Exodus 2 tells the story of Moses' early life, beginning with his birth during a time when Pharaoh ordered the death of all Hebrew baby boys. His mother hides him in a basket among the reeds of the Nile, where he is discovered and adopted by Pharaoh's daughter. Named Moses, he grows up in the Egyptian royal household. As an adult, he flees to Midian after killing an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew slave. There, he marries Zipporah, the daughter of a Midianite priest, and becomes a shepherd. The chapter ends with God hearing the cries of the oppressed Israelites, setting the stage for their deliverance.