Yocheved

Yocheved, also spelled Jochebed, was a significant figure in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in the Book of Exodus. She is primarily known as the mother of Miriam, Aaron, and Moses. Her lineage is traced back to the tribe of Levi.

According to the biblical narrative, Yocheved gave birth to Moses during a time of intense oppression for the Israelites in Egypt. Pharaoh had decreed that all newborn Israelite male infants were to be drowned in the Nile River to curb their growing population. In defiance of this decree, Yocheved hid her son for three months. When she could no longer conceal him, she fashioned a basket of bulrushes, sealed it with bitumen and pitch, and placed the infant inside. She then set the basket among the reeds by the riverbank.

Miriam, Moses's older sister, watched from a distance and was present when Pharaoh's daughter discovered the baby. This act of bravery and maternal devotion allowed Moses to be saved and eventually raised in Pharaoh's own household, though he was recognized as an Israelite. Yocheved's role, though brief in mention, is crucial to the survival of Moses and, by extension, the liberation of the Israelites from slavery. She is recognized for her faith, courage, and resourcefulness in protecting her child against overwhelming odds.