Exodus 2:13

_AND WHEN HE WENT OUT THE SECOND DAY, BEHOLD, TWO MEN OF THE HEBREWS STROVE TOGETHER: AND HE SAID TO HIM THAT DID THE WRONG, WHEREFORE SMITEST THOU THY FELLOW?_ Two men of the Hebrews strove. The benevolent mediation in this strife, though made in the kindest and mildest manner, was resented, and the taunt of the aggressor showing that Moses' conduct on the preceding day had become generally known, he determined to consult his safety by immediate flight (Hebrews 11:27). 'The Hebrews themselves had been his betrayers. This is, in the first place, a probable effect of the degradation consequent upon their state of slavery. There were, in addition, other and still more powerful reasons to prejudice him in the minds of his brethren, who would doubtless resent, and deeply, as a wrong done to their clan, his refusal of the crown of Egypt' ('Mon. History,' 2: p. 568). These two

13._Behold, two men of the Hebrews. _This perseverance shews that Moses was firm and determined in his design of returning to his brethren, and abandoning the Court; and that he had advisedly renounced its splendor, its wealth, and comforts, although he was by no means ignorant of the miseries to which he exposed himself, and how painful and disagreeable, nay, how ignominious a condition awaited him. Wherefore we need not wonder if the Apostle says, that he chose “rather to endure the reproach of Christ,” “and to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.” (Hebrews 11:25.) Besides, the sad sight of the tyrant’s violence and of the burdens by which his brethren were oppressed, was anything but an obstacle to his proceeding, because, being prepared by the hope of future recompense to bear the cross, he was superior to present

11-15 Moses boldly owned the cause of God's people. It is plain from Exodus 2:11. that this was done in faith, with the full purpose of leaving the honours, wealth, and pleasures of his rank among the Egyptians. By the grace of God he was a partaker of faith in Christ, which overcomes the world. He was willing, not only to risk all, but to suffer for his sake; being assured that Israel were the people of God. By special warrant from Heaven, which makes no rule for other cases, Moses slew an Egyptian, and rescued an oppressed Israelites. Also, he tried to end a dispute between two Hebrews. The reproof Moses gave, may still be of use. May we not apply it to disputants, who, by their fierce debates, divide and weaken the Christian church? They forget that they are brethren. He that did wrong quarreled with Moses. It is a sign of guilt to be angry at reproof. Men know not what they do, nor...

Verse Exodus 2:13. _TWO MEN OF THE HEBREWS STROVE TOGETHER_] How strange that in the very place where they were suffering a heavy persecution because they were _Hebrews_, the very persons themselves who suffered it should be found persecuting each other! It has been often seen that in those times in which the ungodly oppressed the Church of Christ, its own members have been separated from each other by disputes concerning comparatively unessential points of doctrine and discipline, in consequence of which both they and the truth have become an easy prey to those whose desire was to waste the heritage of the Lord. The Targum of Jonathan says that the two persons who strove were _Dathan_ and _Abiram_....

THY FELLOW - “Thy neighbor.” the reproof was that of a legislator who established moral obligations on a recognized principle. Hence, in the following verse, the offender is represented as feeling that the position claimed by Moses was that of a Judge. The act could only have been made known by the Hebrew on whose behalf Moses had committed it....

EXPOSITION. Exodus 2:11-2 FIRST ATTEMPT OF MOSES TO DELIVER HIS NATION, AND ITS FAILURE. AFTER MOSES WAS GROWN UP — ACCORDING TO THE TRADITION ACCEPTED BY ST. STEPHEN (Acts 7:23), when he was "full forty years old" — having become by some means or other acquainted with the circumstances of his birth, which had most probably never been concealed from him, he determined to "go out" to his brethren, see with his own eyes what their treatment was, and do his best to alleviate it. He had as yet no Divine mission, no command from God to act as he did, but only a natural sympathy with his peop

AND WHEN HE WENT OUT THE SECOND DAY,.... The day following: BEHOLD, TWO MEN OF THE HEBREWS STROVE TOGETHER; which the Jewish writers h take to be Dathan and Abiram: AND HE SAID TO HIM THAT DID THE WRONG; who was the aggressor, and acted the wicked part in abusing his brother: WHEREFORE SMITEST THOU THY FELLOW? friend and companion; signifying, that it was very unbecoming, unkind, and unnatural, and that brethren and friends ought to live together in love, and not strive with, and smite one another, and especially at such a time as this, when they were so oppressed by, and suffered so much from their enemies; Acts 7:26. h Targum Jon. Jarchi in loc. Shemoth Rabba, sect. 1. fol. 91. 4. Shalshalet Hakabala, fol. 5. 2. Pirke Eliezer, c. 48....

2. MOSES THE CHOSEN DELIVERER CHAPTER 2 Moses: His Birth, Education, Choice, and Exile _ 1. His birth and concealment (Exodus 2:1)_ 2. His rescue and education (Exodus 2:5) 3. His choice and failure (Exodus 2:11) 4. His exile (Exodus 2:15) 5. His marriage (Exodus 2:21) 6. The answered cry (Exodus 2:23) The history of the chosen deliverer, recorded by himself under the guidance of the Spirit, follows the dark picture of Israel

EXODUS 2:11 J. MOSES'S FLIGHT TO MIDIAN. Here is interposed an incident from J, who uses the same word grow (contrast Exodus 2:10) of Moses reaching man's estate, interpreted in Acts 7:23 as 40 years of age (_cf._ 42 years in Jubilees). The Egyptian slain by Moses may have been some bully of a gangmaster (_cf. Exodus 3:7_). The well-intentioned but unjustifiable assumption of the authority to punish committed Moses to the career of a patriot (_cf._ Hebrews 11:24). But the incident was distorted by rumour, and not only aroused the king's anger, but set h

MEN. Hebrew, plural of _'ish,_ or _'enosh._ App-14. STROVE. striving. HE SAID. Supposing they would have understood. "But they understood not, "Acts 7:25. WRONG. Hebrew. _rash`a,_ App-44....