REEDS — the papyrus-marsh growth of the Nile's edge, where the baby's ark is set (2:3, 5). The same word names the sea Israel crosses: the YAM SUPH, 'Sea of Reeds' (Exodus 13:18; 15:4), which the KJV and most versions render 'Red Sea' (following the Greek Septuagint's eruthra thalassa). So the deliverer is drawn from the reeds before the nation is drawn through the reed-sea — the book plants its rescue in its opening scene. NWT keeps 'Red Sea' by convention but footnotes 'Reed Sea.' → first discussed at Exod 2:3