer Baka and preventing the workers from pushing the granite blocks together onto Jochebed; Moses cut Jochebed's clothing free from the pillars, saving her (unaware that she was his mother). She died not long after.