THE CALL OF MOSES AND HIS COMMISSION TO BE THE DELIVERER OF ISRAEL 1. Horeb] The names Horeb and Sinai seem to be synonymous, though it has been suggested that Horeb is the name given to the entire mountain range, while Sinai denotes the particular mountain where the Law was given. Assuming that th... [ Continue Reading ]
ANGEL OF THE LORD] i.e. of Jehovah (see on Exodus 3:13). In Exodus 3:4 it is Jehovah Himself who speaks; in Exodus 23:20; Exodus 23:22 divine attributes are ascribed to the 'angel of the Lord,' God's' name' is in him (see on Exodus 3:13), and his voice is identified with that of God. It would theref... [ Continue Reading ]
Every place where God manifests Himself is holy. To take off the shoes is an ancient as well as modern way of expressing reverence in the East. The Mohammedan takes, off his shoes when he enters the mosque. The action symbolises the removal of the defilement caused by sin or contact with the world o... [ Continue Reading ]
The patriarchs are mentioned to show that it is no new or unknown God who speaks, but One who made a covenant with the fathers of the nation and who still remembers it. These words are cited by our Lord as a proof that God's people continue to live after death: cp. Mark 12:26; Moses hid his face] cp... [ Continue Reading ]
FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY] A proverbial expression indicating fertility and abundance. On the tribes inhabiting Canaan see on Genesis 10; Numbers 34:1. 11. With the hesitation of Moses compare that of Jeremiah, Jeremiah 1:4. Forty years before Moses was more self-confident (cp. Acts 7:25). In the... [ Continue Reading ]
What _is_ HIS NAME?] The name of God is His revealed character: see Exodus 23:21; Exodus 34:5. Here God reveals Himself by the name Jehovah. As already explained (Genesis 2:4) the word 'Jehovah' is the result of a combination of the consonants of the original name (the consonants alone are written i... [ Continue Reading ]
MY MEMORIAL] i.e. my name, the designation by which I will be remembered.... [ Continue Reading ]
ELDERS OF ISRAEL] The heads or representatives of the tribes and families. It appears from this that even in Egypt the Israelites had some kind of organisation. In the Pentateuch, when the people of Israel are addressed, it is frequently the 'elders' who are meant. They are the usual medium of commu... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD OF THE HEBREWS] To the Israelites God is 'Jehovah, the God of your fathers' (Exodus 3:16), a designation which would appeal to their hearts as it reminded them of God's covenant, with their forefathers and His faithfulness to it. See on Exodus 3:6. But to Pharaoh He is simply 'the God of the Heb... [ Continue Reading ]
NO, NOT BY A MIGHTY HAND] This means either 'in spite of the fact that I will lay My hand heavily upon him'; or better, with a slight change of reading, as LXX has it, 'unless I lay My hand heavily upon him.'... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL BORROW] RV 'shall ask.' The word is the common Hebrew verb meaning 'to ask,' as used e.g. in Judges 5:25; 1 Kings 3:11; 2 Kings 2:10; Psalms 122:6, where there is no idea of asking under a promise of giving back what is received. Spoil] The same word is rendered 'recover' in 1 Samuel 30:22, wh... [ Continue Reading ]