_GOD APPEARETH TO MOSES IN THE BUSH, AND APPOINTS HIM TO BE THE DELIVERER OF HIS PEOPLE. HE COMMANDS HIM TO ASSEMBLE THE ELDERS OF ISRAEL, AND TO GO WITH THEM TO PHARAOH; AND PROMISES, THAT THE ISRAELITES SHALL DEPART FROM EGYPT, LOADED WITH THE SPOILS THEREOF._ _Before Christ 1491._... [ Continue Reading ]
JETHRO HIS FATHER-IN-LAW, &C.— See note on ch. Exodus 2:18. What we render, _the back-side of the desert,_ the Vulgate has _the inner parts of the desert;_ where, probably, there was the best pasture: and so the Chaldee renders it, _the best pastures of the desert. Horeb_ might be called _the mounta... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ANGEL OF THE LORD— In the note on Genesis 16:7 we have delivered our opinion at large, concerning _the Angel of the Lord,_ which, with the generality of Christian interpreters, we conceive to have been the _Messiah,_ the Angel, or Messenger of the Covenant, It is very evident from this chapter,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID, DRAW NOT NIGH— Soon as Moses discerned this _astonishing sight,_ his curiosity was raised, and he turned aside to contemplate it; doing which, as some suppose, with too much boldness, he was immediately given to understand, that this was a Divine manifestation, and was admonished to app... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GOD OF THY FATHER— In Acts 7:32 it is _the God of thy fathers;_ which the following words prove to be the true meaning. Moses, terrified at the Divine appearance, hid his face: for what sinful mortal can dare to look upon God, before whom the very angels themselves cover _their_ faces? Isaiah 6:... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE SURELY SEEN— In Acts 7:34 it is, _I have seen, I have seen;_ (see note on ch. Exodus 2:23, &c.) which is agreeable to the Hebrew, _seeing, I have seen;_ the repetition implies God's determined purpose to deliver the Israelites.... [ Continue Reading ]
A GOOD LAND AND A LARGE, &C.— The land of Canaan is here described as good and large, and abounding with plenty; _flowing with milk and honey,_ a proverbial expression, denoting plenty; and, as such, frequently used, not only in the Scriptures, but also in prophane writers. So Euripides, speaking of... [ Continue Reading ]
MOSES SAID—WHO AM I, &C.— Conscious of his own unworthiness and incapacity for so great a service, and apprehensive of his little influence with the court of Egypt; Moses here modestly declines the undertaking: upon which, God assures him of his immediate succour and assistance; and fortifies him wi... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS SHALL BE A TOKEN, &C.— This part of the verse would be more properly rendered thus: _and this_ (namely, the vision) _is,_ or _shall be_ (for there is no verb in the Hebrew) _a sign unto thee, that I have sent thee: and when thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upo... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL SAY TO ME, WHAT IS HIS NAME? &C.— Bishop Warburton judiciously observes, that "at this time, so great was the degeneracy of the Israelites in Egypt, and so sensible was Moses of its effects, in ignorance of, or alienation from, the true God, that he would willingly have declined the office; an... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD SAID UNTO MOSES I AM THAT I AM:— It is very reasonable to suppose, that the answer to the question of Moses, should contain such an appellation, name, or account of God, as was applicable to the point in hand, and would conduce to assure the Israelites of his intended deliverance of them from bo... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS IS MY NAME, &C.— JEHOVAH, in consequence of this, was always held among the Jews, as the peculiar and distinguishing name of their God. And as God was peculiarly the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and of the Jewish nation; as he separated them solely to himself, for the great end of bringing... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE SURELY VISITED YOU— We add, in the next clause, _and seen;_ whereas there is no word for _seen_ in the original. The verse might, with great propriety, be rendered, _I have surely viewed_ or _observed you, and that which is done unto you in Egypt._ The same word, in 1 Samuel 15:2 is rendered... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD GOD OF THE HEBREWS HATH MET WITH US— _Hath called us,_ according to the reading which Dr. Kennicott proposes. They were to ask only for three days' journey, by way of proving Pharaoh, as the context and the sequel shew. Mount Sinai was three days' journey from Egypt.... [ Continue Reading ]
WILL NOT LET YOU GO, NO, NOT BY A MIGHTY HAND— _But by a strong hand._ Margin of our Bibles. i.e. But by the exertion of a strong and mighty power, which he will not be able to resist; and which shall subdue that hardness of heart, and backwardness to consent, which he will shew; see Exodus 6:1. Hou... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL STRETCH OUT MY HAND— I will _mightily exert my power;_ see Deuteronomy 26:8. Bishop Warburton very judiciously observes, that the two most populous regions at that time in the world, were Canaan and Egypt: the first, distinguished from all others, by its _violence_ and _unnatural crimes;_ the... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL GIVE THIS PEOPLE FAVOUR— An expression, which abundantly serves to clear the difficulty raised by some from what is mentioned in the following verse. GOD, in whose hand are all hearts, promises, that he himself will influence the Egyptians to favour the Israelites at their departure, to grant... [ Continue Reading ]
EVERY WOMAN SHALL BORROW— It should be translated, _shall ASK of her neighbour, and of her that sojourns in her house, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and raiment,_ &c. But, for a further justification of this matter, we refer to the event itself, ch. Exodus 12:35. It appears by the expressi... [ Continue Reading ]