Exodus 2:1
And there went a man — Amram, from the place of his abode to another place. A daughter — That is, grand — daughter of Levi.... [ Continue Reading ]
And there went a man — Amram, from the place of his abode to another place. A daughter — That is, grand — daughter of Levi.... [ Continue Reading ]
Bare a son — It seems just at the time of his birth that cruel law was made for the murder of all the male — children of the Hebrews, and many no doubt perished by the execution of it. Moses's parents had Miriam and Aaron, both elder than he, born to them before that edict came out. Probably his mot... [ Continue Reading ]
And when she could no longer hide him, she put him in an ark of bulrushes — By the river side. God put it into their hearts to do this, to bring about his own purposes: that Moses might by this means be brought into the hands of Pharaoh's daughter, and that by his deliverance, a specimen might be gi... [ Continue Reading ]
And the daughter of Pharaoh came — Providence brings no less a person than Pharaoh's daughter just at that juncture, guides her to the place where this poor infant lay, inclines her heart to pity it, which she dares do, when none else durst. Never did poor child cry so seasonably, as this did; the b... [ Continue Reading ]
And he became her son — The tradition of the Jews is, that Pharaoh's daughter had no child of her own, and that she was the only child of her father, so that when he was adopted for her son, he stood fair for the crown: however, it is certain he stood fair for the best preferments of the court in du... [ Continue Reading ]
When Moses was grown he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens — He looked on their burdens as one that not only pitied them, but was resolved to venture with them, and for them.... [ Continue Reading ]
He slew the Egyptian — Probably it was one of the Egyptian task — masters, whom he found abusing his Hebrew slave. By special warrant from heaven (which makes not a precedent in ordinary cases) Moses slew the Egyptian, and rescued his oppressed brother. The Jew's tradition is, that he did not slay h... [ Continue Reading ]
He said, Who made thee a prince? — He challengeth his authority; Who made thee a prince? — A man needs no great authority for giving a friendly reproof; it is an act of kindness; yet this man needs will interpret it an act of dominion, and represents his reprover as imperious and assuming. Thus, whe... [ Continue Reading ]
Moses fled from Pharaoh — God ordered this for wise ends. Things were not yet ripe for Israel's deliverance. The measure of Egypt's iniquity was not yet full; the Hebrews were not sufficiently humbled, nor were they yet increased to such a multitude as God designed: Moses is to be farther fitted for... [ Continue Reading ]
Stood up and helped them — This be did, because wherever he was, as occasion offered itself, he loved to be doing justice, and appearing in the defence of such as he saw injured. He loved to be doing good: wherever the Providence of God call us, we should desire and endeavour to be useful; and when... [ Continue Reading ]
Reul or Raguel (see Numbers 10:29,) seems to have been their grandfather and father of Hobab or Jethro, their immediate father.... [ Continue Reading ]
Gershom — That is, A stranger there. Now this settlement of Moses in Midian was designed by Providence. To shelter him for the present; God will find hiding places for his people in the day of their distress. It was also designed to prepare him for the services he was farther designed to. His manner... [ Continue Reading ]
The king of Egypt died — And after him, one or two more of his sons or successors. And the children of Israel sighed by reason of bondage — Probably the murdering of their infants did not continue, that part of their affliction only attended the birth of Moses, to signalize that. And now they were c... [ Continue Reading ]
And God heard their groaning — That is, he made it to appear that he took notice of their complaints. The groans of the oppressed cry loud in the ears of the righteous God, to whom vengeance belongs; especially the groans of God's children, the burdens they groan under, and the blessings they groan... [ Continue Reading ]