Shemos 2:3 · unit 2 — an ark of reeds

Parashas Shemos

The Complete Passuk

וְלֹא־יָכְלָ֣ה עוֹד֮ הַצְּפִינוֹ֒ וַתִּֽקַּֽח־לוֹ֙ תֵּ֣בַת גֹּ֔מֶא וַתַּחְמְרָ֥הֿ בַחֵמָ֖ר וּבַזָּ֑פֶת וַתָּ֤שֶׂם בָּהּ֙ אֶת־הַיֶּ֔לֶד וַתָּ֥שֶׂם בַּסּ֖וּף עַל־שְׂפַ֥ת הַיְאֹֽר׃

When she could hide him no longer, she got a wicker basket for him and caulked it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child into it and placed it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile.

Chabad.org — 2:3

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sotah 12a (verified).

Sefaria — Sotah

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text

תבת גמא — \ldots

English: An ark of reeds — chosen because reeds float and are soft.

On the daf / in context: The material of the tevah is noted for its buoyancy and gentleness.

Type of Learning

Custom

What Is Learned

The ark was made of material suited to floating safely on the Nile.