2:3 ark of bulrushes. It is interesting to compare the three “arks” mentioned in Scripture. The word (Hebrew tebah) means, simply, “box-like container.” Noah’s ark (Genesis 6:14) was overlaid and inlaid with “pitch,” Moses’ ark with “slime and pitch,” and God’s ark of the covenant with “pure gold” (Exodus 25:10,11). One was made of “gopher wood,” the second of “bulrushes,” the third of “shittim wood.” The first preserved the remnants of the primeval dispensation, the second preserved the prophet of the new dispensation, the last preserved the inscribed divine standard of God’s holiness for every generation (Exodus 31:17,18; Revelation 11:19).

2:3 bulrushes. These were marsh plants, possibly the papyrus.

2:3 flags. These also were marsh plants, similar to the bulrushes.