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Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Exodus 4:23

Verse Exodus 4:23. Let my son go, that he may serve me] Which they could not do in Goshen, consistently with the policy and religious worship of the Egyptians; because the most essential part of an Israelite's worship consisted in sacrifice, and the animals which they offered to God were sacred among the Egyptians. Moses gives Pharaoh this reason Exodus 8:26.

I will slay thy son, even thy first-born.] Which, on Pharaoh's utter refusal to let the people go, was accordingly done; see Exodus 12:29.

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See also Exodus 4:23 in other biblical comments:

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 4:1-28 MOSES' OBJECTIONS, JEHOVAH'S ANSWER AND THE RETURN TO EGYPT _ 1. The first objection (Exodus 4:1)_ 2. The two signs and Jehovah's assurance (Exodus 4:2) 3. The second objection (Exod...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    EXODUS 4:21 J. THE DEATH OF PHARAOH'S FIRSTBORN IS THREATENED. Exodus 4:22 f. seems to have been moved back hither from before Exodus 10:28 to serve as a general introduction to the Plagues, receiving...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    THE TEXT OF EXODUS TRANSLATION 4 And Mo-ses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice; for they will say, Je-ho-vah hath not appeared unto thee. (2) And Je-ho...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _AND I SAY UNTO THEE, LET MY SON GO, THAT HE MAY SERVE ME: AND IF THOU REFUSE TO LET HIM GO, BEHOLD, I WILL SLAY THY SON, EVEN THY FIRSTBORN._ If thou refuse ... I will slay thy son, even thy first-b...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    SIGNS ATTESTING THE COMMISSION OF MOSES. HIS RETURN TO EGYPT Moses still hesitates, and now objects that the péople will not believe him when he tells them that Jehovah has sent him. He is granted th...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    For the fulfilment of this warning see Exodus 12:29; Exodus 12:30....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    EXODUS: ISRAEL BECOMES A NATION THE *ISRAELITES LEAVE EGYPT EXODUS CHAPTER S 1 TO 18 _HILDA BRIGHT AND KITTY PRIDE_ CHAPTER 4 THE *LORD GIVES GREAT POWER TO MOSES – VERSES 1-9 God shows his po...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    I WILL SLAY THY SON, EVEN THY FIRST-BORN. — The threat was not made until immediately before the tenth plague (Exodus 11:5). It is not recorded in the words which Moses is here directed to use; but th...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וָ אֹמַ֣ר אֵלֶ֗יךָ שַׁלַּ֤ח אֶת ־בְּנִי֙ וְ

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    MOSES OBEYS _._ Exodus 4:18. Moses is now commissioned: he is to go to Egypt, and Aaron is coming thence to meet him. Yet he first returns to Midian, to Jethro, who is both his employer and the head...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    MOSES AND AARON ANNOUNCE GOD'S PURPOSE TO ISRAEL Exodus 4:18 So often the keenest tests of a man's fitness for his life-work are furnished by his behavior in his home. It may be that Zipporah had res...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    A further difficulty was now declared. The man who first doubted himself and then doubted because of his ignorance of God now doubted because of the people to whom he was to be sent. God had told him...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Thy son. This was the tenth and last scourge, which forced the king to relent. (Menochius)_...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    This is the first time we meet with that solemn prefatory expression which, in the succeeding parts of scripture, holy men, acting under the divine authority, adopted: Thus saith the Lord. And when Go...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    There is hardly a book of the Old Testament that stands out in more decided contrast with the book of Genesis than the one which follows it most closely. And this is the more striking, because God emp...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    23._And I say unto thee, Let my son go. _This was not the beginning of the legation, but its final clause; for Moses warned the desperate man of his son’s death, when everything else had been tried in...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Moses still raises difficulties, and God gives him again signs, remarkable signs. The two first seem to me in their character-types, the first, of sin and of its healing; the second, of power, which,...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND I SAY UNTO THEE, LET MY SON GO, THAT HE MAY SERVE ME,.... Worship God according to his will in the place he had designed for him, and where he might be safe and free; and which service was due fro...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, [even] thy firstborn. Ver. 23. _Let my son go._] God commanding Pharaoh to let...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Which I have put in thy hand_ In thy power: _I will harden his heart_ After he has frequently hardened it himself, wilfully shutting his eyes against the light, I will at last permit Satan to harden...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Moses rod is turned into a Serpent. 6 His hand is leprous. 10 He is loath to bee sent. 14 Aaron is appointed to assist him. 18 Moses departeth from Iethro. 21 Gods message to Pharaoh. 24 Zippo...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    and I say unto thee, Let My son go that he may serve me; and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy first-born. This threat looks forward to the last of the Egyptian plagu...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    MOSES DISMISSED BY JETHRO...

  • Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures

    Exodus 4:1 And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice; for they will say, Jehovah hath not appeared unto 2thee. And Jehovah said unto him, What _is_...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    God's message to Moses has been so clear that it cannot be mistaken. He has made no secret of the opposition of Pharaoh, but has declared positively that He would enable Israel to triumph over this an...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    18-23 After God had appeared in the bush, he often spake to Moses. Pharaoh had hardened his own heart against the groans and cries of the oppressed Israelites; and now God, in the way of righteous ju...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    I SAY UNTO THEE; I command thee; for _saying_ is put for commanding, LUKE 4:3, LUKE 9:54; and in 1 CHRONICLES 21:19, compared with...

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    We are still called to linger at the foot of Mount Horeb, at "the backside of the desert;" and, truly, the air of this place is most healthful for the spiritual constitution. Man's unbelief and God's...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Exodus 4:23 say H559 (H8799) son H1121 go H7971 (H8761) serve H5647 (H8799) refuse H3985 ...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE THREE SONS (EXODUS 4:21). This section could be described as being at the heart of the book of Exodus, for it deals with three attitudes that lie at the heart of God's dealings with the world: His...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Moses' objections. Unbelief of the people and Moses' lack of eloquence. Return to Egypt. Message delivered to elders. CHARACTERS: God, Moses, Aaron, Jethro, Zipporah, elders. CONCLUSION: U...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Exodus 4:1. _They will not believe me._ Then the Lord directed him to work a miracle, the most convincing evidence of divine authority, for the removal of unbelief. Exodus 4:2. _A rod._ Milton has dis...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Israel is My son, even My firstborn._ THE PRIMOGENITURE OF THE GOOD I. That the good have a Divine father. 1. He is merciful to the children. 2. He vindicates the children from their foes. II. T...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    EXODUS—NOTE ON EXODUS 4:18 These verses are a transition from Moses’ exile in Midian to his return to Egypt. ⇐ ⇔

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    EXODUS—NOTE ON EXODUS 4:22 ISRAEL IS MY FIRSTBORN SON. God has remembered his covenant with Abraham (see Genesis 15:13). He will bring his people to the land promised

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Exodus 4:21_ THE ANTICIPATION OF CHRISTIAN SERVICE I. THAT VERY FREQUENTLY GOD CAUSES GOOD MEN TO ANTICIPATE CHRISTIAN SERVICE. 1. _It is often anticipated as the...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION EXODUS 4:18-2 If Moses had, as we have supposed, been accepted into the Midianitish nation, he would need permission to withdraw himself from the tribal head. This head was now Jether, or...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me (Exodus 4:1), Now he's not convinced. They're gonna say, "Who sent you?" "All right", God said, "Tell them Jehovah God, the God of y...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Exodus 11:5 Exodus 12:29 Psalms 78:51 Psalms 105:36 Psalms 135:8...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Let my son go — Not only my servant whom thou hast no right to detain, but my son whose liberty and honour I am jealous for. If thou refuse, I will slay thy son, even thy first — born — As men deal wi...

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