1Moses keepeth Jethro's flock: God appeareth to him in a burning bush: 7He sendeth him to deliver Israel. 11Moses enquireth, and is told the name of God. 15God's message to Israel, and to the king of Egypt. 19Pharaoh's obstinacy foretold, and its consequences.
1NOW Moses kept the flock of 1Jethro his father in law, the 2priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to 3the mountain of God, even 4to Horeb.
1 In the previous chapter it is stated that Reuel was priest or chief in Midian; now the same is said here of his son Jethro, who succeeded him after his death.
2 Other, the prince. See Gen. 41 on verse 45.
3 Thus called by reason of this Divine appearance, and because God the Lord has given His laws upon the same to Moses, Exod. 18:5; 19:3, and 1 Kings 19:8.
4 This mountain is otherwise called Sinai, Exod. 19:1; Acts 7:30.
2And the 5angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
5 This Angel was God the Lord, as appears in verses 4, 6; Deut. 33:16; compare Gen. 16 on verse 7.
3And Moses said, I will now turn 6aside, and see 7this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
6 Hebr. deviate.
7 Or, the great appearance, which was shown forth here not to the apprehension of the spirit, but to the outward sense of his bodily eyes.
4And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.
5Anda he said, Draw not nigh hither: 8put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is 9holy ground.
a Joshua 5:15.
8 This served to excite Moses to a holy humility, as also Joshua; Joshua 5:15.
9 Hebr. is earth of holiness, namely, made holy through the presence and appearance of God, without which it was but like any other ground.
6Moreover he said, Ibam the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And 10Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.
b Mat. 22:32; Mark 12:26; Luke 20:37; Acts 7:32.
10 See similar examples of fear, 1 Kings 19:13; Isa. 6:2, 5. See also Job 13:20; Luke 5:8; proceeding from consideration of his own unworthiness and God’s transcendent majesty.
7¶Andc the LORD said, 11I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
c Acts 7:34.
11 Hebr. seeing I have seen.
8And I am 12come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land 13unto a good land and a large, 14unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place 15of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
12 See Gen. 11:7; 18:21; 35:13.
13 See Gen. 13:14, 15.
14 Understand and comprehend hereby all manner of temporal blessings. This is repeatedly testified to be true of the promised land, as Exod. 13:5; 33:3; Lev. 20:24; Deut. 6:3.
15 Hebr. of the Canaanite, and of the Hittite, etc.
9Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.
10Come now therefore, and Id will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.
d Psalm 105:26; Hosea 12:14; Micah 6:4; Acts 7:35.
11¶And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?
12And he said, Certainly Ie will be with thee; and 16this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall 17serve God upon this mountain.
e Joshua 1:5.
16 Namely, this appearance of Mine, or that which here follows immediately in this verse.
17 That is, offer up sacrifice, as appears in verse 18. See the fulfillment thereof Exodus 19.
13And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?
14And God said unto Moses, 18I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
18 Other, I shall be he that I shall be, or, I shall be that I was; agreeing in essence with the name Jehovah. This means that God, Who did send Moses, is eternal in His Essence, faithful in His promises, and almighty in the performance of the same. Compare Heb. 13:8; Rev. 1:4, 8; 16:5.
15And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, 19the LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and 20this is my memorial unto 21all generations.
19 See Gen. 2 on verse 4.
20 As if God had said: By this Name all generations shall remember Me. See Psalm 102:12; 135:13; Hosea 12:6. Other, this is My memorial at all times.
21 Hebr. to generation of the generations.
16Go, and gather 22the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, 23I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt:
22 Hereby are understood the governors and teachers of the people; these declared unto the people what they understood by Moses. See Exod. 12:3, 21; 19:3.
23 Hebr. visiting I have visited you. See Gen. 21 on verse 1.
17And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the 24Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.
24 Hebr. of the Canaanite, etc.
18And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met 25with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, 26three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.
25 That is, has appeared unto us beyond our expectation, and spoke unto us, commanding what we are now presenting and requesting.
26 Namely, unto Mount Horeb, verse 12, which without hindrances along the way, was but a three days’ journey distant from Egypt.
19¶And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not 27by a mighty hand.
27 That is, by some great and heavy plagues. See Exod. 14:31.
20And I will 28stretch out 29my hand, and smite Egypt with 30all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and 31after that he will let you go.
28 Hebr. send, send forth.
29 That is, My strong and smarting plagues.
30 He understands the ten plagues, wherewith He was resolved to smite Egypt.
31 Namely, after the last, which is the tenth plague, the slaying of the firstborn.
21And I will give this people 32favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall 33not go empty:
32 That is, grace, see Gen. 18:3; so that they shall be willing and ready to lend unto the Israelites, before their going forth, whatsoever they shall desire at their hands.
33 According to God’s promise, Gen. 15:14, whereof the fulfillment, see Exod. 12:35, 36.
22Butf every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shallg34spoil the Egyptians.
f Exod. 11:2; 12:35.
g Ezek. 39:10.
34 This was no theft, nor sin, God having commanded the act, Who is the Owner paramount to all, and likewise intended thereby to recompense His people by this means for their heavy labor.