III. (1) MOSES KEPT THE FLOCK. — The natural occupation of one who had thrown in his lot with the Midianites. JETHRO, HIS FATHER-IN-LAW. — Rather, _his relation by marriage._ The word is one of very wide use, corresponding with the Latin _affinis._ It is even applied to a husband, as in Exodus 4:2... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ANGEL OF THE LORD. — Heb., _an angel of Jehovah._ In Exodus 3:4 the angel is called both “Jehovah and “Elohim,” whence it is concluded, with reason, that it was the Second Person of the Trinity who appeared to Moses. OUT OF THE MIDST OF A BUSH. — Literally, _out of the midst of the acacia._ As... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL NOW TURN ASIDE. — A minute touch, in dicating that Moses is the writer. He remembers that the bush did not grow on the track which he was pursuing, but lay off it, and that he had to “turn aside,” in order to make his inspection. THIS GREAT SIGHT. — The phenomenon was strange and unusual — w... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE LORD SAW... GOD CALLED. — Heb., _When Jehovah saw, Elohim called._ The German theory of two authors of Exodus, one Jehovistic and the other Elohistic, is completely refuted by this passage; for it is impossible to ascribe one clause of a sentence to one author, and the next to another. If o... [ Continue Reading ]
PUT OFF THY SHOES. — Rather, _thy sandals._ It is doubtful whether shoes were known at this early date. They would certainly not have been worn in Midian. Egyptians before the time of Moses, and Orientals generally, in ancient (as in modern) times, removed their sandals (or their shoes) from their f... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GOD OF THY FATHER. — It is generally agreed that “father” is put collectively here for “forefathers.” (Comp. Genesis 31:42.) Hence St. Stephen, quoting the passage, renders it, “I am the God of thy fathers” (Acts 7:32). THE GOD OF ABRAHAM. — Primarily, no doubt, the meaning was, _the God who wa... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD SAID. — Heb., _Jehovah said._ The “God” of Exodus 3:6 is “Jehovah” here, and again “God” in Exodus 3:11. (See the Note on Exodus 3:4.) I HAVE SURELY SEEN. — Heb., _seeing I have seen._ It is not so much certainty as continued looking that is implied. (Comp. Exodus 2:25.) TASKMASTERS. — A... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM COME DOWN. — By condescension to human infirmity, which conceives of all things under the limitations of time and space, God is spoken of as dwelling ordinarily in heaven, or “the heaven of heavens,” whence sometimes He “comes down” to manifest Himself to men. That this was not understood liter... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO AM I, THAT I SHOULD GO? — The men most fit for great missions are apt to deem themselves unfit. When God called Jeremiah to be a prophet, his reply was, “O Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a child” (Jeremiah 1:6). St. Ambrose fought hard to escape being made Archbishop of Milan. August... [ Continue Reading ]
CERTAINLY I WILL BE WITH THEE. — Heb., _since I will be with thee._ An answer addressed not to the thing said, but to the thing meant. Moses meant to urge that he was unfit for the mission. God’s reply is, “Not unfit, _since_ I will be with thee.” I will supply all thy defects, make good all thy sho... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT IS HIS NAME? — In Egypt, and wherever polytheism prevailed, every god had, as a matter of course, a name. Among the Israelites hitherto God had been known only by titles, as _El_ or _Elohim,_ “the Lofty One; “_Shaddai,_” the Powerful; “_Jahveh,_ or _Jehovah, “_the Existent.” These titles were u... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM THAT I AM. — It is generally assumed that this is given to Moses as the full name of God. But perhaps it is rather a deep and mysterious statement of His nature. “I am that which I am.” My nature, i.e., cannot be declared in words, cannot be conceived of by human thought. I exist in such sort t... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD GOD OF YOUR FATHERS. — Heb., _Jehovah, God of your fathers._ The “I AM” of the preceding verse (_‘ehyeh_) is modified here into _Jahveh,_ or Jehovah, by a substitution of the third person for the first. The meaning of the name remains the same. THIS IS MY NAME FOR EVER. — Jehovah is the pre... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ELDERS OF ISRAEL. — Not so much the old men generally, as the rulers — those who bore authority over the rest — men of considerable age, no doubt, for the most part. Rosenmüller reasonably concludes from this direction that the Hebrews, even during the oppression, enjoyed some kind of internal o... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE SAID. — See Exodus 3:8. Perhaps there is also a reference to the promise made to Abraham (Gen.XV. 14). THE AFFLICTION OF EGYPT. — Comp. Genesis 15:13 · Exodus 1:11; Exodus 3:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SHALL HEARKEN. — The pronoun “they” refers to “the elders” of Exodus 3:16. For the fulfilment of the promise, see Exodus 4:29. The elders appear to have been persuaded easily, and at once. THOU AND THE ELDERS. — We are not told in Exodus 5 that the elders did present themselves before Pharaoh;... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM SURE. — Heb., _I know,_ which is more suitable, since it is God who speaks, and to Him the future is known with as absolute a certainty as the past. NO, NOT BY A MIGHTY HAND. — Rather, _not even under a mighty hand_ (_ne quidem valida manu castigatus,_ Rosenmüller). Pharaoh, even when chastise... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL STRETCH OUT MY HAND. — Hands are stretched out to help and save. God promises here more than He had promised before (Exodus 3:12). He shows _how_ He will “be with” Moses. He will lend him miraculous aid, performing in his behalf “all his wonders,” and with them “smiting the Egyptians.”... [ Continue Reading ]
EVERY WOMAN SHALL BORROW. — Rather, _shall ask_ (αἰτήσει, LXX.; _postulabit,_ Vulg.). That there was really no pretence of “borrowing,” appears from Exodus 12:33, where we find that the “jewels” were not asked for until the very moment of departure, when the Israelites were being “thrust forth,” and... [ Continue Reading ]