_GOD APPEARETH TO MOSES IN THE BUSH, AND APPOINTS HIM TO BE THE
DELIVERER OF HIS PEOPLE. HE COMMANDS HIM TO ASSEMBLE THE ELDERS OF
ISRAEL, AND TO GO WITH THEM TO PHARAOH; AND PROMISES, THAT THE
ISRAELITES SHALL DEPART FROM EGYPT, LOADED WITH THE SPOILS THEREOF._
_Before Christ 1491._... [ Continue Reading ]
JETHRO HIS FATHER-IN-LAW, &C.— See note on ch. Exodus 2:18. What we
render, _the back-side of the desert,_ the Vulgate has _the inner
parts of the desert;_ where, probably, there was the best pasture: and
so the Chaldee renders it, _the best pastures of the desert. Horeb_
might be called _the mounta... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ANGEL OF THE LORD— In the note on Genesis 16:7 we have delivered
our opinion at large, concerning _the Angel of the Lord,_ which, with
the generality of Christian interpreters, we conceive to have been the
_Messiah,_ the Angel, or Messenger of the Covenant, It is very evident
from this chapter,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID, DRAW NOT NIGH— Soon as Moses discerned this
_astonishing sight,_ his curiosity was raised, and he turned aside to
contemplate it; doing which, as some suppose, with too much boldness,
he was immediately given to understand, that this was a Divine
manifestation, and was admonished to app... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GOD OF THY FATHER— In Acts 7:32 it is _the God of thy fathers;_
which the following words prove to be the true meaning. Moses,
terrified at the Divine appearance, hid his face: for what sinful
mortal can dare to look upon God, before whom the very angels
themselves cover _their_ faces? Isaiah 6:... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE SURELY SEEN— In Acts 7:34 it is, _I have seen, I have seen;_
(see note on ch. Exodus 2:23, &c.) which is agreeable to the Hebrew,
_seeing, I have seen;_ the repetition implies God's determined purpose
to deliver the Israelites.... [ Continue Reading ]
A GOOD LAND AND A LARGE, &C.— The land of Canaan is here described
as good and large, and abounding with plenty; _flowing with milk and
honey,_ a proverbial expression, denoting plenty; and, as such,
frequently used, not only in the Scriptures, but also in prophane
writers. So Euripides, speaking of... [ Continue Reading ]
MOSES SAID—WHO AM I, &C.— Conscious of his own unworthiness and
incapacity for so great a service, and apprehensive of his little
influence with the court of Egypt; Moses here modestly declines the
undertaking: upon which, God assures him of his immediate succour and
assistance; and fortifies him wi... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS SHALL BE A TOKEN, &C.— This part of the verse would be more
properly rendered thus: _and this_ (namely, the vision) _is,_ or
_shall be_ (for there is no verb in the Hebrew) _a sign unto thee,
that I have sent thee: and when thou hast brought forth the people out
of Egypt, ye shall serve God upo... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL SAY TO ME, WHAT IS HIS NAME? &C.— Bishop Warburton judiciously
observes, that "at this time, so great was the degeneracy of the
Israelites in Egypt, and so sensible was Moses of its effects, in
ignorance of, or alienation from, the true God, that he would
willingly have declined the office; an... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD SAID UNTO MOSES I AM THAT I AM:— It is very reasonable to
suppose, that the answer to the question of Moses, should contain such
an appellation, name, or account of God, as was applicable to the
point in hand, and would conduce to assure the Israelites of his
intended deliverance of them from bo... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS IS MY NAME, &C.— JEHOVAH, in consequence of this, was always
held among the Jews, as the peculiar and distinguishing name of their
God. And as God was peculiarly the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,
and of the Jewish nation; as he separated them solely to himself, for
the great end of bringing... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE SURELY VISITED YOU— We add, in the next clause, _and seen;_
whereas there is no word for _seen_ in the original. The verse might,
with great propriety, be rendered, _I have surely viewed_ or _observed
you, and that which is done unto you in Egypt._ The same word, in 1
Samuel 15:2 is rendered... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD GOD OF THE HEBREWS HATH MET WITH US— _Hath called us,_
according to the reading which Dr. Kennicott proposes. They were to
ask only for three days' journey, by way of proving Pharaoh, as the
context and the sequel shew. Mount Sinai was three days' journey from
Egypt.... [ Continue Reading ]
WILL NOT LET YOU GO, NO, NOT BY A MIGHTY HAND— _But by a strong
hand._ Margin of our Bibles. i.e. But by the exertion of a strong and
mighty power, which he will not be able to resist; and which shall
subdue that hardness of heart, and backwardness to consent, which he
will shew; see Exodus 6:1. Hou... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL STRETCH OUT MY HAND— I will _mightily exert my power;_ see
Deuteronomy 26:8. Bishop Warburton very judiciously observes, that the
two most populous regions at that time in the world, were Canaan and
Egypt: the first, distinguished from all others, by its _violence_ and
_unnatural crimes;_ the... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL GIVE THIS PEOPLE FAVOUR— An expression, which abundantly
serves to clear the difficulty raised by some from what is mentioned
in the following verse. GOD, in whose hand are all hearts, promises,
that he himself will influence the Egyptians to favour the Israelites
at their departure, to grant... [ Continue Reading ]
EVERY WOMAN SHALL BORROW— It should be translated, _shall ASK of her
neighbour, and of her that sojourns in her house, vessels of silver,
and vessels of gold, and raiment,_ &c. But, for a further
justification of this matter, we refer to the event itself, ch. Exodus
12:35. It appears by the expressi... [ Continue Reading ]