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27,299 commentary entries
The Pulpit Commentary
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 3:18-22
The coming liberation: God indicates the method of it. In this conversation between God and Moses, recorded in chaps, 3. and 4; we observe that God is occupied with something more than simply answering the questions of…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 3:18-22
I. THE REMOVAL OF MOSES' FEAR. His mission will be successful. 1. He will win the people's trust for God. They will not refuse to hear. 2. Their elders will accompany him into Pharaoh's presence: his request will become…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 3:19
I am sure. Literally, "I know," a better rendering, since, "I am sure" implies something leas than knowledge. No, not by a mighty hand. Or "not even by a mighty hand." Pharaoh will not be willing to let you go even when…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 3:20
I will stretch out my hand. To encourage Moses and the people, to support them in what was, humanly speaking, a most unequal contest, this important promise is made. It is a confirmation, and to some extent, an explanat…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 3:22
Borrow. The Hebrew word means simply "ask" ( αἰτήσει, LXX.; postulabit, Vulg.). Of her neighbours. The intermixture to some extent of the Egyptians with the Hebrews in Goshen is here again implied, as in Exodus 1:1-22…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:1-17
Divine supplements for human infirmity. "Now therefore go, and I will be with thee," etc. (Exodus 4:12.) It is not at all clear whether the four objections urged by Moses against receiving the Divine commission were pre…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:1-17
EXPOSITION
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:1-17
The reluctance of Moses to undertake the part of leader, indicated by his first reply at his first calling, "Who am I that I should go?" etc. (Exodus 3:11), was not yet overcome. God had promised that he would succeed;…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:1
Behold, they will not believe. Attempts have been made to soften down this contradiction of God's words in Exodus 3:18, and to represent Moses as merely saying, "What if the people will not hearken, etc. What shall I do…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:1-5
The intent of the first sign. Primarily, no doubt, the object was to empower Moses to show forth a sign easily, readily, without preparation, and so at any moment. He had come to the time of life at which he naturally c…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:1
Unbelief. The objection started by Moses to the mission on which he was sent was a very natural one. The people would not believe him, nor hearken to his voice. For— I. HE WAS AS YET UNFURNISHED WITH DISTINCT CREDENTIAL…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:1-10
A trilogy of signs. In reply to his complaint that the people would not believe him, nor hearken to his voice, God gave Moses three signs. These are to be viewed— I. AS ATTESTATIONS OF HIS DIVINE COMMISSION (Exodus 4:5,…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:1-9
The third difficulty: how is Moses to deal with an incredulous Israel? With the mention of this third difficulty, we begin to see how much of doubt, self-distrust, and reluctance disturbed the mind of Moses. And no wond…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:1-9
Weakness and strength for God's service. I. FEAR OF THE REJECTION OF THE MESSAGE WE BEAR FOR GOD MAKES ITS DELIVERANCE IMPOSSIBLE. The tidings he was to bear were so wonderful that he believed his words would be listene…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:2
A rod. Or "a staff." Some suppose the ordinary shepherd's staff, or crook, to be meant; but it is objected that this would have been an unfit object to have brought into the presence of Pharaoh (Kalisch), being unsuitab…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:3
It became a serpent. The word here used for "serpent," nakhash, is a generic word applicable to any species of snake. We cannot assume that the cobra is the serpent meant, though no doubt Moses, when he fled from before…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:4
By the tail. A snake-charmer will usually take up his serpents by the neck, so that they may not be able to bite him. Moses was bidden to show his trust in God by taking up his serpent by the tail. His courage, as well…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:5
That they may believe. The sign was to convince the Israelites, in the first instance, and cause them to accept the mission of Moses (see Exodus 4:30, Exodus 4:31). It was afterwards to be exhibited before Pharaoh (Exod…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:6
Furthermore. The first sign is followed by a second, equally simple and easy of performance, and perhaps, in the eyes of the Israelites, even more marvellous. Leprosy in a developed form was regarded as absolutely incur…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:6-8
The intent of the second sign. If the first sign was powerful to convince, the second was still more powerful (Exodus 4:8). It showed Moses able to produce, and cure, in a moment of time, the most virulent malady to whi…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:8
The voice of the first sign. Some understand "the voice of Moses as he gave them the first sign;" but it is better to regard the sign itself as speaking to them. According to the sacred writers everything that can teach…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:9
The intent of the third sign. Blood poured on the ground could symbolise nothing but war and destruction. That water should be turned into it implied that peace should be changed into war, prosperity into ruin, quiet an…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:9
If they will not believe also. "Even" would be a better translation than "also." The river is of course "the Nile." See the comment on Exodus 2:3. Of the three signs given, the first would probably convince all those wh…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:10
And Moses said, O my Lord. The phrase used by Moses is full of force. It is "vox dolentis et supplicantis" (Noldius). Joseph's brethren use it to the steward of Joseph's house, when they expect to be fallen upon and tak…