IV. (1) BEHOLD. — Some render the word here used by “perhaps” (LXX., Aben-Ezra, Saadia, &c); but it does not appear to have anywhere this meaning. Moses meant to express a positive conviction that he would not be listened to. His faith was weak. THEY WILL SAY, THE LORD HATH NOT APPEARED. — It is v... [ Continue Reading ]
A ROD. — Most commentators regard the “rod” of Moses as his shepherd’s crook, and this is certainly possible; but the etymology of the word employed seems rather to point to an ordinary staff, or walking-stick. Egyptians of rank usually carried long _batons;_ and one suggestion is, that the rod of M... [ Continue Reading ]
A SERPENT. — The word here used (_nakhash_) is a generic one for a snake of any kind, and tells us nothing as to the species. A different word (_tannin_) is used in Exodus 7:10, while _nakhash_ recurs in Exodus 7:15. _Tannin_ is, like _nakhash,_ a generic term. AND MOSES FLED FROM BEFORE IT — It wa... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE IT BY THE TAIL. — Those who venture to handle poisonous snakes, like the modern Egyptians and the inhabitants of the coast of Barbary, generally take hold of them by the neck, in which case they are unable to bite. To test the faith and courage of Moses, the command is given him to lay hold of... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THEY MAY BELIEVE... — These are God’s words to Moses, in continuation of those which form the first portion of the preceding verse. The clause describing the action of Moses in Exodus 4:4 is parenthetic. The words give Diviue sanction to the view, so strangely combatted of late, that the power... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS HAND WAS LEPROUS AS SNOW. — The worst form of leprosy was called by the Greeks λεύκη_,_ “the white disease.” When it is fully developed, the whole skin appears glossy white, and every hair is “white like wool” (Celsus, _De Re Medica,_ v. 28, § 12). This form is said to be absolutely incurable. I... [ Continue Reading ]
THE VOICE OF THE FIRST SIGN. — Not “the voice of Moses witnessed to by the first sign” (Rosenmüller), but the voice, which the sign itself might be regarded as uttering. (Comp. Psalms 105:27, where Moses and Aaron are said to have proclaimed “the _words_ of God’s signs.”) A miracle speaks to men. T... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL BECOME BLOOD. — The verb is repeated in the Hebrew, which intensifies the assertion. The English equivalent of the phrase used would be, “shall assuredly become.” The signs were, no doubt, selected primarily for facility of exhibition; but they may also have been intended to be significant. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM NOT ELOQUENT. — Heb., _No man of words am I._ Moses, still reluctant, raises a new objection. He is not gifted with facility of speech. Words do not. come readily to him; _perhaps,_ when they come, he has a difficulty in uttering them. According to a Jewish tradition, he was unable to pronounce... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO MAKETH. — Rather, _hath made. _... [ Continue Reading ]
_(_12_)_ I WILL BE WITH THY MOUTH. — To suggest words (see Matthew 10:19), and assist utterance. Comp. the reluctance of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:6), and God’s dealings with him (Jeremiah 1:7).... [ Continue Reading ]
SEND, I PRAY THEE, BY THE HAND OF HIM WHOM THOU WILT SEND. — Rather, _pray send by whom thou wilt._ A curt, impatient, and scarcely reverent speech. Moses means that he will undertake the task if God insists; but that God would do far better to send another. Hence the “anger of the Lord” against him... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LEVITE. — Aben-Ezra and Rosenmüller think that this was the usual designation of the brother of Moses among the Israelites, who thus distinguished him from other Aarons. But as a distinguishing mark, the term would be superfluous here, since “thy brother” prevented the possibility of any other A... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT... PUT WORDS IN HIS MOUTH, _i.e.,_ Tell him what he is to say — furnish the matter of his speeches, which he will then clothe with appropriate language. WITH THY MOUTH. — Suggesting the matter to thee. WITH HIS MOUTH. — Suggesting the language to him.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL BE THY SPOKESMAN. — Heb.,_He shall speak for thee._ HE SHALL BE, EVEN HE SHALL BE. — Rather, _it shall come to pass that he shall be,_ &c. INSTEAD OF GOD. — God did not speak to Aaron directly, but only through Moses. Aaron was to recognise in Moses God’s mouthpiece, and to consider what... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS ROD, _i.e.,_ “the rod that had been changed into a serpent,” as the LXX. paraphrase. (18) SIGNS. — Rather, _“the_ signs” (τὰ σημεῖα_,_ LXX.); i.e., the signs which thou wilt have to perform, as already implied in Exodus 3:20.... [ Continue Reading ]
MOSES... RETURNED TO JETHRO. — Heb., _to Jether._ When Moses married Zipporah, he was probably adopted into the tribe, of which Reuel, and after him Jethro, was the head. The tribal tie was close, and would make the asking of permission for even a temporary absence the proper, if not even the necess... [ Continue Reading ]
IN MIDIAN. — Moses appears to have delayed his departure after he obtained permission to go from Jethro. Hence the address “Go, return,” which is peremptory. ALL THE MEN WHICH SOUGHT THY LIFE. — Not only the Pharaoh (Exodus 2:23), but the kindred of the murdered man, and the officials empowered by... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS SONS. — Only one had been mentioned previously, viz., Gershom (Exodus 2:22), unless we accept the Vulgate addition to that place. But another had been recently born to him. SET THEM UPON AN ASS. — Heb., _upon the ass, i.e.,_ cither “upon _his_ ass,” or, according to some, “upon asses.” The sing... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THOSE WONDERS. — Not the “three signs” of Exodus 3:3, but the “portents” or “wonders “which were to be done before Pharaoh, and which had been alluded to in Exodus 3:20. These were, in the counsel of God, already “put into Moses’ hand,” though their exact nature was as yet unknown to Moses himse... [ Continue Reading ]
ISRAEL IS MY SON. — Compare Hosea 11:1. This tender relation, now first revealed, is not a mere metaphor, meaning “as dear to me as a son,” but a reality. The Israel of God enjoys the sonship of adoption by being taken into the True Son, and made one with Him (Romans 8:14). MY FIRST – BORN. — Admit... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL SLAY THY SON, EVEN THY FIRST-BORN. — The threat was not made until immediately before the tenth plague (Exodus 11:5). It is not recorded in the words which Moses is here directed to use; but the speech of Moses in Exodus 11 is no doubt much abbreviated.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE INN. — There would not be any “inn,” as we understand the word, in the Sinaitic peninsula. Probably there would not even be a caravanserai. Nothing more is meant by _mâlon_ than a recognised resting-place. THE LORD MET HIM. — The LXX. have ἄγγελος κυρίου_,_ “an angel of the Lord; “and so the... [ Continue Reading ]
A SHARP STONE. — On the use of stone knives by the Egyptian _paraschistœ_ see Herod. ii. 86. They were regarded as more pure than metal knives. From Joshua 5:2 it would seem that stone knives were in the early ages commonly employed for circumcision by the Israelites. AT HIS FEET. — Moses’ feet, un... [ Continue Reading ]
SO HE LET HIM GO. — God let Moses go, _i.e.,_ allowed him to recover — accepted Zipporah’s act as sufficient, albeit tardy, reparation, and spared the life of her husband. THEN SHE SAID. — When Moses was sufficiently recovered, Zipporah explained to him why she had called him “a bloody husband;” it... [ Continue Reading ]
GO INTO THE WILDERNESS.-EITHER the directions given to Aaron were more definite than this, or they were supplemented by Divine guidance. He went and _met_ Moses on “the mount of God,” _i.e.,_ in the Sinaitic region. Without Divine guidance, he would naturally have sought him in Midian. KISSED HIM.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO HAD SENT HIM. — Rather, “which he had laid upon him,” τοὺς λόγους κυρίου, οὓς�, LXX. ALL THE SIGNS, _i.e.,_ the three miracles of Exodus 4:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE RETURN TO EGYPT. (29) MOSES AND AARON WENT. — The two brothers returned together from the Sinaitic region to Egypt. No particulars of the journey are narrated, nor can we even tell what was the route which they followed. On their arrival, they at once set themselves to carry out the charge comm... [ Continue Reading ]
AARON SPAKE. — According to the Divine command (Exodus 4:16). AND DID THE SIGNS. — So, generally, afterwards (Exodus 7:10; Exodus 7:19; Exodus 8:6; Exodus 8:17, &c.), not, however, universally (see Exodus 9:10; Exodus 9:23; Exodus 10:13;... [ Continue Reading ]