Exodus 4:1

CHAPTER IV

Moses continuing to express his fear that the Israelites would not

credit his Divine mission, 1;

God, to strengthen his faith, and to assure him that his countrymen

would believe him, changed his rod into a serpent, and the serpent

into a rod, 2-5;

made his hand leprous, and afterwards restored it, 6, 7;

intimating that he had now endued him with power to work such

miracles, and that the Israelites would believe, 8;

and farther assures him that he should have power to turn the water

into blood, 9.

Moses excuses himself on the ground of his not being eloquent, 10,

and God reproves him for his unbelief, and promises to give him

supernatural assistance, 11, 12.

Moses expressing his utter unwillingness to go on any account, God

is angry, and then promises to give him his brother Aaron to be his

spokesman, 13-16,

and appoints his rod to be the instrument of working miracles, 17.

Moses returns to his relative Jethro, and requests liberty to visit

his brethren in Egypt, and is permitted, 18.

God appears to him in Midian, and assures him that the Egyptians who

sought his life were dead, 19.

Moses, with his wife and children, set out on their journey to

Egypt, 20.

God instructs him what he shall say to Pharaoh, 21-23.

He is in danger of losing his life, because he had not circumcised

his son, 24.

Zipporah immediately circumcising the child, Moses escapes

unhurt, 25, 26.

Aaron is commanded to go and meet his brother Moses; he goes and

meets him at Horeb, 27.

Moses informs him of the commission he had received from God, 28.

They both go to their brethren, deliver their message, and work

miracles, 29, 30.

The people believe and adore God, 31.

NOTES ON CHAP. IV

Verse Exodus 4:1. They will not believe me] As if he had said, Unless I be enabled to work miracles, and give them proofs by extraordinary works as well as by words, they will not believe that thou hast sent me.