Exodus 6:1

CHAPTER VI

God encourages Moses, and promises to show wonders upon Pharaoh,

and to bring out his people with a strong hand, 1.

He confirms this promise by his essential name JEHOVAH, 2, 3;

by the covenant he had made with their fathers, 4, 5.

Sends Moses with a fresh message to the Hebrews, full of the most

gracious promises, and confirms the whole by appealing to the name

in which his unchangeable existence is implied, 6-8.

Moses delivers the message to the Israelites, but through anguish

of spirit they do not believe, 9.

He receives a new commission to go to Pharaoh, 10, 11.

He excuses himself on account of his unreadiness of speech, 12.

The Lord gives him and Aaron a charge both to Pharaoh and to the

children of Israel, 13.

The genealogy of Reuben, 14;

of Simeon, 15;

of Levi, from whom descended Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, 16.

The sons of Gershon, 17;

of Kohath, 15;

of Merari, 19.

The marriage of Amram and Jochebed, 20.

The sons of Izhar and Uzziel, the brothers of Amram, 21, 22.

Marriage of Aaron and Elisheba, and the birth of their sons,

Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, 23.

The sons of Korah, the nephew of Aaron, 24.

The marriage of Eleazar to one of the daughters of Putiel, and

the birth of Phinehas, 25.

These genealogical accounts introduced for the sake of showing the

line of descent of Moses and Aaron, 26, 27.

A recapitulation of the commission delivered to Moses and Aaron, 29,

and a repetition of the excuse formerly made by Moses, 30.

NOTES ON CHAP. VI

Verse Exodus 6:1. With a strong hand] יד חזקה yad chazakah, the same verb which we translate to harden; Exodus 4:21. The strong hand here means sovereign power, suddenly and forcibly applied. God purposed to manifest his sovereign power in the sight of Pharaoh and the Egyptians; in consequence of which Pharaoh would manifest his power and authority as sovereign of Egypt, in dismissing and thrusting out the people. See Exodus 12:31-2.